Author: Dan Brown
One of the reasons I don’t write as often these days is that my life has gradually evolved into a Personal Finance Bubble. The people around me have learned to be purposeful with their money, which means they now have plenty of savings and never have to stress about the stuff. Good ideas have naturally spread between the old group of friends, and new ones with similar values have drifted in over the years. And it has happened so much that that it’s almost normal for everyone in the neighborhood to have their own CNBC Make It feature*, which they…
As I sadly watch my stock portfolio go down the tubes due to reciprocal tariffs and retaliation from China, I find serenity in my paid-off home. No matter how much the stock market tanks, it’s comforting to know I’ll always have shelter to take care of my family. It’s funny, but only active investors, finance professionals, people in charge of their family’s investments, or personal finance enthusiasts may feel a heightened sense of stress during stock market corrections. If you practice buying the dip, as I always do, it can feel like repeated mental warfare as the stock market keeps…
Well, looks like it has happened again. Since the last time we spoke, I got sucked into building my 17th(?) kitchen, and I have finally emerged from its messy yet addictive grasp as I stand here at the new breakfast bar, typing this report to you. Why am I so hooked on this strange pastime? And more importantly, why am I so excited to tell you about it, when most MMM readers probably don’t have house building at the top of their list of life priorities? It’s probably because the concept of home is such a core part of life…
I’ve changed the way I shop over the past few years. And although the shift has been subtle, I’ve found that I’m much happier with the things I buy. In the past, my approach to shopping was simple. If I wanted a new thneed, I would go to a store (or, with the advent of the internet, a website) and choose from the available thneeds. I’d look at the store’s selection (or the website’s selection) and pick the one best suited for me. If the thneed I wanted was particularly expensive or important, I might expand my search to multiple…
If you’re nearing or in retirement, you should be familiar with the 4% rule. It says that you can withdraw 4% of your retirement savings each year, adjust it for inflation annually, and your money should last you at least 30 years. It was an idea suggested by William Bengen in 1994 and one that is often cited in literature. Bengen was a financial advisor in California and came to the 4% number analyzing historic stock market data and found hat 4% was a safe withdrawal rate. Whether you went through the Great Depression or through periods of high inflation,…
. In my role as Mr. Money Mustache, I do my best to be your one-stop-shop for Lifestyle Guru ideas. So over the years we’ve covered not just the Money side of life, but also the even more important stuff like health and fitness and the psychology of better, happier living. But there’s one single area of life where all of these factors come together with an almost Nuclear Fusion level of synergy and effectiveness. And because of that, if I could have one single wish in the world, this is what I would wish for. It’s a change so…
Stagflation is a rare and challenging economic condition where slow or stagnant growth, high unemployment, and persistent inflation occur simultaneously. Typically, inflation rises when an economy is expanding and demand is strong, while recessions tend to bring lower inflation due to weaker demand. Stagflation defies this pattern, making it particularly difficult to address with traditional economic policies. What makes stagflation worse than a recession is the combination of economic stagnation and rising prices, creating a policy dilemma. In a typical recession, central banks can lower interest rates and increase government spending to stimulate growth since inflation is usually low. However,…
Here’s the new car, on its first real camping trip shortly after taking delivery. As I type this, I’m jumping through the various hoops involved in buying a 2023 Tesla Model Y, a rather expensive, luxury “crossover” that is absolutely loaded to the gills with excess: all wheel drive, faster acceleration than a Lamborghini, enough space for seven people and enough computer gadgetry to function as a small Google data center. Update: Looking for the ongoing tracker page? It’s here at “The Model Y Experiment“ The total net cost of this thing to me after all the taxes and tax…
One analyst believes JPMorgan Chase (JPM -0.73%) stock isn’t the bargain it once was. He substantially lowered his price target on the “Big Four” U.S. bank last week, yet he remains bullish on its prospects. Here’s a detail or several about his new take on the company, and whether his positive outlook is warranted. More of a chop than a slice CFRA’s Kenneth Leon published an update on JPMorgan Chase following the bank’s unveiling of its first-quarter results Friday morning. As in preceding quarters the lender did well, posting solid year-over-year growth on both the top and bottom lines, and…
If you’ve already cut your cable, congratulations on taking advantage of big savings provided by free streaming services! If you haven’t… here’s how to cut your cable! With so much free streaming, there’s never been a better time. We found over 30 free streaming options for 2025. Having so many options to choose from can be a little daunting, so let’s divide these free streaming services into three different categories: Long-term free streaming services: We can’t guarantee these will always be free, but there don’t appear to be any current plans to charge for these streaming services. Free streaming service…