Frugal Rise https://frugalrise.com Practical budgeting strategies, saving tips, and investing guides for everyday people. en Going Car-Free: How Much Money You Actually Save (and Whether It's Worth It) https://frugalrise.com/going-car-free-save-money/ https://frugalrise.com/going-car-free-save-money/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT A realistic breakdown of the true cost of car ownership vs car-free living, with real numbers and practical tips for making the switch. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Index Funds vs. ETFs: What's the Difference and Which Should You Buy? https://frugalrise.com/index-funds-vs-etfs/ https://frugalrise.com/index-funds-vs-etfs/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Index funds and ETFs both track market indexes at low cost, but they work differently. Here's how to choose the right one for your situation. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed 457(b) Plan: The Retirement Account Government Workers Should Max Out First https://frugalrise.com/457b-retirement-plan-guide/ https://frugalrise.com/457b-retirement-plan-guide/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Learn how the 457(b) plan works, why it has no early withdrawal penalty, and how government and nonprofit employees can use it alongside a 401(k) or 403(b). Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed How to Buy a Used Car Without Getting Burned https://frugalrise.com/used-car-buying-guide/ https://frugalrise.com/used-car-buying-guide/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Buying a used car is one of the highest-stakes consumer purchases. This guide covers how to evaluate a used car, negotiate the price, avoid common dealer tactics, and find the best value at different budget levels. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Vanguard vs. Fidelity vs. Schwab: Which Brokerage for Index Fund Investing? https://frugalrise.com/vanguard-vs-fidelity-vs-schwab/ https://frugalrise.com/vanguard-vs-fidelity-vs-schwab/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Comparing Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab for index fund and retirement investing. Covers fund expense ratios, account minimums, cash management, platform experience, and which broker is best for different investor types. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed 1031 Exchange: Defer Capital Gains Tax on Real Estate Sales https://frugalrise.com/1031-exchange-real-estate/ https://frugalrise.com/1031-exchange-real-estate/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Use a 1031 exchange to sell an investment property and defer capital gains taxes by rolling proceeds into a new property — a powerful tool for real estate investors. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed FAFSA Guide: How to Maximize Your College Financial Aid https://frugalrise.com/fafsa-college-financial-aid-guide/ https://frugalrise.com/fafsa-college-financial-aid-guide/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT FAFSA unlocks federal grants, subsidized loans, and work-study. Most families leave money on the table by filing late or misunderstanding how assets are counted. Here's how to do it right. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed I Bonds and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities: Inflation-Proof Savings https://frugalrise.com/i-bonds-treasury-inflation/ https://frugalrise.com/i-bonds-treasury-inflation/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT I Bonds and TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) protect savings against inflation. This guide covers how Series I savings bonds work, current rates, purchase limits, the penalty structure, and when TIPS outperform I Bonds. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Treasury Bills in 2026: How to Earn More Than a Savings Account with No Risk https://frugalrise.com/treasury-bills-investing-2026/ https://frugalrise.com/treasury-bills-investing-2026/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Treasury bills are short-term government debt with competitive yields and zero default risk. Learn how to buy T-bills directly through TreasuryDirect, what rates to expect in 2026, and how they compare to HYSAs. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Best Cash Back Apps and Portals in 2026: Earn Real Money on Purchases You'd Make Anyway https://frugalrise.com/best-cash-back-apps-2026/ https://frugalrise.com/best-cash-back-apps-2026/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Cash back apps, browser extensions, and shopping portals can put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket each year with almost no effort. Here's a practical guide to the best ones and how to stack them. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed 529 to Roth IRA Rollover: How to Use SECURE 2.0's New Provision https://frugalrise.com/529-rollover-to-roth-ira/ https://frugalrise.com/529-rollover-to-roth-ira/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT SECURE 2.0 allows leftover 529 education savings to roll over to a Roth IRA starting in 2024. Covers eligibility rules, contribution limits, five-year requirement, and whether it makes sense for your situation. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed HSA Investment Strategy: The Triple Tax-Advantaged Account Most People Underuse https://frugalrise.com/hsa-investment-strategy/ https://frugalrise.com/hsa-investment-strategy/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Health Savings Accounts offer three tax advantages: pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free medical withdrawals. This guide covers HSA investment strategy, choosing between spending and investing, and using the HSA as a stealth retirement account. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early? A Math-First Guide https://frugalrise.com/pay-off-mortgage-early-guide/ https://frugalrise.com/pay-off-mortgage-early-guide/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT The mortgage payoff vs. invest debate breaks down to simple math—but the right answer depends on your interest rate, tax situation, and risk tolerance. Here's how to actually decide. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed LLC Taxes: How Single-Member and Multi-Member LLCs Are Taxed https://frugalrise.com/llc-taxes-small-business/ https://frugalrise.com/llc-taxes-small-business/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT LLCs are flexible legal structures but have no special tax status by default. This guide explains how single-member LLCs, multi-member LLCs, and S-corp elections work for taxes — including self-employment tax, QBI deductions, and when to make the S-corp election. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Financial Checklist for Job Loss: First 30 Days https://frugalrise.com/job-loss-financial-checklist/ https://frugalrise.com/job-loss-financial-checklist/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Losing your job triggers an immediate financial scramble. This checklist covers the first 30 days: filing for unemployment, managing health insurance, cutting expenses, and protecting your financial position while you job search. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed The Mega Backdoor Roth: How High Earners Can Put $46,000+ into a Roth IRA https://frugalrise.com/mega-backdoor-roth-guide/ https://frugalrise.com/mega-backdoor-roth-guide/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT The mega backdoor Roth allows after-tax 401(k) contributions to be converted to Roth, effectively increasing Roth contribution limits from $7,000 to over $46,000 per year — if your employer plan supports it. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Long-Term Care Insurance: What It Covers, What It Costs, and Whether You Need It https://frugalrise.com/long-term-care-insurance-guide/ https://frugalrise.com/long-term-care-insurance-guide/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Long-term care insurance covers nursing home, assisted living, and in-home care costs that health insurance and Medicare don't. Covers average LTC costs, policy types, when to buy, alternatives, and the self-funding option. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Student Loan Forgiveness Programs: PSLF, IDR, and What Actually Works https://frugalrise.com/student-loan-forgiveness-programs/ https://frugalrise.com/student-loan-forgiveness-programs/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Federal student loan forgiveness is real and accessible — but navigating PSLF, income-driven forgiveness, and program requirements requires getting the details right from the start. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Crypto Tax Loss Harvesting: How to Use Losses to Offset Gains https://frugalrise.com/crypto-tax-loss-harvesting/ https://frugalrise.com/crypto-tax-loss-harvesting/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Learn how to use tax loss harvesting with cryptocurrency to reduce your tax bill, avoid wash sale traps, and keep more of what you earn from investing. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed Backdoor Roth IRA: How High Earners Access Roth Benefits https://frugalrise.com/backdoor-roth-ira-guide/ https://frugalrise.com/backdoor-roth-ira-guide/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT The backdoor Roth IRA lets high earners who exceed the Roth IRA income limit contribute indirectly via a non-deductible traditional IRA conversion. This guide covers the steps, the pro-rata rule, the mega backdoor Roth, and pitfalls to avoid. Subscribe to Frugal Rise for weekly guides: https://frugalrise.substack.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed