She Strengthens

Embracing Financial Reality

As I bid farewell to the bright lights of New York City, I’m forced to confront the harsh reality of my expenses. Let’s just say I won’t be winning any awards for frugality anytime soon. My cab fares, in particular, have taken a toll on my wallet. While I believe in prioritizing safety, I may have relied on this rationale a bit too liberally.

A Fresh Start in Boston

Luckily, my next destination is Boston, a city I know like the back of my hand. This familiarity will encourage me to adopt more budget-friendly habits, like walking and taking the metro (or T, as the locals call it). Before returning to LA, I’m planning a reduced-spending challenge to offset my recent extravagance.

The Bus Ticket Conundrum

With an upcoming trip to Montreal to visit family, I’ve been comparing bus tickets, car rental prices, and plane tickets. The bus ticket prices still manage to astonish me – I’ll be traveling to Montreal for a mere $50 and back to Boston for just $20. While I’d prefer to fly or take the train, my current financial situation dictates a more frugal approach.

Getting Real with Finances

It’s essential to face reality and make responsible financial decisions, even if they’re not the most desirable. This week, I took Rockstar Finance’s 10 easy money questions, which revealed some areas for improvement, including calculating my net worth.

Weekly Reads

Here are some thought-provoking articles that caught my attention:

• Can You Answer These 10 Easy Money Questions? (Rockstar Finance) – A financial reality check that’s both straightforward and eye-opening.
• The Power of 1% (Afford Anything) – How small, incremental changes can lead to significant long-term results.
• 6 Things You Might Not Know About Getting Out of Debt (The Frugal Farmer) – A sobering look at the what-ifs of debt and financial planning.
• What’s in Your Golden Circle? (No More Harvard Debt) – A thought-provoking exploration of your financial values and motivations.
• 14 Ways to Save Like a Broke Millennial (Business Insider) – Practical tips for saving money, including a clever browser extension that finds coupon codes for you.
• The Magic of Measuring the Right Thing (Seth Godin) – The importance of tracking the right metrics to achieve financial success.
• How to Save 20% of Your Income in Your 30s (PT Money) – A inspiring story of saving for retirement, with actionable advice for achieving similar results.