Blog Feed
The Comfort Crisis
As with many things in life these days, it all started with an episode of the Peter Attia podcast. In this edition, our nation’s most Badass Doctor w…
The Tail of Gigi The Dog
A question I’ve been getting a lot lately: “What happened to your dog???” I get this question via email, through blog comments, on …
Reader Case Study: Special Education Teacher In Debt
Anna is a 35-year-old special eduction teacher of middle school students with severe and profound disabilities. She lives in rural Illinois and is cu…
The Hobbit And Other May 2023 Expenses
Yes indeed, we’ve welcomed a hobbit into our home. Mr. FW is a well-known lover of The Lord of The Rings books and the main reason he wanted to…
Report: Average Monthly Social Security Benefit by Age
Social Security is a hot button issue today for many reasons. Aside from whether it will still be here when you reach retirement age, many Americans …
Reader Case Study: Plasterer and Social Worker in Manitoba Plan for a Baby
Sam and Riley are a married couple living in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada along with their dog Bisky and two cats, Theodore and Greta. Sam works as a…
The Problem with the 4% Rule (and Why You Could Retire Even Sooner)
The 4% rule wasn't made for early retirement. Here's a new withdrawal strategy that could allow you to retire even sooner! Read more → The pos…
We’ll Grow All Of Our Food! And Other Misconceptions I Had About Rural Life
One of the driving forces behind the birth of Frugalwoods was our desire to leave the city and buy a homestead in the woods. That happened in May 201…
What Brokerage Do You Recommend for First-Time Investors or Kids?
Learning about finance and investing from an early age can be life-changing. Many of us have children, family members or close friends who are studen…
We Have Enough Money To Retire. Can We Cancel These Insurance Policies and Use the Money for Fun?
If you don’t have enough money saved for retirement, it’s easy to know what to do. At least in broad strokes. You need to keep making mon…
Frugal Man Buys $52,000 Car – Why??
As I type this, I’m jumping through the various hoops involved in buying a 2023 Tesla Model Y, a rather expensive, luxury “crossover” that is absolut…
Are Money Market Funds a Safe Place To Stash My Savings?
The massive interest rate hikes that began in early 2022 have reshaped the U.S. economy—and savers have reaped some rewards. High-yield savings accou…
Less Cars, More Money: My Visit to the City of the Future
In my role as Mr. Money Mustache, I do my best to be your one-stop-shop for Lifestyle Guru ideas. So over the years we’ve covered not just the Money …
ProjectionLab – Beautiful and Powerful Financial-Planning Software for FIRE
ProjectionLab is a powerful and beautifully-designed financial-planning application made specifically for FIRE people! Read more → The post Pro…
How to Build a Kitchen (and Why)
Well, looks like it has happened again. Since the last time we spoke, I got sucked into building my 17th(?) kitchen, and I have finally emerged…
Should You Ever Decline a Credit Limit Increase?
Congratulations. We just approved you for a credit limit increase of $1,000. Your new limit is $10,000. If you’ve held and used a credit card f…
Ramit Sethi – How to Spend (and Actually Enjoy It)
Ramit Sethi from I Will Teach You to Be Rich joins me on the podcast to teach overly-frugal FIRE people how to spend and actually enjoy it! Read more…
Can You Withdraw Money From Retirement Accounts at Will?
Most financial literature related to 401(k) accounts or IRAs focuses on contributions. But what about when you retire? Yes, there are withdrawal rule…
Should I Avoid Investing More Than $500,000 With a Single Brokerage Firm?
Most people know that the FDIC insures bank accounts up to $250,000. But did you know that brokerage firms registered with the SEC almost always hold…
My Family – Raising Money-Smart Kids
In this short holiday episode, I interviewed my parents and grandparents to find out their best tips for raising money-smart kids! Read more → …