Eating out can be dangerous for your waistline—and your bottom line.
Now I don’t dine out much (sorry about the deceptive title), but many people do. Most people also borrow money to buy a house or condo at some point. And most people, unfortunately, are unaware just how much dining out affects the length of their [...]
It all started innocently enough…
I just stopped in for soda, for my long drive home.
But as I entered, I was confronted with shelf after shelf stripped bare. Did I unknowingly step across a border? This wasn’t the type of store I was accustomed to seeing in America.
As I looked to my right, I saw a [...]
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, [...]
Notes:
Amortization - Regular payments over a specified period of time to repay a debt like a mortgage. The payments cover both principal and interest. You can request an amortization schedule from your mortgage lender or calculate your own with an online amortization calculator.
The photo in the comic was taken by Marcin Wichary.
This article was featured [...]
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 [...]
Q: We have one daughter heading to college next fall with another likely to attend in a couple of years. We don’t have any college funds or savings, so how should we go about paying the bills?
A: You should be commended for your desire to help your children start life with a strong education. Although [...]
I am most likely to spend money when I am stressed or exhausted.
For this reason, I hate working.
But seriously, I am naturally very serious and analytical. I see potential hurdles as challenges, not problems. However, building our first house stretched the limits of my patience as we encountered roadblock after roadblock.
As the months rolled by, [...]
Don’t play the game.
The rat race is voluntary. You can choose to subject yourself to meaningless, futile competition for stuff that cannot make you happy.
Or you can choose to set your own goals, milestones, and paths to get there. You’ll be happier if you do.
Money is only a tool
When money is your goal, you’re setting [...]
It was the last big storm of the year. We were driving home in our ‘03 Honda Civic when a tree fell into the road—landing on us.
My wife screamed. She had noticed a large tree falling into the road. I only had a split second to see the tree from the top of my windshield.
I [...]
Buying your first house is a wonderful experience. Most of us immediately begin personalizing with paint and new furnishings. These personal touches are important, but they can bring stress when bought with credit.
When my wife and I bought our house, we had little money left over and a lot of space to fill…
Continue reading this [...]
