Even from an early age, I was good with money. My parents weren’t particularly finance-focused—Mom hunted garage sale bargains, Dad worked overtime at his blue-collar job to keep life comfortable, but that was about it. I spent lots of time with my Depression-era grandparents who knew how to pinch pennies. My grandmother’s advice stuck: “pay … Read more
Welcome to my new monthly series tracking the real cost of living in Bali and Southeast Asia during early retirement. Every first Friday, I’ll break down exactly what the cost of living in Bali (and other locations) looks like on a $3,000 monthly budget and what I learned about managing expenses while living abroad. After … Read more
Many people think escaping a toxic workplace is as simple as changing jobs or cities. I thought the same thing when I transferred to what seemed like a better work environment. But toxic workplace patterns have a way of following you, and here’s why the geographic cure rarely works. Signs Your Workplace Is Toxic Before … Read more
The healthcare burnout had been building for years, but the unfair pay decision made it impossible to ignore. Here’s how workplace toxicity in healthcare became my motivation to pursue financial independence. In 2017, my employer told me that a brand-new nurse would now make 20% more than me for doing the exact same job I’d … Read more