Give Me Back My Five Bucks

Good riddance to the 35-year mortgage! The 40-year mortgage was introduced. Then they got rid of it. Now they’re thankfully also getting rid of the 35-year mortgage. I know people who have taken out both 40-year and 35-year mortgages, and while it seems like it has worked out for them, I firmly believe for myself that if I cannot afford the payments on a 25-year mortgage (or at the very least, a 30-year mortgage with accelerated bi-weekly payments), then chances are I cannot afford the house I am looking at. The same goes for a 20% down payment. I think that … Continue reading →

This trip isn’t going to happen until the end of the year, but it’s a big expense. I want to make sure that I will definitely have the money saved for the trip, and I will need to purchase flights and accommodation far in advance of actually going. So we’re starting to talk about it now. This is a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years. The book First They Killed My Father (affiliate link) was what first inspired me to visit Cambodia. And Thailand is such a beautiful and interesting country. It’s been on my wish list for … Continue reading →

Between my last post about the kind of freelance income I bring in, and a recent Moneyville post, Here’s how I juggle 3 jobs, I’ve been receiving a few e-mails and comments regarding my freelancing income, time management tips, and if it’s all even worth it. I’m also finding that when I tell people that I work a part-time job, blog regularly, and freelance – along with my full-time job, their first reaction is always to assume that I’m a workaholic who never has time for myself. Or anything fun. And that’s simply just not true. Yes, I work a … Continue reading →

If you are wondering how you will afford all those things you want in the future – be it new cars, home improvements or holidays – it is hard to see how that will happen when every penny you earn is already accounted for. A debt management plan is usually used for people who are suffering severe debt problems but there is no reason why you cannot complete your own type of debt management plan by seeing advice from other people, and seeing where you can take positive action to avoid the worst case scenario of bankruptcy. A debt management … Continue reading →

One of my goals for 2011 is to grow my freelancing/side business income to $25,000. At first, I didn’t think it was possible, and I also didn’t really have a plan to get myself there. Except to “work hard.” $25,000 / 12 months = $2,083.33/month That’s a lot of extra money to make. In hindsight, I wish I had figured out some sort of concrete plan to get me there. Instead of just blurting out a random number. But that being said, I’m not doing too badly either. And, I think (or rather, hope) my earnings will just keep going … Continue reading →