TessMore Finance Blog

This is just a quick (and temporary) note for folks in the Portland area. Tomorrow night (Wednesday, August 17th) from 6:30 to 9:00, the free Plutus Voices gathering will take place at TaborSpace. The topic will be pursuing financial independence on a low income . Here's how the Plutus Voices website describes its aims: Plutus Voices is a series of networking and learning events from the financial media and beyond. The series brings attention to speakers and topics that are crucial to success with financial literacy, capability, and empowerment through blogging and podcasting. Hear from the best community-builders and influencers about inspiring action in their audiences and participate in an inspiring group discussion in which all participants shares their unique insight. While Plutus Voices includes short talks from featured speakers, all who attend the event have the opportunity to participate in a special group activity. The evening also includes many opportunities to ne

This is a guest post from Michael Laurence . Previously at Get Rich Slowly, Michael has shared his thoughts on investment risk and what happens when more money makes you miserable . You hear the phrase “the game of life” all the time. There are books on Amazon instructing us on how to win at the “game of life” . Hell, Milton Bradley's “The Game of Life” from 1860 — still sold today — was the first popular board game in the United States. In the Real World, the game of life's rules and criteria for success are vague and never explicitly stated. But we all know what they are. To win, you need: money (or, more accurately, conspicuous consumption) physical attractiveness kids who go to great schools and are athletically successful and so on “The game of life” has become more than a metaphor. Many people — obsessed with their status, career, or where their kids go to school — have internalized this idea and literally view their life not as something to enjoy, but as a

Having good credit and enough money to pay your monthly bills are keys to being financially stable. If you’ve stumbled along the way – perhaps you’ve had poor credit in the past – there are many personal finance apps with tools designed to help you recover your footing and build a stronger financial future. One such app is Brigit , which, according to its mission statement, aims to help users “build credit, spend wisely, avoid unfair fees, and start saving more.” In this Brigit Review, I’ll cover their various products and services, share some pros and cons, and let you know who Brigit is best suited for. I’ll also list some Brigit alternatives you may want to consider. Table of Contents What Is Brigit? Brigit Pricing Brigit Free Brigit Plus Brigit App Features Brigit Score Instant Cash Advance Credit Builder Identity Theft Protection Spending Insights Find Side Jobs Brigit Pros and Cons Brigit Alternatives Chime Albert Dave Brigit App FAQs Who Is the Bri

What Is the Formula for Net Income? Net Income = Total Revenue – Total Expenses No matter how much you love what you do, it’s likely you’re working for one reason: money. If you run your own business , you know the ongoing expenses that can eat into your pockets. From employee wages to office supplies, it can be overwhelming to understand how much you’ll actually take home after all these expenses. Before you phone your accountant , there is one metric that can help you assess your company’s financial success: net income . And the best part is, you don’t have to be a math whiz to figure it out. Instead, you’ll just need the net income formula. To learn more about net income and how you can calculate it yourself, follow this comprehensive guide. What Is Net Income? Net income is the total amount of money a business earns after paying all taxes and expenses in a given period.  You can use this number to: Calculate a business’s earnings per share Assess a business’s financ

There are times when you may be asked what your total annual income is. It could be during income tax season or when you apply for a mortgage or car loan. But what does total annual income mean? What is (and isn’t) included in the calculation? In this article, I’ll show you how to calculate your annual income and explain the difference between gross and net income. I’ll also share some practical uses for this information outside of filing your taxes. Table of Contents Types of Total Annual Income Total Annual Gross Income Vs. Total Annual Net Income What Does Total Annual Income Include? Earned Income Unearned Income How to Calculate Total Annual Income How to Use Total Annual Income Total Gross Income for Reporting Total Net Income for Budgeting Final Thoughts Types of Total Annual Income There are two main types of total annual income for individuals: total annual Gross income and total annual net income. Let’s take a closer look at the similarities and di

“Should I buy a new car?” If you asked almost every personal finance pundit that question, they’ll give you a bunch of reasons why you should buy used instead. Our founder, personal finance expert Ramit Sethi , disagrees. Used cars can be a good way to go. But to apply a broad rule that “used is the best” is short-sighted. In fact, Ramit thinks there are many more reasons why people should buy a new car than used. Should I buy a new car or used car in the long run?  It will depend on the type of car you buy, and the condition you buy it in. That said, if you’re going to buy a decent make that’s in really good shape, you might land yourself a bargain.  However, here’s the rub. Do you know enough about cars to know whether you’re buying a hole in your pocket? Even if it’s a good make, you can’t be sure that the previous owner didn’t do donuts in the Best Buy parking lot after dark.  In the long run, a new car might end up costing less because there’s less to fix. All car parts h

Planning a vacation doesn’t have to be a pain. That’s why I want to show you a great system you can use to plan the perfect trip. As a personal finance expert, I keep a budget in my mind when planning my trip too. How to plan a vacation trip (and not hate yourself) Want to learn how to plan a vacation? I’ll tell you, but first: Do you know what one of my favorite parts of vacations is? No, it’s not going to awesome places. The backyard pool of my hotel room in Thailand. Or eating delicious food. Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/ramit Or making cool friends along the way. I’m the one on the left. One of my favorite things is planning the vacation. Nothing makes me feel better than a well-formatted calendar with flight info and dinner reservations. Free mini course: Take control of your success with our new How to Design Your Rich Life mini-course . It’s a fast, fun, and free introduction to our Rich Life approach. Check out this itinerary I prepped for a recent tri