“Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.” -Lin Yutang Does it ever feel like a wave of discouragement washes over you when you review your personal financial situation?  Sometimes it feels like you’ve been putting all of [...]

There must be something extra special about spring if it energizes us to wash windows, remove dead foliage from the planting beds, and complete an assortment of dreaded tasks. The other seasons don’t motivate us that way.  We often refer to the “lazy days of summer” and the “hibernation effect” of winter.  But spring has [...]

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were fortunate enough to visit the Castello di Amorosa, an authentic Tuscan medieval-style castle built in Calistoga, California and opened in 2007.  The castle was created out of the vision (and obsession, some might say) of Dario Sattui, owner of V. Sattui winery.  Apparently, he was enamored [...]

Sometimes I think I should be writing a food blog instead of a personal finance blog, especially given the number of food entries I have posted (see grits, chocolate cake, marshmallows, soup, and lomi lomi salmon). Today, I focus on stew.  Not the Irish beef stew or the vegetable stew, but the kind of stew [...]

Imagine that there is a slight twist on the old magic genie scenario, and the genie offers to answer three questions for you. Committed as you are to your financial change efforts, you decide you are going to use your questions strategically.  You want the answers you receive to accelerate your progress toward your financial [...]

“I’m broke.”  You probably know a friend or coworker who casually slips that sentence into a conversation on a regular basis.  You may even use it yourself. If you don’t use “I’m broke,” it may be some other self-definition such as “I’m just middle-class,” or “I’m not cut out to be an investor.” The problem [...]

Think about a time when you faltered while working toward a financial goal. We’ve all experienced it before.  You’re plugging away, feeling pretty good about the progress you are making, and then poof!  Instant relapse.  You are flooded by emotions, many of which drag you down and interfere with your ability to persist. Think about [...]

“Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.” -Lin Yutang When I was driving home from work the other day, I heard on the radio that it is has now been three years since the “Great Recession” began [...]