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The Last Luxury

August 3, 2009
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If you had to choose only one luxury, what would it be? That’s the question I’d like answered. I’ve given serious thought to what my only nonessential expense would be. Don’t ask me why this is important. Maybe I’m just curious to know how low my expenses can go.
It’s kind of like when you trick [...]

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Kill Entitlement Spending

August 2, 2009

I can’t think of any other words, when stringed together, make my skin crawl more than “I deserve it.” Maybe because in my haste to judge people who liberally spew such garbage, I fail to identify the contributions they’ve made that entitle them to experiences and material possessions they can’t afford.
It’s not that I [...]

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Are You Searching for an Answer or an Excuse?

August 1, 2009
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The other day, some interesting reading crossed my twitter stream. KiplingerMedia tweeted a link to the article What to Do if You’re Fired. I thought the article would provide fresh job hunting tips for those who were recently let go as well as those who’ve been unemployed for an extended length of time. As expected, [...]

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My Misidentified Necessity

July 27, 2009

I purchased a new 2007 Honda Civic on March 15th of the same year. At the time, Betsy (my loyal 1995 Geo Prizm) was too unsafe to drive. The missing dome light and duct taped side view mirror didn’t bother me at all. Nor was I rattled when all the internal door handles crumbled and [...]

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What’s In An Emergency Fund?

July 23, 2009
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An emergency fund is an essential component of a sound financial plan. Having three to six months worth of living expenses in a high yield savings account is recommended by many personal finance experts.
Before deciding how much money you need designated as an emergency fund, there are two big questions you must answer: How many [...]

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The Nefarious Redbox

July 20, 2009
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Last weekend, I was looking forward to relaxing and watching a couple movies. So off to Redbox I went. For the most part, I have no complaints with the service. There were only two occasions where I didn’t return my DVD rental prior to incurring charges in excess of $1.

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The Only Tip You Need to Start Saving Money

July 15, 2009
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When you wander through life unconscious and unaware, you waste a lot of money. I mean, literally, waste it. You crumple it up. Toss it in the trash. Don’t confuse wasting money with foolishly spending money. Putting a round of drinks on your credit card when you’re flat broke qualifies as stupid.

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6 Ways Patience Pays

July 13, 2009
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One primary reason many people find themselves living paycheck to paycheck is there lack of patience. Once you get to the point where you’re willing to delay gratification, you’ll be able to accumulate wealth. Even after you start doing well financially, waiting for the things you desire can still pay off handsomely.

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Before You Give

July 8, 2009
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So you’re frugal? Do you have a three to six month emergency fund? Did you say you were totally debt free? Perhaps you’ve amassed a decent chunk of change in your investment accounts. Well, don’t pat yourself on the back just yet. There’s an obstacle you must still overcome. Being that you’re so tuned in [...]

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How My iPhone Paid for Itself

July 7, 2009
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In May 2009, I was in the market for a mattress. I’d slept on an air mattress for about a month before it began to deflate for no apparent reason. Once the air mattress gave up on me, I decided there was no point in buying another. It was time to look for a more long-term solution.

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