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Even with years of saving and careful planning behind you, retirement can still feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. It’s natural to question whether your money will truly stretch as far as you need it to and to wonder if you’ve prepared enough. But many retirees miss the subtle financial signals that point to real … Read more
A ten-year retirement countdown should include a close look at savings, Social Security, healthcare, debt, taxes, spending and the timing of retirement. Small corrections made well before retirement can give the plan much more flexibility – Pexels Retirement can feel wonderfully vague when it sits 20 years away, but the mood changes when the calendar puts a decade between today and the last day at work. Ten years gives plenty of time to make meaningful […]
Retired? Buy THESE at Dollar Tree If you’re looking for easy ways to stretch a fixed income, Dollar Tree is one of the most underrated stops for kitchen essentials. You don’t need to sacrifice quality to save money; you just need to know what’s worth grabbing. For about $1.25 (and sometimes even less), you can stock up on all of these kitchen must-haves. Don’t forget to save your receipt and submit it to all your receipt apps! Here are my favorites: Fetch (they give you 25 points for every receipt!) Receipt Hog (they give you a point for every receipt!) Ibotta (you’ll have to see if any offers apply) Swagbucks (you’ll have to see if any offers apply) Cleaning Supplies Cleaning tools don’t have to cost a fortune, especially since quality often doesn’t change much between the cheap option and the pricey one. Sponges, brushes, and cleaning gloves are some of the smartest buys at Dollar Tree, and they’ll get the job done just as well as anything from a big-box store. If you’re replacing your sponges as often as you should, there’s really no reason to spend heavily on them in the first place. Cleaning gloves can run $15 or more elsewhere, but Dollar Tree carries a solid variety for around $1.25. As long as they protect your hands from harsh chemicals, the price tag doesn’t matter. Detergents, window cleaners, bleach, stain removers, and dish soap all start at about $1.25, and many still pull in ratings above 4.7 out of 5 stars. 2. Utensils and Tools (Measuring Cups, Spatulas, and More) Dollar Tree’s kitchen aisle has a surprisingly good selection no matter what you’re shopping for. That said, be a little picky. Some items really do call for higher quality to perform well. Cheap steel pots, non-stick pans, and knives are gambles that tend to disappoint. Those are worth spending a bit more on elsewhere. But plenty of other items work just as well whether you pay $1 or $20. Measuring cups and spoons, colanders, mugs, cooling racks, bag clips, cheese graters, ice cream scoops, forks and spoons, tongs, and whisks all fall into this category so grab these at Dollar Tree and save the difference. 3. Snacks and Candy Dollar Tree is a great spot for dried snacks and candy, and it’s not the deal-with-a-catch it might seem. There’s a common myth that dollar-store food is cheap because it’s expired or expiring soon. That’s not usually true, and you can always check the date yourself before buying. Plus, every food sold in grocery stores, including items sold at Dollar Tree, has to meet the same safety standards. You have nothing to worry about there. Some items may be a brand’s “second-tier” product line, but they’re still perfectly safe and a great value for your wallet. 4. Storage Containers and Organizers Whether you’re organizing a kitchen cabinet, closet, or desk drawer, Dollar Tree has options that will save you a lot of money. Getting
Parenting is a tough gig. After nine months of waiting, a fresh newborn baby is thrust into your arms, and you’re supposed to take it … Read more
As most readers know, I am a big proponent of working in retirement. I’m also in favor of that working being something you want to do, not that you have to do to make ends meet. (Otherwise, why did you even “retire”?) Today we have a guest post from a Millionaire Money Mentors member who has a new work-related concept to share. It can be used during the transition between a career and retirement or […]
My retirement date finally has a number attached to it. Here’s the real list of what I still need to sort out, and the honest reasoning behind the one decision people keep questioning, my mortgage. The post Counting Down: What I’m Actually Going to Do Before I Retire in 2 Years from Now appeared first on European Dividend Growth Investor.
Here’s our latest interview with a retiree as we seek to learn from those who have actually taken the retirement plunge. If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can chat about specifics. This interview was conducted in July. My questions are in bold italics and their responses follow in black. FYI, this interviewee has already written a post here about redesigning your financial life. She also writes regularly (with some great […]
Most of the decisions we make in retirement planning become easier once you understand why you are making them, but that does not mean they always feel intuitive. Investing is a good example. You spend your working years accumulating savings, often with the understanding that accepting some market risk is necessary to grow your money. Once you retire, continuing to expose those savings to market losses can feel much harder to justify. You have spent […]
All InsightsWeekend ReadingStrategyWheelersAvantis expands Small Cap Value ETF Availability, Return Stacked ETFs vs DBMF & 4 Alternative Paths to RetirementAugust 14, 2026Raph & Francesca ShareIf you live in harmony with nature you will never be poor; if you live according what others think, you will never be rich.Seneca On this page ⭐ Featured📊 Portfolio Construction🎯 Active Investing📈 ETFs🏖️ Wealth Management🚲 Design Your Lifestyle💻 Tech & Economy💡 And Finally On this page ⭐ Featured📊 Portfolio Construction🎯 Active Investing📈 ETFs🏖️ Wealth Management🚲 Design Your Lifestyle💻 Tech & Economy💡 And Finally ⭐ FeaturedBanker on Wheels Resources Equity Allocation: Is Your Overconfidence In Understanding Risk Leading You To Financial Ruin? Banker on Wheels Investing comes with various risks. One of the most critical is not achieving your goals. To reduce it, a certain amount of equity risk is needed. On the flipside, some investors take more risks that they are able, willing or need to take. The excessive risk often comes from overconfidence in an “ability” to estimate the odds of the equity market.In today’s article, Larry argues that being on the conservative side and thinking of equities as ‘uncertain’ is more prudent. More than the specific terms of the framework, focus on Larry’s key takeaway – for a lot of investors the perception of the equity market often flips from measurable ‘Risk’ to ‘Uncertainty’ we cannot measure when unprecedented events unfold.Misjudging how our brain works when faced with black swans increases your risk of ruin. Show more Single Stocks in Your portfolio: It’s Time to Finally Clean Up Your PortfolioBanker on WheelsBroker Safety: With Leverage at All-Time Highs, Which Brokers Are Most Exposed to Failure?Banker on WheelsThe Definitive Guides: Equity Index InvestingBanker on WheelsETF Fees: How They Work & How to Minimise Them!Banker on WheelsFinancial Jargon: Explained By KathrinBanker on WheelsBroker Reviews: Halifax Share DealingBanker on WheelsBroker Reviews: InvestEngineBanker on Wheels Interactive Brokers: Step-By-Step Account Opening Guide Banker on Wheels So you have read our comprehensive review of Interactive Brokers (affectionately abbreviated IBKR or even IB by its users) and you have decided to open an account. This guide will walk you through the steps of the process. In some ways, this broker account opening process can be longer than for other brokers. That’s because IBKR is more sophisticated. But, we make this process a bit simpler. In the end going through it is worth the hassle given the benefits the broker may give you in the long run. Let’s get started! Show more 📊 Portfolio ConstructionAsset Allocation Portfolio Protection: Another Look at different protections CAIA Association Risk mitigation strategies can be separated into three distinct categories: First Responders, Second Responders, and Diversifiers.First Responders are the portfolio’s fast-twitch muscles. Their job is to respond immediately when markets become disorderly. Long volatility strategies sit in this category. They are designed to provide explicit and reliable protection during sudden market declines, even if that protection comes at the cost of carrying them
Retirement doesn’t happen all at once, at least not in the way most people picture. It happens in stages, and those stages look very different from each other. But they all play into how to plan to make your money last as long as possible. For most Americans, retirement will last for 15 to 30 years – maybe longer. And during that time, you’ll move through the three distinct phases. Your timing may be different […]
In 2026 I hit a milestone that seemed like a distant, foggy dream back in my corporate days: the ten-year anniversary of my retirement. If you want to go to the beginning and get the details on that blessed event, check out I Retired! There are some fond memories for me in that post! Anyway, my plan to celebrate this momentous occasion is to write several “10 Things” posts about retirement. So far, here are […]
A few months ago, I started sharing the best article I had read the month prior. Your support for this approach has been positive, so today I’m continuing with the theme. Sharing retirement advice is what this site is about, and today’s article fits that theme perfectly. When I read today’s original article on Substack, I found myself nodding “Yes!” to every one of the 14 pieces of “best retirement advice”. I was intrigued when […]