After Maxing Out Your 401(k), These Are the Next Steps
Maxing out a 401(k) could set you up for a very rich retirement. In 2025, maxing out a 401(k) means contributing $23,500 if you’re under 50, or $31,000 if you’re or older. And this…
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Don’t Leave Free Money on the Table: Savings Yields Have Rebounded
There was a time not so long ago when you could barely get a savings account to pay you 1% on your money. But if you’re thinking that’s still the case, you’re sorely mistaken.…
I’m mid-40s and was making $100k a year until I lost my job – what should I do with the $25k in car loans I have?
A Reddit user with a $100K income said she and her husband were well on their way to becoming “financially fit,” until a job loss left them without the income they needed to keep…
I’m 30 and want to retire because I’m burnt out but if I stick it out for another 2 years I’ll get $10 million – is it worth it?
Is it worth doing another two years of work you don’t like for a $10 million payout? Most people would say a definite yes to this. However, would your answer change if you already…
I’m Not Yet 50 And Want To Retire In A Decade, Spending $600K Per Year. Am I On Track?
Some people are thankful if they’re able to retire with $600,000 in total. But this Reddit poster is a very different story. Here, we have a 48-year-old who’s a high earner with a…
5 reasons to stop using your debit card and switch to a credit card instead
I got my first credit card around the same time I got my first debit card. I was a freshman in college and needed both cards for different reasons. But I soon learned…
I’ve Been Writing About Personal Finance for 30+ Years and These Are My 6 Alternatives to the 50/30/20 Budgeting Rule
I’m a huge fan of the 50/30/20 rule and find it especially useful for those who’ve never budgeted. The way it breaks each budget item down into a spending category helps the first-time budgeter…
I Live in a $1M Home and Have $3M Saved Up at 50 — Why Does It Feel Like I’m Behind?
A 2024 Bank of America survey found that about 25% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck with no savings whatsoever. A separate AARP survey found that 20% of Americans ages 50 and over have…
Dave Ramsey says the easiest way to know if you can afford something is with this simple formula
Deciding whether you can afford to make a purchase can sometimes feel complicated, but if you listen to Dave Ramsey, it doesn’t have to be. Ramsey has a very simple rule that will allow…
I have $35k in a Roth, $41k in debt. $27k is from an offroad UTV I regret getting. What are my options?
Bad financial decisions happen, and while they can be tough to go back on, I do think there’s a learning opportunity to be had from them as one aims to avoid similar mistakes in…
What’s the difference between FIRE, ChubbyFIRE, and FatFIRE? The Internet Weighs In
One of the most popular financial movements in the US right now is the FIRE movement. Standing for financial independence and retire early, the hope is that by saving early on in life, people…
4 Tax Breaks You Think You’re Getting but Likely Don’t Qualify For
No matter how much money you make, you’d probably like to keep as much of it as possible for yourself. And capitalizing on tax deductions is one way to make that happen. What a…
I’m in my mid-20s and have banked $200k – sadly, I am about to lose my job and fear my early retirement dreams will be dead
If you’re like many other young financial overachievers who’ve saved up a six-figure sum in your 20s, you’ve opened many doors that lead to financial freedom. Indeed, the FIRE movement (short for financial independence,…
We’re Almost at Retirement Age and Have $4M Saved Up. What’s a Reasonable Travel Budget So We Don’t Run Out?
If you’re like many soon-to-be millionaire retirees with a padded nest egg but still have some lingering doubts about things that could go wrong later on, there’s a financial planner for that. Indeed, an…
We’re Retiring in a Decade and Have $4M Invested. What’s the Best Move for Preserving It?
A recent AARP survey found that 20% of Americans ages 50 and over have no retirement savings. So if you’re about a decade away from retirement and already have $4 million to your name,…