Money Decisions

Budgeting on a low income is not the same problem as budgeting when money is tight but manageable. When income is genuinely low, the usual … Read more

Most people put money in a savings account and then stop thinking about it. The money sits there earning whatever rate the bank offers, while … Read more

Most budgeting advice tells you to track your spending. This is useful but incomplete. Tracking tells you where your money went. A monthly budget plan … Read more

Paying off debt when your income is low is one of the hardest financial challenges there is. The standard advice — pay more than the … Read more

Most recurring bills are negotiable. Cable, internet, insurance, medical bills, credit card rates — companies regularly lower prices for customers who ask. Here’s what works, what doesn’t, and exactly what to say.

Index funds are the most important financial innovation most ordinary investors have never been properly introduced to. They are simple, cheap, and have a better … Read more

Living paycheck to paycheck means that if your next payment were delayed by two weeks, you would be in serious trouble. It is an uncomfortable … Read more

Saving money when there is not much left over is a different problem from saving money when you have plenty. Most financial advice is written … Read more

Refinancing can save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a mortgage — or cost money if done at the wrong time or for the wrong reasons. Here’s how to run the numbers and decide if it makes sense for your situation.

The wealth-building stack for your 30s Four stacked layers showing the sequence for building wealth in your 30s: earn more, save aggressively, invest in tax-advantaged … Read more