Saving on groceries is not just about buying off-brand and sale items.
Grocery prices remain high, and many shoppers look for ways to trim their bills without giving up quality. BuzzFeed shares insights from nutrition and culinary experts, suggesting there are still times when spending a bit more may be worthwhile. With a thoughtful approach, you might continue enjoying good food while staying on budget. One area that may warrant extra consideration is cooking…
Know the facts before heading to the dealership.
Buying a truck today involves new concerns beyond the usual checklist. Between major recalls and new tariffs shaking up sticker prices, drivers are left wondering how safe — or affordable — their next vehicle might be. For anyone budgeting carefully, these shifts could mean unexpected costs, fewer incentives, or surprises at trade-in time. The latest trouble centers on General Motors.
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I have no desire to look rich. I’d much rather be rich.
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I’ve lived in Los Angeles for the past 10 years, and let me tell you — this town is full of conspicuous consumption. Designer clothes, flashy cars, rooftop brunches, the whole deal. From the outside, it looks like wealth. But behind the scenes? It’s often just credit card debt and empty bank accounts.
I’m on a mission to do the opposite of most people.
Instead of spending to impress, I’m building long-term financial freedom. That means living simply, spending intentionally, and growing wealth quietly in the background.
They call it stealth wealth. Here’s what it looks like in my life.
Let’s start with the minivan in my driveway. It’s a used Toyota Sienna I bought last year. Not exactly turning heads in a valet line… but I love this thing.
We paid for it in cash, and it’s roomy, reliable, cheap to insure, and fits all my surfboards in the back.
A new luxury SUV might cost $70,000+, and we could have bought that. But this Sienna was just over $20,000, and it gets us from point A to point B just the same.
Every dollar I didn’t spend on a new car is now invested in my brokerage account. If that $50,000 difference compounds at 8% over 20 years, that’s over $230,000 I get to keep. That’s stealth wealth in action.
I don’t use credit cards to buy flashy stuff or swipe around on shopping sprees. I use them as a tool to earn rewards.
Between travel perks, cash back, and the occasional referral bonus, my wife and I rake in hundreds (sometimes thousands!) of dollars a year just by putting our normal everyday spending on the right cards.
We’re not buying things we don’t need. We’re just being intentional with how we pay for our everyday stuff.
Our favorites are travel rewards cards. These are one of the main reasons we’re able to travel so often — those points and miles stretch our vacation dollars way further. Flights, hotels, even rental cars can be deeply discounted (or totally free) just by stacking welcome offers and using perks wisely.
If you don’t have a credit card that pays you back, it might be time to upgrade. Check out these top credit cards and find one that matches your lifestyle and goals.
Just be sure to pay your bill in full every month. Otherwise, you’re just making the credit card issuers richer.
Here’s a weird flex. My wife and I make better food at home than most restaurants. So we don’t really eat out much.
The funny thing is, we intentionally splurge on top-tier groceries. Our grocery bill is probably higher than most families — but I don’t stress about it because It’s still way cheaper than restaurant food.
We also host friends and family for dinner a lot. Cooking for a group at home — with good wine and conversation — is still cheaper than splitting the check at a high-end place.
I don’t care how hyped a product is. My thought is always: Can I own the company instead?
Owning fancy name-brand stuff doesn’t excite me nearly as much as owning the stock. One takes money out of my pocket. The other puts money into it.
Sure, I’ve got nothing flashy to show for my small ownership shares — but I don’t care. Buying and holding stocks moves me closer to financial independence, which is more important to me.
Time freedom is the real goal.
I’ve spent years intentionally saying “no” to lifestyle creep and the endless accumulation of material stuff.
Because the way I see it, the more stuff I own, the more I have to work to afford it. Not just to buy things, but also to clean them, organize them, maintain them, and eventually replace them.
What’s the point of filling your house with things if those things end up running your life?
So my wife and I keep our expenses lean and focus on being content with less. We’ve built a ton of financial breathing room, which has allowed us both to take extended sabbaticals from work.
For me, stealth wealth isn’t about restriction or deprivation. It’s just about being intentional.
Instead of spending my money on flashy stuff that other people think is cool, I invest in things that I actually care about (my financial freedom, my family’s security, and the experiences I love).
Want help building your own wealth strategy and designing a life you love? It can help to chat with a financial expert. With our partner, SmartAsset, you can get matched with up to three fiduciary advisors so you can get professional advice.
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
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The Federal Reserve didn’t touch interest rates at its June meeting, but it’s widely expected to cut them later this year. If that happens, banks are likely to lower CD rates in anticipation — and some institutions already have.
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That means time may be running out to lock in the best available rates. Right now, you can still find CDs offering up to 4.30% APY, but those offers may not last much longer.
A certificate of deposit (CD) is a savings product that offers a fixed interest rate for a set term. You agree to leave your money in the CD for a specific period, usually between a few months and a few years.
In return, your interest rate is guaranteed for the entire term and is FDIC insured up to $250,000, just like your savings account.
And while the best high-yield savings accounts offer comparable APYs, those rates can drop at any time. A CD, on the other hand, locks in your return until the term ends.
If you’re thinking of opening a CD, here’s what to do:
For more flexibility, consider setting up a CD ladder: Splitting your savings across CDs with different end dates so you get regular access to part of your funds.
Ready to get started? Secure your high APY by opening one of our favorite CDs today.
You might benefit from a CD if:
And if you think interest rates are heading lower, locking in a CD today could give you a better return than you’ll find later.
Even though a rate cut hasn’t happened yet, banks often make moves in anticipation of the Fed. Some have already reduced CD rates, and others could soon follow.
Act now to lock in your high CD rate before they start to slip — check out our full list of the best offers today to get started.
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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See which states report the highest contamination rates.
Most Americans take for granted that the food they purchase at the grocery store is safe to eat. But ensuring the safety of the food supply requires a coordinated effort involving scientific monitoring, regulatory oversight, and public health infrastructure. Among the most serious threats are bacterial pathogens, which are the second-leading cause of food recalls after undeclared allergens…
Saying one thing and doing another. Millions of Americans claim confidence, but their saving habits suggest they sense trouble ahead.
Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links within this article, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend. Americans are tightening their belts and padding their savings accounts as economic uncertainty continues shaping household spending decisions. According to new data from the Commerce Department…
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