The Best Laid Plans
One of my favorite movie quotes is “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball,” from the movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. If you haven’t seen it, Youtube the quotation above and have a laugh. So, why am I quoting Dodgeball? Well, it’s personal and has a lot to do with […]
Financial Minimalism
Money can be complicated. It can cause stress, tensions in relationships, and disappointments. However, money can also help provide opportunity, a sense of security and happiness. It seems nearly impossible to focus on what matters most with all the distractions of modern day life. Short-term gratification has become the panacea to feeling over-worked and under-appreciated. […]
Kids Savings Account- Do they need one?
No, children do not need a savings account but most parents feel like they should open one up as soon as their child gets their first birthday or holiday check. Most of the time, these account balances hover around the same amount of money for years and the bank pays very little interest (like 0.01%). […]
True Costs of Education
If you have children, a huge driver of where you choose to live depends on where your little ones will go to school. If you live in San Francisco, you can roll the dice on public schools or join the arduous process of getting into private school. If you have moved out of the city […]
Can you afford a family pet?
I love dogs, especially Golden Retrievers. I have always had a Golden in my life. I had Max, Toby, Jake, Clyde, Bow, Gussie and now Cali. I got Bow when I was in college and Gussie a few years later. Each dog lived to the age of 13, and each passed away when I had […]
Living the Dream in the Bay Area- Is it worth it?
The Bay Area is a beautiful place to live. Mountains, beaches, great weather, robust economy, wine country, great food, active inhabitants, etc. However, making a life here is no small feat. To break even in this area you have to gross $250,000 as a family. To make this much money most families need to have […]
YEAR OF THE MONKEY 2016- ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
Do not waste your time planning out every detail of your life this year! The influence of the Monkey puts everything into flux. The Monkey is witty, intelligent, fast-moving and interested in new discoveries. This is a sharp contrast to the peace, tranquility and harmony of the Year of the Sheep to which we say […]
Have Your Cake and Eat It Too- Freelance!
Do you want to work from home? Do you want more flexible work hours? Do you need to make some extra money to afford your desired lifestyle? Maybe it is time to join the Freelance Economy. In almost every industry, freelancing has become popular for professionals looking to take more control over their hours and […]
Take A Paid Vacation
For most homeowner’s in the Bay Area, your home is your largest asset. The great thing about owning a home from a financial perspective is that it is an appreciating asset (goes up in value over time) from which you get utility (you get to live in it!), and you get a tax benefit from […]
Investing in Happiness
Money cannot buy happiness but it certainly impacts it. For some people, they can book a vacation or get a monthly massage without guilt. For most of us, there always seems to be a little nagging feeling that we should not have spent that money on ourselves or our happiness, or that we need to […]
