Can saving for retirement lower your student loan payments?
This is the second of two posts on the powerful repayment plan we made this year for our student loans. Read the first installment (on our private student loan debt) here.My husband and I have...
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How to make money while becoming a minimalist (AKA, Community & the art of...
When I thought about having a yard sale, I thought about the hard work. I thought about how my garage would be cleaner, my pockets potentially fuller. And then I thought some more about the work. I did...
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Major Milestone: Our Consumer Debt is Paid in Full!
Ten months ago, we started out on a journey to change our spending habits, reduce our monthly bills, and to be able to make major life choices with more freedom. I also had a personal desire to spend...
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Hope: The unexpected tool that can create financial success.
Last week, I shared the epic announcement that we had eliminated our consumer debt. No more credit cards. No more car loans. In that post, I attributed our success to the three miracles of persistence,...
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The least sexy part of your budget: Utilities... Energy efficiency tips for...
2012 US Census data indicates that the average American household spends roughly $200 per month on their energy bill. Although we enjoy being warm and cozy in the winter and cool and collected in the...
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Variations on the path to financial success. Part 1.
Career and wage growth are at the core of strong personal finances; however, with underemployment remaining as high as 15% in some states, a lucrative career can feel out of reach. Surprisingly, some...
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Variations on the path to financial success. Part 2.
There are times of need when we cannot do things alone, and the challenges that each person faces are unique. However, too often we underestimate our own potential. We accept the mediocre options...
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Wabi-sabi, our bodies, and the constant drive to buy new things.
What drives shoppers to replace perfectly useful things? Why do we prefer the untested bodies of our youth? In today's post, we touch on a Japanese philosophy that speaks to both of these questions....
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20 financial wins that are keeping us motivated.
I've mentioned before that healthy money habits come with a surprising side effect -- Tranquility. Maybe, like me, your relationship with money used to be filled with drama. Maybe, like me, you...
View ArticleGuest Post: Conquering Student Loan Debt on a Math Teacher's Salary.
Jacob of Dollar Diligence recently paid off $25,000 in student loans in less than two years on a Math Teacher's. Since we at Mindfully Spent will be tackling a similar goal in the months ahead, we...
View ArticleDo your future self a favor: How changing your habits can help you reach your...
I am not a creature of habit. It wasn't until my husband and I began living together that I settled into enough routine to take a daily vitamin or regularly wash my face before bed. Despite the fact...
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Five strategies for building a meaningful career and increasing your income.
Career growth means different things to different people. While some aim to secure the highest salary possible, others might prioritize stability or be driven to serve others. Like almost all choices...
View ArticleWhen "F*ck You Money" becomes an excuse.
Fuck you money. Maybe you've heard of it. It's the amount of wealth you have to amass to walk away from any job any where without sacrificing your standard of living. If it motivates you to great...
View ArticleYear 1: How a year of more mindful spending changed my life.
While I've been on a short sabbatical of sorts, the one year anniversary of Mindfully Spent quietly slipped by in September without a mention. While I may have missed the opportunity for a raucous blog...
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The epic spending spree I won't regret.
The holiday season is well underway. You've seen the memes... It's all too common this time of year. We put ourselves right in the path of all that consumerism -- the holiday advertisements, the...
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Save money & reduce waste: Easy, almost free homemade vegetable broth
When I was first diagnosed with a tomato allergy, I tried my hand at making my own vegetable broth. To say it went badly would be an understatement. I spent a lot of money getting the exact combination...
View ArticleOur 2018 Financial Resolutions: Strengthening our finances, building community.
The roll into a new year brings with it time for reflection and resolution. By the time January comes to an end, many of those new resolutions have already been left in the dust. If blogging has any...
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Spring Clean! An easy change that helped us cut waste and save money.
As we continued to make household changes to reduce waste and save money, one area that caught my interest was homemade cleaners. Last fall, inspired by a friend and an acquaintance who both made their...
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Creating Cozy: Three free ways to add some hygge to your life.
Cozy is our house rule. My husband is Danish, so maybe it makes sense that the Dane’s idea of hygge (the art of cozy and comfortable time together) would appeal to us. Perhaps what I like best about...
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This is what a great purchase feels like!
Since paying off our consumer debt, my relationship with money has greatly changed. I am much more likely to avoid impulse purchases or buying items for the wrong reason. And when I do make a purchase...
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