Budgeting for rent starts with the full cost of housing, including utilities, insurance, parking, and other recurring fees. Planning for these expenses alongside savings and everyday bills can make monthly payments far more manageable – Shutterstock Rent has a talent for making a perfectly reasonable paycheck look surprisingly small. The payment arrives every month with the confidence of a bill that knows it gets first dibs, leaving groceries, utilities, savings, and the occasional dinner out […]

Recently I joined a Facebook Group called Buy Nothing. At first, I thought maybe it was a type of bartering platform or re-sell market like Offer Up. Maybe it even had something to do with Buy Nothing Day, Buy Nothing Month, or No Spend November. But, as I read more, I realized the group wasn’t about any of these. The Buy Nothing Project (buynothingproject.org) was started in 2013 by a few ladies from Washington state […]

Buying fresh fruits and vegetables shouldn’t have to take up half your grocery budget. But if you’ve been paying attention to produce prices lately, you know how quickly things add up. A few apples, a container of strawberries, some lettuce, and a couple of peppers can cost more than you expected. And it’s frustrating when you spend that money only to have some of your produce go bad before you get around to eating it. […]

Houseplants brought indoors for winter can carry hidden pests such as spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs. Inspecting and isolating returning plants for several weeks can help prevent infestations from spreading to your indoor collection. Fuss Sergey/Shutterstock Your houseplants have spent the summer thriving on the patio, growing lush leaves and enjoying the warm sunshine. Now that nighttime temperatures are dropping, you’re ready to bring them indoors before the first frost. You carry your favorite plants […]

You can work out how much Halloween candy you need before you buy a single bag. Count the trick-or-treaters you expect and plan one or two pieces for each. Then buy bulk or store-brand bags in the last week of October, so the candy is still there on Halloween night. Source

Free plants from neighbors can carry invasive jumping worms or their tiny cocoons in the soil around their roots. Inspecting donated plants and choosing clean, bare-root divisions can help reduce the risk of spreading these destructive earthworms. VH-studio/Shutterstock Free plants are one of the best perks of having gardening neighbors. Someone divides their hostas, thins out an overcrowded flower bed, or offers you a few extra perennials, and suddenly you’ve saved $50 or more at […]

I recently had the opportunity to join Christine Benz and Amy Arnott for Morningstar’s The Long View podcast. We discussed my new book and a variety of themes relating to cybersecurity, as well as how to keep ourselves (and our family members) safe as we age. Mike Piper: Scammers Are Getting Smarter. Is Your Financial Security Keeping Up? Other Recommended Reading Final Regulations Clear the Path for Debit/Credit Card Payments to IRS from Martha Waggoner […]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers approved an estimated $14.3 billion in annual tax and fee increases during the 2025-26 legislative session, according to a report from the California Tax Foundation. The changes include a tax on digital software sales, limits on business tax credits and a renewed tax on health plans, with some costs potentially passed on to consumers. Read the rest

Christmas has a way of filling the house with stuff nobody asked for. Somewhere between the advent calendars, the themed socks and the matching napkins, a lot of money goes on things that are used once, ignored, or in the bin by Boxing Day. We’ve been cutting back for a while now in a move … Read more

One of the most impactful ideas I have heard came from Christopher Tan of Providend. He said that if you reduce a retirement plan to the irreducible minimum, you must have three things. That was back in 2017, a time when resources were scarce and tools were limited. Not anymore. We live in strange and […] The post Distilling Retirement Plans To The Irreducible Minimum: Turning Dreams Into Reality appeared first on Turtle Investor.

EVORETRO claims its archival and acid-free, budget-friendly top loaders could last a lifetime with proper usage and storage. Image source: Amazon This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase anything through these affiliated links, the author/website may earn a commission. Protecting your comic books doesn’t have to be expensive. Whether you’re a brand‑new collector or a hobbyist with many long boxes, budget-friendly top loaders, sleeves, and backing boards are essential tools for keeping your comics […]

The Canadian Financial Summit kicks off this week. Kyle at the Summit puts it this way – This Virtual Summit will cut through the fog of confusing financial jargon and build the confidence needed to seize control of your personal finances. Each speaker will pull back the curtain on their unique area of expertise. With their actionable advice and attention-grabbing speaking styles, these experienced Canadian gurus will help take your money game to the next level – […]