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
Hey You Kids, Get Off My Lawn!
With last Friday being July 4th, I decided to take a week off from posting. However, I wanted to share a story from that night (or, really, early the next morning). Backing up, last year, we learned that our neighbors loved fireworks. So we were prepared for a few hours of noise and helping our...
Travel Tuesday: The Venetian Surveying Guests on Possible Rewards Credit Card
Late last year, I had a chance to cross another Las Vegas Strip property off my list with a stay at The Palazzo at The Venetian. Whether because of that or because I opened a players club card with them as well, this week The Venetian sent me a survey regarding a potential rewards credit...
Allbirds is Celebrating Independence Day with a 50% Off Sale
One funny thing about summer is how a sunny day can quickly turn into a heavy downpour. This is even more prominent in certain parts of the country where you may be headed on a summer vacation (I'm looking at you, Florida!). So, given that weather reality, it makes perfect sense that Allbirds would be...
An Amex Platinum Card Revamp is Coming — And I'm Worried
Earlier this week, Chase confirmed pretty much every rumor that had been swirling for the past couple of months by announcing details on a major refresh for its uber popular Sapphire Reserve card. When this refresh launches next week (or in October for current cardholders), it will bring new credits, a reimagined rewards-earning system, and...