Articles on Lifestyle

Let ‘The Sun’ In

I used to subscribe to a bunch of magazines, almost all being about a specific topic. When I moved, I cancelled each subscription… except one. ‘The Sun’ is a unique publication

How To Turn A Video Game System Into A Gym Membership

Never thought you could actually get in shape with that PS2 or Xbox, huh? Believe it or not, I justified buying a PS2 because it's cheaper than hiring a personal trainer and ge

Local Flavor

It was time again to stock up on some things, and so this past weekend I went to my usual places: the fish market in Pyrmont (where one employee asked me how work was going since t

Alcohol is good for your heart

After quitting smoking, having one or two drinks a day is the best single thing you can do for your cardiovascular health. [more]

Jettison the Junk: Why Clutter Clouds Your Mind and Saps Your Energy

A life cluttered with junk not only takes up space — it can take your energy, too.

Opting out of the money economy

It's a quirk of mine that I've always found the idea of opting out of the money economy to be interesting.

What to pack for a road trip with Rover

Our friends at Itchmo.com recently posted some helpful hints about what to pack when you go road tripping with your four-legged friends. It might seem like a bit much, but planning

The end of the Energizer bunny: SIX products that don't need batteries.

Since I became a father, my household's battery consumption has quadrupled. [more]

Bad, bad China: a round-up

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I need to stop buying Chinese goods. This is a tough one for me, mostly because so much of the cheap stuff I love to buy comes from Chi

‘Secret’ Attraction

I finally buckled under the pressure to remain in the loop with Oprah and I rented 'The Secret.' Now, before you think I’m going to offer a movie review, I’ll simply say that it fe

The things that money just can't buy

After reading Ed's post about Afluenza , I began thinking long and hard about what I have in my life that really matters to me. It's all very well keeping up with the Joneses, but at the end of the day it really doesn't mean anything. [more]

My dog's facelift

I just spent $1200 on a facelift for my dog. Before you go telling me that I should be put down, let me explain that it wasn't elective surgery. My dog is a Pekingese, and say w

Decked out in... dog? More reasons to boycott Chinese goods

Thinking of boycotting Chinese goods? I know I've been pondering it for a while, but I'm definitely struggling with the idea, knowing how hard it will be. Here's something that mig

How to Get Rid of Your Junk

A few weeks ago, I took a seminar called "Commanding Your Clutter" at a local community college. Here's what I learned about collecting, hoarding, shopping, and finally, letting go

Who Moved My Stuff?

If you ever want to take stock of all that you’ve worked hard to purchase over time, and how much stuff you think you need to hang on to, go through each and every possessio [more]

Do you have what you want… and do you want what you have?

Sometimes, being frugal means not just saving money; sometimes it means not spending any at all. There’s been a growing preoccupation with working more to earn more--to buy more; y

You know you're a Wisebread reader if...

What makes a Wisebread reader? Why are you guys so, well, special? I sat, I pondered, I scribbled down notes furiously. This is what I came up with. It's a small list, just 30 entries. [more]

The seven deadly sins of consumerism (and the frugal redemption).

Sit ye down, hold your loved ones tight, and get ready for the seven deadliest sins of the modern day consumer. (By the way, I know I’m a movie buff when I can reference two of the greatest films ever made in one blog headline. [more]

The best things in life are (more or less) free

Now, at the risk of sounding like a great big softy, I have to share a moment that I experienced recently that reminded me of the real value of money and the place I want it to have in my life. Over the weekend, I was driving around Queen Anne hill [more]