Tis the season! Almost everything about the Christmas holiday brings me joy: the smells, the colder weather, the overall general "good cheer" and, of course, the two weeks off I am afforded as an educator. It's a wonderful time of year to spend with your family and friends, or to cozy up with a good… Continue reading Fight the Christmas Present Siren Song!
Author: Secondhand Thoughts
A 30-something teacher trying to be an adult in Vancouver, Canada.
Recovering from a Shopping Bender
In many of my past writings I've talked about how I'm pretty good at resisting temptation in order to keep my wallet happy and my closet at a reasonable size. And to be fair to myself, for about 90% of the year I am able to hold to that. The remaining 10%, however, is a… Continue reading Recovering from a Shopping Bender
Forced to be Fancy
Once upon a time I imagined that I would become a "Fancy Lady" like in the movies. I'd wear ballgowns with quite a bit of regularity and drink champagne with breakfast and stroll around the grounds of my Fancy Castle. Very much the product of a Disney upbringing, this was further compounded during my university… Continue reading Forced to be Fancy
Commuting by Car Truly Sucks
I've had it pretty good the past three years - I have discovered a wonderful way to walk to work. Sure, it involves climbing up a small mountain, but where I live in British Columbia that's pretty much inevitable. I've narrowed it down to 50 minutes up to work, and about 42 minutes down to… Continue reading Commuting by Car Truly Sucks
Let the Bride and Groom Plan Their Own Bloody Wedding
Man oh man, this is a hot topic amongst my friends at the moment. I'm at that stage in my life where it seems like there is a wedding every other weekend. Between buying gifts, travelling to/from the venue and finding accommodation, it seems like the vast majority of my money is going towards weddings… Continue reading Let the Bride and Groom Plan Their Own Bloody Wedding
Battling Back after an Exhausting Holiday
The countdown to beginning the school year is on! Only two more days to sleep in, only two more nights to live it up (if by live it up I mean have a couple of drinks with friends and then go to bed before 10pm). That's all cool - mentally I am more than ready… Continue reading Battling Back after an Exhausting Holiday
Tiny Steps Add Up
It's amazing how what seems obvious to everyone can still sneak up on you and bite you in the ass. This can be in a good or bad way, as you'll see in this piece. As the summer winds down I always like to take some time and reflect on how I spent my time,… Continue reading Tiny Steps Add Up
Asking for Help is a Good Thing
All my life I have struggled with my body image and weight. Growing up I was a hefty kid (not fat, but certainly big) and carried that through to my adult years. At least when I was young I played multiple sports and was active enough to feel healthy. As I went through my twenties… Continue reading Asking for Help is a Good Thing
Huh. Actually Thinking through Purchases is Helpful??
Whose wallet is happier these days? This guy's! Recently I have returned from a short holiday that took me from the west coast of Vancouver Island to San Francisco. It was an amazing trip, and in many ways I wish it was still happening, but it's good to be home and back to routine. Part… Continue reading Huh. Actually Thinking through Purchases is Helpful??
Personal Finance Ruts – What Do I Do??
My financial mood always seems to swing between two different points: I'm super motivated and saving and excited about seeing my numbers go up, or I'm in a rut, where I don't think about money at all, don't save anything and wonder what the point of it is. It's hard to determine what causes these… Continue reading Personal Finance Ruts – What Do I Do??
Secondhand Thoughts 