You get married and then it’s living happily ever after, right? Well… A few months after we were married, my wife–Allison–came home from Target with a couple of large shopping bags. “What did you buy this time?!” No, I didn’t say that out loud. I’m not that stupid. But the thought did run through my mind, and […]
Happiness
How to Give Great Money Advice and Look Like a Saint
Use your two ears and one mouth accordingly. Over the last couple of years, I’ve had many clients say to me, “Dan, you’re the first money guy that doesn’t make me feel stupid.” Warms my heart! But it takes practice to earn those remarks from the people I coach. If someone asks you for advice–about […]
Stressed Out? How to Buy Extra Time
Trading money for time makes everyone happier. There is an idea floating around called time affluence. It can be defined as our internal feeling of sufficient time to pursue activities that we enjoy. The wealthier you become on the time affluence scale, the happier you’ll be. The daily hassles of life stress us out far […]
Only worn twice? How to overcome a guilty closet.
Downsizing your wardrobe doesn’t have to feel like a funeral. If you have ever felt bad about getting rid of clothes you hardly wore, you aren’t alone. Everyone has felt it before, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Science explains exactly why you feel guilty. For a psychologist, Daniel Kahneman is an entertaining writer. […]
Afraid of Becoming a Scrooge? How to Be Thrifty and Generous.
This is how you pinch pennies without looking like a greedy crank. I was talking with a friend–let’s call her Noel–about her stress with money during the holidays. Right now, Noel is doing great with her money. She is saving for a vacation, getting rid of debt, and paying her bills. But Noel worries about becoming […]
How to Deal with the Guilt of Nice Things
You could be doing worse. You could be living in a radio station. I was talking with a friend the other day about the guilt she felt about using borrowed money. This is the first time in her life she has been living purely on debt. Going back to school to get a doctorate can […]