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Senior Writer

Philip Brewer

Philip has a BA in economics from Earlham College, but worked for twenty-five years as a software engineer. Preferring to work as a writer, he chose to enable that by living frugally.

Philip Brewer's bio

Latest articles by Philip Brewer

How to Make Sure You Don't Run Out of Money in Retirement

Investing in an annuity can be a little tricky. Having an annuity, however, is pretty wonderful.

How One Mediocre Investor Prospered After the Market Crash

A mediocre portfolio held up pretty well through the financial crisis — and has even done pretty great in the aftermath. Learn how.

How to Spot Lousy Investment Advisers

"Superior" investment advice is a pretty rare thing. So rare, most of the time it's really just lousy.

The 3 Rules Every Mediocre Investor Must Know

The surprising truth is that mediocre investing advice is probably right for you. Learn about the basics.

The Surprising Truth of Investing: Mediocre Advice Is Best

While you might wish for superior investing advice, it turns out mediocre advice is really all you need.

Going Off the Grid Is a Lot Harder Than You Think

You may hear folks long for the simpler days of living "off-grid." But it wasn't necessarily that much simpler after all.

The Easiest Way to Invest in the World's Biggest Companies

You don't need thousands of dollars to buy high-priced stock — really!

Has Cash Become More Trouble Than It's Worth?

Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff thinks we should transition to a cash-free society. We're not so sure.

How to Stay on Budget While Eating Paleo

Eating like a cave man can be surprisingly expensive. Use these tips to eat paleo wisely, without blowing your budget.

Prepaid Cards About to Get Safer and Better

New consumer protection rules for prepaid cards will help protect you from theft, fraud, and unreasonable fees.

It's the 21st Century — Why Is Your Money Stuck in the 20th?

Millennials have figured out what many finance pros haven't — that too much personal finance advice is stuck in the 20th century.

15 Ways to Make Money Outside Your Day Job

You've only got so many hours in the day to sell to the Man. But if you're creative with what you've got, you can still give your finances a boost.

Get a Great Workout for Free With 11 Simple Moves

There's a cheaper, healthier, and more natural way to get in shape than hitting the gym. Forget complicated fitness — get up and move.

Working on the Road: A Book Review for Professional Nomads

Wise Bread's Nora Dunn shares advice about working while traveling in her new book, "Working on the Road." Find out if the lifestyle is for you, too.

The Simplest Way to Live Simply — And Cheaply

Simple living starts from a single action — prioritize what matters. Learn how to take that basic step and the ones that follow come easy.

9 Problems You Can't Solve With Money

Many problems we face require us to spend money to solve them. Use the three-step plan to decide if the solution is worth the cost.

How to Have an Above-Average Life for Below-Average Prices

If you target your spending on the things that matter most to you (and not to everyone else), you can often get more for less. Here's how it works.

What You Can Learn From People Who Take Vitamins (It's Not What You Think)

Stop wasting your money on multivitamins that don't work, but do start following these other healthy habits that multivitamin buyers follow.

Your Web Presence Will Soon Be More Valuable Than Your Credit Rating

Soon it won't be enough to remove those compromising tweets and selfies. To succeed and prosper, you need to build an attractive online persona.

How to Make Your Fortune: Become Your Own Hero

Your average fictional hero can teach us a lot about living in the real world, starting with understanding motivation and goals, and finding a way to reach them.

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