Money - OldDogZeroTricks

The Quiet Panic of Not Having Enough Money

Updated on January 20, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor of hands counting cash, and worrying about not having enough money, representing financial stress vs anxiety.

I have lived out of convenience stores for 20 years. I have less, but I owe nothing. This is a look at the quiet dignity of living tight, without the crushing weight of modern debt.

When Did Work Get Put on a Pedestal? (And What Happens When You Take It Down)

Updated on January 12, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

A watercolor illustration set in a Japanese tatami room, showing an antique balance scale. A steaming coffee cup and cherry blossom branch weigh down one side, tipping the scale lower than a leather briefcase and heavy planner on the other side, symbolizing the value of rest over work obligations.

Four days off over New Year taught me something that years of working never did. Regulating your schedule might matter more to your happiness than your salary or success.

When Love Isn’t Enough (When You Can’t Be Everything They Need)

Updated on January 21, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor painting of a strong tree with green leaves, a cracked stone path leading to it, and a colorful sunset in the background.

I watched my wife leave for work in tears and wished I had the money to stop her pain. But I was just a teacher. This is what happens when love isn’t enough.

What Nobody Tells You About Working Hard

Updated on December 6, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

Older construction worker working hard operating heavy machinery

I spent 20 years being loyal, reliable, and hardworking. And I am still living paycheck to paycheck. Here is why working hard for others is the “safe” choice that keeps you stuck.

What If Hard Work Isn’t Enough Without God?

Updated on December 2, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

watercolor illustration of spiritual man praying in meditative pose with clasped hands

I have worked thousands of hours on four different blogs, but I am still living paycheck to paycheck. I am starting to wonder if I have been “laboring in vain” by building without God.

The Modest Dreams We Can’t Afford (And the Selves We Leave Behind in Midlife)

Updated on January 1, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

Blue luxury sports car showroom with a man in a suit admiring high-end vehicles, modern automotive dealership, stylish interior design, and a focus on premium automobiles in a high-tech environment.

I am 57 and I have never bought a new vehicle. It is a modest dream I cannot afford. But admitting it helped me reconnect with the person I used to be.

If You Became Rich, Who Would You Help First?

Updated on December 6, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor painting of christmas gifts wrapped in colorful paper, tied with twine and adorned with ribbons.

Most of us imagine what we would buy if we were rich. But the people we would want to lift up say far more about our values. Who would be first on your list?

What Would You Do If Money Wasn’t an Issue?

Updated on November 25, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor illustration of a money bag with a red ribbon

Strip away the mortgage payments and the grocery budget anxiety. What remains? What would you actually choose to do with your days if survival wasn’t part of the equation?

Chasing Dreams vs. Chasing Money (And Why I’m Still Figuring It Out)

Updated on December 23, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

At 3 AM, I wasn’t awake from stress. I was awake because I am addicted to hope. At nearly 60, I am still chasing dreams instead of sleeping. Is this healthy optimism or just avoidance?