How to Fix the Leaky Money Faucet
Key takeaways Just like a leaky water faucet, a leaky money faucet can add up to thousands of lost dollars over time, if left unchecked. Use one of the many online services that track all of your expenditures. One day a week, such as every Friday, review each of your expenses to determine where the […]
Where Is Your Happiness Level Around Money?
Key takeaways Some people continually raise the bar on themselves when it comes to the amount of income they need in order to be happy. A recent study found that most people are happy at annual income levels of $80,000 to $100,000. For people making incomes above that level, yet who still aren’t happy, there […]
You Don’t Have to Spend Money to Have Fun
Key takeaways Money spent every weekend on eating out and other entertainment can add up to five or ten thousand dollars over the course of a year. Spending money every, or almost every, weekend can make it harder to save money for a future goal like making a downpayment on a house. Entertainment and having […]
The FIRE Movement: Will You Have Enough Money?
Key takeaways Almost every generation has its own counterculture movement that arises out of a desire to escape societal authority. Today, the trending countercultural fad is the FIRE movement, which has inspired many younger people to take an interest in retiring much earlier than their parents or grandparents did. While retiring at age 35 or […]
Do You Have a Plan In Place In Case of Death or Disability?
Key takeaways Mortality and morbidity are two intangible, yet very important and unavoidable topics to think about. Addressing these topics requires a discussion about death as well as potential medical and disability issues. Having life insurance, an estate plan, and medical and disability insurance in place will provide relief to those coping with the death […]
The Importance of Having Family Meetings
Key takeaways 2 million millennials are currently caring for aging parents or other aging loved ones. Having a family meeting with parents, in-laws, or grandparents to discuss their estates and other wishes before they need help is very important. Communication and understanding in this area will go a long way toward reducing the chances of […]
What Would You Do With a Million Dollars?
Key takeaways Baby boomers and millennials have vastly different views on money and how to use it. The severe frugality of most millennials likely stems from them watching their boomer parents or other boomers suffer during financial crises in the 80s to the dot com financial crises and the great recession of the 2000s. Budget […]
5 Tips to Help You Save Money Over Time
Key Takeaways Take at least two days before buying a cart of “stuff” on Amazon or any other online shopping site. Keep your credit card numbers to yourself and don’t just store them at your favorite sites for convenience. Pack your own lunch and make your own coffee. Eliminate forgotten fees for subscription services. Keep […]
The Grass May not be Greener
Key Takeaways It can be easy to be lured in to moving someplace else when you think you are going to make more money doing the same job. Salaries are higher in big cities and places that are popular to live because the cost of living is higher in these places as well. Before you […]
Saving Later, but Retiring Earlier?
Key Takeaways TD Ameritrade’s recent release of their Millennials and Money survey showed a big difference between the age Millennials expect to retire versus when they will start saving for their retirement. Saving for only 20 years for retirement is hard to do because the compounding effect of money needs longer than that to truly […]