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Understanding the hidden forces that keep money tight, and how to create breathing room If you have ever thought, “I make decent money, so why does my account still hit that number two days before payday?” you are not broken. You are not lazy. You are not bad with money. In many cases, paycheck to paycheck living is a cash-flow problem. Timing, fixed costs, and debt payments can squeeze your monthly margin until even a solid income feels thin. The goal of this guide is not to shame you into a stricter budget. It is to help you understand what…

One of the reasons I’ve been a long-time supporter and affiliate partner of Fundrise is its willingness to innovate. Since its founding in 2012, shortly after the JOBS Act opened private investments to retail investors, Fundrise has consistently looked for ways to democratize access to institutional-quality investments. From launching diversified private real estate funds like its Heartland and Income funds, to expanding into venture capital through the Innovation Fund, Fundrise has steadily pushed into areas that were once reserved for large institutions and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. So when I received an email from Fundrise announcing its plans to list the Innovation…

The best small-business loans vary by use case, with bank and SBA loans offering the lowest rates and online lenders providing faster, more flexible funding.Consider factors like qualifications, cost, speed and flexibility in order to choose the best business loan for your needs.A business lending marketplace can allow you to apply to multiple lenders with a single application and provide personalized guidance. At some point, most small businesses need more money — whether it’s to stock shelves, buy new equipment or expand their footprint. A business loan can help, but figuring out where to start isn’t always simple.Below, we’ve identified…

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Melissa and Tony, a couple who immigrated from Mexico with big dreams and an even bigger work ethic. In less than a decade, they’ve built a net worth of nearly $900,000. But beneath the surface of their impressive paper wealth, they’re carrying almost $1 million in debt and are completely misaligned on their financial goals. With their second child due any day, Ramit helps them uncover the root of their money woes, from differing money styles to the profound impact of their upbringing. Can they finally get on…

I have wanted to lose 10 pounds (~6% of body weight) ever since I started Financial Samurai in 2009. I have come close, dropping five to six pounds in some years, but never quite hitting the double digit goal. As a result, for more than 16 years, I failed to accomplish something that should have been straightforward, especially for a supposedly rational economist and personal finance nerd. There were even moments when I considered intentionally gaining a lot of weight just to make losing 10 pounds easier. The idea felt similar to racking up a ton of credit card debt…

Gondola is a free hotel search and booking platform that easily lets you compare the cost of cash and award stays. This makes it easier to find award prices across multiple brands simultaneously and decide whether to use cash or points to book a hotel stay.It has many of the features you’d want in a travel search tool: price alerts if the cash or points price drops, fast results, and even helpful historical price data for a specific property. You can even sort the search results by redemption value. That’s more detailed information than other platforms provide, like PointsYeah and…

Buying a home is a big step, and if you’re a veteran stepping into civilian life, the process can feel even bigger. Fortunately, VA home loans offer unique advantages that can make the process easier and more affordable for service members.   Unlike many traditional loans, you don’t need a big down payment before getting approved.  That means you can focus on finding the right home instead of stressing so much about saving  Let’s break down how these benefits work and the eligibility requirements in more detail.  What Is a VA Home Loan and How Does It Work?  A VA home loan is a mortgage program available…

Unlike most people, I love ARMs, or adjustable-rate mortgages. Adjustable-rate mortgages have helped me save over $300,000 in mortgage interest expense since 2005 compared to if I had taken out 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. Despite all the fear, uncertainty, and doubt surrounding ARMs, they have been one of the most powerful wealth-building tools in my financial life. By taking advantage of lower introductory rates and paying down principal whenever there’s free cash, I have consistently reduced interest expense while maintaining flexibility. In this post, I walk through a real-world case study that tackles one of the biggest fears surrounding ARMs: What…

Bilt Cash is one of two rewards currencies you can earn on one of the three Bilt credit cards. Bilt Cash can’t be redeemed for actual cash back or transferred directly to Bilt’s multiple travel partners, but you can spend it on eligible purchases through the Bilt app or on bilt.com. The Bilt Blue Card ($0 annual fee).The Bilt Obsidian Card ($95 annual fee).The Bilt Palladium Card ($495 annual fee).Bilt Cash was introduced in January 2026 when Bilt revamped its card lineup. Each $1 in Bilt Cash is typically worth $1 when redeemed within the Bilt ecosystem. One notable way…

“Zombie debt” is debt that shows up long after someone thought the account was closed, forgotten, or too old to matter. Sometimes it comes from outdated records, and other times it appears because a collection agency purchased old accounts and began contacting people again.  Understanding why an old debt might reappear can help you decide what information to gather and what questions to ask. This blog explains how zombie debt works, why it resurfaces, and the steps people often take to review and respond to these unexpected notices.  What Zombie Debt Is  Zombie debt is an old account that reappears after years…