Are these incredible adjectives warranted? Can applying for a few credit cards result in real world pain and suffering? Should we spend more real $ on travel instead of using rewards points?
It is that time of year again. Time to pay the tax man. At least for most people.
For the past two years we have shared our tax returns (2013, 2014), showing investment income of nearly $100,000 and a Federal Income Tax bill of $0.
This year is a little different because we violated Principle #1, Choose Leisure Over Labor, and this little blog accidentally earned a few bucks. Apparently I’m a business owner now. While that opens up all kinds of interesting tax opportunities, which I certainly capitalized on, having earned income changes the game a bit.
I’m often asked if we invest with Betterment, or if I would recommend them.
I assume this is because of their generous affiliate marketing program for personal finance bloggers, but we could generically ask, “Would I recommend using a robo-adviser?” But Betterment’s solution will make a fine reference point.
As with most things, there are pros and cons. But for the purpose of discretely foreshadowing my conclusions:
For 2 months at the tail end of 2015, we called Chiang Mai, Thailand home.
We quickly settled into a way of life that revolved around yoga and Crossfit, afternoon swims, walking among the temples, and exploring the vast food scene.
Christmas and New Year’s Eve were special nights out on the town, as were the dual Thai festivals of Loi Krathong and Yi Ping.
As we explored the city we met a diverse and exciting group of new friends, and shared our favorite places with visiting friends and family.
We enjoyed a high quality of life with a surprisingly low cost.
A few months ago the story of a Google employee who lived in a truck(*) in the company’s parking lot went viral. Rather than pay $2,000/month to share a 2 bedroom apartment with 3 other people, he chose to sleep in a 16-foot box truck.
I love it! Great choice! A few years of following the road less traveled will ensure a strong financial future. By not paying rent, an additional $24,000/year can be applied to debt and investments.
But what if there was a way to double that savings with one easy change? And in fact there is. (Hint: taxes.)
