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Wednesday Work During My Week Off
Got a kid’s room cleaned and rearranged. Hung some cabinets in the basement.
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Frugal Friday April 3rd 2026: When Frugality Goes Sideways
Frugality isn’t always a straight line to savings; sometimes, it’s an expensive detour. This Frugal Friday, I’m sharing a cautionary tale of how a DIY burial for my cat turned into a $400 lesson in utility locations. From severed invisible fence wires to emergency landscaping, here is the ‘gritty truth’ of why doing it yourself…
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Financial Education Series: What is the Investing Order?
Most people know they should invest, but few know where to put the first dollar. In this installment of the Financial Education Series, we break down the ‘Investing Order’—a prioritized roadmap for your money. From securing employer matches to navigating tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs and HSAs, this guide serves as a nexus for building a…
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Vets and Pets: When Life Hates Budgets
We love our pets like family, but is your budget ready for them? Beyond the daily bowls of food and litter, the true cost of pet ownership often hides in the ‘unplanned’ veterinary visits and the realities of aging animals. Today, I’m breaking down the annual $1,890 ‘tax’ of owning two cats and a dog,…
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Frugal Friday 3/19/26: Eating Out Again?
Is it still possible to feed a family of five at a restaurant for under $4 a person? For this Frugal Friday, we’re breaking down a mid-week pizza buffet trip. By sticking to the ‘water-only’ rule and leveraging a gift card, we turned a $38.70 bill into a $3.80-per-person win. It’s a real-world look at…
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Financial Education Series: Paying the Tax Man
Understanding taxes doesn’t have to be a headache. Most people look at their paycheck and see a list of deductions without knowing why they’re there. In this breakdown, we simplify the ‘Three Big Buckets’ of taxes—Earn, Buy, and Own—to help you understand exactly where your money is going. From Social Security to the ‘hidden’ excise…
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Is $12/hr Enough? How to Master the 2026 Vegas Economy Without the Fear
Can you actually survive in Las Vegas on $12 an hour? Following an X argument with an ex-Denverite, I’m breaking down the “McDonald’s Standard” in Nevada. From 0% state income tax to the $1,000 studio apartment reality, we crunch the numbers on taxes, transit, and the 401k Saver’s Credit cliff to see if a Vegas…
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Financial Education Series: Basic Financial Terms
This series breaks down complex financial jargon into bite-sized, usable definitions. We are starting with 35 basic financial terms to provide a solid foundation for your financial education journey.
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The March Debt Battle: How Surprising Bills Wrecked the Avalanche
March brought a major reality check. Between January medical resets and over $5,800 in unexpected family medical bills, the “Debt Avalanche” hit a wall. Here is how I’m pivoting—including a strategic move to my HELOC—to stop 22% interest from killing my momentum.
Mini Thoughts
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