Blog Feed

Why I bought a NEW car

Why I bought a NEW car

I am 53 years old. Never in my life have I allowed myself to buy a car I truly love...until now. This is the story of how I allowed myself to make a …

How self-centered shopping has made me happier with the things I buy

How self-centered shopping has made me happier with the things I buy

I've changed the way I shop over the past few years. And although the shift has been subtle, I've found that I'm much happier with the things I buy. …

It’s Get Smart With Money Day!

It’s Get Smart With Money Day!

Let’s jump right to the real news here: Now for the real story behind this weird situation. Why did I agree to this? Aren’t I supposed to be retired?…

Why You’ll Probably Never Run Out Of Money

Why You’ll Probably Never Run Out Of Money

As strange as it may sound, earning financial freedom is a lot easier for certain people than claiming that freedom once they have earned it. And if …

The Difference Between a Hard Inquiry and a Soft Inquiry on Your Credit Report

The Difference Between a Hard Inquiry and a Soft Inquiry on Your Credit Report

The beautiful thing about having a good credit score is that it allows you greater flexibility to finance many of the things you want and need. If yo…

Fifth (and Final) Annual Update

Fifth (and Final) Annual Update

It's been five years since I left my full-time job so here's my fifth (and final) annual update on post-FI life! Read more → The post Fifth (an…

Vanguard Personal Advisor Review

Vanguard Personal Advisor Review

Vanguard Personal Advisor offers the personal touch and level of service of a traditional financial advisor at the price of a robo-advisor. In this a…

How To Monitor Your Credit

How To Monitor Your Credit

Monitoring your credit is key to both catching identity theft early and staying on the right path financially. Here's how to do it for free. The post…

Should You Pay for Credit Monitoring?

Should You Pay for Credit Monitoring?

With the data breaches that are happening left and right, there's never been a more important time to monitor your credit. But should you pay for it?…

How To Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit With Experian, Equifax and TransUnion

How To Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit With Experian, Equifax and TransUnion

A credit freeze is the #1 way to protect yourself from identity theft. Here's how to freeze your credit with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The po…

How To Reach a Human at Experian, TransUnion or Equifax

How To Reach a Human at Experian, TransUnion or Equifax

Tired of talking to robots? Here's how to reach a real live person at the three major credit bureaus. The post How To Reach a Human at Experian, Tran…

The Only Two Exceptions to Clark Howard’s Annuity Rule

The Only Two Exceptions to Clark Howard’s Annuity Rule

Money expert Clark Howard hates most annuities. He even calls “annuity” a “curse word” on his podcast. However, there are oft…