frugalprofessor

Best Credit Card Rewards Strategy – 2018 Edition

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***** This post is now obsolete and has been replaced by this one: https://frugalprofessor.com/best-credit-card-rewards-strategy-2019-edition/ ****         **** Begin 2019 update **** This post was written in late 2018. BoA has since made a few changes to their cards. 3% cash back on BoA cash rewards card is now a choose-your-own category (rather … Read more

Financial Update – Nov 2018

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Another month, another update. A few random comments. Good Reads/Listens/Watches Fidelity is now an HSA administrator! Fidelity Link Bogleheads Discussion Thoughts from the Finance Buff There are no administrative fees. It is now unambiguously the best HSA administrator. The only reason not to use them is to capture the payroll tax benefits from your employer. … Read more

2018 Tax Software Live

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During my (almost) decade of living in poverty in grad school, I dutifully filed my taxes via TurboTax’s poorly advertised “Freedom” edition, which includes free federal & state to those with low income. It is generally available in mid-January here (link). I would recommend it to anyone who qualifies. Since my income has risen since … Read more

Financial Update – Oct 2018

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Another month, another update. A few random comments. Good Reads/Listens/Watches Free Solo (link). Honnold is a nut job. This movie highlights this well. He’s brilliant but has no fear of death, arguing that in the end we’re all dead anyway. Paraphrasing from the movie: “My girlfriend is weird; she has this weird obsession with maximizing … Read more

Demystifying Annual Healthcare Enrollment

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Earlier this week I received a panicked email from a friend last week who wanted help choosing between about 20 healthcare plans during open enrollment. To the uninitiated, this indeed is a confusing process. However, this needn’t be confusing. But you first need to be informed. Important Definitions Here are some definitions that will help you … Read more

Financial Update – Sept 2018

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Another month, another update. A few random comments. Good Reads/Listens/Watches Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (link). Really good book about prioritizing all aspects your life. Paraphrasing some good quotes (I listened to the audio book): Every time we say yes to something non-essential we are saying no a host of potential opportunities down the … Read more