We ought to spend time and money in a way that’s aligned with our values. In reality, our spending habits are often tied to other people’s expectations of us. **** Humans are social creatures. The people in our lives influence us, both consciously and in subtle ways we never realize. We decide that we “should”…
You know that expression: “Whatever your renovation budget … double it?” That happened a few months ago. I predicted that renovating one of my rental units would cost about $5,500 and would raise the rent by an extra $150 per month. I was waaayy off base. In reality, the remodel cost $17,021 (boo!), but I…
Myth: You can either have free time or you can make lots of money. But not both. Fact: Money buys time. When I was a kid, I didn’t care about making a lot of money. I’d rather have the time, flexibility and freedom to enjoy my life, I thought. In hindsight, I was buying into…
Today is the 20th anniversary of the day I learned I was adopted. On the afternoon I learned the news, I sat in a beige office in a government building. My dad sat to my right; my mom was perched to my left. An Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) bureaucrat sat on the opposite side…
Time for a round of Answer the Reader’s Question: Ignorance vs. Bliss. Today’s question comes from a reader in his twenties who says: “I was wondering if you have ever written an article on converting the (financial) ‘non-believers’? “I’ve been trying to get my girlfriend to … help us be financially free, but I am…
You know that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, when you decide to remodel your kitchen … … and you think it’ll cost $5,000 …. … and it ends up costing triple your estimate? Yeah.
Two weeks ago I went camping in the desert, without a phone signal or Internet connection. During the 10 days when I was “unplugged,” a handful of urgent issues formed. A nasty virus infected Afford Anything, triggering “malware” alerts every time a reader tried to visit. Google de-listed me from its search rankings until I…
Myth: Winners never quit and quitters never win. Fact: Winners quit ruthlessly. We’ve all heard the cliché, “winners never quit.” Like most clichés, that’s an oversimplified myth. The truth is much more nuanced. Winners quit constantly. They quit frequently. They quit decisively and without regret. They make a rigorous assessment of the hard facts. If…
Imagine that you bought a $100 ticket to a ski resort in Michigan. A few days later, you find a $50 deal for a ski resort in Wisconsin. The $50 Wisconsin deal promises better ski slopes, nicer snow, and an all-around more fun experience. On impulse, you buy that ticket, too. Then you learn that the two…
I’ve been in Austin, Texas for a week; I have another week to go. Several people here, upon discovering that I’m a visitor, have asked me the same question: “So what do you want to do while you’re here?” I shrug. I’m up for anything. Most days I pick a neighborhood, stroll around, poke into…