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Blog

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

Toll booths

Why everything is like a regressive tax

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With all the talk on how to fund our government and the various projects we need to undertake, it’s made me think about that phrase “regressive tax”. As in, “there was no support for that initiative, because it was seen … Read More … Read More

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Roller coaster

That time I almost tried to time the market (but didn’t)

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At the beginning of the year, the news reports started piling in: the stock markets were overvalued. P/E ratios were at highs not seen in years. Some people even used the curious phrase “melt-up” (which, correct me if I’m wrong, … Read More … Read More

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ATM withdrawal

Another way to track cash expenses

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People have very widely varying attitudes toward cash. While some people feel money more when they spend cash, other people don’t feel it at all. In fact, the way some people have explained it to me, if the transaction doesn’t … Read More … Read More

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Anxiety

How having more money can make you anxious

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People think that money can solve all of their problems. Yes, there’s the old saw about how “money can’t buy happiness”, but usually people see past that and think, “yeah, but it would certainly help“. And that’s true. When you’re … Read More … Read More

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Hard drive spindle

Failure to backup: Why I’m paying hundreds of dollars because I didn’t follow my own advice

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I’m not always the best at taking my own advice. There are many examples on this site. Like the time I went $500 over budget. Or my foot-dragging on getting a will. “Be prepared” isn’t quite up there on the … Read More … Read More

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Street collapse

Pay less now, or pay more later, your choice

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There are lots of ways to spend more money than you have to. One of the easiest ways to do that is to buy something before you have the money for it. And there are oodles of ways to do … Read More … Read More

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Waves crashing

Warren’s wisdom, or on being greedy and fearful

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One of the more famous—and certainly eerily relevant—quotes about financial self-awareness is from Warren Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha”. The quote generally is rendered as: “Be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy.” It’s a great … Read More … Read More

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Opulent house

This time it’s different, or not

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If there’s one thing we are biased toward, it’s the sense the present is somehow different from everything that came before. This can refer to financial affairs, sure, but it also refers to anything: education, technology, social interaction, you name … Read More … Read More

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Windfall apples

What to do with the extra tax money in your new paycheck

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I really tried to avoid talking about the tax plan, and couldn’t help myself. But that was more of a “feelings” piece, and less practical. This article is coming from the other, more practical side. In the U.S., our new tax … Read More … Read More

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See saw

The HSA testing period might have less downside than I thought

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If you have an HSA (Health Savings Account)—and if you’re eligible, it’s probably a good idea to have one—you still have time to make your contributions count toward last year. Since HSAs are a great financial deal (only offset by … Read More … Read More

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