We make lots of financial decisions every day. However, over the course of our lives, there’s a small handful of decisions that really matter. How well we navigate them will make an especially big difference in whether we struggle with money or live with financial freedom and joy. As I describe the decisions, please keep […]
Tag Archives | Buying a Car
Profitable Ideas: Confessions of a Phone Thief, An Unsafe Way to Spend, and More
Weekly list of curated personal finance articles from around the web. He stole hundreds of iPhones and looted people’s savings. He told us how. (The Wall Street Journal). Of course, our phones are about so much more than making calls. That’s why there’s so much at stake in keeping track of them. Revealed: US utility […]
Profitable Ideas: A Lifestyle of Generosity, The Math of Car Ownership, and More
Weekly list of curated personal finance articles from around the web. Raising generous kids through a lifestyle of generosity (National Christian Foundation). “We taught the whole give-some, save-some, spend-the-rest thing, but I think the more important lessons were in how we lived.” See also, The cheerful giver (The Good Sense Movement). 5 things my parents […]
Profitable Ideas: Exploding Closets, Simplicity Wins, and More
Weekly list of curated personal finance articles from around the web. Consumers have ‘5 times’ more clothes than they did in the 80s. This is the impact (CNN). I once heard that people typically wear only 20% of the clothing in their closet. I’m guessing that percentage is even lower now. See also, Fast fashion […]
Profitable Ideas: Leaving Your Heirs More Than Money, Who’s Influencing Your Investments, and More
Weekly roundup of recommended personal finance articles from around the web. How to use tech to create an ethical will (Wired). Filling in the gaps left by a traditional will. How should your children inherit? 4 scenarios where ‘equal’ is not appropriate (Kiplinger). This is a tough issue for a lot of parents, but it’s […]
It Isn’t Just the Purchase Price, It’s the Ongoing Costs
If you had $20,700 to spend on a used car and your options included a 2016 Civic EX sedan and a 2016 BMW 320i sedan, tell me honestly, which would you prefer? Ah, but you know it’s a trick question. Sure, the BMW seems like it would be a lot more fun to drive. However, […]
Profitable Ideas: Beating Shrinkflation, Buying a Car From a ‘Stealership,’ and More
Weekly roundup of recommended personal finance articles from around the web. How to beat shrinkflation (US News). It’s one of the sneakiest ways manufacturers raise prices. Here’s what you can do about it. Why target-date funds might not be the best retirement-planning option for you (Money). They’re the default option in many retirement plans, but […]
Profitable Ideas: A Grandmother’s Rich Legacy, The 1% Rule for Rental Real Estate, and More
Weekly roundup of recommended personal finance articles from around the web. Can’t take it with you (Young Money). I love this story about a grandmother who did much of her “givin’ while she was livin’” and was all the richer for it. 5 things to teach your kids about money and happiness (Kiplinger). Kids can […]
The Real Cost of Cars
Okay, so you’ve made all the right moves in planning your next car purchase. You’ve kept your current car at least 10 years—preferably 15. You’ve come up with two or three viable options of cars that don’t just look good, they also get good gas mileage and have good safety ratings. You’ve done some comparison-shopping […]
Breaking the Cycle of Financing Vehicles
Our home may be our castle, but for many people, their car is an extension of themselves. According to a study cited by Juliet Schor in her book, The Overspent American, nearly half of all car owners see their car as a reflection of who they are. The belief that we are what we drive, […]