Home › The Simple Dollar

The Simple Dollar

Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world.

Profile of The Simple Dollar

Latest Posts from The Simple Dollar (page 34)

The Lucky Fool

Published Saturday, January 19, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

“It manifests itself in the shape of the lucky fool, defined as a person who benefited from a disproportionate share of luck but attributes his success to some other, generally very precise, reason.” – Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Fooled by Randomness I think we’ve all met some version of the “lucky fool” at some point in our lives. Think of a person born wealthy, with their parents giving them every ac […]

A Frugal Person’s Guide to Coffee

Published Friday, January 18, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Over the last few years, I’ve really begun to appreciate a cup of coffee in the morning, particularly on days when I need to tackle a lot of tasks that require focus and ideas. […]

Why Internal Solutions Trump External Ones

Published Thursday, January 17, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

If you’re reading this, you’re likely a problem solver of some kind, and the problem you identified was likely related to your personal finances. […]

Citi Rewards+℠ Card: Earn Up to 10% Back on Small Purchases

Published Thursday, January 17, 2019 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

While premier travel cards with a ton of benefits and cardholder perks tend to offer the most “bang for your buck” in the rewards world, most people could still benefit from a solid, no-fee cash-back credit card. Some cash-back cards let you earn up to 5% back in rotating categories, after all. […]

Lincoln’s Axe and Frugality

Published Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln I love this quote from Abraham Lincoln. It’s such a clear analogy about the value of preparation. […]

Paring Back: The Power of Minimalism to Tidy Up Your Home and Your Finances

Published Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 08:00 by The Simple Dollar

Have you decided that 2019 will be your year of decluttering, minimizing, and consuming less? If so, you’re not the only one. As Becoming Minimalist founder Joshua Becker discovered, the topic is on a lot of people’s minds. Becker’s new book, The Minimalist Home, was released on Dec. 18. Within an hour, Amazon was sold out. […]

What’s the Point of Working Toward Financial Success?

Published Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Debbie writes in: Love your blog, but you are too focused on the future. What’s the point of working toward financial success if you’re just going to eventually die? […]

Can a Personal Loan Help You Reach Your Goals This Year?

Published Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

While it’s hard to measure just how many New Year’s resolutions fail, some studies peg the figure as high as 80%. It’s easy to get pumped up about a new goal for a while, but it’s much harder to change your behavior for the long-term. […]

Questions About Tax Brackets, Compound Interest, Warehouse Clubs, Stamps, and More!

Published Monday, January 14, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question. 1. Losing faith 2. Thoughts on simple investment strategy 3. Tax bracket question 4. Compound interest question 5. Costco versus Sam’s Club 6. Question about “forever stamps” 7. Investing for near term 8. […]

How to Use Your 529 Plan When It’s Time for College

Published Monday, January 14, 2019 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

It’s easy to find advice about saving for college, but what are you supposed to do once your child actually reaches college age and it’s time to spend some of that money you’ve saved? Specifically, how should you handle the money you have in your various 529 savings accounts? Is it best to spend as much as you can all at once? Should you withdraw it more evenly over time? […]