Looking for legit ways to earn money as a teen? Whether you’re saving up for something special, building your college fund, or just want some extra spending money, you’ve got tons of options. And I’m not talking about just babysitting and mowing lawns (though those work too!). From making money online in your PJs to scoring real-world jobs that actually pay well, there’s something here for everyone – no matter your skills, interests, or how […]

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, Delightful Dongzhi, and A Festivus for the rest of us! Happy Holidays, Everyone!!! 2025 is cooked, done, Finito! Good riddance. It’s been a crazy year for the RB40 household. There were many changes, and not all of them were good. However, I’m an optimist, and I’d like to focus on happy thoughts. Here are some impactful events that happened this year. Mrs. RB40 retired early! Mrs. RB40 wanted to work until our son graduates from high school in 2029. Alas, the plan was foiled when the opportunity to retire early came up this year. She worked for the federal government. The current administration wanted to reduce the workforce and encouraged many workers to leave. Mrs. RB40 liked her work and she didn’t want to retire. However, the opportunity was too good to pass up. She retired with a small pension and kept the same healthcare plan. She wouldn’t have gotten them if she retire in 2029 as planned. The transition to retirement was tough at first. She likes being productive and contributing to society. But she’s getting used to it. All in all, it worked out pretty well for us. RB40Jr started high school and thrived Our son started high school and became a full-on teenager. He joined the debate club and racquetball team. He is taking Algebra, Robotics, Computer Science, and Physics. High school seems to be going very well for him. He has a ton of friends and is on the phone with them constantly. I don’t know what the heck they talk about for hours on end. Teenager stuff, I guess. He isn’t a little kid anymore. It’s a bit sad, but I’m glad too. I have a lot more personal time these days. I’m still driving him all over town, though.   The Retire by 40 blog is winding down This year, I had some difficulties writing a new blog post every week. I’ve been at this for 15 years, and I’m worn out. The blog traffic continues to decline, and we barely made enough income to keep the site running. Next year, I plan to post less often as I meander toward full retirement. AI is taking over, and they will only get better. Blogging is pretty much dead. I had a good run. Thank you for your support over the years! I appreciate all of you very much. Declining Health Growing older is no fun. Mrs. RB40 is in the process of moving her dad into an assisted living facility. He fell several times this year, and now he can’t walk. They weren’t bad falls, but I guess it’s a progression toward losing his mobility. He is in rehab now, but I’m not hopeful. Mrs. RB40 is in California to take over the house, car, and the rest of his estate. She has a ton of stuff to do.   I also got some bad news from my dad. Recently, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The stock market outlook shows an uptrend as we head into the final trading days of 2025.

Selling investments to pay taxes was always part of the FIRE plan. I just didn’t expect how uncomfortable it would feel when the moment actually arrived. The post Selling Investments to Pay Taxes Felt Harder Than I Expected appeared first on Millers on Fire.

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are often evaluated through the wrong lens. They are compared to stock returns during bull markets or dismissed as unattractive when inflation is quiet. At other times, the focus shifts to whether real yields are high enough today or whether it would be better to wait. All of that treats TIPS as a tactical investment decision. In reality, they are far more useful as retirement income-planning tools. Once retirement begins, the […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Okay, I know that what happened the week of Thanksgiving isn’t literally a miracle. As I describe in The Rhythm of Everything, a miracle is something that defies the laws of science. But our culture—including me—often uses the word loosely to describe a blessing or an […] The post From Biohazard to Home: The Thanksgiving Miracle appeared first on 43BlueDoors.

I love adding a bit of sparkle to my eyes and cheeks. Sometimes it’s a blush powder, other times it’s my DIY blush balm. It looks great… until it’s time to remove it. If you’ve ever tried washing off glitter or shimmer with regular soap, you know the struggle. No matter how much soap you use, those tiny sparkles cling to your skin and often end up smeared all over your face instead. That’s exactly how I ended up discovering that you can remove makeup with oil. You might see this approach referred to as the Oil Cleansing Method, or OCM. It sounds fancy, but it’s actually very simple. What is the oil cleansing method (OCM)? The oil cleansing method is exactly what it sounds like: cleansing your skin and removing makeup with oil, instead of traditional face wash. It works on one basic principle: Oil dissolves oil. This oil makeup remover works well with other things like sunscreen and excess sebum. When you massage a plant oil onto your skin, it breaks it down so it can be wiped away gently, without stripping your skin. After wiping it off, a very thin layer of oil remains, which helps prevent dryness, especially useful if you wear makeup often. OCM can be used: As a makeup remover As an evening cleanser Or as both in one step How I first tried oil as a makeup remover The very first time, I already had coconut oil at home, so I used that. I also didn’t have cotton rounds (single-use or reusable), so I did what I had on hand. I put a bit of coconut oil on a piece of toilet paper (I know, very savage), wiped my face… and it worked shockingly well. The shimmer came off instantly. No rubbing for ages, no irritated skin, and no leftover sparkle haunting me the next morning. How to use the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) You don’t need much oil, and you don’t need to scrub. I usually use coconut oil for this, but I used it all up, so I tried it with almond oil. It worked just as well. Here’s what I usually do: I start with dry hands and a dry face. I apply about ½-1 teaspoon of oil to a cloth. Some people put it directly on their palms, but I prefer to use a cotton cloth. I massage gently, in circular motions for 30-60 seconds. Here, if you use your hand, it will be the most gentle, but if you need more help and remove lots of make-up using a cloth (or a reusable cotton round) would work better. Take a warm, damp cloth and wipe everything off, or just wash your face with warm water & natural soap afterward. I prefer the second option. You can also use this oil makeup remover as an everyday evening cleanse, even when you’re not wearing makeup. Benefits of

If you scroll through Aaron’s Instagram stories, you’ll see rows of vintage watches lined up under diffused light — each one photographed cleanly, listed with a short caption, and usually claimed within a few days. Side Hustle: Vintage Watch Reselling (Arrows Vintage) Revenue: Up to $15,000 per month Started: As a hobby (pre-business) Featured Quote: “I didn’t plan to start a business — I just kept learning which watches people actually wanted to buy.” Arrows […]