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The MoneyBarbell Archive

Every issue we've ever published — packed with no-BS finance tips, investing strategies, and wealth-building insights.

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#52Dec 15
Mar 22, 2026 Investing
The 5 ETFs You Should Own in 2025
A data-driven breakdown of the only ETFs you need for a rock-solid, low-cost portfolio heading into 2025.

What's inside

  • Why VTI beats most active funds over 10+ years
  • The international exposure you're probably missing
  • Bond ETFs: do you actually need them before 50?
  • Real estate exposure without owning property
  • How to rebalance in under 15 minutes per year
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#51Dec 8
Mar 12, 2026 Budgeting
How to Pay Off $50K of Debt in 2 Years
The exact debt payoff strategy that worked for our founder — and how you can adapt it to your situation.

What's inside

  • Avalanche vs. snowball: which wins mathematically
  • The side income trick that cut 8 months off the timeline
  • How to negotiate lower interest rates (scripts included)
  • The one subscription to keep even while paying off debt
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#50Dec 1
Mar 3, 2026 Retirement
Roth IRA Conversion Ladder Explained
The tax strategy that lets early retirees access their money years before 59½ — completely legally.

What's inside

  • What a Roth conversion ladder actually is (plain English)
  • The 5-year rule and why it matters for FIRE
  • Step-by-step: setting up your own ladder
  • Common mistakes that trigger unexpected tax bills
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#49Nov 24
Nov 24, 2024 Side Hustles
Side Hustle Tax Tips: Save Thousands
Everything self-employed people and side hustlers need to know to legally minimise their tax bill.

What's inside

  • Home office deduction: who qualifies and how much
  • Quarterly estimated taxes — the easy way to handle them
  • Business expenses most people forget to deduct
  • Solo 401k: the retirement account for self-employed
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#48Nov 17
Nov 17, 2024 Investing
Dollar-Cost Averaging: The Lazy Way to Rich
Why investing the same amount every month beats trying to time the market — backed by 30 years of data.

What's inside

  • The math behind why DCA beats lump-sum in volatile markets
  • How to fully automate your investing in 20 minutes
  • What to do during market crashes (spoiler: keep going)
  • The emotional edge: why boring wins
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#47Nov 10
Nov 10, 2024 Budgeting
Emergency Fund Size by Income Level
The exact amount you need in your emergency fund based on your job stability, income, and family situation.

What's inside

  • Why 3 months is wrong for most people
  • The risk matrix: how to calculate your personal number
  • Best accounts to keep your emergency fund in (earning 5%+)
  • How to build it fast without feeling deprived
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#46Nov 3
Nov 3, 2024 Mindset
The Psychology of Spending: Why You Overspend
The cognitive biases that drain your wallet — and the simple mental frameworks to overcome them.

What's inside

  • The anchoring effect: how stores trick you into spending more
  • Present bias and why future-you keeps getting robbed
  • The 48-hour rule for non-essential purchases
  • Building an environment that makes saving automatic
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#45Oct 27
Oct 27, 2024 Retirement
401k Mistakes Costing You $100,000+
The surprisingly common 401k errors that silently destroy compound growth over decades.

What's inside

  • Not getting the full employer match (free money left behind)
  • Defaulting to target-date funds without checking the fees
  • Cashing out when switching jobs — the real cost
  • The right contribution order: 401k, IRA, then taxable
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#44Oct 20
Oct 20, 2024 Side Hustles
10 Side Hustles That Actually Pay $1,000+/Month
Real income data from real people — not the fantasy numbers you see on YouTube thumbnails.

What's inside

  • Freelance skills with the highest $/hour on Upwork in 2024
  • The $1,200/month newsletter business anyone can start
  • Selling digital products: realistic timeline and income
  • Why local services beat online for beginner side hustlers
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#43Oct 13
Oct 13, 2024 Investing
How to Invest During a Recession (Without Panicking)
Historical data on what actually happens to portfolios during recessions — and what the smart money does.

What's inside

  • Every recession since 1950 and how long markets took to recover
  • The sectors that outperform during downturns
  • Why your biggest gains often come right after the crash
  • The one thing to change in your portfolio before a recession
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#42Oct 6
Oct 6, 2024 Mindset
From Zero to $100K Net Worth: A Step-by-Step Roadmap
The exact milestones, timelines, and habits shared by people who crossed $100K for the first time.

What's inside

  • The income threshold where wealth-building becomes exponential
  • Which milestone matters more than hitting $100K
  • The habits that separate the 1% who stick to the plan
  • A realistic 3-year roadmap starting from any income level
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Most Read Issues

#1 The 5 ETFs You Should Own in 2025 #2 How to Pay Off $50K of Debt in 2 Years #3 Dollar-Cost Averaging: The Lazy Way to Rich #4 From Zero to $100K Net Worth #5 401k Mistakes Costing You $100,000+

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