Until this month, Pippa, our oldest, didn’t have a cell phone. We got her an entry level smart phone for her 16th birthday. In most U.S. families today, that advanced “first phone” age classifies as child abuse. When does a kid “need” their own phone? A recent NPR interview says 10(!) is a typical take-the-plunge […]
Archives for January 2017
Seven Insurance Commandments for Thrifty (Cheap) People
I’m thrifty. Or cheap, if you ask one of my kids. I don’t like to spend money if I don’t have to. So I’m always looking to reduce the regular ongoing expenses that really accumulate over the years. Like insurance. I have a neighborhood friend who grew tired of practicing law and decided to become […]
Why We Live in Baltimore Despite Its Problems
When Nora and I first married, we lived in a condo in mid-town Baltimore. When Pippa came along, we decided to buy a rowhome with a yard, so that she would have a little room to romp. We settled in North Baltimore. Baltimore ranks high on top-10 lists. These aren’t the rankings that city boosters […]
Trump’s Effect on U.S. Personal Finances Likely to Be Mixed
Ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, I’ve been asked by lots of people (OK, 2) what I think about his administration’s potential effect on U.S. household and government finances. So here goes. I consider myself pretty moderate, so hopefully this is a balanced look at things. ECONOMY & JOBS I anticipate Trump’s tax cuts, increased spending, […]
3 New Year’s High-Impact Money-Saving Resolutions for 2017
I’m not joining a gym. I’m not going to eat less. And let’s face it, I’m probably not going to earn more. But I am going to spend less, and thus have more. You’ll note there’s nothing here about replacing your light bulbs with more efficient ones. That’s good for the earth and I enthusiastically […]