For people who retire before Medicare eligibility, health insurance is often the most unpredictable expense in the budget. Premiums vary by location, rules change frequently, and small income shifts can have outsized consequences.  That uncertainty increases in 2026. The Affordable Care Act returns to its pre-pandemic subsidy structure, and with it comes a sharp cutoff that many households are not expecting. The expanded subsidies that made marketplace coverage more forgiving are expiring. What replaces them […]

Being frugal used to be something people did all the time, not just because it was an aesthetic or content. It wasn’t about hacks or tips people found online, but just the way people lived.  Habits are things that you start doing, so they become second-nature. You don’t even think about them. These aren’t tips and tricks; these are lifestyle changes that you can start and keep going your whole life. These are the old-fashioned frugal living habits we need to bring back in 2026.  Living Only Within Your Means Credit cards weren’t as popular as they are now. People used cash, and then when they ran out of cash, they just didn’t buy anything. Living within your means is a habit that you should really make sure is a regular part of your life.  Cooking at Home Cooking at home first and treating takeout like a rare occasion is a habit you should start. Delete all the food delivery apps from your phone and make the default cooking at home. Then takeout becomes a real treat. This will not only save you a lot of money but is also much healthier.  Wearing Clothes Till They Are Worn You don’t need new clothes! Wearing clothes until they actually wear out and not just until trends change is a great sustainable habit. There are so many perfectly good clothes in your closet that you don’t wear because they aren’t in style or aren’t cool. But these clothes are in good condition, and you really don’t need new ones.  Fixing Things I’m sure you’ve seen cool DIY fix-it tricks online, but sometimes fixing things isn’t so pretty. Get in the habit of fixing things before replacing them, even if the fix isn’t pretty. Your home and life don’t need to be perfectly curated or aesthetically pleasing at all times.  Planning Meals Planning meals around what’s already in the pantry is a great habit. Shop pantry staples on sale and plan your meals around these ingredients. You don’t need quick meal options if you get in the habit of planning meals around ingredients you have.  Using Leftovers Turning leftovers into a whole new meal instead of throwing them away is a great frugal living habit. Most food tastes great reheated, and if you aren’t in the mood, you can repurpose it into so many different ways. Get creative and don’t throw it out.  Keeping Cash We love credit cards and apps these days, but keeping a small cash stash at home for emergencies and peace of mind is a great old-fashioned habit to start. The cash envelope system is a great way to get started with this habit.    Read More: 30 Ways To Get Free Stuff (That Aren’t Scams)  12 Best Coupon Apps of 2026 13 Ways To Earn Money From Paid Surveys [At Home, Online & More] 7 Old-Fashioned Frugal Habits We Need Bring Back in 2026

WiseStacker Big 2025 Portfolio Review – All My Buys, Sales & New Investments It’s been a while since my last update, so I thought I’d share a simple recap of how 2025 went for me financially and share a full portfolio review. I hope posts like this one offer some ideas or encouragement for anyone on a similar path—nothing more than that.     My Net Worth Progress   I started the year with $7.5 […]

Looking for some low-budget Valentine’s Day Ideas? It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and that means it’s time to get all romantic. Of course, this often means spending money. And while people do spend a lot of money on Valentine’s Day (according to the National Retail Federation, Shoppers plan to spend $188.81 on average on the holiday), that doesn’t mean you have to do that.  Valentine’s Day might be a time to impress and romance your partner, but celebrating Valentine’s Day on a low budget doesn’t mean it won’t be memorable.  6 Low-Budget Valentine’s Day Ideas Here are some great ideas about how you can enjoy Valentine’s Day without spending too much money.  1. Cook a Romantic Meal at Home Cook a delicious and perhaps unusual meal together at home. You can even invent a new recipe and cook it together. Add wine and candles. Voila!  Cooking something you both enjoy, or inventing a new dish at home, can be just as romantic as a 5-star meal out somewhere.  Not only will it be much cheaper (and you can splurge on more expensive meat and wine) the effort says a lot.  2. Pack a Picnic If the weather is good, pack a picnic and head to the park or countryside. Bring your partner’s favorite snacks or some romantic small bites. If you don’t live in a warm climate, you can have an indoor picnic in a place with big windows or a cozy fireplace.  If you live somewhere where the weather is good in February, dining al fresco can be wonderful. Communing with nature is often very romantic. 3. May Your Own Spa Night Make your home a romantic wonderland. Set the scene with red roses, soft music, and candles. Turn your bathroom into an aromatherapeutic dream. Use scented soaps, creams, and oil diffusers. A spa night can be off the scale romantically. Gentle massages and amorous music are perfect for a true romantic evening. 4. Go on a Scavenger Hunt Together If you or your partner loves doing things, then create a scavenger hunt together.  Leave clues that lead to locations or memories that mean a lot to you, or use it to pop a question! 5. Create a Memory Jar  If your romantic partner is a long-term partner, making a memory jar together can be very poignant and will cost next to nothing. Just take slips of paper and write some meaningful, funny, or significant moments. Then take the time to read each other’s entries.  6. Go Stargazing  You don’t have to be an astronomer to love the night sky. Make hot cocoa or delicious tea and cuddle up with a blanket outside.  Look up and watch the night sky together. On Valentine’s Night, the night sky is beyond romantic and costs nothing. Wish upon a lucky star together.     Read More: 56 Winter Dates For Couples To Try Right Now  Gratitude List: 100 Things To Be Grateful for in Your Everyday Life  100 Fun and Affordable Things To

It’s that time of year when people decide to give budgeting another try! A fresh start at improving your finances is a popular plan for the new year. And I wholly approve! Of all the goals you could make at the new year, budgeting is one of the best! So many people are suffering financial stress that could be relieved with the help of a budget. I love budgeting! Nearly thirteen years ago budgeting changed our […]

January is when motivation is high—but so is pressure. Many people think they need a perfect budget to start the year right. The truth? You don’t need perfection. You need clarity. A January budget reset helps you understand where your money is actually going, so you can move forward with confidence rather than guilt. Why a Budget Reset Matters Most budgets fail because they’re built on guesses. A reset allows you to pause, review recent […]

I’ve been aggressively buying the dip since March 2020, when I wrote How To Predict A Stock Market Bottom Like Nostradamus. My daughter was born four months earlier, and something inside me clicked, pushing me to invest aggressively for her future in an increasingly difficult world. Since then, I’ve continued to buy virtually every meaningful dip […] The post Be Careful Buying The Dip Too Often, Too Soon appeared first on Financial Samurai.

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