Blog

Blog

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

Infinity pool

What to do when your account balance is different than expected

Posted by on | Featured

Balancing your household budget might be difficult to do, but it’s not complex. You just make sure that the money you have going out is the same amount that is coming in. (In this way, Charles Dickens’ Micawber was only half-right, … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,
Parrot

How I saved $600 in a year on my internet service

Posted by on | Featured

Ever since broadband to the home became commonplace in the 2000’s, the internet bill is one that most households can’t live without. As more and more people “cut the cord” on their cable bill, home internet service is as important … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,
Cherry Blossom

The worrying connection between long-term care insurance and the Roth IRA

Posted by on | Featured

I talked last time about long-term care insurance (LTCI), and how it can be a great tool to hedge against the incredible medical costs of things like nursing home care. This is, of course, assuming that the insurers stay in business, … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,
Heavenly Bow of Stars

Is long-term care insurance still a going concern?

Posted by on | Featured

Medical costs are scary. Medical needs definitely count as emergencies, but the costs can be incredible. I always recommend a savings of at least six months of bills and expenses in your emergency fund (here’s what that means for you), … Read More … Read More

Tags: , , ,

More about how not to get lost

Posted by on | Featured

In my last post, I started talking about how not to get lost. I believe everyone can both know where they are, as well as figure out where they need to go. All it takes is a little focused energy, patience, … Read More … Read More

Tags: ,

How not to get lost

Posted by on | Featured

People say I have a very good sense of direction. I guess so. I prefer to say that most people have an undeveloped (or rather, untapped) sense of direction. Just like I believe that anyone can become good with math … Read More … Read More

Tags: , ,
Bungalows

Fear the timeshare

Posted by on | Featured

As I mentioned, I’m writing this from Las Vegas, the place where everyone goes in order to embody the experience of YOLO. It’s a dizzying place, with everything designed to disorient you. And hey, since you can’t seem to find … Read More … Read More

Tags: ,
Old Arrow Sign

The problem with YOLO

Posted by on | Featured

I’m in Vegas this week. Everyone has a strong reaction to that phrase, and it’s quite revealing about them. Sometimes it’s, “Ugh, Vegas, what a hellhole“, but more often it’s “Awesome! What kind of craziness are you gonna get up … Read More … Read More

Tags:
Blue gate

Why people stop at wanting “more”

Posted by on | Featured

So I’ve talked about the problem with just saying that you “want more”. In most contexts, I hear it about money, but there are plenty of other areas where we use this wording. People want “more” time. People want “more” … Read More … Read More

Tags: , , ,
Light blobs

The problem with wanting “more”

Posted by on | Featured

“I wish I had more money.” I hear this at discussion groups, coaching sessions, and even just conversations with friends. I can’t help but remember that commercial from my childhood for a trade school, with Sally Struthers as spokesperson: “Do … Read More … Read More

Tags: