I discuss dividends and investing a lot here at Dividend Mantra, but I’ve also been very open about my belief that one’s ability to achieve a high savings rate will have far more relevance on their ability to build wealth over the long haul. Being an all-star investor is important, of course, but being an […]

My econobox! Well, I did it. I bought a car. After more than two years of living car-free and carefree the time has come. As I recently explained, my employer is building a new facility and moving across town. This new location makes it impossible for me to continue riding the bus to work based […]

Close your eyes. Now imagine a city that allows you to live relatively easily without a car. This city has a robust public transportation network of subways, trains, taxis and clearly marked bicycle lanes. The things you want and need – home, work, grocery stores, shopping, entertainment – are located close to one another which […]

Having teeth can be expensive! 2013 has been a year of changes for me. Up until very recently, I’ve never had any type of health insurance whatsoever. I took what I believe to be a calculated risk by forgoing any type of insurance and used those savings to invest in my future. Just a few […]

Not this time machine! I just purchased a time machine. It’s not my first, but is my nicest. Hopefully I’ll keep this one for a while! According to this source, the average driver here in the U.S. spends $9,641 (and that’s using $2.25 per gallon fuel figures) per year for the privilege of driving a […]

How big is your piggy bank? This is now the second time I’ve written an article about a 4-letter acronym. (See: YOLO). But this one is really what personal finance boils down to. All the fluff and talk aside, if you can’t master LBYM you’ll likely never achieve financial freedom. LBYM = Live Below Your […]

This Is Ridiculous No, this article isn’t about the three major U.S. auto manufacturers or a trio of basketball players. This post is going to hone in and focus on the three major expenses that most of us face and why it’s so important to minimize these as much as possible. I’m also going to […]

My New Ride! I previously wrote about how I loved having a scooter as a primary transportation option. The gas mileage is crazy good with these little 2-wheeled vehicles and they are super cheap to own and operate. Owning a car definitely has its own set of benefits, but I feel that the drawbacks are […]

I really like to frame every purchase I make a certain way. Outside of normal, recurring monthly bills like rent, groceries, my cell phone bill and the like I really try to make sure I’m completely aware of the costs of any item I buy. What I like to do, especially with an expense that […]

Where are you going? You Only Live Once. YOLO. A classic adage, with a “cool” new spin. Historically, this term has come to mean ‘live in the now’. To not put off tomorrow what one can do today, as one is not promised tomorrow. I will certainly not argue the point that life is only […]