Issue #27: September 2026

Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners:
Andrew J., Ty R., Deborah C., John K.

Life

I'm writing this from a Panera, in the hour between dropping my daughter off at a birthday party and picking her up early so she can make it to cheer practice. That pretty much sums up this fall.

Yesterday, I took my son to basketball, drove him home to change, and went straight to his baseball game. Weekends used to be where we caught our breath. Now they feel like the busiest part of the week.

I also rejoined TTB, a powerlifting group, so I'm back to 5am workouts twice a week. I'm glad to be lifting with them again, but those early alarms add up, especially stacked on top of everything else.

I'll be honest: it's been taking a toll. I'm tired. Not necessarily in a "something's wrong" way, just in a "when was the last time I sat and did nothing?" way. I'd like to slow down and have some time to do nothing every once in a while.

One thing that's helped is trying to be more intentional about gratitude, and saying it out loud more often. When I step back, I know how lucky I am: my family, a place to live, food on the table, and the chance to take a vacation once in a while. The busyness comes from having a full life, and I don't take that for granted.

But being grateful and being tired aren't mutually exclusive. I can hold both. So my goal for the next month is to protect a little white space on the calendar.

If you're in the same season, with kids' activities, early mornings, and a calendar that won't quit, I'd love to hear how you're finding time to recharge. Just hit reply.

Personal Finance

A few people have asked me for personal finance tips lately. Personal finance is personal, and what works for one family may not work for another. But if I had to boil it down to a few general principles, here's what I'd share:

1. Make it automatic.​
Set up automatic transfers to your savings and investment accounts, weekly or monthly, even if it's a small amount. Consistency beats intensity. Time moves faster the older we get, and you'll be surprised how quickly those small contributions grow when you're not relying on willpower to make them happen.

2. Run your household like a business.​
A healthy business has two things: positive cash flow and a strong balance sheet. For a household, that means:

• Cash flow: Spend less than you make. Every month.
• Balance sheet: Build up savings and investments so you have a cushion and something working for you over time.

3. Be intentional and realistic.​
Give every dollar a job, and be honest about how much income actually comes in, not what you hope comes in or what you made in your best month. Plan around the real number.

4. Learn to say no.​
This one's simple but not easy. If you can't afford it, the answer is no, or at least "not yet." There's a saying that sticks with me: debt is really just impatience with a dollar amount attached. Most of the time, waiting and saving up is the better move.

5. Make interest work for you, not against you.​
When you save and invest, interest and compounding work for you. When you carry high-interest debt, you're working for the interest. The goal is to be on the right side of that equation.

That said, debt isn't always bad. It's a tool, and like any tool, it depends on how you use it. A few examples where debt can make sense:

• A mortgage on a home you can comfortably afford. You need a place to live anyway, and a fixed-rate mortgage lets you build equity over time while your payment stays the same.
• A rental or investment property. When the numbers work and the rent covers the costs, borrowed money can help you build an asset that pays you back.
• Education or training with a clear payoff. Borrowing a reasonable amount for a degree or certification that meaningfully increases your earning power can pay for itself.
• Growing a business. Financing equipment or expansion that generates more income than the loan costs.
• 0% financing you'll pay off in full before the promo ends. It works only if you're disciplined, but it keeps your cash working for you in the meantime.

The common thread: good debt helps you build something or earn more, at a cost you can handle. Bad debt usually funds things that lose value, like vacations, gadgets, or a car you can't really afford, at high interest.

None of this is complicated, and that's kind of the point. The fundamentals work when you stick with them long enough.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Real Estate

Most realtors will tell you it's always a great time to buy or sell. I usually tell people not to try to time the market, and to buy or sell when it makes sense for their life. I still believe that. But if I'm being completely honest, right now isn't the easiest time to do either.

If you're selling: Rising rates are pricing a lot of buyers out of the market, which means fewer people competing for homes. And as we head into November and December, the days get shorter, so buyers touring after work are often seeing homes in the dark. That's not the ideal way to show off a house.

That said, homes are still selling, as long as they're priced well and prepped well. Good homes are still drawing strong competition. We recently bid $75k over list price on a home and still lost.

If you're buying: Just when it felt like relief was coming, rates are back above 7%. Not long ago, they were hovering around 6%, and buyers finally had some hope. That shift makes a real difference in monthly payments and in what people can afford.

I'm speaking from experience here, too. We're in the market to buy right now, but supply is low where we're looking. So we're being patient and waiting for the right opportunity rather than forcing it.

My take: If you need to buy or sell, you still can, and you can do it well. It just takes more preparation, realistic pricing, and patience. If you don't need to make a move right now, it's okay to wait and watch. Either way, I'm always happy to talk through your situation, no pressure.

If you have questions about real estate, reach out to me at realtordannylee@gmail.com. Follow me on IG @realtordannylee.