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Where Does Happiness Come From?

I’m sick of long weeks that merge into each other like an endless procession of parades. I’m sick of being in debt. There seems to be no end. Despite being sick of these aspects, I feel happy. I truly feel happier than I’ve ever been before. How can this be? I’m more stressed, tired, and busy than ever before. How can I simultaneously be as happy as I’ve ever been? It makes me wonder: Where does happiness come from?

Something tells me that the clothes you are wearing (or not) could be burned, torn, thrown away, etc. and you’d still be okay. Maybe they’re expensive, priceless, or valuable by some other standard, but you’d probably recover to realize what you still have. But it got me thinking, is there a time when happiness could ever truly disappear? Are you one possession away from sadness?

As I pondered this philosophical question with financial ramifications, I was struck by my own loves. For instance, I love reading. It gives me great joy to sink into a good book and forget about everything else for a little while. Frankly, I wish I had more time to do it. But what would happen if somebody took away my Kindle and I couldn’t read those great books?

Honestly, that would make me sad, but I would be happy because I could use my computer to read. What if that was taken away, lost, stolen? Again, I would be losing something that’s important and aids in the reading process, but I could just read a paper newspaper or magazine. Continue down this path of recognizing alternatives and things that will replace other things; it’s a test of your imagination, but eventually, nothing more can be taken from you. Eventually, all of these possessions, books, tools, etc. could disappear – away forever. This activity that I love could be gone or taken from me. But you know what? I could still be happy. I could write, imagine, and create stories in my mind if I absolutely had to (I’m fortunate I don’t need to, though).

Oftentimes, we put value into vapid pieces of detritus material that only offer temporary satisfaction, consolation, and a brief existence. A new pair of jeans would certainly make me happier, but for how long? By placing and expecting happiness to come from what I own can only lead to dissatisfaction later in life.

Nowadays, I can realize that my happiness comes from within. Without books, magazines, newspapers, the Internet, computer, papers, etc. I may be temporarily upset, saddened, or otherwise pissed off, but I can still be happy. Life is too short to worry about what you may lose – or what you must have. Everyone loses everything every time over time. The narrator in the novel, Fight Club, really says it best:

On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.

At the end of these ideas and questions is a hard conclusion: Happiness cannot be linked to the transient things on Earth, and must start from within. Suddenly, those jeans seem a lot less appetizing…

What makes you happy? What makes you happy to take on the day?

Cut Costs On Your Daily Commute With These Gas Savings

By Frugaling 9 Comments

Gas Savings Commute Russia Gif — *At least your commute isn’t this bad*

This is a contribution from Syed of The Broke Professional! He runs an up and coming personal finance site for working professionals. On top of that, he’s a practicing doctor. Thanks for the article, Syed!

Cars give you the freedom to go wherever you want – anytime you want. It’s a climate-controlled environment, built for listening to music and rocking out. But, convenience has a cost – cars are no exception. Car insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and gas can quickly devour a healthy budget. Luckily, there are some easy ways to save some money when filling up your tank.

Drive slower

As with most things in life, the middle ground is usually the right way to go – conserving gas is no exception. Most modern car engines work most efficiently when cruising at 55 mph. Going any faster will force the car to burn off more gas than it needs to, which translates to a lower overall gas mileage.

Plan ahead to find a good price

Use websites such as gasbuddy.com and/or billshrink.com to find and get alerted to the best gas prices in your area. You can also simply take notice of cheap stations when driving around and use them when you are in the area. But beware not to drive too far out of the way just to save a couple of cents off a gallon as the time and gas spent going to the station can negate your per gallon savings.

Consider a rewards credit card

The best way to use reward credit cards is to use it on stuff you already buy. Gas is a must. By using a rewards card, you’ll receive cash back and points on purchases you’d be making either way. Likewise, a lot of cash back cards offer rotating, 5% categories on gas purchases throughout the year. If you use rewards cards wisely, you should always be saving on gas purchases.

Check your tires

Tire pressure should be checked regularly, as it can fluctuate with outside temperature. It’s important to make sure your tires are filled to their optimum pressure not only for the longevity of the tire but also for your gas mileage. According to the US Department of Transportation, under-inflated tires waste about 5 million gallons of fuel every day. A poorly inflated tire has to work harder to produce the same speed as an optimum inflated tire, which burns more gas. Tire pressure can be checked by a simple pressure gauge which can be found at any auto parts store or at most gas stations.

Replace your air filter

The air filter is responsible for keeping out useless stuff from the environment such as dirt and bugs. These things can really hurt engine performance. If the air filter is in need of being replaced, that can affect gas mileage because the engine is not working as efficiently as it should. According to a survey by Advanced Auto Parts, a dirty air filter can reduce gas mileage by as much as 20%. Most filters should be replaced every 5,000 miles, but your cars manual should have the exact information.

Fill up late

It’s interesting to see when people start feeling uneasy about the level of gas left in their tank. Some feel the need to fill up when the empty light is on, while others like to fill up if half a tank is gone. For gas mileage purposes, it is better to fill up as late as you can, because having less gas will make your car lighter and more fuel efficient. Just don’t wait until you are stranded on the side of the road!

Ferrari Supercars Gas Savings Tips — *Photo: Axion23*

Consider a fuel efficient car or a hybrid

Many people drive cars that just are not very fuel efficient. Consider trading in for a fuel efficient vehicle and/or hybrid. ConsumerReports.com has comprehensive lists of which cars have the best mileage.

Drive less

Many people can’t think of another way to get to work or school other than driving. While not practical for everyone, some people can use services like public transportation, carpooling, biking, or simply walking to get to their destination. Not using your car helps the environment and your health.

Most people spend hundreds of dollars a month on gas. Enlist these tips for quick, easy gas savings! What do you do to save on gas?

Conquer Your Urge To Spend?

By Frugaling 7 Comments

Quicksand Picture — *Photo: hoodooyoudo*

Deep within the recesses of your mind are primal, animalistic urges to spend more than you should. We are born and bred to consume and prosper – shopping comes easy. As the Black Friday madness shows, we can easily gorge on the materialistic desires that haunt us. When we set budgets and realize our fallibility, the urge to spend can easily be replaced by grit to overcome. It is at this point that we are effectively fighting our demons and the unbalanced budget.

Fighting is tiring

But have you ever been in a fight? Whether emotional or physical, fighting is tiring and draining and scary. It strikes a similar but different evolutionary instinct, and can lead to severe psychological distress. Frequently, future frugalers get frustrated by their urges to spend, and punish themselves by cutting credit cards and focusing on creating a rock-solid monthly budget. I’m afraid this energy is misdirected, at times.

Oft-repeated cliches about making more than you spend and creating an emergency fund are abstract concepts, goals that miss the steps needed to get there. More fundamentally, even the steps ignore the reasons behind your desire for change – to become more frugal. What is motivating you to save money and have a better life?

From foundations comes successes

See, what the personal finance world is missing is credit for the psychological foundations. Everyone comes with a certain amount baggage and history. This past influences how we treat money and save (or not). Without recognizing this past, we may not be able to recognize where we err in the future.

In the past, I had a piss poor habit of going to malls to browse and shop because I loved the smiles and energy. The aromatic storefronts welcomed me, clothes glistened from spotlights, and the service was friendly. The problem was most pronounced when I felt alone and/or unfulfilled. Bottom line, for me, shopping and spending beyond my means was directly related to loneliness and purposelessness.

Realizing your own need shopping and/or unbalanced spending leads to a foundation for change and budgetary hope. A house cannot be built without a foundation. But more fitting, a house cannot be afforded without a budgetary foundation. How do you become aware of your motivation for wanton spending?

The metaphor of quicksand

Remember those old movies where the bad guy falls into a pool of quicksand, and the more he struggles, the faster it sucks him under? In quicksand, struggling is the worst thing you can possibly do. The way to survive is to lie back, spread out your arms, and float on the surface. It’s tricky, because every instinct tells you to struggle; but if you do so, you’ll drown. –Russell Harris

Debt and financial despair is like quicksand. The more you fight to get out of it, the harder it seems. It is easy, when you’re working to improve your situation, to berate and punish yourself for these ills. Fortunately, there’s another way – a paradox of sorts to becoming frugal and financially solvent.

As the quote says, if you build a foundation for a different reaction to your struggles, you may find calm. In calmness, we can begin righting our course and find a balanced budget. Deficits can be defeating, but they don’t necessitate a battle.

Fighting, flexing, attacking, and breaking your need for spend is a recipe for disaster. Rather, relax and reason are the solution for a positive future. Now, you’re ready to save money with mindfulness!

3 Charities You Should Support This Thanksgiving

By Frugaling 2 Comments

First Class Flight On American — First-Class View On American

As I flew home to enjoy the holiday with family, my feeling of privilege couldn’t have been greater. I sat in a cozy first-row seat of first-class on American thanks to a rewards credit card with bonus miles. While the seat may have been “free,” the opportunity was afforded to me.

While my Thanksgiving has been a bit non-traditional, as a number of family members are being asked to work the holiday, I’m fortunate that those around me are healthy and well. Likewise, I’m fortunate to be healthy, temporarily-abled, and to be in graduate school.

With this wonderful privilege, I cannot help wondering how I can give back. As the cheesy line in Spiderman goes:

With great power comes great responsibility. –Stan Lee

Despite being in massive amounts of debt, I decided to donate to 3 special causes. The following are three organizations that I’d ask you to support with me:

1. No Kid Hungry

The actor, Jeff Bridges, has a mission to end child hunger. No Kid Hungry is a charity that’s supported by the actor and helps feed children nationwide. Just $1 of support equals 10 meals for children.

This is the perfect charity to give to this Thanksgiving, as you think about those who may have less. Food is a necessity, and the charity helps aid the people that need it most. Donate here: http://www.nokidhungry.org/

2. Always Remember Never Surrender Scholarship

This is a scholarship endowment that will always be near the top of my list. The Always Remember Never Surrender Scholarship supports undergraduate students in psychology to research, study, and pursue a field that helps prevent suicide. This issue is very dear to me, and I always like to give to help support the educations of others.

Each year, $500 is awarded to a student that applies for the scholarship. You can give to the endowment here: http://www.alwaysrememberscholarship.com

3. American Civil Liberties Union

The ACLU is famous for supporting individual liberties and protecting the most vulnerable people in our society. The famed organization is currently advocating in four major arenas: “Keep America Safe and Free,” “Fair Justice, Smart Justice,” “Defending Targets of Discrimination,” and “Protecting Civil Liberties in a Digital Age.”

The ACLU has long been a champion of freedom, liberty, and social equality. They have a long history of fighting for free speech and empowering minority groups. Please consider giving here: https://www.aclu.org/

Where Does Happiness Come From?