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Blog

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

Sun rays

How do you know how much money you need?

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Let’s face it: you probably have no idea how much you need to save in your life. This isn’t your fault. Like so much of financial security, we’re not taught anything in a comprehensive, start-to-finish sort of way. So we … Read More … Read More

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Stairs light

Would you even want to win the lottery?

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I’ve spoken before about how it’s not worth it to play the lottery. As my college roommate once said to me (unimprovably, I thought), “you have about as much chance of winning the lottery if you play as if you … Read More … Read More

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Netting

My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps (Part 2, Baby Steps 4-7)

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This post is part of a two-part series: My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps (Part 1, Baby Steps 1-3b) My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps (Part 2, Baby Steps 4-7) In my last post, I talked … Read More … Read More

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Mud crawling

My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps (Part 1, Baby Steps 1-3b)

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I offer my opinion and review of each of Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps, starting with Baby Steps 1, 2, 3, and the often-forgotten Baby Step 3b. This post is part of a two-part series: My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 … Read More … Read More

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Man working out

How companies make money from you forgetting

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I recently logged in to view may checking account balance. While there, I noticed a $19.99 purchase from the site Daily Burn. I sighed. This was the second time this month that I had received a recurring charge from a … Read More … Read More

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Rocks balanced

Which would you choose: FSA or HSA?

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Not long after I figured out that I would pass the HSA testing period, I received an interesting and oblique note from my HR department. Paraphrasing here, it said that in the new year they would be evaluating the current … Read More … Read More

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Japanese Classroom

How I passed the HSA testing period

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Last year, when I started my new job, I was given two options for health care: bad and worse. I went from having access to an “A1” and “B1” plan to a “B3” and “C3” plan. Without even knowing the … Read More … Read More

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Coinstar is for wimps. Count your own change.

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Okay cadets, get in formation! We’ve got work to do. Fallllll in! Graaaaaab rolls! Coooooount coins! Sorry, I was just having fun for a change. (Sorry about that too.) … Read More

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Lock and key

Why I can’t get myself to use a password manager

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Data breaches have become so common that they are basically going on constantly. According to Teramind, in the time it takes you to brush your teeth, 19,280 data records have been stolen. And that’s not counting floss. If you haven’t … Read More … Read More

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Fin rock

“How I made $200,000 and grew my audience from 50 to 50,000 in 13 months!” and other things I ignored at FinCon 2018

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I’m just getting back from FinCon 2018. What a blast! Some previous posts about FinCon: Is it already FinCon 2018? A confession of unintentionality Affiliate mania, problem companies, and bling: Notes from the exhibition hall at FinCon 2017 FinCon is … Read More … Read More

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