Yes, inflation is biting into spending, but even with inflation (CPI) up 8.5% over the last year (as of the data released on April 12th), mortgage rates have risen from 3.31% in December to 5.13% this week, a 55% increase. […]
Inflation Hack: 6 Ways to Save on Groceries
Continuing with ways to battle inflation, today I’ll cover food shopping. It is a super exciting topic, I know. But seriously, we all have to eat, so why not make an effort to save a little on your food bill? […]
Inflation Hack: 6 Ways to Cut Your Restaurant Bill
With prices all around us rising, now is the time to find creative ways to reduce some bills. Even if you like to cook, it is nice to be able to go to a restaurant, order food, eat, not have […]
Housing – Buy? Refinance? Hurry? Wait?
The housing market continues to be one of the strongest parts of the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing supply is at historic lows. New building permits and housing starts are increasing. Home prices are increasing. If you’re in the […]
Just Because You Can Afford Something Doesn’t Mean You Should – Part 2
In my last post, I wrote about considering trade-offs when making purchases. Today, I’ll start by digging into costs for most people’s largest expense, their primary residence. After costs, I’ll give an overview of what banks do when pre-approving you […]
Should You Hurry to Buy a House or Refinance with Mortgage Rates at Historic Lows?
Buy a house or not? Refinance your mortgage or not? Millions of American families are facing these questions right now. Right now, thanks in large part to the Federal Reserve, mortgage rates are at all-time lows AND will likely stay […]
The Most Powerful Negotiating Tool When Buying a Car
At some point, nearly everyone will buy a car. And you should want to get a good deal when you do. There is quite a bit of information out there about when the best time is to buy a car. […]
Step 5: Ramp Up Your Savings
Updated: May 2021 Once you tackle your debt and have it under control, you can start taking leaps forward towards your ‘Off Ramp’. Ramping up your savings will allow you to accelerate towards your financial goals, increase your net worth, […]
Step 3: Dive Into Your Income & Spending
Updated: May 7, 2021 Now that you have set your goals and figured out your current net worth, you’re ready and waiting at the starting line of this race. Let’s start moving forward to figure out how to get to […]
6 Steps of the ‘Rat Race Off Ramp’
Updated on April 7, 2021 Over the last few blog posts, I wrote about the “Latte Factor,” excuses for not saving money, and the ‘why’ for your money. These were lead ups for getting back to the ‘Six Steps of […]