Give Me Back My Five Bucks

Today is my last day at my full-time job. And in exactly one week, I’ll be on a plane to Europe. The excitement of this plan is gone. It was fun when we were buying plane tickets and talking about sightseeing. But now that it’s real, and actually happening? I’m feeling a nervousness that I haven’t felt in years – if, ever. I haven’t been able to sleep, and I always feel worried. I crave stability, and the decisions that I’ve made over the last month have me completely stressed out. It’s not the move to Germany – that part … Continue reading →

Rock climbers will often tell you that if you don’t fall, it means you’re not pushing yourself hard enough. As a (former) climber, I often pushed myself to jump for nearly impossible holds. Most of the time I ended up falling, but sometimes I’d end up getting it. And that feeling of accomplishment was worth all of the failed attempts. However, unlike rock climbing, I have shaped my entire adult life around the idea of protecting myself from failing at something. I always put up safety nets, choose what makes the most sense, and almost never take risks that have … Continue reading →

So yesterday on Moneyville, Madhavi wrote an interesting article called “Teens think they’ll earn $90,000 a year by age 30.” According to the National Report Card on Youth Financial Literacy (.pdf), high school graduates seem to be extremely disconnected from reality. Especially when you consider the results from a survey of over 3,000 recent Canadian high school graduates: The average survey respondent expects to earn $90,735 in 10 years; roughly three times the average income of 25 to 29 year‐olds with post‐secondary degrees ($31,648). The median survey respondent expects to earn $70,000 in 10 years.  However, the median income for a 25 … Continue reading →

On Monday, I posted Part 1 (goals 1-5) of how I’m doing with Kiplinger’s 10 Financial Commandments for your 20′s. Here is Part 2 of my review: 6. Establish credit. In order to qualify for the best interest rates on a credit card, auto loan or mortgage, you need to start building a solid credit history. In fact, a good history can also save you a bundle on your auto insurance or help you land an apartment or a job. Building a good credit history in your twenties will ensure it’s ready when you need to use it. My credit is good right … Continue reading →

I came across an old post from Kiplinger that I had bookmarked: 10 Financial Commandments for your 20′s. And as I close in on another birthday, I decided to take a look at the list to see what I have accomplished so far, and what I still need to do. Here is my review of  the first 5 commandments: 1. Plan ahead. To get where you want to go in life, you need goals and a plan to reach them. Having neither is like driving a car without a steering wheel — with your eyes closed. Start by asking yourself what you want … Continue reading →