It’s not easy to build an emergency fund, but I have yet to meet someone who has said it wasn’t worth it. I’ve said often that building an emergency fund was the best thing I’ve done for my finances, my relationship, and my mental health. Again, it wasn’t easy. My wife and I built […]
Read More >>Other Posts By David Carlson
Ways to Feel in Control During Uncertain Times
COVID has created a level of uncertainty that the world isn’t used to dealing with. Everyone is asking themselves questions such as: when will things actually get back to normal? and will things ever go back to normal? Here in the United States we’ve seen over forty million Americans file for unemployment since COVID […]
Read More >>How to Create a Net Worth Spreadsheet
I used to not give much attention to my net worth. That doesn’t mean I didn’t care about it. I was just more focused on increasing my income and lowering my expenses. The way I see it, your net worth will continue to move in the right direction as long as you are consistently […]
Read More >>What to Do While Your Student Loans are Paused during COVID
Federal student loan borrowers were big winners in the $2 trillion COVID stimulus bill: all federal student loans are paused until the end of September, 2020. No interest builds on the loans. The months will count towards student loan forgiveness. So what should you do while your student loans are paused during COVID? I’ve […]
Read More >>Will there be a Second Stimulus Check for COVID?
Many throughout the United States have received or will soon receive stimulus checks as part of the government’s response to COVID. See all the details of the first 2020 stimulus check here. If you haven’t received your stimulus check yet, you can check the status of it using the IRS “Get My Payment” tool. […]
Read More >>What Is Happening To Your Student Loans During COVID
COVID has been mentally draining for many, myself included. My goal today is to provide some clarity on what is happening to your student loans during COVID. The $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill was passed by both the Senate and the House, and signed into law by President Trump. The stimulus bill provided unprecedented […]
Read More >>CIT Bank Review 2020: Our Top Choice for a High-Yield Savings Account
For a few years my emergency fund was in a savings account that paid 0.01% interest rate. After inflation our money was actually losing value over time. Why did we keep it there? And why was it there in the first place? Because it was the bank that my wife and I had a […]
Read More >>The Student Loan Tax Bomb: What it Is and How It Works
Most people associate student loan forgiveness with Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF. PSLF provides certain student loan borrowers forgiveness after 120 qualified monthly payments. PSLF is only eligible for those who work for the government or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, though, so it won’t help everyone. What many fail to realize is that PSLF […]
Read More >>Here’s How Much It Cost Us for an 11-Day Trip to Thailand and Vietnam
Many people want to travel to Southeast Asia but are held back by two things: time and money. On the time front there isn’t much you can do. If you are traveling from the United States it’s going to take some time to get to your destination. Even traveling throughout Southeast Asia can be […]
Read More >>Student Loan Forgiveness for Therapists and Psychologists 2020
Student loan forgiveness for therapists and psychologists is a topic that hits close to home for me. My wife has a masters in counseling psychology and works as a therapist at a nonprofit counseling clinic. A majority of therapists and psychologists, or those who have loved ones who are therapists, likely agree with me […]
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