People talk about a Viking River Cruise as “too expensive.” But is it really too expensive? Here’s my travel cost breakdown of Viking River Cruise vs. Carnival. Back in 2017, I took my son on a Viking River Cruise up the Danube River. It was an eight-day affair and took us from Budapest, Hungary, to Passau, Germany. Many people commented on its expense. After all, for two of us, it cost $6,000. Wowza. Compare that to the $670 cost of the five-day cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico that I took over Christmas at the end of 2019. It seems like a huge cost difference. But that low stick price can be ..read more

As a freelance writer, it makes sense to diversify income sources. You never know when something will fall through or you'll need extra cash. Here are some of the things I'm doing. When you have a variable income, developing different revenue streams can make sense. This doesn't mean that you have to monetize everything you do. However, it can make sense to think about how to diversify income sources so that you aren't completely stuck if a source of income dries up. Why it makes sense to diversify income sources I'm a big believer in the importance of income diversity. Building inco ..read more

When you own a business, you don't have the luxury of benefits from “the man.” You need to create your own benefits package when self-employed. When you own a business, you lose the benefits that are often associated with working full-time for someone else. It's one of the challenges of being self-employed. This doesn't mean you have to accept a life without health insurance (well, you couldn't now anyway, due to the ACA) or a retirement account. You can create your own benefits package when self-employed. Purchasing Insurance When you don't get insurance through work, you might need to purcha ..read more

We can all get better. Put these tips into practice, and you'll improve your writing in no time. Even though I'm a professional writer, I know that I still have room for improvement. I like to think I'm a decent enough writer (since people pay me to write for them), but I know there's plenty I can do to get better. 15 tips that can improve your writing Here are some of the things I try to do on a regular basis to boost my writing and get better. Pay attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Correct usage and spelling, along with proper punctuation, make your writing easier to read.&nbs ..read more

We hear a lot about how a successful home business owner needs to get up bright and early. But what if you aren't a morning person? I'm an early riser. No matter how hard I try, I can't sleep past 8 a.m. Sometimes on weekends, after a long week, and after I've stayed up late being social, I can make it until 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. These days, I sometimes stay in bed and read if I don't want to get up, but I can't go back to sleep. However, I still need to get up in the morning. Because no matter how I try to get stuff done in the afternoon, it's a struggle. My peak productivity is early in the mo ..read more

Want a sweet last-minute tax break? Contribute to your Health Savings Account. I love my Health Savings Account. Not only is there a tax deduction involved, but the money can be withdrawn tax-free at anytime, as long as you use it for qualified health care expenses. You get a tax deduction, and your money grows tax-free. In the past, I hadn't taken advantage of the ability to contribute to my HSA as I should, and my accountant pointed out to me that I could put that money to better use. And, because of the way the HSA works, I got a last-minute tax break, lowering my tax bill — even though my ..read more

As you prepare your investing plan for the new year, don't forget to direct some of your resources toward improving yourself. It's common, in December, to start thinking about your investing plan for the new year. Doubtless, the coming year involves looking at low-cost funds or a plan to improve your dividend stock portfolio. Whether you are getting ready to rebalance your portfolio, open a new IRA, or engage in any number of other strategies, it's important that you also think about investing in your own best asset: YOU. How to Invest in Yourself As your investing plan for the new year unfold ..read more

Before you get hung up on your salary and the possibility of making more, consider your disposable income. It's always amazed me that people can get so hung up on salary. Yes, your salary is important. You need a decent salary if you expect to provide yourself with the necessities of life and with some of your wants. However, a higher salary isn't going to cut it for you in every case. There are times when it's more important to pay attention to your disposable income. How Do I Define Disposable Income? Investopedia defines “disposable income” as “The amount of money that households have avail ..read more

The beginning investor might feel overwhelmed at first. Here are three keys to help you stay on track. One of the best ways to build wealth for the future is to start investing. Investing is one of the ways that you can put your money to work for you, improving your situation over the long haul. In fact, investing is one of the reasons I've designed a life I enjoy. However, it can be overwhelming for a beginning investor. The good news is that it doesn't have to be that difficult. Make use of the following three keys, and you can improve your situation. 1. Start Simple One of the reasons the b ..read more

Now that the year is coming to a close, it’s time to think about your financial task list. Check out my end-of-year financial checklist to help you get things squared away. Welcome to December, my friends. I’ve been paying the ADHD tax this year, but I’m trying to get back on track. And part of that whole “back on track” thing is my end-of-year checklist. I blocked out two days at the end of November to bang out some financial tasks, and I’m blocking out one day in early December to finish. If you’re trying to figure out the best way to manage your end-of-year financial checklist, maybe my app ..read more