Category Archives: Personal Development

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How Single Mom, Megan Nickson, Paid Off Her Mortgage in 6 Years

7 steps that led a single-parent, single-income family to achieve one of the most difficult and wonderful financial goals in existence.

Today we are joined by guest writer and web enthusiast, Amy Nickson from Working Moms Word, who shares an incredible story about how her single mom paid off her mortgage in 6 years! You do not want to miss Amy’s story about determination, goal setting, sacrifices, and celebration.   This is my mom, Megan Nickson’s, […]

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March Freelance Writing Update – My First $500

Check out how I earned my first $500 writing on the web and how I got published on LifeHack, Scary Mommy, and The Penny Hoarder

One year ago, I launched this personal finance blog, hoping to spread inspiration about frugal living from my own family’s journey. Then, I fell in love with writing for the web and started getting published on other websites. Now I’m regularly contributing to websites and earning back the money I’ve invested in this blog and […]

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9 Words That Changed My View on Contentment

If comparison steals our joy, then guess what steals our contentment?

I propped my head up with my hands at our kitchen table as my 3-year-old daughter scribbled in her coloring book. It was just one of those days where our modular home felt too small, our secondhand furniture felt too beat up, and I wasn’t seeing the silver lining in all this “frugal living” stuff. […]

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The Daring Pursuit of a Financial “Do Over”

Hear about one woman who moved away to financially start over, landed back on her feet and is paying for college in cash

Today, we are joined by Jaime Donovan, a writer, and personal finance enthusiast, who made a huge transition in her life to financially start over. Instead of letting her circumstances dictate her outcome, Jaime took a step of faith and moved from Arizona to Nebraska, seeking a fresh start and, with hard work, found it. […]

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5 Ways Toddlers Use Money Just Like Adults

A humorous look at how some things never change, even with age.

Here is a light-hearted look at what happens when an overly excited mother, who moonlights as a personal finance blogger, lets her toddlers play with coins. After a few weeks of borderline chaos, I learned a few things. Namely that my kids use money just like the rest of us…with a twist.   And without […]

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My One Word for 2016

If you could choose one word to launch your year, what would it be?

Up until this weekend, my one word for 2016 was going to be: Quality. I was going to polish up and perfect my message of personal finance and parenting. Then something not-so-shiny, but oh-so-real happened. Something I wrote, something raw and personal and honest, went viral. Somehow, my journey fused with thousands of other people. […]

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Her Cardboard Sign Read: “Homeless and Pregnant”

How a recent encounter with a homeless woman jolted my perspective on Thanksgiving

My kids and I crunched across the snow to our SUV after church.  Lunchtime hunger pains were just setting in.  We had a few minutes to kill while my husband rehearsed for Christmas at the church, so we went in search of food. The minute we turned into the shopping center, my eyes locked onto […]

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The Fastest Way to Derail Your Budget (and Stay Stuck)

Do you bury your head in the sand when your finances go haywire?

Guess who’s got two thumbs and won’t be writing “five steps to a perfect budget” anytime soon?  This girl.  Do you want to know the fastest way to guarantee a budget that resembles a Shakespearean tragedy? Ignore it. That’s it.  Simply, turn your head away from the information in your plan and do whatever you […]

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What To Do When Your Side Income Goes Belly Up

4 Takeaways to Remember When Your Efforts Fall Through the Cracks

I’ve written before about how I put nearly 50 hours into a consignment sale and earned $178 as a result.  I’m also the queen of not making a sale on eBay, Craigslist or Facebook garage sales.  Come to me for advice, people.  I know how to get it done.  Not… Photo Credit:  Liz Edgar (Creative […]

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Fighting “The Resistance” When You’re Dog Tired

A Candid Look at Creativity Under Attack

“Resistance by definition is self-sabotage.”  – Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles Photo Credit:  Edalisse (MorgueFile) The “resistance” is that unseen force that blocks your creativity.  Like the desire to hit the snooze button instead of getting up to do devotions.  Like rain clouds on the […]