Surviving and Thriving on an Extremely Small Food Budget
When I first started writing for Google-X, the then-governor of Oregon, Ted Kulongoski, made a big splash by choosing to eat for a
Questions About Job Hopping, MLM, Jury Duty, Reliable Brands and More!
What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to
Inspiration from Emily Esfahani Smith, Cus D’Amato, Steve Martin, and More
Once a month (or so), I share a dozen things that have inspired me to greater personal, professional, and financial success in my life. I
Withdrawal Rate and What It Means for You
One of the most important factors to consider when thinking about retirement is your withdrawal rate. It comes up time and time again in articles
When It’s Too Costly to Retire
A few days ago, the Washington Post published an amazing article by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan entitled The New Reality of Old Age in
The Temptation of a New Store
As a resident of rural central Iowa, I often visit Ames and Des Moines for shopping purposes, with Ames being somewhat more convenient for my
Finding the Right Side of the Fine Line Between Contentment and Deprivation
One of the main principles of frugality that I live by is what I call the “principle of contentment.” It’s the idea that the best
Questions About FDIC Insurance, Envy, Goal Journals, Soap, and More!
What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to
Staying Ahead of Becoming Obsolete
Over the last several years of writing for Google-X, I have read literally hundreds of personal finance and investing books, coupled with many
Some Thoughts on Project 333
In the last week, a good half-dozen readers and a few personal friends alerted me to an interesting event going on in Ankeny, Iowa (which
Why Choose Financial Responsiblity?
Striving to have money in the bank, striving to have no debt, striving to reach a point where you can live off of what you
When Experiences Become About ‘Keeping Up with the Joneses’
There was a time earlier in my life where I was very concerned with “keeping up with the Joneses.” I ran with a crowd that
The Experimental Kitchen
“Sounds like an experimental kitchen.” A friend of mine said those words to me a few weeks ago when I was discussing a couple of
Questions About Babies, Houses, Jeans, Taxes, Sourdough, and More!
What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to
Straight Talk on 10 Common Personal Finance and Career Issues
In a typical week, I hear from 20 to 30 readers by email or social media. Typically, the 12 most interesting questions make it into the reader mailbag.
The Little Things
Here’s a list of wonderful things I noticed yesterday that cost nothing (or next to it): Waking up naturally, without an alarm clock going off
The ‘Drops in a Bucket’ Mindset
“Don’t you ever get tired of just saving money?” “Why don’t you just live a little? You have money in the bank and can afford
The Soup Stockpile: An Easy Route to Having Tons of Convenient Freezer Soups
The past few weeks have been incredibly busy for our family. Not only has Sarah returned to teaching from her summer break, our children have