Hey everybody, today I have three posts that technically can help you any time, but are especially helpful at the new year when people are looking at their money and their life. Enjoy!
Start Where You Are
Get Rich Slowly – January 4, 2018
At least a few times each week, a thread gets started in financial independence forums that goes something like this.
“I’m 42 and I’ve just found this community. I owe $17k on my car, $3k to credit cards, and $275k on my house. I have a small IRA worth $12k and $42k in my 401k. I’m excited to be here but I feel like I’ll never retire. Anybody have any advice?”
Yep. My advice is to realize that just by being here, just by reading this, you are already starting to do the right things.
That’s what JD is talking about in this post. You can’t change your past, so there is no point in letting it affect your future. Instead, rebaseline yourself with wherever you are now and go from there.
Seven Strategies to Kill Your Excuses for Not Cooking at Home
The Give and Get – January 4, 2018
The new year often means lots of people have resolutions about being healthier and better with their money. One of the things that can help with both of those things is to cook at home more!
I used to cook nearly all of my meals at home but I started getting lazy in the last few years. I wasn’t getting much take out, but I was buying a lot of prepared foods from the grocery store. What I’m doing to change things is:
1) I bought a Crock Pot Express Cooker (basically an Instant Pot) which is basically changing my life. I can go from frozen chicken and sauce to gourmet meal in 30 minutes or less, with virtually no interaction by me. That means I can continue working on other things (like this blog!) while my dinner is cooking. I really can’t get over how helpful it is.
2) I’m learning to cook my favorite restaurant foods at home. Last night I made sushi!
3) I’m prepping more ingredients at once and wrapping them tightly instead of prepping just the amount I need each night. Prepping is my second least favorite part of the process (cleaning is the worst) so this helps a lot.
2018 VA Service-Connected Disability Compensation Rates
The Military Wallet – January 3, 2018
As I’ve been in the military longer and longer, I know more and more people who are getting out and starting their VA Disability process. This is something I still have a lot to learn about, especially as I start looking towards the end of my career.
But many of you – whether you are currently in the military, formerly in the military, or family or good friends with somebody who is – need this info now. That’s why I’m bring you this post from Ryan at The Military Wallet. Check it out. He has some good info not only on the disability compensation, but also how the ratings and compensation work.
And just a quick note based on a scan through the 500+ comments – Ryan is not the VA. He very patiently answered a lot of questions about how to get help about a rating, but many of those answers were “you should set up an appointment with the VA” because Ryan is not the VA. To get an adjustment on your disability rating, you will need to go through the full reevaluation process.
Thanks Ryan for helping these vets!
I hear so many good things about that freaking instapot. We have two crock pots though (and a small kitchen) so I’ve resisted for now. The idea of cooking frozen meat / dried beans in no time at all is certainly tempting though.
I also had two crockpots (different sizes) and since getting my express cooker I have already gotten rid of the smaller one. It was only a bit smaller than the express cooker so it’s a virtually swap, but with far more capability.
I made black beans last week – from dry beans to ready to eat in less than an hour!
Okay – that by itself sounds worth it. I ALWAYS forget to soak beans ahead of time.
I refused to buy dry beans until now specifically for that reason.