Catching the Coin

A light and fluffy take on some money issues.

How much money would motivate you to dig in some dumpsters? You may be surprised (we sure were!) at how much people have made from dumpster diving or garage sale hunting.

Warnings are often good things. Warnings can saves lives… and warnings can save your finances. Today we attempt the latter as we review an article by Suba Iyer posted on GetRichSlowly.com

In This Episode We Look At:

• Lifestyle spending mistakes to avoid
• Taking care of your health (No, you're not 10ft tall and bulletproof)
• Career changes later in life; you're not too old to "Level up!"

Today's Resources and Links:

• Source Article
• Epic Safety Video
• Family Financial Workbook, by Larry Burkett [affiliate link]

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Financial World:

• Look at your level of saving, investing and spending. Would you say you are on a profitable trajectory or is there a need for some tweaks? Better to make small adjustments now, than to be in a position later when you have to make MAJOR adjustments.

What Are Your Thoughts?

If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts.

A light and fluffy take on some money issues.

Today we talk about Tim's ties… and suits… And consider that I may be a slob in regards to dress.

When it comes to money, we all prefer positives in life over negatives, right? It's hard to beat the joy experienced when you discover a large tax refund. But is a large tax refund financially wise?

In This Episode We Look At:

• The definition of a tax refund: Is it a bonus, did you win something?
• The missed opportunity which we refer to as "The Poverty Process"
• We'll show you how to harness the power of your refund throughout the year using "The Prosperity Process"

Today's Resources and Links:

• IRS page for the W-4
• TurboTax explains the W-4
• Fund Your Future: a Tax-Smart Savings Plan by Ed Slott [Affiliate Link]

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Financial World:

• Look at your last three years of tax returns and check for a pattern of consistent refunds of over $1,000. That's money that can be better managed throughout the year by YOU, not the IRS. Adjust your W-4 today.

What Are Your Thoughts?

If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts.

A light and fluffy take on some money issues.

We examine what some folks have found in their backyards. Expect everything from gold to Louis Lane to turn up back there.

Why do you work as hard as you do?

Most of us would give the noble answer that we work to provide for ourselves and family. But how many can answer correctly (it's yourself!) when asked, "Who gets paid first when you get paid?"

In This Episode We Look At:

• Three enemies of your financial future
• Three moves to defeat those enemies
• A real-world look at the difference between financial dependence (where most Americans remain) and financial independence

Today's Resources and Links:

• Richest Man in Babylon, by George Clayson [Affiliate Link]
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki [Affiliate Link]
• Have a free Audible book on us (first time users only) [Affiliate Link]
• Debt elimination calculator [Credit Karma]

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Financial World:

• Decide to make the changes, even hard changes, required so that you can start paying yourself first. Then use an online calculator to project how much you can accumulate over the next 10, 20, even 30 years!

What Are Your Thoughts?

If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts.

A light and fluffy take on some money issues.

That's no laugh track in the background. Today we talk Valentine's Day with an unexpecting crowd of friends.

A bear market is a gift from the financial Gods-and the longer it lasts, the better off you will be. Instead of running from the bear, you should embrace him.”

Jason Zweig The Wall Street Journal “Stop Worrying, and learn to Love the Bear” July 12, 2008 “The Intelligent Investor”

Today we take an objective look at bear markets- the period of time when markets drop 20% or more- and consider ways to profit from such market conditions.

In This Episode We Look At:

• The misbehavior of most investors and how you can benefit from doing the opposite
• The destructive effects of mainstream media
• The key strategies for enduring long term through Bear Markets.

Today's Resources and Links:

• Video: Is there already a global bear market?
• The Elements of Investing [Affiliate Link]

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Financial World:

• Investors that endure market volatility- Bear Markets- are provided the opportunity to obtain better returns than fixed income securities. Be strong and courageous through down markets and buy more of what you own while the prices are down!

What Are Your Thoughts?

If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts.

A light and fluffy take on some money issues.

Zombies! In this Lighter Side episode, Tim picks Troy's brains about the pending zombie apocalypse.

In times of downward volatility, many investors run to bonds. Why is that? And should everyone own some bonds?

In This Episode We Look At:

• Hedging against the volatility of stocks with bonds
• Understanding the main categories of bonds and which may serve you better
• Bond duration and how that impacts the safety of your principle

Today's Resources and Links:

• Here is a helpful visual illustrating the increasing risk of longer term bonds.
• Here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons of bonds.
• The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Investing in Bonds. [Affiliate Link]

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Financial World:

• Take a look at your 401(k) or brokerage statement and identify what fund, if any, may represent bonds. The word Bond may be in the fund name, or you see "Government Fund" or "Fixed Income", which also consists of bonds. Is that portion too much or too little for your stage of life? Adjust it accordingly.

What Are Your Thoughts?

If you have a question or comment about today's topic, we invite you to share your thoughts.