Finances > Get Rich Slowly
Get Rich Slowly: News, Information and Reviews
This morning I reviewed the highly-regarded The Four Pillars of Investing, in which author William Bernstein makes the case for diversification and investing in index funds. At the end of chapter three (”The Market is Smarter Than You Are”), he summarizes his arguments (which I’ve reformatted to be more readable in this context): Obviously, a concentrated [...]
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:15:39 +0000
For the past year, I’ve been looking for a book to recommend for novice investors, a book that would offer sensible advice without becoming too technical. I believe I’ve finally found that book. In The Four Pillars of Investing, William Bernstein describes how to build a winning investment portfolio. He doesn’t focus on the details — [...]
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:00:52 +0000
Even writers need a break. I spent the long holiday weekend doing all sorts of things — but I didn’t write a word. I did a lot of other stuff instead: Kris and I spent many hours in the yard, trimming hedges and pulling weeds. We also picked our first blueberries and raspberries. I ran sixteen miles on [...]
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:52:05 +0000
It’s been a couple years since I mentioned Michael Bluejay’s fantastic Saving Electricity site. It’s a treasure trove of practical tips for household power management. Bluejay offers information on: The difference between natural gas and electric appliances How much electricity costs Electricity myths and much more While doing research for an upcoming post, I discovered Bluejay’s guide to how much [...]
Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:00:50 +0000
Charlotte wrote recently to share a new system she’s developed for handling her non-monthly expenses. She calls it “personal escrow”. Most homeowners are familiar with the notion of escrow. Each month’s mortgage payment goes not only toward principal and interest, but also to fund an escrow account. From this escrow account, the mortgage company pays property [...]
Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:00:28 +0000
This is a guest post from Chris Guillebeau at The Art of Non-Conformity. Last week he shared the non-conformists’ guide to personal finance. Today he follows up with thoughts on making money. Chris recently released a short (and free) e-book called A Brief Guide to World Domination. It’s all about rejecting mediocrity and pursuing a [...]
Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:30:50 +0000
Tomorrow is Independence Day in the United States, a time for friends and family to gather and enjoy the early summer. I’m taking a l-o-n-g weekend, and won’t return until Monday. If I’m lucky, I’ll get a chance to play in the sprinkler. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to devote a thread [...]
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:30:43 +0000
One of my favorite saving techniques is the use of targeted accounts. If I want to save for something big — like a Mini Cooper, for example — I’ll open a new savings account specifically for this purpose. I first learned about this method from Robert Pagliarini’s The Six-Day Financial Makeover: Traditionally, most people invested for [...]
Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:00:19 +0000
The August 2008 issue of Consumer Reports — one of my favorite personal finance magazines — features two articles that may be of interest to readers of Get Rich Slowly. The first offers tips for cutting expenses. The second gives a brief overview of budgeting. Cut your spending by $500 per month The Consumer Reports Money Lab [...]
Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:00:52 +0000
On Thursday I’ll be interviewing personal finance columnist Scott Burns. Burns may be best-known for his “Couch Potato” investment portfolio. He’s also the brains behind Asset Builder and the co-author of the new book Spend ‘Til the End, which explores the notion of “consumption smoothing”, or how to maintain a stable standard of living throughout [...]
Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:00:12 +0000
This is a guest post from Amanda, a Colorado tech writer and an activist for children with congenital heart disease. This article is about Amanda’s personal experience with insurance. It’s not a prescription for other people, but insights into the value of insurance in her own life. It’s her hope that it will get you [...]
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:45:23 +0000
My sister-in-law has cancer. Last week, a biopsy revealed that Stephanie has a cancerous lump on her thyroid. She’ll likely have her thyroid removed, meaning she’ll need to take medication for the rest of her life. (She’s 37 years old.) She’ll also probably need a handful of radioactive iodine chemotherapy treatments. Prognosis positive Jeff and Stephanie have [...]
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:00:40 +0000
June was a difficult month for me. I was busy in Real Life, distracted by home remodeling and by physical fitness. Things are settling, which will allow me to spend more time on the site. On top of that, I now have actual help around here! My wife, Kris, is processing the backlog of e-mail. My friend, [...]
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:00:50 +0000
Kris and I went grocery shopping this weekend. We stopped at Bob’s Red Mill — a local health-food store — to use some “buy one, get one free” coupons. “You can get anything you want,” Kris told me, “except hot cereal.” “Why can’t I get hot cereal?” I asked. “I love hot cereal.” “I know,” Kris said. [...]
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:36 +0000
This is a guest post from my wife, and features a story I’ve come to look forward to updating every summer: the tale of two entrepreneurial girls. Last weekend I explored Portland’s beautiful Eastmoreland neighborhood during its annual 140-family garage sale. In the past, I’ve come away with major bargains, but this year I had [...]
Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:00:37 +0000
The Motley Fool is a web site devoted to helping average people make better investment and financial decisions. Recently, GRS forum administrator (and resident economist) Jericho Hill got a chance to visit The Motley Fool headquarters. This is part two of a report on his experience. (Here’s part one.) When I was in high school, I [...]
Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:00:48 +0000