How I’m Letting Go of Money Worries

Back in 2005, my husband, Logan, and I began to simplify our lives. I detailed our story in my book, You Can Buy Happiness (and it’s Cheap), and the core philosophies I wrote about are still true. However, some things have changed. For example, we no longer live in our tiny house full-time, and we bought a used car in 2013. In essence, our quest to live a simple and happy life continues to evolve—as it should because nothing in life is static. This is especially true when it comes to money. When we began to simplify our lives, we wanted to redefine our relationship with money, pay off our debt, and buy a tiny house on wheels. We accomplished those goals (and a whole lot more).

However, I wish we’d been smarter with long-term financial planning during our twenties and early thirties. For instance, it would have been wise to set aside money for an old age fund. However, we were focused on paying off our debt and purchasing our tiny house. The good news is that we’ve been saving for our old age fund for the last three years.

Saving more and working with a fiduciary has eased my money worries because we’re making wiser investment choices. My worries aren’t completely gone, but hopefully that will change.

Below are six steps that are slowly helping me let go of money worries. If you struggle with anxiety around money, I hope these ideas inspire you to take action.

Before we move forward, I want to be very clear with a caveat. I’m not being compensated for any of the products or services below. I’m sharing this information because these resources and people have helped Logan and I get our finances in order.

With that, let’s get started.

1. Track everything. I'm obsessed with Mint because it's a digital tool that makes tracking our income and expenses easy. In addition to Mint, I use GoDaddy Bookkeeping to track my business income and expenses. Separating my business and personal accounts has been so helpful. Tax time is less stressful because my numbers are in order. Plus, I have a clear understanding of how much it costs to run my business.

2. Focus on mindful budgeting. In addition to recording everything in Mint, I record my daily and weekly purchases in my Mindful Budgeting 2017 Planner. Being able to write notes, reflections, and goals in my planner is helpful and grounding.

3. Talk about money. Logan and I have weekly and monthly money meetings to stay on track. It wasn’t always that way, though. In 2015, I had a melt-down about how much we were spending every month, which resulted in tears and an argument with Logan. Since then, I’ve been working on my money issues, and the more I talk about money, the less worried I feel.

4. Work with a fiduciary. A fiduciary offers fee-based, non-biased financial advice based on your circumstances. In short, their job is to help you make informed financial choices. We found our fiduciary—Michael Harris—in 2015, and he’s been incredibly helpful.

5. Save more and spend less. As I mentioned above, I want to put more money into our old age fund. I also want to work toward financial independence. As a result, I've been questioning all my expenditures (like the amount I spend on groceries, dining, coffee, and more). It's great to be debt free, but we’ve become a bit lazy on the budgeting front. This year is all about saving more and spending less.

Parting words …

After experiencing debilitating back pain in 2016, my aim is to maintain my health by taking small steps every day. Some of those actions include not drinking alcohol, eating real food, going to CrossFit, getting enough sleep, and making sure our finances are in order because money matters.

Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing more essays about money. For example, I’m working on an article about how we’re decreasing our monthly food and dining expenses. If you have money questions for me—or topics you’d like me to write about—leave a comment below.

If you’re reading this article via email, just respond to this message. I don’t have time to respond to all of the emails I receive, but I read every message that arrives in my inbox. I’m grateful for your continued support and encouragement.

Cheers to living a simple and joyful life!

My Tiny Wardrobe (The 2017 Edition)

Since my adventures on the Tiny Wardrobe Tour with my friend Courtney Carver, I’ve received lots of questions about my small wardrobe. Over the last few years, I’ve shared brief updates about my outfits. However, I haven’t posted a formal essay on the blog about my closet since March 2014 because my attire and philosophy about fashion are the same.

As Courtney recently noted:

"I haven’t been sharing my daily looks, partly because they haven’t changed much. All of these pieces from my Fall 2015 collection were in my Fall 2016 collection, and they are in my Winter 2017 collection too. Minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 isn’t an excuse to shop and wear 33 new pieces every 3 months, but an invitation to dress with less to create time and space in your life and figure out what really matters to you."

I'm in a similar position. Dresses, skirts, and leggings are still key features in my tiny wardrobe because I’m not a fan of jeans. However, I’ve turned into a fan of convertible pants. I bought a pair in 2015 for my hiking adventures, and they’ve been a great addition to my closet.

Today, I thought it would be fun to answer commonly asked questions about my wardrobe. With that, let’s dive into the Q & A.

Question: Can you share an updated list of the items in your closet?

Answer: Sure! The list below includes everything that’s in my closet.

Wardrobe staples

2 long black skirts

2 dresses

1 cotton leggings

3 workout pants (which double as leggings)

1 convertible pants

1 waterproof pants for biking or walking in the rain/snow

1 green long-sleeved merino wool shirt

1 black long-sleeved cotton shirt

1 blouse

10 t-shirts

2 vests

1 black jacket

1 bright orange waterproof jacket (thanks, Mom!)

2 swimsuits

Accessories

1 goggles

1 scarf

1 mittens

2 beanies

2 necklaces

3 rings

1 set of earrings

1 day pack

1 luggage bag

1 tote bag

Pajamas

1 fuzzy pink robe

3 pajama pants

Undergarments

It feels weird to share a list of my undergarments with you, so that’s not going to happen. I will say that my socks and underwear fit neatly into a small drawer (kind of like this).

Shoes

2 trainers

1 dress shoes

1 slippers

1 flip-flops

1 muck boots

Question: Do you think people notice that you wear the same outfits frequently?

Answer: In 2005, I paired down my wardrobe significantly. At the time, I was working at a traditional 9-5 job and felt slightly nervous about having a smaller selection of clothes to wear to the office. It turns out I had no reason to be nervous. As long as I dressed in business casual for work, wore a suit to specific meetings and events, and covered up my tattoos, no one noticed my attire. In short, most people don't notice or care what I'm wearing.

Question: How do you manage to stay focused on your shopping goals? 

Answer: Other than buying high-quality fair-trade clothing from companies like Patagonia, I don’t have “shopping goals.”

My biggest problem is under buying. For example, last winter I gave my winter boots to Goodwill. They were still in good condition, but they weren’t great for long walks. I told myself I’d buy a new pair for the 2016/2017 winter season, but that didn’t happen.

My procrastination came back to haunt me this month. During the first two weeks of January, a huge winter storm pummeled Northern California, and I didn’t have a pair of waterproof boots. Thankfully, Logan let me borrow his gaiters, and he bought a pair of muck boots for me at a local store.

And last but not least, Logan and I love looking for new additions to our wardrobes at thrift shops. For instance, a few years ago, Logan bought two suits at a local thrift store for $40. Then, Logan spent another $40 to get the suits dry-cleaned and hemmed.

Question: Do you never get tempted by special offers or sales? 

Answer: Of course! Whenever I receive a Patagonia catalog in the mail, I want to buy all the things. Thankfully, I don’t buy everything I want, and that’s because I don’t purchase new stuff immediately. Typically, I wait a week or two—sometimes longer—before I purchase new clothing, shoes, etc. As I mentioned, I tend to be an under-buyer and that aggravates my sweet husband.

Question: How do you do your research when you actually need to buy a specific item? 

Answer: I’m a major research geek. However, if you’re new to research, try these tips:

• Make a list of subjects you’d like to learn about or purchase

• Google your topic and write down what comes up

• Beware of online filter bubbles

• Look at the publication date of books, article, etc.

• Before you purchase something from a company, read their mission statement

• Ask a librarian for help

Question: Do you ever feel pressured (by adverts, medias, or magazines) to be sexier, trendier, or more glamorous? 

Answer: During my teens and twenties, I felt enormous pressure to be thin. Today, I’m happy, healthy, and I’ve learned that buying a new wardrobe, makeup, etc. isn’t going to make me feel happier or healthier. In short, I don't feel the same need to "be sexier, trendier, or more glamorous."

Actions that helped shift my mindset included counseling and a renewed focus on building physical and emotional strength. I also avoid websites with lots of advertisements. I don't read glossy magazines (like Vogue), and I don't watch much television. I prefer to spend my free time reading books, magazines (like Flow), attending CrossFit classes, swimming, and taking photos.

Swimming in the Weeds

I stood near the edge of Whiskeytown Lake along with 125 fellow swimmers. We were all wearing green swim caps, and everyone seemed excited. My new friend Janette turned to me and said, “Good luck!”

“Have fun!” I replied.

Then, the race director shouted, “Go!” Some swimmers ran into the water, and others walked in leisurely. I dove into the water, started swimming, and immediately noticed the waves we created. Then I felt the weeds tickle my legs. As soon as that happened, my stomach did flip-flops.

Rather than looking at the weeds while my head was underwater, I closed my eyes so I couldn’t see them. Instead, I raised my head more often to site the racecourse buoys and to make sure I wasn’t swimming over another swimmer. Also, my mantra—“plants aren’t predators”—helped me to stay calm.

Eventually, I broke away from the weeds and glided into deep dark blue water. Rays of sunlight reflected off of the water, and as I took deep breaths, I noticed the mountains, the sky, and the kayakers that were part of the water safety crew. As I rounded the second big buoy, I realized that I was halfway through the race. Part of me wanted to stop and tread water because it was so beautiful out in the deep blue water, but I had to keep swimming.

Before I knew it, I was back in the weeds swimming to the shore. As I made my way through the weeds, I thought about my friend Aubrey and how much progress she’s made since her cycling accident. She’s been working hard in physical therapy and with a CrossFit coach, too. I thought to myself, Aubrey is so inspiring. She’s working hard to regain her strength. That is WAY harder than being scared of weeds! Keep swimming, Tammy.

So, I ignored my fear of the weeds, tried to catch the swimmer ahead of me, and thought about how far I've come this year.

After a bad back flare up in February, I was diagnosed with arthritis in my lower back and degenerative disc disease. During February, it was difficult for me to do basic things like walking or sitting without experiencing intense pain. At the beginning of the year, I wondered if I’d ever be pain-free again. I felt so tired of dealing with my reoccurring back problems. Thankfully, my doctor referred me to a fantastic physical therapist, and eventually, I found my way back to the water and to a masters swim team. Getting back into the water, and slowly building my strength, helped me get through the weeds in my mind.

Facing my fear of lake weeds last weekend seemed fitting because the experience reminded me to prioritize self-care. For example, I rested and recovered from my race. Resting has never been my strong suit because I just want to keep moving. I’ve learned that rest requires an active commitment, just like writing, photography, or any other type of activity. Plus, if I don't take care of myself, and ignore the importance of rest, I'll get stuck in the weeds over and over again.

Alos, the latest issue of SWIMMER arrived in my mailbox last week. One of the featured articles—by Gretchen M. Sanders—is titled “Give It a Rest for Your Best.” Sanders said, “Rest requires commitment—it does not happen by chance. Rest should be as deliberate as putting on a swimsuit. It will take practice for some and come easily for others. Start small by taking a morning off, then a day, then a weekend, then a whole week. With each passing year, our bodies grow older and need more time to recover. Giving your body the rest it craves may just prolong the time you spend enjoying the life-giving sport of swimming."

Cheers to rest, recovery, good health, and conquering the weeds!

The Joy of Swimming

After I got home from a mid-July weekend of camping and swimming with my mom, I found The Joy of Swimming waiting for me on our front porch. I was excited because I’d been waiting for six months for the book to be released. I heard an interview back in January 2016 with the author, Lisa Congdon, and I felt compelled to pre-order the book. When I flipped through the pages of Lisa’s book for the first time, I landed on a page covered with colorful, illustrated fish. The caption read: “Be the fish.”

When I swim sets of 500s in the pool, I count my laps. Between all of the counting, I say to myself, “Be the fish.” That phrase has become my new positive mantra. The mantra, plus all of the lap counting, lulls me into a relaxed state.

There’s something about the water that is so inviting and playful (at least for me). I love diving into lakes and pools. I’ve never been an ocean swimmer because the critters in the sea scare me. However, I love walking along the beach, dipping my toes into the water, and listening to the sounds of the ocean.

Since I was a baby, swimming has been a part of my life. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been playing in the water for 37 years! My mom claims that I was “born to swim,” but I don’t think that’s true. My love of the water comes from my experiences with my mom. She swam with me when I was a tiny baby and got me into swim lessons—when I was 4 or 5—with good instructors, which set me up for a lifetime of swimming fun. For example, I swam on my high school swim team, for fun throughout college, with U.S. Masters Swim teams, and on my own, too. I’m not the fastest swimmer in the pool, and I don’t swim to win medals. I swim because it is calming, meditative, and keeps me strong.

Chel Micheline—whose story is in The Joy of Swimming—said, "Every day when I get in the pool, I discover a new part of myself. And every day when I get out of the pool, I feel like a warrior. And after feeling like I was at the mercy of a disease for so long, being able to have these experiences and these emotions about the very same body that felt so out of control feels enormously profound. I can face whatever else the day brings knowing I just kicked ass for 5 miles. If nothing else, I swam."

Micheline’s words ring true for me. In 2015, I recommitted to my swimming practice, and it’s one of the best things I’ve done for myself. This year, swimming has been especially awesome. I joined the Rogue Valley Masters team, swam in a 1500M open-water race, and I’ve been swimming on my own consistently. I feel strong in the water, and I'm grateful to be 95% pain-free. In February, I could barely walk around the block because of back pain, and now I'm a swimming machine. I don’t know what the next six months will bring, but I’m certain swimming will be a part of my routine because it brings me joy.

P. S. Looking for inspiration to get back into the water? Read these books:

• Find A Way by Diana Nyad

• The Joy of Swimming by Lisa Congdon

• Grayson by Lynne Cox

• Open Water Swimming Manual by Lynne Cox

• Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox