As for all the other questions, your answers seem well reasoned and thoughtful, as always, Trent.

Thanks for providing such a great blog!

So for any that care, we put most of the money towards debt, gave some to my oldest to bail her out of debt, and added a little to the emergency fund. What did we get in return? My wife lost her job (layoff) and now we are down an income which was needed to pay our mortgage. However, because of the debt we paid, I was able to reduce our “snowball” to just above minimum payments so we can make it. Not the best solution, but we stay above water and keep our emergency fund.

Thanks for all the comments again!

When I was living in Russia (I only left in December – i.e. a month and a half ago) the ruble was 27/$1. Now it’s 36.42/$1.

Please, please do research before you advise people to invest in one currency over another. Russia’s budget is completely gutted due to the drop in oil prices, and the ruble has devalued 23% in 6 months and is very, very likely to drop further. The last time the entire country defaulted on its debt was 10 years ago – and economic conditions in the country now are exactly the same as they were when that default happened. I expect the country to default on its debt and re-”value” the currency within this next year… which is why I left that country.

Definitely don’t buy rubles. The Yuan, I agree with, however.

They put out books, as well. Just check their website or amazon.com I have the KidSpace Idea Book, as well as the plumbing one.

Also, they do other great magazine/website/forums: Threads (sewing), Fine Cooking, Fine Gardening, Fine Woodworking. Love them, love them, love them.

Is there a directory or guide to blogs on finance
and personal financial life that you can suggest.

While I enjoy reading your material as a window
into a world very different from my own, I would
like to find something which is a bit closer to
my life. I’m a member of your parents generation,
a fairly rural farm dweller and without some of
the debt burden that so weighs on your generation
(thankfully). It seems health and wealth have
eluded me, so I would like to make a grab for
the wise part before all is lost.

@Otis
The TOH web site looks fantastic.

However, you’re best off using the internet. One of my favorites is the This Old House’s How-To website. They helped me install a new exterior door this weekend and everything went really smoothly.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to

My cell phone is my only phone. The times where I *really* need it are if I get hurt or sick and am away from home. Since I travel mostly by bike or foot, getting hurt could put me in a pretty bad situation. I also don’t talk on the phone a whole lot, and it’s far more likely that I need a phone in a strange city than anywhere else.

For my purposes, AT&T was the best carrier choice. They have excellent local coverage, and their coverage is quite good in all the places I am likely to visit. And since I don’t use the phone a lot, it was best to go with a pay as you go service plan. Theirs allows me to buy 1000 minutes for $100, and allows free calls to any other AT&T user. This works out to be largely free local calling for me, so those 1000 minutes have lasted nicely.

T-mobile offers a similar arrangement, but they do not have good coverage in any city that I’m likely to be in, and they don’t cover my home city at all.

The main downside of AT&T’s pay as you go plan is the advertising. They refuse to listen if you tell them you do not want text message service, and they will send advertising text messages to you on a regular basis. And *you* pay for those advertising text messages. Really guys, I am giving you money. I am *happy* to give you money, for I greatly desire your service. That means you don’t need to try to upsell me or steal from me!