50/30/20 rule: why experts got it wrong

50/30/20 rule: why experts got it wrong

US Senator Elizabeth Warren popularized the 50/20/30 budget rule in her book “All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan.” The basic rule is to divide after-tax income, spending 50% on needs and 30% on wants while allocating 20% to savings. Thereafter, experts have been recommending consumers to save 10-20% of their income. Even in…

Getting rental income from my rental property in Cambodia
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Getting rental income from my rental property in Cambodia

For new readers, I bought a SOHO property at The Bridge, Cambodia and I saved diligently each month in order to pay for the purchase. After making my final payment for my SOHO apartment, I signed the tenancy lease agreement to officially allow the property developer manage the leasing of my apartment for the next…

Understanding insurance: It’s all about risk management

Understanding insurance: It’s all about risk management

Do you really understand why you need insurance? I don’t want to say that all insurance agents are unscrupulous and money-minded, because I have a few friends who work as insurance agents and are really good at their job. The sad reality is that insurers are dishing out very attractive commissions for insurance products that are…

My beginner’s guide to personal finance 101

My beginner’s guide to personal finance 101

In online forums and Facebook groups that I’m a part of, it’s heartening to see that many young adults are asking questions about managing their personal finances. How much emergency funds should I have? What type of insurance should I buy? How much insurance coverage is considered enough? Where should I invest my money in?…

Explain the power of compounding to your kid using magic
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Explain the power of compounding to your kid using magic

Explaining personal finance to kids can be very challenging, especially when it comes to the logic around compounding. Here’s a simple way to explain the power of compounding with your kids. Here’s how the conversation would be like between me and my imaginary son, Tom. Mickey: Tom, what would you rather have, $100,000 or a…