In a previous post, I debated whether it’s better to buy a home with a bigger lot or an amazing view. One key point was that unlike increasing livable square footage, it’s nearly impossible to create or improve a view. Sure, you could add a level to peek over surrounding houses. But building a 1,000-square-foot new level
How To Improve Your Home’s View With Foresight and Patience Read More »
Dear Financial Samurai, Stocks are in free fall as oil prices rise and the Iran war drags on. At the same time, Meta and Google just had their “big tobacco” moment after California jurors found Meta and YouTube negligent in the design of their platforms, awarding a 20-year-old plaintiff $3 million in damages tied to
Newsletter for March 29, 2026: Stocks In Free Fall, Surging Yields Read More »
Due to the U.S. and Israel’s bombing of Iran, oil prices temporarily shot up to $120 per barrel (WTI crude). If the Strait of Hormuz gets completely shut down, perhaps oil prices might go to $150+ a barrel. This would create a tremendous tax on consumers everywhere. With yet another increase in a core living expense,
How to Survive Higher Oil Prices After The Bombing Of Iran Read More »
From 2009, when I started writing about FIRE, until now, the FIRE movement has had a great run. It was born out of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, when hundreds of thousands of people were losing their jobs. In order to cope with the sudden disruption to their economic livelihoods, the concept of FIRE was
The FIRE Movement Is So Back Thanks To AI Disruption Read More »
Most people start thinking about a long distance move with optimism. A fresh start. A new city. Better weather, better schools, lower costs, or more space. Then reality sets in. Once the spreadsheets open, quotes roll in, and logistics pile up, excitement often fades. That is because a long distance move is not just a
Is a Long Distance Move Actually Worth It? A Cost Benefit Discussion Read More »
How To Engineer Your Layoff eBOOK “I bought How To Engineer Your Layoff for my sister who was then able to negotiate a $50,000 severance. Two years later, I used this book to help me negotiate an $80,000 severance during the middle of a pandemic! What’s more, I got a month off to relax, and
Negotiate A Severance Read More »
Dear Financial Samurai, November CPI inflation came in at just 2.7% year over year versus expectations of 3.1%. Some economists caution that this report should be taken with a grain of salt due to missing October inflation and unemployment data. Still, whatever the “true” number is, inflation remains below 3% and is not rebounding aggressively
Newsletter For Dec 21, 2025: The Public and Private AI Dance 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 »
The maximum employee 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 is increasing by $1,000 to $24,500 according to the IRS. For workers over 50, the catch-up contribution rises to $8,000, bringing the total to $32,500. With the median household income of roughly $80,000 today (employee 401(k) max = 30% of income), that’s a substantial amount of money to shelter in
The 2026 401(k) Contribution Limits Feel Like Big Money Now Read More »
