I’ve been doing a lot more reading than writing lately, chalk it up to taking the old addage of two eyes:one mouth and applying it to ‘new media’.  One of the blogs I’m really excited about is The Happiness Project.  Gretchen Rubin spent a year experimenting with doing what all the research, old wives’ tales, and wisdom of your Aunt Bertha have to share about what makes us humans happy.

She has continued to blog about her trials, successes, and life.  Since EconGrrl is all about living your values, Ms. Rubin has a lot to share with us.  I especially like today’s post about asking for help.  Ask!  It gives your community a sure fire way to demonstrate connection and love with you.  Community connections coupled with a strong sense of self is a key to EconGrrl’s happiness.

So, check out the Happiness Project, and leave your comments here as to what are the keys to your happiness.

Ciao!

Sometimes a concept takes a long time to percolate into it’s ‘home base’ in your brain.

My partner and I have been working with a tighter than usual budget lately and rooting out the cause was becoming a near obsession for me.  We are settling into a new routine, trying to keep ‘good enough’ records without following a “Your Money or Your Life” level of detail.  I get stressed, because I am the detail partner.

Through several of these discussions, he has, less than helpfully, stated that when we move he is going to look for a lower rent.  Finally today, I was eating lunch, when it struck me that just $250 more per month really would grease the gears of our spending plan.  We are meeting our needs; it is just taking more attention than I would like.

Well, we have been in our current house for five months now.  Our current fixed costs (house related) are $400 higher than our last house.  OF COURSE my partner wants to change that when our lease is up.  I just couldn’t see the connection, because the spending plan change didn’t ache until these past two months.

I derive two life.hacks from this situation: PATIENCE with my process and my husband’s different process and two REMEMBER TO ENJOY my newer, brighter, bigger space.  I chose to spend a significantly bigger portion of my monthly money on our physical space.  I just have to remember that when I am turning down invitations out at the end of the month.