The Flat, the Ladder, and the Bonus That Magically Arrived The first time that LISA bonus hit my account, I just… stared at the screen. I’d done the thing — saved what I could, ignored the house prices that made me want to cry, and set up the account that everyone online either hyped to … Read more
Out of the Feed, Into the Moment: My Quiet Social Media Detox I didn’t mean to compare my life to someone else’s beach holiday for the third time this week. Or fall into that oddly comforting black hole of kittens on reels. Or spend 15 minutes watching a Facebook video of someone restoring a 90s … Read more
Getting Clear on What I Can Spend There’s something quietly reassuring about knowing exactly which part of your money is yours to enjoy without a hint of guilt. After sorting out rent, bills, groceries, and even a little savings and investments, having that clear slice of spending cash feels like a tiny peace treaty with … Read more
First Hearing about FIRE/FI I first heard about FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) about 7 or 8 years ago. Back then, I was all in — saving like a maniac, eating frozen veggies, and dreaming of quitting my worst job as soon as humanly possible. Mr. Money Mustache’s shockingly simple math blew my mind, and … Read more
FIRE to FI It hit me the other day while I was rinsing out my battered, sticker-covered travel mug — the one that’s seen more existential coffee breaks than I care to count. I wasn’t thinking about money. I was thinking about how quiet the house was (miracle), how good the coffee smelled (also miracle), … Read more
