At this point, we probably don’t need to tell you that we’re living through a period of sustained inflation. Your grocery bills already tell you everything you need to know. In December 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a 6.8% rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the previous year. Americans are […]
8 min read
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These days, you’re likely well aware how the major players like Facebook and Google — among very few others — make tremendous amounts of money on the world wide web. The services of these web giants are free. By using these web giants, average people like you and me in the real world offer up […]
12 min read
All the hype about NFTs has got you thinking What’s up with that? The truth is, non-fungible tokens — shortened to NFTs — are shaking up the world of art and finance. But what are NFTs, how do they work, and — here’s the million-dollar question — how do you to make money off NFTs? […]
11 min read
Work on this article began when Bitcoin was trading at $60,000. Today (6/18/22) it has fallen below $20,000. Ethereum has, proportionately, taken an even bigger hit. And except for some well-backed stable coins, most cryptocurrencies are at the moment cratering. With inflation high and a recession looming, cryptocurrencies are now being dismissed as an example […]
80 min read
Whether you’re moving cross country for a new job opportunity or you’re just ready for a change of scenery, picking up your whole life and transporting it 2500 miles away is a pretty big undertaking. It should come as little surprise that this undertaking can also be quite expensive. From packing supplies and shipping costs to fuel and professional moving companies, expenses can really add up. For some idea of what all of these expenses might add up to, check out this handy Moving Calculator from Moving.com. This is a useful tool for determining how much your move could cost. But you should only consider this estimate as a starting point in your research. While you may not be able to control things like the cost of gas, there are actually a lot of factors that you can control. Any combination of the tips below could lower your overall cross country moving expenses at a time when every penny counts.
9 min read
The chances of striking it rich with the purchase of a lottery ticket are quite low indeed. But that doesn't mean it’s impossible. Perhaps even more encouraging—there are actually a few ways that you can improve your chances of winning. While we wouldn’t necessarily advise basing your future financial plans on buying the proverbial golden ticket, we recognize that playing the lottery can be fun. And there are steps you can take to improve your odds of winning the lottery. For most people, this will generally mean improving from terrible odds to merely bad odds. But hey, at least it’s something.
11 min read
Share This Graphic! Source: Expensivity The US Consumer Price Index rose 6.8% in 2021 Inflation At A Glance An Increase In The Price of Goods or Services Due To Weakening Currency Caused by: Surge in product demand Production cost increases Supply chain breakdowns Changing house prices Two Major Theories Cost-Push Inflation Higher costs raise prices […]
3 min read
Inflation is the watchword of the day. But what does inflation mean, and how is it likely to impact you? A perfect storm of events--including hiccups in the supply chain, shortages of essential goods, rising fuel prices and the economic fallout of the pandemic, as well as the various corrective tactics used to manage this fallout--is causing a spike in consumer pricing across the board. And as prices continue to rise, anxiety over inflation has spiraled into full-fledged fear. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) seems to bear this fear out, as do recent indications from the Federal Reserve that interest rate hikes will be coming in the New Year. But is actual inflation or just a short-term spike in consumer prices?
8 min read
A fixer-upper can be a great investment as long as you know what you’re getting. Here, we discuss the best strategy for finding the right work-in-progress home along with a look at the Pros and Cons of Buying a Fixer-upper.
9 min read
Getting a new home is a pretty big decision, so you obviously want to consider all of your options first. You’ve probably also noticed just how competitive the housing market is these days. If you find your dream house on the market, there’s a pretty good chance that dozens of others also think they’ve found their dream home. So wouldn’t it just be easier to build your own home? Well, if you’re looking for a home that checks off every box on your wishlist, it might be preferable to design, contract out, and build your perfect dream house. But it might not necessarily be the most affordable option and certainly isn’t the easiest way to get a new home.
12 min read
There are many possible gifts that are generous expressions of love: for instance, twelve drummers drumming (kind of noisy), or a partridge in a pear tree (does that make a good meal?). But those with little to no budgetary limits might be inclined to think (though lesser mortals know they’re wrong) that nothing says “I […]
17 min read
According to Hudson River Community Credit Union, an individual working from home can save as much as $4,000 a year, though the exact rate of savings may vary depending on factors like geography, profession, and lifestyle habits. Still, there are plenty of saving opportunities for anybody who trades in the briefcase and the commute for a home office and a new ergonomic chair. So if telecommuting is actually an option for you, either permanently or partially, it may be worth considering.
10 min read
It may seem strange for a money and business website like Expensivity.com to present this interview about college rankings and the problems they raise. But these academic rankings are big business, and the actual school ranking lists that they produce have significant business and financial implications for the schools listed, especially depending on where they […]
20 min read
The “side hustle” is one of the great phenomena of the Internet age. Now that we all have access to this wide world of engagement, communication, and commerce, we also have access to a certain type of economic and professional freedom that never previously existed. That doesn’t mean we can all just turn around and quit our day jobs in a blaze of digitally-liberated glory. But it does mean each of us has the chance to explore a side hustle—a personal pursuit that earns you a few extra dollars while fulfilling something within you that can’t be met by the responsibilities of your day job.
9 min read
Making money and protecting the environment are often portrayed as being at odds with one another. But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, some of the best tips for living a financially savvy lifestyle mirror the exact strategies for pursuing an environmentally conscious existence.
10 min read
What is cryptocurrency? Should cryptocurrency be part of your investment strategy? We cut through a lot of the hype and complexity surrounding cryptocurrency so that you can understand the risks, the benefits, and the opportunities in this emergent system of alternative currency and exchange. In the simplest terms, crypto tokens are virtual currencies that can be used to make transactions without passing through conventional centralized financial entities or institutions like banks, stockbrokers or exchanges. The idea behind this decentralized financial (DeFi) system is to create a form of financial transaction that is at once more secure and transparent than traditional finance and, simultaneously, more private, more accessible, and less beholden to fees or regulations than traditional finance.
11 min read
As competition in the electric vehicle (EV) market grows, the prices are starting to come down. The lowest-priced EVs aren’t as economical to buy as the least expensive gasoline-powered vehicles, but they’re certainly not out of reach for anyone looking for a late model car. Given tax incentives and the potential for lower operating costs […]
22 min read
