Let’s have an honest conversation about Etsy shops that struggle to survive. After watching countless shops come and go, and speaking with sellers who’ve been through the wringer, I’ve noticed some clear patterns. Not every Etsy shops is destined for success, and knowing the common pitfalls might just save you from making the same mistakes. 1. Dropshipped Print-on-Demand Shops Without Original Designs Here’s the cold, hard truth: If you’re planning to open another POD shop […]
What is lacking in amenities, wifi, and instant entertainment? All things glorious including the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, and Yellowstone. Isn’t it fascinating that what is classified as the most beautiful places on the planet are devoid of modern amenities? Humans have spent generations crafting communities that offer every luxury our great-great memaws dreamed of—hot, clean water from the tap, instant lights, and a voice-activated assistant. Yet we flock, by the millions, to places that have none of that. I’m no different. I live in a town with all the modern amenities right down to Target. Yet, I prefer to run off to the mountains in my free time. It’s only there that nature massages a digital detox right out of me. I come back feeling calm and centered on who I am and how I want to live my life. Then I pitch myself face-first into wifi, emails, and inter-office politics. That is why camping is a magical drug of happiness. It rinses away the modern grime and leaves a happy human in its place. The post Embracing Minimalism Through Camping appeared first on Budget Life List.
There are only three types of annual contributions to individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). They are: This post discusses when a taxpayer can make one or more of these types of annual contributions. Let’s dispense with what we are not talking about. This post has nothing to do with annual contributions to employer retirement plans (401(k)s […]
What do Arnold Schwarzenegger going vegan, the U.S. advocating for lower carbon emissions, and Warren Buffett calling for higher capital gains taxes all have in common? They are all examples of what I like to call, “Do as I say, not as I did.” In each of these cases, the person/entity in question was able to achieve success by pursuing one set of behaviors, but now promotes a different set of behaviors for others. Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t become a famous bodybuilder while on a vegan diet. The U.S. didn’t become a global superpower while lowering carbon emissions (in the 1800s and 1900s). And Warren Buffett didn’t accumulate his wealth while paying a high capital gains tax rate. Do you see the problem? I’m not saying that people can’t change their mind. But I find it a bit hypocritical for someone to advocate for a certain lifestyle or set of behaviors that they didn’t follow to gain their own success. It’s like, “Hey I used this method to become who I am, but you should do something else.” It’s also quite convenient that they advocate for such changes after it no longer impacts them. Arnold no longer needs to be in top physical shape, so he can be vegan. The U.S. is already developed so it can push for lower carbon emissions. And Buffett is already wealthy so he doesn’t have to worry about capital gains taxes as much. I love Buffett, but I’ve been critical of his take to raise capital gains taxes for a long time. It’s not about the policy itself, but the fact that he is calling for it. Think about it. Buffett won the game and then advocated for slowing down the other players. When he wrote his famous NY Times op-ed “Stop Coddling the Superrich” in August 2011, he was already worth $57 billion (and the third richest person on Earth). So raising capital gains taxes would only affect his future wealth, not his existing wealth. He got to benefit from those lower rates for a good portion of his life and then insisted that they be increased. If he was advocating for higher wealth taxes, that would be a different story. But, he isn’t because that would actually impact him. Buffett aside, the real place where the “do as I say, not as I did” philosophy becomes a problem is when people start assuming that someone’s current behavior is indicative of how they became successful. For example, I saw someone tweet out that it’s amazing how Elon Musk got to be the richest man in the world despite tweeting all the time. This is a perfect example of someone’s current behavior having nothing to do with their current success. The fact is that Elon Musk was not spending any material amount of time on social media while he was building the companies he is known for today. However, now that he has these companies and all this wealth, he has the luxury to spend
The month of November 2024 is another month of dividend income landing in my accounts. Due to becoming debt free, I changed my pay myself model. Starting the beginning of August 2021, I am paying myself 30%, just like before. This will now consist of 24% to investing, and 6% to savings. The investment portion is going to my TFSA. Any money left over […]
123rf As the holiday season approaches, many of us feel the financial pressure of gift-giving. However, with a strategic approach to holiday gift budgeting, it’s possible to spread joy without stretching your wallet too thin. This article will guide you through simple, effective strategies to manage your spending while still making the holidays special for everyone on your list. Embrace the season of giving with confidence and a well-planned budget. Plan Your Spending in […]
The post Jeff Bezos Net Worth: How the Amazon Founder Built His Fortune appeared first on Dividend Power. As the person behind Amazon, Jeff Bezos is known for revolutionizing e-commerce. Which, yes, also makes him one of the wealthiest people in the world. He has amassed an impressive fortune over the years, but what exactly is Jeff Bezos’s net worth? And a more important question is, how did he achieve such financial success? Let’s delve […]
Are you looking for the perfect place to retire? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans are planning their retirement, and many are looking for a city that offers an excellent quality of life, a low cost of living, and plenty of activities to keep them busy. But with so many incredible cities to choose from, … Read more
Investing can be confusing, especially for beginners. Some basic tips can help beginning investors make informed choices that fit their needs. Each person has a different goal when investing, which greatly impacts how they invest. The following list explains some things beginners should know before investing. Understand that there are no set rules for investing, no guarantees, and no perfect way to invest. Make informed choices. Before investing, you should completely understand how your investment […]
Things certainly have escalated quickly at the Route to Retire household! We started with the plan to take a couple of vacations over the next year and suddenly we’re traveling the world for 121 days! We seem to have this problem – almost a sickness – where we get an idea and tend to go overboard with it. Instead of visiting the country of Panama for a month or two, we lived there for three […]
In recent weeks, I’ve been thinking back to December 1999 a lot. A quarter of a century after we welcomed the 2000s, I thought it would be interesting to look back at how my world, and the world in general, has changed in the 25 years since Y2K threatened to rain on our new year’s parade. The post 25 years after Y2K – How are we doing? appeared first on Boomer Eco Crusader.
We look at the all inclusive holiday, and highlight what factors to consider if one is right for you and some top resorts. The post Is an All Inclusive Holiday worth it? appeared first on The Financial Wilderness.
It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year – but why does holiday shopping always tempt us to throw our budgets out the window? Whether you’ve been tempted by last-minute upgrades or pressured to match someone else’s extravagance, I’ve got you covered. In today’s episode, we’ll tackle how to stay financially sane in these last few days before Christmas and avoid holiday overspending, too. Sound like something you need? Well then, let’s […]