We need to de-stigmatize utilizing public services such as unemployment or SNAP benefits (food stamps) when times are tough. … Read More
Blog
Musings on personal finance and more. Not written with AI since 2012.
Would you rather: buy a new car or own a home?
I argue that for most people, you can choose to buy a new car or own a home (if you can have either of them at all), but not both. … Read More
Self-care is not doom spending
Self-care is an important part of life, and it’s okay (not reckless, and certainly not doom spending) to allocate money for this purpose. … Read More
Are you doom spending?
A phrase, doom spending (or doomspending) gets to the heart of the hopelessness people face about their finances and their future. … Read More
The Buy/Rent Calculator tells it like it is
The New York Times calculator showing whether to rent or buy a home is more cost-effective has a lot of wisdom, even with unhappy news. … Read More
You aren’t smarter than the timeshare people
You aren’t going to make money on a timeshare purchase. A timeshare will cost you forever, and you won’t even get to use it much either. … Read More
Was the 401(k) a mistake?
The 401(k) is the best option that most people have for saving for retirement. But its introduction may have been a mistake. … Read More
You’ll want to keep your car even longer now
Due to rising costs, people are keeping their cars longer and not replacing them as often. This is actually a good thing. … Read More
Secure 2.0: Can you save for retirement while paying off your debt?
I used to believe you couldn’t pay off debt and save for retirement, but new legislation through the Secure 2.0 Act is making me reconsider. … Read More
The 1% Rule: How to know when to move your money
Not every deal necessitates the hassle of moving your money or accounts around, but the 1% Rule is a good threshold to keep in mind. … Read More