Evolving Personal Finance » Entries tagged with "time"

As a Contractor, It’s Up to Me to Protect My Time

As a Contractor, It’s Up to Me to Protect My Time

Since my defense last summer, I’ve been contracting with a company that provides scientific services. This job has been my main source of income outside of my fellowship from this past spring. I’ve stuck with this job even though most people I know who have done it have quit after a short time, and I think the difference is that I’ve decided to fiercely protect my time.   I am a perfectionist, as are many scientists. I … Read entire article »

Filed under: income

Big Wins, Small Wins, and the Payoff-to-Energy Ratio

Big Wins, Small Wins, and the Payoff-to-Energy Ratio

  What matters more for your net worth, big wins or (lots of) small wins?   Big wins are those singular decisions or actions we can take that have a large impact on our net worth. They can even be the reason that we have a positive net worth at all!   Big wins can come on the income side of the net worth equation for sure, like consistently negotiating raises and changing jobs for better opportunities. They can come … Read entire article »

Filed under: choices, income, investing

Time and Money Spent Reveal Your Values – After You Normalize

Time and Money Spent Reveal Your Values – After You Normalize

I often hear axioms along the lines of “If you look at a man’s checkbook register, you can tell what his priorities are.”  Ugh, that sounded a bit dated…  “If you log into a person’s Mint account, you can tell what her priorities are.”  The point is that you will naturally put money toward the things you value most and skimp on the ones you don’t.  Your money tells the truth about what you care … Read entire article »

Filed under: values

I Don’t Work for the Money

I Don’t Work for the Money

I often read in the PF blogosphere about the importance of achieving financial independence through the generation of passive income streams.  Some bloggers will go on to explain that until we achieve FI, we are trading time for money, and time should be recognized as a more precious resource than money because it is non-renewable.   I turned over the phrases “trading time for money” or “working for money” while Kyle and I traveled for Thanksgiving.  (Aren’t … Read entire article »

Filed under: income

Why You Should Save for Retirement While In Graduate School Part 2

Why You Should Save for Retirement While In Graduate School Part 2

aka Why You Should Save For Retirement Even with a Low Income   This is the second half of a two-part post intended to inspire graduate students and others with low incomes who are currently not saving for retirement to start.  Check out the first post for my assumptions and an argument concerning compound interest.  Please remember that I am not a financial planner or CPA and you should not consider my opinions financial advice targeted for … Read entire article »

Filed under: choices, retirement, savings

Why You Should Save for Retirement While In Graduate School Part 1

Why You Should Save for Retirement While In Graduate School Part 1

aka Why You Should Save For Retirement Even with a Low Income   This two-part post is intended to inspire graduate students who are currently not saving for retirement to start.  The graduate students I refer to in this post are those who are being paid a living wage while in school – that is, they are not taking out loans for tuition or living expenses and can keep their must-have living expenses (rent, utilities, food, etc.) … Read entire article »

Filed under: choices, featured, grad school, retirement