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Hello!  Amanda and I are up in the Upper Peninsula (The UP) of Michigan this week on a mini-road trip to see a new part of the country, hang with friends, and enjoy a wedding in Green Bay, WI on the way home.   We’ve never been to Michigan before, but so far it’s beenRead more

Let’s review what a financial honey hole is before I start this article.  A Honey Hole, as Wikipedia defines it is:  “A honey hole is slang for a location that yields a valued commodity or resource.”   I think the term “Honey Hole” originally came from fishermen.  Their secret spot on a lake where all theRead more

I received an incredible email last week.  I wanted to re-publish it today, as this is a perfect example of the #1 skill a human being needs to be incredibly successful:   The subject line read, “Coffee,” which I opened.  Then the message read:   “My name is Bruce (fake name) and I am a SeniorRead more

Don’t be me this weekend.  Why?  Because my frugal, wealth-building ways almost became a victim of my own pride, ego, and arrogance. For a moment, I almost let irresponsible feelings of vanity get the best of me, and I wanted to, as Dave Ramsey so eloquently puts it: “Buy things I don’t need, with moneyRead more

This article is about what an underground electronic-dance-music rave was like in the rave hey-deys of the late 1990’s. It is also about how this magical underground music scene — filled with intense creativity, passion, and people —reminds me of the financial-independence blogging community of today. The late 90’s raving community impacted my life inRead more

Do you dream of traveling the world?  Do you feel like traveling is too expensive to realistically do?  I thought so too, until my wife Amanda showed me how to do it.  This article is about how to use the awesome travel-hacking tool:  Skyscanner, and how to find the cheapest flights around the world onRead more

I went for a walk last night as the sun set.  It’s March in Minnesota.  The snow banks were melting, causing cold, icy, and slippery side-walks as I walked.  This is the season in Minnesota where spring and winter mix together.  Warm afternoon air mixes with the sub-zero nights, and an icy mess appears everywhereRead more

Our best investment strategy was inspired by this below Paul Samuelson quote (a 1970 Nobel Prize winner in economics): “Investing should be dull. It shouldn’t be exciting. Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.” I’ve been reflecting on theRead more

“What is your best money advice?”  My brain flashed with all the ideas, experiences, and memories I’ve had with money as I read this question on social media.  It didn’t take me long to spit out my best money advice:   “My best money advice is easy:  Avoid liabilities like they’re scalp-eating, flying monkeys.  BuyRead more

In 2013, I dreamed of starting my own business and working from home.  I knew what I wanted out of life.  I could see my dreams crystal clear on the dance floor inside of my skull.  But my problem was a common one:  I knew what I wanted.  I just had no idea how toRead more