As shown in my intricate image above, I am 100% invested in stocks. “But I couldn’t possibly handle this much risk” I personally feel that I am taking on more risk by not investing in 100% stocks.  As not doing so, increases my risk of needing to work longer than I have to.   “But investing in stocks is much riskier than investing in bonds” True, but I didn’t say I was investing in all high risk areas like individual stocks as shown below.   My only individual stock investments are more about my own demons of not letting completely go of the fun I have when investing on speculation.  I too…

  The Tab Technique has single-handedly saved me sooo much money over the years while also forcing me to think about what I value most in my life.   We all get the urge to buy a new this or replace an old that from time to time. This is human nature, especially in today’s consumerism society in which we live. Ask yourself this: how much stuff have you bought this week alone that you didn’t plan on? If none (although unlikely) replace week with month. Whether it was the item you tossed in the cart while your were grocery shopping, or that shirt you had to have while going…

So to start this discussion, lets start out with some “fun” facts about American’s savings rates: The average savings rate in the United States in 2018 was 6.73% of their disposable income. Disposable income meaning money after taxes. (United States Bureau of Economic Analysis) 1 in 3 Americans do not have any money saved for retirement (GoBankingsRate) 56% of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement (GoBankingsRate) 38% of Americans spend roughly equal to what they make while 18% spend more than what they make. (FINRA Investor Education Foundation’s 2016 report) According to a 2018 survey of 5,000 people, 40% of people’s primary reason for saving was for a…

The real answer is probably both.  However, this question is very unique to your situation. So, let’s break it down. We have all seen the commercials, the advertisements, the letters from credit card companies offering large bonuses for signing up for their credit card.  We have all been asked in every store we shop in, if we would be interested in signing up for a store credit card for increased perks/discounts.  Then we all heard our parents in our heads warning us that credit cards are the devil! Or is that just me?? For the longest time after I graduated high school and even undergrad, I held this notion that…

I knew I wanted to make this post as a way to force myself to look at all of my spending throughout the entire year but also to track my net worth through time.  I knew I had been avoiding it, because I didn’t know what it was going to tell me. As a self-imposed saver, I was anxious what the actual numbers were going to say.  I use Mint, which is amazing, to help myself budget and track my gross spending but I wanted every detail. So, I dove in. I went through every one of my credit card statements, my checking/savings account statements, and my Venmo to track…