American parents should heed a lesson in minimalism from Finland. Our norm is to celebrate an impending birth with frivolous and unnecessary gifts. Guests are invited to a banquet hall to enjoy food, games, and admire cute baby things. Before the baby shower, parents-to-be will head out to one of those chain stores and receive a cool …
FIRE is financial independence and early retirement. ERE is the other acronym commonly used, which stands for early retirement extreme. I knew nothing of these concepts a year ago. Now, I feel enlightened and driven by these ambitious and rebellious lifestyle designs. To add some perspective, let’s ask the question: …
It’s Sunday night again and time to review what we’ve accomplished this week and where we could have done better. Last Sunday night, I proudly reported that we refrained from going out to eat with the kids all weekend. Tonight, I must admit that we succumbed to the temptation of …
“Harmony’s Toolbox” features products that I personally use and recommend. As a working mom, it’s hard not to wonder about the experiences of those who stay home with their children. In the limited time that I have with my kids, it feels like there is always too much to do. …
In 2014, I made a total of $34 on instaGC with extremely minimal effort. The best thing about this site? As the name implies, if you earn the points, you can redeem them INSTANTLY for gift card codes. Sometimes, I will go and watch a couple more videos on …
My third child’s debut will happen in a few months and we are considering the implications of taking an extended maternity leave. I’m hoping to be able to take five months off from my job. My maternity leave with the first two was approximately 3 months long. Previously, I rushed back …
Looking for a cheap and easy do-it-yourself project? Make yourself some of these fancy “no-crease” hair ties. Step 1: Go on Etsy and order a big bundle of “fold over elastic.” They have a seemingly limitless supply of different colors, textures, and patterns. I purchased a variety of colors of satin …
I suffer from the “Sunday-Night Blues.” My mood darkens and my motivation wanes by dinner time. I often withdraw from others and lose my patience quicker than normal. The overly-ambitious plans made on Friday afternoon are partly to blame. As Monday grows nearer, the burden of an inevitably uncompleted to-do list …
“Harmony’s Toolbox” features products that I personally use and recommend. Board games are a great way to spend time with your kids. Our time together is limited, so I’m always looking for ways to make the most of it, instead of just sitting like zombies in front of the television. I thought …
Becoming stuck in the status quo seems to result from a number of factors. Lifestyle inflation, or increased spending to match increased income, is often is often labelled the main culprit. In addition, however, I believe that failing to utilize side income can be a problem. In a recent conversation with Mr. …