Hi, I'm Rachel.
“Helping people build enough financial freedom to spend more time living.”
I'm a software engineer who became fascinated with one question: How can money buy back time? Optional Mondays is where I document what I'm learning and build tools to help others create more freedom.
My Money Philosophy
Money is simply the tool and time freedom is the destination.
Recent Articles
Browse all →The True Cost of Making Minimum Payments on Credit Cards
Making minimum payments feels manageable — until you see what it actually costs in total interest and years of your life. The math is sobering, and it changes how people think about their cards.
Oct 12, 2026
How to Get Out of Debt on a Low Income
Paying off debt on a tight budget feels impossible — but it is not. The strategy looks different when income is the constraint, not behavior. Here is what actually works.
Oct 5, 2026
What Is a Good Debt-to-Income Ratio — and How to Improve Yours
Lenders use your debt-to-income ratio to decide if you qualify for a mortgage or car loan. Here's what the number means, what counts as healthy, and how to move it in the right direction.
Sep 28, 2026
Student Loan Payoff Strategies: Which One Is Right for You?
Federal student loans come with unique options that credit cards do not. Income-driven repayment, PSLF, refinancing — here is how to choose the right strategy for your balance and career.
Sep 21, 2026
Debt Avalanche vs. Debt Snowball: Which Saves You More Money?
Both methods work. But which one is right for you? We run the numbers — and then look at the psychology — to help you choose the approach that actually gets you to debt-free.
Sep 14, 2026
Passive Income Ideas That Actually Work (No Hype)
Most "passive income" requires a lot of upfront work. Here are the options that can genuinely generate income with low ongoing effort.
Aug 3, 2026
From the Journal
Read all →
The Hidden Number That Could Buy Back Years of Your Life: Your Income Gap
Most people focus on spending less, but one of the fastest ways to reach financial freedom is earning what you're truly worth. Learn how finding your income gap could help you buy back years of your life.
July 14, 2026
Why I Finally Started Taking Credit Card Rewards Seriously
A personal look at how I'm using credit card rewards to reduce travel costs and move one step closer to time freedom—without spending more than I already do.
July 10, 2026
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