Galleries

Did you know I also publish to MSN.com!

Some of my audience’s favorite articles are these “Galleries” I add to MSN.

Check them out, and be sure to follow Dad is FIRE on MSN.

21 Things You Should (Probably) Stop Buying After Turning 60
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21 Things You Should (Probably) Stop Buying After Turning 60

Turning 60 doesn’t mean slowing down, it means getting sharper about what stays in your life and what needs to go. At this stage, every dollar should work harder, not just disappear into habits that stopped serving a purpose years ago. A recent study shows that 80% of U.S. households with someone over 60 are…

The Service Fee Trap: Why Everything Costs More Now
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The Service Fee Trap: Why Everything Costs More Now

Walk into a restaurant, book a hotel, or get a basic checkup, and odds are, there’s a “service fee” waiting. These charges aren’t rare anymore. They’ve become the norm, sliding onto bills like they’ve always been there. According to a 2024 report, fees aren’t just for fine dining or luxury stays. Even fast food joints…

15 EASY Home Maintenance Tasks to Do Monthly (Before Something Breaks)
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15 EASY Home Maintenance Tasks to Do Monthly (Before Something Breaks)

Owning a home is great until it starts falling apart one little issue at a time. Leaky pipes, mystery drafts, broken appliances, most of it’s preventable if you just stay on top of the basics. The trick is making maintenance a habit before the damage turns into a four-figure repair bill. Most homeowners aren’t ready…

16 Common Sacrifices Rich People Make That No One Talks About
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16 Common Sacrifices Rich People Make That No One Talks About

Everyone wants to be rich, but few are willing to pay the price. The private jets and penthouses get the likes, but the sacrifices behind the scenes rarely get talked about. Most people don’t even realize what’s getting traded to build real wealth. A 2024 Forbes analysis shows that people are twice as likely to…

17 Worst Ways Americans Waste Money (They Swear Were Worth It)
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17 Worst Ways Americans Waste Money (They Swear Were Worth It)

It’s easy to say money’s tight, but even easier to waste it without realizing. Little things add up, and before long, thousands are slipping through the cracks for stuff that never really mattered in the first place. The average American now spends over $281 every month on impulse purchases, adding up to $3,381 a year….

25 Effective Ways to Teach Kids How Money Really Works
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25 Effective Ways to Teach Kids How Money Really Works

Teaching financial skills early isn’t optional anymore, it’s essential. Kids are surrounded by ads, digital payments, and peer pressure before they even hit middle school. If they don’t learn how money works now, they’ll pay for it later, literally. This post breaks down 25 simple, real-life ways to help kids get smart with money. Each…

Why A 15 Year Mortgage Makes More Financial Sense Than 30 Year Mortgages
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Why A 15 Year Mortgage Makes More Financial Sense Than 30 Year Mortgages

Most real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and fake gurus push 30-year mortgages because the monthly payment looks easier to handle. But I’ve never bought into that. If you can’t afford the house on a 15-year loan, you can’t afford the house. That’s how I’ve always looked at it. Stretching a mortgage across 30 years doesn’t…

The Real Costs of Home Ownership: 25 Homeowner Expenses That Add Up
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The Real Costs of Home Ownership: 25 Homeowner Expenses That Add Up

Buying a home is one of the most exciting decisions you’ll ever make, right? It’s also one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive. Many people spend months planning their budgets, comparing mortgage rates, and saving for a down payment, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As a real estate investor…

Smarter Retirees (Try To) Avoid These 23 Useless Expenses
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Smarter Retirees (Try To) Avoid These 23 Useless Expenses

Retirement should be about freedom, not watching money drain away on things that don’t matter. The truth is, small, unnecessary expenses add up fast. Smart retirees know that keeping more cash in their pockets means more control over how they live.  The Spending in Retirement Survey found that inflation is forcing many retirees to rethink…

21 Smart Money Habits Gen Z Swears By (That Are Worth Considering)
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21 Smart Money Habits Gen Z Swears By (That Are Worth Considering)

Gen Z isn’t playing the same financial game as past generations. They’re done with outdated advice, overpriced degrees, and the idea that working 40 years for someone else is the only way. They’re making money moves that actually work, without waiting for permission. Money isn’t easy right now, but Gen Z isn’t backing down. Even…

Before You Downsize: 21 Things You Need to Do First 
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Before You Downsize: 21 Things You Need to Do First 

Downsizing used to sound like a last resort. Now it looks more like a smart financial reset. The big house with extra rooms might be costing more than it’s giving back. A 2023 study found that baby boomers aged 57 and up are leading the way in downsizing. They’re not waiting for a crisis, they’re…

13 Things You Can’t Do (Easily) With a Bad Credit Score
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13 Things You Can’t Do (Easily) With a Bad Credit Score

Bad credit doesn’t show up all at once. It creeps in, and before long, it’s dragging everything down: loan rejections, higher interest, closed doors. It’s not always loud, but it’s always working against you. This post breaks down exactly how bad credit can block major life moves, housing, jobs, relationships, even something as simple as…

Unplug These 17 Energy Vampires And Avoid Hundreds on Your Electric Bill
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Unplug These 17 Energy Vampires And Avoid Hundreds on Your Electric Bill

You might not notice, but many devices around your house are quietly running up your electric bill. If something’s turned off, it shouldn’t be costing anything, right? Wrong.  A surprising number of gadgets keep pulling power even when they’re not in use, slowly draining money for no good reason. It’s like paying rent on an…

A CFA’s Review Of Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps: A Young Retiree’s Expert Take
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A CFA’s Review Of Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps: A Young Retiree’s Expert Take

Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps have become a widely recognized and followed framework for personal finance in America. They offer a structured, step-by-step guide aimed at helping individuals and families gain control over their finances, get out of debt, and build wealth. In general, I believe the Baby Steps are an excellent foundation for financial education,…

Don’t Find Out The Hard Way: 21 Challenges You Should Expect In Retirement
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Don’t Find Out The Hard Way: 21 Challenges You Should Expect In Retirement

Retirement looks good in ads. Beaches. Golf. Laughing over lunch at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday. But once the party’s over, reality shows up. And it usually comes with bills, boredom, and a long list of things no one warned you about. According to a Transamerica study, nearly 40% of retirees said life after work…

12 Real Reasons Companies Are Ignoring Workers Over 60
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12 Real Reasons Companies Are Ignoring Workers Over 60

Job searching at 60 isn’t just tough, it’s a different game entirely. Resumes get ignored, interviews become rare, and doors start closing that used to swing wide open. Perception, bias, and company culture play a bigger role than most want to admit.  An AARP survey found that fewer than 5% of companies have taken action…