Rich Lives, Soup Recipes and Throwback Movies

I told you I was back!

Jun 14, 2023

Editor – Phoebe Tully

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I promised I was back, and here I am, two weeks in a row!

Fortunately I’ve remembered how happy it makes me to pull this short newsletter together each week, full of small things to make life happier. This week I wanted to show you a financial resource I’ve really loved, as a potential activity to do either alone or with your partner/family/flatmate this weekend.

I’ve had a cold for the past couple of weeks that I just haven’t been able to shake, so I’m also craving nourishing, comforting food like the soup recipe I’ve included in this week’s curriculum. Preferably eaten in bed à la Nigella with a ‘90s romcom.

As it’s dark so early these days, I’ve also made a bit of a ritual of lighting some tealights around my apartment and putting on some soft background music (always jazz, for me) around 5pm to prevent things from feeling, you know, just dark and cold and miserable. I’ve included below a current favourite album.

Hopefully these Small Things give you a bit of a lift as well. See you next week!

Knowing your Rich Life.

I read Ramit Sethi’s book I Will Teach You To Be Rich (clickbait before clickbait existed?) a few years ago, and I was taken especially by his concept of your “Rich Life”.

A Rich Life is your ideal life — one where you look at your personal relationships, your finances, and your ordinary days and say, “Wow!”
It’s a life that is full. A life lived intentionally, proactively, and abundantly.
A Rich Life isn’t all about money … [it’s] a tool for designing, enhancing, and enjoying the life you’re meant to live.

Part of designing and living your Rich Life is really understanding what experiences and things you love most, so you can emphasis those things. These are like “dials” you can turn up and down. My Rich Life, for example, has the food, wine, books and cashmere dials turned to max volume, and the car dial right down low. You may be more about live music, fitness, watches, cars and/or annual trips to Disneyland than I am. There’s no right or wrong here – it’s about making decisions that simply make you happier.

There is a free Rich Life minicourse on his website here, which can be done without the full context of the book (which is heavy with US-specific financial advice). A perfectly nerdy activity for a rainy afternoon this weekend. (I haven’t watched Ramit’s new Netflix series, but I’ll bet he talks about Rich Lives in there too, if a show is more your speed.)

I’m keen to hear in the comments – what’s in your Rich Life? What’s obviously not in your Rich Life?!

DO | invite some friends over for a wintery brunch. Make an indulgent baked brioche French toast with a citrusy punch to drink alongside your coffee – or pick up some frozen croissants, pop them in the oven just before guests arrive, and let guests compliment you on how delicious breakfast smells.

MAKE | chicken noodle soup, but with dumplings to make it even better.

READ | Love in a Cold Climate – Nancy Mitford

WATCH | You’ve Got Mail (1998)

LISTEN | Recorded Fall ‘61 – Stan Getz & Bob Brookmeyer