This was the easiest cake request so far. So much easier than a Mario cake, a Rapunzel cake, an Ariel cake, a penguin cake, or an elephant. After all, a poké ball is just… a ball. That is round. And round, circle cake pans are pretty standard. I also used strawberry icing for the red parts of the poké ball. Yes, it should be more red than pink, but from my experiences with the Mario […]

I know the market is jittery and the world feels like it’s on fire. But I can’t quite seem to write anything about why you should stay the course, stick to your plan, or avoid panicking. You should do all three. Perhaps I’ve lived through too many market selloffs by now. Besides, there is plenty of market commentary for the anxious reader to feast on. Instead, I hope you’ll enjoy a little brevity with my goodbye post to my 2009 Honda Accord. I spent this morning cleaning out and cleaning up my 2009 Honda Accord. After 15 years, I will pass her on to a new owner later this week. I honestly thought this day would never come, and that I would drive her until the end. But the choice of inheriting my brother’s Toyota 4Runner was too emotional to pass on. Luckily, she’s not going far. I hope she will be as wonderful to the friend who is purchasing her as she was to me. When I moved to New Orleans in early 2011, I needed a car for the first time in many years. I had relocated from New York City, one of the few cities in America with a real public transit system. I had no income. I was living on my meager retirement savings while I attempted to start an advisory firm from scratch. I used some of my precious savings for a down payment and borrowed the rest through a six-year auto loan. The monthly payment was under $200. It was all I could afford. I paid that loan off early, by the way. The Honda was two years old when I bought her, with 42,000 miles on the odometer. I’ve since put slightly more than 100,000 additional miles. I thought I’d drive her to 200,000. We never went far. She was mostly a city car, shuttling me less than 3 miles a day between work and, eventually, my children’s daycares and schools. My husband’s SUV became the family’s road-trip car, with its third bench and room for the dogs. I joke that I can’t remember the price of gas the last time I filled her up because a tank lasts me more than a month. She’s been my car through many of life’s greatest milestones. I went from single to married with her. I rose from being a starving solopreneur to CIO of a local advisory firm to shareholder at Ritholtz with her. When my son was born, I plugged a car seat in the back. Three years later, I added a second car seat when my daughter was born. My son has since graduated from a car seat to a booster, and now he doesn’t need either. I told him the Honda might be his first car when he starts driving, an idea that made his face beam. I admit there have been times over the years when I was nervous about arriving in the Honda. She’s a car that doesn’t match the

This low-carb pizza casserole satisfies any and all cravings for deep-dish pizza: golden crust, gooey cheese, classic pizza spices, and your favorite toppings. Made from natural ingredients, this pizza is a meal you can feel good about.  What is a Pizza Casserole?  It’s a pizza! But instead of it being made with a sugar-laden, flour-rich crust, the base comes together with a mixture of milk, cheese, and eggs. The end result is a golden, crisp crust that tastes as good as the real deal but is full of protein, nutrients, and healthy fats that satisfy your cravings while leaving you feeling full and energized.  Is Pizza Casserole Healthy?  Let’s look at the main ingredients:  Cream cheese Eggs Heavy cream  Parmesan cheese Mozzarella cheese Tomato sauce Eggs and Tomato sauce are natural, nutritious ingredients. Each have their own list of health benefits. The trick to making this pizza casserole healthy is substituting typical pizza crust for a low-carb crust instead. Why?  Sugar is what makes food unhealthy. Standard pizza crust has around 5 grams of sugar per slice.  Combined with the glycemic index of the white flour, you’re looking at heartburn with an energy crash. (And you’ll be scouring the pantry for your next sugar snack within the hour.) Substitute pizza crust with a low-carb alternative, and this recipe becomes nourishment. The ingredients provide vitamins, minerals, protein, and quality, whole-food energy.  But what about all the cheese? Is dairy healthy? Here’s what we know. Dairy is full of vitamins, minerals, protein, and natural fat energy. But if everyone consumed dairy all of the time, dairy farming would become abusive and unsustainable… Let’s be mindful of our dairy intake. Buy dairy that comes from pasture raised cows and try to eat less.  Enjoy this pizza casserole knowing it supports your well being. Learn more about eating less sugar here. Pizza Casserole Tips 

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my full disclosure policy for details. Our Disney World podcast series continues with tips for families. Whether it’s your first Disney World vacation or you’re a seasoned pro, these tips will help you plan an enjoyable experience for your entire family.  Below are our favorite Walt […]

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my full disclosure policy for details. Planning a Walt Disney World vacation can feel like a lot, especially if it’s your first time. Between choosing resorts, buying tickets, making dining reservations, and figuring out which rides to prioritize, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. To help families […]

All Insights | Book & Series Review | Lifestyle Millionaire Expat: How To Build Wealth Overseas (Book Review) BOOK RATING ☆☆☆☆☆ Rated 4.4 out of 5 Some of our readers moved to cheaper countries, including in Europe, South East Asia or Latin America. But what are the implications from an investing standpoint?If you thought that regular investors get a bad deal with their pension providers, read who’s at the top of the predatory food chain – the snakes in suits selling offshore pensions. KEY TAKEAWAYS Expats face unique challenges – financial regulations of both their home country and the host country, different taxation regimes or currency risk. Offshore investment giants like Zurich or Generali International are there to benefit from this lack of knowledge. Hallam uncovers their predatory behaviour, as high fees and hidden costs rob expatriates blind. A story reveals the stark reality: paying a $19k penalty was smarter than enduring daylight robbery, echoing a widespread financial deception faced by many. Instead, Hallam argues, the same rules of wise investing apply to expats as they do to any other investor. The book summarises the right choices for many: passive over active management, low-cost ETFs, high diversification. While the book provides valuable insights into portfolio construction, caution is advised when it comes to book recommendations on sustainable investments. The use of ESG ratings as a primary basis for investment decisions may not be in the interest of the investor, nor the planet. Research also points to poor diversification and lower risk-adjusted returns. The book gives a good overview of cheap places to retire. Consider factors such as the cost of living, access to quality healthcare, and community aspects when making relocation decisions. It’s rare to see books covering these topics in an otherwise US-dominated litterature. What is in the book? The 3rd edition of this book tackles four broad topics:Do-It-Yourself Investing For Expats – Index Investing applies to expats as much as it does to any other investor.Offshore Investment Schemes – expats are easy prey to international organisations like Zurich or Generali International.  Model Portfolios for Expats – Taking a view of expats from the US, Canada, UK, Australia and Europe. These sections include Socially Responsible Investing considerations.Retire Early Destinations

Back in November, I wrote about the F.O.O.L.I.S.H. Project: F*&^%$# Obnoxious Ostentatious Luxuriously Irreverent Silly House Mindy and I are doing something I NEVER thought I’d do; scrape a home and build a new one. Time for an update. F.O.O.L.I.S.H. Project: Update! This project started back in 2024. Mindy and I had purchased a decrepit home in a really great location. […] The post F.O.O.L.I.S.H. Project Update: Big Money, Bigger Joy! appeared first on 1500 Days to Freedom.

Planning your big day is the ultimate romantic adventure, but navigating wedding expenses can feel overwhelming. If you’re searching for practical strategies on how to budget for a wedding, this comprehensive guide offers genuine, actionable…