Debt Free Forties Blog
10 Simple Rules for a No Spend Challenge
Thanks to Tik Tok, plenty of folks have been turned on to trying a no spend challenge. I love it when social media helps people cut unnecessary spending and find new ways to save. If you’re not familiar with a no spend challenge, the key takeaway is to spend less money by cutting out unnecessary…
The 5 Biggest Truths in Personal Finance
I’m a big picture thinker, especially when it comes to my finances. I’d rather not be spending my time thinking about spreadsheets and budgets when that mental space could go to family and friends. As you think about your own financial situation, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We all tend to be a bit more…
10 Frugal Living Tips for Immediate Savings
I’m a true believer in the idea that living intentionally and simply can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life. But I’ll be honest—my wife and I have had seasons where it wasn’t just about wanting to live frugally; we had no other choice. There were times when we had to sit down and figure out…
Why I Think We’re Asking the Wrong Question About Money and Happiness
Every few years, an old debate flares up again, usually after some new survey makes the rounds. The debate: does money buy happiness? I’m going to reveal my cards here pretty early— I think the whole debate is silly. It seems self-evident to me that money buys you certain kinds of happiness pretty reliably. If…
7 Frugal Ways to Turn a Plain House Into a Cozy Home
Lately I’ve been feeling like our home could use a refresh, and less of an emphasis on functional design. If you’re frugal like I am, it can be hard to invest in nice pieces that add beauty to your house, and you end up buying whatever is cheap and has good reviews on Amazon. This…
Help Me Make This Blog Better For You
Hi, my name is Mike. As you may have read, I recently took over ownership of Debt Free Forties. My moon-shot goal is to make this blog your favorite morning read. But before I start publishing more, I’d love to hear directly from you. Could you take just a minute to share your thoughts? It’s…
How Our Grocery Bill Compares to the Average Family in America
I have a simple goal with today’s blog post: to understand how our family’s grocery spending stacks up with the average family in America. From there, I hope to make improvements to lower that number (hopefully without significant tradeoffs) and report back to you in a few months with the results. But first, I need…
The Case For Ignoring Your Investment Portfolio
Today I was tempted to check-in on a large investment that I just finalized yesterday. I was feeling a little bored at work and felt like opening my Robinhood app and taking a glance. Maybe there would be a pleasant surprise that lifted my mood, or so I must have thought. Actually, I’m giving myself…
2 Dead-Simple Rules of Thumb For the Average Investor
Let’s start with the facts: you’re not Warren Buffet. (And if by chance you’re reading this Mr. Buffet— I’m a big fan!) You and I are just average investors. Your goal should not be to “beat” the market, but hitch your investments to the market and go along for a nice ride. The name of…