Well, it’s been a week since I made the decision to leave my job and start the journey to full-time freelance. I still feel great about it! Of course, nothing in my life has actually changed yet, but it feels like everything has changed. Knowing there is an end in sight for the stress and […]
Author: Kara
An Action Plan, and a New Goal
Last week I wrote about how I’d reached my breaking point. I’m pretty unhappy with my professional life, which is not great. And as many of you pointed out in the comments, this is not a dress rehearsal. It matters that I’m happy in my day to day. Thank you to everyone who left me […]
I’ve Reached the Breaking Point
I have officially reached the breaking point. I took the wrong highway exit coming home from catering at 11:00pm a few nights ago, and I burst into tears. I was so exhausted, so upset at my life, so completely done with everything, that I just cried it out on the frontage roads. I got back to […]
Showing Off Your Hometown on a Budget
This month I’ve had two friends visit on two separate trips. Great times all around! I’ve lived in Austin for almost four years, and I’ve actually had very few close friends come visit. Having visitors is exciting, exhausting and if you’re not careful, expensive. You want them to experience the best your city has to offer! […]
When My Boyfriend Stole My Lunch, and How My Frugality Has Limits
My frugality is a really important part of my identity at this point in my life. I’ve embraced a somewhat extreme downsizing on spending in my life, compared to most 20 somethings. It’s a pretty even split between wanting to live a simple, renewable life and saving money. I want to have as small an […]
Learning to Work Smart, Not Hard
On March 1st I tweeted ‘March is going to be a roller coaster. Right now it’s like “LOOK MA NO HANDS.” Two weeks in will be more like “i think I’m gonna be sick.’ Well, I’ve made it through the no hands part, but I’m still riding the ‘Am I gonna puke?” part. March is my […]
Why Financial Independence is Absolutely Right For Me
I am freshly home from the best vacation of my life. My Instagram and Twitter followers will know that I spent Wednesday-Sunday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I joined a friends family vacation, and had a blast. Jackson Hole was no ordinary trip. Frugal was not in the vocabulary of the weekend. I paid for my […]
Side Hustle Bonanza, And the Busiest Month of the Year
March is my busiest time of the year every year, but this year is really going to take the cake. I’ll be side hustling like crazy throughout the month! March is the month of the South by Southwest music and film festival. My catering company works over time for three weeks. It’s a chance to earn […]
Guest Post: Research Study Side Hustle
I’m happy to announce a guest post today! I reached out to Sarah from The Yachtless to ask about one of her favorite side hustles: research study participant. I’m a huge fan of side hustles, having had no less than seven jobs last year. Research study participant is not one I’ve ever done though! Sarah […]
Post-Debt Spending: How to Do it Right
I’ve been debt free for almost nine months now. It’s a glorious place to be. No student loan payments hang over my head. I’m much more financially secure. I’ve stepped up my savings rate substantially. All these things are the direct result of paying off my debt. Navigating the world of post-debt spending has been […]