An Extraordinary Life On An Ordinary Income Pt. 2: Struggling With the Ordinary
Unexpected Obstacles and Spoiled Life Plans My partner and I have struggled during 2020 and 2021. We have faced obstacles we could never imagine. Long-distance relationships are difficult by themselves. Add in a global pandemic that dampers traveling, a few life plans that fell through, and some overbearing health challenges, and it’s a recipe for struggling. Our mantra throughout the pandemic has been we will make an extraordinary life from an ordinary income. With the struggles of the past year and a half, this mantra has become extra important. We have both had unexpected obstacles, to say the least. Been forced to expand our creativity and grow outside our comfort zone. Learning new skills has become essential to survival. The Lifesaving Support System Luckily, we have found strength in our support systems. A subset of Personal Finance Twitter, I have dubbed Compassionate Personal Finance. There are so many great people…
You Need A Budget Review: YNAB Differentiating Features
Initial Reactions: That Price Tag Scares Me I recently finished my free 34-day trial with YNAB. One of YNAB’s differentiating features is standing out from other free trials. YNAB allows new users to try the software for a full month (not just 30 days) plus a little extra. Just one of the few things that set YNAB apart from other software and budgeting tools. Although I knew of the free trial, I was still skeptical about spending time using a budgeting software I might like and having to pay for it. For those who follow me or know my story, know that I am not a high income earlier. I have to be mindful of every dollar coming in and going out. A friend of mine from our local independence group swears by YNAB and has been using the software for years. He’s recommended it to me on numerous occasions,…
When The Cheapest Option Isn’t Always Best
Sometimes the cheapest option isn’t always the best. This can be especially true if you are working with a lower or middle level of income. In fact, as I work on my financial independence journey I find myself spending more money on fewer items. Moving towards purposeful minimalism because I want less waste, higher quality, more freedom, and less clutter. I want to be able to pack up and go if I want to. I find myself looking for more items that serve multiple purposes. The 3 options: Budget, Midline, & High Quality + Value For Price I got this idea from Building a PC for Dummies by Mark Chambers. Mark breaks down 3 possible types of computers to build based on your wants and needs. There is the bare bones (budget) computer that is enough for basic computing, spreadsheets, internet surfing, etc. Next is the “Richie Cunningham” I believe…