A friend told me the other day that he can't go a week without spending money. At first I laughed because, well, it's funny, but then I realized I used to be the same way. In fact, I couldn't have gone an entire day without spending anything! So one day during the good ol' Catholic season of Lent I decided to give it up - for an entire 40 days. And when I say "gave it up" I … [Read more...]

When you think of financial "templates," what comes to mind? For me, one example of a template is the accepted best way of achieving something. The thing is, what works for most people may not work for you. In fact, if no one challenged the status quo, the conventional approach would never evolve, and we would keep doing the same things again and again. But the status quo … [Read more...]

Last time I wrote about finding your passion and improving your finances. Sometimes, though, you can't immediately get started on making money from your passion. It means you have to adapt and develop a savings cushion that can help you make the transition. Getting a side job can be a stepping stone towards your goals. The problem is that getting a second job, even … [Read more...]

One of the most difficult challenges for would-be untemplaters is money. If you're not holding down a steady, 9-to-5 job, how are you going to pay your bills? Even if you're backpacking on a shoestring through a foreign land, you'll need cash for food, transport, and a bed every so often, right? It's fair to say that in a commercialized world, most of us will need some … [Read more...]