Category: Economics

Collecting is weird. It’s fun at the same time that it’s usually meaningless. About a month or two ago, I hit a healthy wall with my antique catalog collecting. Of all things, I stumbled upon two taxidermy catalogs from the same company, published in the 1930s. One was priced super low, like $6, and the […]

This is a short post but one I’ve wanted to write for awhile. I’ve noticed that there is a very strong desire in most people to not be taken advantage of, and while this can be a good thing, it tends to spill over into not wanting others to benefit from one’s actions at all. […]

I hate scheduling. I don’t wish to be overly negative about this, but it’s one of the most psychologically draining activities for me. With friends it can be difficult and involves much texting back and forth, and with businesses and organizations, it can just be terribly annoying and inconvenient. I prefer to structure my life […]

When I first bought my current car many years ago, it proved to be much more reliable than my first car. I felt comfortable driving it a whole state away. Oh yeah, moving up in the world. But it had one key flaw: the steering was always making this annoying thumping sound, especially at low […]

I am something of a regular at a nearby convenience store. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but it is what it is. Part of what makes me a regular is the fun of taking a long walk over there in the morning and acquiring some sugary coffee-nated beverage of the canned variety […]

Most of us find new things to be interested in over time; very rarely do people pick one hobby and stick to it exclusively for life. But every new interest often requires a certain amount of upfront mental or financial cost, whether we are learning about our new domain or buying the gear we need […]

I’ve read many books over the years, and most of those books were not worth reading. It’s likely I might have picked up a nugget or two of knowledge that I now (ungratefully) carry with me, but one of my greater frustrations is just how little meat some books have. Complicating the matter is my […]

I spent a good part of Saturday browsing around a mountain town with one of my friends. It’s been a long time since I explored local shops, and it was a bit of a treat. I naturally found myself thinking about economics, what it means to support local businesses, and whether it really matters. The […]

When I was first reading about financial independence several years ago, I got excited about saving a few dollars on various things. I stopped using fabric softener and dryer sheets (both unnecessary chemicals), switched to powdered dishwasher detergent, and also switched to powdered washing machine detergent, with a few considerations toward making my own. While […]

Just today I came across the meaning behind the term “white elephant”. You can read the Wikipedia article yourself, but apparently some South Asian king gifted rare albino elephants to those who displeased him. Traditionally, to own a white elephant was seen as a sign of great success and prosperity, and to be gifted a […]