I spend a lot of time talking about paying off debt. Why? For the simple reason that debt impedes you from spending your money on the things that you really want. Once the debt is gone, what should you do with your former debt payments? This post isn’t for those of you who already have […]
It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to get into debt. I haven’t been a child since the last millennium, but I do still remember that people had to apply for credit by filing out a paper form. Today, offers for credit come directly to my email address. The financial institutions pushing […]
Last month, I went on my first post-pandemic overseas trip. It wasn’t cheap. However, travel is one of my spending priorities so I have a sinking fund to pay for it. It was my first trip to the Netherlands, with a very short stop in Belgium. I traveled with a dear friend of long acquaintance, […]
Today, I read a very sad story about a 76-year old man who sold his home when his mortgage payment went up. Presumably, the story was about the impact of rising mortgage rates and the lack of affordable housing in Calgary. In reality, what I took from the article was an appreciation of just how […]
Credit cards are an exceptionally useful tool if used correctly. However, they can also cause great financial harm when the basic rules of use are ignored. There are two terms that you should know: deadbeat and revolver. Deadbeats do not carry credit card balances from one month to the next and they reap the benefits […]
I’ve written about sinking funds before. They’re pools of money that are meant to be filled then emptied, as many times as you want, for as many goals as you have. You prioritize what you want to accomplish then you decide how much money goes into each one. Sinking funds are to be held separately […]
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. […]
This summer, I was lucky enough to have a socially-distanced visit with some friends. As we enjoyed our cheesecake, the host mentioned that he was worried about what would happen when his boss retired. My friend explained that his boss’ child would likely take over the company. This likelihood was causing a good deal of […]
Right from the get-go, I’m going to ask those of you who already know this to forgive me for stating the obvious. Minimum payments benefit the lender way, way, way more than they benefit the borrower. Beware the minimum payment! When you borrow money from the lender, you’re taking out a loan. And when you […]
Even if you’re a Singleton like me, the implications of intergenerational wealth may have touched your life at some point. I like to think of intergenerational wealth as a faucet of income that helps younger generations to start their adult lives without debt. It’s a financial tool that allows young adults to master the skills […]