Following Your Money Blog Archives - Page 2 of 6

How following prediction markets can make you a better investor

You are probably familiar with stocks, crypto, and sports betting, but may be unaware of prediction markets. These markets sit at the intersection of finance, probability, and real-world events, and they’re gaining attention as tools for forecasting everything from economic trends to consumer behavior.

Even if you never trade on a prediction market platform, understanding how these markets work can help you think more clearly about risk, incentives, and decision-making—skills that directly impact you as a money manager and investor.

I’ve been closely following the evolution of prediction market platforms. Although I do not transact in these markets, I analyze information from these platforms to improve my understanding of markets for personal financial planning.

To help you better understand prediction market analysis and platforms, I’ve written two posts. This post introduces you to prediction markets and how they can be used to help you become a better investor. The second post provides an overview of how these platforms function and their differences.

Please read on if you are interested in learning more about emerging prediction markets and platforms.

How to stay ahead of your debt

For most young adults, personal debt doesn’t pile up all at once—it quietly grows when small monthly payments feel manageable but add up over time.

The easiest way to make sure you don’t accumulate too much debt isn’t about cutting out every fun expense. It’s about tracking a few simple numbers that tell you, early on, when debt is becoming a problem.

Read on to learn more about these numbers and tips for the easiest ways to stay debt-free.

How to manage escalating HOA fees

The cost of living crisis in the U.S. isn’t just about increasing utilities and grocery bills — it’s also about growing “mandatory” expenses that Americans can’t directly control. Rising Homeowner Association (HOA) fees are a prime example.

With average condo and HOA fees increasing 14% last year, what was once a predictable, modest expense has become another pressure point in the modern cost of living crisis.

For many homeowners across the U.S., those fees are rising faster than expected—sometimes by hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

As housing affordability continues to tighten, escalating HOA fees are becoming a hidden expense that can quietly erode household budgets and long-term financial plans. If you pay these fees and want to understand why these costs are rising and how to hold your HOA accountable, please read on.

Why so many Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck and how to break the cycle

More Americans than you might expect are living from one payday to the next. Some are struggling on low wages, others earn six figures and still feel fragile.

The good news: while the problem is widespread and driven by real economic forces, there are clear, practical steps people can take to build stability. Below I share recent statistics that reveal the scale of the problem, explain the main causes, and offer access to a plan you can start using today if you need help breaking this cycle.

Are you prepared for growing healthcare costs?

Healthcare is one of the single biggest — and fastest-rising — lifetime expenses for most Americans. The exact number depends on your age, health, location, and the benefits you carry, but the total estimated lifetime healthcare costs may surprise (or even shock) you.

Concerningly, many Americans don’t have a clear picture of their potential healthcare costs while working and during retirement, or how to estimate these fast-growing living costs for planning purposes.

For example, a 25-year-old could pay anywhere from $400K+ to ~$1.5M for healthcare over their lifetime depending on personal decisions, medical needs, insurance coverage, and inflation rates.

Does your financial plan include annual estimates for healthcare costs with projected inflation?

Below I’ll sketch projected lifetime (or remaining lifetime) healthcare costs, and explain why tracking and managing these costs over time is crucial for your financial stability and well-being.

Keeping it brief

If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you may have noticed that I usually add an “information brief” to supplement content in the post.

In this short post, I’ll explain more about this popular content format and where you can find these briefs on my website.

How to avoid the rising cost of ATM fees

ATMs were once a symbol of banking convenience, but today they’ve become a hidden drain on many consumers’ wallets. According to Bankrate’s 2025 checking account survey, the average out-of-network ATM fee is now $4.86 per transaction, the highest on record. In some large cities, fees are nearly $6.

If you withdraw cash often, that’s not pocket change—it’s a recurring cost that adds up fast.

To learn more about the true cost of ATM fees and how you can avoid these costs, please read on.

Lump-sum vs. Cost-averaging: Which investment strategy is right for you?

So, you’ve got a tidy sum of money – maybe an inheritance, a generous bonus, or years of careful saving – and now you’re faced with a classic investment dilemma: Do you invest it all at once (lump-sum) or spread your investments out over time (cost- averaging*)?

Both strategies have pros and cons, and understanding them can help you make an informed decision for your financial future. If you are interested in learning more about these investment methods, please read on.

73% of U.S. adults victimized by online scams according to new report

The digital landscape is a minefield of scams and attacks, and a recent report from the Pew Research Center, highlights just how widespread this issue has become in the U.S. The report, titled “Online Scams and Attacks in America Today,” reveals that a staggering 73% of U.S. adults have been a victim of some form of online fraud.

How to lower your rising energy bills

With high heat and humidity blanketing NJ this summer, our AC is working overtime to keep us cool.

The cost of staying cool (and warm) continues to rise with prices for residential energy services forecasted to continue outpacing overall inflation in the US.

To control these rapidly growing costs, many renters and homeowners have turned to energy efficient methods ranging from simple habit changes to significant home upgrades.

If you are interested in learning more about energy costs and how to lower your monthly bill to reduce your energy burden, then please read on.