Retire Before Dad

    • Start!
      • About
      • RBD Story
      • Featured on…
      • Archive
      • Portfolio
      • Guest Post Policy
      • Contact
      • Terms & Privacy Policy
      • Home
    • IPOs
    • Reviews
      • Sure Dividend Review
      • Yieldstreet Review
      • Fundrise Review
      • M1 Finance Review
      • Motley Fool Stock Advisor
      • Motley Fool Rule Breakers
      • AcreTrader Review
      • Masterworks Review
      • Roofstock Review
      • PeerStreet Review
      • EquityMultiple Review
      • Virginia 529 Review
    • Resources
      • Passive Income Ideas
      • Best Brokers for Dividends
      • Dividend Aristocrats
      • Debt-Free S&P 500 Stocks
      • Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms
      • Affiliate Programs And Blogging
      • How To Start An Online Business
    • Recommended
      • Net Worth Calculator
      • Tools
      • Blogroll
      • Dads Blog Money
    • Best Cards
      • Travel Rewards
      • Cash Back
      • Small Business
      • Airline Rewards
      • Hotel Rewards

    Viewing category: Debt

    The Perpetual Test of Self-Control

    By Craig Stephens

    An organization that my son joined needed a parent volunteer for one of the leadership positions. This organization is extraordinarily demanding of its adult volunteers — training, local meetings, regional meetings, continuing education — all on top of activities with the kids. But I didn’t know that yet. I said yes, which led to a…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Family, Personal Finance

    7 Smart Money Habits To Build Long-Term Wealth

    By Craig Stephens

    Smart money habits will help you reach your financial goals, with patience.  Most of us aren’t looking for extravagant wealth. We want sustainable and long-lasting wealth that provides financial security for our families and enough money to fund our desired lifestyle. That kind of wealth is more attainable than most people think. But there are…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Career, Debt, Investing, Stocks

    Is it Smart to Use a Home Equity Loan to Invest?

    By Craig Stephens

    Mortgage interest rates are still hovering near all-time low levels after a few rate decreases from the Federal Reserve. The big banks are eager to lend money, but they’ve raised their lending standards since the banking crisis of 2007-2009.  After a period of real estate appreciation like we’ve seen over the past decade, home equity…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Investing, Lending, Real Estate, Stocks Tagged With: debt-free, net worth

    6 Things I Love About Debt

    By Craig Stephens

    Debt is the boogie man of personal finance.  It doesn’t get much love from most bloggers, probably because most people do stupid things with debt instead of smart things.  High-interest credit card debt is foolish. Payday loans are ludicrous.  But a mortgage is a solid financial tool if you’re prepared to buy a home and…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Personal Finance

    7 Strategic Ways to Lower Your Mortgage Payment

    By Craig Stephens

    Now that we’ve sold the condo and the mortgage is gone, we’re down to one debt in our family, our primary mortgage. What irks me about owning a home with a mortgage is that I need to have a full-time job to cover the payment. No duh, right? That’s a typical situation. But I look…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Real Estate

    Never Regret a Paid Off Debt

    By Craig Stephens

    Over the years, I’ve been indebted numerous times for one reason or another — mostly car loans and a few mortgages, but a few personal loans too. After college, my parents lent me $5,500 to buy a used Mazda. The interest rate was better than a traditional car loan, so I was grateful to take…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt Tagged With: rockstar finance

    Eliminate Car Payments from Your Life (and Never Go Back)

    By Craig Stephens

    If you want to get serious about taking control of your financial life so you can build wealth, it’s time to eliminate car payments. Car payments are a persistent nag on the lives of U.S. consumers. But they don’t have to be, and shouldn’t be even with low interest rates. Because they crush your monthly cash…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Family, Personal Finance Tagged With: debt-free

    Steak Dinner for Vegans

    By Craig Stephens

    One of my new favorite podcasts is the Animal Spirits Podcast hosted by bloggers Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson of Ritholtz Wealth Management. These guys are prolific writers and tweeters who often poke fun at investment pundits and fund managers who try to predict future market returns. Turn on CNBC and there’s always someone who claims to know…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Investing, Personal Finance, Unusual

    Living Paycheck To Paycheck? Here’s How to Break the Cycle

    By Craig Stephens

    Are you living paycheck to paycheck? If your monthly budget is tight already, any recession or economic fallout will make matters worse. Now is the time to break the paycheck to paycheck cycle and start building wealth. For years, I’ve assumed most of my readers don’t live month to month. But according to a recent…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Personal Finance

    A Three-Pronged Approach To Funding Your Child’s College Education

    By Craig Stephens

    About twelve years ago before starting a family, I met up with an old college friend for happy hour at a bar in Washington D.C. called The Big Hunt. I remember the booth, nachos, and the conversation like it was not so long ago. My friend was a new Dad. He told me about the college…

    Read more

    Filed Under: College Savings, Debt, Family, Personal Finance, Tax Advantaged

    How To Invest Money With Confidence And Competence

    By Craig Stephens

    A few readers recently expressed a lack of confidence in their investing. They are uncomfortable with where their money is and unsure how to make changes. I sensed some fear because of the recent downturn, maybe for good reason. So today’s post is about how to invest money more confidently by increasing your financial security…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Investing, Personal Finance, Stocks

    6 Steps to a Debt-Free Retirement

    By Craig Stephens

    This article was originally published on US News & World Report and republished here with permission. Head over to the “Featured on” page for a list of other RBD articles on US New & World Report and featured around the web.  Imagine a life free of obligations to anyone. Sounds great, right? That may never come…

    Read more

    Filed Under: College Savings, Debt, Featured, Personal Finance

    10 Life-Altering Money Moves You Can Start Today

    By Craig Stephens

    Very few decisions during your time on this earth actually change the trajectory of your life. After a party in 2007, I scanned the huge Evite email list to try to find a woman I met there. Then I ‘stalked’ her on Facebook and asked her out. We have three kids together now. Though truly…

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Investing, Personal Finance, Stocks, Tax Advantaged

    Are Extra Mortgage Payments Smart When Interest Rates are Low?

    By Craig Stephens

    If you own a home, you might be contemplating how extra mortgage payments may or may not fit into your overall financial plan. As is with all personal finance choices, your mortgage payment strategy is personal based on many factors. You don’t find many people who paid off their mortgages and regret the paid off debt….

    Read more

    Filed Under: Debt, Personal Finance, Real Estate

    Next Page »

    Services I Use Every Day

    Personal Banking: Wells Fargo
    Travel Credit: Chase Sapphire Preferred
    Primary Savings: Marcus
    Primary Broker: Fidelity
    DRIP Broker: M1 Finance
    Biz Banking: Wells Fargo
    Biz Credit: Chase Ink Business Preferred
    Net Worth Calculator: Personal Capital

    Home
    About
    Featured on
    Resources
    Website Terms/Privacy Policy/Full Disclaimer

    ADVERTISING DISCLOSURE: This website engages in affiliate marketing. This means that if you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, the website will receive a commission on that purchase. All efforts are made to ensure that affiliate links are disclosed in accordance with the FTC. Retire Before Dad has partnered with Cardratings for our coverage of credit card products. Retire Before Dad and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. The Website uses Mediavine to manage all third-party advertising on the Website. This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and links to Amazon.com.

    Disclaimer

    Read the full Disclaimer policy here.

    Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. We have made every effort to ensure that all information on this website is accurate. We make no guarantees regarding the results that you will see from using the information provided on the website. We are individual investors, not financial advisors, tax professionals or investment professionals. All information on the site is provided for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered advice. Do not make investment decisions based on the information provided on this website. This website may discuss topics related to finance and investing. The information provided on this websites is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The website makes no representations or warranties in relation to the financial and investing information on the website. You must not rely on the information on the website as an alternative to advice from a certified public accountant or licensed financial planner. We assume no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear in the website. You should never delay seeking financial advice, disregard financial advice, or discontinue professional financial services as a result of any information provided on the website.

    Copyright © 2023 Retire Before Dad · Custom site by Moonsteam Design