Blog

Blog

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

On being kicked out of my apartment, or Nothing is unexpected

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  Have you ever rented a place, and been very comfortable there, only to receive a voicemail message from your landlord that started like this: “I don’t know how to say this to you, but I just wanted to say … Read More … Read More

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What do “social insurance programs” have to do with personal finance?

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Last time, I wrote about someone who claimed that all of the important personal finance tenets could fit on an index card. And who then produced that index card. It contained nine ideas or suggestions, eight of which I tackled in … Read More … Read More

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Can everything you need to know about personal finance fit on an index card?

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  Two years ago, there was an article about someone who wrote down all of the important personal financial advice onto an index card. The theory being that everything important that you needed to know was simple, and that all the … Read More … Read More

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Clearing customs before boarding? US preclearance at Dublin Airport

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  The standard way to reenter the US when flying is as follows: 1. Check in 2. Go through security 3. Fly 4. Go through customs What this means, in a practical sense is: 1. Wait in line 2. Wait … Read More … Read More

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Why you never have to give out your email address to get online

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  Don’t you hate it when you can’t get online unless input your email address? How frustrating. Well I say, the hell with them. I’m talking about WiFi captive portals. These are the screens that show up when you first … Read More … Read More

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Most people never leave their backyard, or The speed of adulthood

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  We were standing on the top of the Arc de Triomphe. (Side note: no, this was not something I thought you could do, but it was great that we could.) It was a kind of “triomphe” for my Mom, … Read More … Read More

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Beware the second time around

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  We were stuck at the Gare du Nord with no place to stay. We had arrived on the Eurostar, fresh from London, with accommodations all arranged. We had booked an apartment near the Champs-Élysées through AirBnb, and everything was … Read More … Read More

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On questioning the extravagance of eating out

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  I’m in London now, my first time here in a while. (Put it to you this way: the London Eye is new to me, and last time, there was no distinction between the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern.) … Read More … Read More

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Why not to get the London Pass (or any multiple attraction ticket)

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  It’s a standard part of the American vacation: We only have limited time, so let’s try and see as much as possible! It’s an understandable impulse, especially if you don’t assume you will return. However, there are of course … Read More … Read More

Getting my mom and I to London and back: a study in trip planning

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  In my last post I talked about how my mom and I were going to Europe together. Specifically London, although we threw in Paris at the last moment. It’s a really exciting time. For me, one of the best … Read More … Read More

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