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Why We Are So Bad at Buying Happiness

Why We Are So Bad at Buying Happiness

"Those who say that money can't buy happiness aren't doing it right."  Have you heard that joke before?  Well, it turns out that there is more than a kernel of truth in there. People are generally bad at buying happiness because: 1. We buy to keep up with the Joneses / ...

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Hair, Hair, Everywhere – the Recession Edition

Hair, Hair, Everywhere – the Recession Edition

I wrote a hair post in both 2007 and 2008, so I suppose it's only appropriate to continue the tradition in 2009! This post is dedicated to recession's impact on hair budgets. The recession is a major reason why I've been neglecting my hair a bit during these past several months: ...

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Experience, Not Stuff

Experience, Not Stuff

Experience, not stuff: I've decided to make this my mantra to live by. It'll be hard, because I like nice things (ex: shoes), but guess which of the following I remember the most? (a) A $100 leather jacket purchased in Buenos Aires, that I've worn ONCE in 3 years. (b) A $45 hour-long horse ride on ...

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What Sex And The City Taught Me About Love, Life, and Money

What Sex And The City Taught Me About Love, Life, and Money

Sex And The City: The Movie is coming out in May! I am so, so excited, and I'm betting that many Sex And The City feel the same way. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda - you ladies have been missed! (By the way, I love the photo below - head-to-toe ...

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5 Year Travel Plan: Making Your Travel Dreams a Reality

5 Year Travel Plan: Making Your Travel Dreams a Reality

I've been struck by a bad case of the travel bug lately... I haven't been out of the country since 2007, which seems like a long time. CB and I are saving for Galapgos, but we also want to travel quite extensively in the intervening months before our Big Galapagos ...

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Graduate School: (When) Should I Go?

Graduate School: (When) Should I Go?

Graduate school is a significant undertaking both in terms of time and money. During the last few months, I've felt some pressure from concerned family members about going to graduate school. I know they only want the best for me, but I'm glad I followed my gut instinct and ...

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Should Parents Pay For College Education

Should Parents Pay For College Education

A college education has, for a large percentage of society, become the de rigueur entry-level degree. "Should parents pay for college education" is a question where the answer is always, "it depends." In today's economic climate, I imagine that many parents are having the difficult talk with their kids ...

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Free GMAT Study Resources

Free GMAT Study Resources

Taking and prepping for standardized tests isn't cheap, fortunately, there are many free study resources available online. I've taken advantage of most of these resources when I was preparing for my test last year. Hopefully you will find them helpful as well. Free Online Study Materials The GMAT Uncovered by ManhattanGMAT: A ...

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7 Steps In Overcoming Rejections In Job Search

7 Steps In Overcoming Rejections In Job Search

Rejections during job search are disappointing, to be sure. Nobody likes to be told that they were qualified candidates, but the management has decided to go in another direction. In this environment, however, rejections are common-place through out the job search and interview process. After the initial disappointment wears off ...

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How to Host a Dinner Party On a Budget

How to Host a Dinner Party On a Budget

Hosting a dinner party is always fun, but right now I need my get-togethers to be budget-friendly as well. Remember when I made crab cakes? That was for a group of 5 or 6 friends. The crab cakes were delicious and everyone loved them, but, crabs are expensive! Two pounds ...

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Pure Altruism - Does it Exist?

Pure Altruism - Does it Exist?

Every time the holidays come around, feel-good human-interest stories surface. This is a time to give to others, help those in need, and realize that the world is not as cutthroat or as competitive as we may believe. But is it true? Can people be purely altruistic? The authors of Superfreakonomics (the ...

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The Price of Addiction To Argentine Tango

The Price of Addiction To Argentine Tango

It's happened. I fell for the sultry dance, hard. (I even made its own category!) I leave class with a big smile on my face. I read Argentine tango forums and blogs. I fall asleep thinking of boleos and molinetes. I'm not sure how my wallet feels about the possible financial ...

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Old Cars: Unsung Heroes of Personal Finance

Old Cars: Unsung Heroes of Personal Finance

New Cars are shiny, gleaming, loaded with the latest technology and features. New cars get the big commercials on TV, where they swerve confidently in snow storms, zoom down idyllic country lanes, and maybe even dance a little to the sound of a state-of-the-art in-car sound system near a trendy ...

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Disney World Recap

Disney World Recap

I realized that I haven't really talked about my Disney World adventure (aside from the Dining Plan review) on this blog yet... and well, that oversight must be rectified! If you have any specific questions about Disney World, please ask away and I'll do my best to answer. We Got To ...

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Job Fairs: How to Prepare So You Stand Out

Job Fairs: How to Prepare So You Stand Out

Job fairs can be a great opportunity for applicants to interact with many different companies. But if you don't prepare adequately, job fairs can be a disaster. Last week, I attended a job fair - prior to the event I debated whether I should go. I had heard the horror ...

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How To Practice Safe and Responsible Credit Card Use

How To Practice Safe and Responsible Credit Card Use

Wait, you mean you never had a credit card education class in school? Okay, me neither. The quality of education these days! But there's no reason that high schools or colleges shouldn't offer a class like this. After all, credit card education isn't an awkward topic like the other type of ...

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2010 Goal-Setting With Uncertainty

by WellHeeled on December 31, 2009

For 2010, many things are up in the air right now. Despite the uncertainty, I think it’s still important to make realistic but flexible goals.

In addition to financial goals, I’ll have several personal goals as well.

  • Save $5,000 for retirement, either in Roth IRA or solo 401K. (If I get a job in the States, the dollar amount of this goal will obviously increase dramatically).
  • Get job, either in the States or overseas. This job will ideally help me gain more experience working with business issues and client demands.
  • Travel! Ideally a big week-long trip with boyfriend and/or family. Take lots of pictures. Make a photobook to commemorate the trip.
  • Tango. Continue taking classes, continue dancing, continue falling in love.
  • Find the perfect jewelry box. I received two beautiful pairs of earrings this Christmas. Now I need to find a place to put them where they won’t be scratched or damaged.
  • Seek out more freelance opportunities. Writing is great. Getting paid for writing and consulting is even better.
  • Keep a gratitude journal. I have a pesky little habit of comparing myself to other people and somehow I’m always found wanting. I need to remind myself that I’ve been blessed in so many areas of life, and I need to take a moment, every day, to be appreciative of what I have. Hence the journal.
  • Language. Continue to improve Chinese Mandarin reading, speaking, writing, and presenting abilities.
  • Start a decor blog. Not that I don’t love personal finance, but I want to do something a little bit different and creative. :) I’ve already registered 2 domains that might work, just need a little more time to decide which one I want to use.

Carnivals:
Carnival of Personal Finance at Gather Little by Little and Carnival of Money Hacks at Own the Dollar.

Happy New Year!

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{ 2 trackbacks }

uberVU - social comments
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2010 Financial Goals
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Moneyreasons January 1, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Great list! Hopefully you'll find a job soon (I would hate the uncertainty of it all).

Back, to your goals, I especially like your idea of a gratitude journal! I might consider doing that myself! :)

Have a Happy New Year, and Good Luck with the job search! I feel confident that 2010 will be much better than 2009!

Reply

Jessie's Money January 1, 2010 at 8:03 pm

Great goals! I'm looking forward to checking out your decor blog!

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Ciawy January 1, 2010 at 8:26 pm

i just wanna share – we have similar goals and hopes for 2010 ;) i just started writing and trying to be active in the blog community. you've inspired me a lot with your blogs. thanks!

http://runworkandsave.blogspot.com/2009/12/random...

Reply

WellHeeled January 3, 2010 at 8:14 pm

Thanks for the nice words! I'll check out your blog.. and best of luck with your job search!

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Carmen January 1, 2010 at 11:51 pm

pretty similar goals, except for the job part… definitely right on about a gratitude journal

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Bucksome Boomer January 2, 2010 at 3:43 am

The gratitude journal is something that resonates with me. I find the more grateful I am the less I complain about little things.

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Financial Samurai January 3, 2010 at 8:37 am

Hi WH, HNY! Didn't realize you weren't working. What industry were you doing before, and how long have you not been working? I've noticed a lot of positive anecdotal evidence that the job market is picking up.

I'd go overseas and go on an adventure. Go to China, Taiwan if you want to improve your Mandarin!

Reply

WellHeeled January 3, 2010 at 8:14 pm

I hope the positive anecdotal evidence turns out to be right.. and that I'll soon have some to contribute myself. :) I've been out of work for 4 months now – keeping busy with some freelance assignments, but am really looking for full-time opportunities. Was in consulting beforehand.

Reply

Financial Samurai January 3, 2010 at 8:24 pm

WH – Things will definitely improve. Companies shut down hiring generally no later than September, hence I wouldn't consider Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec to be the normalized period for you. The 4th quarter is the TOUGHEST time to get a job.

I'm absolutely positive that things will look up for you in the first 6 months this year.

Best, Sam

Reply

Indian Thoughts January 4, 2010 at 6:45 am

Happy new year.

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David Carroll March 15, 2010 at 4:43 am

I like your goals and i would add that it is a good idea to revisit these goals often and put them where you can see them. maybe make some notes on how you are doing and relate your successes to yourself and others as you progress. Focus and perseverance are guarantees of success. Thanks for sharing your ideas

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