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A colleague of mine recently got a 2% 15Y mortgage from Better. Since I have a 2.25% 15Y mortgage, it piqued my curiosity. Here’s how interest rates have been behaving lately: My last refi was about 9 months ago, but I applied last month to Better. Their rates were not competitive relative to my current … Read more

Intro Well, thanks to the $1.9B Coronavirus stimulus bill (#3), there are some pretty major changes to the tax code this year: Child tax credit (temporary changes for 2021 only): Fully refundable this year Phases out at 5% above $150k of income for MFJ, $112.5 for HoH $3,600/kid for ages 0-6 $3,000/kid for ages 7-17 … Read more

Giant Disclaimer While I pretend to vaguely understand some aspects of frugality and the US tax code, I don’t pretend to be an investing guru. In fact, I’m pretty ignorant on the topic. So please take this post with a gain of salt.   Introduction I’ve given some thought recently on the role of international … Read more

Well, the politicians are at it again. They are currently busy figuring out how to dole out the third round of stimulus — $1.9T this time. We should thank our unborn (great)grandchildren for their generosity. It’s my understanding that the bill passed the House and is being debated in the Senate right now. The issue … Read more

First, a note on asset ALlocation I don’t pretend to know what the “right” asset allocation is. I think that anyone who claims to have this superpower is trying to fool you. I’m not smart enough to come up with a very sophisticated answer here, so I just guessed. I hope you are smarter than … Read more

I started regularly rock climbing at my campus gym about 3 years ago, about a year after I arrived at my current job. Why did it take me a year to join my climbing gym? Because I’m slowly graduating from “cheap/stingy/idiotic” to “frugal.” Despite the hefty $41/month price tag, I think my gym membership is … Read more