Utility, happiness and cost Today I want to introduce the concept of utility, and explore how it relates to the central theme of this blog: happiness. In my previous blog post on the marginal utility of money I proposed a money-happiness curve like this one. Generally as we spend additional money to become happier, there …
Tag: Money
Feb 22
You Don’t Have to Hate Your Job to Want Financial Independence
Financial freedom for everyone Financial independence is not just for people that hate their jobs. It is for everyone. Creating freedom in your life may seem more urgent when you feel trapped by a job you hate, but it is still a noble goal for those deeply satisfied with their work. Predictions are …
Feb 16
The Difference Between Frugal and Cheap
Cheap or Frugal? Many people confuse being frugal with being cheap. I certainly did for much of my life. They are not the same, and understanding the difference matters. I wish I knew the difference earlier in life, as I could have more efficiently optimized my happiness . I want to give you some …
Oct 26
How Understanding the Marginal Utility of Money Will Make you Happier
Money is a very interesting thing, and not as simple as it seems at first glance. I really didn’t understand it’s complexity until recently. We go to work and in return we receive money as payment. We spend this money on stuff. This is as sophisticated as most people get. I thought of myself …
Sep 27
A Physicians Guide to Working Part Time
Several months ago I stumbled upon a personal finance blog geared towards physicians and financial independence, two topics that are very relevant to my life. A series of posts there detail the financial lives of four fictional doctors and how their various financial decisions result in radical differences in retirement savings and age at which …
Aug 20
Lessons From an Apple Tree
I came home from work yesterday, and on the way to the front door I grabbed a couple of apples from my apple tree. I didn’t think much of it until later when eating the delicious fruit. It was picked at just the right time; sweet and crisp, a flawless perfection of nature. I tried …
Jul 14
A simple Path to Wealth: Book Review
When I heard one of my favorite bloggers was coming out with a book I was very excited, but when I found out I could get an advanced copy and spew my opinion of it on the internet I couldn’t wait to get started. Now I’m not normally a ‘book review guy’. In fact I …
Apr 29
Experiment: Abstaining From Alcohol
It was New Year’s Day a little over three years ago. I rolled out of bed a little groggy from the celebration the night before – not skull crushing hangover, but enough malaise to realize I was not at 100% of my potential. I felt a little better after a glass of water and …
Apr 19
Are New Cars Getting Cheaper?
We all know the cost of goods and services tends to rise over time, what we commonly refer to as inflation. Well as you know, I like to challenge conventional thinking and I had a buying experience that adds a bit more nuance to the discussion. Last year I finally decided to purchase a …
Mar 30
How to retire by 40.
Early retirement is a hot topic these days and for good reason, it is attainable by nearly anyone who really wants it and pretty freaking awesome. There are thousands of gurus/blogs/coworkers who claim to have the definitive opinion on this topic but I’m here to give you the lazy man’s simple approach, specifically designed …
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