Normally the idea of spending $100 on fuel in one week, just plain sucks. Especially when you consider that $100 spent now means a loss of $700+ future dollars in 30 years. In this case however, $100 bought me great experiences worth far more to me now than $700 in the future. And partially, it’s thanks to the late Queen Victoria.
The Dividends of VolunteeringVolunteering is one of those things that people always hear about other people doing, but often don’t do themselves. In the material world we live in, it’s unfortunate that we have come to the point where unless there’s a monetary reward attached to something, we are less inclined to do it. The awesome thing about living below your means and striving for financial independence, is that it has the side effect of reducing your materialistic mindset. In turn, you develop a different perspective on the world that can be far more full-filling than anything money can buy. Volunteering is one of the great ways to take money out of the picture and earn dividends of a different variety.
Source: Flickr courtesy of Takashi Hososhima
Everybody has their down days, and sometimes it just feels like the world is against you. But don’t fret, there’s an incredibly simple way to help you break out of your melancholy. It turns out, that it’s possible to improve your mood simply by smiling. Today’s post is a bit of a departure from the more recent content on personal finance and travelling, but one that I feel is equally, if not more, important. What good is saving up all that money and mastering the art of rewards travel if you’re not in a good mood to actually enjoy it? So let’s dive into some of the science of smiling.