Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
I’m a firm believer in not paying my kids an allowance. And no, I’m not just a meanie. It’s important to me to make sure that my kids understand the relationship between work and money. I’ll explain my unconventional approach below.
Why I Don’t Pay my Kids an Allowance
1. Picking up toys, clothes, books, and trash that belong to you is not an option in my house. It’s part of keeping clean and healthy. You wouldn’t pay your kids to take a shower, so don’t pay them to pick up after themselves. [ continue reading… ]
My cell phone has recently started to act up. There are a number of things malfunctioning, which is making me think about getting a new one. I’m nearing the end of my two-year contract (under my parent’s plan), so I’ll soon be eligible for an upgrade and a renewed contract. Finding a cell phone that will last me for the duration of the plan is my first priority. My current provider has poor service in my home, so getting a better provider is also a consideration.
When my contract is complete, should I re-sign and get a new phone with my current provider, or should I switch plans and providers completely?
In recent years, a “set it and forget it” approach to long-term investing has become increasingly popular. One of the ways this trend manifests itself is through “target date” retirement funds.
Target date funds are designed to automatically adjust as you get closer to retirement age. Your asset allocation is shifted from an emphasis on stocks to an emphasis on bonds as you approach your target date. It’s all supposed to happen seamlessly so that you don’t have to worry about it. Just keep investing, and your portfolio will take care of itself.
But should you rely on target funds for your retirement?
Would you pay hundreds of thousands of dollars if you could get the same (or better) product for pennies on the dollar? Probably not. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what people are doing with their 401k plans. The management fees these plans charge sound very innocuous. How much does 1 percent really add up to? The answer is more than you think.
Future Advisor was kind enough to prepare this infographic for us today, which look at some of the very best, and the very worst 401k plans, and what that percentage really adds up to. [ continue reading… ]
Being healthy isn’t only about food; it’s also about using food as fuel. We sit more than ever, and this constant sentience is slowly killing us. Exercising is one way to combat our sedentary lives and stay healthy, which will also help us reduce the cost of health care.
I saw an Amish man using an iPhone in a McDonald’s parking lot the other day. You know the digital age has a hold on our society when it penetrates to the Old Order Amish living in my community. Now, he’ll probably lose that phone when his Bishop hears about it, but he sure looked like he was having fun while it lasted.
I’m thankful every day that I wasn’t born Amish and that I’m fortunate enough to have a few tech gadgets in my possession. (Let’s be honest; I’m a geek, and I love new technology.) One of my all-time favorite gadgets is the iPhone, because it’s so versatile.
You can customize your iPhone for business, gaming, design, music, or whatever happens to be your passion of the week — simply by changing out the apps you use every day. Mine is loaded with apps to help me manage my money better.
Here are a few of my favorite iPhone apps that help me save money and live frugally.
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