The Heart of a Giver
It’s tricky business teaching about generosity these days. Preachers of the prosperity gospel are packing their pews and selling lots of books. Theirs is a “give in order to get” message, based on a misinterpretation of verses like Luke 6:38: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together […]
Profitable Ideas: Learning From Your Financial Mistakes, Cutting the Financial Umbilical Cord, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Biggest financial regrets (The Big Picture). Another way to look at this: 10 years from now, what financial moves are you likely to regret doing or not doing? The curious economics of being ripped off on holiday (Tim Harford). Don’t let […]
Tough Money Conversations With Kids
If you’re going to help your kids learn about money, getting them started is one thing; keeping them going is another. Motivation can wane. That’s what seemed to be happening the other night with our 15-year-old when he opened up a conversation about investing. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like the wheels have come […]
Profitable Ideas: Secrets of Superstar Savers, A Richer Level of Happiness, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. The No. 1 thing people with fat savings accounts scrimp on that you likely don’t (MarketWatch). The importance of getting the big things right. Parents, don’t sacrifice yourselves on the altar of your children’s education (Tim Mauer). Sacrificing to save is […]
If You’re Single or Don’t Have Kids, Do You Need Life Insurance?
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. – Proverbs 22:3 About 37 million U.S. households have no life insurance, according to industry trade group LIMRA. For many, the cost of coverage stands in the way. But there may be some, such as singles and married couples […]
Profitable Ideas: Whether Your College Kid Needs a Credit Card, The Market Will Crash, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Can your college kid handle a credit card? (Independent Advisors). Be sure to teach them the rules of the road for wise credit card use. My biggest FI demon — status anxiety (Monevator). Great article that expresses what so many of […]
Living a Better Financial Story
In his book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller tells a powerful story he calls, “How Jason Saved His Family.” After returning from Los Angeles, where he took part in a storytelling workshop, Don got together with his friend, Jason, and learned of some trouble Jason and his wife were having with […]
Profitable Ideas: Lessons Learned on the Journey Out of Debt, You’re Not Doing Enough to Prevent ID Theft, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. Smashing 6 figures of debt & learning what doesn’t apply to me (She Picks Up Pennies). Getting out of debt has much to do with how you frame the conversation. Two years after huge Equifax breach was revealed, consumers are still […]
Success Goes to the Steady, Not the Speedy
We’re all drawn to stories of people who achieve “overnight success.” They make for great headlines and sell a lot of magazines and books. Problem is, they’re a myth. In the business classic, “Good to Great,” author Jim Collins explored the reasons why some companies break away from their pack of competitors and achieve remarkable, […]
Profitable Ideas: The Benefits of Being a Late Adopter, Life-Changing Money Habits, and More
Weekly roundup of some of the best personal finance articles from around the web. The joys of being a late tech adopter (NY Times). There’s a lot of wisdom—and money to be saved—by being a late adopter. I got a promotion and I regretted it (Fast Company). When taking the next step up the ladder […]