White vinegar is a versatile staple that can do more than just add flavour to your meals. You might be surprised to learn that it can help with cleaning, deodorizing, and even personal care. It’s an affordable option that doesn’t compromise on effectiveness, providing a budget-friendly alternative for various tasks around your home. Incorporating white … Read more

New contributor Frugalist explains how stoozing enables him to supercharge his savings. And if those words make no sense to you then luckily we’ve got 2,000 more where they came from… Never get into debt and never gamble. Those were the only two pieces of financial advice my mother ever gave me. Unfortunately by my late teens I’d figured out how to profit from both. It caused no end of horror when the logo-covered post […]

Groceries in 2025? Whew. Let’s just say…it ain’t pretty. Prices are still climbing, shrinkflation is in full effect, and Americans are still wasting almost 40% of the food we buy. Add tariffs and supply chain pressures on top, and it feels like we’re paying more, getting less, and throwing too much of it away. The good news is you don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle. In this episode, we’re breaking down 4 real-world […]

I recently learned of two brand new ETFs (launched just last week) that purport to provide only price appreciation rather than interest income, despite being bond funds. The benefit of such would be that all of the return that shareholders receive would be capital gains — and thus potentially taxed at the favorable long-term capital gain tax rates, rather than being taxed as ordinary income. F/m Compoundr U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (CPAG) F/m Compoundr High […]

Fall is one of the coziest, most colorful seasons of the year and it also happens to be my most favorite time of year! It’s also the perfect time to slow down and enjoy quality moments with your loved ones. And you know what the best part is? You don’t need to spend a lot to make it special. With a little creativity, these frugal fall activities for families will help you celebrate the season’s magic without […]

Before the article, check out the latest on my podcast, Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors: On Apple Podcasts On Spotify On YouTube Now, here’s today’s article: Niki wrote in and asked: For the last several years, I’ve been able to save $80,000 pretax dollars (401k) per year as a business owner. But now I’m worried my pre-tax bucket is getting too large. I might have opportunities for Roth conversions later, but I’m wondering if it would be worthwhile to pay some tax now and save some of that money in a brokerage account. Because brokerage accounts are taxed at capital gains rates, doesn’t it make more sense? There’s some complicated math here that I may not be seeing, so any insight into this would be helpful!  This is an interesting and common question. 401(k) accounts are ubiquitous. Between their large annual maximums, employer-matches, and the past ~15 years of bull market stock growth, it’s common to see large 401k balances. But is there such a thing as “too big” a pre-tax bucket? Definitely. Let’s dig into the details. Fixing the Premise First, I want to clarify part of Niki’s question. She wrote: “Because brokerage accounts are taxed at capital gains rates, doesn’t it make more sense?” The money going into a brokerage account is first taxed as income. Then, any growth in the account will then be taxed at capital gains rates. And any dividends and interest along the way are also taxed on an annual basis (some as income, some at capital gains rates). There are three possible layers of tax. All else equal, you will pay more tax on the dollars in a taxable brokerage account than on the dollars in qualified accounts (401k, IRA, etc). The article below shares some similar comparisons. It’s difficult to conceive a scenario where a taxable brokerage has better tax outcomes than a qualified account: Should I Use My 401(k) Without a Match? But It Still Might Be Worth It Sure, it’s unlikely the taxable brokerage will ever provide better tax advantages. That’s ok.  Taxable brokerage accounts offer the critical, hard-to-quantify benefits of flexibility and liquidity.  I think it’s fine to sacrifice some tax advantage as a trade-off for more flexibility. One reasonable example:  Niki is currently contributing $80K per year into her Solo 401k. Perhaps she could dial that down, choosing to “only” contribute $50K per year into the Solo 401k. The other $30K goes to Niki as income. Of that, ~$8K will be paid as income tax. Niki could take the remaining $22K and invest it in a taxable brokerage.  She’s still saving a lot of money, though not quite as much as before. But now, approximately 1/3 of her savings are flexible and liquid. One problem, though? I’ve been totally subjective so far. Why’d we split $80K into 50K + 30K (minus taxes)? Can we be a bit more rigorous and objective here?

Bit late with this one as concurrently working on another post which should be ready soon-ish. Anyway, July was a great month which had me enjoying the sport on TV (Women’s Euros – Get in, England! – and Wimbledon) and … Continue reading → The post July 2025 Savings, plus other updates appeared first on Quietly Saving.

At a Glance:  100% Bonus Depreciation Is Permanent Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) Made Permanent Expanded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) Disclaimer The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or investment advice.  Always consult a licensed real estate consultant and/or financial advisor about your investment decisions.  Real estate investing involves risks; past performance does not indicate future results. We make no representations or warranties about the accuracy or reliability of the information provided.  Our articles may have affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link, the affiliate may compensate our website at no cost to you. You can view our Privacy Policy here for more information.    How the 2025 Tax Law Creates Massive Advantages for Real Estate Investors Whether you love it or hate it, the new 2025 tax bill is here and real estate investors just hit the jackpot.The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” is a sweeping 940-page piece of legislation that’s made major waves in the world of taxation. While many provisions are complex or narrow in scope, real estate investors are emerging as one of the biggest beneficiaries.If you’re currently in the market—or even considering dipping your toes into real estate here’s what you need to know about the four major tax changes that can seriously improve your return on investment in 2025 and beyond.   1. 100% Bonus Depreciation is Back (and Permanent) Let’s start with the showstopper: 100% bonus depreciation is not only back it’s permanent. This means that if you invest in real estate, you can now write off the full depreciation of qualifying assets in the same year you purchase them. Prior to this change, bonus depreciation was being phased out under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reducing to 40% in 2025 and down to 20% in 2026 before vanishing completely. Thanks to the new law, real estate investors can now: Write off 100% of building improvements and qualifying components (e.g., HVAC, roofing, security systems) in year one. Accelerate tax savings and reduce upfront taxable income. Enjoy major deductions even in passive investment deals, like real estate syndications. This is especially useful in models like the “Lazy 1031 Exchange,” where investors reinvest capital gains into new passive real estate opportunities, using upfront depreciation losses to offset taxable gains from previous deals without the red tape of a traditional 1031 exchange. (article continues below) Real estate investments? Awesome. Being a landlord? Less fun. Learn how to earn 15%+ on passive real estate investments in our free video course. Access Free Course 2. Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) Made Permanent Originally introduced in 2017 to spark investment in low-income communities, Qualified Opportunity