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M aximalism vs . M inimalism FIND YOUR BALANCE THIS NOVEMBER!
NOVEMBER 2024
We have countless opportunities to buy or receive things we don’t need every day. When you go to Walmart or Target to purchase groceries, toiletries, and other necessities, you can easily be distracted and buy things you don’t really need, like holiday decorations, collectibles, and other knickknacks that take up space in your home. It can be difficult to break away from this behavior, as some of these unneeded items can bring us joy and happiness. This month, we have an opportunity to break free from these detrimental habits and make a commitment to stop buying things we don’t need when we recognize Use Less Stuff Day on Nov. 21. If you’re trying to decide if you should participate in Use Less Stuff Day, consider whether you’re a minimalist or maximalist. I am definitely a maximalist, and I hate it! My husband is a messy maximalist, and that’s even worse! It’s not like I refuse to throw anything out. In most cases, I’m not attached to worldly possessions or care about them too much, but I continue to acquire and accumulate things I don’t need. It’s becoming suffocating. It doesn’t matter if I’m at work or home; my maximalist behaviors follow me wherever I go. Not long ago, I came into work to find papers on my desk stacked so high I couldn’t see my full computer screen. I made a significant effort to clean and organize everything, which led to one of the most productive weeks I’ve had in a very long time. After that experience, it became evident that there is a link between having a clean space and a clear mind. However, even though I believe this to be true, it doesn’t help me escape my over-purchasing ways.
One of the biggest challenges that prevent me from changing my habits and becoming more minimalistic is my children. Having three kids makes it eight million times worse, especially when I consider all of the papers they bring home from school. I want to throw some of their stuff out to make the house cleaner, but I guilt myself, even if they only colored in one little section of the paper. I’m worried I’ll regret getting rid of it 10 years down the road. That’s a big reason why I’m planning on taking their artwork and turning it into a book. I learned of a company that offers this unique service, where you ship them your children’s art, and they turn it into an archive book. Doing this will allow me to keep all their artwork without paper filling up every corner of my home! My good friend Lisa is a minimalist and keeps everything tidy. I envy that about her. Nothing is ever out of place when you enter her home. You can show up unannounced, and it’s perfection. It almost feels like everything is sparkling. I will never forget a conversation we had years ago where I asked her how she fits everything into her small purse and wallet. She looked at my huge purse and overstuffed wallet and asked what in the world I keep in there. As I was listing all the things, she told me I didn’t need all of that. And she was correct. I would love to offer some advice or guidance for other maximalists trying to change their ways, but I’m just as much of a work in progress as anyone else. We are moving soon and I am using this as an opportunity to purge. It’s difficult. I’m not going to lie. All I can say is that you’re not alone. Maybe on Use Less Stuff Day, we can finally find the solutions we need to become more tidy and organized!
IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN HAVING A CLEAN SPACE AND A CLEAR MIND.”
- Esther Vayman
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L ock in a F ail -S afe S avings P lan
for you. Work toward setting aside enough to cover at least three months’ expenses to avoid using high-interest credit cards.
AUTOMATE RETIREMENT SAVINGS. If possible, put 10%–15% of your paycheck into a retirement account, such as a 401(k), Roth IRA, SEP-IRA, or another investment account. To help you meet this lofty goal, take full advantage of any matching program your employer offers. That’s free money! OPEN A BROKERAGE ACCOUNT. A regular investment account gives you access to stocks, bonds, and other instruments. Most advisors recommend a low-cost index fund as an initial investment, but if you are uncomfortable with stock market volatility, consider certificates of deposit or bonds. If you hold investments for at least one year, your earnings will be taxed at the long-term capital gains rate — far less than the tax on your ordinary income. SET UP A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT. Health savings accounts (HSAs) are a powerful way to set aside income tax- free to pay medical bills. They offer a triple tax advantage in that deposits, earnings, and withdrawals are tax-free if you use withdrawals for eligible medical expenses. You can sign up for these plans through an employer or HealthCare.gov by opting for an HSA-eligible health insurance plan. To determine how much to deposit, search online for “HSA Contribution Calculator.” Unlike other tax-sheltered savings vehicles, HSAs do not have a “use-it-or-lose-it” requirement, so you can accumulate funds for the future.
Budgeting and saving are skills many Americans learn late in life, if at all. Only 36 states require high schools to offer personal finance courses. While that’s a marked increase from seven states in 2000, it still leaves many Americans adrift. Many consumers benefit from setting up regular automatic deposits to each of the four key savings and investment accounts, either through paycheck withholding or via their bank. With this system, growing their savings requires no conscious effort. START AN EMERGENCY FUND. Deposit 2% of your paycheck into an emergency fund, either a high- yield savings account or a money market fund. These accounts currently yield about 4% annual interest or more, so your money will be working
E ffective S trategies for S toring Y our W ill DON’T LEAVE IT TO CHANCE
Many people consider their will the most important part of their estate plan. Without a will, the laws and courts determine what happens to your assets after you pass, and if you have minor children, the courts will also decide who becomes their guardian. By establishing a will, you can choose what happens to your assets and name a guardian for your children if anything happens to you.
After creating a will, you have to determine where you will store it until it is needed. You don’t want to leave it out in the open, as family members may become upset upon discovering that they aren’t getting specific assets. However, you also don’t want to hide it in an impossible-to-find location, as it will be of no use to anyone if they can’t find it after you pass away.
Below, we offer three places you can store your will and ideas to consider before locking it up.
FILE YOUR WILL WITH THE PROBATE COURT. When you file your will with the probate court in your county, they’ll keep it in a secure vault until you withdraw it or they learn of your death. Be sure to inform your chosen executor and beneficiaries that your will is with the probate court so they don’t waste time looking for it elsewhere. KEEP IT IN A SAFE DEPOSIT BOX. Your safe deposit box at the bank or post office might seem like the perfect spot, but your executor and beneficiaries might be unable to access it when needed. A probate court can order a financial institution to deliver the documents to the court, but this can take additional time your family should spend grieving. LOCK YOUR WILL IN A DISASTER-PROOF SAFE AT HOME. This is a good way to keep your will safe and close to home. You’ll want to use a fireproof and waterproof safe to protect your will from any potential disasters. Be sure to let your executor know the will is in the safe and tell them how to access it.
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IF YOUR FAMILY COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TO CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
Amanda D. Ireland Amanda H. Germany Abby Any small beach town on the East Coast Jennifer The English Countryside Brooke Boston Ashlyn Ireland
Maggie Montreal
“I CANNOT RECOMMEND THE PROFESSIONALS AT VAYMAN & TEITELBAUM ENOUGH IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF FAMILY AND DIVORCE LEGAL ASSISTANCE. FROM THE ADMINISTRATORS TO THE PARALEGALS TO THE ATTORNEYS, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THEY ARE INFORMED, PROFESSIONAL, PROMPT, AND COURTEOUS. MY EXPERIENCE WAS AS SEAMLESS AS THESE THINGS CAN BE. IF YOU ARE IN NEED, CALL THEM. YOU WON’T BE SORRY.”
Abigayle Yellowstone Kimberly Sweden Brittany New York City Julia Maine/ Acadia National Park Leah Maldives
S pinach , L entil , and R oasted B eet S alad
ingredients • 1/2 cup green lentils, rinsed clean • 1 cup vegetable stock (or water) • 3 medium leeks, chopped • 1 medium beet, quartered • 1–2 tbsp olive oil • 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper • 4 big handfuls of spinach
BRAIN BREAK
Dressing • 1/4 cup tahini • 1/2 medium lemon, juiced • 2 tbsp maple syrup • 3–4 tbsp olive oil • 1 pinch each salt and pepper
Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com
directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F and grease a rimmed baking sheet. 2. To a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add lentils and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20–30 minutes uncovered until all liquid is absorbed. Set aside. 3. Add leeks and beets to the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake 15–20 minutes. For crispier beets, bake for an additional 10–15 minutes. Set aside. 4. In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients until combined. 5. In a larger serving bowl, combine spinach, beets, leeks, and lentils. Add dressing and toss to coat.
APPLE BASKETBALL BLACK FRIDAY FIREPLACE GRATITUDE LEAVES
NAP PARADE PIE STUFFING TURKEY VETERAN
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A MAXIMALIST’S JOURNEY TOWARD LESS
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4 MUST-HAVE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE HOW TO ENSURE YOUR WILL IS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE QUESTION AND ANSWERS SPINACH, LENTIL, AND ROASTED BEET SALAD
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RIDICULOUS RULES FROM ANCIENT ROME
P eculiar L aws of the A ncient E mpire ROMAN RULES
While ancient Rome may be known for gladiators, grand conquests, and fashionable togas, a surprisingly intricate legal system kept their civilization in line. They had many laws — some familiar, others bizarre — that dictated the everyday lives of millions of Roman citizens, enslaved people, and soldiers across a vast empire. Here are three of the most outrageous and interesting laws Romans enacted as a republic and an empire. DRESS CODES AND PARTY FOULS Beginning in around 215 BC, the Roman Republic began instituting what was known as sumptuary laws, which restricted the clothes people could wear, foods they could eat, and the maximum number of attendees at parties. They created these, in part, to reduce the costs of banquets, festivals, and other Roman ragers. Some examples were enacted in 213 BC when it became illegal for women to wear colorful dresses — unless they were
celebrating a ritual sacrifice — to wear more than a half ounce of gold or even to ride around in carriages. However, they soon repealed these laws because they considered them antiquated . SHOCKING STATUTE Tough luck for those who like hanging out on tall metal poles — if a lightning strike killed someone in Rome, the law forbade families from burying them! This is because Romans believed lightning strikes were divine retribution from the king of the Roman pantheon, Jupiter. SEE YA LATER, GLADIATOR! Romans “borrowed” the idea of gladiatorial games from their (conquered) neighbors, wherein people would fight — sometimes to the death — for the public’s amusement and began holding them back in 264 BC. However, because only 3 of every 5 people
made it to their 20s at the time, only about 10% of those bouts involved actual fatalities. Many slaves, prisoners of war, and Christian martyrs fought as gladiators in the arena, but if they were already sentenced to execution, they had no hope of survival. One peculiar law involving gladiators was that they would fight until an injured combatant put down his shield and lifted his index finger to ask for mercy. At that point, it would come to an abrupt halt — though the emperor, if in attendance, would make the final decision.
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