Ah, Wall Street. Playground of billionaires and the only place in the world where 1+1 can equal 3 or -47. Sometimes on the same day. Is it any wonder that one of the most nerve-wracking tasks of financial planning can be understanding how to invest your 401k, IRA or other account? In fact, I…
When was the last time you failed? No, you don’t have to say it out loud if you’re embarrassed. But I want you to think about it: What do you consider your most recent failure? And how does it make you feel? Before Mint came out, I failed at using Quicken about 15 times. I…
The other day I asked a health professional one simple question. ONE QUESTION. And he proceeded to talk for the next 15 minutes about all of the ways people should be more afraid of this specific thing I asked about, how basically we were all screwed. Apparently he was very passionate about this topic. When…
Greg Johnson is a personal finance and frugal travel expert who leveraged his online business to quit his 9-5 job, spend more time with his family, and travel the world. He is the co-owner of the popular blog Club Thrifty, where he teaches others how to spend less and travel more. Let’s face…
What did you learn from your parents about money? Did your parents teach you how to balance a checkbook? Make a budget? Not to use a credit card? There are probably two sides to this coin: what they actually taught you and what you picked up from them as attitudes, fears, and habits. Which begs…
You might be thinking that saving for a house, especially one in the Seattle market, is going to take more than a couple “little” steps. And you’re completely right! Saving for a home requires a carefully thought out financial plan of responsible saving and investing. Let’s say you’re already on the right track in…
I’ve been talking to a lot of people lately who are experiencing serious “Fear of Missing Out” or “FOMO” about something. Multiple people have expressed concern about missing out on: Buying a home while real estate prices are still low (in Seattle, haha! Hang on, let me get my time machine and transport you…
There is so much shame attached to money problems, and debt in particular. “I should have known better…” “How could I have let it get this far?” “I’m so irresponsible…” “I can’t be trusted.” Whenever I speak with a potential client who is struggling to pay off debt (and it doesn’t matter how big…
Meet Sam Kirby, one of my favorite people in the world and a financial planner here at Creative Money! Sam sees clients in the Seattle-Bellevue area and makes her home in Bellingham where she has lived for 17 years with her husband Damien and three kids. For the next four weeks she will be…
Meet Sam Kirby, one of my favorite people in the world and a financial planner here at Creative Money! Sam sees clients in the Seattle-Bellevue area and makes her home in Bellingham where she has lived for 17 years with her husband Damien and three kids. For the next four weeks she will be…