the tools you need to be set free
I was bent over my desk, studying, when I heard a muffled laugh from my roommate. The shifting glow of her screen lit up her face when I looked over. It was freshman year and we had just moved in, so our friendship was in the early stages: tentative but pleasant. She told me she […]
Self-improvement lists keep flashing across my ‘suggested reading’ pane, and I can’t help but click on them. 7 daily habits that will change your life 10 life improving habits you need to start immediately 5 things to do to be successful in your career Some of the things I have heard my entire life: eat […]
If you are human, you likely have some hang-ups around money. Our brains are wired in ways that make money management difficult. In order to take control of your finances, it helps to understand the unconscious beliefs that underly your decisions. In the financial realm, there are four psychological phenomena that heavily weigh into our money […]
The size of the average house in North America has nearly tripled in size from the 1950s to today, growing from 983 square feet to a spacious 2,349 square feet. I am in my early twenties with no future family on the near horizon. I currently rent a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in Portland, […]
Nobody wants to be called cheap. We dread being labeled a scrooge, likened to a mean, greedy recluse who would do anything to avoid parting from a penny. We want to be known for our generosity while still saving enough for ourselves. Those who decide to be money-wise are often nervous of being accused of […]
In honor of Halloween let me introduce you to the money monsters we face. Brace yourself for five appalling creatures intent on wrecking financial havoc. The Too-Good-To-Be-True Siren Beware the siren call of spectacular profits with low risk. Shut your ears from the tempting tease to wire money or pay a fee before a new […]
Two days ago, my phone buzzed with a trending post on Reddit. The post detailed someone who had achieved FIRE (financial independence and retire early), but says he is ready to go back to work. “The past year has been horrible for me,” he writes, “The lack of socialization, need to get out of the house, […]
The purchase of my first car was an epic adventure. It involved six months of research, flying halfway across the country, and learning how to drive stick. In that time I went from clueless (and could-care-less) about cars to a gear-head. Or, more specifically, a Miata-head.
For a long time, I stashed my money away in a bank earning 0.01% interest. In case you are wondering, that is a very bad rate. I did not really care to check or compare, it was just somewhere to put the money. When I started my first internship I was auto-enrolled in a 401k, […]
How old were you when you had the talk? You know, the one where you sit down awkwardly with your parents, going red in the face as you both dance around a topic you would rather not broach? You know, the one where you talked about your family’s entire financial situation, including their income, debt, and net […]