Blog

Blog

Musings on personal finance and more. Not written with AI since 2012.

Is it really better to wait to claim Social Security until you turn 70?

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I challenge the conventional wisdom that you should wait until age 70 to claim Social Security benefits in order to get the most out of it. According to US News, the average monthly Social Security benefit as of 2022 is … Read More … Read More

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How will you spend your time in retirement?

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While preparing for the financial aspect of retirement is important, it’s also vital to figure out how you’ll spend your time too. When you think of retirement, what comes to mind? (Okay, you probably are feeling some dread that you’ll … Read More … Read More

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The Loan Simulator: Finding your best option for student loan repayment

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Explore an official tool called the “Loan Simulator” which shows you how to find the best repayment strategy for your student loans. I have a confession. When it comes to student loans, I can’t keep the different repayment options in … Read More … Read More

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2021 in review: The top posts of the year

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A look back at the top posts of 2021 on this site, including both my favorites and the ones readers viewed most. Like most people who are engaging with the pandemic, 2021 felt both swift and eternal. It’s hard to … Read More … Read More

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How to find out how high the minimum wage should be

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There used to be a link between minimum wage and worker productivity, but this has diverged since the 1960’s. It’s time to bring this back. Anyone can be making minimum wage. It’s like that Bill Hicks quote: “Anybody can be … Read More … Read More

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Do you spend too much on restaurants?

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It’s common for people to say that they spend “too much” on restaurants and other food delivery services, but why? And is it true? If there’s one thing I hear from basically everyone, whether they are a client, a prospective … Read More … Read More

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Smart speakers are terrible for your finances

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I discuss smart speakers and how easy it is to spend money unintentionally (and potentially recklessly) with them. Leading the list on the worst blog ideas for me to write would be one with reviews of the latest tech gadgets. … Read More … Read More

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How to start an emergency fund when money is tight

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When money is tight, an emergency fund is even more important. Here are some strategies to get you to put something, anything, away. You need an emergency fund. An emergency fund is not savings. You need that too, but that’s … Read More … Read More

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Five reasons why my approach is better than Dave Ramsey

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I discuss the many shortcomings of the Dave Ramsey approach to personal finance, and show better ways to help more people. I’ve mentioned Dave Ramsey numerous times over the years. I’m not here to bash Dave, at least not without … Read More … Read More

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Beyond the Debt Snowball: Other ways to pay off debt (and are they worth it?)

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I look at some non-traditional methods of paying off debt to see if they are any better than the Debt Snowball method. The problem: you have multiple debts, all with varying amounts, interest rates, and payback timelines. Some are secured … Read More … Read More

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