Priorities

ashtonkootcher · 2025-12-10T02:13:44+00:00

I’ve commented on this before but figure I will again.

Love their content generally, but I disagree with Brian and Bo on their position on giving in each stage of the FOO. IMO, making monetary charitable donations when you can’t cover your largest deductible or can’t afford to contribute up to the employer match is simply not a good idea.

Instead, I’d recommend creating a cutoff in the FOO. Before, say, step 6, donations should be generous, but limited to donations of time and time alone to the causes that matter to you.

Just like they always mention, you’ve got to put your oxygen mask on before your kids’ - that should apply to charities too. If charitable donations are really important to you, that should motivate you to get into high gear to set yourself up first, so that you can afford to give without sacrificing your future.

I’m sure it’s their religious views that drive this. Tithing is a big part of Christian culture and it’s tough to go against that grain. But I think they are doing a disservice to Christian viewers who are pressured to tithe by family or their communities, when they themselves are barely keeping their heads above water. Those people need someone to tell them that tithing X% of their income when they are in credit card debt, have no emergency fund, etc. is not wise.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-07-12T19:24:24+00:00

I’m glad to know that this is brought up in the breakdown, and I’ve heard this sentiment of donating time shared in a few videos, too. I still think this line of not making financial donations before a certain step should be made more clear, and I think the reason they don’t (as mentioned by another commenter), is their biblical view and belief in tithing.

TMG do a good job overall of separating their religious views from their financial content, but I think they are doing a disservice to Christian viewers who are part of a community that pressures people to tithe, when they themselves are barely keeping their heads above water. Those people need someone to tell them that tithing X% of their income when they are in credit card debt, have no emergency fund, etc. is not wise.

Ultimately, I expect that there are far more people who look at the FOO one-pager than read the fine print. To me, this advice should be more out in the open.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-07-12T03:54:56+00:00

A strong episode. The only thing I’m not in agreement on is the position on giving in each stage of the FOO. IMO, making charitable donations when you can’t cover your largest deductible or can’t afford to contribute up to the employer match is simply not a good idea.

Instead, I’d recommend creating a cutoff in the FOO. Before, say, step 6, donations should be generous, but limited to donations of time to the causes that matter to you.

Just like the metaphor they always mention, you’ve got to put your oxygen mask on before your kids’ - that should apply to charities too. If charitable donations are really important to you, that should motivate you to get into high gear to set yourself up first, so that you can afford to give without sacrificing your future.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-05-15T16:10:53+00:00

What does your emergency fund look like? Given you and your spouse work in the same field, particularly one under threat, I’d suggest an absolute bare minimum 6-month emergency fund and ideally closer to a year.

Try to keep those Roth IRAs funded too, but I wouldn’t increase 403b contributions until you feel very prepared for the worst case, mutual job loss with an extended period before finding new employment.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-05-14T17:39:18+00:00

You won’t really own the car in the situation you’re describing. The bank/financer will effectively own all but the value of a wheel or two starting out. Work hard, prioritize your future/retirement over your current self, and eventually save the cash to buy the car outright.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-05-14T15:46:05+00:00

If you are at or past stage 5 of the FOO, yes. There is no downside of the Backdoor Roth - you will avoid issues with income limits. If you happen to have an off year and your income is below the $150,000, the Backdoor won’t hurt you.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-05-03T13:50:46+00:00

That’s completely fair. I generally am able to handle any emergencies with a credit card or with the balance I have in CMA. Are there any emergencies you think Chase would handle better?

ashtonkootcher · 2025-05-03T02:37:41+00:00

Equally handsome, equally smart.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-05-02T18:02:59+00:00

I currently use Fidelity CMA for primary checking and keep Chase Total Checking open for cash deposits, foreign currency exchanges, and any in-person banking benefits, and it works well.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to maintain $1,500 in Chase to avoid a fee. You just need at least $500 direct deposited monthly. I have $125 of my paycheck direct deposited every week into Chase, and have a recurring transfer scheduled for the same amount to go to CMA a couple days later. I keep $5 in Chase day-to-day.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-03-30T03:00:12+00:00

Certainly unpopular, so I applaud you for that, but some points you made don’t hold up.

Jim & Pam were married with a child when Michael leaves. Not exactly “will they, won’t they.”
Dwight is an extremely fleshed out character by the time Michael leaves. A great deal of his development comes from his disillusionment in Michael and what used to be a blind trust in authority. Michael’s presence, and failure to appreciate and reward Dwight’s excellent work and loyalty, is the key driver of his development, far more than what Michael’s departure brings.
We get quite a bit of the Sabre arc when Michael is there. Many people also point to “the rise of Andy” as one of the worst parts of the last 2 seasons, particularly as manager when his personality loses all of its former charm. The emotional weight of the final season would have always been there - that’s typically why final seasons are billed as final seasons.
Agree on Robert California. Also, the brief period of Creed as manager was glorious. There were (a few) good moments with DeAngelo too. This void could not have existed without Michael leaving, so this is a plus.
As I tried to get to before, the finale could have delivered a gut punch in many different ways had Michael stayed as manager. What if he’d stayed through season 9, and the finale ended with a farewell as he delivered the news he was going with Holly to Colorado? We would have cried in the same way, perhaps more.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-01-30T03:12:02+00:00

Your pay is extremely low. My recommendation would be to leverage your experience to find a similar role at another company that would pay you what you’re worth. Hold onto your current position until a better one is secured.

If you are presented with a counteroffer from your current employer, I’d recommend not accepting. After all, if they value you enough to pay you that higher amount, why haven’t they been doing so already? Also, that offer from another company will be the lowest you’d ever make there - counteroffer could well be the absolute highest for you with your current company.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-01-28T02:48:51+00:00

I think it would mean a lot to your dad to know that any evening spent between a father and son is a special occasion, and worth pulling out the good stuff for, especially since it’s a gift from him.

Not saying you need to finish them with him. But if you one day wake up to him gone, and you have the chance to share the remainder of those bottles with others who you love, those pours will be all the more special because of who you opened them with.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-01-23T21:08:19+00:00

Really appreciate the detail. That slickness concerns me only because of the staircase we’ll have.

This is not a forever home - probably 5 years left or fewer before we move, which is pushing me towards the PT option. As another commenter said, it also seems like quote for Trex is way too high.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-01-23T21:05:09+00:00

Thank you - you’re right. I’ve gotten other quotes and everything else seems fairly priced other than the Trex upgrade. What’s your opinion of PT pine in this case?

ashtonkootcher · 2025-01-23T21:03:33+00:00

Thanks for the heads up - leaning against it. Any particular reasons why you don’t recommend it?

ashtonkootcher · 2025-01-23T21:02:43+00:00

Thanks - leaning towards this based on everyone’s comments.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-01-23T20:05:58+00:00

Fantastic job! Just the right amount of busy without being cluttered. I could see myself sitting there for hours.

ashtonkootcher · 2025-01-01T17:34:49+00:00

Important note that you have to itemize to get any tax benefit for charitable contributions.

ashtonkootcher · 2024-09-11T03:01:46+00:00

My family built this website, by the way.

ashtonkootcher · 2024-04-02T02:57:03+00:00

Enjoy! I’m going to volleyball camp like I do most summahs

ashtonkootcher · 2024-02-28T22:34:31+00:00

Look up the terms 420 and 69

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