Credit Card Debt Credit card debt is having a moment, and not the fun, TikTok-dance kind. While headlines cheer about cooling inflation or a resilient job market, something quieter is happening. More people are carrying larger credit card balances, and they’re sticking around longer (like …
Read MoreWhy Are Gas Prices So High
I will digress from my normal topics to discuss why are gas prices so high in the U.S. when we pump our own oil? Because domestic drilling doesn’t automatically translate to cheap pumps, the gasoline market has a flair for drama. First, global oil markets …
Read MoreSpend More Money
Spend More Money What do you do if your financial planner tells you to spend more money each month? (Yes, he really did that!) Pause, and maybe hide your piggy bank for a minute. Together, hubby and I were saving about $700/month, and our planner …
Read MoreVibesession
Vibesession Recently, I learned a new term called “vibecession” and I had to learn what it meant and share it. I discovered it’s something I’ve written about before but now it has a name. A personal finance vibesession is a cozy, judgement-free hangout where money …
Read MoreStudent Loans
Student loans and college-costs are concerns for new graduates. Graduating should feel like the start of opportunity, not the moment you discover your diploma is also a very polite bill collector. For many new grads, that post-commencement glow quickly gets photobombed by student debt and …
Read MoreWhat is a HELOC?
A HELOC (home equity line of credit) is a revolving loan that uses your home’s equity as collateral. Think of it as a credit card that lives in your house and pays rent. Lenders set a credit limit based on your home’s value minus what …
Read MoreCost of Living Pressures
Cost-of-living pressures are squeezing household budgets like a toddler with a stress ball, and, like that stress ball, it’s fair to wonder whether squeezing harder actually helps. Let’s start with groceries. The price of basics keeps climbing faster than your attempts at sourdough. Swap brand-name …
Read MoreWhen A Storm Hits Your Emergency Fund
When A Storm Hits Your Emergency Fund We had to break out the emergency fund. Yesterday’s storm was impressive: wind, rain, and apparently a strong opinion about where utility pipes belong. The pipe that holds our service line was ripped off the house and was …
Read MoreSpoiled Retiree
Spoiled Retiree Today I had my annual visit with my financial planner. He sighed like someone who’d just found an extra slice of cake and called me a “spoiled retiree.” Diagnosis: I’ve been hoarding savings like a squirrel prepping for the apocalypse. Prescription: shift from …
Read MoreFinancial Routine
What is my financial routine? I have four levels: daily, weekly, monthly, and annually. I run it on four levels: daily, weekly, monthly, and annually. And yes, it’s more exciting than it sounds. Daily: I check my bank, record anything I spent, and deduct it …
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