Archive for November, 2011

Battling Shopping Addiction: Self-Assessment

Posted by Aloysa on November 30th, 2011

This article was featured in the following carnivals:
Yakezie Carnival at Broke Professionals
Carnival of Financial Camaraderie at My University Money
Best of Money at Saving Money Today
Totally Money at Help Me to Save
Canadian Finance Carnival at Canadian Finance Blog
Carnival of Financial Planning at Skilled Investor

Last Sunday I got exceedingly mad at myself, and disturbed, and disappointed with who I have become.

When this emotional turbulence happened, I was watching 60 Minutes. I will go ahead and blame this show for my screwed up Sunday night. The show featured a story about homeless families living out of their cars. The adults shared their experience.(…)

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The Best Things in Life Should Not Cost You a Thing

Posted by Aloysa on November 25th, 2011

This post was inspired by Nikki from Debt Free By Thirty . Every week Nikki features a series of posts The Best Things in Life where she shares her favorite thing of the week.
“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and the end of human existence.” – Aristotle
Thanksgiving is the time to reflect on life, time, relationship and family.  I asked myself one very simple question that was asked by humans a gazillion times. Can money really buy happiness?

Sure, some of you might say, I can get a boat, an island, an extremely early retirement and(…)

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Posted in Oddities of Life Tags: , 31 Comments »

Time Out in the USSR

Posted by Aloysa on November 23rd, 2011

When I found out that my English friend, Ian Davies, whom you have already met in his post  Austerity Today, visited the USSR back in a day, I got very excited. I wanted to hear all about his experience and asked him to write another guest post. Imagine my excitement when Ian agreed! You can read more in Ian’s book Gorbachev: The Rise and Fall of a Hero.

My most interesting travel experience was a visit to the then Soviet Union – Gobachev’s Russia. Having been advised already not to take any photographs at Moscow airport, I disembarked the plane to walk(…)

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Sunday Reading Salon

Posted by Aloysa on November 20th, 2011

If you are like me, then on Sunday morning you drink your morning coffee and browse through PF blogs. If you are like me, you are using Sunday to catch up with reading and networking. These are some great articles I stumbled upon (in no particular order) this week:

Investorz Blog started a new series of interviews with PF bloggers. His first installment is Interview with Investor Robert from The College Investor. Check it out and find out how Robert invests his money.

The College Investor shares with us his blog progress in Fall 2011 Update. I have to tell you that(…)

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Posted in Blogs I Love Tags: , , 8 Comments »

Under Beaker’s Microscope: an American in Europe

Posted by Aloysa on November 16th, 2011

Beaker, my husband, starts a new monthly series called Under Beaker’s Microscope.  Not so long ago I asked him to write a post on how it feels for an American to visit Europe. He wrote. When I read it, I was not sure how to react. I leave it up to you! Enjoy and don’t take anything personally.

I was born and raised in the United States.  For most of my life I did not travel anywhere which is sad because

I have always wanted to travel and see the world. Reading about culture and history is fine. But, actually being there and(…)

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Posted in Travel Stories Tags: , , 20 Comments »

Why Doesn’t the “Occupy” Movement Go Home?

Posted by Aloysa on November 14th, 2011

This post was featured in the following carnivals:

Totally Money at Retire by 40
Carnival of Wealth at Control Your Cash
Personal Finance Whiz Carnival at Personal Finance Whiz

 

A few months ago, in September, the “Occupy” movement started well by building its credibility, asking challenging questions, attracting media attention, inspiring blog posts, encouraging people to express their opinion. The discussions were on. The media coverage was favorable on some channels, and not so favorable on others. But all was peaceful. All was civil.

Two months later the movement’s credibility is not high anymore. In fact, the movement itself is becoming violent, unsanitary and down(…)

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Posted in Opinion Tags: , 29 Comments »

Pet Insurance: Is It Worth It?

Posted by Aloysa on November 11th, 2011

This post was featured in Carnival of Personal Finance at Compounding Returns

Every time one of our pets gets sick, I ask myself this question: why don’t we have pet insurance?

In October our six-year old cat, Charlie (yes, this is his photo), suddenly stopped eating and drinking. He was lethargic and sleeping all day long. On the second day, when he refused his favorite treats, I got really worried. You see, Charlie is a big eater. He eats pretty much all the time. As long as I remember him, he never ever refused a treat. Immediately, Beaker and I took some(…)

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Posted in Pets Tags: , , , 27 Comments »

Herman Cain’s Peculiar 999 Plan

Posted by Aloysa on November 9th, 2011

This post was featured as one of the Editor’s Picks in Carnival of Personal Finance #335: Get A Prenup Edition.

While some bloggers are engrossed with the Occupy Wall Street movement, I got pre-occupied with the former Godfather Pizza CEO Herman Cain. My curiosity is not based  on Cain’s sexual harassment trouble, even though I think that this particular predicament is another peculiar point in Cain’s debacles.

What interests me the most in Cain’s case is the fact that having absolutely no experience in elected office, this man managed to capture the minds of conservative America, rising in the polls. His(…)

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Posted in Opinion Tags: , , 30 Comments »
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