I use complicated spreadsheets at work including cleaning up data from multiple sources, but when it comes to taxes, I.dump everything at the accountant's office.
I found this article fascinating, but something I'm completely unwilling to deal with myself.
Regional differences are likely to show a bigger problem of affordability in some locations, but affordability is a problem everywhere.
If you don't like the term wage stagnation, then instead plot inflation and wages on the same graph and look at the differences in the slopes.
What else is a problem? Look at the distribution of wealth. Even the 95th percentile has lost compared to the top 1%.
A budget is a great tool in the hands of someone who will stick to it.
I reviewed a budget my daughter set for herself the first year she had a real job. I helped her make it more realistic and encouraged her to spend more on things that would greatly increase her quality of life, like spending on a parking lot instead of hunting for on street parking.
She stuck to the budget and was gratified to see she actually was able to save money too.
She had a realistic plan based on her income. Then she did not exceed the budget. The second part is a behavior issue which varies from person to person.
But had an unexpected emergency cost arisen, she should not have been blamed for it.
I was in an open office area for a few years. I was astounded by the people who ordered in breakfast and lunch every day, often with coffees and soda or juices.
Maybe that's why the refrigerator and microwave in our large kitchen area never got too dirty.
Thank you for this wonderful article. I think a theme of Humbledollar readers is our feelings of responsibility regarding our financial wellbeing. We recognize that there are forces beyond our control, but we are also devoted to a sense of honor or responsibility where we do have control.
Sime of it was criminal activity. Most of it was business as usual. For instance, in the late 1990s I moved my assets out of a brokerage firm which had derivatives and repurchase agreements in its interest bearing cash account. Their poor choice to do this was legal. They crashed in 2008.
Another example: in 2002 or 2003 we sought a $200k mortgage to put an addition on our house. 1.) The lenders kept pushing variable rate mortgages. 2.) They kept pushing us to borrow more. One said, "You qualify for $450k. Imagine what you could buy."
Legally, we did qualify for $450k, and a lot of other people maxed out accordingly. We stuck to the $200k.
The moves were not illegal. The regulations were too lenient.
The purpose of health insurance in the US is to enrich insurance companies. Kind of like the purpose of TV with commercials is to sell an audience to the advertisers.
Comments
I like this definition. Especially since a lot of people simply don't have means. This is what their spreadsheets would show.
Post: What does ”means” mean?
Link to comment from February 14, 2026
I use complicated spreadsheets at work including cleaning up data from multiple sources, but when it comes to taxes, I.dump everything at the accountant's office. I found this article fascinating, but something I'm completely unwilling to deal with myself.
Post: Yes, I am a NIIT wit
Link to comment from February 14, 2026
Regional differences are likely to show a bigger problem of affordability in some locations, but affordability is a problem everywhere. If you don't like the term wage stagnation, then instead plot inflation and wages on the same graph and look at the differences in the slopes. What else is a problem? Look at the distribution of wealth. Even the 95th percentile has lost compared to the top 1%.
Post: Home Prices and Affordability
Link to comment from February 14, 2026
A budget is a great tool in the hands of someone who will stick to it. I reviewed a budget my daughter set for herself the first year she had a real job. I helped her make it more realistic and encouraged her to spend more on things that would greatly increase her quality of life, like spending on a parking lot instead of hunting for on street parking. She stuck to the budget and was gratified to see she actually was able to save money too. She had a realistic plan based on her income. Then she did not exceed the budget. The second part is a behavior issue which varies from person to person. But had an unexpected emergency cost arisen, she should not have been blamed for it.
Post: The Monthly Mystery of the Vanishing Paycheck
Link to comment from February 14, 2026
Expect this from some kids, "Dad, you just don't understand."
Post: The Monthly Mystery of the Vanishing Paycheck
Link to comment from February 14, 2026
I was in an open office area for a few years. I was astounded by the people who ordered in breakfast and lunch every day, often with coffees and soda or juices. Maybe that's why the refrigerator and microwave in our large kitchen area never got too dirty.
Post: The Monthly Mystery of the Vanishing Paycheck
Link to comment from February 14, 2026
Thank you for this wonderful article. I think a theme of Humbledollar readers is our feelings of responsibility regarding our financial wellbeing. We recognize that there are forces beyond our control, but we are also devoted to a sense of honor or responsibility where we do have control.
Post: Financial Trauma
Link to comment from February 14, 2026
Sime of it was criminal activity. Most of it was business as usual. For instance, in the late 1990s I moved my assets out of a brokerage firm which had derivatives and repurchase agreements in its interest bearing cash account. Their poor choice to do this was legal. They crashed in 2008. Another example: in 2002 or 2003 we sought a $200k mortgage to put an addition on our house. 1.) The lenders kept pushing variable rate mortgages. 2.) They kept pushing us to borrow more. One said, "You qualify for $450k. Imagine what you could buy." Legally, we did qualify for $450k, and a lot of other people maxed out accordingly. We stuck to the $200k. The moves were not illegal. The regulations were too lenient.
Post: Financial Trauma
Link to comment from February 14, 2026
The FDA appears poised to change a lot of what is and is not approved. This is an added element of chaos.
Post: When $2100 is not what it appears. The Medicare Part D trap
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
The purpose of health insurance in the US is to enrich insurance companies. Kind of like the purpose of TV with commercials is to sell an audience to the advertisers.
Post: When $2100 is not what it appears. The Medicare Part D trap
Link to comment from February 7, 2026