Up, Up and Away
I first starting working with Dan and Robin back in October 2012 when they were in their early thirties, newly married and just starting their lives together. At the time, they were earning around $230,000 per year and were never big spenders. Their monthly outflow was around $5,600 per month, which adjusted for inflation today […]
45… The Tipping Point to Becoming Debt Free
I turned 45 during confinement. Including a two year break from the workforce for business school, I have been working 20 years. So, I’m halfway through my working years based on retiring at 65. It’s a cliché, but I like what I do and don’t have a desired target retirement date in mind. That said, […]
SINGLE PARENTS & MONEY
Single parents have it harder. There is only one person to do everything. Earn the money, raise the children, be involved in school and the community, do the grocery shopping, sign up for camps… the list goes on and on. Some divorced parents fall into this category as well, and sometimes they have it even […]
HOW MUCH IS YOUR HEALTH WORTH?
Health insurance, co-pays, out-of-network, out-of-pocket, OT, PT, etc. are significant costs for a family. Add to those costs a gym membership, fitness classes and mental health costs and you’re talking a couple of thousand dollars a month. This is doable when you are employed and have a steady paycheck coming in, but Covid-19 has shown […]
SPENDING IN A PANDEMIC
After a little light reading of “How Does Household Spending Respond to an Epidemic? Consumption During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic” from the National Bureau of Economic Affairs, I wanted to share with you some tidbits I found interesting. In late February until mid-March, stores were mobbed with long lines of people stockpiling groceries and other […]
PAYING FOR THE UNEXPECTED
Every year something unexpected comes up. Sometimes it is fun stuff, but usually it’s a broken windshield, root canal or something even more unforeseen. Last summer, I booked us a trip to the Canary Islands for February break. Tickets were affordable, and I was told by my friends in Europe that it was like their […]
TIME TO DUMP YOUR TAX GUY (OR GIRL)
Time to find a tax person who you can talk to and understands your goals. Here are steps to help you develop that relationship.
Build Your Financial House
I have no idea where the phrase “getting your financial house in order” comes from. A quick Google search resulted in nothing useful. I guess the idiom makes sense since a house starts with blue print (plan) and is comprised of rooms that have purpose like a kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms (specific accounts or areas […]
Year of the Rat & Your Money
Say goodbye to the Year of the Pig, and hello to the Year of the Rat, the first year of the 12-year Chinese Zodiac cycle. Last year, the Pig was supposed to symbolize wealth and generosity, and be a calming force in world events. Hmmm, not so sure that manifested. The Rat is all about […]
When is Enough Enough?
In a culture of work and spend, there can be an endless search for more. However, research shows that money only affects emotional well-being or happiness up to an annual income of ∼$210,000 per family, or ~$275,000 when adjusted for the cost of living in the Bay Area. Too much money can actually have a negative […]
