My 5-year-old is already better at money management than I am
My 5-year-old daughter is learning about money management through gift cards. She understands budgeting and delayed gratification.
Essays
My 10-year-old makes her own meals and manages her own schedule. I don't spend as much time with her as I'd like.
Claire McMurray says she would have chosen a different life for her 10-year-old daughter but couldn't be prouder of the person she's becoming.
My husband and I paid off $80,000 of student debt during the pandemic, but now I wish we hadn't
I believed having student debt was embarrassing, and that caused me to miss out on lots of great ways I could have invested in my future.
After our buyer backed out at the last minute, we reframed our house-selling strategy in 4 ways
We were fully ready to sell our house last June when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates. We had to rethink our strategies for selling.
I'm a teacher on track to retire by 55 with $2 million, but I refuse to put off my life until then
I'm living my life to the fullest today, including being able to travel. I may not know what the future looks like, but I feel ready for it.
My husband and I have a simple rule for year-end bonuses to help us build wealth over time
Saving my husband's bonus is a key part of our year-round strategy to stay on top of our financial plan, and it's a good way to build good habits.
I was an overworked teacher in the US, so I moved to Portugal. I couldn't be happier with my decision.
Jeana Whitaker had taught in the US for over 20 years but the culture had changed and she no longer enjoyed it. She sold everything and moved abroad.
I moved from the US to Rome for a slower pace of life, but after 7 years I've realized I'll never fully adjust to some Italian ways
Miranda Mullings moved to Italy for a slower lifestyle but realized it's not perfect. After seven years, she still finds some things hard to adjust to.
I'm a financial planner with retirement-age clients, and I always tell them to prioritize savings over paying off certain debts
Debt can seem like a huge burden if you're on the verge of retirement, but it may be worth focusing on your retirement savings as your first priority.
I always planned to retire at 65 — until I started thinking differently about what it means to retire
I saved in a 401(k), until the FIRE movement taught us that retirement isn't triggered by an age, but by a sum. Now, we have a new plan.
5 things I do every month in my 30s to retire a millionaire by 50
When I was in my 20s, I didn't take planning for retirement seriously, but now I'm on track to be able to retire early and be well off when I do.
As a financial planner, I give my clients 4 tips to make their money last a lifetime
I work with clients who want to make sure their money lasts for their lifetime, but I also remind them to benefit from their money now.
I'm already earning passive income, and now I'm testing 3 strategies to double it
I've been working hard to build my passive income for years, and I'm using three strategies to accelerate how quickly my passive income grows.
Inflation derailed my dad's long-term retirement plan, but he's calculated that waiting is worth it
My dad tells me, "Nobody takes care of your money better than you do." He's balancing inflation, interest rates, and savings.
I bought my first car at 37, and after endless spreadsheets and deliberation, I paid for it fully with cash
I grew up in a big city where it didn't make sense to buy a car. I knew going into buying one now that I didn't want more debt to think about.
At 76, my dad sent me a 'financial love letter' detailing everything to do when he dies. Now, I'm planning the same for my own kids.
Thorough estate planning can be scary and difficult for many, but your children will greatly appreciate the effort in the long run.
I'm done waffling over buying a house I can't afford. I have a better plan — it starts with renting for life.
For awhile, I kept a savings account with the goal of buying a house someday, but housing prices in Southern California are too high for me.
5 lessons I learned about debt after my dad's death that everyone should know
When my father died, my family had so many other things on our mind that weren't money — then we got the bill for his 13-day stay in the ICU.
I've used ChatGPT for everything from meal plans to trivia questions — so I asked it for retirement advice
I've used ChatGPT for everything from meal planning to generating trivia questions — so I tried asking it how I should plan for retirement.
Investing like a millionaire doesn't work for a simple reason: You aren't one
The wealthiest investors can afford to take big gambles, but for most people, steady, long-term growth in passive investments makes more sense.