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Blog

Musings on personal finance and more...

Double rainbow

If you save $1 today, how much will you have in 10 years?

It’s better to save when you’re younger. I think most of us know that. The problem is that being younger is the time when it’s hardest to save. One’s younger years are the time when pretty much everyone has a … Read More … Read More
Robot

Why not use a robo-advisor?

So as I mentioned in my last post, my day job started offering a 401(k) recently. Finally! It’s been very relieving, as it allows me to put more tax-advantaged money away for retirement, which, as you might imagine, is pretty … Read More … Read More
401

Why a 401(k) is the most lucrative investment product for most people

Lord have mercy, my day job just recently started offering a 401(k)! When I switched jobs last year, I was dismayed, as one can imagine, that there was no employee-sponsored retirement plan offered to me. When I asked, as politely … Read More … Read More
Door handle

What if you don’t have a bank account?

I was on the bus the other day when I overheard the two people, a young man and woman, in front of me talking about a paycheck. “Yeah, I just got paid, but now I have to see if some … Read More … Read More
Bank branch

The saddest money withdrawal I’ve ever seen

I’m going on a big trip this month, and I’m pretty excited about it. One of my rituals around packing—aside from spending the week prior making a way-too-big pile of stuff in the corner of my room under the misunderstanding … Read More … Read More
Lonely tree

Don’t be a minimalist, be a sensibilist

Minimalism is a big thing. From tiny houses to 100 things challenges, it seems that there is a building pushback against the McMansion-loving, stuff-buying, American-dream excess of our modern age, where what you buy determines who you are. From the … Read More … Read More
Ladder

An alternative to CD lock-in: a “ladder”

I don’t think CDs (certificates of deposit) are worth the bargain. You often (but not always) get a slightly higher interest rate than an equivalent savings account, but at the price of liquidity, in that you have to leave the … Read More … Read More
Compact disc

Is a CD worth it?

I’ve talked about savings accounts and checking accounts and when you want to put money in one versus the other. I’ve also talked about how you can benefit from using an online savings account to get a better interest rate … Read More … Read More
ATM receipt

It is possible to have too much float

It's important to have enough money in your account to not have to worry when your bills are paid, but too much float brings problems too. … Read More
Empty pool cleaner

Surprises, or Why you need more float in your account

In my last post I talked about very nearly overdrafting my account. It would have been more embarrassing than anything else had it happened—I haven’t overdrafted an account in over two decades—but it wouldn’t have caused any big problems. I … Read More … Read More

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