This is my 60th post – hard to believe but it’s already been a year since I started this blog (June 4th 2017 was my first post, “think smarter”). A lot has changed but much remains the same. . . I’ve researched and opined about many topics: millennials, music streaming, cord cutting, home buying, car buying, etc. I’ve learned a great deal about these subjects, and maybe even more about myself. I still feel somewhat unqualified to give you tips on personal finance. But I don’t think writing is about creativity as much as it’s having the patience to discover those ideas worth passing on.
Many of you have encouraged me along the way and I’m gratified that these posts have helped some of you along your financial journey. If we are supposed to learn from our failures then maybe I am certified (or at least certifiable); qualified to pass along things from those times when I swerved head long into self-made problems. Maybe some of you have been there. . .
I thought I would take this opportunity to revisit some of my favorite posts along the way. Oddly enough, some of my most popular posts (800+ views) are not my personal favorites (e.g., “tax planning”). Maybe there’s a lesson in that – personal finance isn’t really that exciting – it’s more like a chore – but there’s satisfaction and a reward to be had from a job well done; so I encourage you to keep up the good fight and keep on keeping on.
I decided to look back over the past year and tried to look over my posts to see which ones were the most impactful and most likely to “hold up” over time. I’m hoping you agree and will take the time to review (or read for the first time) my favorite posts over the past year – maybe these are just the posts that I enjoyed writing but I’m hoping that some of these ideas helped you along the way.
- Career Advice 2 https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2017/08/22/career-advice-2/
Your career is your biggest asset. You should maximize your potential by being the best version of you (that you can be) and increase your salary in the process. Many surveys indicate than an overwhelming majority (between 70 and 80%) of Americans hate/dislike their jobs. Don’t complain about it – do something about it! Read this post as I give you some practical advice on how.
- 10 things I learned from Millennials https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/02/18/10-things-i-learned-from-millennials/
Learn some innovative personal finance strategies from generation Y – those born from 1980 -1995. There are some traits that are quite common among this generation – traits that set them apart from other generations. I list the top 10 things that I admire about the millennial approach to personal finance.
- Do you have a hole in your pocket? https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/04/09/do-you-have-a-hole-in-your-pocket/
This is probably my deepest and most philosophical post. I employ critical thinking and skepticism in this introspective inquisition. It explores what might be holding you back from succeeding in your quest to become financially independent. I seek to challenge the way you think about your finances (agreement is not required). How are you doing financially? What’s the hole in your pocket?
- Car buying tips https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2017/09/16/car-buying-tips/
You might think you don’t need to read this one but chances are many people reading this need to think smarter about their next car buying decision. 85% of new cars are financed. The average car payment is approaching $500 per month, with an average loan amount of over $30,000 (financed over 68 months) – yikes! My philosophy is a little counter to conventional wisdom but I hope you will indulge my strategy as I hope it helps you make a smart choice on your next vehicle.
- Are we having a rental crisis? https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/02/26/are-we-having-a-rental-crisis/
Half your income for rent? Say it ain’t so! Craziness I say. I think you should aim for 25% (or less). I’ve read some crazy articles (talking to you USA today) about house buying tips and I think they are intellectually bankrupt! Just because somebody posted an article on the internet doesn’t make it so. In this post I give you some tools and ideas to help evaluate if you should rent or buy and how much of your income you should allocate to your monthly housing expense. I also have some practical, but not necessarily easy or convenient, advice on how to get to 25%. If you don’t have a plan. . .
- Do this don’t do that https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/03/25/do-this-dont-do-that-cant-you-read-the-signs/
Who are you? It’s another deep/philosophical question that I want you to ponder before you respond. In this post we explore the habits of successful people (as well as not). Spoiler alert – there are differences. I think it’s a worthwhile exercise to contemplate the consequences of these habits and then consider your own. Hint, there’s probably room for improvement.
- Endless cycle of debt? https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/01/22/endless-cycle-of-debt/
68% of Americans in debt doubt they’ll ever pay it off. In this post I argue that’s an excuse, a method for putting off the necessary and pragmatic steps – that you can take – to become (and stay) debt-free. I’ve heard this frustration first hand and really want to do something helpful for those people who are sick and tired, of being sick and tired. This is a tough love post but I believe some have come to think of their debt as an unavoidable circumstance and are unwilling to change their lifestyle, because there is nothing they can do about it. I list some common causes of debt as well as some practical tips on how to get out of debt (if you’re already there). Permanent fixtures in your life should be faith, family, friends, not debt. . .
- How to prepare if you think you might lose your job https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/01/15/how-to-prepare-if-you-think-you-might-lose-your-job/
This was done via special request. At the corner of crisis and opportunity, job loss is a real threat that each of us should prepare for (unless you’re retired). In this post we explore some steps you can take to be prepared (kinda-sorta-maybe) for the proverbial “pink-slip”. I also lay out some steps you can take if you find yourself in the unemployment line. I was laid off once myself, so I have first-hand knowledge of what this feels like. This is an emotional as well as a financial problem – one that should be prepared for before getting laid off. . .
- What does your financial dream look like? https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/01/29/what-does-your-financial-dream-look-like/
Your financial dream, this is the fun part, go ahead and dream, but make sure you dream BIG! Let your imagination go. What do you want your financial future to look like? Does it involve debt? Harassing calls from collectors? Living paycheck-to-paycheck? That’s not a dream, that’s a nightmare. I believe writing down your financial dream is the first step to success. But don’t stop there, set some goals in order to make your dreams a reality.
- Are home improvements a good idea? https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/03/06/are-home-improvements-a-good-idea/
I watch way too much HGTV (fixer upper anyone?). They make home improvements look easy, but are they really? When is it smart to spend some of your hard-earned money on home improvements? In this post we explore some practical steps you can (and should) take before you embark on a reno project. I also pass along some ideas for home improvements – things that you can do right now – regardless of your budget.
Honorable mention:
- Is debt really that bad? https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2017/10/27/q-is-debt-really-that-bad/
Imagine the strong magnetic pull of the debt star (star wars reference – going to see SOLO today). There are lots of opinions about debt. Some think it’s a great way to borrow your way to becoming rich (Robert Kyoski, author of “rich dad poor dad”) and some are super-negative about it (Dave Ramsey). In this post we back up and take a fresh look because I think it’s a really good question. We explore what the Bible has to say about debt and when it’s a really bad idea to go into debt. . .
- I want you to get mad (at me) https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2017/12/12/i-want-you-to-get-mad-at-me/
Seriously, I really do. I want you to take a long, hard look at your financial decisions. I want you to question (at least ponder) your financial strategy. In this post I show you some practical ways to measure how you’re doing financially. I realize some of my recommendations seem downright unrealistic – I agree! I struggle to make smart financial decisions myself. I also address some of the personal finance myths and excuses, because you might have bought into a lie. . .
- Answer these 6 questions to see how you are doing https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/04/22/answer-these-6-questions-to-see-how-youre-doing/
In finances, you aren’t competing against your neighbor or your co-worker, you’re competing against yourself! Are you making progress toward your goal of financial independence? Or are you getting in your own way? Let’s walk through 6 ways to measure financial success and see if there are any areas you need to work on? I include my answers as I take some of my own medicine. . .
- Do you ever get tired? https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/05/13/do-you-ever-get-tired/
I know I do. How do you recharge your batteries? I think I’m suffering from frugality fatigue (I’m not – don’t feel sorry for me – seriously – no one else does); when you’re tired you’re tempted to make bad financial decisions. So what’s the secret? How can I recharge my batteries?
- How much should I pay for that? https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2018/04/29/how-much-should-i-pay-for-that/
In this post we explore the BLS generational report; a great way to see how much others (in your age group) spend on their everyday, normal expenses. How do you compare? Are you better (or worse) than “average”?
If you read all 15 posts then I’m sure you’re tired of reading. . . Having said that I wanted to let all my faithful readers know that I’m taking a break. I’m going to spend some time with family and friends over the summer and wait for some new personal finance topics/ideas to come my way. You can help! Please send me ideas for topics you want me to write about. Let me know if any of the posts above helped you on your financial journey. Please forward any posts you liked to family and friends. I hope you have a great summer and we’ll be back together again in the fall (probably September).
I want to give a special thanks to some folks who have really helped me along the way. I want to go back to the very, very beginning. I want to thank my buddy Steven for encouraging me to take a chance and start this blog (its been a crazy ride). I want to thank Phyllis for all the engaging financial conversations we’ve had, as well as her guest post “Financial Tips from the School of Life”. A great post from someone who has already achieved her financial independence. School is in session, I suggest you take notes.
https://jimmysmoneytips.com/2017/11/financial-tips-from-the-school-of-life/
I also want to thank my lovely wife for being my ever faithful editor. She is probably the only one brave enough to read all my posts – who am I kidding? She only read all my posts because she had to. . .
I want to give a special shout out to my buddy Marcus. He helped me much more than he knows. Many of our conversations were the spark for some of my best posts. Writers block is a real thing. Marcus really helped me on that front, although I doubt he knew he was my source. He was also kind enough to guest post twice. If you haven’t read them yet, you really should. . .
Catch ya on the flip side. . .
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