Once Upon a Time … Two newly-minted college graduates step out into the world. Their names are Abel and Kant. Both have Bachelor of Arts degrees from state universities. Both carry $25,000 in student loans. Both have average family backgrounds. They feature similar height, build and appearance. They project the same grammar, diction and…
Note from Paula: Today I’m featuring a guest post from my friend Brandon Turner, who is officially The Tallest Guy I’ve Ever Met. I suggested that he write a post about “How I Got So Friggin’ Tall.” He countered by offering the juicy details on how he created $4,600 per month ($55,200 each year)…
Rebellion has a new face. It doesn’t (necessarily) wear gothic or punk clothing. It doesn’t skateboard or spray-paint or smoke pot. The new rebel is quietly subverting the status quo. But you’d never know by looking at them. If you pass the new rebel on the street, you’d see an ordinary person. The new rebel…
You want to escape the ordinary … But you also want a practical plan. You’re as pragmatic as you are adventurous. You’re a rebel with a retirement plan. How do you start? **** After last week’s post, several Afford Anything Rebels asked me how to prepare for a massive leap into the unknown. Some…
Fear is whispering. It’s in your ear. And it’s getting louder. “You can’t quit your job,” the fear whispers. “You’ll never find another one.” “Don’t invest,” it says. “You’re not smart enough.” “You shouldn’t travel,” it insists. “The world is dangerous and lonely.” Hogwash. Baloney. Pfooey. Fear is wrong. But the vast majority of people…
This has been a big week: I had dinner with my biological sister, whom I haven’t seen in 7 years. (I was adopted.) But this isn’t a blog post about cross-country family reunions. It’s a post about a magical thing called discretionary income, the key to a portal of incredible opportunities. Discretionary money lets me…
How often have you heard people defend flagrant spending with the following words: “Ah, c’mon. It’s only $25!” Hogwash. That’s the wrong way to think. The better mental shift is to think: “That cost one hour of my life.” **** Unless you’re magical, $25 doesn’t appear out of thin air. You get that money in…
Should you pay cash for a car? That question isn’t just a hypothetical anymore. We need to buy a car. And that means we need to make a five-figure decision. It’s been almost two months since Will’s car got stolen, and it’s time to buy a replacement. His last car, as you may recall, was…
Guess what? We did it again. We bought House #4, which represents our 6th rental unit in total! “Whoa, Paula, this is getting ridiculous.” Yeah, I know. Let’s meet the new rental, shall we? NOTE: This article was last updated in 2015 (and all numbers reflect that year). The Rental House First, the stats: It’s…
I’ve endured 18 years of bad vision. I’ve worn glasses or contacts since elementary/middle school. In prehistoric days, bad eyesight might have been a death sentence. I couldn’t hunt prey, forage for berries or spot predators. In 21st century America, though, blurry vision is a minor inconvenience. It’s also an expense that adds up faster…