Planning
- Ask the Readers: Do you plan for the good times as well as the bad? (52 comments)
This is a guest post from personal finance writer Gwendolyn Pearce, who has written previously on chicken coops and cooking challenges. In a recent post, staff writer Lisa Aberle provided an excell...Read more »
- The tyranny of the 401(k) industrial complex (68 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool's Rule Your Retirement service. Like many living beings ...Read more »
- Are you prepared to buy a home? (48 comments)
This is a post from staff writer April Dykman. For many, owning a home is still "the American dream." According to Gallup's annual Economy and Personal Finance survey, 56 percent of Americans own a...Read more »
- How (and why) to create a financial plan (39 comments)
This post is from staff writer Lisa Aberle. A few weeks ago, I celebrated another birthday. For whatever reason, birthdays always make me think about how many more birthdays I have to celebrate. An...Read more »
- Will you have what you need when you need it? (35 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool's Rule Your Retirement service. Let's say I told you ...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: 4 options for the next step (56 comments)
Ken is sending his financial situation into the GRS ether to see what you have to say. Here's a snapshot of his finances: I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article "What Next" and the "Ask the Re...Read more »
- I’m 30! Am I where I should be with my finances? (77 comments)
This post is from staff writer Kristin Wong. "I can't believe I'm going to be 30!" I told my Dad at the beginning of the year. I said the same thing when I turned 20, so I knew he would reassure m...Read more »
- Oops, I may have broken my nest egg (42 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool's Rule Your Retirement service. Financial success can...Read more »
- Morningstar’s day for individual investors (3 comments)
Hey, GRS readers, you have been invited to the Morningstar Individual Investor Conference. This is an all-day webcast (although I'm sure you can jump in and out of the webcast depending on which sessi...Read more »
- Creating objective rules for spending (36 comments)
This guest post is from Mr. F, an Australian reader in his mid-20s who works for the government. We're often told to "spend money on what's important," "spend according to your values" or "spend o...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: What is the next step? (92 comments)
J.D. wrote about the three stages of personal finance often. His definitions were: The first stage of personal finance involves learning the basics: understanding compound interest, reducing debt...Read more »
- Play hooky for money (31 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool's Rule Your Retirement service. We at Fool HQ did it ...Read more »
- How to plan for a worst-case scenario (46 comments)
As many longtime GRS readers know, a few years ago I quit my job to become a full-time writer. The decision to ditch a job and leap into self-employment always brings up a lot of big questions, ...Read more »
- Taking the semi-retirement plunge without drowning in debt (59 comments)
After spending months working 60 or 70 hours per week, realizing that life is all too short, and preparing for our kids to come home, it's time for a new financial paradigm of my own: I'm semi-retirin...Read more »
- The most powerful ways to secure your retirement (33 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool's Rule Your Retirement service. Whether you can reti...Read more »
- Party philosophy: When to spend big on fiestas (57 comments)
I grew up in a family not given to extravagance with regard to birthdays. Not that we could have been extravagant if we would have wanted to. With five children close together in age, a dad who'd pu...Read more »
- New student loan payoff tool (30 comments)
Stafford, PLUS, Perkins, Direct, private - there are enough types of student loans out there to make your head spin. All of these loans have different criteria and interest rates. This is especially...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: What should you consider when buying a house at 25 (or any age for that matter)? (78 comments)
This is a guest post from Jenna Forstrom. I always wanted to have my own house. My parents flipped houses while I was growing up and I like creating spaces and using my hands, plus it always sou...Read more »
- Honey’s financial goals for 2013 (126 comments)
This post is by staff writer Honey Smith. Now that I've taken stock of where I've been in 2012, I'm ready to set goals for 2013. I want my goals to be ambitious enough that meeting them is a true...Read more »
- This year, switch and get things done (28 comments)
Friends: this is only an arbitrary calendar, but still, it's a nice mental paradigm to start counting again from day one. Don't forget to write the correct year when you write your next check! (Tha...Read more »
- Reader Story: Pursue a dream to move to a new location (60 comments)
This is a guest post from Jason Price from One Money Design. This summer, my wife and I took our kids on a family vacation to Disneyland in California. The Southern California weather, beaches and...Read more »
- A few things to consider before becoming an expatriate (23 comments)
This post is from Justin Boyle. Justin is an experienced English tutor and writing coach who works as a designer in the tech industry. He lives in Austin, Texas, and finds a lot of things interestin...Read more »
- Taking stock of 2012 (89 comments)
This post is by staff writer Honey Smith. For me, the end of the year is a time to take stock of where I've been. This not only helps me identify (and celebrate!) my accomplishments throu...Read more »
- Health savings accounts: An overview, plus some pros and cons (86 comments)
Lately, my dad's been praising the benefits of having a health savings account. This year, he had the opportunity to get the most of his HSA -- bad news for his health, but good news for his wallet ...Read more »
- Preparing for the inevitable (40 comments)
This is a guest post from Holly Johnson. Holly is a 32-year-old wife, mother of two, and frugal lifestyle enthusiast. She blogs about saving money, frugal habits, and whatever is on her mind at ClubTh...Read more »
- How badly would a disaster affect you? (59 comments)
The oceans are rising, the climate is warming. Is your house -- literally -- in order? No matter what we do, say scientists, the oceans are rising; anything we do to address climate change won'...Read more »
- Reader Stories: Making friends in ‘God’s Waiting Room’ (30 comments)
This guest post is from Mrs. PoP, who writes at plantingourpennies.com.This is a fitting post near Thanksgiving, as Mrs. PoP has a lot to be thankful for. This story is part of our Reader Stories seri...Read more »
- When you just can’t get the important stuff done (38 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new...Read more »
- Safeguarding your career switch (44 comments)
The night before I moved to California, I got a flat tire. The day before I moved to California, someone backed into my car. The first night that I moved to California, I got a parking ticket and my...Read more »
- How Wall Street eats a third of your savings and makes you work longer (35 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new...Read more »
- Risk-a-Palooza: All that can go wrong and how to prevent it (30 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new...Read more »
- Get Free Financial Planning Help (10 comments)
I've been working with a fee-only financial advisor recently to be sure all my eggs are in the right nests for my future. I've been impressed with her knowledge of law, taxes, insurance, investing -- ...Read more »
- Reader Story: Dodging Financial Bullets: A Tribute to My Ex (94 comments)
This guest post from Holly Johnson is part of the “reader stories” feature. Holly is a 32-year-old wife, mother of two, and frugal lifestyle enthusiast. She blogs about saving money, frugal habits...Read more »
- 15 Things You Need to Know About Financial Aid (62 comments)
Timothy M. Hayes, MBA, CFP®, is the founder and President of Landmark Financial Advisory Services, a member of the Garrett Planning Network of fee-only advisors, and an expert in navigating the finan...Read more »
- Reader Story: Finding Hope In The Bleakest Of Situations (99 comments)
This guest post from Sam is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. Sam writes at Financial Samurai and is one of the esteemed colleagues with whom I'm exchanging ideas this weekend a...Read more »
- Keeping Your Head During Estate Settlement (29 comments)
This is a guest post from Jennifer Rose Hale. Hale first shared what to expect when settling an estate, then explained reading the will is not what you expect. Emotions will probably run high durin...Read more »
- Turning Long-Term Goals Into Short-Term Goals (and Not Getting Fat Along the Way) (82 comments)
This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new...Read more »
- Straying Off the Path or Changing Direction? (77 comments)
This post is from GRS staff writer Donna Freedman. Donna writes the Frugal Cool blog for MSN Money, and writes about frugality and intentional living at Surviving And Thriving. The delightful Rita ...Read more »
- Is Long-Term Care Insurance Worth It? (72 comments)
For the next week (or two), we'll be sharing "audition" pieces from folks interested in being new staff writers at Get Rich Slowly. Your job is to let us know what you think of each of these writers. ...Read more »
- Estate Settlement: Reading the Will Is Not What You Expect (24 comments)
For the next week (or two), we'll be sharing "audition" pieces from folks interested in being new staff writers at Get Rich Slowly. Your job is to let us know what you think of each of these writers. ...Read more »
- Wills, Trusts and Drama: What to Expect When Settling an Estate (51 comments)
This is a guest post by Jennifer Rose Hale, one of the candidates for a new staff writer position here at Get Rich Slowly. We all face times when we suddenly, necessarily have to become experts on ...Read more »
- The Retirement Outlook for 20-Somethings (159 comments)
This post is from staff writer Tim Sullivan. Over Memorial Day weekend, a few friends and I took an RV to Banff, Canada. I’m from Chicago and have only been in the Pacific Northwest for a few sho...Read more »
- How to Do a Wallet Audit (90 comments)
This post is from GRS staff writer Donna Freedman. Donna writes the Frugal Cool blog for MSN Money, and writes about frugality and intentional living at Surviving And Thriving. On my way to the 2011 ...Read more »
- Reader Story: The Bonus of Bi-Weekly Pay (92 comments)
This guest post from Corinne is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success or fail...Read more »
- How to Spend a Tax Refund (126 comments)
This post is from staff writer Sarah Gilbert. For the past two years doing taxes has not been bearable: it's been terrific! I've used an online e-filing service for several years now after many ye...Read more »
- How to Donate Your Body to Science (119 comments)
This post is from GRS staff writer Donna Freedman. Donna writes a personal finance column for MSN Money, and writes about frugality and intentional living at Surviving And Thriving. A basic burial av...Read more »
- Make 2012 Better by Asking the Right Question (30 comments)
This post is by guest writer Carl Richards. Carl is a financial planner, contributor for The New York Times and Morning Star, and author of Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things With Mon...Read more »
- Planning for My Financial Future (64 comments)
I've been fortunate over the past few years. I've managed to get out of debt, quit my day job to write full time, build substantial savings, and am now able to do what I want when I want. I still work...Read more »
- Reader Story: What My Father’s Death Taught Me About Estate Planning (100 comments)
This guest post from Jody is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success — or...Read more »
- Reader Story: Long-Term Thinking Pays Off (81 comments)
This guest post from Heather Roth is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success &m...Read more »
- Turn Paranoia Into Plan B (Because Things Might Get Worse) (47 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner, the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service, and the husband of Elizabeth Bro...Read more »
- Get Free Professional Financial Help During Financial Planning Days (21 comments)
When Kris and I attended our college reunion last month, we met many folks from other classes. For instance, I chatted with Harvey Gail, who graduated ten years before we did. We had plenty to talk ab...Read more »
- Holiday Saving Tips: How to Grow Your Christmas Nest Egg (48 comments)
This post is from staff writer Sierra Black. Sierra writes about frugality, sustainable living, and raising children at Childwild.com. Autumn is here and the leaves are just starting to turn. Belie...Read more »
- Want More Money in Retirement? Work a Little Longer! (83 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He also has a blog, Twitterin...Read more »
- Reader Story: Lay-Off Resistant Family Finances (78 comments)
This guest post from Sam is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success — or ...Read more »
- Preparing for an Emergency (80 comments)
This post is from staff writer April Dykman, who recently wrote about ceviche and how to peel shrimp like a Hawaiian. A few weeks ago, I wrote about how hot it was in the Lone Star State. The updat...Read more »
- Engineer Your Retirement (50 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He also has a blog, Twitterin...Read more »
- Estate Planning Essentials: Preparing for the Unpleasantly Possible (24 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He also has a blog, Twitterin...Read more »
- Reader Story: Estate Planning – The First Month (37 comments)
This guest post from Jeffrey G. is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. It seems like a fitting follow-up to my recent experiences with my mother. Some stories contain general adv...Read more »
- Drama in Real Life: A Place for Mom (254 comments)
In my ideal world, you'd now be reading an article about the freelancing or entrepreneurship or extreme couponing or one of the half dozen other topics I've started to write about. In my ideal world, ...Read more »
- Reader Story: Negative Budgeting and a Healthy Outlook on Life (52 comments)
This guest post from Shara is part of the "reader stories" feature here at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general "how I did X" advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financia...Read more »
- The Next Step: Preparing for Change (104 comments)
For years, I wallowed in debt. I had no fiscal discipline. I used credit to buy what I wanted, when I wanted. My money skills were abysmal, and my life was in financial ruin. In 2004, I decided to ...Read more »
- Every Purchase Is a Trade-Off (76 comments)
While I was digging out of debt, I cut back on my comic book habit. I'd been spending a mind-boggling $250 every month on comics — most of which I bought in the form of hard-bound compilations &...Read more »
- Reader Story: Making Life Transitions Meaningful (83 comments)
This guest post from Laura Mezoff Christy is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial su...Read more »
- Estate Planning Done Right: How to Help Your Family from the Great Beyond (48 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He also has a blog, Twitterin...Read more »
- To Automate, or Not to Automate (85 comments)
This post is from staff writer April Dykman. Lately I've been giving my personal finance systems a lot of thought. What is the best way to track my expenses (I've yet to figure it out)? Am I alloca...Read more »
- Your Retirement Account Survival Guide (55 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He also has a blog, Twitterin...Read more »
- Building Your Financial “Safety Gear” (54 comments)
This post is from staff writer Sierra Black. Sierra writes about frugality, sustainable living, and raising children at Childwild.com. Recently, I've gotten into indoor rock climbing. It's a challe...Read more »
- Use a Financial Fire Drill to Prepare for the Worst BEFORE It Happens (49 comments)
This post is from GRS staff writer Donna Freedman. Donna writes a personal finance column for MSN Money, and writes about frugality and intentional living at Surviving And Thriving. Hey, federal em...Read more »
- All About Asset Location: How to Make the Most of Your Accounts (68 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He also has a newly reinvigor...Read more »
- Establish Your Financial Priorities (Worksheet Inside!) (55 comments)
This post is from staff writer April Dykman. Quick — can you list your top financial priorities? My top priorities (aside from basic living expenses) are building a house and travel. Those are...Read more »
- Emergency Preparedness on a Shoestring (130 comments)
This post is from new GRS staff writer Donna Freedman. Donna writes a personal finance column for MSN Money, and writes about frugality and intentional living at Surviving And Thriving. Images of d...Read more »
- College Is a Big, Fat, Hairy Rip-Off! (But Save for It Anyway) (109 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He also has a newly reinvigor...Read more »
- The Power of Patience (57 comments)
When I was young, I had no patience. I wanted everything, and I wanted it now. No wonder, then, that I found myself with over $20,000 in credit-card debt just a few years out of college. I was spendin...Read more »
- Getting Started with Estate Planning (30 comments)
This post is from staff writer Sierra Black. Sierra writes about frugality, sustainable living, and getting her kids to eat kale at Childwild.com. Over the past few years, I've done a reasonable jo...Read more »
- Reader Story: Sailing Away from the American Dream (51 comments)
This guest post from Michael Robertson is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial succe...Read more »
- Caring for Aging Parents (156 comments)
As more of my friends enter middle age, they're talking less about how to care for their kids and more about how to care for their parents. Our mothers and fathers are nearing (and, in some cases, sur...Read more »
- Two Stories About Retirement Planning (106 comments)
I never know where the personal-finance lessons are going to come from. Today, I heard two stories about retirement from my own family. First, my wife told me that her retirement program at work might...Read more »
- One Problem, One Correction: How to Set New Year’s Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep (54 comments)
A new year is coming, and for many people that means it's time to make a list of resolutions. I used to be one of these folks, carefully cataloging the faults I'd like to fix every winter. Not anymore...Read more »
- The Cost of Being a Better Parent (107 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Fantasy vs. Reality: Paving a Path to a Promising Future (45 comments)
On Saturday night, I had dinner with Wendy and Dennis, two Get Rich Slowly readers who recently moved from Phoenix to Portland. We talked about a lot of things — most of them nerdy. We also chat...Read more »
- Why Now is the Time to Think Long-Term (37 comments)
This is a guest post from Philip Brewer of Wise Bread. Brewer also writes science-fiction and fantasy stories. Previously at GRS, he shared how to live a rich life on a budget. As a saver, I have a...Read more »
- Re-Thinking Retirement: Beyond Conventional Wisdom (32 comments)
This post is from Kent Thune. Kent urges and guides readers to place meaning and purpose before money and planning at his blog, The Financial Philosopher. Previously at GRS, Thune has written about de...Read more »
- Investing in Your Life Pays Off in the Long Term (23 comments)
This post is from staff writer Sierra Black. Sierra writes about frugality, sustainable living, and getting her kids to eat kale at Childwild.com. Simple living is great. Avoiding shopping malls in...Read more »
- When Will You Be Able to Retire? (52 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- The High Cost of Modern Living (118 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- What is Retirement? (76 comments)
I just returned from my annual weekend trip to Oregon's Opal Creek Wilderness area. Every year, I join five other friends to hike into the forest, pitch our tents on the banks of the creek, and sit ar...Read more »
- How to Help Your Kids Build $25,000 Stock Portfolios (61 comments)
Mary and her husband set out to build a stock portfolio worth $25,000 as a college graduation present for each of their children. That's a lofty goal. How did they do it? In her entry to the GRS video...Read more »
- Reader Story: I Was a TV Freelancer (or Financial Planning and Job Instability) (37 comments)
This guest post from Kristen Swensson is part of the "reader stories" feature at Get Rich Slowly. It's also the funniest post I've published since Robert Brokamp's last appearance. Swensson is the pro...Read more »
- Planning for Budget Busters: Home Ownership (41 comments)
This video post is the third of a four-part series from staff writer Adam Baker. Baker previously featured a post on his own blog entitled Cost of Living Abroad: Dozens of Bloggers Share Their Expense...Read more »
- How Do You Define Financial Freedom? (70 comments)
This post is from Kent Thune. Kent urges and guides readers to place meaning and purpose before money and planning at his blog, The Financial Philosopher. Can freedom be bought? Are there any (fina...Read more »
- Planning for Budget Busters: Transportation (42 comments)
This video post is by staff writer Adam Baker. Baker previously featured a post on his own blog entitled, 67 Ways NOT to Sell a Car. Courtney and I apply a fun name to any expense in our lives that...Read more »
- Preparing for the Future: A Risk-Management Checklist (17 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- What Happens to Your Stuff When You Die? (49 comments)
Most of us have some sort of vague idea about what happens to our assets when we die. The stuff we own gets passed on to the people we specify — assuming we've jumped through the right hoops. Bu...Read more »
- Instructions for the Afterlife: Preparing for the Inevitable (31 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- What YOU Can Learn from Baby-Boomer Blunders (111 comments)
J.D. is on vacation in Alaska. This is a guest post from Neal Frankle, a Certified Financial Planner, and the author of Wealth Pilgrim, a blog about his financial journey. If you know someone in th...Read more »
- The Business of Marriage: Five Things You Should Do Before Tying the Knot (46 comments)
This post is from staff writer Sierra Black. Sierra writes about frugality, sustainable living, and getting her kids to eat kale at Childwild.com. I'm at a friend's wedding this weekend, traveling ...Read more »
- Are We There Yet? How Will You Know When You’re Rich? (104 comments)
This is a guest post by Ami Kim, who blogs about searching for a calling at 40 Days to Change. Ami is a long-time GRS reader. Here at Get Rich Slowly, we imbibe many flavors of frugality, smart inv...Read more »
- Poll: How Much Do You Need to Save for Retirement? (54 comments)
This post contains an excerpt from Chapter 13 of Your Money: The Missing Manual, my new book from O'Reilly Media. It's also a part of National Financial Literacy Month. For the past several months,...Read more »
- How to Self-Diagnose Your Financial Health (38 comments)
The New York Times Your Money section features consistently great advice from Ron Lieber and his team. (This team includes Carl Richards, who you may remember from his excellent blog Behavior Gap; Ric...Read more »
- From Whole Foods to Food Stamps (101 comments)
This post is from new staff writer Sierra Black. Sierra writes about frugality, sustainable living, and getting her kids to eat kale at Childwild.com. The recession has hit families where they live...Read more »
- How to Be Happy in Retirement (61 comments)
The March 2010 issue of Consumer Reports Money Adviser has an interesting article on how to avoid regrets during retirement. The article, which draws on a survey of nearly 25,000 subscribers, is simul...Read more »
- Plan Your Gift-Giving to Save Time and Money (32 comments)
This post is from GRS staff writer April Dykman. Last Christmas, I had some great gift ideas: They were heartfelt, they were personalized — and they couldn’t just be bought at a store. We’re ...Read more »
- Planning a (Debt-Free) Dream Vacation (58 comments)
This post is from GRS staff writer April Dykman. Most people agree that a vacation is supposed to be relaxing, but planning for one can be just the opposite. Still, poor planning can cost money and...Read more »
- Women and Retirement (94 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Happy New Year! My One Goal for 2010 (73 comments)
As an amazing 2009 fades into the sunset, it's time to review my progress and look forward to the year to come. Am I a better person than I was a year ago? (I believe so.) How can I be even better at ...Read more »
- Start Saving For Next Year’s Christmas Today (40 comments)
This article is by staff writer Adam Baker. Baker recently listed the Top 10 Money Movies of the Decade. Baker and his family are spending their holiday season hiking around the south island of New Ze...Read more »
- Job Loss: Got a Financial Game Plan? (63 comments)
This post is from GRS staff writer April Dykman. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed was 15.4 million and the jobless rate was 10 percent in November. While those ...Read more »
- Giving to Receive: What Legacy Will You Leave? (46 comments)
This is a guest post from Tyler Tervooren, a long-time GRS reader. Tyler is a practical environmentalist who writes about the overlap of money, sustainability, and personal development at Frugally Gre...Read more »
- Reader Story: Budgeting For a Lifestyle Change (41 comments)
This is a guest post from Sean Ogle, a former portfolio analyst who is now pursuing his goals of starting a business and seeing the world. You can read more from him at Location180. You can also follo...Read more »
- The Regrets of Christmas Past (79 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Are Pre-Nuptial Agreements For Everyone? (137 comments)
This is a guest post from Andy Jolls, founder of VideoCreditScore.com. Andy ran the myFICO.com business for a number of years and now educates consumers with free credit videos. You can follow him on ...Read more »
- Money and Marriage: Tackle Trouble BEFORE It Begins (73 comments)
Ron Lieber writes the excellent "Your Money" column for The New York Times. Last week, he shared a list of four money talks to have before marriage. Lieber writes: Divorce tends to be emotionally...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Why Are YOU Saving for Retirement? (125 comments)
As I shared yesterday afternoon, although I believe National Save for Retirement Week is important, I find the topic dreadfully dull when stretched out for a week of blog posts. Lesson learned. Sti...Read more »
- No One Cares More About Your Retirement Than YOU Do (38 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Goals Are the Gateway to Financial Success (61 comments)
This is the second of a fourteen-part series that explores the core tenets of Get Rich Slowly. Yesterday I completed my first marathon. It didn't happen exactly as I'd planned, but it happened....Read more »
- Sound Saving and Investing: Taking the Road to Riches Step-by-Step (28 comments)
This is a guest post from Richard Barrington, a freelance writer and novelist who spent over 20 years as an investment industry executive. Barrington is a regular contributor at MoneyRates. Previously...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: How Much Should You Save for Retirement? (152 comments)
How much should you save for retirement? Carla dropped me a line because she's puzzled where the standard "save 10% of your income for retirement" advice originated. She's afraid that ten percent isn'...Read more »
- Finding Financial Values (23 comments)
What is important to me? How do my values influence my financial decisions? These are some of the key questions I've begun to ask as I move deeper into the "third stage" of personal finance. Now that ...Read more »
- The Best Ways to Boost Your Retirement (50 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- The Quiet Millionaire (47 comments)
Despite what you see in the media, financial success generally doesn't come with a lot of glitz. The wealthiest people I know are the ones you'd least expect. They've built their wealth slowly —...Read more »
- What Got You to Get Better? Reasons for Change (86 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Ask The Readers: What Is Your Appetite for Risk? (75 comments)
This is a guest post from A.J. Clark, a long-time lurker at Get Rich Slowly. A.J. is a potential Staff Writer for GRS. He is a recent college graduate who writes software in the financial services ind...Read more »
- What is the Value of a College Education? (156 comments)
This is a guest post from Jason Barr, who writes about personal development at Start Being Your Best. Jason is a potential Staff Writer for Get Rich Slowly. His first post described what he learned fr...Read more »
- How to Budget for an Irregular Income (70 comments)
I've been a full-time professional blogger for more than a year now. It's been a fantastic experience, a sort of dream come true. But blogging for dollars is not without its drawbacks. As I've shared ...Read more »
- The Big Book of Everything: A Free Life-Affairs Organizer (94 comments)
Last summer, Mark Gavagan mailed me a copy of his It's All Right Here life and affairs organizer. This three-ring binder is big and unwieldy, but is amazingly comprehensive. It not only offers pages f...Read more »
- What If You Don’t Plan to Retire? Save Anyhow! (49 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Save More or See the World? (166 comments)
I've written a lot lately about finding balance. It's important to save for the future, but how do you balance that with enjoying today? Each of us has to address that question in our own way. A reade...Read more »
- How Long You’ll Be Investing (18 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Estate Planning 101: Preparing for the Possible — and the Inevitable (35 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Tips for Tackling Big Financial Goals? (50 comments)
Lance wrote recently with some questions about goals. First, he's worried that he should have more than just one. Second, his only goal seems daunting. He's looking for advice: I wanted to get so...Read more »
- Investment Risk and the Growth of Wealth: The Importance of Course Corrections (63 comments)
This is a guest post from Carl Richards at Behavior Gap. I have a problem. In fact, I think we all have a problem: We have been way too focused on returns, resulting in the utter destruction of ...Read more »
- Be More Involved in Your Financial Planning (28 comments)
This is a guest post from Tough Money Love, the personal-finance blog that doesn't pull any punches. You don’t have to look far in our economy to find someone willing and able to assist with your...Read more »
- No Crystal Ball Required: Getting Better Investment Returns (Without Guessing) (24 comments)
This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new articl...Read more »
- Coping with Life’s Little Setbacks (52 comments)
I had a lousy weekend. It was one of those weekends where anything that could go wrong did go wrong. The individual problems were minor enough, but taken as a whole, it was all rather overwhelming. So...Read more »
- How to Live Well on Less in Retirement (65 comments)
Though I'm not close to retirement myself, one GRS reader recently sent me a link to an article from the monthly newsletter from AARP (the American Association of Retired Persons). In the April 2009 i...Read more »
- When Does It Make Sense to Stock Up? (158 comments)
One of my wife's favorite cosmetic products was recently discontinued. For years she's used a certain facial cleanser from Avon, so when Avon stopped selling it, Kris was frustrated. She's tried simil...Read more »
- Developing an Investment Policy Statement (46 comments)
I'm in the process of consolidating all of my investments under one roof. This includes: My Roth IRA (currently with Sharebuilder) My profit-sharing pension through the family box factory (curre...Read more »
- The Miser’s Peril: Why You Should Save for Tomorrow AND Enjoy Today (54 comments)
I recently dropped in to speak with my accountant (who is also a good friend). We chatted about my finances, and we spent a little time discussing Get Rich Slowly. Somehow the conversation turned to f...Read more »
- 8 Questions to Ask BEFORE Hiring a Financial Planner (119 comments)
This is a guest post by Jeff Rose, an Certified Financial Planner from Illinois. Rose is also the author of Good Financial Cents, a financial planning and investment blog. Before reading his article, ...Read more »
- The Ways and Means of Coping with Emergencies (63 comments)
This is a guest post from Gail Vaz-Oxlade, a Canadian financial writer and host of the television series 'Til Debt Do Us Part. Experts have been touting the importance of having an emergency fund s...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Where’s the Fun in Personal Finance? (101 comments)
I've received a ton of great questions and comments recently that probe beyond the basic mechanics of money management and get to the heart of why we do these things. For example, Brent dropped a line...Read more »
- How to Find Great Deals on Vacation and Travel (54 comments)
My wife and I have begun to explore the idea of taking a trip later this year. We're in the preliminary stages of our research and budgeting. Though we aren't ready to book anything yet, it's fun to l...Read more »
- Financial Independence: The Final Stage of Money Management (46 comments)
This is the last of a five-part series about the "stages" of personal finance. These stories have intentionally been less polished than most articles at Get Rich Slowly. This is a chance for me to thi...Read more »
- How Much Do You Need to Save for Retirement? (103 comments)
I've had several conversations in the past month with people who are wondering how much to save for retirement. They're worried they won't have enough. (And the recent market turmoil only makes matter...Read more »
- George Kinder: Three Questions about Life Planning (31 comments)
I spent last Tuesday at the mid-winter conference of the local financial planning association. I was there to give a one-hour presentation about financial blogs, but I had a secondary motive. I wanted...Read more »
- Investing 101: Average is NOT Normal (48 comments)
This is a guest post from Carl Richards at Behavior Gap. It's based on one of my favorite posts at his site, and is a terrific complement/counterpoint to my article on how much the stock market actual...Read more »
- “What Next?” The Third Stage of Personal Finance (142 comments)
I earned more money in 2008 than I've ever made in my life. Get Rich Slowly isn't just a personal success — it's a financial success, as well. Combine this income with an ongoing campaign of fru...Read more »
- How to Be the Family CFO (12 comments)
This is a guest post from Kelly Whalen, a mostly stay-at-home mom who writes about personal finance at The Centsible Life. As acting chief financial officer of my family, Kim Snider's How to Be the...Read more »
- Your Thrift Habits: Money Tips from 1948 (21 comments)
For this final day of Thrift Week 2009, Get Rich Slowly revisits a short thrift film that I first featured in May 2007. Over the past few years, I've shared a number of old cartoons and educational...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: When Is It Okay to Spend Your Savings? (84 comments)
Amanda wrote with a question this week that I think many GRS readers can relate to: When is it okay to spend your savings? My husband is currently unemployed so we're just living on my salary, b...Read more »
- “Jumpstart Your Retirement Plan Days” Provides Free Financial Advice (8 comments)
Mark your calendar! Kiplinger's Personal Finance and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors are working together again to offer Jumpstart Your Retirement Plan Days. Here's the low-dow...Read more »
- How to Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick (77 comments)
Yesterday a GRS reader named "P" pointed me to a New York Times article from Alex Williams, who writes that change isn't easy. Williams notes that about 80% of those who make resolutions on New Year's...Read more »
- Why 2009 Will Be a Fantastic Financial Year For Me (30 comments)
J.D. is on vacation. This is a guest post from Katrina Ramser, a freelance writer who contributes to various websites, newspapers and magazines. She also writes about swimming at SquidKid and about ca...Read more »
- What’s Your Why? The Importance of Finding Meaning in Your Life (28 comments)
J.D. is on vacation. This is a guest post from Jeremy Martin. You've heard the phrase, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” I’ve often wondered about that — should we really set...Read more »
- Yes, You Can Achieve Financial Independence (33 comments)
In the midst of our rush to earn money, our scramble to save for retirement, our focus on frugality, it's easy to lose sight of why we're doing this. What is the goal? What is it we're trying to accom...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: How Do Children Affect Financial Priorities? (90 comments)
When you're on your own (or even with a partner), money decisions are generally straight-forward. You set personal goals and you work toward them. But what happens when you add children to the mix? Ho...Read more »
- 10 Essential Steps to Take BEFORE You’re Laid Off (94 comments)
This is a guest post from Kevin Merritt, founder and CEO of blist, a web-based list-sharing and database application. As a nation we have enjoyed relatively low unemployment for the last five years...Read more »
- How to Invest in a Bad Economy (63 comments)
Yesterday, USA Today published a piece describing how you should invest in a bad economy. Though the market is in shambles, the authors write, it's no time to panic: Enough. The stock market &mdash...Read more »
- All You Ever Wanted to Know About Emergency Funds (But Were Afraid to Ask) (183 comments)
This is a guest post from Dylan Ross. Dylan is a long-time member of the Get Rich Slowly community: a frequent commenter and occasional guest author. He's also a Certified Financial Planner. This arti...Read more »
- The Debt-to-Income Ratio: How Much House Can You Afford? (139 comments)
Housing is the largest expense in the budget of most families. But how much is too much to spend on shelter? An article in Saturday's New York Times contains a shocking example of one woman who crosse...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: How Can I Know Whom to Trust? (60 comments)
Joleen wrote this week with a unique situation. She's a Canadian who has been working overseas in China for the past six years. She has accumulated substantial savings in the local currency, but has n...Read more »
- Creating a Will: It’s Not as Scary as You Might Think (42 comments)
My friend Sparky called the other day. We chatted about work, we chatted about the economy, and we chatted about investing. We also chatted about our families. We talked about my mother and her health...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Favorite Frugal Christmas Ideas? (124 comments)
I made a trip to Costco yesterday to buy index cards. (Believe it or not, index cards are the building blocks of this blog.) The store didn't have any, but it did have four long aisles stocked with Ch...Read more »
- The Saver’s Tax Credit for Retirement Savings Contributions (29 comments)
When you don't have much money, it can be difficult to save for the future. Last month I highlighted San Francisco's Earned Asset Resource Network, a non-profit organization providing financial assist...Read more »
- Setting and Achieving Family Financial Goals (38 comments)
When I finally paid off my consumer debt last fall, I set a new goal: build an emergency fund to cover several months of my expenses. Never before had I managed to accumulate more than $1000 in saving...Read more »
- Dealing with Disaster: A Brief Guide to Emergency Preparedness (34 comments)
This is a guest post from JLP of All Financial Matters. JLP, who is a financial planner, was instrumental in helping me get started with Get Rich Slowly, and his blog remains one of my favorites. A...Read more »
- A Practical Wedding (39 comments)
Speaking of weddings, Kate F. wrote the other day to share a tip: I am just starting the wedding planning process and have been really disheartened by the wedding industry and the realization that ...Read more »
- How to Save Money on Your Wedding: ASK! (62 comments)
I had breakfast at a local diner the other day. Over my blueberry pancakes, I eavesdropped on the next table over. (It wasn't difficult — these folks were loud.) Eight people from the wedding...Read more »
- Funding the Future with a Financial Savings Plan (21 comments)
When do I want to retire? How much do I want to have saved? What sorts of things do I want to accomplish before then? I've begun to think seriously about these questions lately. Jim at Blueprint fo...Read more »
- 7 Tips for Money and Marriage (34 comments)
My wife and I never fight about money. I used to claim this was because we keep separate finances, but now I know it's because we share similar financial goals and dreams. Even during those years I wa...Read more »
- Saving for Baby: Making the Move from Two Salaries to One (41 comments)
This is a guest post from Corrinne Fisher, who is transitioning from career woman to stay-at-home mom. I stared down at the two pink stripes on the pregnancy test with the same feeling one has when...Read more »
- How to Prepare for Buying a Home (48 comments)
This is a guest post from Jim, my friend and colleague at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. When I bought a home three years ago, the economic climate was different from today. Back then, a house...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: How Should We Spend Our Inheritance? (74 comments)
Most of the questions I receive are from readers in their twenties and thirties. Many of them are just starting out in life. But money issues nag everyone. Donald wrote the other day with the sort of ...Read more »
- Free Debt Snowball Spreadsheet (24 comments)
Vertex42, a site devoted to Microsoft Excel templates, spreadsheets, and calendars, has posted a free debt snowball calculator. From the description: This spreadsheet allows you to choose different...Read more »
- Do-It-Yourself Landscaping Can Save Thousands (28 comments)
This is the first post from Winston, the new GRS editorial assistant. My wife and I have saved thousands of dollars by landscaping our own yard. Four years ago, we were feeling overwhelmed by ou...Read more »
- Use Written Goals to Pursue Your Dreams (22 comments)
This is a guest post from Jim, my friend and colleague at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. A few months ago, my wife and some of her friends decided to start a book club. They recently held thei...Read more »
- Drama in Real Life: Caring for a Parent in Crisis (79 comments)
My mother is in the hospital. Her health, which had been deteriorating lately, took a turn for the worse over the weekend. On Tuesday, she was admitted to a local hospital, where she's likely to remai...Read more »
- Funding the Future: The Benefits of Being Flexible (4 comments)
This is a guest post by Christopher L. Jones, author of The Intelligent Portfolio. The following is an excerpt from his book. During the meandering path of our lifetimes, there are many types of fi...Read more »
- Die Broke: Spend ’til the End (28 comments)
Smart personal finance is all about balance. You work while you're young to provide for the day when you may not be able (or willing) to work any longer. If you don't save enough, you may find you...Read more »
- The Non-Conformists’ Guide to Making Money (17 comments)
This is a guest post from Chris Guillebeau at The Art of Non-Conformity. Last week he shared the non-conformists' guide to personal finance. Today he follows up with thoughts on making money. Chris re...Read more »
- Thoughts on Retirement and Financial Independence (66 comments)
This may seem strange coming from a fellow who's not yet forty, but I've been thinking a lot about retirement lately. Now that I've repaid my debt, now that I've begun to save money, I'm curious how m...Read more »
- Using Mini-Retirements to Get More Out of Life: An Interview with Timothy Ferriss (45 comments)
On a cool Thursday morning last July, I woke early to walk into the hills outside Wells in Somerset County, England. After three-quarters of an hour, I reached a point with a broad vista of the surrou...Read more »
- Can Saving Prepare Us for the Oncoming Recession? (82 comments)
"What will it take to make Americans save more?" wonders Michelle Singletary in her latest column at The Washington Post. Singletary points to a recent survey that reveals Americans know they're not s...Read more »
- Use a Freedom Account to Prepare for the Unexpected (54 comments)
My wife has always maintained a sizable savings account, but having extra cash is new to me. Until recently, I had always lived paycheck-to-paycheck, often treading close to a zero dollar balance in m...Read more »
- Early Retirement Requires Financial and Lifestyle Planning (31 comments)
As I continue to achieve my short-term goals, my attention is turning increasingly to long-range plans. What is it I want to do with my life? I've always toyed with the idea of early retirement, and l...Read more »
- Save Money on Food with the Sixty Minute Plan (26 comments)
Kris at Cheap Healthy Good recently wrote how 60 minutes a week can save hundreds of dollars on food. This kind of stuff never occurred to me in my early ‘20s, and The Boyfriend and I are much be...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Advice for College Grads? (157 comments)
Tomorrow I'll be giving a short presentation about personal finance to a group of seniors at Western Oregon University. I'll begin by providing a brief version of my own post-college financial failure...Read more »
- Learning to Love the Emergency Fund (50 comments)
I wasn’t raised in a culture of saving. My parents never made it a habit, and so could not pass the skill on to me or my brothers. In fact, I didn’t establish my first savings account unti...Read more »
- What’s the Reason for Saving and Investing? (35 comments)
Yesterday, in his final piece for The Wall Street Journal, Jonathan Clements shared what he learned from writing 1,008 columns about personal finance in 26 years. What is the reason for all this ...Read more »
- Suze Orman’s Ultimate Protection Portfolio (and a Do-It-Yourself Alternative) (58 comments)
For the past few months, I've been pursuing a paperless personal finance system. I've scheduled electronic transactions with my bank, and I scan important documents when I receive them. My method is s...Read more »
- Heath Ledger’s Death Highlights the Need for Proper Estate Planning (21 comments)
You don't normally find celebrity gossip at Get Rich Slowly, and for good reason: I'm completely out of touch with pop culture. (Plus there's the fact that this is a personal finance blog, I guess.) B...Read more »
- Excited and Scared: One Week as a Full-Time Blogger (60 comments)
I've had a week now to adjust to the idea that I'm a full-time blogger, that I'm completely in control of my financial success or failure. To be honest, I'm both excited and scared. I had the same...Read more »
- Budgeting: The Most Important Thing You Can Do With Your Money (35 comments)
This is a guest post from Joshua Timberman, whose passion for personal finance started after reading Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover. He became debt-free in November. He is the Financial Peace ...Read more »
- Lessons from Literature: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (60 comments)
This is the first of an irregular series. I love to read, especially the classics. From time-to-time I'll share nuggets of personal finance advice I find buried in the pages of the past. This month...Read more »
- How to Prevent Identity Theft — Deter, Detect, Defend (51 comments)
Identity theft sucks. Our mail was stolen recently. All that we know we're missing are some tax documents, but we're not taking any chances. Rather than wait for the thieves to do any damage, we've ta...Read more »
- How to Make Yourself Recession-Proof (12 comments)
The March 2008 issue of Money has an article by Stephen Gandel about how to recession-proof your life. "We may or may not be entering an official recession," he writes, "but either way 2008 has gotten...Read more »
- Calculate Your Economic Stimulus Tax Rebate (62 comments)
President Bush has signed the economic stimulus package into law. This plan provides tax breaks to businesses that invest in capital equipment, temporarily allows larger mortgages through the Federal ...Read more »
- How to Prepare for a Baby (Without Going Broke) (90 comments)
This is a guest post from Lynnae of beingfrugal.net, a blog about frugal living and getting out of debt. Preparing for a baby doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Magazines and TV ads will tell ...Read more »
- Mortgage Prepayment Made Easy: Own Your Home in Half the Time (204 comments)
Because I recently eliminated all of my non-mortgage debt, I have a significant positive cash flow. The $1,000 per month I was putting toward debt can now be used for investing. I'm making maximum con...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Quality Early Retirement Resources? (42 comments)
Most of the advice at Get Rich Slowly is targeted to people like me: middle-class Americans in their mid-thirties who have struggled with debt. But many other people have money questions, too. Christi...Read more »
- How to Quit Your Job Gracefully (54 comments)
Deb Perelman at eWeek recently shared some advice on how to quit your job with your bridges intact. Too often smart employees let their guard down during their final days, and they do things that may ...Read more »
- Making Progress: An Update on My Goals for 2008 (31 comments)
On New Year's Day, I shared my three primary goals for 2008: To save a $10,000 emergency fund. To lose 40 pounds. To write a book about personal finance. Some readers thought setting only ...Read more »
- How to Automate Your Personal Finances (52 comments)
For the past few months, I've been moving toward a system of paperless personal finance. In this guest post from Paul Lussier, he explains his own automated system. Lately J.D. has been talking a l...Read more »
- Car Trouble: A Real-Life Lesson in the Value of an Emergency Fund (155 comments)
I drove south yesterday morning to meet with Mac, my partner at Get Fit Slowly. Between Portland and Salem, a warning light came on in my Ford Focus — the temperature gauge had risen into the re...Read more »
- My Three Goals for 2008 (and How I’ll Tackle Them) (55 comments)
On Monday I suggested that instead of resolutions, you should set goals for the new year — a subtle but important distinction. I also recommended that you keep your list of goals small and manag...Read more »
- Don’t Make Resolutions — Set Goals for 2008 (42 comments)
With Christmas past, most of us have begun to focus on our plans for the coming year, making lists of resolutions to improve our lives. But Chuck Jaffe at MartketWatch suggests that this year you ditc...Read more »
- The Four Things Children Really Want for Christmas (53 comments)
Kris and I have been reading Unplug the Christmas Machine by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli. This book urges readers to escape the commercialism of the holiday season, to make it a "joyful, str...Read more »
- Paycheck and Withholding Calculators for Year-End Money Moves (14 comments)
Ah, winter. It's the time of year that a young man's thoughts turn to taxes. It used to be that I would rough out our tax situation as soon as the forms became available. Because I insisted on having ...Read more »
- Free at Last! Saying Good-Bye to 20 Years of Debt (243 comments)
Twenty years ago I was a freshman in college. I was a poor kid from a poor family, but my roommates came from wealth. In order to fit in, I went out and picked up a department store credit card. I bou...Read more »
- Setting and Achieving Financial Goals (37 comments)
For three years I've had a single goal directing my actions: I wanted to get out of debt. Now that my consumer debt is nearly gone, I've spent a lot of time wondering what to do next. I was worried th...Read more »
- Money Hack: Prepay Your Monthly Bills (71 comments)
Note: While I think this is a good idea, it's clear that many readers strongly disagree. Before deciding whether to try this, please read the arguments in opposition. Earlier this year, on a whim, ...Read more »
- Beating the High Cost of Weddings: How We Did It, and How You Can Too (94 comments)
Think you need to spend a fortune to tie the knot? It's just not so. Kris and I got hitched for a couple grand in 1993. In this guest post from JerichoHill, he explains how he kept costs down for his ...Read more »
- A Brief Overview of Estate Planning Software (21 comments)
It's that spooky haunted time of year — my annual post about estate planning! Last year I shared a brief guide to creating a will. Today I'm going to look at a recent New York Times article by C...Read more »
- Early Retirement: Couples Who Made It Happen (56 comments)
I recently mentioned two Liz Pulliam Weston articles in passing. They're good enough to merit closer attention. Both articles profile couples who found the courage to save money when they were young s...Read more »
- Reader Advice: How to Live Debt-Free (29 comments)
Recently I wrote about the transition from "becoming debt-free" to "living debt-free". One reader e-mailed me some advice that I felt did a good job summarizing what everyone had said. The following w...Read more »
- The Spending Plan: Budgeting for Non-Budgeters (187 comments)
Three commenters on this post will win free copies Quicken Deluxe 2008 for Windows. Read on for details! I've never been able to keep a budget. They're a great tool for many people, but for me a bu...Read more »
- Accelerated Mortgage Payments (and the GRS Amortization Calculator) (48 comments)
What if you've reviewed the compromises required to pay your mortgage early and the idea still appeals to you? You might pay a bank to set up a bi-weekly payment plan or a money merge account. But you...Read more »
- Shaking the New Car Itch: A Tale of Priorities (108 comments)
When I went to the street to get the mail on Saturday, the latest issue of The New Yorker was in the box. Walking up the sidewalk to the house, I idly began to remove the subscription cards. I stopped...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Am I Saving Too Much? (71 comments)
George, who has been reading Get Rich Slowly since it was a single entry on my personal blog, writes with a curious question. By adhering to sound personal finance practices, he's reached the destinat...Read more »
- An Introduction to the Crossover Point (35 comments)
Trent at The Simple Dollar recently wrote about the Crossover Point, a notion popularized by the book Your Money or Your Life. The Crossover Point is simply that point in time at which your investment...Read more »
- Personal Finance for Nine-Year-Olds: How to Save for a Backhoe (18 comments)
The youngest reader of Get Rich Slowly might just be C.J., who is nine-and-a-half ("almost a teenager"). C.J. recently started his own fiscal fitness journal in the Get Rich Slowly discussion forums. ...Read more »
- Questions and Answers about Roth IRAs (38 comments)
Over the past month, I've covered the basics of Roth IRAs. I've explained what they are, how (and where) to open one, and which investments are best. Today in the final part of this series, I'm going ...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: Personal Finance During a Health Crisis? (28 comments)
What would you do if you knew you were dying? How would a cancer diagnosis affect your personal finance decisions? The Travelin' Man from Stuff You Oughtta Know isn't dying yet, but he's had a scare. ...Read more »
- The New Graduate’s Guide to Financial Freedom (36 comments)
I graduated from college in 1991 with a degree in psychology and a minor in English lit. I was one course shy of a second minor in speech comm. With credentials like these, it's no surprise that m...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: What’s the Best Way to Save for a Down Payment? (50 comments)
When I asked recently for topics you'd like to see covered at Get Rich Slowly, many of you expressed interest in learning more about how to purchase a home. Jason sent the following question: ...Read more »
- Christmas in June: Save Money with Homemade Gifts (17 comments)
This is a guest-post from my wife. Each December, I put together gifts for friends, co-workers, neighbors and family. My list is long, and I don't want to break the bank. Homemade gifts go the ext...Read more »
- Your Thrift Habits: Budgeting Lessons from 1948 (13 comments)
Recently I stumbled on some old instructional films at A/V Geeks, including this little honey: "Your Thrift Habits". Produced in 1948 by Coronet Instructional Films, it's filled with great advice, and...Read more »
- Financial Tips for Overseas Travel (45 comments)
Kris and I will make our first trip overseas later this year; her parents are taking us to England and Ireland. We're excited, but also a little apprehensive. For one thing, the exchange rate isn't ex...Read more »
- Which Should You Choose: Joint or Separate Finances? (91 comments)
Several months ago I mentioned in passing that my wife and I keep separate finances. I promised to eventually explain why, and to discuss the pros and cons of doing so. Our story When I was a boy,...Read more »
- What is a Financial Plan and Why Have One? (14 comments)
In the past, I've shared how to use purpose-driven investing and a financial wishlist to meet your goals. Today Dylan Ross, a certified fianncial planner, lends his expertise to explain what a financi...Read more »
- Real-Life Choices: Retirement Savings vs. Debt Reduction (47 comments)
I've accumulated $3500 and I don't know what to do with it. As you may recall, I am carrying the remainder of my credit card debt in the form of a home-equity loan (or HELOC). The current balance o...Read more »
- 10 Reasons You Aren’t Rich (31 comments)
A couple of readers forwarded Jeffrey Strain's list of 10 reasons you aren't rich. It's a fine piece, though it takes a negative approach. Sometimes we need to hear the negative. Strain's ten reasons ...Read more »
- Dave Ramsey Says ‘Drive Free, Retire Rich’ (64 comments)
Dave Ramsey's site has one of the best money hacks I've seen recently. Drive Free, Retire Rich explores the impact of carrying a car payment, and offers ideas on how your money can be used more wisely...Read more »
- Ask the Readers: So Much Debt, So Little Time? (26 comments)
Joseph and his partner have made all the right moves. They carry no credit consumer debt, but they're still burdened with student loans and a mortgage. They're barely able to make ends meet, and are w...Read more »
- How To Protect Yourself From Lifestyle Inflation (37 comments)
Jonathan at My Money Blog has been writing about personal finance for two years now. Here's some excellent advice on the standard-of-living trap. One thing I worry about is lifestyle inflation. N...Read more »
- Jump-Start Your Life With a Financial Plan (33 comments)
I've recently exchanged e-mail with Wesley, a reader who has exercised self-discipline to become debt free while still in his twenties. He's even paid off his mortgage. Here's how he did it. I’...Read more »
- The Light at the End of the Tunnel (38 comments)
It's an odd feeling to be accumulating money for the first time in my life. When I was young, my family didn't have much money. Any money I earned, I spent. This was a learned behavior. I was imita...Read more »
- Five Gifts That Will Make Your Kids Rich (9 comments)
Lynn forwarded an article from CNN Money entitled "Five gifts that will make your kids rich". The five recommended gifts are: A Roth IRA — "Best way to make your kid a millionaire." Kids ar...Read more »
- Nintendo Wii: A Study in Planned Saving (12 comments)
Last May, we held our annual garage sale on the same weekend that the Nintendo Wii was revealed. As I sat in my driveway, selling old stuff, I followed online coverage of the Wii on my laptop. I wante...Read more »
- Reader Story: Two Approaches to Car-Buying (11 comments)
Earlier I posted a link to a story that indicates that new cars are more affordable than they have been since 1980. This prompted a couple of you to e-mail me your car stories. An anonymous reader wro...Read more »
- A Brief Guide to Creating a Will (19 comments)
It's Halloween — time for a scary, morbid subject. Young adults don't think about wills. The typical person graduates from college, gets a job, marries his sweetheart, has children, and never...Read more »
- How to Manage a Windfall Successfully (20 comments)
This entry is part of JLP's October project — a month-long, cross-blog review of the book The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing. Some of what follows is taken directly from the book. You have wo...Read more »
- Make a Wish List of Financial Goals (12 comments)
If one moves confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. — Henry David Thoreau W...Read more »
- How and Why to Start an Emergency Fund (87 comments)
"Pay off your debt." "Max out your IRA." "Buy a house." "Get a new job." Personal finance advisers bombard us with a litany of things we ought to do in order to achieve financial independence. It's ov...Read more »
- Use Purpose-Driven Investing to Achieve Your Goals (16 comments)
Do you save for one thing at a time? Or do you pursue several goals at once? If you're like me, you work toward several financial goals simultaneously, but you keep most of your money clumped in one a...Read more »
- Cheap Places to Live Rich (4 comments)
Forbes has a report on 150 cheap places to live. Author Richard Karlgaard points out the obvious: it's more expensive to live in some places than others. A $4,000,000 home in San Diego might only cost...Read more »
- Tips for Financial Independence (4 comments)
Yesterday I described how Financial Independence is the goal of many frugal folks. We live cheaply, work hard, and save until we reach a point where we can pursue our dreams without concern for money....Read more »
- Toward Financial Independence (6 comments)
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. — Henry David Thoreau ...Read more »
- Many Americans Forced to Retire Early (1 comment)
Many people will not have enough saved for retirement, forcing them to work longer than they'd planned. But according to an article in this morning's USA Today, many Americans are forced to retire yea...Read more »
- Are College Funds Necessary? (25 comments)
An AskMetafilter user has questions about saving for college education: I have two kids (4 and 5), and I don't think I'm going to set up college funds for them. I nor my brother had any support fro...Read more »
- Should You Prepay Your Mortgage? (29 comments)
You can save tens of thousands of dollars by prepaying your mortgage. But is it a smart move? A CNNMoney reader asks expert Walter Updegrave: The psychological freedom of not having a mortgage is v...Read more »
- Ten Tough Retirement Questions (2 comments)
CNNMoney has posted the Fortune Retirement Guide 2006, which features ten expert answers to the most-often-asked reader questions: How much will I need in retirement?"The conventional wisdom is t...Read more »
- Will You Ever Be Able to Retire? (1 comment)
I recently noted that 43% of Americans won't have enough saved for retirement. GRS-reader Sabino forwarded an MSNBC article that suggests this number may only continue to rise. The financ...Read more »
- Once-a-Month Cooking: Cooking for the Rushed (12 comments)
Get Rich Slowly-reader Kevin comments: Eating well on a budget requires some thought. But planning out a whole month of meals, and shopping for that month (you only get two paychecks a month) is th...Read more »
- The Best Way to Buy a New Car (11 comments)
You probably pay more for your car than for anything other than your home. Though personal finance mavens advise us to buy used vehicles, many people — including myself — feel more comfort...Read more »
- Investment Strategies for Potential Nuclear Attacks (1 comment)
The latest issue of Smart Money landed in my mailbox on Saturday. Inside was this doozy of a question: I'm confident in my investments, but one thing could throw them off: a nuclear attack on a maj...Read more »
- Reader Question: Cheap World Travel? (20 comments)
In a recent entry on life after graduation, one tip was to "see the world". A Get Rich Slowly reader commented: I belong to that 93% of students who wanted to study abroad but didn’t. I’d love ...Read more »
- Four Retirement Blind Spots (2 comments)
MP Dunleavey at Money Central has written an article about four common retirement blind spots. We kid ourselves that the Retirement Fairy will rescue us. But the truth is, we're on our own. Here’...Read more »
- How Compound Returns Favor the Young (40 comments)
In an earlier entry about the cost of waiting one year to begin investing for retirement, I posted a chart from AllFinancialMatters that demonstrated the power of compound returns. Vintek posted a mat...Read more »
- The Cost of Waiting One Year (2 comments)
AllFinancialMatters has posted a couple of shocking charts illustrating the cost of waiting to invest in your retirement. I keep closing the page, but then opening it again to look at them. Afte...Read more »
- Cost-of-Living Comparison Calculator (2 comments)
How much would it cost you to live in New York? In L.A.? CNN offers a cost-of-living comparison calculator. Use this calculator to compare the cost of living between U.S. cities. Select the city y...Read more »
- Budgeting for Non-Budgeters: The 60% Solution (15 comments)
Richard Jenkins at MSN Money has developed what he believes is a simpler way to save. Fed up with budgets that were a burden to implement, Jenkins came up with his own easy method to determine how muc...Read more »
- Can One of You Afford to Quit? (2 comments)
Most of my friends are having children. For some couples, the new financial realities are shocking. Kiplinger's Personal Finance offers a financial calculator to answer the question: Can one of you af...Read more »
- NetWorthIQ (0 comment)
NetWorthIQ is: ...all about your net worth and keeping track of your overall financial health. No one wants a physical, but we all need one now and then, just to keep tabs on our well being. Your f...Read more »
- Making Early Retirement Happen (2 comments)
In today's CNNMoney "Ask the Expert" column, a 33-year-old reader wants to know if he can can count on an early retirement. I'm 33 years old and have $75,000 saved in my 401(k). I make $70,000...Read more »
- When Your Paycheck Stops (1 comment)
I realize that I'm a day late and a dollar short with this particular news, but last week's issue of Newsweek (April 17th — the one with Katie Couric on the cover) has an article by Jane Bryant Quin...Read more »
- So You Want to Be a Millionaire (1 comment)
"The day my husband and I became millionaires was a lot like any other day." Liz Pulliam Weston has a great piece up at MSN's Money Central called "So You Want to Be a Millionaire". Weston describe...Read more »
