There are two general ways that we all spend money. There’s the stuff we buy infrequently, like cars and TVs. And then there’s the stuff we pay for every month, like the water bill and the cable bill. I have a passionate dislike of monthly bills and I try to avoid or minimize them as […]
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. Adaptation devaluation: Why a U2 concert is better than a new couch (Forbes). Well written article demonstrating that investing in memorable experiences usually pays more happiness dividends than spending on more stuff. How to teach your kids to […]
Everyone has heard the advice, “It doesn’t hurt to ask.” It’s been my experience that very often it pays to ask. Just by asking, I’ve gotten fees waived, better tables at restaurants, lower prices on newspaper subscriptions, an iPhone 6 for $1, and as I’ll describe below, a costly vehicle repair more than reimbursed by […]
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. 4 reasons paying off your mortgage faster isn’t always best move (USA TODAY). Some will bristle at this one (don’t shoot the messenger!), but I have to agree that this isn’t always the best move. 5 salary negotiation […]
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. How regular investing smooths the market’s ups and downs (NY Times). As a wise person once said, timing the market doesn’t work. It’s your time in the market that counts. To read more about the benefits of investing […]
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. Do you pass the financial stress test? (Bloomberg). Take a 20-question quiz to find out. The psychology of buying and selling a house (Wall Street Journal). A home is one of the most expensive purchases most of us […]
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. I used an app to set up my first-ever budget and it changed the way I look at money (Business Insider). Nice first-person account of the benefits of using the most powerful personal finance tool available. Do you […]
I’ve written before that I’m not crazy about the term “frugal.” I prefer the phrase “spending smart.” Maybe it’s because I equate frugality (possibly unfairly, I realize) with always opting for the lowest cost option, when sometimes the more expensive one may prove to be the better long-term choice. Whatever you call it, if you’re […]
We recently needed to buy a new garbage disposal. The process we used to get the best product for the best price can be applied to all sorts of purchases. Save Money With the Right Reaction Many years ago I remember hearing a negotiation expert talk about one simple technique that’s virtually guaranteed to save […]
