Frugal Professor

Another month, another update.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law promised each of their four kids a trip to anywhere in the world when they graduated high school (no siblings).

Lack of Disclosure I don’t make a penny from credit card referrals.

Another month, another update.

Not dead yet.

Another month, another update.

Another lap around the sun — weren’t we here just a few days ago?

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

I’m not dead (yet) — just late.

Another month, another update.

Disclaimer If you use my link, both you and I get a $30 debit card.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

On September 4, 2024, US Bank made big news with their announcement of an “industry-leading” card purported to earn 4% on all purchases (screenshot below).

Last month, I received an email from a reader (shared anonymously with permission): My wife and I are 53, living in Texas with our two kids.

My brother-in-law and his wife promised each of their kids a vacation to anywhere in the world upon graduating high school.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

I’ve used Fidelity’s Cash Management Account (CMA) as my primary “checking,” “savings,” and “cash management account” for over six years.

I wrote the majority of this post before markets went to hell on April 3–4.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

Another lap around the sun.

I’ve been a member of the BoA cult for the better part of a decade now, happily earning 5.25% on “category” purchases with the Customized Cash Rewards card and 2.625% on “non-category” purchases with my BoA Premium Rewards card.

Today, I helped my 17-year-old daughter file her taxes.

Our oldest kid came back from school with a terrible earache today.

Another month, another update.

*** Edit 7/30/25 *** The following post is now obsolete.

I drafted most of this post before my mom’s passing.

64 years old.

The 2024 version of FreeTaxUSA is now live: https://www.freetaxusa.com/ Usual disclaimer: the name makes it sounds like a horrible scam.

(Lack of) Disclaimer I don’t make a penny from credit card recommendations.

Another month, another update.

I loathe Robinhood for a multitude of reasons, but I transferred the entirety of our ~$200k Roth IRA balances to them six months ago because they offered us a 3% bonus (~$6k).

Buffett’s Folly I was fortunate enough to see Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger in person at the Berkshire meetings several times.

If you’ve followed this blog, you will know that I find tracking personal finances both fascinating and insightful.

Another month, another update.

Edit November 11, 2024 The card appears to have been nerfed with the introduction of the new Smartly 4% card on Nov 11, 2024.

For the past seven summers, I have gone backpacking with a group of undergrad friends (who I met in 1999).

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

Another month, another update.

First, a 40,000 ft overview of 2023: Life flew by, as always.