Finance Xpress

In 2002, I foolishly bought a new luxury car, a Mercedes Benz G500. I had to just gotten a raise and a promotion to Associate so I thought I had might as well blow all my money. The G-Wagon cost $78,000 out the door, which was actually a good deal at the time. Just a […]

The post New Luxury Car Prices Are Outrageous, Never Buying One Again appeared first on Financial Samurai.

Who stands to gain the most from the settlement reached with the National Association of Realtors regarding commission price collusion? The clear beneficiaries are residential real estate investors and owners. Why? Because they were the ones burdened with paying the so-called “standard” real estate commission ranging from 5% to 6%. Following the judgment against the […]

The post Why Every Residential Real Estate Investor Is Suddenly Richer appeared first on Financial Samurai.

Now that I'm on a quest to save money and improve my cash flow, I've stumbled upon some new ways to save that I hadn't really considered before. Let me share with you my latest realization about how good relationships can help you save money. One of my expenses is a $180/month private sports club […]

The post How Good Relationships Can Save You Lots Of Money appeared first on Financial Samurai.

If you're aiming for a more cost-effective lifestyle, you might find it surprising that opting for a more expensive home over a median-priced one could be the way to go. While it may seem counterintuitive, let me explain. Since purchasing a pricier home in the fourth quarter of 2023, my family and I have been […]

The post For A More Affordable Life, Buy A More Expensive Home appeared first on Financial Samurai.

Lately, I've been pondering why I tend to have less admiration for men who claim to be retired but have a working spouse. Is it fueled by envy? It's possible, considering I wouldn't mind if my wife were the breadwinner, easing some of the financial strain on me. The sentiment is akin to observing several […]

The post A Provider’s Clock For Men Is Like A Biological Clock For Women appeared first on Financial Samurai.

Exciting news for homesellers and homebuyers! The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has reached a settlement in its lost $1.8+ billion lawsuit on price fixing and collusion, agreeing to pay $418 million in damages. This settlement marks a significant shift in the homebuying and selling business model, where sellers traditionally paid both their broker and […]

The post The NAR Settlement’s Impact On Commissions And Home Prices appeared first on Financial Samurai.

If you've been feeling down despite the apparent strength of the economy, I can relate. Despite stocks and real estate reaching near all-time highs, there seems to be a growing silent recession among Americans. Here are the primary reasons why I believe some of us don't feel better despite the apparent strength of the U.S. […]

The post A Silent Recession: Why You Might Feel Bad Despite A Good Economy appeared first on Financial Samurai.

I've faced significant criticism for encouraging my wife to re-enter the workforce after being retired since 2015. However, it's important to clarify that she hasn't been truly retired. Instead, she has been actively engaged as a full-time mom since 2017. In addition, she has helped do a lot of the operations and editing for Financial […]

The post Life Insurance Is A Reason Why Your Spouse Doesn’t Need To Work appeared first on Financial Samurai.

When I speak to the media, one of the most commonly asked questions I get is whether I had to make significant sacrifices in my pursuit of FIRE (financial independence and retire early). When they refer to sacrifices, what they really mean is whether I missed out on the typical fun experiences of a young […]

The post The Sacrifices We Make To Achieve Financial Independence appeared first on Financial Samurai.

Zillow recently released an intriguing study that outlines the income needed to afford a “typical home” in different cities. The study considers a 10% down payment and utilizes the Zillow Home Value Index to determine the median home price in each city. Let's compare the income required to purchase the median home in each city […]

The post Income Required To Afford A Typical Home By City appeared first on Financial Samurai.

With cash flow running tight, I've embarked on a mission to trim unnecessary expenses from my budget. In times of surplus cash before my home purchase, I hadn't scrutinized my expenses for years. It's not that I was lazy about budgeting; instead, I've always embraced the “pay myself first and spend the rest” strategy. Each […]

The post Three Sneaky Expenses That Are Ruining Your Budget appeared first on Financial Samurai.

One of the most effective ways to build semi-passive income is to own your primary residence, live in it for several years, then rent it out and purchase a nicer property. If you're aiming to retire early, over a 20-year career, you could easily build a rental property portfolio consisting of 3-5 units. This has […]

The post The Best And Worst Times To Find Renters For Greater Cash Flow appeared first on Financial Samurai.

Net worth composition for the top 1%

The post Obtaining A Top 1% Net Worth Is Easier Than Ever Before appeared first on Financial Samurai.