FREE NEWSLETTER
2026 Charitable Contributions
10 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 2/9/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 2/9 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 2/10
Planning a Trip
21 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 1/30/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 1/30 | RECENT: normr60189 on 2/4
Less Paper, More Fraud
11 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 2/2/2026
FIRST: R Quinn on 2/2 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 2/3
How do I scam thee? Let me count the ways
46 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 7/20/2025
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 7/21/2025 | RECENT: Ormode on 1/30
Smart Watch
8 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 1/22/2026
FIRST: normr60189 on 1/22 | RECENT: Jeff Bond on 1/23
Private Equity Investing
8 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 1/21/2026
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 1/21 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 1/22
DIET, Did I Eat That
24 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 1/16/2026
FIRST: David Lancaster on 1/16 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 1/18
Plan for a Pay Cut
36 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 12/26/2025
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 12/26/2025 | RECENT: Lis7 on 1/13
Filing Status and IRMMA
4 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 12/28/2025
FIRST: Nick Politakis on 12/28/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 12/31/2025
Humble Christmas and Holiday Message
6 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 12/20/2025
FIRST: OldITGuy on 12/20/2025 | RECENT: Nick Politakis on 12/22/2025
They Never Call
1 reply
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 12/19/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 12/19/2025 | RECENT: greg_j_tomamichel on 12/19/2025
27 Months
73 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 12/12/2025
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 12/12/2025 | RECENT: Andy Morrison on 12/19/2025
Enough Already
29 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 12/9/2025
FIRST: William Perry on 12/9/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 12/12/2025
The Point of Diminishing Returns
50 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/31/2025
FIRST: Gary Klotz on 11/1/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 12/8/2025
Are the actuarial assumptions regarding benefit neutrality still accurate?
19 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 12/5/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 12/5/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 12/8/2025
A Day In Philly
26 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 11/11/2025
FIRST: Jack Hannam on 11/11/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 11/12/2025
To Help, And To Be Helped
14 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 11/11/2025
FIRST: David Lancaster on 11/11/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 11/12/2025
Public Schools and Property Taxes
16 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/27/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 10/28/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 10/30/2025
HumbleDollar Friend Request
8 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/27/2025
FIRST: DAN SMITH on 10/27/2025 | RECENT: Edmund Marsh on 10/28/2025
Don’t Give Up on the Wayward Kid
16 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/24/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 10/24/2025 | RECENT: Mom & Dad Schneider on 10/27/2025
Balance Transfers and Money Factors
6 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/21/2025
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 10/21/2025 | RECENT: youthbudget on 10/25/2025
Discarding the Negative
23 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/19/2025
FIRST: Andrew Forsythe on 10/19/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/21/2025
Drinking on the Job
10 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/16/2025
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 10/17/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 10/19/2025
The Wine Chronicles
24 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/10/2025
FIRST: Mark Crothers on 10/10/2025 | RECENT: Mark Crothers on 10/11/2025
Taxpayers Say the Darndest Things
30 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/2/2025
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 10/2/2025 | RECENT: David Lancaster on 10/8/2025
November 7 HumbleDollar Reader/Writer Meet Up
6 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 10/4/2025
FIRST: Dave Melick on 10/4/2025 | RECENT: S on 10/5/2025
Told Ya So Big Dummy
38 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 9/26/2025
FIRST: greg_j_tomamichel on 9/26/2025 | RECENT: greg_j_tomamichel on 9/28/2025
An Idea Every Week
12 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 9/6/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 9/6/2025 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 9/7/2025
Shifting Gears
23 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 8/29/2025
FIRST: quan nguyen on 8/29/2025 | RECENT: Richard Hayman on 9/2/2025
Bad Trip
32 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 7/31/2025
FIRST: 1PF on 7/31/2025 | RECENT: David Shapiro on 8/2/2025
Breaking Up 2
25 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 7/1/2025
FIRST: Scott Dichter on 7/1/2025 | RECENT: Dan Smith on 7/5/2025
A Lesson in Accountability
15 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 5/29/2025
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 5/29/2025 | RECENT: Michael1 on 6/1/2025
Can’t Figure Out This Darned Insomnia
16 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 5/16/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 5/16/2025 | RECENT: DAN SMITH on 5/17/2025
Insomnia and the Back of an Envelope
19 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 4/21/2025
FIRST: Ken Cutler on 4/21/2025 | RECENT: DrLefty on 4/27/2025
Trying To Think Through the Bond Situation
15 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 4/14/2025
FIRST: Russ Paoletti on 4/15/2025 | RECENT: Randy Dobkin on 4/18/2025
Will Work For Food, Starting My Diet Soon
14 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 3/31/2025
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 3/31/2025 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 4/1/2025
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
41 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 3/6/2025
FIRST: R Quinn on 3/6/2025 | RECENT: Cheryl Low on 3/9/2025
Things That Don’t Much Interest Me No More
33 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 12/5/2024
FIRST: bbbobbins on 12/5/2024 | RECENT: DrLefty on 12/10/2024
After It's Over
11 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 11/21/2024
FIRST: mytimetotravel on 11/21/2024 | RECENT: mytimetotravel on 11/22/2024
Good Old Days?
19 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 11/18/2024
FIRST: Jeff Bond on 11/18/2024 | RECENT: H S on 11/19/2024
How Much is Too Much
5 replies
AUTHOR: DAN SMITH on 6/27/2024
FIRST: Jonathan Clements on 6/28/2024 | RECENT: Ed Wong on 6/29/2024
Comments
Above the line is just a reduction in Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), without having to itemize deductions.
Post: 2026 Charitable Contributions
Link to comment from February 9, 2026
Trust me, Greg, it won't🙃
Post: Choices, choices everywhere
Link to comment from February 9, 2026
In my mid 20s I bought a nice four-family apartment building using a land contract from a big-shot home builder. I was under capitalized and never should have taken on that much debt. The seller stopped making payments on his mortgage, and filed bankruptcy. I needed more cash than I had in order to pay down the mortgage held at the sellers bank. I would have lost the building, and my investment, if my mommy and daddy hadn’t been there to bail me out; I was lucky. That taught me two things. One being the importance of emergency funds. The other being that many important, successful looking people are no more than fancy facades.
Post: A Message to Young Readers: Your Crisis Is Coming.
Link to comment from February 8, 2026
Every choice we make has a ripple effect, some ripples being more like tsunamis. I like your concept of looking at each choice as two. I've been working on a similar article idea, but from a different perspective.
Post: Choices, choices everywhere
Link to comment from February 8, 2026
Yes, that has been on my mind. I've been checking out bonds and CDs on Fidelity's website.
Post: High Interest Savings Accounts vs Bond funds
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
Brian, that’s the same thought I’ve been having. I have quite a bit of cash in the same account as you. I also have some in short and medium duration bond funds, and am hoping for some appreciation if rates come down further. For now, however, the money market is doing just fine. I’m looking forward to replies from some of our investment nerds.
Post: High Interest Savings Accounts vs Bond funds
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
Can those folks do it on their own, even after reading a book? Short answer, no. Most people need a Grossman. Now that I'm thinking of it, I need a Grossman, that's why I'm here.
Post: Perfect Portfolio
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
What a terrible way for a 30 year chapter of one's life to conclude! I’m going to quote another Jimmy Buffett lyric; "yesterday is over my shoulder, so I won’t look back for too long”. Look forward, and best of luck for this new adventure you are beginning.
Post: Laid Off
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
I once gave some life advice to a union brother who was fired for chronic absenteeism. My words were not well taken at the time, but several weeks later he called and thanked me. I’ve not seen him since, but I hope he’s doing well and contributing to a positive working environment somewhere.
Post: I got the call
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
This article is a gem, Dennis. Tidbits of wisdom, such as “cool your jets”, “chill out”, and “hold your horses” come to mind.
Post: Value of Waiting
Link to comment from February 7, 2026