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Financial Education Series: Completing the Investing Order
Maxing out your 401(k) at the 2026 limit of $24,500 per year for 50 years at 7% average return gets you nearly $10 million. Here’s why this is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools most people completely ignore.
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Old House Maintenance: A headache and a Joy?
Our 72-year-old garage door was peeling badly, so I spent the weekend sanding and sealing it. A mix of frustration and satisfaction — the never-ending joy of old house maintenance.
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Financial Education Series: Picking Investments and Compounding Wealth
Once your Emergency Fund is tucked away, the real question begins: what do you do with the rest? From maximizing interest in an HYSA to understanding why legendary investors like Warren Buffett bank on index funds, I’m breaking down the ‘boring’ math that builds millionaires. Learn how to beat inflation and why a simple S&P…
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Frugal Friday April 24, 2026: Garage Sale Season
Garage sale season is officially here, and it kicked off with a major win. While helping my in-laws hunt for essentials at a local non-profit sale, I spotted a nearly new $230 gas weed wacker for just $30. After struggling with battery swaps on a large corner lot for two years, this $200 saving is…
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Financial Education Series: Build Wealth with an Investment Policy Statement
Investing without a plan is like driving without a map—you might move fast, but you won’t know where you’re going. An Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is your personal roadmap to financial discipline. Whether it’s a detailed document or a simple email to yourself, having an IPS keeps you calm when the market gets volatile and…
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Cold Wet and Soaking Spring
A night of Brats, Brews, and Chain Saws.
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Building a Shed vs Buying a Shed in 2026
The garage is full, the french drain is dug, and it’s time for a new 12×12 shed. But as I price out lumber and hardware for a DIY build, I’ve hit a classic ‘Time vs. Money’ crossroads. In this update, I’m breaking down the raw costs of building a shed from scratch versus hiring local…
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Financial Education Series: Free Money Following Investing Order
Are you working for less money than you agreed to? If you aren’t meeting your employer’s retirement match, the answer is yes. In part two of our Financial Education series, we’re breaking down Employer Sponsored Plans (ESPs)—from the common 401(k) to the TSP—and using the math of a 30-year career to show why the employer…
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Beautiful Sunday: Learning to Transplant Plants.
Learning some gardening skills.
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Saturday Almost Done with Vacation
Just trying to work on more housework before I have to get back to the grind on monday.
Mini Thoughts
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