Category

Articles

Category

Big ideas for Smaller Living, Going Green, Saving Money and the Planet.

Winter comes to Southern California, too. Yes, the temperature has dropped into the 50’s and 60’s (which might seem tepid for the rest of the nation, but chilly for us) and the days are short and gloomy. Though winter keeps many of us inside more than we’d like this time of year, there are still plenty of indoor projects that can be accomplished

With a week left before Christmas, one of the greatest ways to celebrate the season is to give back. This year, I’m going above and beyond the giving spirit (with Mr. LH’s initiative); we’ve decided to contribute to the Spark of Love Toy Drive hosted by the Los Angeles Fire Department and ABC 7.

I’m beginning to realize that I might be purchasing my first house without the golden standard of 20% down. For personal finance gurus who are guffawing and shaking their heads, the truth is I live in an expensive area and 20% down on homes in my area is more than most people make in a year.

For the past three years, I’ve set some simple, yet on-going goals for myself: increase my credit score, ride my bike more, save a set amount and be debt-free. And each year I’m unhappy about not reaching them completely, but pat myself on the back for making some progress.