Blog
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Getting Used to Being Different
At some point in my investing journey, I realized I was living a life that was very different from other people. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at first, but it probably became most apparent after our difficult financial year in 2014. That year, we were using up all our savings, I was…
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Reaching a Personal & Financial Goal
This Monday, we started work on a long-planned house addition! We purchased our house in November 2010, 5 months before our first child was born. As with all large decisions, we set some parameters for the property: 1 acre minimum Closest proximity to Washington, DC possible (inside the beltway) $400-500K Livable (had to have running…
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Master Tax Preparation List
Happy Tax Season! I just received my last document for 2018 filing, and am gearing up to find out what the new tax code will bring us. I’m sharing my master checklist for tax preparation with you. Every year, I review this list, to ensure that I have everything I need. If there are items…
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The Components Of A Consulting Rate
A consultant is a person who provides expert advice professionally. Consultants may charge by the project or by the hour or day. Many struggle to establish a rate that provides the income they want, and covers their expenses. It is important to ensure your consulting rate makes sense for the market. Your market includes the…
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Why Market Price Matters When Setting A Consulting Rate
A number of years ago, my company was interviewing consultants to help with a particular project. I helped with the interviews. The first consultant was a man in his fifties, with a very strong track record in the area we were interested in. His rate was $92/hour. The second consultant was a woman in her…
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When To Hire Help
If you are busy saving, paying off debt, and investing, you are likely doing many things yourself. In our family, the DIY (do it yourself) personality is strong. Why would you pay someone to do the things you can do on your own? There are a few situations where you would do well to hire…