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Critical Financial

A Financial Guide to America in the 21st Century

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Do You Want To Build Credit?

Do You Want To Build Credit?

Jul 16th, 2020 · 0 Comment
  Do you know what to do to build credit and establish yourself as a good credit risk? Believe it or not, the way you approach a small...
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Anton Kreil May Not Be Worth His $3,000 Price Tag

May 25th, 2023 · 23 Comments
Everyone wants to be the king when it comes to day trading. Some people build their fortunes over years of hard work and dedication, while success... more →

Do you need to tip a house painter?

May 25th, 2023 · 1 Comment
When it is time to repaint, is it good etiquette to tip a house painter? Some people are more prone to tip, while others feel the base price... more →

How Long Can You Go Over Your Oil Change?

May 25th, 2023 · 1 Comment
Do you need an oil change and you’re worried about having to delay it? Many things can go wrong with your automobile–brakes wear... more →
Airplane taking off

How We’re Learning to Travel for Free with Credit Card Points

May 23rd, 2023 · 0 Comment
This year, my husband will travel to Japan once by himself. Then, a few months later, our family of five will go to Japan. We knew this summer... more →
Asian couple shaking hands with a female real estate agent.

3 Immediate Steps to Do If Your Real Estate Agent Lies

May 9th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Selling or buying a house is one of the most significant financial transactions you will make. You want a real estate agent working for you... more →
Picture of money, the corner of a tax refund check, and a tax form.

How to Spend a Tax Refund

Apr 18th, 2023 · 0 Comment
This year, my husband and I were worried that we might owe taxes. Instead, to our surprise, we received a several thousand dollars refund. We... more →
Person holding a smartphone with

Stay Alert and Avoid Job Scams: How to Spot the Red Flags and Protect Yourself

Apr 4th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Applying for a job is more complicated now than it used to be. Previously, you would find a job in newspaper advertisements, send your resume,... more →
Man in an Airport Looking out at a plane landing

Why We’re Considering Travel Insurance

Mar 21st, 2023 · 0 Comment
My husband and I have traveled to several continents, and never used travel insurance. However, we haven’t traveled internationally in approximately... more →
Picture of scales with gold coins on one side and a small wooden house on the other side.

3 Things to Know Before Buying a House with Delinquent Taxes

Mar 7th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Real estate is often considered an investment, especially in one’s retirement. You buy a house, pay on it for 30 years, and when you’re... more →
Yearly Budget Audit

Why We Do a Yearly Budget Audit

Feb 21st, 2023 · 0 Comment
My husband and I established a budget over 20 years ago when we married. We don’t find a budget restrictive; instead, adhering to our budget... more →
Bad reference from a previous job

Here’s How to Deal with Bad Reference from Previous Job

Feb 7th, 2023 · 0 Comment
An excellent job reference can open doors when applying for a new job. Unfortunately, the opposite, having a bad reference from a previous job,... more →
Why We Don't Use Escrow

Why We Don’t Use Escrow

Jan 24th, 2023 · 0 Comment
We bought our first house in 2014. However, we didn’t have enough for a 20 percent down payment, so we had to take out private mortgage insurance... more →
There's No Such Thing as a Stable Job

3 Reasons Why There’s No Such Thing as a Stable Job

Jan 10th, 2023 · 0 Comment
Sixty to eighty years ago, people graduated from high school and started a job. They would likely work at this job until they retired. Then,... more →
Best Credit Cards for Cash Back for Groceries

The Best Credit Cards for Cash Back for Groceries

Dec 26th, 2022 · 0 Comment
The price of groceries is soaring. “Food prices overall rose 4.6% since September 2020,” but “meats, poultry, fish, and eggs had the highest... more →
3 Reasons Why We Didn't Get a Home Warranty

3 Reasons Why We Didn’t Get a Home Warranty

Dec 20th, 2022 · 0 Comment
When we bought our first home eight years ago, our realtor told us what a boon it was that the sellers were included a one-year home warranty.... more →
Turnkey Properties

Are Turnkey Properties Worth It?

Dec 14th, 2022 · 0 Comment
If you’re considering investing in a turnkey property, you may be wondering if they’re really worth it. Here’s what you need... more →
YNAB Broke

Why Being YNAB Broke Is Good

Nov 22nd, 2022 · 0 Comment
I have tried many budgeting software programs over the past twenty years. Initially, I wrote my budget on pen and paper, which worked fine when... more →
Huge House

Here Are 5 Financial Disadvantages of Owning a Huge House

Nov 14th, 2022 · 0 Comment
Big, expensive houses are all the rage these days. Celebrities and wealthy businesspeople seem to be buying up ever-larger homes at an alarming... more →
How to Decide If a Location Is Right for You

How to Decide If a Location Is Right for You

Oct 25th, 2022 · 0 Comment
The pandemic led many Americans to pick up and move to a different location. Our family has moved across the country twice, resulting in some... more →
steps to take when your paycheck is late.

If Your Paycheck Is Late, Do These 7 Things Immediately

Oct 13th, 2022 · 0 Comment
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who rely on a regular paycheck, and that paycheck is late, you’re probably feeling a... more →
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About the Author

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty.


Critical Financials’ Basic Personal Finance Rules

Here are some simple guidelines that will help you build wealth:  

1) Do the math. Get a budget and calculate your net worth

2) Get an emergency fund. Save at least 6 months worth of expenses

3) Limit costs. Spend no more than 30% of your income on housing

4) Max your retirement. Maximize contributions to your tax-deferred retirement accounts

5) Pay yourself first. Set aside money for yourself before you take care of your other bills

6) Set goals. Goal let you get ahead faster

7) Avoid high interest debt. Avoid credit cards, title loans and other usurious loans

8) Diversify. Diversity your assets.

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