Smart Moves = Financial Freedom

Earning Comes First

Careers

MightyInvestor.com focuses on Earning, Saving, and Investing. However, earning comes first. Why? It’s simple. You can’t save what you don’t earn. And you can’t invest what you don’t save. So earning comes first. Eventually, with enough assets, how you invest can become as important (and then much more important) than your earnings. But that is […]

Penny Pincher! Are You Drifting Towards a Scrooge Mentality?

Savings

I find that many (possibly most) people attracted to personal finance blogs and books have a focus on saving more than on earning. This may have to do with temperament or how we were raised. There is nothing wrong with this. However

Early Retirement Is A Mixed Bag At Best – Here’s What To Do Instead

Careers

Early Retirement. She beckons in the distance like a siren singing her song. Ahhhh. Just the idea of early retirement makes you kind of want to relax. But I have news for you. Early Retirement is a mixed bag at best. Here’s why–and what to do instead. So many people seem lost when they try […]

If You Have Credit Card Debt….

Savings

If you have credit card debt, and I mean any credit card debt: Cancel your cable. Don’t buy a top-end cell phone. Buy a $100 android phone and sign up for Republic Wireless or one of the other, cheaper cell phone providers. Don’t waste money at the bars. (Ok to buy one drink occasionally at […]

Start Investing Now

Investing

Here is my best advice to you about when to begin investing. Start investing now.* As soon as possible. I mean like in your teens. If you are no longer that young, that’s ok; just get started wherever you are. Start with a small amount, but something that is meaningful to you. You could invest […]

The Backdoor Roth IRA

Investing

Here’s a tip I’ve been using since 2010. If you prefer a Roth IRA to a traditional IRA but have too high an income to be able to contribute to a Roth, you can contribute to a traditional IRA (taking no tax deduction if you make too much to qualify for the deduction) and then […]

Obsessively Interested

Careers

Early on in your career, it may be better to pile up assets and build a buffer. I don’t urge “follow you passion” in a simplistic fashion. In fact, in the modern, competitive world, I advocate a super pragmatic approach to your career and keeping a weather eye on the financial upside. However, at some […]

Quick Savings: Interlibrary Loan

Savings

So few people seem even aware that they can use Interlibrary Loan to get books–even when their library doesn’t have that book the library’s own collection. See this broader posting on libraries to learn more.

Quick Savings: Get Your Kindle Book Through the Library

Savings

About to buy a book on Kindle? Check if your local library carries the e-book and check it out online. The book looks the exact same on your Kindle regardless. You can even make highlights and notes on the checked out book while it is on your Kindle. Remember you can set up […]

Quick Savings: Empty Starbucks Coffee Bag = Free Cup of Joe

Savings

Bring your empty Starbucks coffee bag to your local Starbucks. They will exchange the bag for a free cup of regular or decaf. They won’t exchange for anything but basic coffee, usually not even tea. Also, some stores insist that Starbucks doesn’t do this anymore. Others happily continue to make the trade. It’s hit or […]