more about: money
The Purchase That Gave Me a Huge Happiness Boost.
Several months ago, I read a study that showed that having more than one computer monitor gives you a big efficiency boost. I was intrigued, but I put off getting a second monitor for a long time: I had a lot of reasons why I didn’t want to try it: I didn’t want to spend the money; I didn’t want to have to figure out which monitor to buy; I didn’t know how to use it; my desk was too crowded; I already felt overwhelmed at work; etc.
But at the urging of a friend, I decided to give it a try and made the jump to two monitors. About an hour after having two monitors, I decided I had to have a third one.
Clutter: One Strategy for Keeping Gadgets Under Control
Do you have a problem with clutter? If you’re like me, you’re fighting an unending battle against cords, chargers, information booklets, and all the stuff that comes with anything technological.
I found a fantastic way to deal with this mess and confusion. Now, whenever we acquire a new electronic gizmo, I start a special Ziploc bag for it. I label the bag with the name of the device (“Toshiba laptop,” “Olympus digital camera”) and the date. Inside the bag, I put all wires, disks, manuals — all the paraphernalia that come with a new piece of equipment. I keep all these bags in one large box in a closet. I rarely need this stuff, but if I do, I know exactly where to find it.
Happiness: Using Up Your Coin Piles.
I’m almost embarrassed by how much happiness I’ve gained from a very minor project on my part.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been making a concerted effort to use up the big piles of coins we’ve stashed in various corners around our apartment. Each morning, I leave with a backpack that weighs an extra three pounds in quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.
