Category: Finance

I once tried to send money overseas using traditional banks. It felt like attempting to summit Everest without a guide, just a lot of trudging through endless paperwork and inexplicable fees. Enter Wise, formerly known as TransferWise. At first, I was skeptical. Could this really be the answer to my currency conundrum, or was it […]

I once thought I had cracked the holy grail of travel finance. Armed with a Revolut card and a misplaced sense of optimism, I set off on a European adventure, convinced I would outsmart the system. Spoiler: I was wrong. Perhaps it was my naivety or maybe just blind faith in a plastic card. Either […]

I once thought loyalty programs were a con, a shiny lure to trap the gullible into spending more than they ever intended. I mean, who really benefits from collecting points that expire faster than a carton of milk? But then came the day when I accidentally amassed enough miles to book a first-class seat. There […]

I once found myself staring at the departure board in a European train station with the same dread as a last-minute term paper. My wallet was as bare as my dorm fridge after a semester of ramen-fueled survival, and the only thing heavier than my backpack was the sinking realization that I’d have to make […]

I once tried sending money to a friend overseas through my local bank. I figured, “How bad could it be?”—a rookie mistake, I admit. The transaction fees alone felt like a second mortgage, and the exchange rate? Let’s just say daylight robbery would be a generous description. It’s a painful reminder that banks see us […]

As I sat with my friend, a real estate investor in Costa Rica, I realized that navigating the world of real estate finance can be daunting, but with the right approach, it can also be a powerful tool for creating sustainable and intentional communities. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of birds […]

I once found myself in the heart of Marrakech, attempting to negotiate for a rug I didn’t even want. The salesman’s grin was all teeth and no sincerity, a testament to my complete inadequacy in the art of bargaining. There I stood, a hapless foreigner, drowning in a sea of vibrant fabrics and the unspoken […]

Once upon a time, in a moment of gross overestimation of my financial prowess, I dreamt of gallivanting around the globe indefinitely. Spoiler alert: that dream turned into a nightmare faster than you can say “credit card debt.” Picture this—me, armed with a naïve confidence and a bank account that was more wishful thinking than […]

As I sit here, surrounded by the serene landscapes of Costa Rica, I often think about the what is a recession and how to prepare your finances for one. It’s a topic that can be overwhelming, with many experts offering complicated advice that can be hard to decipher. But, in my experience, preparing for a […]

I once found myself in a bustling Parisian café, clutching my wallet like it was a lifeline. I’d just finished a meal that was more art than sustenance, and the bill sat on the table, staring back at me with all the menace of a final exam. The tipping dilemma loomed large. Was it 10% […]