Category: Money Milestones

toy house above a stack of $100 bills
Breaking Down the Costs of Buying a House (With Real Numbers!)
As of this week, my wife and I have officially (and fully) moved into our new house. Although the process was extremely quick once we got started, boy was there a lot that went into it. In turn, I learned a ton along the way — which is why I've been sharing a series of stories...
illustration of buying a house
Did We Wait Too Long to Buy a House?
Back in 2016 — about a year after we relocated from Los Angeles, California to Springfield, Missouri — I wrote about how my wife and I were starting to think about buying a home and how we were dipping our proverbial toes into the process. Since then, we've gone up and down on the idea, meaning...
dying roses
Finance After Death: Preparing for the Eventual and Inevitable
In the past, I've written about a number of Money Milestones that are usually pretty exciting ones to reach. Today... not so much. Instead, let's talk about a different kind of Money Milestone: dying. Yes, dying — that thing none of us wants to talk about but that all of us (barring any major scientific...
2022
My 2022 Goals — Personal, Professional, and Money
And just like that, another year has nearly come to an end. For all of the challenges that 2021 brought, it sure did fly by. Now, with the new year just ahead, it's time once again to share some of the goals I have going forward. Just like with last year's post, I do feel...
A Crash Course in Starting and Growing Your Retirement Savings
Want to know why most younger adults don’t think much about saving for retirement? Probably because there’s a lot to think about. Furthermore, many mistakenly believe that they should wait until they’re making big bucks (whenever that will be) to begin setting money aside. Admittedly, with so many different types of retirement accounts, IRS rules,...
5 Tax Time Retirement Savings Options You Should Know About
As someone in their 30s, it can often be difficult to remind myself about the importance of saving for retirement. After all, imagining myself more than double the age I am now seems like an eternity away. But if thoughts of living out my days penniless don’t inspire me to start saving, I’ve found that...
a pile of paper money
Money at 35: Assessing and Appreciating My Financial Life
Yesterday, I turned 35 years old. I find this significant for a couple of reasons. First, it means that I've advanced to yet another box on most demographic surveys. Second, and likely more importantly, it means I'm now halfway to aging out of this website moniker! Kidding aside, this minor milestone comes at a time...
2021
My 2021 Goals — Personal, Professional, and Money
Welcome to 2021 — it doesn't seem that different, does it? Half-jokes aside, while the ghost of 2020 continues to haunt the start of this year, there is some hope on the horizon. And now that the year is officially underway, I figured it was time to share some of what I hope to accomplish...
Make This World Better
5 Ways to Be More Generous (When You Can)
In the past, I've covered all kinds of what I call "money milestones" on this site. These range from having an emergency fund to starting investing, to buying a house and beyond. However, perhaps one of the biggest money milestones is having the means to be generous. Given the rough year that nearly all of...
stacks of money and a piggy bank
The Top 3 Banking Accounts Options I'm Currently Keeping My Cash In
As I've bemoaned several times on this site before, I have too many bank accounts. That's because, when I review these products for Dyer News, I like to get hands on and really test them out for myself — not to mention keep up with the numerous updates. Truth be told, I actually don't mind...
Basic Money Milestones to Achieve by 40
In today's society, when do you make the jump into actual adulthood? While some might stick with the traditional "18" answers, others would argue somewhere in the 20s or even 30s. So, when it comes to hitting 40, I guess that means you should really have your s*** together! Although I'm still a few months...
a green sprout growing
What I’m Learning About Dividend Investing
When it comes to investing, the end goal is almost always the same: make money. However, the paths you take to get there can vary. One such option that’s really grabbed my attention as of late is dividend investing. For some investors, dividends may just be an afterthought while, for others, they’re the main attraction....
Featured Articles
Nectarous is (Another) Simple Way to Discover Specialty Coffees
Over the past few years, I've really gotten into specialty coffee. Don't get me wrong, I'll still drink a super dark roast K-cup — but it's fascinating to explore all types of other roasts and discover all that coffee can be. That's why I've also been a fan of specialty coffee services that bring new...
Solis Has Launched Its Newest Hotspot With a Special Offer
During CES earlier this year, Solis introduced its latest hotspot device called the Solis Go. At the time, the company positioned the new addition as a potential part of an emergency kit (which was unfortunately relevant as the Los Angeles wildfires were underway during CES) and even introduced a new data plan with that use...
A Quick Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch Review - Is it Worth the Cost?
In the fall of 2023, when it became clear that we were nearing our first home purchase, I highlighted three purchases we were making as soon as we closed on the house. One of those items was locks — including the possibility of purchasing a smart lock. Well, sure enough, we decided to purchase the...
Travel Tuesday: JetBlue Vacations Now Lets You Hedge Against a Rainy Trip
In past articles, I've talked about how I tend to purchase and pack items that will assist me in the event that rain occurs during my trip. For example, I'm always sure to bring my water-resistant Allbirds Mizzles hightops to ensure I have dry feet and have eyed the Quikflip Dryflip for similar comfort reasons....