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.

18 Side Hustles You Can Start With No Money (Perfect for Beginners)
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18 Side Hustles You Can Start With No Money (Perfect for Beginners)

Most people think they need money, skills, or some online course to start making extra income. That’s false. You don’t need a business plan, a fancy degree, or a TikTok following. You need something simple that works. Here are side hustles you can start with no money and no startup costs, just your time, your…

22 Clear Signs You’ve Reached the Upper Middle Class
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22 Clear Signs You’ve Reached the Upper Middle Class

Figuring out where you stand in the financial world isn’t always straightforward. There’s rich, there’s middle class, and then there’s the upper middle class: a comfortable spot where money works for you, but it still has limits. According to a report titled “The Growing Size and Incomes of the Upper Middle Class,” this group has…

25 Common Mistakes That Make Homebuyers Hate Your House
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25 Common Mistakes That Make Homebuyers Hate Your House

I have 24 years of experience as a real estate investor. I’ve seen countless homes struggle to sell. The reason? First impressions matter more than you might think. When potential buyers walk through your door, they’re not just looking at your house, they’re imagining their future home.  A recent study by Strutt & Parker found…

The Service Fee Trap: Why You’re Paying More Now
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The Service Fee Trap: Why You’re Paying 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. Service fees have 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…

21 Things Real Millionaires Avoid Spending Money On
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21 Things Real Millionaires Avoid Spending Money On

What the media shows about millionaires is often wrong. It’s not yachts, private jets, or closets full of designer labels. Real wealth isn’t built by spending. It’s built by skipping the waste and making money work harder. According to research from The Millionaire Next Door and Dave Ramsey’s Millionaire Studies, most millionaires didn’t get rich…

What Percent of My Income Should I Invest to Retire Early? A CFA and Early Retiree Answers
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What Percent of My Income Should I Invest to Retire Early? A CFA and Early Retiree Answers

I get asked this all the time: “What percent of my income should I invest if I want to retire early?” But that question misses the point. There’s no golden percentage. No magic number that’ll guarantee freedom.  The answer depends on how badly you want it, and what you’re actually willing to do about it. …

22 Common Expenses You Can Actually Negotiate to Save More Money
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22 Common Expenses You Can Actually Negotiate to Save More Money

Most people never bother to negotiate prices. You see a number, assume it’s final, and just pay it. That mindset is exactly why companies keep raising rates, they know most people won’t push back. According to Procurement Tactics, 89% of successful negotiators say it directly impacts their bottom line. Yet most consumers never even try….

15 Legal Ways W-2 Employees Can Use to Lower Taxes
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15 Legal Ways W-2 Employees Can Use to Lower Taxes

If I were a high-earning W2 employee, I wouldn’t just accept a massive tax bill as the price of success. No group gets taxed harder, and unlike business owners or investors, you don’t get built-in tax loopholes for W-2 employees. That means you either plan smart or lose more of your paycheck than necessary. According…

22 Jobs That Now Pay Big as Boomers Retire
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22 Jobs That Now Pay Big as Boomers Retire

Boomers are retiring fast, and they’re taking decades of skill with them. The trades they dominated for years are now wide open, and companies are throwing serious money at anyone who can step in and actually do the work. If you’ve been looking for real opportunities in high-paying boomer jobs, this is your moment. A…

How to Retire Early During High Inflation (Like I Did)
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How to Retire Early During High Inflation (Like I Did)

Retiring early sounds amazing until you realize prices keep climbing and everyday costs quietly eat away at your savings. Many people panic, convinced that high inflation makes retiring early impossible. That’s not true. You just need to understand how to beat inflation in retirement instead of letting it beat you. Inflation spikes come and go….

19 Financial Lessons the Great Recession Taught Us (That Still Matter Today)
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19 Financial Lessons the Great Recession Taught Us (That Still Matter Today)

The Great Recession wasn’t just a market crash, it was a wake-up call. One day, people felt financially stable. The next, jobs were gone, home values crumbled, and retirement accounts took a beating.  Anyone who thought they were prepared quickly found out if they actually were. According to Stanford research, the average American household lost…

12 Real Reasons Companies Are Hesitant to Hire Older Workers Over 60
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12 Real Reasons Companies Are Hesitant to Hire Older 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. What’s happening has less to do with skills and more to do with perception, bias, and company culture. Many companies still focus on the perceived disadvantages of…

25 Creative Side Hustles That Can Make $12k+ a Month (Some Are Remote)
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25 Creative Side Hustles That Can Make $12k+ a Month (Some Are Remote)

Making money isn’t about grinding away at a 9-to-5, waiting for a raise that barely keeps up with inflation. You already know that doesn’t lead to freedom. The real move is learning how to make cash flow on your terms, finding creative side hustles that pay well and actually fit your life. Many people have…

Dave Ramsey Reveals 15 Habits That Set Typical Millionaires Apart
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Dave Ramsey Reveals 15 Habits That Set Typical Millionaires Apart

Dave Ramsey says a lot of things people don’t want to hear. His advice isn’t for people chasing a rich-looking life. It’s for people who actually want to build wealth that lasts. Here are the real habits typical millionaires live out, according to Dave Ramsey, the kind that don’t show up in Instagram captions but…

22 Expenses Some Boomers May Struggle to Afford Soon in Retirement
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22 Expenses Some Boomers May Struggle to Afford Soon in Retirement

Retirement was supposed to be your reward after decades of work: more time with family, less stress, and finally a chance to enjoy life without the daily grind. But affording retirement today isn’t as simple as it used to be. Rising prices, longer lifespans, and hidden retirement costs have turned what should be a relaxing…

22 High-Paying Jobs Facing the Biggest Worker Shortages in America
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22 High-Paying Jobs Facing the Biggest Worker Shortages in America

Most people want high-paying jobs, but not all jobs that pay well are easy, popular, or obvious. Some take years of training, others have tough working conditions, and many just don’t get much attention.  What counts as “high-paying” depends on what you compare it to. The median U.S. salary sits around $48,060, according to the…