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A retired actuary name Ken Steiner has a article today, 8/4/2026, titled Social Security’s Short-Term Crisis, published on Advisor Perspectives. I like Mr. Steiner’s thinking on breaking the funding or reduction of the future social security shortfall problem into short and long components. His discussion of one alternative is a three-year COLA freeze starting around 2033. If you are part of the grandfathered group who is receiving a current social security benefit you may want […]
My college professor once said, “You know when you’re an adult when you have a mortgage”. His comment couldn’t be farther from the truth. However, for many people, homeownership is a significant milestone in their lives. Not knowing the right questions to ask when buying a house is financially unwise. There are many factors to consider during the home buying process. After all, buying a home most likely will be the biggest purchase ever in your life. Unfortunately, I wish I had thought of more things when I purchased my first home. After signing all the closing documents for my first home, I recall the escrow agent shaking my hand, saying, “Congratulations. You’re in debt.” We all laughed together. However, after owning six houses, three of them being flipped investment properties, I wish I had done things very differently my first time around. So, learn from my mistakes, and be sure to ask these eight important questions when buying your first or next house. Questions To Ask When Buying a House 1. How Much Can I Afford? This question may seem to be the most obvious every potential homebuyer should ask. But, unfortunately, it’s not unheard of a person falling in with a house for sale without looking at their finances. So, although they may have a huge and beautiful house, they may not have the money to support their other needs. This situation is often referred to as “house poor.” Pre-Approval Letter Unless you have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spare, you will most likely be financing your home purchase. Therefore, one of the first steps a new home buyer should take is to speak with a mortgage lender and request a pre-approval letter. The pre-approval letter will let you know how much a lender is willing to lend you. However, the amount on the letter shouldn’t dictate what you can buy. Instead, it will let you know what you can’t buy. It’s one of the first steps you should take to filter out houses above what the bank is willing to lend. Mortgage Payment Following the assumption you’ll be financing your house purchase, the mortgage payment is the monthly payment you’ll be making to the bank. The mortgage payment consists of two parts: principal and interest. And, depending on how much you put towards a down payment, you may also be required to pay private mortgage insurance. As a result, you’ll spend most of your homeownership years paying interest versus paying down the principal. Most online real estate marketplaces, such as Zillow and Realtor, offer a feature to calculate the monthly mortgage payment. All that is needed for you to provide along with the asking price is your planned down payment amount, the term (i.e., 20 years, 30 years), and interest rate. As a general rule of thumb, the mortgage payment should not be more than 30% of your household income. So, for example, if your monthly net income is $1,500, then the mortgage payment should be
When people hear I grew up poor in rural China, they usually imagine everything I lacked. The tiny shack shared by three generations. The lack of safe, drinkable water. The constant worry about money. Those things were real. But there was something I had growing up that has become surprisingly difficult to find in modern life. A village. When my mom injured her back so badly she could barely walk, a neighbor carried her to […]
Estate sales and antique shops are hidden gems for finding one-of-a-kind home items at a fraction of the cost. You can often find dishes, coffee mugs, cooking utensils, or furniture at prices that are significantly lower than retail. It’s not uncommon to find boxes of kitchenware for just a couple of dollars, and there’s something satisfying about giving a well-made piece a second life instead of buying something mass-produced. Here are nine items frugal people always grab at estate sales if they see them! 1. Cast Iron Cookware Cast iron cookware is incredibly durable and can last for generations. Used cast iron pans and skillets found at estate sales are often already well-seasoned and ready for immediate use, which gives you excellent value and performance for just a few dollars. 2. Vintage Pyrex Vintage Pyrex is highly sought after for its durability and charm. Estate sales frequently turn up a variety of pieces perfect for cooking and serving, and older Pyrex is often sturdier than what’s sold new today. Do You Own Any of These Vintage Pyrex Dishes? Check Before You Donate Them 3. Solid Wood Furniture Solid wood furniture often improves with age, gaining character and patina over time. Vintage pieces found at estate sales can be much sturdier than modern particleboard alternatives, and with a little DIY effort, they can be restored to their former glory. 4. Framed Art Estate sales are treasure troves for unique and affordable framed art. You can find everything from vintage paintings to modern prints, often at a fraction of the cost of new artwork, and the frames alone are frequently worth more than the asking price. 5. Tools and Yard Equipment Estate sales are where you’ll find tools and other home improvement items and yard equipment like shovels, rakes, and lawnmowers for dirt cheap. These items are built to last, and buying them secondhand gets you reliable gear at a fraction of the cost of new. 6. Small Kitchen Appliances Crock pots, Instant Pots, and bread machines are amazing machines and make meal prep much easier, and they’re common finds at estate sales. A bread machine, for example, isn’t just for bread; it can make pizza dough too. These appliances tend to be well cared for since they’re often used only occasionally. 7. Books Books are timeless treasures that don’t lose their value over time. Estate sales often have boxes of them going for next to nothing, letting you build an impressive library on a budget. 8. Musical Equipment Musical instruments and equipment can be costly when bought new. Used instruments, amps, and accessories found at estate sales are often well-maintained and available at a fraction of the price, making it much easier to pursue a musical hobby without the upfront cost. 9. Dishware and Coffee Mugs Boxes of kitchenware, dishes, and coffee mugs are a staple of estate sale shopping, and they usually go for just a couple of dollars a box. It’s an easy way to find unique, well-made
I‘ve read many personal finance articles that claim you can save big by ditching your car and jet-packing, hover-boarding, or *shudder* walking everywhere instead. Monevator published a good one recently, which prompted car-swerving frugalista The Investor to claim he could have spun his savings into £300,000 to £450,000, just by ploughing them into a global equities tracker these past 30 years. If that’s right, then hopefully he’s gonna cut us in because The Accumulators regularly […]
When we sit down to review our personal finances, we usually focus on the obvious culprits: grocery bills, streaming subscriptions, and monthly utility expenses. However, behind the scenes, a vast network of commercial and industrial sectors works around the clock to keep consumer prices stable, protect property values, and offer clever shortcuts that help household budgets stretch further. Understanding how these heavy-hitting trades operate gives consumers a fresh perspective on home maintenance, economic health, and […]
Regular harvesting, deep watering, compost, and smart pruning can keep a July garden producing without spending money on new plants. Small changes now often lead to weeks of extra vegetables later in the season – Shuttesrtock July often brings a strange mix of excitement and disappointment in the garden. Tomato vines stretch toward the sky, cucumbers seem to multiply overnight, and then suddenly a few beds start looking tired, wilted, or downright lazy. Many gardeners […]
Companion planting combines flowers, herbs, and vegetables to naturally reduce pest pressure while attracting beneficial insects. The right plant partnerships can save money and create a healthier, more productive garden – Shutterstock Every growing season brings the same battle. Tender leaves attract hungry insects, tomatoes suddenly look like an all-you-can-eat buffet, and gardeners start eyeing expensive sprays, traps, and powders. Companion planting offers a different path by using plant partnerships instead of opening a wallet. […]
An AT&T office building or corporate logo represents the company’s retirement plans that are covered by a newly amended Department of Labor prohibited transaction exemption. The amendment extends regulatory relief for certain pension-related transactions through April 5, 2023, under ERISA. PeopleImages/Shutterstock The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) published a notice in the Federal Register on August 3, 2026, announcing an amendment to an existing prohibited transaction exemption involving AT&T Inc. and […]
In February of 2026, Morningstar bought CRSP (the Center for Research in Securities Prices), which until that point was owned by the University of Chicago. CRSP was the entity that operated a bunch of the indexes that Vanguard funds tracked. Earlier this year, Vanguard announced that “Morningstar” would be added to the names of the various funds that track indexes now run by Morningstar (previously run by CRSP). For example, Vanguard Total Stock Market Index […]
Are there wedding bells in your near future? If you’re engaged and reading this article, you likely have a lot of questions on your mind. How can I plan an unforgettable wedding? Should we go on a honeymoon right away? Where will we live once we’re married? Should we combine our finances? Thinking about all of these questions can begin to feel overwhelming. The idea of going on an extravagant honeymoon may feel like a well-deserved reward […]
My Sweet Retirement Singapore REITs to Buy in August 2026 Singapore REITs to Buy in August 2026 continue to attract investors who want steady, recurring income, and I’m no exception. Over the years, REITs have become one of my preferred ways to build passive income … Singapore REITs to Buy in August 2026 My Sweet Retirement
If you’ve got a green thumb and a garden full of plants, Etsy might be one of the best ways to turn that passion into real income. The platform has over 39 million active buyers, and plants are consistently one of its most popular categories – meaning there’s a ready-made audience of people who genuinely want what you’re growing. This guide walks you through everything: which plants sell well, how to set up your shop, […]