Category: Finance

Here’s how to be happy when gas prices go up by hedging your fuel expense: Set a reasonably high gas budget, perhaps 25% higher than your average monthly expense. Whatever is left in your gas budget at the end of the month, move to your brokerage account.   When you have enough money (say $1000) … Continue reading “Complaining About Gas Prices?”

Update June 22 — The Schwab card is no longer available. Chase vs. Schwab  or  Chase Freedom Plus vs. Schwab Invest First For the last year my wife and I have been using the Chase Freedom Plus. It gives you 3% cash back in the top 6 categories for each billing cycle and 1% everywhere … Continue reading “Chase vs. Schwab Credit Card”

2007 Mazda3 Costs Update: July 11, 2010. Added Honda-CRV and added data for year 2009/2010. 2007 Mazda3 36 month costs (May 23, 2007 to May 30, 2010)1 (bought new) Year 07/08 08/09 09/10 Mean Total Fuel2 $1,973 1,087 815 1,292 3,875 Insurance3 1,670 847 644 1,054 3,161 Depreciation4 275 970 1,625 957 2,870 Service 379 1,347 … Continue reading “2007 Mazda3 Costs”

My church is going through one of Dave Ramsey’s finance programs to help people get out of debt and better manage their finances. Naturally attendees must pay a fee to get in. So here’s some free advice from me: Make more than you spend. Have a budget, or a reverse budget. Make sure your saving, … Continue reading “Money Advice”