Recently, a writer I know was bemoaning a trite parenting-type story that she wrote. After all, she was an Ivy League graduate, shouldn’t she be doing something more with her skills than blogging about consumer products? Well, what should she be doing? We tend to define the successful payoff from a degree in terms of… [Read More]
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Some notes on target-date funds
Target-date funds have become a popular way to save for retirement because they are such a simple idea that they qualify as a default investment for employer retirement plans such as 401(k)s. They have advantages, but they also have risk. The big risk is that your risk and return profile is not the same as… [Read More]
Money and happiness
One of the reasons that I like saving money is that there are things I really want that are not cheap, like travel. I’d rather spend less at the grocery store every week so that I have more money for vacation. Saving up for things is terribly old-fashioned. Yet, like many old-fashioned things, it’s good… [Read More]
What is inflation, anyway?
A lot of money smarts are also street smarts – knowing how to navigate the grocery store, finding the best cheap entertainment, and being able to negotiate a good deal. Other money smarts are also book smarts. The basics of economics and finance are helpful! Really! Recently, as friend asked me for an explanation of… [Read More]