Blog

Blog

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

How much should you spend on lunch?

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It’s easy to spend so much on lunch that it starts to eat into your earnings, so here’s a good rule of thumb for spending on your meal. … Read More

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Can off-peak energy plans reduce your electric bill?

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I signed up for my electric provider’s off-peak “time of use” energy pricing plan to see if it really does save me money. … Read More

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How to handle the feeling of being in collections

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Being hounded by collections agencies or just people who want your money can be a scary experience, but you can manage your own experience. … Read More

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Why food banks shouldn’t exist

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Food banks are a short term solution to a problem—hunger—that is solvable, if only we decided that we wanted to solve it. Have you been on food stamps (SNAP) before? I have. There’s no shame in it, and I hope … Read More … Read More

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Year in review: The best posts of 2024

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I review the best posts of 2024, from the posts you liked the best to the ones I’m most pleased with. … Read More

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Reminder: You don’t need to give out your phone number

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Reclaim your focus, save money, and beat back those endless notifications by not giving out your phone number and doing this instead. … Read More

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Everything you need to know about locking your credit card

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A credit card lock can be a useful action to take when you don’t want your card used. I’ll lay out all the details here. I’ve always said that the best place for your credit card is in your desk … Read More … Read More

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Do you want others to make less money? The challenge of solidarity with wages

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A union dispute with a local grocery store leads to a bigger concern with wages. Is solidarity possible when we believe in a zero-sum economy? … Read More

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Does not having Amazon Prime cost you more?

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I revisit my perennial request for you to cancel your Amazon Prime membership wondering if there are hidden costs that might cost you more. I want you to cancel your Amazon Prime membership. In most cases, this is the best … Read More … Read More

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It’s time to do some financial gardening

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The future is unclear, so now’s a good time to do some financial gardening and get yourself into the best position possible. I don’t know about you, but when things feel stressful or uncertain, I like to tidy up. “A … Read More … Read More

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