The Get Rich Slowly file vault

A new Get Rich Slowly subscriber emailed me yesterday to alert me of two problems. First, all of the free resources I share on Google Drive have magically switched from publicly-available to private. Second, the automated email sequence for new readers is broken (which means that folks aren’t receiving The Money Boss Manifesto). Fixing the …

Your First Rental Property

It’s official: Kim and I have moved from Portland to Corvallis, Oregon. We closed on our home — a 1964 daylight ranch with fully converted basement — at the end of August, and we’ve spent the past six weeks moving and unpacking. I thought I’d have time to post the gory details of our purchase, …

We offered to buy a home for $128,000 over list — but it wasn’t enough!

Sunday evening, Kim and I made an offer on a house. The Greenwood Place (as we’ll call it) was listed at $649,000. We offered $677,777 escalating to $777,7777; no repairs required; and a $50,000 appraisal gap waiver. Our offer was not accepted. That’s right: Two months after selling our home — and three months after …

Series I savings bonds: A safe investment with a high return

I get a lot of questions about money. These questions tend to vary based on the asker and her needs, but there’s one question I get more often than any other: “What’s a safe investment with a high return?” For the past decade or so, I’ve had no answer to this question. Savings accounts and …

We sold our house!

June has arrived and it’s glorious! The sunshine and warmer weather make living in Oregon wonderful this time of year. October is better, but June is a damn fine month here in Portland: wild roses, blackberry blossoms, and strawberries; birds, squirrels, and bicyclists; outdoor dining, evening strolls, and morning coffee on the porch. I’ve been …

An uncertain future

On February 17th — in the middle of nine days without power due to an ice storm — we had the foundation contractor out to re-inspect our house. We experienced some settling last fall, and I was worried that might indicate deeper problems. For thirty minutes, the contractor explored the crawlspace while I sat in …

My life philosophy: 52 lessons from 52 years

And now we are 52… On this day in 1969, baby J.D. entered the world. I don’t think there’s any way my parents could have predicted the path their firstborn would take through life. It hasn’t always been easy — no thanks to the obstacles I’ve placed in my own way — but I’ve really …

My new Audible course on financial independence and early retirement!

Nearly two years ago, I received an unusual email at an address I rarely check anymore. The author wrote: I am writing to you today because The Great Courses in partnership with Audible is exploring the possibility of creating a high-quality series on Financial Independence. We believe that you may be an excellent candidate to …

The power of low expectations

At the end of January, I had an epiphany. Kim and I were sitting in the living room one evening, relaxed in our easy chairs, both reading books. All four of our beasts were nestled nearby. The house was quiet. For the first time in forever, I felt completely content. For maybe twenty minutes, I …

An ice-cold update

Ah, life. It’s funny sometimes, isn’t it? On Thursday, I began writing an article about the difference between personal finance in Mexico vs. the United States. You see, last week I spent several days in Mexico with a friend (who also happens to be my accountant). I had planned to finish the article on Friday. …