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Free Character Traits Test: Identify Your Signature Personality Strengths

I'm now in Week 5 of the free Yale Happiness Course, which focuses on finding things that truly make you happy, as opposed to the 5 Surprising Things That Don’t Make You As Happy As You Think. For example, instead of equating a "good job" with … [Read the rest]

Influence: How Salespeople Use Your Mental Shortcuts Against You

Although not technically a "personal finance" book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini should be required reading if they ever create a standardized curriculum for personal finance. In addition to being a professor of … [Read the rest]

OhmConnect: Get Paid For Saving Energy One Hour Per Week ($25 Sign-Up Bonus, CA Only)

Updated, new limited-time $25 bonus. OhmConnect works with consumers and their local utilities to lower energy costs and save money together. Before reading any further, it appears that cash payments are only for customers of PG&E, SDG&E or Southern … [Read the rest]

Fidelity Spire App $100 Bonus, Fidelity Go Roboadvisor Warning

Updated, including new bonus and tax warning. Fidelity Spire is Fidelity's new mobile app, which adds fintech-y features and is separate from their main Fidelity app. You can link your external accounts, track balances, and set financial goals. … [Read the rest]

BBVA $250 Easy Bank Bonus: $200 Checking + $50 Savings (Back Again)

$250 bonus is back. In the current low interest rate world, easy bank bonuses have become more attractive way to boost your safe interest income. BBVA has brought back their popular $250 bonus promotion for a limited-time. $200 bonus for … [Read the rest]

MMB Portfolio Update April 2021: Dividend and Interest Income

While my April 2021 portfolio asset allocation is designed for total return, I also track the income produced. Stock dividends are the portion of profits that businesses have decided they don't need to reinvest into their business. The dividends … [Read the rest]

MMB Portfolio Update April 2021: Asset Allocation & Performance

Here's an update on my current investment holdings as of April 2021, including our 401k/403b/IRAs, taxable brokerage accounts, and savings bonds but excluding our house, cash reserves, and a small portfolio of self-directed investments. Following … [Read the rest]

Sam Adams: Get Vaccinated, We’ll Buy You A Beer ($7 via CashApp)

Samuel Adams is offering to buy your first beer back ($7 sent via Cash App*) if you send them proof of your COVID vaccination starting Monday, April 12th. See their #ShotForSam page for details. First 10,000 only. Starting April 12th, post your … [Read the rest]

Retirement Savings Rule of Thumb: What Multiple of Income Saved By Age 50?

The WSJ article How to Know if Your Retirement Savings Are on Track tries to answer what is likely a very common question: My wife and I are in our early 50s. We hope to retire in about a dozen years, and we are trying to figure out if our nest … [Read the rest]

American Airlines 40th Anniversary Prize Drawing: Free Miles

American Airlines has a new 40th anniversary promo game where you can earn some prizes like free AAdvantage miles or Admirals Club access (grand prize is 1 million miles). I signed-in, clicked around for under 5 minutes, and walked away with free 40 … [Read the rest]

Best Interest Rates on Cash – April 2021

Here's my monthly roundup of the best interest rates on cash as of April 2021, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. There are many lesser-known opportunities to improve your yield while keeping your principal "safe" (FDIC-insured or … [Read the rest]

Happiness Illusions: 5 Surprising Things That Don’t Make You As Happy As You Think

I've managed to reach Week 3 of the free Yale Happiness Course (it was 50/50 that I'd quit by now), and I've been pleasantly surprised so far. I like to think that I've read most of these "happiness" tips, but there were several new bits that were … [Read the rest]