Happy end of the year! It’s that time when I take a little bit of time off from my standard posting schedule and instead have a recap of the best posts of the year, as determined in two ways: the posts I liked best, and the posts that you read the most.
I’ll start out with my favorite posts from the year. These are ones that get to the heart of what I’m about on this site, or alternatively just seemed to have a spark to them.
I’ve written over 100 posts this year, and I know that not all of them can be gems. These are the most gem-like of 2018. I hope you enjoy.
My list
1. Why prices will seem to change as you build wealth—I’ve actually had to check myself on this, mis-remembering how much things cost. Didn’t they used to be more expensive? No, it just felt that way. Make no mistake: prices have a “feel” associated with them, and that can change over time.
2. Adventures in pointless frugality: Shopping for a gas station—You aren’t saving money by shopping around for cheaper gas. And even if you are saving money, you’re wasting time. I wish I learned this 10 years ago.
3. Amazon Prime just raised its prices by 20%. What’s 20% of $0?—Seriously, don’t buy Amazon Prime. If you need 2-day shipping, just buy it. You will save money. Trust me.
4. Why it doesn’t matter what your risk tolerance is—If you don’t take sufficient investing risk, you won’t have enough money for retirement. It’s really that simple.
5. 6 reasons why you could benefit from a financial coach—You really will make more progress with a coach than without one. And the work will earn you so much more than what you pay. When you’re ready to take the next step, contact me.
6. Why it’s okay to make a bad financial decision (sometimes)—We need to enjoy life, and that involves spending money. That’s a good thing. (It’s even better when you have your house in order.)
7. You don’t need to wait until you’re old or rich to see the world—You can do it if you want. It just takes planning. (Bonus: pictures of Scotland!)
8. My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps (Part 1, Part 2)—I take a deep dive into each and every step of financial guru Dave Ramsey’s famous 7 Baby Steps. Read on to see where we align, and where we differ. And we do a lot of both!
9. Tax liens, or that time I tried to profit from other people’s debt—Fifteen years ago, a coworker turned me on to the idea of buying tax liens as an alternative investment vehicle. I was never able to follow through on it, and now I’m kind of glad I didn’t.
10. Did I ever tell you how lucky you are?—The most recent in my Thanksgiving series: a few important reminders, with a little help from Dr. Seuss.
I appreciate you reading and contributing to this site. If you liked something you read here, why not share it with someone? I’d appreciate that too.
Have a great holiday season and I’ll be back with new content next week!
