Okay so I sat down and calculated my net worth last weekend. I'm up 2.48% from May. July's wealth total was $386,959.70, up $9,377.09 from May's $377,582.61. The major long term drivers of the growth have been: A. Appreciation of my condo unit. The value of the condo increased by about $1,000. B. Growth of my stock - I was able to make a substantial deposit of … [Read more...] about July Net Worth Update – Up $9,377 to $386,959.70
Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
. About 15 months ago, we decided to refinance our home. The interest rate was lower than when we had bought our house six years earlier, and our house had appreciated enough that we could drop PMI (private mortgage insurance) when we refinanced. The mortgage broker working with us asked if we wanted a cash-out refinance to pay off debt. Our answer was a hard and fast “no.” … [Read more...] about Why You Shouldn’t Refinance to Pay Off Consumer Debt
Even The Smart Money is Fallible
The more time you spend on the planet, the more you realize that even smart money is fallible. Here is a graphic that is making the rounds on the web. Its a stock recommendation issued by Goldman Sachs on the now defunct Enron Corp. In case you're not familiar with Enron, here is the story. The Enron Corporation was an American energy, energy commodities, and related … [Read more...] about Even The Smart Money is Fallible
How to Help a Spouse with a Shopping Addiction
Are your credit cards maxed out? Does your spouse continue to shop even though you’re deep in debt? Are there clothes with the tags still on them in your closet? Does your spouse have collections that clutter your house? If all of this sounds familiar, you may be living with a spouse with a shopping addiction. You can help a spouse with a shopping addiction, but doing so won’t … [Read more...] about How to Help a Spouse with a Shopping Addiction
The False Economy Of Lawn Furniture
It's definitely summer here in Portland, Oregon. Last weekend was the hottest on record. The temperature hit 116. It was so hot in fact, that the multivitamins in my apartment melted. As a result of the heat, a ton of people are buying summer stuff - clothes, furniture, etc. Last week I was at a Fred Meyer (which is a local Kroger chain) and outdoor furniture and camping … [Read more...] about The False Economy Of Lawn Furniture
How to Make It Worthwhile to Shop for Two at Costco
Costco is known for gigantic packs of toilet paper and bulk size food items. If you’re a DINK, you may think Costco has no place in your life. After all, you don’t need to buy enough toilet paper in one trip to last for the year, and there’s no way you can eat a 10-pound bag of carrots before they go bad. However, I urge you to rethink your opinion. There are plenty of ways to … [Read more...] about How to Make It Worthwhile to Shop for Two at Costco
How to Tell If Your Spouse Is Hiding Money
The number one cause of divorce is disagreements about money. While we may think of this meaning arguing about how you each spend money, there can also be a darker side. In some marriages, spouses hide money from one another. This can lead to divorce, especially if the behavior has lasting financial implications such as bankruptcy. … [Read more...] about How to Tell If Your Spouse Is Hiding Money
More Reasons Why DINKS Choose Not to Have Kids
People enter the DINKS lifestyle for different reasons. The most common reasons are that they don’t want children, can’t afford children, or can’t have children. However, while those reasons may comprise most DINKS couples in the United States, there are other, more nuanced reasons why couples choose to be DINKS. … [Read more...] about More Reasons Why DINKS Choose Not to Have Kids
If You’re Saving – Don’t Give Up!
This is a quick posting for everyone working on a large savings goal. If you're saving - don't give up. Don't Give Up. Don't quit saving out of the silly belief that you'll never have enough to meet your goal. Forget focusing on the big figure you need to get to. Instead, work it out using a calculator and break down what your weekly, monthly and annual savings goals … [Read more...] about If You’re Saving – Don’t Give Up!
Reasons Why Unmarried Couples Need a Will
As recently as 2010, approximately 15 million people live together as an unmarried couple (Nolo.com). Couples choose to live together rather than get married for a variety of reasons. However, if you’re one of these cohabitating couples, you need to realize that you don’t have as many of the rights and protections as married couples have. Therefore, you need to protect yourself … [Read more...] about Reasons Why Unmarried Couples Need a Will
