After publishing my post on no longer being financially independent, several media outlets picked up the story and thousands of comments on their respective platforms ensued. The main criticism was that my expenses were way too high. As a result, I thought it would be useful to discuss the impact greed and inflation have on […] The post Inflation And Greed: The Biggest...
My family and I could have been set for life. Instead, due to my inability to beat back real estate FOMO, I blew up our passive income. And because our passive income is now much lower, we are no longer financially independent. Desire is the cause of all suffering. Due to my desire to own […] The post Blew Up My Passive Income,...
In 2017 and 2019, I superfunded two 529 plans for my two children. Since then, my wife and my parents have also regularly contributed to the two college savings plans. You would think with all this aggressive saving, I would feel confident we'll have enough saved to pay for college. But I'm still unsure. Given […] The post A 529 Plan Is Not...
When my kids were born, I made a promise to be a stay-at-home father for the first five years of each of their lives. Mission accomplished with my son in April 2022. But there's still some time to go before my daughter starts full-time school in Fall 2024. Anticipating the completion of this step, I'm […] The post How Parents Can Fill The...
In December 2016, I purchased a 2015 Range Rover Sport with 10,800 miles. At the time, I had been driving a Honda Fit but sought a larger vehicle as my wife was expecting in early 2017. During the purchase, the option to acquire an extended car warranty was presented, offering coverage for seven years or […] The post An Extended Car Warranty Is...
In a compelling TikTok video, Brittany Pietsch chronicles her own experience of being laid off at Cloudflare, a publicly-traded tech company. The call involves an HR (Human Resources) representative named Rosie and another individual, presumably also from HR. The man begins by asserting that Brittany did not meet Cloudflare's performance expectations, but Brittany interrupts him, […] The post Inside Look At How HR...
At the end of 2023, feeling burnt out and in need of a peaceful environment to work on my book, I opted for a wellness retreat lasting just one day. Instead of spending $2,000 a night at a wellness center in the middle of the woods, I chose to retreat to my vacant old house. […] The post Rent Out, Sell, Or Create...
In this episode, I interview Ben Miller, the CEO of Fundrise, discussing his revised perspective on the real estate market for 2024 and beyond. The year 2023 posed challenges for institutional real estate investors, marked by 11 rate hikes and a significant surge in mortgage rates since the first quarter of 2022. Ben believes October […] The post Past The Real Estate Market...
While I consider myself frugal, there are instances where saving money isn't worth the additional time investment. Let me share a story illustrating how excessive frugality cost me my health, productivity, and happiness. Recently, we decided to attend Monster Jam for the first time, an event featuring monster trucks racing and performing stunts. Getting there […] The post Being Overly Frugal Can Be...
On Jan 2, 2024, Claudine Gay resigned as the president of Harvard University amid public outcry over her failure to denounce the genocide of Jews before Congress and allegations of approximately 50 counts of plagiarism. As an author and blogger, I observed the public judgment with fascination, considering that plagiarism has been regarded as the […] The post Thoughts On Plagiarism As A...
Everyone aspires to be a self-made millionaire, but surprisingly, there are fewer self-made millionaires than commonly thought. Before finding out the answer, what percentage of millionaires do you think became one with no inheritance or financial help from their parents or relatives? Here’s an insightful Bank of America Private Bank Survey of Wealthy Americans that … There Are Less Self-Made Millionaires Than You...
In 2024, I am transitioning from a spender to a saver mindset. I am returning to frugal habits reminiscent of my lifestyle in the first thirteen years after college. This change is prompted by the need to rebuild liquidity. One area I'm targeting to cut expenses is food. After a three-month experiment involving increased spending … How Couples Can Adopt The Same Financial...
Happy new year everyone! For 2024, my theme of the year is, “One last year of intense focus.” This marks my 15th year running Financial Samurai, coinciding with both my children starting full-time school in September. Fatigue has set in, reminiscent of 2011 when I pondered leaving investment banking for good. That burnout prompted a … 2024 Financial Samurai Goals: One Last Year...
