There is no way around it. You should always be saving money – some way, some how. Life is expensive, and it only gets more so. Name one essential thing in your life that has gotten cheaper over the years. Food? Nope. Rent or housing costs? No! Gasoline? Not a chance. Utilities? Not a bit. […]
I’ve enough life experience to know that life gets in the way of the best laid plans. And since this is a personal finance blog, I’m going to try and expound on this idea as it impacts your money decisions. It’s easy to tell people to invest consistently. Showing others how to set up automatic […]
One of the ways to ensure that you meet your goals is to review your progress along the way. Doing so involves taking stock and making tweaks as necessary. No journey is perfect for all people in all circumstances. That’s simply not possible. As a matter of fact, there is no such thing as a […]
There’s a distinction between your income and your salary. They are not the same thing, although you’ll routinely hear the words used interchangeably. I’m going to spend a few minutes telling you why I think they are different animals. Your salary is based on what your employer pays you. I’m only aware of 2 ways […]
Tempus fungit. It’s a Latin phrase that means “time flies”. Truer words have never been spoken, in any language. It’s already the middle of 2022. How is your money doing? Are you on track to meet your financial goals? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then it’s time for a mid-year check-up. […]
Way back in 2011, I started to invest in dividend funds. I started with a bank’s mutual fund, then moved my money into an index fund with an investment company, and I’ve now finally settled on a couple of exchange traded funds.*** I had a goal of creating a steady stream of passive income. What […]
No matter how you slice it, the basics don’t really change. This blog is about money, so I’ll stick to the financial basics. Live below your means so you have some money to save and invest. Invest your money so that it grows over time. Go back to step one and repeat. Everything else is […]
In 4 short weeks, the new year will have arrived. Hooray! Happy, happy, joy, joy! Kiss kiss to everyone! I don’t know about you but I don’t believe in new year’s resolutions. If I think changes to my life are going to make it better, then I’m going to implement those changes as soon as […]
If my various timelines are to be believed, Black Friday is officially next week. Retailers are running their marketing departments ragged, now that spending season is back. They want you online and in stores, wallets open! You are the prey and their inventory is the bait. They want your money and they want it bad. […]
Learning about personal finance and investing has been a hobby of mine for the better part of 30 years… wow – that’s a long time! No wonder I make those odd noises when I get up from the couch… Anyway, one of the first books that set me on my successful path was The Total […]