Does anyone else find adult gift giving kind of crazy?
Every year I’m asking the people in my life what they’d like for Christmas and it’s always: “I don’t really need anything”, or “I don’t know”.
And that’s how I feel, too.
But I’m still going to buy them something, because… I don’t know… it’s what we do, and it feels super mean to just give up the tradition. Plus, giving gifts is fun! Right? (more…)
2015 was another year in which I tried to do way more than I had the money to actually afford.
I attempted to fix a decade’s worth of dental neglect, invested in education, started an online business, all while trying to run and grow my opera career.
Generally when you’re spending a ton, and not making a ton, it’s not a formula that leads to happiness… unless you love to be in debt. But I’ve managed to end another year without any debt on the books (by the hair of my teeth… thanks, surprise root canal).
So, how’d I do it? Well, I shaved off money where ever I could, and put it where it would do the most good (or at least where I hoped it would do the most good).. and I want to share 6 of my favourites with you (aren’t you lucky?).
A lot of these might not be perfect fits for your life, and that’s fine. When it comes to saving money or cutting expenses you’ve got to find the areas you don’t mind cutting in, and that’s going to be different for everyone.
What I will say is that in most of these cases I found that the benefits of cutting back weren’t just in saving money, and that’s probably why I stuck to them throughout the year.. because it doesn’t matter how good the savings idea is… you actually have to do it.
These are the ones that worked for me! (more…)
So there’s an article flowing around the inter webs that’s made some waves in the personal finance community:
IF YOU HAVE SAVINGS IN YOUR 20s, YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG
Now I imagine that for some of you just reading this title sent a wave of justification through your soul. And that, even though you’ll probably agree that it’s an exercise in click bait extremism, some of you might be on board with its general premise.
“Why should I ‘waste’ my 20s saving and scrimping? I should be living life to the fullest.”
I’ll admit that in amongst its “learn to treat yo’ self” insanity, the piece makes a few actual points, like… how spending money on networking and investing in yourself can pay off fully in the long run. That’s a huge truth for entrepreneurial types (like artists).
But like many one-size-fits-all statements it probably fails to address your reality, beautiful snowflake that you are. However, it brings up a super basic question that I think tons of variable income artists struggle with whenever a big cheque comes in:
You remember how amazing Christmas or your birthday was when you were a kid?
The anticipation. The sleepless night. The setting out of the cookies… the eating of ice cream for breakfast (I’ll let you decide which tradition goes with which event). And the getting of sweet sweet stuff.
You’d made your list, or dropped super subtle hints about the exact lego set that you definitely wanted.
Then you wait, and the waiting is intolerable. But it finally comes. And there’s more anticipation. Will it be there? Will Santa come through? (Yes. He came every year on my birthday, too. We have a special bond.)
Now, as a legally defined grown-up, it’s pretty different. (more…)
Whenever I used to think about the idea of saving my money, it just seemed….impossible.
As far as tough financial words go, ‘savings’ isn’t really one of them. Everyone has a general idea of what ‘savings’ are, and that they should have them. But there are still different ideas about what they represent.
To me, savings are just the dollars that aren’t going towards your immediate needs.
They’re the leftovers. The stuff that can carry over.
The problem was that generally, in my life, there wasn’t a lot left over.
I was barely scrapping by. How was I supposed to be saving for anything?
So I just stuck it at the end of the list. Something that future Chris would have to worry about. (Poor future Chris… I am rarely doing that guy any favours.)
It’s a fair question:
How do you think about savings, if you don’t have any money?
It’s a question that I grapple with, but current Chris (previously known as future Chris) has come through again with a (most likely imperfect) method, that really really helps, and has proven to me that… you don’t need much money to save money. (more…)
My girlfriend and I spent more than half the year apart in 2014. This year we’re on pace to do at least that well.
In 2015, we have spent only 8 days together in the apartment that we share in snowy Toronto.
It’s been this way since day 1. Our first kiss was followed by her jumping on a plane the next morning.
Our relationship really started on Skype… and a big part of it continues through that magical service.
Living with that much long distance can sometimes be hard, but I’m not complaining. We’re both artists, and have to travel a lot for the work that we do. It’s a life that we want, and we knew when we started dating that long distance would be a big part of it. So after 3 years, we continue to live this crazy life and are constantly trying to find ways to make it work.
I'm an opera-singing financial planner, and I want to help you start getting control over your money.
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