Written By Paula Pant
“I only earn enough to make the minimum payment on my loans.”
“My boss doesn’t pay me enough, so I can’t save a dime.”
“I’d love to quit my job, but I don’t think that’s realistic.”
The Naysayer Brigade makes statements like the examples above — statements that give power to their bosses and the economy, […]
Written By Paula Pant
Welcome to the site, Marketplace Money listeners!
If you turned on NPR this past weekend, you might have heard me tell a musician to drink more beer. Weirdest personal finance advice ever.
But what do you expect from me? I don’t give boilerplate advice. I talk about mindset. And strategy. And beer.
[…]
Written By Paula Pant
During my two-year round-the-world trip, Will and I spent hundreds of nights camping in Australia. We camped nonstop for about 7 months, or 210 consecutive nights.
When we told friends that we were camping, they remarked, “Think of all the money you saved by not staying at a hotel!”
Or not.
We […]
Written By Paula Pant
Many people assume that if some health insurance is good, more health insurance is better. That’s not always true.
Sometimes, having a little LESS coverage is the smarter move.
To understand why, keep in mind that the purpose of health insurance is to safeguard you against risk. The purpose is NOT to pay your medical […]
Written By Paula Pant
Money management can get really complicated — if you let it.
People ask me all kinds of nuanced, nitty-gritty questions:
“Should I invest in Company XYZ, given that their price-to-book ratio is not up to recommended standards?” “Which of these five developed-market small-cap value funds do you recommend?” “Should I pay an early-withdrawal penalty […]
Written By Paula Pant
Here’s the truth about houses: Unless you’re a landlord, your house will probably be the lousiest investment you ever make.
The myth about home ownership is that it’s a great investment — a way to “build equity” rather than “throwing your money away on rent.”
Hogwash.
Here’s the truth: When you rent, you pay […]