Decisions

2021 in review: The top posts of the year

A look back at the top posts of 2021 on this site, including both my favorites and the ones readers viewed most. Like most people who are engaging with the pandemic, 2021 felt both swift and eternal. It’s hard to … Read MoreRead More

How to start an emergency fund when money is tight

When money is tight, an emergency fund is even more important. Here are some strategies to get you to put something, anything, away. You need an emergency fund. An emergency fund is not savings. You need that too, but that’s … Read MoreRead More

Beyond the Debt Snowball: Other ways to pay off debt (and are they worth it?)

I look at some non-traditional methods of paying off debt to see if they are any better than the Debt Snowball method. The problem: you have multiple debts, all with varying amounts, interest rates, and payback timelines. Some are secured … Read MoreRead More

How to make less money

When you need to (or want to) live on less, here are the steps you can take to streamline your spending so you can afford to make less money. Last time, I talked about what to do in order to … Read MoreRead More

How to make more money

If you have a job and you want to make more money, I’ve got a plan to help you get there. (Just figure out how much you want first.) I’ve spent lots of time talking about the problems around the … Read MoreRead More

Entrepreneurs, are you also focusing on your personal finances?

Entrepreneurs, especially solopreneurs, can end up neglecting their personal finances, to the detriment of both their business and life. I can still remember the coaching session with a client who owned his own business. I asked him what his income … Read MoreRead More

Is financial fitness more important than physical fitness?

I talk about how our culture leads people to focus unnecessarily on weight loss, instead of their own financial wellness. There are countless analogies between money wellness and health wellness. There’s a financial coaching outfit called The Financial Gym, which … Read MoreRead More

Want to get an allowance? Make a budget.

Many think that making a budget is a restriction, but it’s actually the opposite: an allowance to spend money. I remember when I was a kid, I got an allowance from my parents. I loved it. Who wouldn’t love an … Read MoreRead More

You have a high income, so why don’t you have any money?

I debunk the myth that there is a correlation between earning a lot of money and having a lot of money, because it isn’t always true. Isn’t it amazing the vast disparities in income? I know someone who pulls in … Read MoreRead More

Going for my AFC® certification: one year later

A year ago, I started going for my AFC® certification. Here is an update on how it’s going and what I’ve learned in the process. Last year, amidst a fair amount of personal turmoil (and not even talking about the … Read MoreRead More