For many people, financial planning fails not because they are irresponsible, but because the process quickly becomes exhausting. The spreadsheets become another source of stress. Budgeting apps send constant notifications. Advice online swings between unrealistic discipline and extreme optimization. Somewhere along the way, managing money begins to feel like a second job. That is one reason many people avoid looking closely at their finances at all. Some put off checking their accounts after an expensive […]

A family should review monthly bills and a household budget together, highlighting practical ways to reduce expenses, pay down debt, and build emergency savings as U.S. household debt reaches a record $18.8 trillion. (Pexels). Americans are carrying more debt than ever, and the latest figures show just how significant the challenge has become. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, total U.S. household debt has reached a record $18.8 trillion, reflecting continued borrowing […]

The Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds released their annual report this month. The big headline finding: “The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until the fourth quarter of 2032, one quarter earlier than projected last year. At that time, the fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing program income will be sufficient to pay 78 percent of total scheduled […]

Goooood morning friends! Got another book to pass around to ya if you’re in the mood for some good financial reading?! 🙂 This one comes from long-time reader, and financial planner, Bill Hines, who’s always kind enough to give us free copies of his books as they come out. This latest one is an update to his original work by the same name, only pumped up a bit more and co-authored by a financial counselor friend of his, Grady Moshay. It’s called “Plan Your Money Path: A Guide to Create Your Own Financial Plan,” and we’ve got 3 copies to give away today! Here are the core concepts of it that AI gave to me which I really liked – straight to the point 😉 ****** Mathematical Confidence: Focuses on replacing vague financial goals with definitive data, giving you actionable paths to fund your future. Practical Tooling: Guides readers in utilizing robust, inexpensive financial software instead of simplistic online “dumbed-down” tools. Real-World Application: Takes you through the exact inputs, assumptions, and steps needed to model a successful financial strategy ****** That “robust, inexpensive financial software” it mentions? Pralana Online. I’ve never heard of it before (have you?) but Bill loves it! I’d be curious to hear your thoughts if you ever check it out… Another financial tool I’ve recently been told about is ProjectionLab. Mad Fientist just did another blog post around it and says it’s the most powerful financial planning tool he’s ever seen! I don’t really use any software these days personally, but I’ll admit I am tempted! At any rate, if you’re interested in a free copy of this book, tell us what *stage* of your finances you’re currently in and you’ll be entered to win 🙂 Are you in the beginning, data-collecting portion? The middle, cranking away – head down – and just getting the job done state? Or perhaps your towards the end of your accruing journey and now just dotting all your i’s and crossing all your t’s? Or maybe this is the first time you’ve ever landed on a money blog before and you’ve got no idea what the hell is going on??! Haha… I remember that part well… It was scary for a little bit, and then all of a sudden super exciting once things started clicking!! Which it eventually does, so you’ll be great! In either case, drop your answers in the comments below, or via email if you’re reading this in our newsletter, and you’ll be entered to win. We’ll randomly pick the winners at the end of the weekend – good luck! And big thanks to Bill for always keeping us in mind and sharing the wealth. I hope the new edition flies off the shelves, buddy!! Your friend, whose currently in his sabbatical phase of the journey, (I’m close enough to the end where I don’t have to worry about money as much, but too tired/lazy/unconcerned enough to wrap it all up, lol… The “details” part

It appears to be an overlooked part of retirement planning. While we should always invest within our risk tolerance level we should also match our investment portfolios to the retirement cash flow plan. The plan gives the marching orders for each account. If you create a portfolio to plan mismatch, you could increase the risk of depleting an account too soon. On the other side if you are too conservative where an account has the […]

Recently, we’ve had eight of our grandchildren here at one point or another. Some stayed for a few days, some stayed for a week, and while it certainly made for a busy house, it also reminded me of something important about frugal grandparenting: Creating meaningful summer memories doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With the cost of nearly everything going up these days, it’s easy to feel pressure to spend money on entertainment. Grandparents want […]

On my personal quest to see history and travel as much as I can, I can’t help but be drawn to historic places. Having visited South Louisiana more than 5 times, here’s a list of plantations you can visit so you can immerse yourself in the history (the good and the bad) of the area. It is nice to imagine being a Southern Belle, but also realizing that the wealth of a few was built on the backs of many.  Most of these plantations are within the River Parishes except for Houmas House. The River Parishes are located around 40 minutes from the French Quarter and the New Orleans airport (more if there’s traffic).  Looking for more Louisiana Travel? Click on the links below: One Day in Lafayette Louisiana (A History Tour) Things to Do in New Orleans with Toddlers or Babies How to Spend a Weekend in New Orleans (Itinerary) Complete Guide to New Orleans City Park Things to do in Kenner LA: Rivertown Plantations near New Orleans or Baton Rouge LA Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana Oak Alley Plantation: The Best Plantation in Louisiana  Address: 3645 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090 Entrance Fee: $30++ per person The most visited plantation in South Louisiana, Oak Alley Plantation, is known for its Alley of Oaks, which frames the big house in such a photographic way. If you imagine what plantation houses may be, it’s easy to think of Oak Alley. If you’re a millennial like me, you would remember this house was used as a filming spot for the movie “Interview with the Vampire” starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, not the TV series.  Ever since I saw that movie, I knew I had to visit the plantation, and I finally had my chance. Even better, I got to stay in one of the historic cabins and got the iconic shot of Oak Alley without the crowds of people. And yes, anyone who can pay can stay in the historic or newly renovated cottages located on Oak Alley’s premises. It acts like a hotel where you can just pick the cottage you want, pay, and book. Since the restaurant is closed in the evening, you’ll get room service left on your cabin’s refrigerator (which you’ll get to pick before you check in).   Undoubtedly, this plantation is the most expensive out of the ones I’ve mentioned below, but if you only have the money to visit one plantation outside of the New Orleans area, make it Oak Alley.   Felicity Plantation: A Woman-Owned Plantation Address: 3535 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090  Entrance Fee: $24 per person Focuses

Money management can get complicated. You likely spend money every single day (and probably multiple transactions daily at that). Plus, there are bills to monitor and pay, investments to track, and many other ongoing tasks to keep up with. Streamlining your financial tasks improves your overall quality of life, and the Quicken Simplifi app is aptly named to do just that: simplify your finances. In this Simplifi review, we’ll examine some of its unique features […]