Blog

The temptation

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on April 16, 2015 | Featured

Every one has something that puts a gleam in their eye, that makes their resolve waiver. When you see it, you want it, and you’re likely to find any rationalization to get it. You may think that for me, … Read More … Read More

Tags: Morey's Piers, roller coasters, temptation, Wildwood

Why AwardWallet and not Mint?

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on April 13, 2015 | Featured

Over the last few posts, I’ve talked about how unnecessary (and potentially perilous) tracking your spending using an online service can be. The most popular of these services, bar none, is Mint. And sure enough, comments showed up extolling … Read More … Read More

Tags: AwardWallet, Mint, passwords

Low-tech alternatives to using an online budget-tracking service

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on April 9, 2015 | Featured

I admit that when you’re new to something, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start. “Just tell me what to do” is a common refrain in this situation (which explains diet books, and I’m not … Read More … Read More

Tags: budget, budgeting, spreadsheets

In-app-ropriate: don’t use an online service to track your spending

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on April 6, 2015 | Featured

There are numerous sites and apps where you can sign up to manage your money, track your spending, and all of that. From what I’ve seen, they range from okay to horrendous, depending on what their angle is (and … Read More … Read More

Tags: bank accounts, budget, budgeting, credit cards, Glen Phillips, online, Toad the Wet Sprocket

Rapid flash beacons, or how to be a chicken about crossing the road

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on April 2, 2015 | Featured

Behind the wheel, we tend to become more sociopathic. Am I the only person who has heard the quip “10 points!” when you see a pedestrian infringing on your (car’s) road space? And I’m speaking as a car owner as well, so … Read More … Read More

Tags: crosswalks, pedestrians

In defense of jaywalking

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on March 30, 2015 | Featured

“Here, we’d just speed up and turn our wipers on.” – Bill Hicks, on what would happen in Texas if a pedestrian tried to randomly cross the road Portland and New York City are very different places. (Film at … Read More … Read More

Tags: crosswalks, jaywalking, pedestrians, streets, walking

Conferring with the enemy (Part 2): Fulfilling minimum spend requirements on a credit card

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on March 26, 2015 | Featured

All posts in this series: Conferring with the enemy (Part 1): A credit card for a travel plan Conferring with the enemy (Part 2): Fulfilling minimum spend requirements on a credit card Conferring with the enemy (Part 3): The waiting (for … Read More … Read More

Tags: award travel, credit cards, groceries, spending

Conferring with the enemy (Part 1): A credit card for a travel plan

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on March 23, 2015 | Featured

Tags: aer lingus, avios, award travel, Boston, british airways, credit cards, Dublin, flights, London, planning

Why the flex spending account is ridiculous

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on March 19, 2015 | Featured

I found myself recently in a large national chain pharmacy store late at night, wandering the aisles and thinking to myself: “Now what else can I find to spend money on?“ This ridiculous question sums up so much of … Read More … Read More

Tags: flexible spending account, money, pharmacies, pre-tax, taxes

Spend a third less on medical expenses

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on March 16, 2015 | Featured

If I told you that you could spend up to a third less on your medical expenses, would you be interested? Well you can. It’s called the Flexible Spending Account (FSA), and it’s usually available through employers. This is … Read More … Read More

Tags: expenses, flexible spending account, medical, self-employment

Blog

The temptation

Why AwardWallet and not Mint?

Low-tech alternatives to using an online budget-tracking service

In-app-ropriate: don’t use an online service to track your spending

Rapid flash beacons, or how to be a chicken about crossing the road

In defense of jaywalking

Conferring with the enemy (Part 2): Fulfilling minimum spend requirements on a credit card

Conferring with the enemy (Part 1): A credit card for a travel plan

Why the flex spending account is ridiculous

Spend a third less on medical expenses

Empathic Finance - Mike Pumphrey, AFC®

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