Simple Living Daily

My wife and I spend about 20 minutes at the end of each month setting and reviewing our budget for the following month. This is an exercise we have been doing for nearly 6 years now, and it’s an important part of how we operate our lives. We do the budget not so we can […]

We are all influenced by other people. Those we associate ourselves with help shape who we are. This includes those we know personally, like family, friends, and co-workers. And it also includes those we “follow,” such as people on social media, authors, and others in the media. We learn and grow from seeing what other […]

Toddlers are emotional creatures. It’s an ongoing game of whack-a-mole in dealing with flare-ups of things my daughter is upset about. But I’ve learned quickly that there are usually just a few core culprits that need to be addressed. And an interesting revelation that I’ve had as a parent is just how similar adults and […]

The emergency fund. It’s one of the first lessons in personal finance 101. A stack of cash that you have saved for a “rainy day.” Yes, you should have one. But there are a lot of complexities and variables in the why, how, and what of building an emergency fund. Reasons To Have An Emergency […]

When it comes to prioritizing your money and time, there is nothing more important than understanding what your wants and needs are. In fact, I consider understanding your needs to be a core part of simple living. Trying to reduce what you need is one of the best ways to live more simply. And trying […]

You’ve seen it before with an “Offer Ending Soon!” or “While Supplies Last!” style of promotion. Marketing that is designed to create a sense of urgency or scarcity in your mind. Clothing companies and retail stores are notorious for using this type of marketing. You get an email, see a sponsored social media post, or […]

I want to make it clear from the get-go that I have no problem with Target. As a midwestern headquartered business, it holds a special place in my heart. And from a business perspective, they do a lot of things well. But when it comes to living a more simple life, big box stores like […]

There is probably a change that you are wanting to make in your life. Maybe you are trying to quit social media, start eating better, improve your finances, or change your mindset on a situation. But you haven’t done it yet… so what’s stopping you? In order for you to make the change, you have […]

You often hear about lifestyle inflation. It’s the common pattern of increasing your spending throughout life. Leading to little or no savings each month, despite often making more money. But what about lifestyle deflation? Is it possible to do the opposite, and actually decrease our spending relative to our income? The Challenge of Cutting Back […]

The simple act of acknowledging something can have a profound impact. “I waste too much time online.” “I allow this person to affect my emotions too much.” “I am feeling anxious about this.” “I am avoiding this problem in my life.” Setting a Path Forward The power of acknowledging something is that it allows you […]