THE FATHER BLOG

I’m off topic once again, but this one is important. I often post about investing, and I still will. That is a more fun topic: investing vs saving. However, there needs to be both in your portfolio/account.

The question is: how much cash should you have saved up? You can always do your own research, but I think it’s wise to have some money put aside for between 3-6 months of living expenses. As an example:

• Housing costs: Rent or mortgage, property taxes, and utilities
• Food and groceries
• Transportation: Gas, car payments, insurance, or public transit fees
• Insurance premiums: Health, auto, or any mandatory insurance
• Healthcare expenses: Regular medications or medical visits
• Minimum debt payments: Credit cards, loans, or other obligations
• Essential personal and household expenses: Such as childcare, necessary clothing, and communication services (phone, internet)

Take a look at your credit card and billing statements, see where the necessary stuff lies….and what you could do without in an emergency. Save that up and put it somewhere safe (I personally like TBIL).

Once you know you have a safety net, then continue to filter more of the cash you have into your investments!

Interesting question…. especially for someone like me who will only occasionally drink some red wine. Can I tell the difference between a $5 bottle vs the $30 bottle? Yes, I can. Can I taste the difference between the $30 bottle vs the $300 bottle? I doubt it. I’m not a sommelier but I know when good tastes good and when it tastes like vinegar. But there is no way I would taste the intricacies of the grape variety, how long it’s been on the vine, etc. So while I’m sure I would enjoy a $300 bottle of wine (if someone else was buying), I think I’ll stick to the mid to low range bottles.

Now since I’m a beer drinker….or so I’ve been told….let’s make the comparison. Do some people think we are crazy for spending $25 on a 4 pack of Treehouse beers or some other top notch brewery? Of course they do and I don’t blame them. If your palate has only been given a steady sample of Budweiser or Coors (which you can get a full case of that for about $25) then just like me a fancy red wine….you wouldn’t be able to enjoy it.

I don’t turn my nose up on wine enthusiasts for this reason nor do I look down on the people that walk out of the liquor store with a case of Schlitz under each arm. Everyone likes what they like and that’s ok!

The answer is always yes to this question. Here we are in the middle of July and the thought of having taxes done, speaking to your accountant, or that April tax deadline is barely a thought in your head. But they should be….

There is nothing worse than owing the government a pile of cash come tax time because you didn’t properly withhold enough during the year. Or you made some extra money in the stock market, side business, etc and underestimated the taxes. The second worse thing would be getting a huge return at the end of the year because that just means the government was holding all that money (of yours!) that you should have had in your pocket throughout the year.

So what should you do? These are the talks you need to have with your accountant or get yourself an accurate online tool to estimate what is that “breakeven point” which is the goal. Come tax time, you want to either pay or receive as little money as possible. Do you need to adjust your W-4? Do you need to start putting money aside during the year and pay estimated taxes? Whatever it is, start thinking about it right now because waiting until January when your tax forms start arriving in the mail….it’s too late. Plan ahead friends!