Update: It is that time of year for Pumpkin spice and everything nice.  This goes well with coffee.  I am in the process of finding a gluten-free version and one with less sugar.  So if you have found a good version like that please let me know 

It is that time of year again! This weekend we made our favorite Pumpkin Scones.

All I can say is Wow!  These are truly the best scones I’ve ever made and eaten.

Two years ago I was introduced to the amazing Pumpkin Scone at Starbucks but at $1.95 a piece, it’s not the frugal way to go.

I found this recipe on MomsWhoThink online and made it.  A couple changes that I made include using pumpkin pie filling instead of regular pumpkin (hard to find regular pumpkin at some stores) and I also used heavy cream instead of half and half.   They came out so well I tried the recipe yesterday a couple more times, I used the self-rising flour and only used a 1/2 tablespoon of baking powder and omitted the salt.  I then did another batch with cooking margarine and my hubby preferred those.  I recommend cream for the icing because milk seems to make it too “watery”.

Starbucks Pumpkin Scones Recipe

These pumpkin scones are so moist and flavorful you’ll be wanting to make them all year round. They taste just like the ones you get from Starbucks. Make them on a fall morning and they’re the perfect fit with hot tea or coffee. Save yourself the hassle of waiting in line for your breakfast and shelling out big bucks for the same wonderful scone you can easily make at home.

Scones Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
7 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
6 Tablespoons cold butter
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3 Tablespoons half-and-half
1 large egg

Sugar Glaze Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons whole milk

Spiced Glaze Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons whole milk
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch ginger
1 pinch ground cloves

Scones Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2.  Lightly grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

3.  Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large mixing bowl.

4.  With a fork, pastry knife, or food processor, cut butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly and no chunks of butter remain. Set aside.

5.  In a separate mixing bowl, whisk pumpkin, half and half, and egg.

6.  Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Form the dough into a ball.

7.  Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a 1-inch thick rectangle (about 9 inches long and 3 inches wide).

8.  Use a large knife to slice the dough into three equal portions. Cut diagonally to produce 6 triangular slices of dough.

9.  Place on prepared baking sheet from step 2.

10.  Bake for 10–16 minutes until scones turn light brown.

11.  Place on wire rack to cool.

Sugar Glaze directions:

1.  Mix the powdered sugar and 2 Tablespoon milk together until smooth.

2.  Brush glaze over the top of each cooled scone.

Spiced Glaze Directions:

1.  As sugar glaze firms, combine the spiced icing ingredients.

2.  Use whisk to drizzle over each scone and allow to dry before serving.

Makes 6 pumpkin scones.

My guess this cost me about $2 a batch to make, if that.

What do you think?  Any suggestions for other recipes to try?

Update:  This is still my favorite recipe!  When I can I get a gluten-free crust from our local Giant or I make a gluten-free crust.  

I love Key Lime Pie! So this week I decided to make one.  Doesn’t this look so good?  I think this is the best Key Lime Pie I have ever had.

I took a couple of recipes and tweaked them to make my own.

I purchased everything at Aldi for $4.66!

Ingredients

Filling:

• 3 fresh large egg yolks $0.22 (Dozen eggs currently $.89)
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk  $1.19
• 1 teaspoon grated lime zest
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice $1.99 (Approx. 8 limes)
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice $0.02
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 prepared 9-inch graham cracker crust $1.19

Meringue:

• 3 fresh egg whites (from above)
• 6 tablespoons sugar $0.05 (already had)
• 1/4 teaspoon Cream of Tartar (already had)  or 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla (already had)

Set the oven to 325 degrees.  For filling, in a medium bowl wisk the egg yolks and then slowly add the sweetened condensed milk, the 1 teaspoon lime zest, lime juice and water.  The filling will thicken as it stands.   Pour the filling into the graham cracker crust.  Bake the pie for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla in a mixer until soft peaks form.  This takes about 1-2 minutes.   Then slowly add sugar while beating the mixture on high.  Continue to beat until the sugar dissolves.   Continue to beat until the peaks turn stiff and glossy white.  This might take a couple of minutes.

After the pie is done in the oven take it out and turn the oven up to 350 degrees and spoon the meringue over the hot pie filling.   Make sure the meringue is covered all over and sealed to the sides of the crust in order to prevent shrinkage.   Then put the pie back in the oven for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, the pie will have a brown crust on top.   Take it out and put it on a cooling rack to cool.  Then after 10 minutes put it in the refrigerator or freezer to chill for 4 or more hours.  I found overnight is best!  This is a perfect dessert to make ahead of time.

Then Enjoy!

Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. You can use gluten free flour or you can use a starch.

Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.

Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.

Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

I love Jerk Chicken! This recipe is so easy!

Have you heard of the RockCroc from Pampered Chef? It is amazing cooking dish since you can put it in your microwave, stovetop (including glass top like our stove) and oven. It makes chicken in a matter of minutes and it still is juice!

I’m still looking for the perfect chicken recipe for the Instant pot. I love our instant pot the most.

• Jamaican Jerk Rub (Store it in a spice container to use when needed) I prefer mine not to spicy. Feel free to add more cayenne or crushed pepper.
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons sugar
  
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

• Cook Chicken
• 1 lb of boneless chicken
• 1 tbsp of Jamaican Jerk Rub – Recipe above or use store brand
• 1 onion
• 1 red bell pepper

• Nachos
• 1 bag of tortilla chips
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar I prefer mozzarella cheese
• 1 tbsp of Jamaican Jerk Rub
• 1 small yellow or red bell pepper or combination
• 1   lime
• 2 tbsp snipped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup sour cream and 1 tsp additional Jamaican Jerk Rub (optional)

Take a cookie sheet or a stone sheet like the one below and spread out the nacho chips all over it. Then put the cooked chicken on top. Sprinkle the cheese. Put it in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes. Watch it carefully! You just want the cheese to melt.

Take it out of the oven and squeeze the lime all over the chips. Take the sour cream and mix it in a bowl so it is liquid texture and drizzle it all over the nachos. If you like then sprinkle the fresh cilantro.

Enjoy!

Let me know, if you make it and what you think!

Updated 9/15/2019 Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Thanks for supporting RedBerrydeals.com.

Back in 2010, I created a spreadsheet with the cost of diapers for the year and it is amazing to see how much I’ve saved.   My plan is to continue that this year.  I want other Moms and Dads to know there is a way to cut costs on disposable diapers.  You don’t have to be a member of Sam’s Club or Costco to get diapers, and even those places I find to be most expensive.  By looking out for good deals in unusual places combining it with coupons you can stockpile on diapers and save a lot of money.   In 2010, I saved over $400 and it only cost me $400 for diapers.

My twin boys are growing so fast and at 7 months old they were wearing size 4.  Luckily, I scored so many good deals in 2011 and had a diaper party for my shower last year that I didn’t have to buy many diapers later in the year. A diaper party is a great way to stockpile on diapers. I still have a huge assortment of size 4s, 5s and even 6s. My daughter is still in training pants at night so I’m regularly looking for deals on those. I hope to find some more good deals as the year goes on.   Below is a picture of the boy’s closet right after they were born.  There are boxes on the floor too.

My price point is to get diapers free or under $.20 a diaper. I’m trying to get training pants at around $.30 each. This get to be more difficult as the sizes get bigger.

UPDATE: As of 2019,  my kids are much older so I am not looking for diaper deals anymore.  Here is a quick update!  I found that diapers cost the best at Aldi right now many people in my area mention the cost is $.12 a diaper!   That is fantastic!

The other location that seems to have the best deal and the fact shipping is included for convenience is Amazon subscribe and save

Please let me know where you find your best diaper deals!

Cost of Diapers in 2012

Cost of Diapers in 2011

Cost of Diapers in 2010

Print

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

The best bread machine cinnamon rolls!

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword baking, breakfast, dessert

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Bread Machine Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 5 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Author holly

Cost $3

Equipment

• bread maker
• 2 cup measuring cup
• Tablespoon
• Teaspoon
• 1 cup measuring cup
• 1/2 cup measuring cup
• bowl for eggs

Ingredients

Dough

• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 tbsp warm milk
• 3 tbsp cooking oil Any cooking oil you like
• 2 eggs eggs
• 1 tbsp water
• .5 cup sugar
• 4 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp yeast

Filling

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp cinnamon

Icing

• 1 tsp milk
• 1.5 cups confectioners sugar
• 4 tbsp butter softened
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

• Put the dough ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed and run on the dough cycle. After the dough cycle is finished, roll the dough into a large rectangle and spread it with 2 Tablespoons melted butter and 1 cup brown sugar mixed with 2 Tablespoons cinnamon.

  Roll up and cut into 10-15 rolls and place in two greased round cake pans.

  Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until browned. Spread the icing on as soon as they come out of the oven.

  You can also cover the unbaked rolls with plastic wrap, stick them in the refrigerator overnight, and then bake in the morning.

Have I mentioned how much I love my breadmaker?  Have I mentioned that I have 2 breadmakers?   Ok, the truth is my husband has one and I have one.  I received mine as a Christmas gift almost 10 years ago and use it often.    My hubby would talk all of the time about how he grew up with a bread machine but the bread would come out differently then mine did in my machine.  He was also frustrated with my bread machine because it requires the wet ingredients to go in first and then dry on top.  While the version he grew up with had the opposite:  dry and then wet.  So each time he tried to make bread in my machine it never turned out.  After mentioning this to his Mom, she found at a yard sale the same model he grew up with.   He now can make the same bread he grew up with.  I can’t complain.  Oh, it is so yummy!   Besides we can make 2 loafs at the same time!

I find that making home-made bread is so much fun and healthier than store bought bread.  I’ve made all sorts of breads including whole wheat, egg, Italian, herb, white, Chatuah and now my favorite Cinnamon buns!  Most of my recipes are very easy.  I mean 10 minutes at the most.  I have to watch my kids so I try and do all of my recipes super fast.  Majority of the time Doodle helps she loves putting the ingredients in the machine.

Thanks to MoneysavingMom for sharing this awesome recipe.   When she shared this recipe back in 2010 I was in love.  I’ve made it several times since then usually on special occasions.   It does take a bit more time then just throwing the ingredients in and walking away.  You have to do the dough setting on the bread-maker which does take a couple hours and then roll out, sprinkle the filling in, roll it up and put it in baking pans.  I find doing this the day ahead makes a great roll.  I put them right in the fridge and then the next morning take them out of the fridge to come to room temp before putting them in the oven.

I made a couple changes.   I used 2 eggs with a little bit of water instead of 1 egg and egg whites.  I just hate wasting yolks or storing them if I don’t have to.

I used 2 Tablespoons butter with 1 cup of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon.  I don’t think I need 4 tablespoons of butter to double the filling.    Makes me feel a little bit better.

Honestly, I don’t make that much icing and for this picture I didn’t even add the butter.  I find a little bit of icing is all that is needed.   But the butter sure is good too!

Yummy!  Enjoy!

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Thanks for supporting RedBerrydeals.com.

I’ve been making this Bread as a tradition in our family since 2004. Yes! 10 years! I’m feeling old typing that. It was shortly after I got “my” bread machine. This recipe came from my bread machine cookbook and I have adjusted it so it works for me. I’m happy to share this with everyone! This is the best bread!

I like to make a large loaf as you can see from the picture above.

Ingredients:
2 Eggs, room temperature plus enough Water 80 degrees to equal 1 1/2 cups
Oil 1/4 cup (I’ve used all types of vegetable oil and it all works great.)
Sugar 2 TBL
Salt 2 tsp
Bread Flour or All purpose Flour 4 1/2 cups
Active Dry Yeast 2 tsp
OR
Bread Machine Yeast 1 1/4 tsp
(Note: A package of yeast is about 2 1/4 tsp. You can use all of the package too for convince.)

• When I’m about to make this bread I will take my ingredients out about an hour or so before I start. That way everything is at room temperature. I freeze my yeast and “wake” it up by leaving it on the counter.  This works for me and my family since my little ones are always around I have to do something with them so I like to get it out and then do something else before we get started on the bread.

The best part is you can make this with all-purpose flour. Bread flour has more protein so it can create more gluten but per a lot of cooks and bakers all-purpose flour is just as good. I prefer unbleached.

• Start with the wet ingredients. Most bread machines suggest wet and then dry. Some say the opposite. After making this with 2 different bread machines I’m convinced it is best to do wet and then dry.
• Then add the dry ingredients just as listed above. Create a “well” for the yeast and place it in the “well”.
• Follow your bread machine instructions for program DOUGH or White bread manual. You don’t want to bake this in the machine, because it is too large. Press START and walk away….

After it is done which can take about 2 to 3 hours depending on the machine. I’ve found it is ok if you forget about it. This happens in my household. So if it rises again in the machine that is ok! It will be better bread!

When you come back to it then do the following:

• Place on a lightly floured surface. Divide into fourths. Use a pastry cutter with some flour dusted on it.  I prefer this style of braid but you can divide in as many braids as you want.  Then roll out the braid strands and braid it as usual then tuck the end under.
•  Place the bread on a cookie sheet, and place a clean kitchen cloth  on top and place it in a warm location in the kitchen so it will rise a second time.  The bread should be double in size.  You can heat up your oven and then turn the oven off so that the warm oven can speed up the process.

Egg Wash
1 Egg
1 tsp water

• After it has risen the second time, brush on the Egg Wash.
• Place in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes until the crust is a light brown and glossy.

I like to let it rest after I take it out of the oven so that moisture can escape before storing it.  If you need to do that.   Or if you are making this for Thanksgiving just cut into it after a minute and you will have the best bread.  I promise it will be gone!   If not, it will make great turkey sandwiches.

This year I will take pictures of the step by step process I do.

Enjoy!  – Holly

Reposted from 2014.

(Update 2018:  We still do this laundry system. It works really well for us.  That is saying something for 5 years!)  

Back in 2012, I asked about how others did their laundry and heard several different responses.  In December 2013,  I asked my friends on Facebook how they handle all of their laundry and the responses got me on a mission.   I had to figure out a new system for my family.

Step 1:    I got everyone in my family a laundry hamper that fits ONLY 1 X-large load of laundry.   This is key!  If the hamper is too big then the loads get overwhelming.  If they are too small then it just seems like a waste of water and time.   The Jall hampers from IKEA work great and the price is right currently $4.99 each.

Step 2.  I also created a hamper system for towels and delicates.  Towels are the easiest items to clean in my opinion so whenever I get a load of towels I can throw them in the laundry and put them away easily.  I love this picture by the way because my 2-year-old took it.   Label each of the hampers.  I used Vinyl with my new Silhouette Cameo.

Step 3.  Every day I do at least 1 load of laundry.  I find that it isn’t as overwhelming as it may sound.   Whoever has a full hamper that is the load for the day.  I don’t sort by colors and whites.  I throw it all in.   Since the laundry is only that person’s laundry the sorting is super easy at the end.  My daughter’s laundry will be taken to her room and the boy’s laundry will be taken to their room.

Step 4.   When I put the laundry away for items that need to be hung up I do it as I take them out of the dryer.   I have a shower curtain rod hanging in my laundry room and I put hangers on it.    Then all I need to do is put away the rest.   That is it!

How do you do your laundry?  Do you have a system?   

Yes, it is deductible! No Personal Income needed!

My world turned upside down when I learned about the Financial Independence community.  I have mentioned briefly about it.  More to come.   One of the biggest benefits to the community is learning about the Traditional Spousal IRA.  I had no idea!

I’m a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) so I personally don’t have a 401k plan at this time, my husband does.

Yes, the Traditional IRA contribution can be tax deductible and no you don’t need personal income to contribute to it.

What?! Really?  Yes!

I have mentioned the Spousal IRA in my post  Financial Independence – Step by Step Guide on Contributing to Retirement Accounts:

What is a Traditional Spousal IRA contribution?

Let’s look at the source the IRS.  Per their website on IRAs this is what they say:

Spousal IRAs

If you file a joint return, you may be able to contribute to an IRA even if you did not have taxable compensation as long as your spouse did. The amount of your combined contributions can’t be more than the taxable compensation reported on your joint return. See the formula in IRS Publication 590-A.

If neither spouse participated in a retirement plan at work, all of your contributions will be deductible.

You have a choice you can contribute to a Roth IRA or a Traditional IRA.  You can even split between the two.  Most experts in the FI community highly recommend the Traditional IRA since it lowers your tax liability up front while you are earning a higher income.

See the formula in IRS Publication 590-A.  Scroll down and find the table 1-3:

If you are not covered by a retirement plan at work, use this table to determine if your modified AGI affects the amount of your deduction.

IF your filing status is …	AND your modified adjusted gross income (modified AGI) is …	THEN you can take …
single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er)	any amount	a full deduction.
married filing jointly or separately with a spouse who is not covered by a plan at work	any amount	a full deduction.
married filing jointly with a spouse who is covered by a plan at work	$184,000 or less	a full deduction.
	more than $184,000 but less than $194,000	a partial deduction.
	$194,000 or more	no deduction.
married filing separately with a spouse who iscovered by a plan at work2	less than $10,000	a partial deduction.
	$10,000 or more	no deduction.

Why is a Traditional IRA that is deductible better than a Roth?

Great question!  It depends on your tax rate and income.  If you are in a high tax rate to me it is a no brainer to contribute to the Traditional spousal IRA because it will lower your income taxes now!  The plan in retirement is to be in a lower tax bracket.   In a lot of cases the $5,500 contribute can lower your taxes more then $1000.  That is a lot of tax savings.

If your income is already very low like in the 10% or less tax rate then it may make sense to put the money into a Roth.

Most experts in the FI community highly recommend the Traditional IRA since it lowers your tax liability up front while you are earning a higher income.

A great article to read is Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA – Madfientist

How do you contribute to it?

It is NOT a joint account or a special IRA.  You just contribute the $5,500 in the spouse’s Traditional IRA account and then report it on your joint tax return.

Additional information:

Searching I found this article that talks about it!

The info is out there.  I want more people to know!

http://www.savetosplurge.com/retirement-for-the-sahm/

David Ramsey blog has an article:  https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-to-save-for-retirement-stay-at-home-parent

Money US News talks about this back in 2016:   https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/on-retirement/articles/2016-04-27/retirement-planning-for-stay-at-home-moms

For more details I highly recommend reading:

The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins – Stock Series

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns (Little Books. Big Profits) Hardcover by John C. Bogle

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Retirement Planning by Taylor Larimore,‎ Mel Lindauer,‎ Richard A. Ferri,‎ Laura F. Dogu

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing by Taylor Larimore,‎ Mel Lindauer,‎ and Michael LeBoeuf

Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA – Madfientist

Note: These are my opinions. I’m not a tax professional or financial advisor.  Do this at your own risk.

I hope this answers some of your questions just like the ones I had.

Happy Savings!   Holly

When I started investing in my first 401k I was so excited.  I couldn’t believe it.  I had the opportunity to invest.  I was young 21 years old and I couldn’t believe it.   I knew that a 401k was a big deal and I knew that investing is …scary!  My parents didn’t know about investing and I wasn’t taught in high school or college.  Personal finance was not taught.  That first 401k had very few options and to this day I’m not sure which ones I picked I think I did Large Cap, Small Cap and even the company stock?!  Oops!  Bad idea!   I want to teach others the lessons I learned.

The first steps to remind everyone about saving:

1. Pay yourself first! This is key.
2. Automatically invest.  Make it easy.
3. The sooner your are in the market the better.
4. Even if the funds are managed and have high fees, it is pre-tax.
5. At least, get the matching from your employer.   The goal is the MAX so you lower your taxes.
6. Asset allocation.  Do you need to be a mix of stocks and bonds?  I highly recommend index funds.
7. Bucket allocation – Look at your total portfolio and put what you can in your 401k and then put the rest in an IRA, or taxable account that has index funds and lower fees.  Here is a post about which Retirement account to invest in first.

What if you don’t have low cost index funds like I have mentioned in other posts?

1.  Look at each fund and list out the fees.
2. Compare each fund and see if any are index funds.
3. Look at the index funds and see what indexes they are matching.  Most experts will suggest the S&P 500 or Total Stock Index.  Look at institutional funds since a lot of them have the lowest fees.
4. Then set up a plan to compare those to your total portfolio.
5. If you don’t have any index funds or all the funds are very high in fees, then look at target date funds since they tend to have a good balance and in some cases may have a lower fee.

Later in my career, I was in a 401k plan that had 5 options so I understand limitations.  Looking back I should I have focused on the S&P 500 index fund.

What if you have 5 options and no S&P 500 index fund?

1. I suggest in this case look at the large cap, mid cap,  small cap funds with some bonds.  I highly suggest looking at the lazy porfolios in the Bogleheads forum.  They go over this in detail and present mostly index funds which I agree.  Another great source is  JL Collins.  He mentions this in his article  – Stocks — Part XVII: What if you can’t buy VTSAX? Or even Vanguard?

If you do want to duplicate the total stock market index as held in VTSAX, here’s the formula…

• ~81% Large cap (an S&P 500 fund)
• ~6% Mid cap
• ~13% Small cap

2. Using Personal Capital will help you see your asset allocation across the board.  You will see your total mix of cash, stocks, bonds, international, and alternatives.  Plus my favorite feature of seeing the fees that cost you.

3. Each year look at your plan and see if you need to make adjustments.  Some plans do change over time.  My company did that twice.  All of my holdings were moved between two different providers so the funds changed.  From what I understand since I left that company,  their 401k plan changed again to even better options.

4. I suggest, if your 401k plan stinks, when you do leave the company, roll it over (in-kind transfer) to a Traditional IRA at Vanguard.

5. Talk to your HR and company about the fees and the cost.  Make sure they are aware of it and make a suggestion.  You never know!

What about high fees?  Is it even worth it to invest in 401k?

This is a great question!  I would almost always say its worth it.  A great article that I came across about this very subject is JL Collins – Stock Series -Stocks — Part VIII-b: Should you avoid your company’s 401k?

A highlight on this article:

1. Does your company offer a match and if it does, how much?  If it does at least get the match.  If it doesn’t provide a match go to step 2.
2. Think about your tax bracket.   If you are in a high tax bracket it will benefit you to MAX the 401k.
3. Does maximizing your 401k get your income down low enough to qualify for the EIC? (Earned Income Credit). This lowers your taxes.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

For more details I highly recommend reading:

The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins – Stock Series

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns (Little Books. Big Profits) Hardcover by John C. Bogle

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Retirement Planning by Taylor Larimore,‎ Mel Lindauer,‎ Richard A. Ferri,‎ Laura F. Dogu

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing by Taylor Larimore,‎ Mel Lindauer,‎ and Michael LeBoeuf

Keep Saving!

Holly

Disclaimer: This is my opinion.  I’m not a financial advisor or tax advisor so please ask your advisor.  Take this advice at your own risk.

Some of the links are affiliate links.