So I had 200k that I wanted to invest. Didn’t know where to start, so I asked my Dad and he recommended to give it to the same advisor he uses, as he’s made him some money over the decades. Pretty much all of this money is in stocks, such as Nvidia. The advisor said he would like to be more aggressive and invest in such companies due to my age, and I agreed. However, after just a little research, I see that investing in the S&P 500 and just leaving it there is a common recommendation. The account is at 216.5k now, and I’ve only had the account since January, but I see that the S&P has gone up 12.4% in the same time. I know it’s early, but what exactly is the point of an advisor? I’ve read that like 90% don’t outperform the S&P. Is it the hope that my advisor is one of the few that can? I guess I’m wondering what exactly the point is in the end

As the title says, I have around 90k in a settlement check I got from an accident. Not entire sure what to do with it. Me and my wife have no debt. I get paid 52k a year before taxes, my wife only gets paid only 28k before taxes. We live in a mobile home for about $600 a month on rent only due to the fact that my mother rents mobile homes. We wanted to maybe use a tiny bit like 5k for a trip. But we just don’t know. Any advice on what we could possibly do? I want to make more money rather than blowing it all. I am currently going to university for computer engineering and I only have 1-2 semesters left of my degree. I’m only 23 years old and my wife is 21. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I’m 24 and about a year into investing. One thing I keep hearing whenever someone brings up a stock or an upcoming event is “it’s already priced in.” Iget the basic idea: big investors have tons of information, and if there were an obvious opportunity, someone would’ve already taken advantage of it.

I typically follow a few large companies I am a fan of, and what I don’t get is why companies like Microsoft or Amazon can move 4% in a day when there doesn’t seem to be any major news. That’s a massive change in what the market thinks a company is worth overnight.

Was everything priced in the day before, and now it’s priced in again today at a completely different price? What actually changed?

Is it usually news that I’m just missing, changes in expectations, or buying and selling that doesn’t have much to do with the company itself? Also curious, to what exact number is it priced in? Is it a range? Or is it down to the cents of the stock price?

I 33M make around 170k and the salary cut off for contributing to a Roth IRA is around 150k for 2026, so I have been under the impression I am ineligible. However, I just stumbled on that the salary cut off is not totally accurate, and eligibility requirements are actually based on MAGI. I max my pre-tax 401k which reduces my taxable income, and I also have 2 rental properties which will further reduce my tax bill. In 2025 I made 150k but due to all those deductions, my MAGI was closer to 120k.

Other financial info:
Salary: 170k
401k balance: 200k
Brokerage: 40k
Checking/savings: 25k

I don’t have my estimated MAGI for 2026, but I imagine it will be lower than 150k this year. I believe that means I actually can contribute to a Roth IRA?

I run a small home service-based business and work a full time job. My co workers on my full time job are my 1099 employees and they are all great. My problem is, every 4 months I work night shifts for 4 months straight then go straight back to days for 4 months. 4 months days 4 months night shift work and it just keeps rotating. When on nights it gets extremely boring. It’s one of those jobs where I could go 8-10 hours with almost nothing to do. It feels wasteful to not try and do something that could be generating money. Does anyone have any insight on any money-making things I could be doing during this time? 6 pm - 6 am

For context: 28M with $50K in VBIL to buy a car next year. I plan to keep it 10 years, before buying a new car every 10 years or so after that. I have a 795/780 credit score and access to a 4.7%, 5 year auto loan from my bank. Or I could finance through the dealership at 5% for 4 years.

From my perspective, I have a few options on how I can buy a car every 10 years:

1. Buy the car 100% cash, then save a few hundred every month for 10 years in mostly bonds/bills. Repeat. This option presents a lot of opportunity risk IMO, but keeps monthly cashflow towards car low.

2. Invest the $50K into a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds, and finance the car 100%. After 10 years, repeat. Use the equity from the car sold to lump sum more into the balanced investment portfolio - Essentially always be financed as much as possible. This has no opportunity cost but pays a good amount of interest over the years in order to invest the lump sum early, and has a much larger monthly cost. This option is basically paying the rate of the loan as cost of leverage to invest my cash early.

3. The same as #2, but using the equity from the car sold every 10 years as a down payment for the next car.

4. Some combination of each.

What are your thoughts on what is best? What would you do? Is is just based on risk profile/preference? I really can’t decide! Help.

I’m starting university next year and will probably stay at school for the next 6 years if I can do a masters degree after my bachelors. I work part time in retail 15-20 hours a week for 27-30 an hour. My mum has recently informed me she wants to sell one of the two properties she owns. She says she wants me to buy my own small property and utilise the first home owners 5% deposit in Australia and that she will pay the initial deposit for the apartment or house I choose and that she’ll help me out, I just have to pay the mortgage each month. She says if I get a two bedroom I can rent out on the rooms. I’m not too sure about this because I don’t even have a full time job yet. Maybe if I increase my hours at work? Is it worth it to talk to a financial advisor? I don’t want to be financially crippled for life. Where do I go to start my own research on this? Are there any good resources? Is it a good idea if she’s agreed to may the entire deposit and I just have to earn enough to keep up the mortgage each month? Looking for genuine advice from someone who knows very little about finances. She says for now I should just look into real estate and see what’s out there. Can someone tell me where to begin? The job prospects for degree are also rather grim. Im renting with roommates at the moment, my rent is 1072 a month which is really good for the area. My mum does pay most of it though otherwise id struggle. The previous place was around 2089 per month which she was paying for which I’m very very grateful for.

Hello all, Im twenty one years old, homeless the last 2 years of my life & living in Canada..

These last two years of my life have been hell for me. Ive been job hopping, my girlfriend is 2 months pregnant & my Employment Insurance has ran out....

Im about to receive $12,000 tax free.

Now.. i've never had more than $3000 saved up before & I am scared of losing a good percentage of it due to my own stupidity. if you won $10k+ and had literally $100 in your bank account what would be your first steps when you receive the payout & how can i plan for my future etc.

I have a TFSA but thats it

I work for a municipality. 90k salary now, 103k salary at the end of current contract. Can retire in 2042 at 52yo with full vested pension (~65% final average salary). No health care coverage through pension, have to apply for a subsidy to help pay for coverage until Medicare. I have about 180k in a 457b account. Currently work M-F 9-5 with about a 50mi round trip.

I've been looking at going private sector. A recruiter approached me and has a position that is 100% remote. Doing pretty much exactly what I'm doing now. Salary is minimum 120k up to 180k. I'd also be saving 5-6k a year on fuel at current prices.

I'd give up my pension and the retirement at 52. My government job is secure and I'm well past the cut point if any layoffs were to ever happen. Union protection as well. I have decent chances to promote within a few years and get a 15-20% raise. Lots of extra responsibilities and headaches. Without promoting, and if we average 3% raises for the next 16 years, I'll be at about 150k salary in 2042.

I've had this job since I was 21 and it's all I know. But I'm also getting burnt out and looking at options. Its 16 more years to get a nice retirement or give it up and work longer, make more income, but deal with uncertainty.

Thoughts? Anyone else done something similar?

I’m not sure if this belongs here. Or if the poor sub would be more appropriate. I need to buy toothpaste and soap and few food items. I usually shop at Walmart it’s the closest to me and probably the cheapest. There is also a Family Dollar and ALDI nearby. I’m already gonna buy a carton of eggs, milk what else can I get that can last me the next couple days. And which would be the cheapest to shop at. My last resort is just going to a food pantry. Any advice is appreciated I’m so embarrassed that it’s even gotten THIS bad. I’ve gone literal months unemployed. I’ve just had an Interview at Popeyes and I think it went pretty well the hiring manager told I should hear back within 2 weeks. But until then I need to figure something else out.

Back in 2020 I had about 10k for 401k. I was 29 at the time. I looked back online on Fidelity and saw it went to 8500. I got worried and asked to take it out and asked the person over phone if I get penalty and they said no. I got laid off my job in 2020 from the pandemic then soon after I got married. I been stay at home and had a baby in 2023. I got worried about the 401k and saw it was losing so I withdrew it and put it into a bank CD. Now I realized even tho I don’t work it will still could have built interest while I wasn’t still working and staying home. I think I will be stay at home for a very long time. CD will mature on January. I thought from the painful mistake that I take 7500 from the CD when it matures and put it into a Roth IRA or spousal ROTH IRA. I need validation or thoughts if this seems like the right thing to do. I feel dumb for the mistake and just assumed since I’m not working and not sure when the next time I’ll work at a job I take it out. I guess I freelance sometimes so maybe I put myself as self employed on the Roth IRA. I’m not the smartest with these things like fiance and need help.

Thank you for listening! I been researching about 401k and Roth and all that. It hurts my brain lol

If I ever work a regular job do I open a 401k or does it go into the Roth? Thank you for hearing me being confused and asking questions

Edit: I’m a stay at home mom so most of my focus is with my toddler and my family. I went to college for graphic design and later worked as a graphic designer for Hanes until 2020 laidoff. I freelance graphic design & illustration sometimes but I don’t make a lot since my focus is with my family so some years it shifts. I did work on an illustration commission project last year that was $400, but it’s really all I did and I have an Etsy shop. I did make 7k-10k on Etsy, but this year is really low like $200 because all my focus is on my growing family. This year I finally went back and did a day event at a craft show and earned $200. I have did in person shows. I did a comicon 3 day event in my city and earned 3k in a weekend before I became pregnant with my toddler. I love to freelance more when I’m done having kids and they’re in school or even work part time somewhere even if it’s not graphic design or illustration. My husband said don’t worry about income and he got it for our family. He has a 401k, but I still like to have something like a Roth IRA like a cushion for us in retirement. I don’t know when I’ll work a regular job again. My elder sister didn’t return to work until 10 years and my mother in law never work after she got married.

I am currently on paternity leave and have been mailed a check with “non negotiable” stamped on it as well as no numbers at the bottom of the check,

Question: is this a valid check? I have not been paid yet for my time away and money is getting tight. The third party benefits people who handle our paternity leave are useless.

Can one deposit this check?

I currently have $28k in HYSA at 3.5%. My investment counselor is trying to get me to switch to his company's, at 3.61%. Or I can move it to one of the big internet banks like Sofi and get 5%.

We just got most of this money, and we're planning a remodel next spring, which is why I haven't moved it yet. After we get the remodel done, we'll be able to build it back pretty quickly. I like the convenience of having all of my accounts together at my investment company, but 5% interest looks tempting, too.

Because I'll be draining it within the year, is it worth moving it now?

EDIT: I just want to say thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to this post.

I’m genuinely blown away by the sheer amount of knowledge, experience, optimism, and thoughtful advice shared here. I never expected this many responses, let alone so many that would completely change my perspective.

I’ve spent a lot of time in my own head lately, overthinking our financial future and retirement to the point where it was honestly starting to take a toll on my mental health. The thought of not being able to provide the future I want for myself and my family has been weighing on me more than I’d like to admit.

Reading through these responses has been an incredible weight lifted off my shoulders. Not only have I learned a tremendous amount, but I’ve also gained something I was really starting to lose…. optimism about our future.
I realize now that we’re not nearly as far behind as I had convinced myself we were, and that with some planning, discipline, and patience, the future I want for my family is absolutely within reach.

It’s pretty incredible that a group of complete strangers on the internet can have such a positive impact on someone’s outlook on life.

I still have a lot to learn, but instead of feeling overwhelmed and defeated, I’m genuinely excited to start putting a plan into action.

Seriously, thank you all. You’ve helped more than you probably realize!!!

Original Post

I’m 39 years old and unfortunately financial literacy was never something I was taught growing up. I’ve overcome a lot of hardships and a traumatic past, and while I’m proud of where I’ve gotten in life, I feel like I’m behind when it comes to planning for my future.

I have two preteen children and a fiancée who works enough to cover some household expenses while being there for our kids when I can’t be due to traveling for work.

I work a blue collar trade job with room for growth. I have no college education and my base salary is $82,500, with another $10–15k possible in overtime depending on the year.

We own a small starter home with approximately $140k left on the mortgage. If I had to guess, we have around $100k in equity with the current housing market.

I started contributing to an employer matched retirement account about two years ago and currently have around $35k in it. I contribute 10% of every paycheck and my employer matches 3.5%.

I also have approximately $140k sitting in the bank, which I believe is probably one of the worst places for that money to be, along with another $30k in liquid cash.

My fiancée is a self-employed hairdresser with relatively low earnings, so I expect her Social Security benefits to be on the very low end. Realistically, our retirement is going to depend heavily on what I’m able to save and invest, along with my Social Security.

My ultimate goal is to retire as early as realistically possible. I don’t need to be wealthy or live some extravagant lifestyle. I just want financial freedom and the ability to enjoy more of my life without having to work until I’m in my late 60s.

I’m currently working my way through the wiki to improve my financial literacy, but I also have a learning disability, so absorbing all of this information takes me some time.

I know I’ve started late and I’m just not sure what the smartest next move is. Should I be investing a large portion of my savings? Increasing my retirement contributions? Paying down my mortgage? Something else entirely?

I feel like I’ve worked hard to get to where I am, but now I need to figure out how to make the money I’ve saved actually work for me.

I genuinely appreciate any help, advice or guidance anyone is willing to offer.

Hi, I am 30 and considering taking out a home equity loan to make some home repairs. My deck is collapsing and around 12.5k to fix. Various other items in my home are dated and ticking time bombs (20 year old hot water heater and HVAC). I have the funds to replace the deck outright but does not leave me with much emergency funds after. My worry is if I fix my deck (dangerous to be on or around) and something else goes out I will be scrambling to figure something out. I owe 188k and appraised at 240k. I can handle a monthly payment for something like this. I am just looking for some financial advice, my mortgage rate is 4% if that helps, so I don’t plan to refinance. Just trying to make the right decision for me and my families future

My son has saved that amount to this point and will continue saving until he goes to school. He is currently on a gap year. He didn't know what he wanted to do until now. We can give him $20-25k per year for school, but the rest will have to be loans. Should he put his current savings in ladder CDs to use each year? Since he doesn't know right now where he's going and how much in loans, wait to save it for undeferred loans? Obviously he will work in the summers and over break too.

I’m 18 years old, living in Boerne, Texas, and I genuinely don’t know what to do anymore. I’m posting because I need advice from people who understand Texas tenant laws, bankruptcy, debt, or have been through something similar.
I know this is long, but PLEASE read everything before judging me. I have been trying so hard to get my life together, and it feels like everything is falling apart at the exact same time.
BACKGROUND — WHY I MOVED HERE
I moved into my very first apartment on August 21, 2026. It’s a two-bedroom apartment, and my rent is approximately $1,264 a month before additional charges.
I moved to Boerne largely because of a caregiving job opportunity. I genuinely loved my apartment. It’s quiet, I have my own space, and I was proud of myself for getting my first place at 18.
I wasn’t expecting everything to become so unstable this quickly.
THE JOB SITUATION — MY HOURS BASICALLY DISAPPEARED
I work in caregiving through Inspired Care Solutions.
I was previously working overnight shifts, and that income was supposed to help me maintain my apartment and pay my bills.
Then, without much warning, the client I was primarily assigned to discontinued nighttime services.
I woke up to find my scheduled shifts had disappeared.
I was told they would try to get me more hours, but I went through an extended period with practically no work. I also missed a shift on October 1 because of severe flooding and unsafe driving conditions.
I kept asking for shifts because I NEED to work. I have bills, rent, a car payment, and other financial responsibilities.
I wasn’t refusing to work. I was available and actively asking for more hours.
I eventually got a second caregiving job through Home Instead. I’ve started picking up shifts there, but the income isn’t arriving quickly enough to resolve my current housing situation.
I’m also working other jobs and looking for additional income whenever possible.
THE RENT/FLEX SITUATION
I use a service called Flex to split my rent into payments.
For October, I submitted my rent payment through Flex on October 2.
My apartment portal showed that my rent was paid and that my balance was $0.
Then everything changed.
The payment was apparently reversed because of an account-related issue, and suddenly my rent was unpaid again.
To make things worse, I haven’t been able to log into my Flex account properly, and getting useful support has been extremely difficult.
I understand that the money wasn’t successfully withdrawn, but I was under the impression that my rent had been taken care of because of what the portal showed.
Between this issue and the loss of my caregiving hours, I ended up unable to pay October’s rent.
NOW I’M FACING EVICTION
On October 12, I received a notice from my apartment regarding nonpayment of rent.
I’ve been communicating with the leasing office, and they told me that if I move out before October 25, they will not proceed with an eviction filing.
However, they explained that moving out doesn’t mean I can just walk away from the lease.
According to the leasing office, my rent would be accelerated through the remaining lease term, then adjusted when someone else rents the apartment.
They also said I would owe the reletting fee specified in my lease, along with my current balance and applicable fees.
My lease lists a $3,500 early termination option, with a 60-day written notice requirement. I’m not sure how that option interacts with my current nonpayment situation or the reletting charges they’re describing.
They said I may be able to arrange payments after moving out to avoid collections, provided I establish an arrangement within 30 days.
I’m terrified of having an eviction on my record at 18 years old, but I’m equally terrified of owing thousands of dollars for an apartment I’m no longer living in.
I’ve contacted 211 for rental assistance. I was referred to a local resource, but I haven’t found an immediate solution.
I also received conflicting information about eviction timelines, so I’m confused about what the notice actually means legally.
HERE’S THE CRAZIEST PART — I JUST GOT A CRUISE SHIP JOB
While all of this has been happening, I’ve been applying to other jobs.
I interviewed with American Cruise Lines for a serving position, and I got the job.
I’ve completed onboarding paperwork, and they confirmed receipt of my background check and drug screening results.
Today, October 12, they contacted me about starting training on October 19 — literally one week away.
I also have a mandatory virtual orientation on October 14.
The job is a temporary assignment described in my paperwork as 28 weeks. The position is approximately $10 an hour plus tips, and I was told tips could potentially be around $1,000 weekly, although I know that isn’t guaranteed.
This could genuinely be an opportunity for me to earn money, reduce my living expenses while working away from home, and start rebuilding financially.
But I have NO idea how to handle everything before leaving.
They said travel information won’t be sent until 36–72 hours after orientation, meaning I might not receive my itinerary until October 15–17.
I don’t even know whether I will return home after training or go directly to my assigned ship.
If I go straight to the ship, I might need to have my entire living situation handled THIS WEEKEND.
MY CATS, FURNITURE, AND CAR
I have cats, and obviously I’m not going to abandon them.
Originally, my mother was potentially going to help care for them, but she has expressed concerns about taking care of that many cats and has suggested rehoming them.
I’m not comfortable giving them away simply because I’m taking a temporary job.
I’m trying to figure out whether I can find someone trustworthy to keep them while I’m away.
I also have an entire two-bedroom apartment full of furniture and belongings.
I don’t have money sitting around for a moving truck, storage unit, or movers.
If I break my lease, I have to figure out where everything goes.
And then there’s my car.
It’s unreliable, and I’ve already been dealing with financial problems involving it.
MY DEBT SITUATION
This is where everything gets even more complicated.
I have an auto loan with a recent payoff quote of approximately $18,062.
I also owe money related to a previous car accident. I was unknowingly uninsured at the time. Nobody was injured, but there was property damage to the other person’s vehicle.
The amount I’ve been told is approximately $11,205 with a payment arrangement or around $12,000 without one.
So between just the auto loan and accident-related debt, I’m looking at roughly $29,000–$30,000.
That’s before my other debts, possible lease termination charges, and remaining bills.
I’ve been considering voluntarily surrendering my car because it’s unreliable and I don’t know if keeping it makes financial sense.
I also have other financial obligations, including my phone bill, insurance, and personal debts.
I am not trying to avoid responsibility for everything. I just don’t know how I could realistically pay all of this with my current income.
I’M CONSIDERING BANKRUPTCY AT 18
I contacted a bankruptcy attorney and have an initial phone consultation scheduled for Thursday, October 15.
I’m hoping to discuss whether Chapter 7 bankruptcy could make sense in my situation.
I want to understand whether bankruptcy could address the auto loan deficiency if I surrender the vehicle, the accident-related property damage debt, and any lease-related debt.
I’m especially concerned about whether the accident debt is dischargeable and whether filing bankruptcy would affect my housing situation.
I understand bankruptcy has serious consequences, and I don’t want to rush into it without understanding my options.
But I’m already facing potentially enormous debts at 18, and I don’t know if trying to pay everything back over several years is realistic.
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS MY FUTURE
If I move out before October 25, I may be able to avoid an eviction filing, based on what my apartment manager told me.
But I’ll potentially have a broken lease, thousands in debt, and possibly a bankruptcy on my credit report.
When my cruise assignment ends, where am I supposed to live?
Will another apartment approve me?
Will I need a cosigner?
Will I have to pay off the previous apartment before another landlord will rent to me?
I don’t want to spend the next several years being unable to rent an apartment because of decisions I made at 18.
At the same time, keeping an apartment I may not live in for months while struggling to pay rent seems financially irresponsible.
HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS I REALLY NEED HELP WITH:
In Texas, if I move out after receiving a notice to vacate but before an eviction lawsuit is filed, can I avoid having an eviction on my record? What documentation should I request from the landlord?
Can my apartment charge me for the remaining lease term AND a reletting fee? How do I determine which charges are actually enforceable?
Would it make more sense to surrender the apartment before October 25, or attempt to negotiate a payment arrangement and keep it?
If I file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, could it potentially include debt from breaking my lease, my auto loan deficiency, and property damage from an accident where I was uninsured?
If I voluntarily surrender my financed vehicle, what happens to the remaining loan balance?
How difficult is it to rent another apartment after a broken lease or bankruptcy, especially if I have several months of stable income and savings afterward?
Are there Texas legal aid organizations or emergency housing resources I should contact immediately?
Has anyone worked for American Cruise Lines? Do employees typically go directly from training to their ship, or do they return home first?
If you were in my position, would you take the cruise job, put your belongings in storage, find temporary care for your pets, and use the next several months to rebuild financially?
Is there something obvious I’m missing that could prevent me from making a really expensive mistake?
MY CURRENT TIMELINE:
October 12: Received the apartment notice and confirmed my cruise training dates.
October 14: Mandatory American Cruise Lines Zoom orientation.
October 15: Bankruptcy attorney consultation.
October 17–18: Potentially my last weekend home before leaving.
October 19: Proposed cruise training start date.
October 25: Deadline my apartment manager gave me to move out before an eviction filing.
I am genuinely exhausted.
I moved out at 18 because I wanted to be independent and build a stable life for myself. I got jobs, kept applying for opportunities, tried to communicate with my employers, and tried to find ways to pay my bills.
Now I’m potentially packing up my first apartment less than two months after moving in.
I’m scared of making the wrong decision, scared of ruining my credit, scared of losing my housing options, and scared of what happens when the cruise job ends.
I don’t need people telling me I shouldn’t have moved out at 18. I already know my situation is complicated.
I need practical, realistic advice about what I should do this week, what questions I should ask my attorney, and how to protect my future as much as possible.
If you’ve been through bankruptcy, a Texas eviction, an early lease termination, or worked on a cruise ship, I would genuinely appreciate your perspective.
Thank you for reading all of this.

My wife and I have about $21,000 in personal savings and another $21,000 in joint savings. We built a house last year, and lately I’ve been feeling increasingly concerned about whether we can comfortably afford it long-term.
Our combined gross income is approximately $150,000- $170,000, although my wife is self-employed, so I don’t know her exact income. When we built the house, our budget was $400,000, but we ended up going slightly over at around $430,000. Since I did a significant amount of the work myself, the house ended up appraising for around $900,000.

The biggest concern is property taxes. We’re currently only paying taxes on the lot, but starting next year, I estimate our annual property taxes could be around $18,000. Our current mortgage payment is about $2,500 per month on a 30-year loan, so the additional tax burden has me worried about how affordable the house will actually be.
I also recently started a side business, which has added to the stress. I’m not sure if it’s a combination of everything going on, but lately I feel like we’re going broke. My hope is that the business will be up and running and generating income next year, which would provide some financial breathing room, but obviously, that isn’t guaranteed.
One option I keep considering is selling the house next year, after meeting the two-year ownership and residency requirement for the capital gains exclusion. Given the home’s estimated value, selling could potentially free up a significant amount of equity. We could use that money to pay off other debts, reduce our monthly expenses, and focus more on saving for retirement and our child’s college education.

The biggest obstacle is that my wife doesn’t want to sell the house, and she’s also unwilling to sit down with me and put together a budget. That makes it difficult to figure out where we stand financially and whether keeping the house is a realistic long-term option.

I’m torn because I don’t want to give up a house we worked hard to build, but I also don’t want to sacrifice our financial security or put ourselves in a position where we’re constantly stressed about money.

I’d appreciate any advice on how to approach this situation, whether selling the house makes sense financially, and how to navigate the disagreement with my wife.

Can someone break down the difference for me? I set this up 6 years ago with Vanguard and just revisited it today (terrible I know). Can I purchase an ETF for my Roth and vice versa? I also have money in there available for purchase. $1.8K in my Roth and $78 for my brokerage. Do I just buy more of what I already have or look into something else?

Roth has VSTAX
Brokerage has VGT, VNQ, VPU, VTI, VYM

Hello I’m 23F and I make rough $37 an hour…

Here is my finances.

Cost of Living:
Car insurance $300
Gas & Groceries $800
Animal $20
Subscriptions $20

= $1,140

I just moved back in with my parents so I don’t have to pay rent

Okay… now here’s my debt

Car loan $29,000
Credit cards & other loans $22,618
= $51,638

My average check take home is 2,000 may be a little more since I did just get a raise to the $37 and was previously at $35….

How do I get out of this financial debt hole?

I will admit my car loan is very high, I bought a car thinking it was reliable and so far has put me in more debt and now, I am honestly freaking out since I have never been a person to have debt and it feels like over night it has become this monster. Please help!

Edit to this post:

I make $2,000 bi-weekly

At the end of May I bought a 30K 4Runner thinking it was the last car I’d have to purchase for decades. It has been the opposite and been costing me a lot in repairs and rental cars I’ve had to get just to go to work.

I’m now in the sticky situation of deciding if keeping the car is worth it knowing it needs a rack and pinion, tires which is normal. And the reputable mechanic that has looked at it says it’s good car but I’m not sure.

I’ve been offered 17-19K for trade in but still leaves me with 10K to pay off and I’d still need to get a “new” car

I am 20 year old college student in Ontario, Canada, and was wondering what exactly I should do when it comes to paying off my student line of credit from TD. I stayed on campus last year which was a very expensive mistake, and one I had to take a student line of credit out to be able to afford.

The current balance on that is $9,245,04. I pay 50 dollars of interest on that a month, and don't have to start making payments until 4 years after my degree. I was wondering if I should pay that off now or maybe invest money to be able to pay it off easier down the line.

Savings: $6,391,02

Monthly income: $1800

I live at home so I don't have bills to pay.

It’s not a lot of money. Mostly small gifts from grandparents. What’s the best account to open? I would love to open up a Roth IRA for him but he’s too young to work.

Hello! Sorry, the post is a bit of a read.

I joined the military this past feburary to pay for my university degree (2nd year BSc Physics).

They cover 100% of my tuition and books and whatnot, and they give me a housing bonus that covers rent, and a salary of $2,200 a month (after tax).

All the expenses I have are related to uni (covered), rent (covered), groceries ($300-400/mo) and thats it (I walk to and fro to school, use the bus in a pinch, no car).

Say I have $1,500 a month surplus, and the next 3 years of studies where I'll reliably get it, plus a stable immediate career after uni making ~$90k/yr with the military,

What should I do with it? It's temping to just have it sit in my bank account and doordash all my food, but I want to be smart and invest it. I don't really know much about finance, and I was wondering if reddit could give me some pointers.

I'm willing to be more risky with investments for a greater reward, seeing I'm pretty safe financially. Although I would want to dedicate a portion to a government savings account. I just dont really know how much or which account I should choose. (For context I dont plan on having kids, so I wouldnt be that interested in an RESP unless I can open it for me to use? I would want a masters degree someday)

Sorry for the essay, and forgive me for being uninformed. I didn't find anything finance interesting and I felt like it was a pain to learn about in highschool. Now real life is setting in and I feel like I'm sitting on an opportinity that would be a lifelong regret if I wasted it.

Thanks for offering any help. Even giving me good resources to go to, to learn about how all this works would be great. I'll keep looking around online. I appreciate your time!