Good morning, sleepy-head, and welcome to another edition of Apex Money. We’re always here, always working to bring you the best money stories from around the web.
Today, let’s start with our video feature instead of finishing with it.
My ex-wife was (and still is) a huge fan of Antique’s Roadshow, the public television show where people bring in their treasures to find out they’re worth a lot — or a little. Well, here’s a fun segment from AR in which a guy learns that the Rolex watch he bought for $350 in 1974 is today worth…are you ready? The watch is worth half a million dollars. Holy cats!
Every job looks easy when you’re not the one doing it. [Collaborative Fund] — “‘Easy’ makes a good story. It’s short, persuasive, and comforting. But it’s a deceiving story. Everything worthwhile has a cost, so few things worth pursuing are even a shade of easy.”
How the IRS chooses you for an audit. [The Wealthy Accountant] — “It is impossible to completely avoid a tax audit. They happen…If you are unfortunate enough to face an audit, nothing shortens the audit faster than good records. When the taxing authority realizes there is no low hanging fruit they lose interest fast. Clean records also avoid a deeper look into your finances. You just don’t want the hassle.”
Owning a home is not for everyone. [A Wealth of Common Sense] — “There are plenty of good reasons to own a home but peer pressure and price appreciation shouldn’t be at the top of that list…Everyone considering buying a home should run the numbers to understand how the math works out in their area. But even if the numbers look immaculate, you shouldn’t take the plunge into homeownership unless you’re emotionally ready to make this purchase.”
Nearly half of all Americans didn’t participate in outdoor recreation in 2018. [The Colorado Sun] — “While the Outdoor Foundation’s 2019 Outdoor Participation Report showed that while a bit more than half of Americans went outside to play at least once in 2018, nearly half did not go outside for recreation at all. Americans went on 1 billion fewer outdoor outings in 2018 than they did in 2008. The number of adolescents ages 6 to 12 who recreate outdoors has fallen four years in a row, dropping more than 3% since 2007.”
That last article made me think: Do I get out as much as I used to? Honestly, I’m outside more than ever. But nowadays, I’m outside with a purpose — not for recreation. Maybe it’s time for me to re-incorporate some outdoor hobbies into my life again. Sounds like a good goal for 2020. Well, once this Oregon rain lets up, that is…
See you again tomorrow! Until then, be good.