The Federal Reserve estimates that Americans lend $184 billion dollars to friends and family members each year. As you likely know, these loans can be awkward for both the borrower and lender when it comes time for repayment. I’ve been the embarrassed borrower who completely forgot to repay someone, and I’ve been the lender who …
Category: Money
The Accidental Bank Deposit (What Would You Have Done?)
Last week, I walked out of the grocery store to my car with a bag of groceries in one hand and my phone, wallet and a pack of gum in the other. As soon as I saw the gum, I thought, “shoot, I didn’t pay for this!” I was immediately struck with guilt and knew …
6 Money (and Life!) Lessons I’ve Picked Up From Cowboys
My wife and I sometimes find a tv show we both like and we’ll use it as a way to spend time together and chill-out – particularly in the evenings. The latest one we discovered is about three young(er) cowboys and their families from Alabama. In The Cowboy Way (Amazon Prime), Bubba, Booger (yes, that’s …
Q&A with Apple Founder Ronald Wayne: Steve Jobs, the Economy and the Collapse of the Dollar
This email interview was first published in 2012. Please place any financial advice given at this time in its proper context. There are a few people who really intrigue me – and one of those on that list is Ronald Wayne. I wrote a little blurb about Wayne last year after I learned about him …
Unique Ways to Earn Amazon Gift Cards
If you’re an avid shopper at Amazon (and it seems that a lot of folks are these days), there are now plenty of ways to earn gift cards from the online retailer. Some are as easy as making your regular / routine purchases! Let’s look at some of these ways. Would love to hear about …
How to Teach Kids About Saving Money
For parents, the greatest responsibility (besides leading them to Christ) we have is showing our kids how to manage their money. With how much our world is centered around money, and the trials and tribulations that are associated with money, we owe it to our kids to teach them for 18 years of their life …
Would Knowing Everyone’s Salaries Demotivate You?
There’s been a lot more talk about the “need” to openly share ones salary with the world. This is particularly coming from the more liberal leaning folks, suggesting that knowing what others are paid will lead to more equal pay for equal work (among other things). But is it truly the right thing to do? …
Why Do You Do That With Your Finances?
In his recent Friday Forward blog, author and CEO Robert Glazer, shares the “pot roast” story (you may know it): A mother was preparing a pot roast for her family’s Easter meal while her young daughter helped. Knowing her daughter was very curious, the mother clarified each step. As she was preparing to put the …
Turning Down the Upsell
I bought my very first laptop during the summer of 2000. There are cell phones today that have better specs than that laptop, but back then, it was a top-of-the-line machine. Another way to say this: I paid way more than anyone should ever pay for a laptop with a 20GB hard drive. It was …
What Things Are You Willing to Pay a Premium Price For? (Even Though You Can Get Them Cheaper)
The following was first published in January of 2015. Thought we would republish it as this is always something that remains on my (and maybe yours?) mind. What do you think? This is something I’ve been thinking about for awhile: things that I’m willing to pay a premium price for, though I can find them cheaper …