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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 52)

Finding Inspiration for Financial Success

Published Saturday, September 22, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

At first glance, it can seem quite easy to find inspiration for financial success. Just turn on the television, right? You can’t even flip through the channels without finding some show with someone in their mansion or rolling around in their luxury car or going on some super-expensive and super-exclusive trip. […]

Discover it ® Business Credit Card Review

Published Friday, September 21, 2018 - 14:28 by The Simple Dollar

The top business credit cards make it easy for business owners to earn rewards on their spending and gain consumer protections for everything they buy. Some cards offer lucrative rewards schemes that let you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, any many let you rack up bonus points in business-related categories like shipping or advertising. […]

Why I Don’t Recommend Individual Stock Picking

Published Friday, September 21, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

One frequent question that readers ask me is advice on whether or not they should invest in the stock of a particular company. “Is it a good time to buy Google?” “Should I invest in Amazon?” “Thinking of putting some of my retirement money into Citibank shares. Thoughts?” Almost universally, I respond to such folks like this: “No.” “No.” “No.” Why? […]

What You Can Control

Published Thursday, September 20, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

My two oldest children have reached the age where they consistently bring home a bag full of school work. Most evenings, they have homework in two or three different subjects. My oldest child is pretty efficient with his homework. His view is that if he just gets it done, then he can go do something fun without any worries. […]

Three Ways to Remove a Charge-Off From Your Credit Report

Published Thursday, September 20, 2018 - 07:00 by The Simple Dollar

If you fall far enough behind on your bills and eventually default, you may start seeing or hearing the term “charge-off.” The term charge-off can be a little misleading, and some people even believe that a charged-off debt is one that is no longer owed. […]

Saving for Tomorrow vs. Living for Today

Published Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

One of the hardest experiences of moving toward middle age is that I have to watch my parents enter old age. Those two people have been the absolute rocks in my life for as long as I can remember. I remember them clearly at the most active and vibrant times in their lives, when they seemed infinitely strong and their energy seemed infinitely boundless. […]

Asking Someone for a Favor? Five Tips to Write a Better Email Request

Published Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - 08:00 by The Simple Dollar

Like many liberal arts majors, I didn’t waltz right into a good career when I graduated from college. The challenges of a real-world job hunt hit like a tidal wave, and I scrambled to find a foothold. It was during this time that I learned how important it is to be able to write a good email asking someone for a favor. […]

Keeping Food Spending Low When You Live in a Food Desert

Published Tuesday, September 18, 2018 - 10:00 by The Simple Dollar

Last week, I published an article entitled How to Find – and Get the Most Value Out of – Your Local Discount Grocer that tackles head-on one of the tougher frugality challenges we all face: how does a person find the cheapest grocery store in their area and, once they do, how do they really get the most value out of it? This article generated far more feedback than I expected, with people asking f […]

Now in Stock, Sticker Shock: How a Trade War Could Impact Your Budget

Published Tuesday, September 18, 2018 - 08:00 by The Simple Dollar

As tariff tiffs ratchet up between the United States and its key trading partners, especially China, economists are warning of the potential for a full-blown trade war and global economic crisis — and everyone from American manufacturers to farmers are increasingly on edge about what the future holds. […]

Questions About Penny Stocks, College Planners, Mattresses, and More!

Published Monday, September 17, 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. Mother using my credit card 2. College planner a worthwhile investment? 3. 401(k) contribution question 4. Quietly seeking a new job 5. Who buys penny stocks? 6. Spend money too easily 7. […]