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Frugal Friday 3/13/26: Fast Food or Leftovers?
A lesson in Frugal Friday: Balancing a son’s hard work with a commitment to the debt snowball. Discover how expiring reward points turned a “leftovers night” into a free family meal and why utilizing every tool in your financial toolbox matters.
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Food Deserts Are Real. So Is Discipline. Here’s How to Eat Anyway
After a challenge on X regarding food access in Indianapolis, I’m breaking down the reality of “Food Deserts.” Is it a true lack of nutrition, or a lack of access—and how does a $112 bike change the math? I’m looking at the intersection of local geography, wage reality, and the grit required to build a…
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How do You Budget? I Want to Track it All.
I’m opening up the books and looking at every single dollar. From the “scary” $93k annual total to the actual $47k it costs to keep our household running, here is the raw breakdown of my 2026 budget, the hidden subscriptions I found, and how I’m tracking my emergency fund.
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Frugal Friday 3/4/26: When Can You Lower a Bill?
My internet bill spiked to $99 after a “hidden” promotion expired. Here is how 30 minutes on the phone saved me $90 and how I’m turning that extra cash into more dividends for the snowball.
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X Poll: What is a Balanced Portfolio?
I polled the community to find out what a “balanced portfolio” means in 2026. Is it just diversification, or something more? The results might surprise you. Here is a breakdown of what “balance” actually looks like when you factor in real estate, age, and risk tolerance.
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Distrust Is Warranted? The Truth About Retirement Account “Fees” and Lies
The media loves to fear-monger about “hidden fees” in retirement accounts to keep people from investing. I’m calling it out. From debunking the myth of the “monthly IRA fee” to proving why the stock market is safer than a shoebox, this is a blunt look at the misinformation keeping people from their own financial freedom.
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Frugal Friday 2/27/26: Party on a Budget
Can you feed 8 people lunch and dinner for under $33? This Frugal Friday, I’m breaking down the ‘Cash Only’ grocery run for my recent board game day. From Ohio’s 0% grocery tax to the ‘freezer stock’ strategy, see how skipping the pizza delivery saved me over $20 while still keeping the soda fridge full.
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Is the Minimum a Living Wage? The Math Will Surprise You.
Is the minimum wage a death sentence or a starting line? We run the math on $11/hr in Ohio and $7.25/hr in Texas to see if you can actually survive, invest, and grow while earning the minimum. The results show that while the margin is thin, the right tax strategy can change everything.
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How much does an Employee actually cost?
Think your $100,000 salary is your only cost to the company? Think again. From ‘Shadow Paychecks’ to mandatory state taxes, the true cost of an employee is often 30% to 57% higher than the number on the offer letter. We dive into the hidden math of FICA, SUTA, and the ‘Zero Productivity Tax’ to reveal…
Mini Thoughts
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