Here's an update on one of my real estate crowdfunding experiments. In mid-April 2015, I invested $5,000 into a loan for a single family fix-and-flip in West Sacramento, California. The loan was supposed to be for 6-months (one of the main … [Read the rest]
Inside a post about what economists think about buying vs. renting a house, Alex Tabarrok of Marginal Revolution ended with a nice sentence that I think applies to both buying and renting: One final point: behavioral economics tells us that we … [Read the rest]
Mid-Feburary is the time of year when writers everywhere tie their subject matter to Valentine's Day. Here's how mine came about. I was reading 23 Science-Backed Ways to Feel Happier at Mental Floss. #8 was "Twist the Sheets" which included the … [Read the rest]
Most travel cards offer an ongoing sign-up bonus, but it's even better when you snag them during a bump-up - this time it is the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase. Check out the highlights below, and remember that it is free and takes … [Read the rest]
Updated May 2020. Consumers Credit Union (CCU) has a Free Rewards Checking account that offers a high interest rate between 2.09% and 4.09% APY if you meet certain requirements. As with similar accounts elsewhere, the catch is if you don't jump … [Read the rest]
February 9th is "Safer Internet Day". To help celebrate, Google will add 2 GB of free Drive storage to your Google account if you complete their Security Checkup. By default, free users get 15 GB to share across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google … [Read the rest]
Scott Adams continues to convert wise observations about the workplace into clever and funny comics. Occasionally, he tackles investing and personal finance, like in this recent Dilbert comic: This older comic is more subtle but reflective … [Read the rest]
I managed to catch the movie The Big Short (trailer) before it left the theaters. Having read the book with great interest back in 2011, I wondered how it would remade for the big screen. Isn't it hard to believe that the events described started … [Read the rest]
The NFL Extra Points Credit Card issued by Barclaycard is the only credit card officially co-branded with the National Football League. They are savvy too - the very first thing you do on the application is pick your team, so it can show you a credit … [Read the rest]
You've heard the financial media (and me) talk about the importance of automated savings. Things like recurring 401(k) contributions that don't require flexing your willpower. Well, the other side of the coin is automated spending. Companies … [Read the rest]
The World Health Organization has declared Zika virus an international public health emergency. If you are concerned about exposure to mosquitos due to Zika, West Nile, Dengue, or other diseases, read this NPR article about a 2015 Journal of … [Read the rest]
Savingforcollege.com is a popular privately-run site for researching and comparing 529 college savings plans. They released their updated ratings this month, which represents their "opinion of the overall usefulness of a state's 529 plan based on … [Read the rest]
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