Oops 🙂 . My spending goal for 2025 was $24,000 and I spent $35,950.70. As you can see – I went over budget. Way over budget, but that’s for a very good reason. So let’s get into it!
Category: Finance
Review: TIDAL – A Better Spotify Alternative
For years I’ve paid for Spotify Premium and used their service for hours every day. I’ve mentioned in my Annual Accomplishments posts how part of my weekly routine was to listen to the 1.5 hours of personalized music Spotify put out for me every Monday in Discover Weekly, and the 1.5 hour Release Radar they released every Friday. No longer 🙂 – and I’m better for it.
I left Spotify Premium this year and am now a happy customer of TIDAL. So let’s get into why I felt the need to change my music service and how it’s going. Continue reading “Review: TIDAL – A Better Spotify Alternative”
How I Made $7,553 While Retired In 2025
Let’s talk about something wild: the surprising amount of money I made in retirement this year. It’s surprising because I expected this amount to be $0 after I quit my job in October 2020, but like a lot of things in life, I was wrong 🙂 . So let’s get into it! Continue reading “How I Made $7,553 While Retired In 2025”
The Month Of Thanks: November 2025 Recap
I’m writing this post while looking at the gorgeous fall leaves outside my NY apartment window. It’s a fully Knives Out vibe here and I am loving it. So let’s see what I got up to this month!
Continue reading “The Month Of Thanks: November 2025 Recap”
Slow Travel Review: Auckland, New Zealand – The Land Of Nature And Cafes
When I first visited Auckland, New Zealand with my Mom in 2023 I thought, “My Partner would love this city”. It’s gorgeous, close to nature and filled with unique Mom and Pop coffee shops.
In 2025 after my Partner asked that we “meet in the middle” while I was in Japan and he was in New York, we met in Auckland and stayed for 6 weeks. I’m happy to report that he loved it for the reasons I suspected he would.
Continue reading “Slow Travel Review: Auckland, New Zealand – The Land Of Nature And Cafes”
How I Furnished My Apartment For Under $2,000
I’m not sure if I’ve said this explicitly on this blog before, but I have a small family that is not at all close to each other geographically. As a result, I’ve always assumed that you have to do everything yourself – there’s no safety net or ‘community’ to fall back on. I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and a city that large isn’t known for its camaraderie.
Continue reading “How I Furnished My Apartment For Under $2,000”
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Library Card: Sister Libraries, Free Passes And Apps
A few months ago in the post below, I asked if anyone wanted me to elaborate on what I learned about all the benefits of library cards and I was pleasantly surprised that a lot of people did! So this is me fulfilling that promise.
The Month I Became A Millionaire: October 2025 Recap
I’m writing this while looking out at the sun rising over the Rocky Mountains. Adorable birds are chirping and I’m curious what wildlife we’ll spot today (recent favorites included hawks, turkeys and deer).
Colorado has been an interesting first stop after being overseas for months. And it’s been a busy month so let’s get into it!
Continue reading “The Month I Became A Millionaire: October 2025 Recap”