Some of you may recall that I listed 13 Best Canadian Dividend Stocks here on the blog. I believe these 13 dividend stocks will provide investors with solid long-term returns. On the DIY Wealth Canada … Read more

And How to Open One Today Don’t be fooled by the name Health Savings Account (HSA)… HSAs are really retirement accounts in disguise. And if you’re eligible for an HSA, you definitely want one, because they combine all the best features of other retirement plans… and then go another step further. If you use your HSA the right way, you have 100% tax-free money. Current year tax deduction Tax-free growth Tax-free withdrawals These accounts have […]

Last Saturday we had our largest meetup since we (Amber Tree Leaves and me) started back in 2016 in Breda with about 10-12 people. This time we had 10 volunteers/presentors and 90 tickets sold for the FIRE meetup in Utrecht. It was another big success as my co-organiser Mrs Hoefnix already mentioned in her post with a meetup recap. But for me, the highlight of the day was something very cheesy, the Millionaires Bingo! Something New This was the 13th organised meetup (we have done another “coffee” meetups various La Place restaurants too) since I started blogging. I get the most enjoyment out of the various interactions during a day like last Saturday. It’s so much fun listing to people’s life stories, decisions they made and why, plans they have. It’s the reason I still do these meetings, despite them costing a lot of time and effort. And since we usually break even, or have a little bit of money left at the end of the day, it’s not making us any money either. It’s a real hobby! Hobbies are fun, especially if you can try something new on a regular basis. I’ve done enough presentations myself, and get less kicks out of the FIRE basics these days. However, I do get my kicks out of the above mentioned life stories and more technical or ethical discussions. That being said, this time I wanted to shake it up a bit. Do something cheesy, I wanted to do a Millionaires Bingo! Now I know these days being a millionaire is very common (well, at least in de states), so I upped the ante a bit. Bingo?! A lot of people cringe at the thought of a bingo. But I was pleasantly surprised how many people actively (and enthusiastically) participated! Thank you all for making my day! I think it was because of the amazing prices to be won. So, what were the prizes to be won (I’d had been hunting on Marktplaats since August to make this work!). First Prize The first price, for any horizontal line on the bingo card, was a nice €500. First Prize! Normally money smells, but this brown money smells delicious, as it was a chocolate bar! Millionairs Bingo – Brown Money! The Jag Next it was time to increase the winnings a bit. So what about a sports car!? A €150.000 Jaguar 1961 E-type for example? Nice right? The winner needed a vertical line on one of the two bingo cars to win this beauty. By Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA – 1963 Jaguar XKE, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=145539254 We actually had 5 people at the same time, so we had them guess a number below 20. The winner was stunned and really happy with his new car! Millionairs Bingo – A Jag! Bitcoins The next price was a big one too. A whopping 5 bitcoins that is. Now that is a great way to increase your wealth for the winner. Albeit it

Is Gold a Good Investment? Learn the Advantages and Disadvantages of Investing in Gold With recent high inflation, investors are wondering if gold is a good investment. This article answers questions related to investing in physical gold, gold coins, gold ETFs and gold mining companies. You’ll learn whether gold is a good inflation hedge, if gold coins are a good investment, which is better physical gold or stocks, and finally the pros and cons of investing in physical gold. You’ll also find out ways to invest in gold. Contents Toggle Is Gold a Good Investment? Learn the Advantages and Disadvantages of Investing in GoldQuick Summary50-Year Gold vs. Stock Market Return Stats:What is Gold Investing?The End of the Gold StandardPros and Cons of Investing in GoldAdvantages of Gold InvestingDisadvantages of Gold InvestingHow to Invest in Gold?1. Physical Gold (Coins and Bars)2. Gold ETFs and Mutual Funds3. Gold Mining Stocks4. Gold Futures and OptionsAre Gold Coins a Good Investment? Coins vs. BarsPurity and AuthenticityStorage and SecurityLiquidityPremiumsInvestment StrategyGold Prices vs Inflation Prices – 1970 to 2025Is Gold a Good Inflation Hedge?  Gold vs Stock Market Returns – 50 YearShould I Buy Physical Gold or Stocks?Gold vs Stock Investing ComparisonDoes Gold Lose Value?Is There a Downside to Investing in Gold?Gold vs Cryptocurrency Investing – Which is Better? How Much Gold Should You Own?Final Verdict: Should You Invest in Gold?Related This article may contain affiliate links which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you sign up or buy through the affiliate link. Quick Summary Bottom Line: Gold serves as portfolio insurance and a diversification tool but significantly underperforms stocks over long periods. Best suited for conservative investors seeking stability rather than growth. 50-Year Gold vs. Stock Market Return Stats: S&P 500 annual return Nov. 1975-Nov. 2025: 11.93% (dividends reinvested) Gold annual return since Nov. 1975-Nov. 2025: 6.93% Data source: dqydj.com Best For: Investors who want to diversify beyond stocks and bonds, those concerned about currency devaluation, or anyone seeking a “store of value” asset. What is Gold Investing? Gold has been considered a valuable commodity for thousands of years and continues its allure today. Investing in gold is simply buying and selling gold. You could buy physical gold bars with an app, or purchase gold through exchange traded funds (ETFs) or stocks in gold mining companies. Unlike stocks or bonds, gold doesn’t generate income through dividends or interest. Instead, its value comes from universal agreement that gold is valuable—a characteristic that makes it a “store of value” asset. This consensus among individuals, institutions, and governments, along with its limited supply, is why gold can appreciate despite offering no yield. Opinions abound concerning whether to invest in gold, or not.  Similar to other financial assets, the price of gold goes up and down. The End of the Gold Standard Gold’s importance changed in the U.S. in 1971, when President Nixon ceased the convertibility of gold into U.S. dollars, effectively terminating the gold standard. The decoupling of the

19 ways I’ve made money from home, around my 4 kids The post 19 Ways I’ve Made Money From Home appeared first on The Thrifty Issue.

I’ve been a longtime blog reader / podcast listener of the Mad Fientist, one of the more extreme pursuers of Financial Independence I follow (the other I’ve read for years is Jacob Lund Fisker at Early Retirement Extreme, even though he stopped creating new posts many years ago – his posts are that unconventional and mind-blowing). I met the Mad Fientist in 2018 at FINCON, where he was in year two of a retirement from […]

The other day, a doc shared that she’s been using AI to help script videos for her YouTube channel. Another said it shaved hours off her reviews. Someone else even used it to map out a new business idea. These stories are becoming more common. AI is here, and it’s helping physicians move faster, think bigger, and stretch beyond clinical work. But with every “wow” moment comes a little voice in the back of your […]

When most people think about financial independence, they imagine decades of sacrifice before the freedom kicks in. But Angela Rozmyn, co-founder of the Women’s Personal Finance platform, shows there is another path. Angela and her husband reached Coast FIRE in their 30s with roughly $450,000 to $500,000 invested, setting themselves up for a projected $3 million retirement without needing to add another dollar. Today, they enjoy part-time work, more time with their son, and a […]