Tag: saving

Here's a question I've used to start more than a few personal finance conversations: would you rather have $1 million right now, or take a single penny — doubled every day for 30 days? Most people pick the million. Almost every time. They're wrong. By day 30, the penny-doubling path…

The average American carries $6,715 in credit card debt, and average credit card APRs are running in the 20-25% range in 2026. At those rates, a $6,700 balance paying only the minimum can take years to clear and cost more in interest than the original purchases. Getting out of debt…

It's not breaking news that you should be saving for retirement. Most employed people understand this fact, so hopefully, you are setting some cash aside for your golden years despite your day to day living expenses. The tricky part of retirement financial planning is figuring out how much you should…

If you're self-employed and not taking full advantage of a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k), you're likely leaving a significant amount of tax-deferred savings on the table every year. I've talked to a lot of freelancers and small business owners over the years who are diligently contributing to a regular…

NOW is always a good time to reassess your financial situation and try and determine how you can improve your personal finances. Based on my experiences and observations, here are five simple and relatively cheap strategies to improve your finances. All it requires is a little discipline and overcoming normal procrastination…

One of the biggest financial decisions many people face isn't about a specific purchase — it's about where to live. The gap between big-city and small-town costs of living can be enormous, and it's worth breaking down where that gap actually comes from — with real numbers — before assuming…

A set of three couples sit around an oval table, discussing the future of their newborns. A father asks, "Has anyone actually started saving for college yet?" One parent cries, "Ugh not me." Another parent tries to explain, "No, no you got time." But then the "smart" couple confesses and…

Buying auto insurance, whether it’s business auto insurance or private auto insurance, can prove to be one of the most exhaustive processes to go through, and can also prove to be one of the most expensive bills that you have as well. Consumers are constantly looking for ways they can…

The SIMPLE IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) is one of the most practical retirement plan options for small businesses. For 2026, the contribution limit rises to $17,000, and the catch-up provisions got a meaningful boost under SECURE 2.0. These 2026 figures are confirmed in IRS Notice IR-2025-111. 2026…

The average credit card APR is running above 21% in 2026 — over 23% on new accounts — and late fees are back up near their old highs after a court struck down the CFPB's $8 cap in 2025. Both of those facts change how much a slip-up actually costs…

It’s time to save for retirement. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, it doesn’t matter if you’re single or married and it doesn’t matter how good or bad the economy happens to be at this particular point in time. Some things are simple and others are complicated.…

Many of us dream about how it would feel to not have a monthly mortgage payment. Owning your home free and clear is the aspiration of numerous homeowners. But even without – in most cases – that hefty payment leaving your checkbook every 30 days, there are actually some reasons…

Although many people spend 20, 30 or more years saving for retirement, the sad truth is that today, many people will not be able to retire on time. Despite some degree of financial planning, many individuals simply have been unable to reach their retirement income goals and are forced to…