Sometimes, throwing a kid’s birthday party can be a real pain. You have to prepare a bunch of food for your guests, entertain a house full of kids, and pull it all together with a little style. It can be expensive and stressful — but it doesn’t have to be! Here are five tips for throwing an awesome kids birthday party on the cheap: 1. Choose a theme While choosing a theme isn’t a necessity, […]

For me, eBay selling has always been a hobby because I enjoy collecting vintage items like video games, movies, and music. Once a year before the Christmas shopping season kicks off in November, I will list some items for sale that I no longer want to collect. It’s a lot of fun and forces you […]

[Editor’s Note: Sorry about not getting an article last week. I’m hoping to get another out later this week while I’m on vacation to make up for it.] For years, I’ve always said that I don’t like gold. I’ve always heard that if the sh*t hits the fan, it will be the savior. Whenever I heard that, I pictured a world like Mad Max and couldn’t figure out why a colored rock would be useful. […]

Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go Phases of Retirement   The “marginal decade,” coined by Dr. Peter Attia, is the last 10 years of life. During this period, physical and cognitive function decline rapidly, and the incidence of chronic diseases increases exponentially. […]

Hey everyone! I’m totally worn out today. Yesterday was a very long day. I got up at 5:30 am to drive RB40Jr and his teammate to a debate tournament in Silverton, OR (about an hour drive). Then Mrs. RB40 and I went for a 4-hour hike in the Silver Falls State Park. Unfortunately, I forgot my trekking poles and got totally blown out on the trails. Afterward, we visited the Benedictine Brewery in Mt. Angel for a flight of dark ale tasters, ciders, and meatballs. We had a great time at the brewery, but had to walk around the Seminary for about an hour before I could drive home. Those dark ales were strong! The campus was really nice and peaceful. I rested at home for a few hours, then drove back to Silverton to pick up RB40Jr at 9 pm. The team went out to DQ to celebrate, a kid with “mild” lactose intolerance tried a Blizzard, and spent 20 minutes in the restroom. The DQ employees finally kicked us out at 10 pm. We didn’t get home until 11 pm. Ooof, it was a long day for all of us. Hence, the reason for a short blog post today. I’m tired and don’t have much to write about. Today, I’ll share the cost of raising a high school freshman. RB40Jr is a great kid. He is smart, athletic, and he is super frugal. However, it is still quite expensive to have a teenager at home these days. Let me share some of his expenses in the first quarter of his freshman year. New glasses – $350. He broke his glasses while playing soccer at school. I tried to fix the glasses with J-B Weld, but it didn’t work. We had to get a new pair of glasses right away, so we went to a local store. They made the lens in a few hours and charged us $350 for a nice pair of glasses. We got $100 back from insurance. This was the second pair he broke while playing soccer. His head is like a magnet for the soccer ball. Backup glasses – $95. I learned from this experience and got a pair of backup glasses from Warby Parker. It’s much cheaper when you don’t need it right away. Debate club fee – $270. Whoa, that isn’t cheap. But I think it’s worth it. Speech and debate is a great club to join. RB40Jr is learning so much, and he did pretty well at the meet. His team went 3-1 yesterday. Great job kids! Public speaking is a great skill to have. An adult suit – $0! RB40Jr outgrew his boys’ suit from Target. I thought we had to get him a new suit. Fortunately, my old suit fits him almost perfectly. He is a bit skinny for the suit, but he’ll fill out soon enough. I’m glad we don’t have to buy a new suit for him yet. Kids grow

It must be the end of an era. For the first time in over seven years, I read no books to either my son or my daughter. My son, being seven years old and in second grade, can read – and loves to read – to himself now. My daughter, who’s about to turn six and is in kindergarten, is starting to read on her own. But despite not reading to either kids, I did […]

Join us on Average Joe Finances as our guest Tim Townsend, a wealth management expert from Australia, shares his journey from growing up on a lighthouse to running a successful wealth management practice in Melbourne, managing assets worth $400-$500 million. The discussion covers the importance of financial literacy, understanding market volatility, and disciplined investing. Tim […] The post Podcast 320. Mastering Financial Independence with Tim Townsend appeared first on Average Joe Finances.

The holiday season is here, and with it, the joy, magic… and the overwhelming temptation to overspend. It’s no secret that emotional spending for the holidays is one of the biggest money traps this time of year. Guilt, nostalgia, loneliness, and pressure sneak into our shopping carts often without us even realizing it. Maybe you’ve found yourself buying “just one more gift” because you want your kids’ faces to light up. Or maybe you’ve said yes to a pricey dinner or gift exchange you couldn’t afford because saying no felt… well, complicated. If you’re nodding along, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. But the good news is this: you can absolutely create a joyful and generous holiday season without digging yourself into a financial hole. Here are six powerful, practical ways to rein in emotional spending for the holidays, so you can enjoy the season with peace of mind and money in the bank. (Prefer to listen instead of read? Go here to listen to this short and impactful episode of the Money is Emotional podcast.) 6 Ways to Rein in Emotional Spending for the Holidays 1. Acknowledge That Emotional Spending is Normal But Not Inevitable Emotional spending for the holidays is completely normal. The swirl of feelings (joy, stress, guilt, excitement, and comparison) can hijack your wallet if you’re not paying attention. The first step? Normalize your emotions without judgment. Pause before you click “buy” and ask, “What am I really feeling right now?” Naming the emotion puts you back in the driver’s seat. 2. Get Curious About the Emotion Behind the Purchase Every spending decision is emotionally charged. Ask yourself: Am I buying this to feel connected? Do I want to impress someone or avoid feeling left out? Am I afraid to disappoint someone? When we understand the why behind our emotional spending for the holidays, we can choose whether that purchase is really aligned with our values or just a quick fix. 3. Channel Your Emotions Productively Your feelings aren’t bad. Emotions are part of the human experience, and we can’t turn them off. They just need a healthier outlet than your Amazon cart. Feeling lonely? Call a friend. Feeling stressed? Take a walk or dance in your kitchen to Christmas music. Emotions are energy in motion. Give that energy somewhere to go that doesn’t involve your credit card. 4. Set Emotional and Financial Boundaries Sometimes, the pressure to overspend comes from others, not ourselves. Friends, family, and coworkers may expect lavish gifts, travel, or expensive gatherings. But here’s the truth: you’re responsible for your money, not their expectations. You can say, “That doesn’t work for us this year, but we’d still love to celebrate together another way.” Boundaries aren’t walls — they’re peacekeepers. Need help with this? I recorded an entire podcast episode on creating and enforcing healthy boundaries.  5. Gamify Your Holiday Budget Let’s make this fun! Turn your holiday spending into a personal challenge: How many thoughtful gifts can you