Emily
I'm a freelance writer and native Portlander who has lived in Switzerland, Russia, Spain, France and (briefly) China. Like most people, my finances are not in tip-top shape, but I'm working on paying off my student loans and fixing that. I'm also a young widow and mother of a one-year-old daughter.
Blog Posts by Emily:
- September 4, 2019
- by Emily
Costs and Benefits of Preschool vs College
We all expect college to be expensive, and many parents spend over a decade saving for their children’s college fund. But what about preschool, how much does it really help a child over their lifetime?
- June 14, 2019
- by Emily
How Asset Allocation Is Related to Net Worth and Risk
Do you know what your net worth is, where it is allocated, and how much risk you are carrying? This post shows how three families with very different asset allocations fare over a five year …
- March 25, 2019
- by Emily
Trying to Time the Stock Market Is Like Gambling
You’ve heard the advice: buy low and sell high. Easier said than done. Our brains are designed to fall for the idea of timing the market. We break it down and outline better approaches.
- March 5, 2019
- by Emily
Working with Your Spouse to Develop a Budget
In a relationship it is easy to get into arguments over budgets and spending. Especially personal spending your partner doesn't see the value of. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you work …
- January 18, 2019
- by Emily
Budgeting for Chaos - When Life Gets Random
How do we manage our finances when things are not going well? Here are some ideas for realistically budgeting when life is coming at you fast.
- January 10, 2019
- by Emily
Credit Cards vs Debit Cards Compared - Risk and Rewards
Even though they look the same, credit and debit cards have a different set of risks and benefits. Here’s a deep dive into how the two types of plastic in your wallet work behind the …
- December 7, 2018
- by Emily
How Net Worth Differs from Retirement Planning
Your retirement plan is an important part of your overall financial picture… just as your net worth is. There is some overlap between the two, but also some very important differences. You cannot rely on …
- November 19, 2018
- by Emily
Taking Advantage of Perks for First-Time Homebuyers
If you’re looking into buying a home, here’s what you should know about first-time homebuyer programs. Think this doesn’t apply to you? Read on… the government’s definition of "first-time homebuyer" is much broader than you …
- November 8, 2018
- by Emily
So You Won the Lottery - Is the Lump Sum Payment Best?
Woohoo! We all love dreaming about winning the lottery… but if you win is it better to take the lump sum or the annuity (in which you get a certain amount per year for a …
- October 23, 2018
- by Emily
How to Improve Your Bottom Line by Eliminating High Interest Debt
Debt is a useful tool to meet personal and financial goals like homeownership or going to college. But interest, especially if the rates are high, can cripple your efforts to pay off loans and make …
- August 31, 2018
- by Emily
Is Grad School Worth It? Detailed Simulations and Discussion
My master’s degree left me with over $80,000 in debt, at an interest rate that dwarfed the rate I got on my undergraduate loans. I’m not alone among my master’s degree-holding friends in having some …
- August 11, 2018
- by Emily
Nine Types of Wealth You Can’t Measure with Money
What does it mean to be wealthy? Most financial advisors will give you a narrow definition - it’s all about how much money you have. Wealth equates to "an abundance", but if money is prioritized …
- July 31, 2018
- by Emily
Five Ways to Live Rent Free
These strategies don’t fit into the mainstream idea of what you “should” be doing as an adult. But if you really want to live rent free, here are a few ideas.
- July 20, 2018
- by Emily
How to Talk About Money with Kids Age Preteen and Older
As your kids enter the pre-teen years, it’s important to keep talking about money—but you’re going to be more open and honest than before and you’ll be ready to address more complex financial issues. Here …
- June 6, 2018
- by Emily
Are You Addicted to Shopping? 5 Tips To Stop
Do you shop for entertainment “because baby I’m worth it”??? Does it cause stress later? Scientifically speaking leisure shopping triggers a brain high. Here are some tips to manage it and a strategy to stay …
- May 28, 2018
- by Emily
Why Tracking Expenses Is Essential to Developing a Budget
The first step towards getting control of your finances is figuring out where your money is going, which means tracking all of your expenditures. Ideally you should do this on a regular basis, down to …
- May 18, 2018
- by Emily
Talking to Your Kids About Money - Starting the Conversation
Talking about money with your kids in an age-appropriate way can help ensure that they grow up with a solid understanding of both how money works as well as how to manage it.
- April 9, 2018
- by Emily
Why Higher Income Doesn’t Always Equal Higher Net Worth
When people talk about being wealthy or “rich,” they rarely pause to define wealth—this is true when you’re talking to a neighbor but also often true when you’re reading about wealth in the newspaper. So …
- March 25, 2018
- by Emily
What Categories Should Be in My Budget?
The key to creating an effective budget, whether you’re creating a monthly or annual budget or planning a budget for an upcoming vacation, is that you need to account for everything. The numbers on your …
- March 14, 2018
- by Emily
Smart Spenders Recognize Quality and Pay for It Gladly
As a society we tend to judge each other on how we spend. So and so is “cheap”, or so and so “spends too much”... How much a person spends in dollars is a limited …
- February 27, 2018
- by Emily
How and Why (Or Why Not) to Set Up a Trust Fund
You might associate trust funds with spoiled, free spending 20-somethings, but chances are most beneficiaries of trust funds wouldn’t be immediately recognizable. Trust funds are a tool to protect your assets, to ensure that your …
- January 26, 2018
- by Emily
Can (And Should) You Retire Overseas?
Moving abroad after retirement is an attractive idea, but there are many things to consider. Perhaps you’re daunted by the amount you need to save for a comfortable retirement in the United States? Or maybe …
- December 26, 2017
- by Emily
A Tool To Compare Spending Choices
Could you cut $100 from your monthly spending and invest it instead? What about paying ahead on your mortgage? If you did, how much of a difference would it make?
- December 11, 2017
- by Emily
Socially Responsible Investing 101
If you’d like to start investing in stocks but balk at the idea of your cash being used to commit environmental atrocities or by a company with a poor human rights record, here are some …
- November 20, 2017
- by Emily
Being a Plumber vs. Being a Doctor - Net Worth Simulations
Here’s what you can learn about plumbers, doctors (and other career paths) by running some comparisons on the Wealth Meta Income and Spending Simulator.
- November 8, 2017
- by Emily
Playing the Credit Card Reward Game—How to Make It Worth It
Rewards cards can be a net win (3% on spending is a reasonable goal). They only pay off if you know how to use them correctly and have the right attitude going in. Here are …
- November 1, 2017
- by Emily
Is Buying or Renting a Home Better? Simulator Results
Using the Wealth Meta Income and Spending Simulator, I ran a couple of tests to see what would be better in the long run. It turns out buying is better given our assumptions, but that …
- October 24, 2017
- by Emily
Should You Stay Home with the Kids
Childcare in the United States is really expensive. However being a stay at home parent comes with hidden costs both for the parent and the child.
- October 14, 2017
- by Emily
Using the Income and Spending Simulator to Meet Your Financial Independence Goals
If you’re interested in FIRE (financial independence / retire early) you need to try this simulator. This walk through details my own personal finances as a single mother currently living abroad.
- September 30, 2017
- by Emily
How to Improve Your Credit
Having a good credit score will save you money every time you try to take out a loan, whether it is for a car, a mortgage or to start a business. Getting and maintaining a …
- September 2, 2017
- by Emily
How Much Is "Enough" for Retirement?
It primarily depends on your expenses and how long you live. The more frugal you are, the less you need in savings. Calculators and in depth analysis included here.
- August 25, 2017
- by Emily
How Much Does Your Ride Really Cost?
We all know that owning and operating a car costs money. But not everyone realizes how much, or how large the difference between types of cars can be. The main categories to know about are …
- August 18, 2017
- by Emily
Understanding Savings Accounts
One of the simplest tenets of wealth creation is to “pay yourself first.” In other words, put money into your savings account. There are many types and we explain them here.
- August 1, 2017
- by Emily
Odds of Living to Retirement
The number one mistake people make in planning for retirement is underestimating how long they’ll live. The longer you end up living the greater your risk of under saving is.
- July 22, 2017
- by Emily
Lock Your Digital Windows and Doors: Basics of Digital Security
It today's world financial security and digital security go hand and hand. Here are a few basics for keeping yourself and your data secure from hackers and identity thieves.
- July 14, 2017
- by Emily
Things to Look for When Shopping for a Home
Buying a home is an investment in more than the financial sense of the word. It takes a lot of work to find the perfect home! Here’s a detailed list of things you should be …
- June 30, 2017
- by Emily
How Municipal Bonds Fit Into Your Investment Plan
Municipal bonds are like the opposite of a lottery ticket: safe, secure, unexciting. Also unlike a lottery ticket, municipal bonds likely have a place in your investment portfolio. Here are some basics on municipal bonds …
- June 21, 2017
- by Emily
Retirement Savings Plans for the Self-Employed
For self employed individuals contributing to a retirement plan is like giving yourself an instant raise without charging your clients more. The IRS allows you to contribute a percentage of your income into a retirement …
- May 13, 2017
- by Emily
Understanding the Realities of Investing in Real Estate
Real estate can be a way to invest, and it can lead to good returns. That doesn’t mean that it’s risk-free or trouble-free. Here are some realities to keep in mind when thinking about investing …
- May 3, 2017
- by Emily
Understanding 529 College Savings Plans
We all want the best for our children, and that means access to a college education. No one likes to think of their children saddled with student debt, yet saving for your child’s college education …
- April 11, 2017
- by Emily
Balancing Debt Repayment with Savings
You may ask yourself, should I pay off debt or save the money? We've listed a few key things to consider as you are balancing how much to devote to each financial priority.
- April 4, 2017
- by Emily
What to Do with Your 401(k) When You Change Jobs
Congrats on your new job! While you’re saying goodbye to your old co-workers and preparing to take on new responsibilities and learn a different office culture, you should also think about what will become of …
- March 24, 2017
- by Emily
Buy the Right Life Insurance
Buying life insurance is an exercise in thinking about the facts of life we’d rather not ponder. Included is an in depth example of what a family could do to make sure they are protected. …
- March 10, 2017
- by Emily
Estate Planning Basics for Couples
Getting your affairs in order while you are still healthy and seemingly immortal is a sign of how much you love your significant other. You are making sure that even if you are not around, …