Should I Tap My 401(k) For a Loan If a Recession Hits?
Many people who weren’t worried about a recession at the start of the year are concerned about one now. Tariff policies have people on edge. There is a fear that they will lead to…
Personal Finance
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Paying my credit card minimum keeps hurting my score, and credit limits. What Are my options to fix?
A Reddit user is very concerned about the state of his credit. The issue is that he is paying only the minimum amount due on his credit cards. He started paying the minimums when…
We’re in our early 50s with $4 million liquid and $1.1 million tied up in a vacation rental – can we truly retire soon or should we sell?
Owning a vacation rental is a dream for a lot of people. And in some cases, it could be your ticket to an early retirement. But physical real estate can be a risky…
This Is Where People Pay the Most of Their Income in State Taxes
Taxes are the single largest source of government revenue in the United States. At the federal level, taxes are levied as a percentage of annual income, and in 2022, the average American paid the…
How will inflation factor into my $4k monthly estimate from Social Security years down the road?
A Reddit poster is confused about the Social Security Administration’s estimate of his future benefits that he sees when he signs into his account at my Social Security. After you log in, the main…
Retiring before 60 and worried about big capital gains – should I restructure my mix of ETFs and mutual funds right now?
There’s a reason workers are commonly advised to save for retirement in an IRA or 401(k) plan. These accounts offer a world of tax benefits, like tax-free contributions and tax-deferred investment gains. The…
We’re Americans living in Europe and spend $70k living in a big city – do we have enough money saved to scale back from work?
A Reddit user is 44 years old and is tired of working. He and his wife are living in Europe with a good amount of savings, and he’s trying to decide whether or not…
My Credit Score Plummeted After a Mortgage Payment Mix-Up – What Can I Do?
A Reddit user made a mistake with his mortgage payments, and it is having serious long-term consequences. The poster, who had been hoping to move soon, has indicated that his credit score has been…
I hit my retirement goal, quit my job, and loved it – but I’m choosing to go back to work for $450K/year
What would you do if you quit a job, retired early with enough money to live on, and loved your time off — but you got a great opportunity to go back to work…
Here’s How Social Security’s 2025 COLA Is Holding Up to Inflation
There’s a reason Social Security recipients have gotten to enjoy larger cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) in recent years. Inflation has been rampant since it started creeping upward in 2021. And while living costs aren’t rising…
3 ETFs That Are Up, While the Rest of the Market Is Down This Year
Things have been looking down for most stocks and ETFs so far this year. With Donald Trump recently criticizing Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell over a lack of interest rate cuts, going as far…
We have zero mortgage debt and three rentals – is it worth dragging our cats across the globe for half the year?
A Reddit user is newly retired at 52, and his wife can work anywhere. The couple is in a really good financial position, including owning a substantial amount of paid-off real estate. Now, however,…
3 Money Questions That Can Make or Break Your Next 20 Years
One of the most important things anyone can do pre-retirement is to start thinking through what needs to happen every year to stop working and still be comfortable. While you might think any questions…
I’m 32 with a $2.8 million portfolio and a $5 million goal – is my high-pressure job worth the mental toll?
One of the things that happens to most people in the FIRE community (financial independence, early retirement) is that once they get a taste of the rare air they are in, they want more,…
My husband and I have been shoveling money into retirement accounts with the goal of retiring in 20 years – how should I factor inflation into our plans?
The FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) ethos contains several principles, but is fairly agnostic as to the methods of achieving goals according to those principles. Whether an individual is anticipating a sizable pension, owns…