Blog

Blog

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

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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You cheat not only the game but yourself when you don’t track all your spending

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The meme “You cheated not only the game but yourself” applies equally well to when you hide certain purchases from your spending tracking. I don’t know how up you are on your Twitch streamers, but I quite enjoy watching certain … Read More … Read More

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Why we live in a Squid Game economy

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I look at “Squid Game” and see the failings of our own economy, as well as lessons on what we could do to create more wealth for all. By now you’ve probably either watched Squid Game, the hit series on … Read More … Read More

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Do you really need that many mutual funds?

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I look at “lazy portfolios” as an option for people who want the simplest and easiest way to invest in the market. (Note: This is not investment advice. Please see my Disclosure Policy for details.) Recently, I took a look … Read More … Read More

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Amazon Prime doesn’t save you money

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You may think you’re getting one over on them when you have Amazon Prime, but Amazon is laughing all the way to the bank. I want you to cancel your Amazon Prime subscription. I don’t say this because I hate … Read More … Read More

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