Category: General

Today is Tuesday, friends, and this is Apex Money. Today’s stories are all about paying attention. And I feel like I should preface the first piece by saying that while it’s about a Japanese word and how to use it, if you read the entire article you’ll see that it’s also about a philosophy of gratitude.

The meaning of “itadakimasu”. [Tofugu] — “The gratitude of itadakimasu reaches beyond the dinner table and into our everyday lives. Whatever you receive, be it a hat, a job, or a ride to the airport, receive it with appreciation. Because the heart of itadaku is a thankfulness for the things you’ve been given and a determination to make the most of what you have.”

The ancient technique that can improve your attention span. [Big Think] — “Attention is a scarce economic resource; you only have so much to give in your lifetime. When you focus on a person, tweet, daydream, or TV show, you are spending a moment of attention. You can never get it back, and you can’t provide it elsewhere. The same is true for any $10 bill that’s left your wallet. But like that ten-spot, attention is also a means of exchange. In exchange for yours, you may receive love, knowledge, entertainment, self-understanding, and much more.”

Give yourself the first hour. [Money and Meaning] — “Here’s my prescription to the attentional dis-ease we all suffer from in capitalism: Spend time outside the demands of everyone and everything else. Have one hour in the morning that is solely yours. Before you read the news, look at your phone, or read your email, just be no one/yourself. Before anyone else gets your attention, luxuriate in an hour of time before anyone else knows you exist. Delight in your own enoughness.”

Today’s video is a four-minute exploration of the perfect amount of clothes.

Warning: The host’s answer here is his answer for himself. (He says that, for him, the perfect amount of clothes is whatever will fit in one box.) It’s the larger discussion here that matters more than his specific answer. And, as with the three articles I shared before the video, the key point is that you find the perfect amount of clothes for you by — you guessed it — paying attention.

Okay, that’s it for Tuesday. Our friends from Plutus will be sharing links tomorrow. I’ll be back on Thursday to highlight more great stuff.

Happy Monday, my friends. Welcome to August, and welcome to another week of Apex Money. We’ve got some great stories for you this week.

To kick things off, here’s an interesting conversation from the /r/financialindependence forum on Reddit that touches on a topic that I think deserves more attention:

Financial independence and early retirement when coming from a collectivist culture. [/r/financialindependence] — “Often where people come from shapes their views on money. My family were immigrants to my country. From my reading and personal experiences, often in more collectivist culture, there is often a greater emphasis on sharing your wealth with family regardless of their contribution to the getting of that wealth. FIRE is a very individualistic pursuit, how do you navigate it?” This is actually one of the deep, ongoing philosophical discussions in the FIRE community: How do you balance what is, essentially, a selfish pursuit with a broader view of your community (and the world).

Buying into the market right before a bear. [The Simple Path to Wealth] — “What has happened these last six months is a perfectly normal part of the process. It has been mild as these things go, barely tipping into the -20% bear territory a couple of times. Much more gentle than the crash of 2008-9. It has happened before and it will happen again. And again. This is the nature of the beast.”

What causes a recession? [The Washington Post] — “A recession is caused when a chain of events, like a line of dominoes, picks up momentum and does not stop until the economy shrinks. Each event is connected to something that happened before and something that will happen in the future. If the price of a hamburger goes up, you might stop buying hamburgers. This would impact a restaurant, and that would impact a server. There are many interconnected chains like this throughout the economy.
The dominoes leading toward a new recession have started falling, but when will they stop?”

Our final piece for today is the traditional non-financial video. And this one is special. It’s a two-minute time-lapse of an acorn’s first six months of becoming an oak tree. I think it’s beautiful.

True story: I’ve been reading a great book called The Revolutionary Genius of Plants. It’s no secret that one of my personal interestes is animal intelligence. I believe that animals are far smarter (and leader deeper, richer emotional lives) than most people credit. Reading and learning about animal intelligence has naturally led me to the related field of plant intelligence, which is fascinating stuff. Plants don’t seem intelligent in a traditional, human sense, obviously, but that’s because they are completely different creatures. They’re like aliens from another world. Aliens that live and communicate in an entirely different way.

That’s it for Monday. I’ll see you tomorrow with more great stuff.

I (Jim) like to collect articles that I find interesting so that I can share it with you. Sometimes they are about money, or at least money adjacent, and sometimes they’re not.

Sometimes I like them because they’re interesting or funny. Sometimes I find them useful.

Every so often, I have a collection of articles that I enjoy but don’t fit any kind of theme. So I use a random Friday to dump a bunch of them on you to enjoy. Or skip.

Think of it as our version of the Big Block of Cheese Day. 🙂

Netflix’s Purge Problem [M.G. Siegler on 500ish] – “In the olden days of TV, you knew your show was coming back each year. We can’t and don’t know that these days. Sometimes it’s two years. Sometimes it’s three years. Sometimes it’s never. How about never? Is never good for you?” It hurts when you fall in love with a show and it just gets cancelled.

Listerine Royalties: The Origin Story and Valuation of a Uniquely Enduring Asset [Invariant] – “It guarantees that irrespective of other conditions, as long as Listerine is sold, the royalties will be paid. Full stop. You might have also noticed the word “defendants’”—plural possessive. If you check the court documents, you will see a number of defendants, i.e., royalty holders.” I remember seeing someone trying to sell a sliver of these royalties on Royalty Exchange – fun to hear the whole story.

Speaking of things that taste really strong … I don’t like White Claw. Seems like many Americans agree!

Hard Seltzer Has Gone Flat [The Atlantic] – “Hard seltzer might be flatlining for obvious reasons. Crowds have returned to bars and restaurants, where the drink isn’t very popular. Inflation might have tightened seltzer budgets. Maybe the market grew so quickly that it has already reached something of a natural ceiling. But also, here’s the thing: Hard seltzer just isn’t very good.” I enjoy seeing how fads start and stop, boozy seltzer will probably never go to zero but it had a quick rise and fall.

David E. Weekly sued a text spammer and won $1,200! Read the details.

(and a good reminder to get on the National Do Not Call Registry!)

The Other Side Of Investing [Banker on Fire] – “Stop being so damn focused on achieving early retirement. It’s okay to give yourself a bit more runway. You are MUCH better off spending 30 (or more) years doing something you enjoy than grinding through 15 unhappy years, retiring at 40 – and wondering where the hell the good years went.” This quote comes later in the post but the payoff pitch happens in the intro, which I didn’t want to spoil. You know the message already, let the introductory store cement it home.

The fundamental problem for every investment adviser [Klement on Investing] – “…I sometimes asked a room full of clients to raise their hands if they think equities are riskier than real estate. Then I asked them to raise their hands if they thought real estate or equity investments had a higher return. Apart from the real estate crash of 2007 to 2009, the majority of people said that equities were riskier than real estate, but real estate was more profitable than equities. But if you think about it, it will mean that by investing in real estate, you can systematically get higher returns for lower risk. Why bother with equities then?”

What about all the FUN debt gave you? [Budgets Are Sexy] – “This is going to sound weird or stupid, but isn’t *going into* debt so much fun???! Like, don’t we enjoy spending money on stuff we love – even if it’s only in the moment? As finance nerds we tend to focus on how terrible debt is and how much we hate it etc etc, but I think we forget just exciting it can be to buy stuff too :)” Good point!

Why So Many Children of Immigrants Rise to the Top [New York Times] – “Immigrants are good at doing something difficult: leaving behind relatives, friends and the familiarity of home in search of prosperity. The economists found that native-born Americans who do what immigrants do — move toward opportunity — have children who are just as upwardly mobile as the children of immigrants.”

Most of us want financial freedom but are not sure where and how to start. We searched high and low for these articles to kick start your success to financial freedom.

Here’s what we wanted to share with you this week.

How Much Money Should I Save Every Month? [Go From Broke] — “Most of us know we should be saving more money, but for a lot of us, that’s easier said than done. Whether you’re looking to buy a house, save for retirement, or just have some extra cash on hand in case of an emergency, you need to be proactive about your savings.” (Submitted by Tarsha.)

Selling and Surviving. [Best Interest] — “If you’re young enough to invest your money and pull a Rip Van Winkle, go ahead into 100% stocks. Some people are fine with a multi-decade hibernation of avoiding their account statements. But most people don’t live in that world.” (Submitted by J. Money.)

When Are Roth Accounts Better then Tax Deferred? [Can I Retire Yet?] — “In reality, there is no one size fits all advice that works for everyone. So, it is worthwhile to explore circumstances when Roth options are superior to tax-deferred retirement accounts to round out previous articles on this blog that emphasize the value of tax-deferral.” (Submitted by Harlan.)

One of the things we discovered during the pandemic was how much stuff we have. Being at home for that long really highlighted that our stuff takes up too much of our space.

This also meant discovering our local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook and giving away much of this stuff to folks who need it. Or at least could better use it.

Which is why our first piece, by Kara of BravelyGo, struck a chord. It introduces us to a framework on the front side of stuff – when you buy it.

(also, the first food shopping example of lentils was spot on… that little half bag has been in our cabinet for years)

The Buyerarchy of Needs [BravelyGo] – “Much like values based spending, the buyerarchy of needs asks that you get in touch with your personal needs, desires, and lifestyle choices. It asks: do you really need a new top, or can you ask to borrow one from your sister? Borrowing saves you money, time, and is better for the planet- let’s do that! Initially created with clothing shopping in mind, the buyerarchy of needs can be slightly adjusted and applied to any area of spending.”

At 88, Poker Legend Doyle Brunson Is Still Bluffing. Or Is He? [Texas Monthly] – “In poker lore, the best stories tend to begin with jackpot wins, steady nerves, or the occasional threat of murder. Doyle Brunson has all those tall tales—and we’ll get to them in due time. He has won millions while bluffing, stared down killers in parking lots, and pried his chips—quite literally—from the hands of death.”

“The Simple Solution to Traffic“… I wish more people watched this.

Jim here again! It probably comes as little shock to you that I’m a fan of video games. I’m a child of the 80s and had a Nintendo but never any of the other systems until I got to college, when I could buy my own Playstation.

I love the idea that you should treat life like a video game in that you should think about how you “level up” different aspects of your life.

How to win at life (this will get you ahead of 99% of people):

— Cathryn (@cathrynlavery) July 20, 2022

Wealth Is a Strong Predictor of Whether an Individual Pursues a Creative Profession [Smithsonian Magazine] – “Those from households with an annual income of $1 million are 10 times more likely to become artists than those from families with a $100,000 income” This probably comes as no shock to anyone reading it!

Last one for today is a bit more tactical – comes from Jonathan at My Money Blog and how state (and local) income taxes impact your decision of Treasury Bond or CD:

Treasury Bond vs. Bank CD Rates: Adjusting For State and Local Income Taxes [My Money Blog] – “An important consideration is that Treasury bonds are exempt from state and local taxes. This can make the Treasury bond significantly more attractive to some folks, even if the initial rate is the same. This assumes you are investing in a taxable account (not tax-sheltered). US Savings bonds are also exempt from state and local taxes.”

See you tomorrow!

Welcome to another day of Apex Money! Today, I’ve got three stories for you about mastering a productive mindset.

How to tackle a mountain of tasks. [Zen Habits] — “You can’t tackle everything at once. You just have to get started. What I’ve learned is that once you get started, and start having fun with it, you’ll see some progress, and then there’s a snowball effect where you keep getting encouraged by your progress. So you just have to get the ball rolling.”

A simple, pragmatic guide to getting things done. [Erlend Hamberg] — “What GTD gives you—when understood and implemented properly—is a foolproof system for keeping track of what you need to do, should do, or should consider to do. When your system and your trust in your system is in place, your subconsciousness will stop keeping track of all the things you need to do and stop constantly reminding you. This reduces stress and frees up precious brain time to more productive thinking.”

In defense of mindfulness. [Slate] — “Even a very basic engagement with mindfulness can be good for your wellbeing. Researchers have found that a ‘microdose’ of practice (say, 10 minutes a day, or even five) can have beneficial effects, such as decreased stress and anxiety and increased happiness and connection. Other research has revealed that mindfulness correlates highly with the ability to savor the positive, feel gratitude, and experience satisfaction.”

Our final article today isn’t about fiscal fitness. It’s about physical fitness. And it’s a good one. From The New York Times (so, possible paywall), here’s a story that summarizes new research on longevity:

You won’t live longer by diet or exercise alone. [The New York Times] — “Most people know that working out and eating well are critical components of overall health. But a sweeping study published this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that hitting the gym won’t counteract the consequences of consuming fat-laden foods, and mainlining kale can’t cancel out sedentary habits.”

One of my big pet peeves is folks who argue “diets don’t work”. Diets do work — but they have to be done right. And once you achieve the results you’re after, you can’t just let go. Lasting physical fitness is a result of ongoing choices.

Okay, that’s it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow for one final installment this week.

We hope everyone is keeping cool and enjoying this summer heat. We had to take a little break from our summer fun and share these great articles with you. Enjoy!

Here’s what we wanted to share with you this week.

Why More Money Won’t Lead to Financial Independence. [Darius Foroux] — “I used to have goals like, “I’d like to earn a million bucks in a year!” But as I started to study Stoicism and Mindfulness, I learned to practice non-attachment to outcomes. I gave up on those types of goals. Let me tell you why.” More money, More Problems. (Submitted by J. Money.)

5 Main Causes of Overspending. [Smart Money Chicks] — “If you’re an over spender, you’re not alone. According to NerdWallet, over 64% of Americans have credit card debt or have had credit card debt in the past. Why do some people constantly find themselves overspending while some are naturally born savers? The actual causes of overspending highlight that these problems run deeper than we think. Let’s pinpoint the 5 main reasons for overspending and actionable ways to stop these habits from taking over your bank account.”  Which one are you? (Submitted by Tarsha.)

When I Asked for More Than My $43,000 Salary, They Accused Me of Loving Too Lavish a Lifestyle. [Too Ambitious] — “Meet Emma, a project coordinator from Atlanta, Georgia who, after a year working at her company, taking on more and more responsibilities, asked for more than the $43,000 she was offered.” This seems fair, but what happened next is all too common. (Submitted by Harlan.)

Today is Tuesday, friends, and this is Apex Money — your source for interesting stories about money (and more) from all corners of the web. Let’s see what we have for you today.

The reality of caring for aging parents. [The Retirement Manifesto] — “It’s a biological fact: each of us has two parents. If you’re married, you have four. As many in our generation are learning, the odds are pretty good that at least one of them will need some help in their later years. And yet, it’s a reality that most of us overlook…Many I’ve talked to have expressed how difficult it is. Until you go through it yourself, it’s impossible to grasp how consuming the process really is.”

Did you just lose all of your money in the stock market? [Bitches Get Riches] — “As long as you keep your money invested, it is not lost. It is only lost (or increased!) when you remove your money from the stock market. Sell your investments when their value is lower than when you purchased them and you will lose money in the stock market. Do nothing when the value is lower than when you bought them and… nothing happens. You’re pretty much fine.”

Harnessing the power of regret. [No Sidebar] — “A regret audit can help you work through past regrets and choose differently to minimize future regrets, but a regret-free life isn’t the goal. Rather than avoiding regret, we can recognize that regret makes us human and can instruct us on how to live a more intentional life aligned with our values.”

Even socialists misunderstand indexing. [The Big Picture] — “Of all the endless Wall Street things to be legitimately angry about – excess fees, leverage, conflicts of interest, risk-taking, bailouts (and everything else to dislike about finance) – this has to be the single worst hot take by any politician on either side of the aisle…It shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what’s been going on in the world of investments, and how the indexing revolution has altered the basic premise of who wins and loses on Wall Street.” Thank you. I’ve seen this bizarre take a lot lately and it bugs me.

Lastly, here’s a fun video in which a young girl named Emmy interviews comedian Ryan Stiles (from Whose Line Is It Anyway?) about his work. I love this for so many reasons.

That’s it, my friends! Tomorrow you’ll get a an installment from the folks at the Plutus Foundation, then I’ll be back on Thursday to share more great stuff. See you then.