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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 44)

American Express® Gold Card Review: The Perfect Card for Foodies?

Published Friday, November 9, 2018 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

In late 2018, American Express released a refreshed version of the . While the card issuer bumped the annual fee up to $250 for this new offering, they introduced an intriguing combination of perks and earning categories that could be ideal for consumers who love dining out and eating fancy foods. For example, this newer version of the card lets you earn 4x points at U.S. […]

What Is Wealth in America?

Published Thursday, November 8, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

A few readers pointed me to a Bloomberg article entitled How Much Money Do You Need to Be Wealthy in America? and wanted to know my thoughts. Before I dig in, I want to point out that the author of this article, Suzanne Woolley, did a good job of reporting on the results of the survey in question. […]

Credit FAQ: When Does a Late Payment Show Up on My Credit Report?

Published Thursday, November 8, 2018 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

If there are two truths about credit scoring, it’s that paying your bills on time is a must, and there’s no shortage of complicated industry jargon. You probably already understand the former, which is the importance of keeping your credit reports free and clear of late payments. […]

Hyperbolic Discounting and You

Published Wednesday, November 7, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Let’s imagine that I’ve decided to buy something from you. […]

People Are Draining Their 401(k)s Before Retirement, and That’s a Big Mistake

Published Wednesday, November 7, 2018 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

It’s thousands of dollars, just sitting there with your name on it. […]

10 Worthwhile Ways to Breathe New Life Into Old Computers

Published Tuesday, November 6, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

I don’t like to throw away an old computer unless it truly no longer works. A computer might not work any more for a specific purpose, but as long as it can still do something, I try to find a use for it. […]

Six Huge Lessons We Learned from a Major Home Remodeling Project

Published Tuesday, November 6, 2018 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

In early spring of this year, my husband and I did something drastic: We hired two separate contractors to add a family room addition and new patio to the back of our home. Our initial idea was to add a three-season room, but we opted to do a traditional room addition when we determined the cost wouldn’t be significantly higher. […]

Questions About Toothbrushes, 529 Transfers, Bullet Journals, Roth 403(b)s, Credit Card Destruction, and More!

Published Monday, November 5, 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. Roth 403(b) versus Roth IRA 2. 529 funds transfer and taxes 3. $40 a week for food? 4. Contents of “portable office”? 5. Retirement portfolio diversity 6. Bullet journaling 7. Debt versus retirement savings 8. […]

The Firewall Principle, and Why Diversification Isn’t Just for Investing

Published Monday, November 5, 2018 - 09:00 by The Simple Dollar

My personal portfolio is predicated on the idea of building “firewalls” between my assets. I’m referring to the original meaning of the word firewall — an actual wall constructed, often between buildings, to prevent the spread of fire. I invest in multiple uncorrelated assets so that if a “fire” breaks out (e.g., the stock market tanks), the losses won’t spread throughout my whole portfolio. […]

As Prices and Rates Rise, Homebuyers Get Squeezed From Every Direction

Published Sunday, November 4, 2018 - 08:00 by The Simple Dollar

First-time homebuyers who found it difficult to enter the housing market a year ago due to fast-rising prices are now getting squeezed from a second direction, as rising interest rates erode their purchasing power. An analysis by national brokerage Redfin found that a homebuyer with a budget of $2,500 a month and a 20% down payment saved up could afford to spend as much as $473,750 on a home at th […]