Category Archives: Simple Living
University of Shame: Credit Card Offers for Alumni
Today as I was checking my snail mail I came across a really interesting letter. It looked like a credit card offer, but it had my former university’s alumni association logo on the top left corner. There was a “0% APR” teaser on the right-hand side, typical of credit card offers. What was going on [...]
Eating Out is a Great Way to Save Money
Gwah? Are you serious, Mike? But everyone says that shopping for groceries, “buying in bulk” and cooking at home are the best ways to save! Well, guess what? If you follow my advice eating out can actually be cheaper. So put the 6-pound bag of rice back on the shelf and hit up your favorite [...]
Don’t Buy the Newest Gadgets
The all-new Apple iPhone 3GS was just released. According to Apple it is the fastest, most powerful iPhone ever – it can launch websites and applications twice as fast, has voice control, satellite mapping with GPS, a built in compass, the ability to take pictures, videos, write text messages and send them all to your [...]
Need a Car? Always Buy Used
A long time ago, I wrote an article on why owning a car isn’t necessarily a requirement. But I am all too aware that many of us live in cities where good public transportation isn’t as readily available, or we don’t live in cities at all. Not having a car is pretty much infeasible. So [...]
The Worst Professional Mistake
What is it? What’s the one thing you should never do on a professional level? Is it taking out a business loan when you don’t have a great plan in place to get started/make money? No. This sometimes ignites a person into action. How about becoming a temp worker to make extra cash while starting [...]
The Year’s Biggest Shopping Day
Today. In the U.S. at least. The day after Thanksgiving has been the #1 shopper’s holiday since before I can remember. It is known as Black Friday, and it is the true face of an infectious disease known as consumer insanity. It has become so influential and reaching in its magnitude that there have even [...]
Should I Buy Those Shoes?
Picture this scene, if you will. You are at your favorite mall/department store, and you see a pair of shoes you really want. Don’t run away guys! This article is for you, too. Just pretend that they are boots or guns or something. I understand. I don’t care about shoes either. Back to the department [...]
Voluntary Simplicity – An Overview
The simple living movement is a wonderful thing. A direct reaction to the consumerist madness of post World War II America (and perhaps some other nations, more recently) this way of life seems to be gaining more and more steam as we progress deeper into the 21st century. What exactly is voluntary simplicity? There are [...]
Stressful Work for Higher Pay
Ask just about any sane, rational person if they would like a stress-free career where they would earn six-figures per year (or more) and they’ll readily agree. The problem is that this kind of earning potential rarely comes without stress and a good deal of work. So then we are left with two options while [...]
The Death of Intimacy
Scene: Late Fall, 2007, Portland, Oregon. A crowded light-rail train at rush hour close to full with people returning home from work (myself included.) It was just short of 6pm. To my right stood a man in a black suit and blue tie with a briefcase, his head shaved to hide his early-thirties-receding-hairline. He was talking [...]
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