0. Introduction

Hi all,

My name is Nicki. I'm an artist and graphic designer who has on more than one occasion needed to find a way to make more or spend less money. Whether you need to simply be able to pay your bills or you're working to pay off credit cards or loans, there are some simple tools you can use. 

First, let me cop to the fact that this blog, like many budgeting, sustenance, and home making blogs, is born of privilege. I have been afforded, or have afforded myself a number of opportunities in my lifetime. Opportunities that may not be readily available to others. Included among them are an education, a safe home, supportive family, and tools with which to provide myself an income no matter what my transportation situation looks like. That said, like MANY people, I realize that this privilege does not ensure that I am financially secure. 


I have a number of "101" themed blogs, because honestly I get lots of ideas & I figured a 101 post blog would be do-able. In the coming months, I will talk about simple tips for budgeting and saving money because right now, that's where my life is at. I need to be able to pay my bills and not stress over it.

There are a lot of budgeting blogs and gurus out there, & I am honestly humbled by the fact that you're reading this particular blog. I have a level of frustration, that you may or may not also have, with a lot of the budgeting blogs out there. They seem more concerned with ad-space and affiliate links, then with actual results.

Too often I came across sites that suggested I could save hundreds of dollars by stopping some behavior that I don't have (like taking clothes to the dry cleaner or cutting my cable consumption). OR, I could save $500 per month if I just followed their simple rules. The problem was, their rules fit their lifestyle—not mine, so they usually didn't work for me.

This blog, fits my admittedly simpler lifestyle. It may fit yours as well. It may not. But hopefully you'll find something in it helpful.

Full disclosure: you will see ads on my blog, and there may even be some affiliate links, but I will clearly label them if they appear within blog posts. Mostly, the affiliate links will be for books that you may find helpful (those will always appear at the end of posts). I should also point out that these links are to independent bookseller websites as I am not an Amazon affiliate.

The other thing to note is that I don't do this for a living. It is a labor of love, done in my spare time. (like I said, I have ideas).  As such, if you comment, I may not be able to respond in a timely manner. For that I apologize, but you know how life can get.

Thanks all & be well,
.n