My favorite weather is “impending doom”. I use this term to describe the approach of massive storms, such as when thunderheads are rolling toward Denver over the eastern planes, or when a snowstorm is approaching and the plows are out in unison, preparing for the battle ahead. It’s exciting. A small part of me comes […]
Author: risky
Low Paying Jobs
Michael: “Francesca is my oldest brother’s daughter. He died many years ago, and ever since I’ve felt much more of a father than an uncle. I love her very much. I’m pleased and impressed that you had the thought to come to me before going on with your plans. It shows me that you’re a […]
Your Personal Level of Risk
There is risk to everything. Even the things we believe are low-risk have an opportunity cost, which is just another type of risk. Your personal level of risk is a huge determinant of your financial behavior. Here are some places you can put your money, starting with the least-risky to the most-risky: in-house checking account […]
The Ubiquity of Cyclical Spending
In a theoretical economy, the wages individuals earn through the value of their labor would be spent on the labor of others. A lawyer would use the wages he earns practicing law to purchase groceries from one who distributes groceries, he may also use part of his wages to make car payments to another who […]
Financially Bored
So I hit my target savings rate. Then I maxed out the 401k. Then I started working on the Roth IRA. Then I started working on my giving fund, the G-IRA. Then I finally waded through the garbage dump of red tape required to invest some of my HSA. But then what? And then what […]
Poverty Thinking
I’ve spent a lot more than I planned these past two months. It started with a phone and a refurbished laptop, then continued with a pair of blu-tooth headphones, several television blu-ray sets, and finally ended with some gifts for family and car parts. Spending large amounts of money usually makes me feel a bit […]
Dreaming Again
When I was in 8th grade, I asked for a new and intriguing video game for my birthday: Xenosaga Episode I. It was a space odyssey anime full of intriguing characters, vicious aliens, mysterious artifacts, and, you know, the fate of humanity. But it was also full of really sweet mechs. I was hooked. I […]
Late Summer Financial Update
I always want to be cautious providing financial updates because I never want it to sound like bragging. Really, I just want to demonstrate just how possible it is to do this “massive savings” deal, encourage others to do the same, and celebrate some milestones along my journey. 401k The biggest news item I have […]
Frugality is Not a Competition
…it is merely a strategy. I’ve never had a particularly positive view of competition, probably because I have most often seen it used for selfish reasons. I think of some of the less-reputable athletes at my high school who thought it was fun to dominate those less-athletic in gym class. There are some very good […]
Contributing to Your G-IRA
If you’ve done any research into retirement or investing, you’ve probably encountered several terms: 401k, Roth 401k, IRA, Roth IRA, 403b, 457, and several others. I had never in my life actually taken an interest in tax law until this past year, and it’s a little scary just how much there is to learn. Most […]