Getting a hot tub (spa) has been the absolute best splurge I’ve ever made. The second best splurge is building a deck. Once the global pandemic hit, I went from going to my hot tub once or twice a week to three or four times a week. Having a hot tub has been a life-saver! […]
Hot Tub Economics: The Cost To Own And Maintain A Hot Tub Read More »
If you want to buy a house in this housing market, know that it’s hard to get a mortgage nowadays. The lending market is incredibly tight and only borrowers with the best credit are getting the best rates. Further, mortgage rates have risen substantially since the beginning of 2022, making affordability more difficult as well.
Why It’s So Hard To Get A Mortgage According To A Loan Officer Read More »
I’ve written a pretty detailed post about analyzing whether it’s better to invest in stocks or real estate. Check it out if you’re wondering where to put your money. I tried to be unbiased in my analysis, but due to my experience investing in both asset classes for over a decade, I came to the
Stocks Versus Real Estate: It Depends On Your Luck Read More »
It hit me like a well-struck softball taking an odd bounce into a third baseman’s face. The FIRE movement will help narrow the gender pay gap over time. Let me explain my logic on why ardent supporters of equality should embrace the FIRE movement to the fullest. I’ve been writing about FIRE since 2009, when
How The FIRE Movement Will Narrow The Gender Pay Gap Read More »
I think it’s time to ban the SAT and The College Board. The SAT is clearly unfair to kids from poorer families. I mean, how many poor families can afford $3,000+ for a Princeton Review course that teaches kids how to game the SAT? Not many! When I was 16, I took the SAT test
It’s Time To Ban The SAT And The College Board Read More »
Timeshares are often thought of as very luxurious and accommodating vacations. Timeshare salespeople make the pitch the vacation can even end up costing you less than traditional hotel vacations. Let’s take a look at the state of the timeshare industry. Despite how wonderful these luxurious vacations are, the COVID-19-induced recession led many timeshare owners to
The State of the Timeshare Industry Read More »
The Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement is hot! I helped kickstart the modern-day FIRE movement when I launched Financial Samurai in July 2009 and started chronicling my journey to FI. But what are some of the not so obvious reasons why some people want to achieve FIRE? This is the question I want to
The Not So Obvious Reasons Why People Want To Achieve Financial Independence Read More »
When I was a young buck, I used to travel like a maniac for work. I racked up travel miles fast because I was earning them non stop. I was based in Manhattan and had to cover clients in Florida, Bahamas, Iowa, Texas, Colorado, and California. Then, there were the necessary quarterly or semi-annual pilgrimages
Figuring out how much to tip is one of the most awkward things to tackle because tipping is not mandatory. But if you live in America like I do, tipping is part of our culture. Not tipping for service feels weird, so we tend to do it anyway even if it’s not a part of another
How Much Should I Tip In Europe? Proper Gratuity Etiquette Read More »
Here are the best credit cards today if you are looking for an awesome rewards credit card. There are so many great offers, so how do you decide which ones to get? Let’s how many credit cards you should have until it’s too late. One day I was having lunch with a buddy of mine
How Many Credit Cards Should I Have Until It’s Too Many? Read More »
