Have you ever rationalized a purchase by thinking to yourself: I deserve it? I think we all have, or at least those of us who still feel the need to occasionally rationalize purchases.
The belief that I deserve something is very attractive. It sets the stage for a story of injustice. If I do not possess [...]
Ben Stein’s latest book offers a different, destructive take on one’s personal finances. How to Ruin Your Financial Life contains over fifty popular ways people sabotage their financial lives.
With each lesson taking no more than a couple of minutes, the book is a quick read. It’s also a funny book; Ben’s trademarked dry humor abounds, [...]
Have you heard that advertising campaign about people almost helping their neighbors? It’s a powerful message. Sometimes we think about doing good, but we fail to follow through.
The thought is either pushed aside or we fool ourselves into thinking that it’s the thought that counts. We’ll just do that later.
With investing, like doing good, the [...]
“I need it” thinking can be dangerous.
Dangerous because it is occasionally true. But more often, we’ve simply confused our wants with our needs, resulting in more money flowing out and new “needs” sprouting up.
Needs usually fall along a scale. Food can be a matter of life or death, but usually the choice is between dining [...]
Generally, saving money is a great idea.
Most of us would be better off if we were more frugal.
However, there are times when it doesn’t pay to be frugal. Here’s six examples where the costs outweigh the savings.
1. When the savings are minimal
Sometimes the savings are so tiny that it simply doesn’t pay to extend the [...]
Do you know that feeling of anticipation, when you hold a new book, knowing full well it will be a joy to read from start to finish?
Russell Roberts has managed to craft another such a gem. But The Invisible Heart is more than a good story, it’s a love letter about economic freedom.
Roberts has a [...]
When is a book more than a book? Occasionally a book comes along with an idea so powerful, so simple that it threatens to transform the world.
Russell Roberts’ The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism is more than a book.
Roberts offers us a glimpse of a different America, an America free from foreign [...]
Last time we talked about stock ownership and how it’s different from gambling, but that risk still remains.
In particular, the risk that your companies may go out of business, leaving you with stock worth little more than used lotto tickets.
This is a very real risk. Fortunately there is a reasonably safe solution. But first, lets [...]
No, I’m not encouraging you to go out and spend money, but rather to remind you to make a conscious decision when you spend money.
Don’t spend money out of habit, routine, or reflex but rather spend your money on things that provide you true, lasting value or are at least things you actually want!
Intentionally spending [...]
As we rush through life, it is easy to lose perspective. We lose more than simply our objectivity. When we forget pearls of wisdom, like the one below, we miss out on the joys of life.
On this day when we remember the Gift found in a lowly, smelly manger, take the time to ponder the [...]
