Maggie Gnadt

That sounded random, but it actually stems from a conversation I had with my closest girlfriend this past weekend when I went to go visit her in the place where I was born and where I lived for many years (we were talking about how picky of an eater I am, but I know I’ll get to unpack that in a later post, so I’m moving on). Admission is free as part of the larger experience including the shopping in and around Quincy Market, and 24 times a year, the hall is used to swear in new American citizens. Admission is free, and you can avoid the parking fees if you take public transit (and if you don’t feel like hopping from train to bus, the beach is only a 10 minute walk from the where the Blue Line drops you at Wonderland Station). The Revere House, along with Mike’s and Faneuil Hall, are all located a short walk from one another in what I like to think of as the epicenter of American history.

To be really honest with you, there wasn’t really anything on the plate, and I was curious to see if I could recreate the recipe (complete with the dijon dressing) at home for less I added Montchevre goat cheese because I felt the sharp flavor would contrast well with the tangy bitterness of the grapefruit, but I kept everything else pretty much the way I had it (minus the ridiculous flower garnish that I actually started eating before Mike was able to stop me). * Montchevre goat cheese (or any type of soft, sharp cheese), to taste upon serving As a general rule of thumb, I like to make my dressing as I need it, since heaping tons of dressing on lettuce or kale makes the leaves get wilted and soggy (especially important to keep your produce fresh if you’re taking it as lunch for the week)! All in all, the salad cost me about $10 to recreate (I keep oil and balsamic stocked in my pantry at all times), and made enough to take about three portions to work, and one dinner at home.

that way, self care becomes something you practice in small ways all day long instead of struggling towards a distant reward that ends up left by the wayside. ’s one of the best ways to establish new habits, try new things, and achieve stuff that is going to make you happy and energized, setting you up for more positive things in life. Too often, I cruise self care and wellness hashtags and see the same regurgitated spiel that seems more and more disingenuous the closer I look at someone’s profile, and I honestly have to wonder- is any of this actually helping, or are people just copying one another in an endless feedback loop trying to become the kind of self care guru that gets tons of likes, comments, and follows?

It’s different than budgeting specifically, because while penny-pinching is a supporting actor in the journey to better fiscal habits, it’s not the only thing that impacts your financial health. I will say though that you definitely don’t need to have hundreds of dollars to open a savings account (though it’s important to do some shopping around, since some banks charge a monthly fee if you have less than a set amount in the account). While I am actively looking to pay off the installment loan on my car well before the end of the financing term, I don’t think it’s necessary (I just personally don’t like having a chunk of my monthly capital tied up in a depreciating asset), as long as payments are being made and you’re keeping an eye on pesky revolving credit card balances. Additionally, even though you probably have limited capital at such a young age, it’s always good to look into other investment options like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and high interest savings accounts (as mentioned above).