
Making dollars and sense with your money
“The Why”
Children ask a lot of questions when they are growing up. The word “why” can sometimes become a constant, repetitive and annoying word, coming from a 3 year old. As parents, we take the time to answer their questions, the best way that we can. However, when it comes to questions about money, sometimes many of those questions go unanswered. When I was growing up, talking about money in our house was “taboo”. Unfortunately, because of that, I made every financial mistake one could think of, as I entered adulthood. And some of those mistakes were quite “financially devastating”, however, over a period of years, I managed to successfully recover and thrive from the learnings from those mistakes. I promised myself that I would take the time to share my knowledge and experience with money, with not only my children, but with anyone else who may be interested, in a manner that is easy to understand, so that they would never have to experience the financial challenges that I went through. My “why” with Hey Dad Money is to help everyone, regardless of age, become successful in their financial journey.
Note: I am not a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), however, I have found that being a CFP or hiring a CFP is not a necessity to be successful in your financial journey. With all of that being said…
“Welcome to Hey Dad Money”
Blogs
We discuss how FDIC insured online banks present a better opportunity to grow your money versus the brick and mortar banks. In this high rate environment, Annual Percentage Yield (APY) plays an important role in the growth of your money.
This short blog demonstrates how compounding works. Examples are used to help demonstrate the importance of compounding.
Do you know your credit score? Find out how to get your credit score and a free copy of your credit report, from all of the credit report agencies…FREE!
Without having the option of an employer sponsored retirement plan, you can contribute to a Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and/or a Roth Individual Retirement Account (Roth IRA), which are both “similar” in nature to the 401k. The IRA and Roth IRA can be opened at most banks or at a brokerage firm like Fidelity Investments.
This blog post explains how the “Rule of 72” is used for estimating how long it will take for your money to double. It focuses on the importance of compounding. Additionally, the blog demonstrates how the rule works. Check it out!
There is a reason why you shouldn’t carry a balance on your credit cards. With rates on some credit cards over 25%, the interest paid by you, on these accounts, may be more than the cost of what you purchased. Be smart with your money.
Everybody dreams of that fancy new car. Their “Dream Car”. The car that elevates their status amongst there friends, family, acquaintances, and unknown onlookers. However, in the words of Dave Ramsey, “The best car for you is the car you can afford to pay cash for”. Understand why in this Blog.
Understanding the impact that interest rates have on your money is important. Whether you are saving or borrowing, you need to know if it means more interest earned or more interest paid. We explain.
This blog identifies the benefits and the importance of investing in a Health Savings Account (HSA). It shares a strategy for covering Medicare costs in your retirement.
Your loyalty to your bank could be costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. If your bank is not raising their savings rates to be competitive with High Yield Savings Accounts, switch banks. We discuss the importance of knowing you rate.
We discuss the limits of FDIC insurance at banks. We want you to know that your money is safe. We show you how to get $1,000,000 worth of FDIC insurance at a single bank. Walk through our examples with us.
While this blog specifically mentions a Peloton Bike, it is not about purchasing a Peloton Bike. This blog is about any credit card purchase that you can’t pay off, in full, when the bill is due. Replace “Peloton Bike” in this blog with anything you want to buy. “If you can’t pay cash for it, it’s probably not the right time to buy it”.
This blog shares how expenses can start to add up very quickly, even for someone who lives with their parents. Calculating your net worth lets you know exactly where you stand financially. It’s an important calculation. This blog also demonstrates the importance of having an emergency fund, to avoid credit card debt for an “emergency” situation.
The “Christmas Tree Effect” refers to the importance of investing in quality investment products for the long haul. The blog identifies who can be responsible for identifying the right investments and the importance of comparing your rate of return with the return of the overall market.
Usury Laws set a limit on how much interest can be charged on credit cards, personal loans, and payday loans. Annual Percentage Rates (APR) are regulated by the individual states. Know that some states don’t have a limit and can charge you whatever they want. Beware!
Having “no debt” provides you with a tremendous amount of flexibility with your money. This blog helps you define how your paycheck can be distributed to manage your cost of living more effectively. There is a template included to help you sort out where your money is going and how to reassign your money to areas that are more important to you.
You have to take your emotions out of investing and stick to the facts. “Buying high and selling low”, could be a recipe for financial disaster. Understand the questions you should ask before you sell any investment.
Find out how much money you have earned over your lifetime, according to the Social Security Administration. Know what to expect when you decide to start taking social security.
This blog identifies the steps necessary to become a 401k millionaire. It stresses the importance of knowing what you’re invested in and continuing to invest regardless of what’s going on in the market. “Time in the market beats timing the market”.
Know what the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is on your accounts. Verify that you are getting the highest possible APY that you can get at your bank. Don’t settle for a low APY on your savings account. Be willing to move your money for better returns, if you have to.
Savings accounts at Credit Unions are safe as long as they have National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insurance. The blog demonstrates that like FDIC, NCUA covers accounts up to $250,000 per depositor.
It is important to diversify the types of financial accounts that you have, as they serve different purposes. The minimum number of accounts you should have is 4. See on this blog the 4 accounts you need and the additional accounts that you should probably have too.
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“My Life” Story
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Renting is not a “bad” idea in certain circumstances. The blog shares the benefits of renting in a high cost area, that provides all of the resources you have been looking for in your living environment (good schools, shopping, proximity to work).