Anybody who reads my column regularly already knows that I love a good bargain. I have written extensively about paying less for everything from vacations and Christmas presents to clothing and food. So, when New York City Mayor and self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani announced last week that he plans [...]
Hopefully, by now, most people understand the threat gambling addiction can pose to financial success. An occasional lottery ticket purchase or night at the boats may be fairly harmless, but we probably all know someone whose life was seriously damaged when these behaviors got out of control. Believe it or [...]
For those not paying attention, credit card companies are currently engaged in an aggressive “perks war,” offering massive sign-up bonuses to attract new customers and increasingly generous rewards for those using their cards. I was literally able to subsidize a significant portion of our summer travel expenses this year simply [...]
My grandfather lived to the ripe old age of 89. This was especially notable because when he was in his 30’s he suffered a serious heart attack and underwent open-heart surgery. His long-term prognosis was not good, yet he ultimately went on to live a long and relatively healthy life. [...]
This summer, my family and I have a trip planned to California. Being budget-conscious, we had intended to fly with Spirit Airlines. However, following Spirit’s surprise announcement this past weekend that it is immediately shuttering operations, we are now searching for an alternative carrier. While it was a shock to [...]
I’m not sure how many of you noticed, but during this year’s Super Bowl an advertisement aired promoting the newly created Trump Accounts, a provision included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed into law on July 4, 2025. The most widely publicized feature of these accounts is the [...]
It is always interesting meeting with couples to discuss their financial situation. Often, it feels as if the conversation they are having in front of me is the first one they have had together about money in a long time. This is unfortunate because money conversations are not just mathematical [...]
I know it probably goes without saying, but most of the stuff we buy today costs way too much. It wasn’t that long ago that inflation was nearly non-existent. For the decade prior to Covid, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by an average of just 1.8% a year. Since [...]
My family has started to complain about the amount of pork and chicken we’re eating. As the primary grocery shopper and cook in our home, I’ve made the decision to buy much less beef lately. Prices seem to climb higher every week, and it’s becoming harder to justify. These rising [...]
Many years ago, I had a conversation with a coworker that has stuck with me ever since. They had just purchased a brand-new truck that cost nearly twice their annual salary, all while still living with their grandparents. I questioned the wisdom of that choice, and their response was something [...]
