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The Simple Dollar

Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world.

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Latest Posts from The Simple Dollar (page 36)

Questions About the Shutdown, Piano Lessons, Teenage Earnings, Stand Mixers, and More!

Published Monday, January 7, 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. Prepping for shutdown #1 2. Are piano lessons worth it? 3. Which loan first? 4. Prepping for shutdown #2 5. Investing teenage earnings 6. Tax preparation for Linux 7. Prepping for shutdown #3 8. […]

You Owe How Much? Here Are Five Ways to Pay Off Your Holiday Debt

Published Monday, January 7, 2019 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

The holidays may be fun while they last, but the overall financial impact of the season tends to linger in ways that aren’t so cheery. A late study from MagnifyMoney found that the average consumer added $1,054 to their credit cards during last year’s holiday shopping season. […]

What Would You Pay?

Published Sunday, January 6, 2019 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

If you could turn back time, how much would you be willing to pay for the privilege? A company called Bid On Equipment surveyed 2,000 people to ask how much they would pay to go back in time and experience particular moments. Most of those snapshots of time were related to music, sports, pop culture, and history. […]

Inspiration from Alan Watts, Julie Dhar, Seneca, and More!

Published Saturday, January 5, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Once a month (or so), I share a dozen things that have inspired me to greater personal, professional, and financial success in my life. I hope they bring similar success to your life. 1. […]

Thoughts on the $5 Challenge, the 365-Day Challenge, and Other Financial ‘Challenges’

Published Friday, January 4, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

The new year tends to bring forth a lot of people pledging resolutions for the coming year and talking about their successes (and occasionally their failures) over the last year. One particular flavor of this phenomenon that I find interesting is the “challenge,” something that seems to pop up in various ways with various self-improvement strategies at the turn of the year. […]

Balancing Inexpensive Cooking at Home and Family Time

Published Thursday, January 3, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Marilyn writes in: If I go home after work and cook dinner, I have to spend half an hour in the kitchen by myself cooking and fifteen minutes after the meal cleaning up. If I pick up food after work, I can eat immediately with my family and there’s no cleanup and then I get 45 minutes more time with my family. […]

Eight Simple Things You Can Do Right Now to Put Yourself on a Better Financial Trajectory

Published Wednesday, January 2, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

The median American household income is about $60,000. Almost eight in 10 American households are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to just get by. The majority of American workers believe they will always be in debt. The majority of Americans save less than $100 each month. […]

Savings Accounts vs. CDs vs. Money Market Mutual Funds

Published Wednesday, January 2, 2019 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

If you’re saving money for a near-term goal — like buying a house, taking a trip, or building an emergency fund — the priority should be keeping the money safe. The last thing you want to do is invest it in something risky, only to find that the money isn’t there when you need. But it’s also nice to earn at least a little return. […]

Finding the Purpose of Financial Success

Published Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

For many people, the start of a new year signals an opportunity to start again. The turning of a calendar page, exposing an unblemished run of 365 days, feels like fresh opportunity. It’s not full of the mistakes of the past year; rather, it’s a new opportunity to begin again on whatever that journey may be. It’s an incredibly powerful feeling, especially at first. […]

Questions About Bicycles, Family Debts, iPads, Used Textbooks, and More!

Published Monday, December 31, 2018 - 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. Upset about stock advice 2. Bicycle recommendation 3. Family debts after holidays 4. Standing desk update 5. Using iPad for work purposes 6. Starting company on tiny budget 7. Drawing down 401(k) in retirement 8. […]