How to Teach Your Children that Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness
My son is seven years old and thinks it is super cool to pretend to “make it rain” with his hands and imitate stacks of money flying in the air. My first reaction is to cringe and wish he didn’t think it was cool. Sometimes I hear him say things like, “If I had a […]
YEAR OF THE EARTH DOG 2018- HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES
We have had two straight years of craziness with the year of the Monkey followed by the year of the Rooster. The Rooster symbolized the need to be heard, as well as egoism, despotism and belligerence. The impulsiveness and emotional instability of the Rooster meant that taking action without thinking won out! February 16, 2018, […]
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 […]
Setting Your Sweat Budget
How much should you spend on health and fitness? The answer to this question depends on you, your financial resources and how important spending in this category is for your happiness. For me, doing healthy activities is a priority and this goes a long way helping me achieve balance and happiness in my life. As […]
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 […]
