cost
Three years ago, my family of three left New Zealand for Kobe, Japan, desperate for a total reset. We were running on empty, exhausted by skyrocketing living costs, limited career growth, and relentless financial stress.We already loved Japan as tourists, but moving here permanently felt like a massive gamble. Instead,…
Even a backyard barbecue might raise your stress levels this year, as higher food costs make the price of summer staples harder to swallow.One culprit is the price of ground beef, which reached a record $6.90 per pound in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That price…
As I get older, I’m surprised by how viscerally I react to my own reflection. My face distracts me on Zoom calls. I angle the camera just so to sharpen my jawline and soften the “marionette” effect. I understand that aging is not a personal failing, and yet, a familiar…
My father, a decorated veteran of the Marine Corps who served during the Vietnam War, struggled with dementia for over a decade. Loading audio narration… By the age of 70, both his first and second wives had died from cancer, leaving him alone and attempting to live by himself while…
As you write your Mother’s Day card this year, you may want to add one more thank you: for the thousands of dollars it took to raise you.Beyond the time, care, and love that go into parenting, raising a child in the US comes with a steep financial cost, and…
