Net worth update
Financial Planning

Net Worth Update: Two Years Later

One reason why I share my net worth over Labor Day Weekend is that of something with symbolic importance. The holiday is meant to celebrate the achievements of American workers. To quote the U.S. Department of Labor, “a tribute to the contributions of workers have made to the strength,  prosperity, and well-being …

Stupid money mistakes part 2
Relationships
6

Stupid Money Mistakes my Smart Neighbors Make (Part II: Car Payments)

In Part I of this blog series, I talked about the expensive mistakes my neighbors are making by sending their children to private schools. At the risk of being forever castigated by my neighbors if they ever discover my posts, I’ll continue with Part II to talk about one of …

Stupid money mistakes my neighbors make (Part 1: Private Schools)
Relationships
7

Stupid Money Mistakes my Smart Neighbors Make (Part I: Private Schools)

One of my goals in writing this blog is to help you become smarter with money. You’d think it’s just common sense. But as it turns out, common sense is not so common.  Otherwise, people wouldn’t buy things they can’t afford. They wouldn’t smoke cigarettes or eat junk food either. …

My passengers posing in front of the most photographed hotel in the world.
Lifestyle
2

Three Days, Five People in Quebec City on a Budget

What do you do when you’re dying to visit Europe, but don’t have a large budget to spend on five people? Would you take out your credit card and charge the expense? Or do you try and expand the budget? The answer is neither,  you should think of a viable …

Why successful people kill themselves
Happiness
4

Why Would Successful People Commit Suicide?

You’ve seen it in the news, especially during an economic depression. A man loses his job, gets into a big pile of debt, runs out of options, and then kills himself. In more tragic cases, he takes his whole family with him. If you think having a job is stressful, …

what frugal people think about organic foods
Lifestyle

What Frugal People Think About Organic Food

The labeling term “Organic” refers to accredited methods agricultural products are grown and processed. Regulations vary from country to country, but in general, organic crops must be grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, or fertilizers from municipal sewage… Eew! Organic food is not defined …

Wealth By Virtue Book Cover
Books

Wealth by Virtue: a Book by Chad Gordon

Not long ago, I accepted an offer from a publisher to receive an advanced copy of Wealth by Virtue. Being a money nerd, I said yes, given that it came with a “no expectations and pester-free guarantee.” Even if the book turns out to be a dud, it could still …

America's Richest Immigrant in 2018
American dream
6

Here are America’s Richest Immigrants in 2018

Forbes recently released its Richest People On The Planet list for 2018. I figured it would be interesting to determine who, among the 575 American billionaires, are immigrants like me. I’ve patiently and painstakingly gone through the list to figure out which ones emigrated from other countries based on the …

Vintage Computing: Trash to Treasure
Side Hustle
4

Vintage Computing: Turning Trash into Treasure

Ever since I was able to resell a “vintage” typewriter for a profit, my wife and I have been propelled to look for other potentially valuable items. We went as far as driving around garage sales of wealthy neighborhoods hoping to find a “hidden gem”: a 19th-century necklace, an oil …

LinkedIn to Millionairedom
Career

LinkedIn to Millionairedom

When you hear someone asking “Why are so many college dropouts successful in their life?” Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg probably all come into your mind. The problem is that the question makes an erroneous assumption that there are “many” of them. The not-so-obvious truth for many is that these extremely successful dropouts are just drops in the ocean. No pun intended.
The majority of people who didn’t bother to acquire any marketable skill, let alone a college degree ended up in lower paying, dead-end jobs. Not to belittle people who actually work their butts off in low skilled jobs, but that’s the sad reality.
Of course, anything is possible in America. It’s just that being complacent with your education may ruin your chances of getting ahead. In this game we call life, investing in yourself is enormously important to improve your odds of winning.
The traditional advice that your grandma gave you: earn good grades, finish college, get a high paying job, and save for the rainy day, is still the best strategy for most people in any economy. Your heeding to the advice could spell the difference between earning a great income or settling for a minimum-wage. When you hear someone asking “Why are so many college dropouts successful in their life?” Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg probably all come into your mind. The problem is that the question makes an erroneous assumption that there are “many” of them. The not-so-obvious truth for many is that these extremely successful dropouts are just drops in the ocean. No pun intended.
The majority of people who didn’t bother to acquire any marketable skill, let alone a college degree ended up in lower paying, dead-end jobs. Not to belittle people who actually work their butts off in low skilled jobs, but that’s the sad reality.
Of course, anything is possible in America. It’s just that being complacent with your education may ruin your chances of getting ahead. In this game we call life, investing in yourself is enormously important to improve your odds of winning.