Bloggers – Do you reply to every blog comment that is left on your site? Given some pretty tough work weeks and time constraints, I’ve been asking myself that question lately as I try to optimize the time spent on this blog. Like many newer bloggers, I’ve felt compelled to respond to each and every blog comment left on my site out of respect and appreciation for the time spent visiting my site. But sometimes when its 11 PM at night and I’m just now getting around to logging onto my site for the first time, it can be extremely difficult. Plus as my blog grows, comment volume increases, and other activities take priority, I question whether replying to each and every comment is really value-added or even necessary. … [Read more...] about Do You Reply to Every Blog Comment?
My Money Design for How to Achieve Financial Freedom – November 2012 Update
I was very pleased with the level of interest and positive reaction I received for my previous post on how I plan to retire early in Money Design update in October. However, that update was only merely a sketch of where I wanted to be. As I’m sure any designer can tell you, no blueprint is ever really complete until you put numbers to it – even if it’s a blueprint for your plan on how to achieve financial freedom. In this update, we’ll seek to build upon my earlier retirement income strategies by making some assumptions about how much money my family could expect to take in from our multiple developing income sources. Please feel free to compare my decisions and estimations to what you think would be reasonable for your own … [Read more...] about My Money Design for How to Achieve Financial Freedom – November 2012 Update
Weekend Wind Down 11/03/2012 – Epic Post Next Week
I hope everyone had a great time on Halloween! Ours went pretty well. The kids scaled the neighborhood in about 30 minutes, which was perfect for Mrs MMD since she was freezing her tail off walking them around. The haunted garage was another hit, and I took down a lot of great ideas for next year. My only complaint was that I wish we had had more visitors. Things in our area were a little caught off guard by the cold and rain, but I’m not going to complain since just about anything is better than the mess they had to deal with on the East coast. I will have an epic post next week that will literally melt your eyes out! Your head may possibly also explode. I’m not kidding. If you think you’ve seen the full extent of my “money design” … [Read more...] about Weekend Wind Down 11/03/2012 – Epic Post Next Week
SCARY Retirement Statistics – Don’t Let Lack of Planning Haunt You!
Happy Halloween everyone! Since most people will be out celebrating Trick or Treating tonight, I thought we’d do a very brief post of something truly alarming! No, it’s not about ghosts, monsters, or anything else from the paranormal. This is something much more frightening - These are scary retirement statistics! The reason these should terrify you is because, unlike a superstitious ghost story, these statistics tell a very real story. And if they are any indication of things to come, reality is going to be pretty grim for a lot of people. Read these numbers and tell me they don't paint a pretty chilling picture of the future to come! The following figures are from Statistic Brain and are overwhelmingly alarming: … [Read more...] about SCARY Retirement Statistics – Don’t Let Lack of Planning Haunt You!
Weekend Wind Down 10/27/2012 – Welcome to the MMD Haunted House!
I can’t wait until Halloween! Last year I raised the bar pretty high. I got the bright idea to go from simply passing out candy to turning my garage into a miniature haunted house. Pretty cool, right? That’s the blueprint on the left. Basically I hang up large black vinyl drop cloths to create a short dark maze, add a lot of flashing lights (purple circles) and smoke from a fog machine, play some scary music in the background, and then add in as many props as I can. Oh yeah, and my Dad occasionally jumps out at you from around the corner (skulls). The haunted house was a big hit last year from small children to adults, so I’ve made several improvements and we’re going full steam ahead again this year. Unfortunately, as much as I'd love … [Read more...] about Weekend Wind Down 10/27/2012 – Welcome to the MMD Haunted House!
Using a Flexible Spending Account to Get Another Tax Break in Your Paycheck
Recently my wife and I just renewed our medical flexible spending account. As silly as it may sound, we’re pretty happy to see that extra $50 to $100 in our checking account every two weeks. Even though we’ve always used one of these plans through her employer, I’m always surprised when I talk to other couples and find out just how many people DON’T use them. Or even know they exist! Most married couples or families can attest to the fact that there never seems to be any shortage of medical or daycare bills to pay! This is why taking advantage of a flexible spending account can help you and your money design. So read on and find out how an FSA works and how it can put a little extra money in your pockets on these types of … [Read more...] about Using a Flexible Spending Account to Get Another Tax Break in Your Paycheck
Resume Screening Tips and Confessions from Someone Who Interviews
For about 99% of us, nothing will be more crucial to our finances and money design than landing a great job. And for most working professionals, that will all start with getting picked for the interview. As someone who has done a great deal of interviews in his day, there are a great deal of resume screening tips and other things I can confess to you about the whole process. Do you agonize over creating the perfect resume? If you do, that’s great that you’re taking the job prospect so seriously. But you might be disappointed to learn that going above and beyond with your resume doesn’t usually add a whole lot to your chances for an interview. In fact, the extra investment may yield very little return. … [Read more...] about Resume Screening Tips and Confessions from Someone Who Interviews
Weekend Wind Down 10/20/2012 – Back Home
There is nothing like being back home after a long business trip. This week I was traveling the east side of the country through NY State and then back through Canada. Everything was going smoothly until I hit the 401 highway to come home and got stuck in a wallop of traffic. I could not believe how business the road was on a Friday. Even the service station I stopped at for a quick bite was busier than a mall on Christmas Eve. Who knew that’s where everyone hangs out? … [Read more...] about Weekend Wind Down 10/20/2012 – Back Home
