I blow hot air.

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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: July 6th, 2023

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  • Ideally, you set aside 3 to 6 months worth of your typical monthly spending to cover (some) emergencies and job loss, then invest everything else. 401(k) is still tax advantaged in the same way as an IRA, and you can typically do roth contributions to a 401(k) too. So there are benefits to going above your employer match.

    But, you’re right that you don’t want to trap all of your money into a retirement account either. You’ll probably want to make large purchases like a car or house. In that case, you plan out a timeline and invest in less risky things depending on how far out you plan to purchase said thing.

    The overall idea of “invest in index funds as much as possible” can be applied generally, but the amount that you contribute and in which types of accounts heavily depends on the individual.

    I just wanted to point out that 401(k)s without employer matching are basically just IRAs with high yearly caps because it took me a few years to realize that, and I fancied myself financially literate. It can be a good idea to contribute more, so long as you don’t need the money elsewhere.










  • Groceries cost the same with or without a credit card. The store is paying the card every transaction, not the user. Annual fee cards need more scrutiny and are often not worth it unless you’re playing the travel points game (and what a game it is). No card in existence is worth it unless you pay it off in full every month.

    They even have non-cashback/points perks that are worthwhile, like rental car/travel/phone insurance. My family has saved hundreds with free phone insurance from a card. My screen stopped working, and I got a new one for $30 from an authorized repair joint, which otherwise would have cost like $300.

    So, yes, cards do give you free money so long as you don’t hold a balance.