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For decades, personal finance has carried an unspoken reputation for being harder than it needs to be. Processes are slow. Language is dense. Decisions that affect people’s real lives are often buried under layers of procedure that feel more discouraging than protective. Over time, many consumers have come to accept this friction as unavoidable rather than something that can be questioned. That assumption is beginning to change. Personal finance expert Houston Fraley argues that much […]
We review both the Ring Doorbell and wider Ring Security setup. We share our experiences and ask our classic question – is it worth it? The post Ring Doorbell & Security Review (2026): Is the New Subscription Worth It? appeared first on The Financial Wilderness.
Investors have a disparate standard for winning than the New York Yankees. Creating wealth is all about consistency, not championships. The Yankees, on the other hand, have defined a successful season as winning it all; nothing less will do. This edict rings hollow since their last championship was in 2009. Delusion runs rampant in the Bronx. This point brings us to their beleaguered manager, Aaron Boone. Since taking ove…The post Investors Don’t Need To Win The World Series appeared first on A Teachable Moment.
Summary Welcome to our January spending post! This month, we spent a total of £4,717. The total spending for January is high! However, it includes payments for two holidays which helps explain the peak. Hopefully some lower-spend months to come! We’ve sorted our spending into the essentials—housing, food, and transport—plus a catch-all entertainment and miscellaneous category. As always, we’ll break down each area and give you the story behind any standout expenses. CategoryAmount Housing£409 Food£1,057 Transport£295 Entertainment/misc£2,956 Total£4,717
What is the cost of a speed pedelec? Based on experience of a friend, more than the cost of a car! But this was a few years back, speed pedelec’s have gotten a bit cheaper. Furthermore, the second-hand market has also improved. About 2 years ago I started my current job as a public servant, a few months later I bought a speed pedelec. Time to check how expensive it has been to travel to work. Image by Moshe Harosh from Pixabay What is a speed pedelec? For those of you that are unfamiliar with a speed pedelec, it’s a really quick e-bike. On the Dutch roads you are permitted to go up to 45km/h. You need your speed pedelec fitted with a number plate (same as scooters and mopeds), you need insurance and you need electricity to charge the battery. Other than that, it’s just a big bike. After some research I landed on a Stromer ST3 with regular chain (no Pinion belt unfortunately, was too expensive at the time). I bought used from a gentlemen that only used it for 6 months and then switched jobs and needed a car. I purchased it for €4.800, including lock, helmet, and only 500km on the odometer. The previous owner had bought it new for about €6.000. Turns out that I never made a picture of it, but it looks roughly like this, and with these specs (it was even bought from the same store): The cost of a speed pedelec: Stromer ST3 The speed pedelec experience I love it! It’s fun to ride, it’s fast and for my commute it is brilliant! Only regrets, not going for a bike with suspension under the seat and in the front fork. On asphalt roads it’s fine but when you ride on street tiles, or on spot where there are lots of tree roots making the driving surface rough, it’s not fun. Especially not at higher speeds! But commuting with this bike is near perfect. No traffic jams, never any delays, bit of exercise and a clear head when you get at your destination. To work I do just over 20km one-way, taking me usually about 33-35 min (maximum spread is between 31 and 38min depending on wind, rain and some traffic lights). We have showers at work, which I do need, as I push for the max speed usually. I cycle up to 2 times per week to work (the rest I work from home or use the car if I need to go to work locations) and take the occasional trip elsewhere. I Highly recommend one! But not for use in city’s. It works best outside major centres on longer stretches of bike paths. The operating costs Okay, let’s break down the operating costs for the past 18 months. Is it indeed more expensive than a car? The cost of a speed pedelec: an overview The cost of a speed pedelec: a pie chart of the percentages of costs Is
How to prepare for uncertainty: what to store, grow and learn to help you when the world is falling apart. The post How to Prepare on a Budget When the World is Falling Apart appeared first on The Thrifty Issue.
We list 5 fantastic cheap countries in the world worth visiting on holiday, with recommendations on what to do and how to get there! The post 5 Best Cheap Countries to Visit in 2026 (Where £40 a Day is Luxury) appeared first on The Financial Wilderness.
Last year I shared how my husband and I planned our budget for our first trip to Cuba. We followed up with our actual spending and how it compared with what we had planned. Here’s the next chapter: we’re planning to bring the whole family (including all six kids) for a return trip to Cuba soon. I’ll keep you updated along the way, we’ll start with the financial plan for our upcoming visit. I can’t […]
Photo by Alonso Reyes on Unsplash Cruising alone can be an incredible experience. You get to explore new destinations, enjoy onboard entertainment, and travel on your own schedule without worrying about anyone else’s itinerary. Unfortunately, many solo travelers quickly discover an unexpected expense known as the single supplement fee. Because most cruise cabins are priced assuming two passengers share the room, cruise lines often charge solo guests an extra fee that can raise the total […]
Basis in IRAs is a funny thing. It necessitates the Pro-Rata Rule, one of the least understood tax rules affecting financial planning. IRA basis creates all sorts of confusion, making traditional IRAs less user friendly. Further, the value of basis in a traditional IRA is whittled away by inflation. Basis is generally the undistributed prior […]
What up, what up! Happy New Year! Lol… It’s me J$ – remember that guy?? Mohawk rockin’, FIRE wielding, personal finance nerd who went rogue and and forgot all about his blog?! Sorry about that. The rumors are false though as I am still very much alive, just living more in the “real” world than the online one 🙂 I also don’t nearly think about money as much as I used to so I don’t have as much to say about it! But lately a few things have reminded me of the joy of finance so I’m going to furiously try to type it all out before life pulls me back in again… The best gift money gives you is not having to think about money. Whenever I think about money this is the part I think about the most. How when you’re IN IT you’re solely focused and grinding and just spending all your hours being scrappy and hoarding as much as you can going for “your number”, but ironically once you hit it money drops wayyyy down on the priority list. At least if you’re doing it right, in my opinion. There are certainly millionaires and billionaires and trillionaires who most definitely want MORE no matter what goals they hit, but I am not one of these people. The only thing I want more of is tacos! Mmmm… But once you activate “not needing any more ” status, life gets exponentially easier. Yes because you can afford stuff and don’t have to work as hard, but also just in mental energy alone. Whenever something breaks down, or you’re shopping for gifts for someone, or you simply just want to order WHATEVER YOU WANT off the menu without having to worry about being able to afford it (like tacos!!) you can do it! And don’t have to ask permission! This alone is one of the best reasons to save and invest early. The other – much bigger benefit, of course – is because you then get to choose 100% for yourself what you spend your time on. AKA Freedom. And this is the part I’m reminded of at least three times a week when someone asks me what I do “for a living” as I’m standing there giving away free clothes left and right! I used to say I was “retired” and just doing this on the side (I tried once saying I was FIRE’D but then they felt bad for me and asked if they could help me find a job! Lol), but now that the “side” project is no longer on the side and it’s become a 40-hour week “job” just without pay, I now say I run my Free Closet as a job. Just without pay. It doesn’t save me from still having to answer a million questions on how I can afford to do so, but it’s great for reminding me of all the hard work Past J. Money put in in order to get
For week two of Minimalism in March we’re moving on to a new declutter challenge; this week, we’re tackling the kitchen and bathrooms. The post 2026 MINIMALISM IN MARCH: WEEK TWO appeared first on a life on a dime.
Bursting the love bubble by sitting down and having a serious talk about finances is never fun, but open communication about money is a good idea in any relationship. Those thinking of tying the knot should have a serious discussion about money at some point, preferably before you move in together or get married. Even if there are no plans to combine finances completely, it’s still good to clear the air and see if everyone […]