Welcome to a Saturday post! This is an extra for the week and while it's uncommon, it will become less so from now on. More on that in a minute, but first let me give you some background. Post Schedule Over the past year or so I have posted three days a week -- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (MWF). In addition, I have settled into what I'll call the "MWF formula" -- … [Read more...]
Top 10 Posts of 2017
Like almost every other personal finance blogger, I feel compelled to share with you my best posts of 2017. It's very difficult to list one set of criteria that makes an awesome post. I've found out just how tough it is since I bought Rockstar Finance. There are so many factors that go into "greatness." And what is terrific for one person could be so-so for … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Panhandlers
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was newly married and we were saving money wherever we could. That's why I was riding the bus to work despite that fact that we made over $100k per year as a couple. I was at a bus stop on a highly-trafficked street in downtown Pittsburgh, 10 minutes or so early for my bus. For some reason no one was around, which was … [Read more...]
Comcast: Offering Reduced Features and Terrible Service for the Same Outrageous Price
This is going to be a rant. If you don't like rants, turn your eyes and run away. I'll have a new post up in a couple days. If you like them, you've come to the right place. Let's get started... Terrible Customer Service On the opposite end of the customer service spectrum from Costco (who has great customer service IMO) is Comcast. Or, as they call themselves now, … [Read more...]
Great Holiday Gift Ideas
Update: This was originally posted as a list of gift ideas for the holidays, but it's really a list of awesome products to buy at any time of year. I'll be adding to it from time to time so anyone who's hard-pressed for some birthday, anniversary, special occasion, etc. ideas will have a good resource. We all have someone on our holiday shopping list who is hard to buy … [Read more...]
What are You Thankful For?
As we approach Thanksgiving here in the U.S., I thought it would be a nice change of pace to talk about thankfulness. Specifically, I thought I'd list what I'm thankful for and you could do the same. Now I have been so blessed that I could probably write 10,000 words on all the things I'm thankful for. Assuming you don't want to read that much, I'll just share my top … [Read more...]
New Series, Giveaways, Updates, and More: What’s Happening at ESI Money
I normally don't do a post on Tuesdays, but there are several miscellaneous announcements I want to share. If you're not interested in knowing what's going on here at ESI Money, another money-related post will be available tomorrow. But if you are, here are some things you'll want to be aware of... New Interview Series My Millionaire Interviews series is very popular … [Read more...]
Where Does Giving Fit with Financial Independence?
I read a hundred blogs on a regular basis, many of them in the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement. As you might imagine, they cover a broad spectrum of money topics. I enjoy reading so many because they have such different and interesting perspectives. But even though I consume hundreds of posts each week, I rarely find one on giving. And I'm not … [Read more...]
Ignore Money Critics
A while ago I published Millionaire Interview 6. As I often do, I shared the post on Facebook. One person made this comment: Honestly, not overly impressed. Yes, a millionaire with home equity and a good job, but keeping most of his money in cash the last three years??? If that was invested in the market his net worth would now be 1.75 to 2 million. Playing it way too … [Read more...]
Personal Finance is Common Sense
This is a related post to Stop Making Money Excuses. Don't worry, it won't be as rant-y as that one. :) But it will address an objection that I come across all too often. Not Rocket Science Let's begin with the obvious: understanding personal finance is not rocket science. The concepts needed to become wealthy are few in number and easy to understand. In fact, I've … [Read more...]
