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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 49)

The Financial Noise

Published Tuesday, October 9, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Every once in a while, I’ll flip on CNBC or Fox Business Network and just see what’s on there in terms of financial news. I used to do this much more often, but these days I rarely turn them on. Why? When I do turn them on, I see and hear an awful lot of noise. It’s often hard to instantly tell what’s a commercial and what’s actual content. […]

Want to Save Money on Car Insurance? Fix Your Credit

Published Tuesday, October 9, 2018 - 09:00 by The Simple Dollar

Your credit score can affect your ability to get a loan or a mortgage, but it also determines how much you’ll pay for insurance. Depending on where they live, drivers with poor credit can pay double to even triple the auto insurance premium of a driver with good credit, according to a study by InsuranceQuotes.com. If you have fair credit, the report notes that you’ll pay an average of 28 percent m […]

Questions About 401(k) Investing, Savings Certificates, Interviews, Podcasts, and More!

Published Monday, October 8, 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. Tracking down a savings certificate 2. I don’t trust my pension 3. Conservative in my 401(k) 4. Identifying store brands 5. Consequences of closing credit cards 6. Bad at interviewing 7. Just to stay sane? 8. […]

Five Situations Where Money and Emotions Don’t Mix

Published Monday, October 8, 2018 - 08:00 by The Simple Dollar

Mixing money and emotions is rarely a good idea. […]

From Bushels to Bottles: How to Make Apple Cider

Published Sunday, October 7, 2018 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

Home brewing is a joy, but home cidering? It’s an investment. My wife and I have been making cider since we moved onto our farm in 2013, and each year we’re reminded that it isn’t worth doing unless you actually enjoy the process and really love the end product. When we moved onto the farm five years ago, we did so in the middle of February when all the plants on the farm were fairly dormant. […]

Inspiration from Seth Godin, Julia Cameron, Leticia Gasca, and More

Published Saturday, October 6, 2018 - 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. Seth Godin on the story you tell with your money “Once you have enough for beans and rice and taking care of your family and a few other things, money is a story. […]

What ‘Pay Yourself First’ Really Means

Published Friday, October 5, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Pay yourself first. It’s a snappy little phrase that’s used all the time in personal finance books and articles. I first heard it on radio ads advertising “get out of debt quick” and “get rich quick” schemes. It sounds nice and impressive, but what does it actually mean? When you “pay yourself,” does it mean using that money for the finer things in life? Does it mean paying off bills? […]

Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card Review: The Perfect Rewards Card for Millennials?

Published Friday, October 5, 2018 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

In the summer of 2018, Wells Fargo released a refreshed cash-back and travel credit card aimed at consumers who seek flexible rewards. […]

LightStream Personal Loans Review

Published Thursday, October 4, 2018 - 12:20 by The Simple Dollar

If you need to borrow money for an automobile, home remodeling project, medical bills, or debt consolidation, consider checking out out LightStream. This online lender operates as the virtual division of SunTrust Bank, one of the nation’s leading financial services companies. When you bank with and have good or excellent credit, you can potentially qualify for very low interest rates. […]

How Financial Independence / Retiring Early Actually Works

Published Thursday, October 4, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Jennifer writes in with a great question: I don’t really understand how early retirement works unless you have a giant income. If you have $1 million, that’s only $40K a year for 25 years, right? And it doesn’t count inflation which is going to make things progressively harder. I understand investing helps but that makes things even more risky. […]