Profitable Ideas: How Limits Boost Happiness, The Weekly Allowance Conundrum, and More
Weekly list of curated personal finance articles from around the web. Want to boost happiness? Limit your choices (This Evergreen Home). In a world of countless options, we would be wise to choose limits. Your phone is the key to your digital life. Make sure you know what to do if you lose it. (VOX). […]
It’s Amazing What You Can Get Just By Asking
Everyone has heard the advice, “It doesn’t hurt to ask.” But my experience has been far better than that. Time and time again, I’ve seen that it often pays to ask. Just by asking, I’ve gotten fees waived, better tables at restaurants, lower prices on subscriptions, and as I’ll describe below, a costly vehicle repair […]
Profitable Ideas: When Giving is Hard, Your Kids Don’t Want Your Stuff (Or Do They?), and More
Weekly list of curated personal finance articles from around the web. When giving is hard (Good Sense). “If you’re in a position of financial difficulty, how do you make room for giving?” See also, Giving generously when in debt. My parents have a lot of stuff in their house. I don’t want most of it. […]
The Pull of the Neighborhood — Four Ways to Keep Your Financial Footing
Think about your neighborhood for a minute, and some of your immediate neighbors. How similar is your lifestyle to theirs? How similar is the car you drive or the types of vacations you take? Juliet Schor, author of several books that have been very influential to me, such as The Overworked American, The Overspent American, […]
Profitable Ideas: Startling Stats, The Tipping Point, and More
Weekly list of curated personal finance articles from around the web. 15 startling stats that show the unprecedented nature of our lifestyle today (Becoming Minimalist). A stark depiction of our consumer culture. The dark side of touch-screen tipping (BBC). I think we’ve reached a tipping point (sorry!) where everyone seems to expect a tip. God’s […]
How to Fight Fair About Money
Every healthy relationship involves conflict. In fact, psychologist John Gottman, who has spent more than 20 years studying what makes marriages last, believes that “fighting . . . can be one of the healthiest things a couple can do for their relationship.” In his book, Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, which I highly recommend, Gottman […]
Profitable Ideas: Set It and Forget It No More, Generosity Done Right, and More
Weekly list of curated personal finance articles from around the web. Your ‘set it and forget it’ 401(k) made you rich. No more. (Wall Street Journal). The Journal’s advice? Lower your expectations. Hmm. Baby boomers are aging. Their kids aren’t ready (Vox). How are your parents doing? And what’s your plan for when they aren’t […]
‘Make No Little Plans’
My family got to spend a couple of days in Chicago recently. We had brunch in Hyde Park, went to the Museum of Science and Industry, and took in a concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music. On one of our treks around town, we drove iconic Lake Shore Drive. Among the many […]
Profitable Ideas: The Price of Success, Random Acts of Kindness, and More
Weekly list of curated personal finance articles from around the web. The price of success (A Wealth of Common Sense). Life is a series of trade-offs. Knowing what matters more is really important. The risk-taking activity that ‘helicopter parents’ should allow their kids to experience (CNN). It’s risky to encourage our kids to play it […]
One of the Least Appreciated ‘Secrets’ to Warren Buffett’s Success
Think of the name Warren Buffett and you immediately think, “One of the world’s richest people” or “One of the greatest investors ever.” Both are true. But do you know why he has been so successful at building wealth through investing? Many books have covered this topic and they usually describe him as a “value” […]