Simple Living

DIY Car Maintenance: My Plan to Start Small and Level Up Why I’m Starting DIY Maintenance I’ve decided to take on my own basic car maintenance. The plan is to begin with oil changes and gradually work up to brakes, fluids, and eventually anything I feel confident doing. Beyond saving money, learning these skills just feels empowering. Cost and Break-Even Estimate The upfront cost for quality tools and supplies looks to be around $400 . Based on current shop prices, it’ll take roughly 8 oil changes —or about two years for my two cars—to break even. After that, every oil change is pure savings. But the bigger payoff is being able to handle larger jobs that would otherwise cost hundreds per visit. Mechanic Tools I'll gradually add tools and for now all I need for oil changes are quality ramps, oil drain pan, oil filter wrench and a 1/4" socket set.  I already have the socket so the ramps, pan and filter wrench are maybe $200 . Kobalt - 65 piece - Household (has 1/4" so...

2026 Wardrobe and Reflections on my 5-Year Spending Patterns As 2025 comes to a close, I’m focusing on refining my wardrobe and budget for 2026. Over the past few years, I’ve built a system that prioritizes intentional purchases, high-value basics, and long-term wear. This year is about thoughtful upgrades, smart replacements, and sticking with what works. What surprised me was how much I spend on clothing & shoes.  For past 5 years its constituted almost ~70% of my total expenditures.  In comparison, I spend very little on hobbies and technology.  But this makes sense as I've been investing in more expensive but quality clothing items. Funding Source I budget myself $60 a week in discretionary spending for annual $3,120 personal allowance.  About 1/3 dedicated to these planned purchases and rest for meals, drinks and incidentals.  As I've not seen a major increase in spending, I've not seen a need to increase this any further. 2026 Budget Overview ...

When Retirement Savings Finally Got Real I didn’t get serious about retirement savings until just a few years ago. For most of my working life, I was contributing about 8% of my income into my 401(k). Not bad, but not nearly as powerful as what I’m doing now. As of last year, I finally committed to maxing out my contributions. That change has put my retirement trajectory on a whole new path. The Power of Compounding Using a 7% annual market growth assumption, here’s how things look: 11 years from now: around $1 million total balance. 15 years from now: about $1.4 million. 20 years from now: it leaps to $2.6 million. 25 years from now: crossing $4 million. Full retirement age (late 60s): close to $5.8 million. Compounding is slow and steady in the beginning, then suddenly exponential. Seeing the numbers stack up has been motivating. The Catch I can’t withdraw from my 401(k) without penalties until 59½. That means even if I wanted to step away earlier, I’d h...

Comparing Zipair to ANA and JAL: Is It Worth the Savings? Why I Chose Zipair This Time For my return trip, I booked a flight on Zipair to see how it stacks up against ANA. Whether it's the right choice really depends on your travel style and priorities. Fares and Value Zipair’s fares are typically cheaper, which is appealing—especially for budget-conscious travelers. But if you're flying solo like I was, basic economy on ANA or JAL can also be quite affordable. Personally, unless the savings are more than $150, I’d still choose ANA or JAL over Zipair in basic economy. What to Expect on Zipair That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with Zipair. The experience is clean, simple, and efficient—but it’s also very no-frills. Nearly everything is à la carte—from water and coffee to meals—so you’ll need to pre-purchase food or bring your own onboard. That’s easy enough if you're departing from Japan, but much less practical from LAX, where buying food can be pricey. One An...

Planning for 2025: Building a Thoughtful Wardrobe and Budget As 2024 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on my year and planning for what’s next. Each year, I set strategic goals that help increase my productivity in acquisitions and prevent impulsive spending. This structured approach keeps my wardrobe refined and tailored to my actual needs, with an emphasis on quality and thoughtful purchases. Affordable Learning One valuable lesson I’ve embraced is the importance of testing with affordable options before committing to high-ticket items. Lower-priced alternatives allow me to experiment, understand my preferences, and determine what’s truly worth investing in. This approach reduces waste and helps me make smarter, more intentional purchases. Investing When Ready Once I identify essentials, everything else becomes incremental. This method frees up my budget to focus on high-quality items that add significant value. For 2025, I’ve allocated my budget as follows: 2025 Budget Plan Shoes : $...

Personal Collections Review for 2024 It’s that time of year again—time to review my personal collections. My last update was in 2021, and since then, I’ve made some changes, most notably dropping the whisky collection, which I now treat as consumables. Here's a breakdown of my collections as they stand in 2024. I. Total Value ~$13,200 The total value of my collections is relatively modest, with a few items making up the bulk of the value—namely my Rolex, Omega, and iPhone 16. Without those high-value pieces, the rest of my collection is worth around $2,400 . That said, I’m considering a major purchase in 2025, which could significantly impact the total. I’m eyeing a Rolex Submariner 14060 or an Omega Speedmaster Professional , budgeting between $4,000 to $8,000 for one of these iconic pieces. If I pull the trigger, it would effectively double the value of my collection. II. Full Collection Breakdown 1. Headphones – 9 Total Value: ~$600 I’ve s...

Cash Stash Goal I want to increase my cash on hand to $1,000 . I presently have $720 , separate from my regular savings and retirement accounts. I like having some physical cash on hand, which I squirrel away in several locations, rarely keeping more than $150-200 in my wallet. Most stashes are small, about $40-50 each. Current Stash Goals Here's my target breakdown for the $1,000 cash goal: Wallet : $200 Safe : $600 Med Stash : $50 Med Stash : $50 Med Stash : $40 Med Stash : $40 Small Stash : $20 I plan to grow these stashes gradually, adding about $20 per week , so it will take me a year to reach $1,000 . Long-Term Plan If this goes to plan, I’ll continue this for two more years , adding $500 per year until I max out at $2,000 in physical cash by 2026 . My future allocation will look like this: Wallet : $400 Safe : $1,200 Med Stash : $100 Med Stash : $100 Med Stash : $100 Small Stash : $50 Small Stash : $50 This strategy helps me feel secure with physical cash while keeping ...

2024 Budget and Wardrobe Update I'm planning to stick to a budget of around $500 for 2024. I’m getting better at managing my expenses and am on track to hit $740 for 2023. Planned Items Most of my budget will be allocated towards clothes and shoes: Shoes - $141 Air Jordan 1 Low (Size 10.5M) - $86 - Purchased Stan Smith White/Green (Size 10M) - $55 - Purchased Clothes - $216 Bomber Jacket - $200 - Skip for 2025 Polo Letterman Navy - $160 - Purchased Levi Denim Jacket - $36 - Purchased Uniqlo T-Shirts (3x)  - $50 - Purchased Blue Jeans - $50 - Skip for 2025 Watches - $40 Casio A168WG - $40 - Purchased Tech - $240 iPhone 16 - $200 - Purchased Anker 10k Power Bank - $40 - Purchased Total Spending So far, I've spent a total of $637 .  I may increase my budget to $800 if I need to replace additional clothing items, but I don't anticipate needing much more. Future Considerations The only unknown factor is whether I will upgrade to the iPhone 16, depending on how it compar...

Paid Memberships and Subscription Overview It's easy to overlook ongoing memberships and subscriptions. Here’s a breakdown of mine: Groceries - $115 Costco: $65/yr Sam's Club: $50/yr Streaming - $144 Amazon Prime: $139/yr (Cancelled 2023) Netflix: $144/yr Disney+: $120/yr (Cancelled 2024) Utility/Maintenance - $610 Blink Camera: $60/yr Anti-Virus: $70/yr Car Wash: $480/yr Education - $120 Duolingo: $120 (Cancelled 2025) Events - $320 Gym: $320/yr Museum: $165/yr (Cancelled 2023) Garden: $110/yr (Cancelled 2024) Total Membership Cost per Year: $1,189 Updates 2023 - Cancelled Amazon Prime: I decided to quit Amazon Prime as I mainly used it for free shipping, which I can achieve by bundling orders. 2023 - Keeping Costco & Sam's Club: Although I shop infrequently, I find the membership worthwhile for the cheaper gas. 2023 - Keeping Car Wash Membership: The unlimited car washes for $240/yr save me time and keep my car clean, making this expense justifiable. 2023 - Evaluat...

Year-End Review: 2023 Purchases and Reflections Another year has gone by, and I’ve accumulated quite a bit of new stuff, from clothes to tech. 2022 was a banner year for me, but 2023 is the time to improve the quality of my wardrobe and invest in a new computer. Planned Purchases Tech - $106 Dell Precision 7530 - $250 - Sold JBL 510BT Headphones - $30 - Done Vuolao V8 Headphones - $16 - Done Apple AirPods 2nd Gen - $60 - Done Shoes - $311 Jordan 1 Mids 9.5 - $110 - Done Jordan 1 Lows 10.5 - $130 - Done Air Force 1s 10 - $71 - Done Clothes - $323 Uniqlo - Clothing Haul - $150 - Done North Face - Winter Jacket - $173 - Done Hobbies - $0 Swiss Army Knives - $0* - Done Total Expenditures: $740 I’m keeping it simple. For the Jordan 1s, I’m considering the Black & White Panda colorway or Green/Black/White to have something a bit more subdued than my current pair. I also added a pair of budget-friendly Bluetooth headphones. While I love the AirPods Pro, I’m finding it easier to have tra...

Spring Cleaning: Selling Unused Items Overview I'm in the process of decluttering my space and making room for things I truly value. I've identified several items that I seldom use anymore, and I've listed them for sale. While selling electronics often means taking a hit on their original purchase price, it’s a step towards better financial management. Items for Sale Here’s a breakdown of what I’m letting go of and their respective prices: Victorinox INOX watch - $300 Swatch - $400 Timex - $170 Tiffany Ring - $250 Tiffany Bracelet - $200 iPad (2018) - $150 GoPro 5 - $150 Switch Lite - $125 PS4 - $175 Fire HD8 - $25 Sansa Clip - $40 Anker Speaker - $15 Financial Summary Total Cash from Sales: ~$2,000 This total represents about 60% of the original value of all these items. Reflection While it stings to see how much tech depreciates, especially selling electronics for less than half their original value, I recognize the worth of the experiences I had with them. B...

2022 Wish List and Spending Summary As 2021 comes to a close, I'm planning my acquisitions for 2022, focusing on various collections and budgeting around $800. Summary Clothes & Shoes : $633 Knives : $58 Watches : $329 (final cost for SE2 only) iPhone : $200 Tech : $25 Final Total Spent : $1,245 Overall, I spent a bit more than expected, but each acquisition feels worthwhile. 2022 - Initial Wish List Clothes - $360 Uniqlo T-Shirts x3 - $45 - DONE Uniqlo Polo Shirt x2 - $50 - DONE Banana Republic Crew Sweater - $15 - DONE Uniqlo Heat Tech Shirt - $20 - DONE Uniqlo Ultra Down - $80 - DONE Northface Venture 2 Rain Jacket - $100 - DONE Adidas Red Gym Shorts x2 - $50 - DONE Total Spent : $360 Shoes - $200 ($110 spent) Air Jordan 1 - $110 - DONE Total Spent : $110 Total Spent Overall : $470 Wardrobe Refresh 2022 is a refresh year for my wardrobe. I’ve standardized on Uniqlo Supima Cotton T-Shirts . Despite being pricier than Hanes, Uniqlo’s Supima lasts significantly longer, ...

Updated Inventory List for Collections I've made some updates to my collections, adding a new category for Swiss Army Knives and shifting my focus from Clothing to Sneakers. Here’s the current overview: Inventory Overview Headphones: 11 Tech: 12 Watches: 7 Swiss Army Knives: 16 Sneakers: 4 Fountain Pens: 4 Whisky: 3 The only collection that hasn’t changed since 2018 is my Fountain Pens; all other collections have expanded or evolved. 1. Headphones (11) I reduced this collection by three items, letting go of my old MDR-ZX, ATH-EQ500, and WM-77 models, which I hadn't used in years. Breakdown: Over-Ear: Audio Technica - ATH-MSR7 Audio Technica - ATH-M50x On-Ear: Grado - SR80e In-Ear: AKG IG955 (Office) Klipsch R6i (Home) Beats Urbeats (Bag) Apple Earbuds x4 Wireless: Apple AirPods Pro 2. Tech (12) I added an iPhone 11, Amazon Fire 8 Tablet, and RG351p to my tech collection. I sold my Apple Shuffle and gave away my old iPhone 6s. I'm also planning to sell the LG K7. Brea...

Primary Collections Overview I currently have about 92 items in my primary collections. By treating them as 'collections,' I can focus on carefully selecting which items to add, replace, or keep. Value Estimation Total Items : 91 Total Value : $12,000 Ten items constitute the bulk of the valuation at about $8,000 , with the Rolex and Omega making up most of that amount. The remainder of my possessions totals around $4,000 . I used a combination of depreciated and replacement costs to determine the valuation; for instance, I found my Rolex Explorer online for about $3,700 and used that as the basis for its value. It’s surprising how much money I’ve spent over the years accumulating these items, especially since it amounts to just 91 pieces. Reflecting on this, I realize that none of these are my 'primary' expenditures. I spend significantly more on food, housing, and transportation each year. My car expenses alone—including insurance, registration/taxes, gas, mainte...