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Financial Samurai

Slicing Through Money's Mysteries

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Tax Refunds Are Good For Most People Because Most People Can’t Save

Updated: 02/18/2021 by Financial Samurai 57 Comments

Tax refunds are good for most people. The simple reason is that left to our own devices, people don’t save or invest their tax refunds. People tend to go the easiest route and spend.

The average tax refund is $2,950 a year as of 2020. Meanwhile, 74% of Americans get a tax refund. I’ll consider you average for argument’s sake.  At today’s typical savings rate of 1%, you’re missing out on a whopping $12 bucks in interest income!

Why $12, and not $24? It’s because you have to calculate the average balance of the year if you saved every $200/month payment diligently starting January 1st i.e. January $200, February $400, March $600 etc.

I’m definitely not a proponent of giving the government more money than they deserve, but missing out on $12 bucks in interest is something I can live with and so should you.

You have to ask yourself whether you have the discipline of saving that extra $200 a month, or using it to pay down debt. Most people are not disciplined enough to pay down debt and avoid buying junk.

This is why we have such massive debt problems in the first place!  The government is essentially helping you “go broke to win big” by protecting 75% of American tax payers from blowing $2,400 a year without even knowing it.



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Let “Freement” Reign! Spending Paralysis, Material Lust And Obsession

Updated: 01/14/2021 by Financial Samurai 40 Comments

Freement is great! But what is freemen? For those of you who don’t know, I’m a recovering car fanatic. 

Funny enough, the way I deal with my addiction is to go to the BMW dealer!  I also go to the Audi, Mercedes, Honda, Land Rover and Porsche dealers too, but only the BMW dealer is on my way home and has an easy parking lot to leave Moose unattended.  I wonder if they cut out the free popcorn and diet cokes because of me.  Hmmm.

Over the past 3 years, I must have visited the BMW dealer at least 65 times to the dismay of the sales people.  They must have a code word for my type, “cheap bastard” or “stop wasting my time you poor SOB” maybe, but I don’t care.  Nothing thrills me more than sitting in a brand new, over-priced automobile and inhaling that unbeatable new car smell!  After every experience, I deftly try and avoid the salespeople and pick up a new brochure so I can extend the enjoyment at home.

In fact, as a joke I wrapped up the latest Land Rover LR4 brochure for Christmas and gave it to my wife.  I told her she should expect a nice shiny black on black beast when we get back to San Francisco.  She was kinda amused, not really.

If the salespeople insist on going for a test drive, who am I to argue?  But, I make it a point to only waste the time of the most eager of sales people beavers.  The fun of gunning a $80,000 BMW M3 every other month is such a thrill!  Besides, I hear they get a little commission for every test drive anyway.

Feement New Obsession

Ever since I spent $1,450 on an impulse buy at The Apple store this September, and subsequently returned the darn thing weeks later, I’ve been obsessed.  If we’re in the mall, or some general shopping area, I must pay a visit, or 30+ visits since Sept more accurately! 

The Genius Bar is wonderful, and all the shiny toys for us to play with for free is such a joy.  Like “Moose”, my current iBook G4 is old and slow, but that’s what makes each visit to that much more exciting!

Did you know that over 80% of the computers sold over $1,000 are from Apple?  It’s not a surprise to me because their products and customer service rock.  Too bad they are just too smart for the US consumer. 

The current Macbook Pro is getting dated after the   the latest Macbook edition.  I’m patiently waiting until the latest MBP comes out next year.  Until then, more fun visits!

THE PROBLEM With Freement

It’s not like I can’t afford a new computer, it’s just that I have spending paralysis on things I don’t absolutely need.  I also have spending paralysis on myself.  If the gift is for my wife or my parents I’m all for it!  I often tease my wife that she always gets the new stuff, and I get her hand me downs, which I get for her in the first place.  It makes me happy though, and isn’t that all that matters?

The question I’ve been thinking over and over is whether or not my frugality is being taken too far?  Why shouldn’t I drive a nicer car that have car seat controls that actually work and brakes that aren’t so squishee?  Why not produce prose on a speedier machine with a more eye-friendly monitor?  A $1,000 Macbook Pro just consumes 1% of the “Freedom Fund” but still, I cannot let them swipe my card.

Not Sure Of I Can Change My Freement Ways


The thrill of material things lies in the anticipation of buying, but not actually going through with the purchase.
I’m the type of person who is sometimes more excited a week before the vacation, than during the vacation because every day spent on the vacation is one less day of relaxation!  Buying material goods brings down my utility, because the brief feeling of happiness gets consumed by the permanent loss of money.

Sometimes I must have something, and go ahead and buy the darn thing, but return it before the return policy runs out (“Controlling The Urge To Splurge”).  Some say it’s malicious to buy something with no intention of purchase.  Hak-fooey!  Why is there a return policy in the first place?  It’s so the consumer can try before they buy or give us consumers a financial self-destruction insurance policy!

I never thought I’d be obsessed with another “freement” (free + enjoyment) store like the BMW dealer.  But, thanks to Apple I guess there is.  A special shout out to Brookstone for all those wonderful chair massages you’ve given, as well as props to Barnes & Nobles for the magazine experiences.  Let freement reign!

Related: The 1/10th Rule For Car Buying Everyone Should Follow

Readers, what are your material obsessions and how do you deal with your obsessions to prevent financial ruin? Freement reigns!

Why do women go crazy over shoes, clothing, and hand bags, while men tend to splurge on cars and electronics?  Is a $5,000 Hermes handbag more ridiculous than a $50,000 BMW?

Do you have spending paralysis on yourself?  How do you get out of it and return to center?

Keiju,

Financial Samurai – “Slicing Through Money’s Mysteries”

Use The Sandwich Method To Provide Constructive Criticism

Updated: 02/19/2020 by Financial Samurai 40 Comments

A Reuben, My Favorite!

A Reuben.  My Favorite!

There’s a fine line between being a jerk and being constructive.  As a parent, manager, spouse, or friend, most of the time we just want what’s best for others.  The problem is, we’re afraid to offend and we therefore lose any ability to help.

There’s no better reward than advising someone how to improve, and then watch them flourish.  Push the person too far, however, and you’ll engender resentment.  The Sandwich Method is one the best ways for delivering constructive feedback.

SCENARIO: Your friend Sam comes up with a corny idea for a website called “Financial Samurai.”  Sam thinks it will become a Top 25 personal finance site in the world one day and thinks the tagline “Slicing Through Money’s Mysteries” is catchy.  He thinks he’ll be able to retire off the advertising revenue and is already thinking about buying the latest Audi S5 and quitting his day job with his expected income.

You know better because there are 50 million active websites out there (200+ million total), and only the top 100,000 (0.2%) sites earn 74% of all the revenue according to Alexa.  As a friend, how do you knock some reality into Sam, without crushing his enthusiasm?

THE SANDWICH METHOD TO HELP SAM FACE REALITY:

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The Worst Seat On An Airplane Is The Best Seat In The Office

Updated: 08/28/2020 by Financial Samurai 19 Comments

GTGTTBR
GTGTTBR (Got To Go To….)

The worst seat on an airplane is still better than being stuck in the office. Don’t fret!

For some reason, I generally get stuck in a middle seat close to the bathroom every time I go on a business trip.  It’s probably because I leave so little time between take off and check-in that I usually end up screwed!

The worst is when you’re just about to fall asleep and you get nudged by your neighbor for hogging the arm rest.  Come on neighbor, I’m stuck in the middle, the arm rest is mine!  The second worst thing is inhaling the lovely toilet aromas every time someone walks in and out.  Finally, add a crying baby next to you, and air travel is just lovely.



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