Beyond expensive valuations, with the S&P 500 trading at roughly 22 times estimated forward earnings, another concern for the stock market is quietly flashing red: U.S. households now have more net worth in stocks than in real estate. On the surface, this might not sound alarming. After all, the stock market has been ripping higher […]
Warning: Households Have More Wealth in Stocks Than Real Estate Read More »
After two years of living in a larger house and cleaning it ourselves, we’ve finally come to a point where we’d like to consider hiring cleaners. As a frugal person, I feel bad hiring people to do things I can do myself, especially since I don’t have a job. Therefore, I’ve always done my own
How Much To Spend On House Cleaning By Income and Net Worth Read More »
As someone who has been writing about financial independence and escaping corporate America since 2009, I’ve developed several rules that serve as the backbone for achieving FIRE and staying free. They are simple, but not easy. Ignoring any one of them can set you back years. Below are the first two rules as a reminder,
The Third Rule Of Financial Independence Could Also Be Your Biggest Regret Read More »
I’m in a cash crunch, and it doesn’t feel good. After buying my house in 2023 and living paycheck to paycheck for six months, I promised myself I would never return to this state. Yet here I am. Part of it is just bad luck, but part of it comes down to poor planning on
Investment Gains Shouldn’t Cancel Out Your Cash Flow Problems Read More »
Recently, I’ve been experiencing a bout of financial hopelessness that’s been surprisingly hard to shake. Rationally, I know I’ll be OK, but mentally, I’m stuck in this negative loop. It started after I decided to save money by flying Basic Economy to surprise my father for his 80th birthday. Saving ~$180 off Economy and ~$1,300
Overcoming Financial Hopelessness When Life Feels Impossible Read More »
As savers, we are being rewarded with higher risk-free yields. Treasury bills (T-bills), Treasury bonds, and money market funds are still paying over 4% without taking equity or credit risk. Because Treasury interest is exempt from state income tax, these instruments are especially attractive for higher earners in high-tax states like California and New York.
Selling Treasury Bonds Is Easy, But Consider The Tax Implications Read More »
Ideally, you want to find a home with both a big lot and amazing views. These are the two special features that most buyers covet the most, which create bidding wars and higher re-sale prices. However, they rarely coexist at an affordable price. Usually, when a home has amazing views, it’s perched on a hill
Big Lot vs Great Views: Deciding Which Home Offers More Value Read More »
Conventional wisdom says we’re in a housing affordability crisis. With higher mortgage rates and higher home prices, buying a home has supposedly never been more expensive. But what if I told you this entire narrative is wrong? In reality, housing affordability could actually be at or near an all-time high. Sound crazy? Maybe. But if housing
Why Housing Affordability Could Actually Be At An All-Time High Read More »
Well folks, the time has finally come to buy a new car. After buying eight cars in my first ten years out of college thanks to my former car addition, I now dread the idea. All I want is to drive one car forever to save time, hassle, and money. However, my 2015 Range Rover
Time to Buy A New Car: Mine Is 10 Years Old & Causing Problems Read More »
About 10 years ago, I tried logging onto SSA.gov to check my Social Security benefits. You would think after decades of paying FICA taxes (6.2% for SS, 1.45% for Medicare), the government might make it easy to see what you’re entitled to. Nope. Instead, the system demanded to physically mail me a PIN. I tried three times
Living Solely Off Social Security Benefits In Retirement Is Possible Read More »
