Well Kept Wallet

Well Kept Wallet Helping you get from where you ARE to where you WANT to be when it comes to your career, money, & lifestyle.

This is one of those situations where I would **not spend a penny of that $20,000.**Just because the company hasn't aske...
08/26/2026

This is one of those situations where I would **not spend a penny of that $20,000.**

Just because the company hasn't asked for it back yet doesn't necessarily mean the money is yours. An accidental overpayment could potentially create an obligation to repay it, and spending it now could turn into a major financial headache later.

I would keep the full $20,000 separate, document every attempt to contact the company, and continue following up until I received a clear answer in writing. If necessary, I'd even consider getting legal advice before assuming the money was mine.

Five years is a long time, but $20,000 is an even bigger risk to take.

What would you do: keep following up, or assume after five years the money is yours?

08/26/2026

Do you think frugality gets easier or harder with age?

08/26/2026

The American Dream Is Changing

The old dream:

• Expensive car with a big payment
• Bigger house with a bigger mortgage
• Work 40+ years and retire someday

The new dream:

• Paid-off reliable car
• Affordable house payment
• Invest consistently
• Keep your expenses low
• Build enough wealth to make work optional decades earlier

Maybe the goal isn’t to **look wealthy.**

Maybe it’s to **own your time.**

Which version of the American Dream sounds better to you?

Imagine working your entire life, paying into Social Security with every paycheck, and then reaching retirement only to ...
08/26/2026

Imagine working your entire life, paying into Social Security with every paycheck, and then reaching retirement only to have 15% of your benefit taken because of an old student loan.

However, if you borrow money, you should make every reasonable effort to repay it. But there's also a legitimate question about whether the federal government should be taking money directly from Social Security checks after someone has spent decades paying into the system.

Some seniors facing garnishment are even reportedly skipping doctor's appointments or prescriptions because they can't afford them.

Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill, cosponsored by Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, that would permanently prohibit the government from garnishing Social Security retirement and disability benefits to collect student loan debt.

With millions of borrowers in default, this raises a bigger question: where do we draw the line between repaying what you owe and protecting retirement income?

Do you think Social Security should be off-limits for student loan collections, or should borrowers still be required to repay the debt regardless of age?

This is exactly why I prefer investing in index funds instead of picking individual stocks.A single company can have a b...
08/25/2026

This is exactly why I prefer investing in index funds instead of picking individual stocks.

A single company can have a bad earnings report, lose a major customer, face new competition, or simply disappoint Wall Street. And when that happens, the stock can drop quickly.

With a broad index fund, you’re spreading your money across hundreds or even thousands of companies. One company having a terrible day doesn’t have nearly the same impact on your overall portfolio.

You might miss out on picking the next stock that goes up 10X, but you also reduce the risk of picking one that falls 50%.

For me, building wealth doesn’t need to be exciting. Consistently investing in low-cost index funds and letting them compound for decades is a strategy I can stick with.

Would you rather invest in individual stocks or index funds?

Paying off your home is a major financial milestone but owning a home means planning for more than just the mortgage. Pr...
08/25/2026

Paying off your home is a major financial milestone but owning a home means planning for more than just the mortgage. Property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and repairs are ongoing costs that don't disappear once the loan is gone.

That's why it's important to prepare long before retirement.

• Include property taxes in your retirement budget
• Build a home maintenance fund over time
• Research senior tax exemptions or relief programs in your state
• Consider downsizing if housing costs become too large

Financial freedom isn't just about eliminating debt.

It's about making sure you can comfortably afford the costs that continue after the mortgage is paid off.

Disclaimer: This post is for educational and informational purposes only. We occasionally share content we find interesting from other sources. Credit belongs to the original creator, and we are not responsible for the original content.

Retirement planning gets a lot harder when you wait until retirement is right around the corner.You don’t need to have e...
08/25/2026

Retirement planning gets a lot harder when you wait until retirement is right around the corner.

You don’t need to have everything figured out in your 20s or 30s. You just need to start.

Even small amounts invested consistently can compound for decades. The earlier you begin, the less pressure you may have to play catch-up later.

Start where you are. Invest what you can. Increase it as your income grows. Then give compound growth time to do its job.

What age did you start seriously thinking about retirement?

08/25/2026

Bring Back 1999

Millennials don't want to party like it's 1999.

They want to:

• Buy a house like it's 1999
• Grocery shop like it's 1999
• Fill up their gas tank like it's 1999

If one thing could go back to 1999 prices, what would you choose?

Saving $8,000 in a year might sound overwhelming but breaking it into monthly milestones can make the goal feel much mor...
08/25/2026

Saving $8,000 in a year might sound overwhelming but breaking it into monthly milestones can make the goal feel much more achievable.

The exact amounts aren't what matter most. Building the habit of saving consistently is.

• Start with a goal that fits your budget
• Increase your savings as your income grows
• Save windfalls like tax refunds or bonuses
• Automate transfers so you don't have to think about them
• If you miss a month, keep going instead of giving up

You don't have to save perfectly to make real progress.

Consistent saving, even in small amounts, can have a big impact on your financial future.

Learning a few basic financial terms can make a big difference in the decisions you make with your money.You don't need ...
08/25/2026

Learning a few basic financial terms can make a big difference in the decisions you make with your money.

You don't need to become an expert overnight. Understanding the fundamentals can help you invest with more confidence, avoid common mistakes, and make better financial choices.

Here are a few terms everyone should know:

• Diversification → Spreading investments to reduce risk
• Index fund → A fund that tracks a market index
• Compound interest → Growth that earns returns on previous returns
• Inflation → Rising prices that reduce purchasing power
• Net worth → What you own minus what you owe
• Dividend → A company's profits paid to shareholders
• Capital gains → Profit from selling an investment for more than you paid
• Liquidity → How quickly an asset can be converted to cash

Financial literacy isn't about memorizing definitions.

It's about understanding enough to make smarter decisions with your money over time.

Every expert investor started by learning the basics.

Disclaimer: This post is for educational and informational purposes only. We occasionally share content we find interesting from other sources. Credit belongs to the original creator, and we are not responsible for the original content.

Address

Phoenix, AZ

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Well Kept Wallet posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Well Kept Wallet:

Shortcuts

Share

Category