The 5 Budget Mistakes I See Most Often and How to Fix Them
I’ve reviewed lots of people’s budgets (or, as I prefer, “cash flow plans”) over the years. No two are exactly the same because people have different incomes, fixed expenses, priorities, and more. That’s to be expected. When it comes to budgeting, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all. However, there are certain overarching approaches to budgeting […]
Profitable Ideas: The Wants/Happiness Disconnect, Marketing Endgame, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. What we want doesn’t always make us happy (Bloomberg). Are you pursuing things, and spending money on things, that won’t make you happy? Here’s how much more money you’d have for retirement if you saved $100 a month starting at age […]
Kids and Money: Transitioning From Teaching to Trusting
I’ve had the privilege of working for some great bosses over the years. When I was in high school, I worked at a steakhouse, eventually becoming one of the head cooks. J.P. Morgan was the manager. No kidding. The difference between J.P. and the regional manager (I still remember his name, but am choosing not […]
Profitable Ideas: The Financial Habits You Inherited, Becoming a 401(k) Millionaire, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Want a good lesson in financial planning? Study how well your parents did or didn’t do (Pete the Planner). Identifying how your parents continue to influence your financial beliefs and behaviors is the first step toward deciding whether you want to […]
Who Really Owns Your Stuff?
How would you describe your house? What type of car do you own? How much money do you have in your checking account? All of those questions seem normal enough. But wait. Is any of that really yours? My main mentor when it came to learning about and then teaching biblical principles of money, Dick […]
Profitable Ideas: How Long to Keep Tax Records, What to NEVER Buy at Costco, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web—a day early this week to keep your focus on more important matters on Good Friday. How long should you keep tax records? (Kiplinger). In a sense, tax season is never really over. A great gift (Humble Dollar). Are your documents in […]
Free Indeed
God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. – 1 Corinthians 7:23 On this holy week, in which we remember Christ’s sacrifice and celebrate his resurrection, I’ve been thinking about the apostle Paul’s words above and how they might apply to our finances. What comes to mind when you […]
Profitable Ideas: 10 Secrets of the Millionaires Next Door, A Question to Stop Asking Your Kids, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. 10 secrets of the millionaires next door (Kiplinger). The great thing is how accessible/doable each “secret” is. How much is your education worth? Depends how much you make (Bloomberg). Ten years from now, how people pay for college may look very […]
A Money and Marriage Mistake to Avoid
Throughout their marriage, John and Jessica had maintained separate credit cards and apparently didn’t talk about how they were each using their cards. After 12 years of marriage, Jessica was shocked to discover that John had racked up $68,000 of credit card debt. Instead of asking for forgiveness, John asked Jessica to co-sign for a […]
Profitable Ideas: Investing Missteps, Shore Up Your ID Theft Protection, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Investors doubled their stock market losses in 2018 by making this costly mistake. Here’s how to avoid it (Money). The dangers of letting your emotions get the best of you. Here’s a better approach. I decided to pay off my mortgage […]