Blog

Smart Wheels: How to Budget for Your Next Car Without Wrecking Your Future

Smart Wheels: How to Budget for Your Next Car Without Wrecking Your Future

For most households, transportation is the second largest monthly expense after housing. Yet, many of us buy cars based on what the dealership says we can "afford" monthly rather than what actually makes sense for our long-term wealth. To keep your financial plan on track, here is a practical, step-by-step framework for establishing a healthy car budget.

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Inflation & Your Retirement Nest Egg

Inflation & Your Retirement Nest Egg

The "big inflation event" of the 2020s has fundamentally shifted how households gauge financial security. When looking at cumulative price changes since 2019, the stark difference between a nominal number on a screen and actual purchasing power becomes incredibly clear.

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Saving for Your Child's College: Start Early and Use 529 Plans

Saving for Your Child's College: Start Early and Use 529 Plans

Planning for college starts before the first school supply list. Discover options for saving, why 529 plans work so well, and a step-by-step walkthrough of the Special Investments 529 calculator with examples showing how modest monthly contributions grow into a college fund.

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Recurring Bills: The Silent Budget Drain - and How to Fight Back

Recurring Bills: The Silent Budget Drain - and How to Fight Back

Recurring bills are the slow leak in your financial boat - easy to ignore individually, damaging collectively. Learn how to identify subscription creep, audit your recurring expenses, and use the Month at a Glance page to predict whether your income will cover your spending before the month is over.

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Share Your Financial Profile — With the People Who Matter

Share Your Financial Profile — With the People Who Matter

Your financial life doesn't exist in a vacuum. Whether you're building a future with a spouse or working with a financial advisor, there has always been a friction point: how do you share your data without handing over your login? Profile Sharing solves exactly that.

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New Feature: Retirement Age Analysis Tool

We added a Retirement Age Analysis Tool to the Retirement Planning page. It shows exactly what retiring one to five years later does to your end-of-life portfolio — but the more important question is whether you already have enough.

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Are Roth Conversions Actually Worth It?

Roth conversions can be a powerful tax strategy — but they are not a universal win. Learn when the numbers actually justify paying taxes now, when they do not, and what that upfront tax bill could have earned if you had invested it instead.

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Section 72(t): Bridging the Gap to Age 59½

Section 72(t): Bridging the Gap to Age 59½

Early retirement creates a gap between the day you stop working and the day you turn 59½ — when your retirement accounts finally open penalty-free. The IRSs does give you some flexibility if you decide you are done earlier than 59½ and want to access your tax advantaged accounts, Section 72(t).

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During this Special Weekend of Christian Celebration, What Does the Bible Have to Say About Money and Wealth?

Resurrection Sunday is a fitting moment to examine what Scripture says about money and wealth. From the call to work diligently and unto the Lord, to the joy of generous giving, the warning against the love of money, and the wisdom of faithful stewardship — the Bible offers timeless financial principles that are just as relevant today as when they were first written.

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When Should I Take Social Security?

This article explores how claiming Social Security at 62 and investing the benefit can, under reasonable assumptions, produce higher total wealth than waiting until 67 or 70.

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The Versatility of the Roth IRA

When it comes to retirement planning and investment vehicles, the Roth IRA stands out as a powerful tool that offers individuals a unique combination of tax advantages and flexibility.

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Retirement Investment Priorities

Building a strong financial future requires careful planning and strategic investment. The order in which you prioritize investment in different types of tax advantaged accounts can help you maximize your results.

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College Savings

Saving for your child's college education is a crucial investment in their future. With the ever-increasing cost of tuition fees, it's essential to start saving early.

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2018 Rent vs Own Analysis

Tax changes in the new 2018 tax law is affecting much of how we need to think about our financial lives. With this in mind, a great article explores how one would decide if they should rent or buy.

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Crowd Funding is About to Change

The SEC has ruled on Title III of the 2012 Jumpstart Our Business Starts Up Act (JOBS Act) and this is going to make a big impact on how small companies and real estate companies fund their projects in a major way.

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Is it the Right Time to Refinance

After the recent market turmoil and news that China will be selling some of its US Treasuries, is it a good time to refinance? The charts show we are near the perfect time to pull the trigger.

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Discounted Gift Cards

I occasionally have to buy a gift card for a coach or teacher or for a birthday, Christmas, etc. One way to save a little on what you are buying is through a site that offers discounts on these cards.

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Basics of Retirement Savings

Saving for retirement is important for a number of factors, but it can often be overwhelming to investors due to the multitude of options and issues related. Here are the basics and a plan on how to execute and get started.

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Savings Calculators

Fidelity has a new calculator for finding your target savings rate/investment profile. Take a look and see where you stand.

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Save for a Rainy Day

If you talk to most grounded financial planners, they will talk with you about an "Emergency Fund" or some sort of savings that is earmarked for when things don't go according to plan.

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Should You Lease Your Next Car?

Should you lease a car or buy the same car. The ads are everywhere these days and looking at the low monthly rates, you can be lured into thinking that it's a great deal. Let's look at the pros and cons.

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Credit Report Cheat Sheet

If you want a quick reference on how to read your credit report and how everything effects your score take a look at this cheat sheet from credit.com.

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Pairing Down the Phone Bills

Choosing the right phone provider is one thing that can really help your monthly budget. Every once and a while it is a good idea to check on the rates and what the different carries offer.

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Welcome to IfISaved.com

Some friends and I were talking and we decided that we would like to start a dialog. Hopefully this dialog won't be about one person's view of what you should do, but rather several views that help you on your journey.

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