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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 …
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 …
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…
The California Effect
One of the reasons I don’t write as often these days is that my life has gradually evolved into a Personal Finance Bubble. The people around me…
A man of no ambition
A memory came to me this morning while I was walking the dog, a memory of those days when I was fresh out of college and just beginning to work for m…
Lessons From the Badass Muscular Neurobiologist
Have you ever noticed that as a whole, our society has its daily habits almost completely backwards? We’re generally so “busy” that we don’t have tim…
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
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!
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
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 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
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 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
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?
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
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
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
Money expert Clark Howard hates most annuities. He even calls “annuity” a “curse word” on his podcast. However, there are oft…