The tax code is complicated. A complicated tax code means filing taxes can be a headache, or for some of us a migraine. The one good thing about the complicated tax code is that it creates opportunities to pay less in taxes. Legal opportunities. In fact, the government has intentionally built in these opportunities […]
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When it comes to budgeting there are monthly budgets and then there are one-off budgets for big life events. Big life events that need their own budgets include a vacation, a home remodel, and yes – a wedding. Weddings aren’t cheap. The average wedding in 2015 cost $32,641 according to TheKnot.com. Not cheap! Whenever you […]
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This post is part of our series 7 Weeks to Your Best Finances. This series is meant to serve as a 7-week path to improving your finances. It will cover all the important topics like starting a budget, saving money, making money, investing, and more. To find out more and see all the tips […]
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Pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF, can make sense for many student loan borrowers who are employed full-time by a nonprofit or the government. In my student loan repayment 101 webinars and presentations I always love highlighting how PSLF can literally mean a $100k+ swing in net worth for certain borrowers. To put […]
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One of the arguments for renting instead of buying is the fact that you don’t have to pay for repairs and maintenance. Unexpected home expenses is one reason why many in the personal finance space recommend homeowners have an extra-healthy emergency fund. “Small” unexpected expenses of $100-$300 can add up quick, and big expenses […]
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The past couple months I have been busy planning my first trip to Southeast Asia. This will be my first time in Asia, and I’m looking forward to checking out Vietnam and Thailand. Between flights, ground transportation, excursions, hotels, and food and drinks this trip will cost my wife and I over two thousand […]
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Most people who look into personal finance eventually realize that success with finances typically comes down to two things: knowledge and action. There are a ton of personal finance hacks to take advantage of, but unless you know about them and take action, you miss out. Think about the stories you hear about high […]
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We’ve seen unprecedented growth the past ten years since the last recession. According to Goldman Sachs in early 2019, the 10-year trailing annual return of 15% ranks in the 94th percentile of all 10-year periods going back to 1880. There are millions in the workforce today – including young millennials and the oldest of […]
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I’ve been saying it for a long time: whenever you make a purchase online, you should be getting cash back rewards. This is also true for in-store purchases, though these purchases are typically limited to cash back from credit cards. Today I want to go over a simple way to “double-dip” cash back rewards, […]
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When you hear about side hustles, most of the focus is around paying off debt faster. This should come as no surprise, as most Americans – especially millennials – have a lot of debt. From credit card debt to student loans to mortgages, Americans have taken on a lot of debt. Side hustles are […]
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