Visit the dying or attend the funeral
Relationships

Is it Better to Visit a Dying Loved One or Just Attend the Funeral?

As I write this, I’m at Hamad airport in Qatar awaiting my flight to Manila for the third time this year. The last one was less than a month ago primarily to see my dying father alive for the last time. Then he actually died, which prompted me at the …

Why I bought my wife a Toyota
Spending

Why I Bought My Wife a Hybrid Toyota Corolla and Not an Overhyped Tesla

For many years, my wife had been driving a 2008 Honda Pilot. We bought the SUV in 2009 as a people hauler, back when my in-laws and eldest son were living with us. We also needed a dependable car to drive all seven of us to church on Sundays. Now …

This sheet tells you when to get out of the shit hole
Retirement
2

This Sheet Tells You When to Get Out of the Shithole

One of my favorite movies of all-time is American Beauty. The 1999 award-winning film stars Kevin Spacey who played Lester Burnham, a 40-something guy who hated his job and was on the brink of a mid-life crisis. The inflection point was when he saw his daughter’s gorgeous 16-year-old cheerleader friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari), perform during a half-time dance routine at a high school basketball game.
Lester becomes so infatuated with Angela that he began having sexual fantasies with her. He becomes obsessed with youth that he started to live his life like he just graduated from high school. And when he was told that he was about to get laid off, he instead blackmailed his boss for $60,000. He then quits work anyway choosing to work as a crew in a fast-food chain instead– the position with, in his own words, the least amount of responsibility.
But what really caught my attention is the scene where Lester Burnham wonders in his cubicle while seeing a reflection of his image on the monitor, which resembles a guy trapped in a jail cell. With the numbers on the spreadsheet forming the jail bars in his mind, it’s pretty obvious that he felt imprisoned by his job and wanted an escape. A feeling that many people can sympathize.

Net worth update
Financial Planning

Net Worth Update: Seven Years Later

Seven years ago, in August, I launched this blog with a net worth shy of $1M. On Labor Day the following year, I posted our very first net worth update. I thought sharing our net worth was a motivational boost to myself and other financial voyeurs who are on a …

My beautiful wife
Relationships

Last Instruction to My Beautiful Wife (maybe you should write one too)

When it comes to managing the household finances, there are two types of wives: those who want to always be on top and take charge, and those who would rather submit to their husbands. Since my wife falls into the latter category, I felt compelled to write her this letter. …

American dream
1

Broke on the Fourth of July

Coming from the eyes of someone who grew up in a third-world country, living in America is an enormous privilege. No other country can provide you with the same opportunities for success and wealth-building as the United States of America. Being born an American is like winning the genetic lottery–- …

Why building your muscle is one of the best investments you can make
Health
4

Why Building Your Muscles is One of the Best Investments You Can Make

Here are the top reasons why I think developing your muscles is one of the best investments that you can make.

Credit
7

Awesome Credit– You Must Have It!

If you have a low credit score, you might as well forget about buying anything on credit. Interest rates are so much higher now compared to when I first published this post. Instead, I’d focus on repairing my credit as I did, which is what this post is all about. …

Benefits of Tax-Advantaged Savings
Retirement
2

Tax-Advantaged Savings and Recommended Strategies

According to the National Study of Millionaires by Ramsey Solutions, 8 out of 10 millionaires invested in their company’s 401(k) plan, and that simple step was a key to their financial success. Not only that but 3 out of 4 of those surveyed also invested outside of company plans— mostly …

Doctor death sentence
American dream

How One Guy Turned a Doctor’s Death Sentence Into a Multi-Million Dollar Business

My RN wife recently attended her college reunion in Dallas, Texas. As you probably know, Filipino nurses have been on America’s front lines during the pandemic. Now that the pandemic is behind us, they all need a well-deserved break— my wife and all her contemporaries included. So when she asked …