Personal Finance

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  • Most HSBC Credit Cards Become Capital One Credit Cards

    Card Hub
    John Kiernan
    3 May 2012 | 4:01 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanOn May 1, 2012, Capital One completed its acquisition of the majority of HSBC’s United States credit card business for a reported $2.6 billion, adding definitiveness to a sale that caused a stir among consumers following its tentative announcement in August 2011. The deal was originally announced less than two months after Capital One, currently the ninth largest bank in the United States by total assets, bought ING’s American online banking division, ING Direct USA, for $8.9 billion. This transaction itself drew consumer criticism over concerns that fees would rise…

  • Time is not money

    Mighty Bargain Hunter
    mbhunter
    28 Apr 2012 | 10:22 pm
    I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “time is money.” Time is related to money, for sure: People exchange their time for money at their jobs. People choose to pay others to do tasks that will take time away from something they’d rather be doing. People take time to make lunches, change their own oil, mow their lawn, etc., to save money. People pay more to live in a city to cut down their commute time to work. And so forth … There is one big difference between time and money, which is why time is not exactly the same thing as money.  Time is scarce.  Money…

  • 10 Apps To Save You Money

    Money Watch
    Rob Lewis
    8 May 2012 | 4:57 pm
    TechRadar has posted a list of the 10 best iOS apps to save you money. The list includes a lot of the usual suspects, such as voucher app VoucherCloud, Groupon‘s deal app and price comparison scanner RedLaser, but there are also a few less obvious apps on the list. These include Supermarket, an app to help you work out whether it’s worth bulk buying whilst browsing the aisles, and MyGas, which helps you find the cheapest petrol in your area. Read the full article at TechRadar. For more apps, view the top personal finance iPhone apps.  10 Apps To Save You Money was originally…

  • 36 easy steps to cheaper food!

    Think Money
    16 May 2012 | 12:26 pm
    Here are 36 easy ways to save money on your food bill, from ethical savings to savings that can help your waistline. Your food doesn't have to cost the earth!Full article: 36 easy steps to cheaper food!Visit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • 14 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

    Budgets Are Sexy
    J. Money
    16 May 2012 | 5:44 am
    I got these from a pamphlet on 100+ Ways to Improve Your Electric Bill, but the others just bored me to death and were too full of acronyms and heavy text ;)  So I plucked out a handful of my favorites instead to share with y’all today, as some of them I had nooooo idea about and even thought that the opposite would be true! So check them out and see if they help you out at all.  I doubt I’ll change much of my own habits after reading the whole thing, but it was nice to know at least a few of the things we already do make sense energy-wise :) Maybe you’ll get something out…
 
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    I Will Teach You To Be Rich

  • Case Study: How Mike earned an extra $6,065 in 8 weeks

    Ramit Sethi
    13 May 2012 | 11:35 am
    A classic line from people starting to try to earn money on the side: “I had a lot of people that were interested, then they would disappear and never take me up on my proposal.” Some people have tried freelancing on their own, but can’t figure out how to turn their sometimes impressive technical skills into actual paychecks. Most have the same problem — they don’t know how to sell their services. That’s why they end up wasting hours pursuing deals that never close. And when they do find potential clients that WANT to buy their services, they often botch the sale.

  • How much should a man spend on an engagement ring?

    Ramit Sethi
    11 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Here’s one of my favorite money and gender questions: How much should a man spend on an engagement ring? Out of curiosity, I once asked this at the dinner table, and my entire family put their forks down and stared at me. Not good. I like this question because it highlights the gap between rational answers and emotional responses. Whenever people talk about engagement rings on the internet, here is exactly what happens: PERSON 1: “Hey guys! I’m going to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend next month. How much should I spend?” PERSON 2: “Ugh! What a heteronormative paternalistic…

  • Why Most People Fail at Making Online Products (And How You Can Win)

    Ramit Sethi
    8 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    A confession: I’ve left millions of dollars on the table by not developing a course about how to build your own online product and sell it on the Internet. My courses have sold well over $100,000 in one hour, and I get asked about how I did it over and over. It would be relatively easy to teach. I could build a product teaching you how to build a product (now we’re getting meta), including sharing actual sales data, the tactics I use for product launches, my sales copy, the biggest mistakes I’ve made, and conversion rates for various techniques. The product would handily make me 7…

  • This is officially the cutest photo on the Internet

    Ramit Sethi
    6 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    Look at this photo from Friday’s New York Times: My parents are in the New York Times in an article called “How to Raise a Financial Wizard,” and I could not be prouder. Funny backstory: it was originally titled “How to Raise a Financial Guru” as you can see from the NYT URL, but apparently it could seem politically incorrect to have “guru” next to my dad’s turban. So the title was changed. HAHA As you know, my parents had a huge influence in my life. Much of what I teach on IWT, I learned from them. No, they didn’t teach me about automation or peer-reviewed psychology…

  • A confession about gender and money…

    Ramit Sethi
    4 May 2012 | 4:17 pm
    I’ve wanted to write about money and gender for YEARS. I have the most RIDICULOUS set of stories about friends, marriage, dating, salaries, negotiating, and investing between men and women…plus, books and books of academic studies I’ve read. Examples: What do women think when they hear a guy wants someone “who can take care of the house”? What do men think when they meet a girl who wants a “big ring”? Who handles money better? Under what circumstances? What happened when I met my first official gold-digger? Who’s better at negotiating — and why? But I’ve…
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    Get Rich Slowly - Personal Finance That Makes Sense.

  • When a Woman’s Work Is Done

    Robert Brokamp
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new article to Get Rich Slowly every two weeks. One of my jobs at The Motley Fool is to serve as the internal financial planner for Fool employees. Lately, however, I’ve been answering more questions my colleagues have about their parents — and it’s more likely about their mothers or mothers-in-law. The truth is, women face a more difficult task when it comes to retirement planning, for…

  • Your Friends are Marketing to You (How to Like Them Anyway)

    Sarah Gilbert
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    This post is by staff writer Sarah Gilbert. Your friends may be marketing to you. I know: I’m taking the internet-shocking tactic I hate seeing elsewhere, but if I didn’t have evidence in my very inbox from (as I’m writing this post) three minutes ago, not to mention The New York Times and other well-regarded media, I would still have all the stuff that’s not headline material. You probably know it as “keeping up with the Joneses” or “being cool”; it’s the reason I carried a screen-printed canvas Esprit tote bag in high school even though…

  • Trading Time for Money

    J.D. Roth
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Last week, I was complaining to my Spanish tutor (who, by the way, thinks I always complain). “Ideally, I’d be writing less,” I told her. “I want to have more time to learn Spanish and to focus on other passions. But I just got an offer to write a couple more articles per week. And I would get paid for the work!” My tutor shook her head. “Por la plata baila el mono,” she told me: The monkey dances for money. She didn’t have to explain what she meant. It was obvious. Money makes us do things we wouldn’t do otherwise; it turns us into…

  • Reader Story: Saying Good-Bye to a 16-Year-Old Car

    J.D. Roth
    13 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    This guest post from Joel Berry is part of the “reader stories” feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success or failure. These stories feature folks with all levels of financial maturity and income. Want submit your own reader story? Here’s how. I’m writing this post as a follow up to my first post about why I drove a 13-year-old car. In that article, I set some goals for myself and came up with a plan to help me achieve those goals. Today I’m going to share where I succeeded…

  • Ask the Readers: What Do You Wish You’d Learned About Money?

    J.D. Roth
    11 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    When we’re young, we think we know it all. We make decisions — financial and otherwise — based on what little we know of the world, and these decisions are colored by a relentless optimism that comes from not having to deal with the harsh realities of the world. Realities like the high cost of health insurance, steep interest rates on credit cards, and trouble finding a job. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could go back and give your younger self some words of wisdom? Since time travel doesn’t exist, the best thing you can do is try to help other young people.
 
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    Consumerism Commentary

  • The College Education Bubble and Crash

    Flexo
    16 May 2012 | 10:28 am
    A new survey takes a look at the critical state of today’s recent college graduates. The survey questioned a nationally-representative sample of 444 recent college graduates between the ages of 22 and 29, about their employment situation and experiences. The questions also lightly touched upon these graduates’ financial condition. I’ve included a link to the full survey at the bottom of this article. The necessity of choosing a major in college can put quite a bit of pressure on any student, particularly those who have either a wide variety of interests and talents as well…

  • Repair Cafe: Bring Your Broken Doodads and Gadgets

    Flexo
    15 May 2012 | 9:23 am
    We live in an era of cheap, disposable goods. My closet full of clothing, much of it rarely worn, even though I sort through my wardrobe about once a year to eliminate items I no longer need, is a good indicator of this situation. For a good period when I was a kid, I wore hand-me-down clothes — as the eldest child, I received clothing from a family friend — and when an item became damaged, my mother fixed it with her sewing machine. Prices for clothes have certainly increased over the last few decades, but clothing is not expected to last. When a piece of clothing becomes…

  • Half of All Americans Are Not Saving for Retirement

    Flexo
    14 May 2012 | 9:09 am
    In April, LIMRA, a think-tank for the financial industry, completed a survey intended to focus on the savings and investment preferences of those living and working in the United States. After receiving responses from 2,697 Americans, a representative sample of the country, LIMRA was able to determine that 49 percent of the country is not saving for retirement. Additionally, more than half of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34, at 56 percent, are not saving for retirement. Saving for retirement — and receiving the associated tax benefits through typical investment types like 401(k)…

  • Podcast 160: The Rich and the Rest of Us

    Flexo
    13 May 2012 | 1:00 pm
    Today on the Consumerism Commentary Podcast, Jay Frosting and Luke Landes talk with Tavis Smiley, host of Tavis Smiley on PBS. With Dr. Cornel West, Tavis Smiley is the co-author of The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto. The interview in today’s podcast was scheduled to include Cornel West as well, but a court appearance prevented him from participating. They discuss the causes and possible solutions of the growing problem of poverty in America, which Tavis says is a threat to democracy itself. Read this Consumerism Commentary article for more discussion about poverty with…

  • Tavis Smiley: Poverty Is a Threat to Democracy

    Flexo
    11 May 2012 | 10:02 am
    Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West have been working hard to bring the issue of poverty into the consciousness of the citizens and political discourse of the United States. As a team, Smiley and West have been touring city to city, speaking to audiences concerned about the increasing wealth gap in this country. Their book, The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifeseto, is the culmination of their observations of American citizens throughout these travels. While the economy is technically in recovery from the Great Recession, a vast slice of Americans have not experienced a real recovery. A…
 
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    Forbes - Personal Finance

  • Mortgage Delinquencies Fall as Housing Starts Rise

    Mickey Meece
    16 May 2012 | 12:08 pm
    In looking at the decrease in mortgage delinquencies, announced by the Mortgage Bankers Association Wednesday, this stood out:

  • Wednesday Sector Laggards: Water Utilities, Paper & Forest Products

    MarketNewsVideo
    16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    In trading on Wednesday, water utilities shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 0.7%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Tri Tech Holding Ord (TRIT), off about 6.7% and shares of California Water Service Group (CWT) up about 0.2% on the day.

  • Wednesday Sector Leaders: Precious Metals, General Contractors & Builders

    MarketNewsVideo
    16 May 2012 | 11:58 am
    In trading on Wednesday, precious metals shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.2%. Leading the group were shares of Seabridge Gold (SA), up about 6.3% and shares of Silvercorp Metals (SVM) up about 6.2% on the day.

  • Why It Stinks To Lose Your Job At 50

    Ashlea Ebeling
    16 May 2012 | 11:52 am
    The Urban Institute reports how older workers face steep pay cuts in Great Recession fallout, and Congress mulls over how to help them.

  • How to Overcome the "5 Forces Conspiring Against Your Savings"

    Liz Davidson
    16 May 2012 | 11:50 am
    Do you ever feel like the world is conspiring against your ability to retire? Some people even feel like retirement has become unattainable and obsolete. Joe Mont of The Street has a post in Forbes discussing 5 of these "external, uncontrollable" forces working against us. While we may not be able to control them, there are ways to adapt and overcome them by focusing on what you can do.
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    Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines

  • Anger, drama at Ratko Mladic's genocide trial

    16 May 2012 | 1:15 pm
    Ratko Mladic was a shadow of the swaggering general who once "held Sarajevo in the palm of his hand" during Bosnia's 1992-95 war as his long-awaited genocide trial opened Wednesday. Yet he still managed to inflame Bosnia's festering war wounds with the flick of his hand.

  • Is this what a run on Greek banks looks like?

    16 May 2012 | 1:01 pm
    In the last few weeks, market analysts have ratcheted up fears about a run on Greek banks. Now, some experts say those fears are beginning to materialize. 

  • Manny Pacquiao banned from L.A. mall for gay comments

    16 May 2012 | 12:04 pm
    Manny Pacquiao won't be shopping with the stars ever again, as the homophobic boxing superstar has been banned from Hollywood's ultimate entertainment destination.

  • J.Lo topples Gaga to lead Forbes' celeb power list

    16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    It used to be enough for a celebrity to act or sing or swing a bat really well. Now for a celeb to be considered a real success he or she needs sell clothes, hawk fragrances, and even invest in technology startups.

  • Catholic college dropping health care over Obamacare rule

    16 May 2012 | 11:58 am
    The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reiterated its threat to sue the Obama administration over its rule that all employers must offer contraception without a copay in their insurance plans. Churches and other organizations that mainly employ and serve people of one religion are exempt from the rule, but the Bishops say religiously-affiliated hospitals, schools [...]
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    My Money Blog

  • Bogle on Earning Dividend Income From Stocks

    Jonathan
    16 May 2012 | 5:20 am
    I was following an interesting discussion about living off of dividend income from stocks over at the Bogleheads forum, and member Beagler posted a link to a excerpt on income investing from the book Bogle on Mutual Funds. You may know that John Bogle is the founder of Vanguard, now one of the largest fund organizations in the world and a pioneer in low-cost index funds. But what I really like about his books is his focus on common sense as the foundation for his advice. An example of this is his Gotrocks parable [pdf] adapted from Buffett. But back to this excerpt. He first points out how…

  • US Government Budget Breakdown: 50 Years Ago vs. Today

    Jonathan
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Below is a chart of the breakdown of government spending from 50 years ago, 25 years ago, and today. There are many differences between the political and economic environments of 1962 vs. 1987 vs. 2012, but I still think it’s still very interesting. Image credit to Lam Thuy Vo of NPR Planet Money, using data from the Office of Management and Budget. Click on chart to view original post and additional commentary. Related posts: Compare Your Budget With Americans 50 & 100 Years Ago The Average American’s Spending Breakdown Budget Analysis and New Budget Limits US Government…

  • SmartMoney Magazine Top Online Broker Rankings 2012

    Jonathan
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    SmartMoney magazine has released the results of their Annual Broker Survey in its June 2012 issue. Check out the attached article for additional commentary and insight into rankings and methodology. You’ll find my own commentary on their findings below. SmartMoney 2012 Top 10 Overall Fidelity Scottrade TD Ameritrade E-Trade Schwab TradeKing Zecco Merrill Edge ING Direct Sharebuilder WellsTrade Best in Commission & Fees Category (5 stars) Scottrade doesn’t have a rock-bottem per-trade commission at $7 a trade, but it’s lower than average and they still win overall due to…

  • Simplisafe Alarm Review: Cheap, Effective DIY Home Security

    Jonathan
    14 May 2012 | 4:04 am
    Old security system vs. New security system I’ve never had a security system until now, other than our dogs which are all bark and no bite. I suppose the main reason for that is that I didn’t own enough property to be worth protecting. Burglars could take everything and it would perhaps fetch $600 total on Craigslist, which is less than what a year of ADT monitoring fees might cost. Combine the baby nesting instinct with a rash of recent break-ins in our quiet neighborhood, and my mindset has changed. I wanted a home security system, but I didn’t want to pay $60 or even $30…

  • Half-Off Movie Night: 2-For-1 Tickets with Visa Signature

    Jonathan
    11 May 2012 | 6:57 am
    Offer is back for 2012. Every Friday this summer from now until August 17th, you can get 2-for-1 movie tickets from Fandango.com if you have a Visa Signature card and use it to buy the tickets. You can also get $5 off $25 in Fandango Bucks gift cards for the rest of the week. Tickets must be purchased on a Friday for a Friday show time. Limit 1 movie ticket per Visa Signature card purchase, per 30 day period following the date of a purchase in connection with this offer. Check out your credit cards, you may be surprised to have one and not know it. If you’ve gone after some of the juicy…
 
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    The Simple Dollar

  • The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Overfocus Edition

    Trent
    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    The biggest difficulty Sarah and I have with our relationship is our respective abilities to overfocus on the task at hand. If one of us knows that we really need to get something done, we can both slip into this zone-like state where almost nothing will interrupt us. This often happens in the evening when the children are in bed, for example. The only problem is when one of us tries to get the attention of the other, we’re sometimes ignored or the situation results in someone being irritated because their concentration is broken. That’s why we often schedule “date…

  • Pick the Model Now, Then Wait Six Months (135/365)

    Trent
    15 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    For many consumer goods, the price that you’ll pay right now for that item is higher than the price you’ll pay six months down the road. There are a lot of reasons for that. The big one is that many companies issue products in cycles. Every so often, they replace the version of the product currently on the market with a new one that’s usually just a fairly small tweak on the old one. There’s also the simple “new” factor, which pops up on things like video games and DVDs. When they’re new, companies charge a premium price for those items. When…

  • The Great Things You Already Have

    Trent
    15 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    The hardest part about being a parent is realizing that the six year old boy who runs up the stairs to give you a hug the moment he gets home from school is going to disappear soon and never return. He’s going to keep growing up. Before long, giving Dad a hug isn’t going to be that big of a deal. He’ll have new interests. Eventually, he’ll go through his teen years and the birth pangs of independence that those bring. Not long after that, he’ll be an adult with his own life to traverse. That little boy who thinks I’m the greatest thing in the world…

  • Sharing Futures, Sharing Scores

    Nicole
    15 May 2012 | 7:15 am
    You’ve found your soul mate and you’re goin’ to the chapel and you’re goin’ get married. Congratulations. But are your credit scores compatible? It isn’t a particularly romantic conversation, but talking about your credit history and how to manage your new financial life together is something couples can do to avoid disappointment or embarrassment once the honeymoon is over. It’s something to take seriously, considering divorce lawyers and therapists say one of the most prevalent causes of a destroyed marriage is financial troubles. Stay Open and Transparent: Share Scores As…

  • Consider Whether You’ll Actually Use the Item in a New Way (134/365)

    Trent
    14 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    A few years ago, I received an iPod touch as a Christmas gift. It was a very fun toy to play with and I did find a few nice uses for it, such as a quick tool for jotting down notes, but I mostly used the thing as an mp3 player. In the end, most of the non-music uses for it were replicated by my run-of-the-mill cell phone, so there was no real need to pay extra just so I can have two devices for those little extra tasks. Right now, I can’t name a genuinely useful thing that an iPod touch can do that my run-of-the-mill cell phone can’t really do. So often, we hear about some new…
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    Wise Bread

  • Hang Up the Phone: Why Video Is the Best Way to Connect With People

    Paul Michael
    15 May 2012 | 5:36 am
    This post is sponsored by Skype. It's time to say more and stay human. It's time for Skype. Did you ever hear about a friend or relative who sent a sympathy text or consolation email when they heard about a loved one passing? It’s always felt cold to me, regardless of the intent.  Similarly, have you ever gotten into a heated debate over an email or text, simply because your true intention was lost in translation? I know I have. As humans, we are built to communicate face-to-face. Anyone who’s ever seen an episode of “Lie to Me” will know that we give off hundreds…

  • Ask the Readers: What's the Best Gift to Give a College Graduate?

    Ashley Jacobs
    15 May 2012 | 5:24 am
    Graduation season is upon us yet again. Over the course of the next month, many college students will get their degrees and start looking for jobs. The tradition of giving gifts to graduates means you will probably end up giving at least one or two gifts this graduation season. Most people tend to give practical gifts to new graduates, however there are others who prefer to give gifts that are a bit more fun. What's the best gift to give a college graduate? Money? Assistance looking for a job? Financial planning advice? Some new furniture for their new apartment? Or is it better go with…

  • Financial Lessons From Winnie the Pooh

    Tara Struyk
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Remember Winnie the Pooh? I do — and not just for his honey-fuelled adventures with his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. Even very small children seem to sense the substance behind A.A. Milne’s “stuffed-with-fluff” cast of characters. In fact, A.A. Milne once famously said that although the characters were based on his young son Christopher Robin’s favorite stuffed toys, he didn’t write Winnie the Pooh for children at all. And maybe that’s why a tubby, honey-loving little bear has continued to resonate with adults and children alike since he was…

  • Best Money Tips: Vacation Without Breaking the Bank

    Ashley Jacobs
    15 May 2012 | 4:48 am
    Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on how to vacation without breaking the bank, 50 ways to make money, and tips to help you save more. Top 5 Articles How to Vacation without Breaking the Bank — Vacation without breaking the bank by using the right credit card or going on a roadtrip. [Not Made Of Money] 50 Ways To Make Money: Maximizing, Creating, And Increasing Your Income — Want to make money? Consider being a virtual assistant or writing an ebook. [Bible Money Matters] 5 Tips to Help You Save More and Get Rich Quicker —…

  • 5 Cheap Summer Foods to Jazz Up Your Menus

    Myscha Theriault
    15 May 2012 | 4:36 am
    Seasonal produce is your ticket to snazzy summer menus that don’t break the bank. Fresh fruits and vegetables perk up your salads, diversify your dessert options, and simplify your side dishes. These five foods represent some of my favorite ways to mix it up at dinner during the warmer months. (See also: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, By the Month) Rhubarb Urban dwellers should start seeing it on the shelves soon, but if you have the space, this is something you can grow on your own for free. Two of my favorite rhubarb recipes are pie and a stewed sauce to use in dessert squares and…
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    Bargaineering

  • Do You Qualify for Unemployment Benefits?

    Miranda
    16 May 2012 | 11:14 am
    Even though the economy is showing signs of improvement, they aren’t large signs, and unemployment remains stubbornly high. Additionally, some companies are still planning layoffs, and you never know when you might lose your job. Unemployment benefits have been extended a few times in an effort to help those who are unable to find work. If you lose our job, unemployment benefits can help you through the tough times, but you do need to be aware of the requirements that might be placed upon you to qualify. Are You Eligible to File for Unemployment Benefits? Your first step is to figure…

  • How Capital Gains Taxes Work

    Jim
    16 May 2012 | 6:19 am
    When you hear about billionaire Warren Buffett paying a lower effective tax rate than his secretary, you’re hearing long term capital gains at work. The tax code smiles favorably on investment and the tax rate on capital gains of assets held for more than one year is much lower than ordinary income tax rates. If you own an asset for less than one year, you pay short term capital gains which mirror the rate of ordinary income tax. Qualified dividends also enjoy favorable tax rates, with the income taxed at long term capital gains, which make them especially appealing to those on fixed…

  • Best 529 Plans

    timparker
    15 May 2012 | 1:15 pm
    The amount of collective student loan debt in America has surpassed $1 Trillion but to bring it closer to home, Finaid says that the rate of college tuition inflation is normally twice that of the regular inflation rate. That means that the cost of college will rise an average of 6% every year. Add to that the fact that wages for most Americans are stagnant, college is quickly becoming much like a home. American families cannot afford it without going in to debt. How do you plan to pay for your child’s college education? Maybe a large portion of their tuition is covered by academic or…

  • Should Your Kids Contribute to Your Family’s Financial Stability?

    Miranda
    15 May 2012 | 11:08 am
    For many families, the recession still hasn’t ended. While “technically” the Great Recession has been over for years, practically speaking many families are still feeling the pinch. As a result, some are getting creative about the side businesses they are ready to start, as well as how they bring money into the family. In some cases, this might include encouraging children to get summer jobs and help contribute to the family finances. Indeed, there are some families that ask kids to contribute to family finances in some way. Putting Kids to Work on the Family Business One…

  • TradeKing & Zecco Merging

    Jim
    15 May 2012 | 9:23 am
    Ryan at CashMoneyLife sent me press release in which TradeKing and Zecco announced a merger. I’ve long been a fan of TradeKing. Zecco… not so much. I have nothing against Zecco because I’ve never used them but their history of changing their fee structure has been a little disconcerting. In the beginning, they offered free trades, which seemed unbelievable and made me wonder if Zecco was a scam (it wasn’t). Then they made it so that you needed a $25,000 balance in your account to get 10 free trades. Then… they stopped their free trade program entirely. They were…
 
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    Passive Panda

  • How a Stay–At–Home Mom Went From Struggling to Pay the Bills to Making an Extra $3,000 Per Month

    James Clear
    14 May 2012 | 9:18 am
    If you heard about a stay–at–home mom that was struggling to make ends meet and then started making $2,000 to $3,000 in extra income each month, would you be interested in learning more about her story? A few days ago, a Passive Panda reader reached out to me and said that she had done just that. Here’s what happened… From Struggling to $3,000 Per Month A few days ago, I received an email that said the following… Hi James! I wanted to thank you for your post about side hustlin’. This one: http://passivepanda.com/freelance-writer The two links provided in…

  • How You Can Live Rich and Travel for Free (Plus, a Passive Panda Giveaway: Win Free Travel!)

    James Clear
    7 May 2012 | 12:07 pm
    Did you know that there are a few simple strategies that will allow you to travel for free, meet incredible people, and see the world? Let me show you how I have done just that… and I’m also going to give you the opportunity to win some free travel right now. Here’s what you need to know… How to Live a Rich Life There is much more to living a “rich” life than being rich. In many cases, you don’t actually need money to enjoy a rich lifestyle. For example, when I was a poor graduate student, I traveled to Switzerland on a free flight, stayed for free in…

  • The Simple Blueprint to Getting Started (Plus, 7 Ways to Consistently Make Good Choices)

    James Clear
    29 Apr 2012 | 2:06 pm
    There is a way for you to earn more money without working too hard or getting incredibly lucky. Would you like to know what it is? It can be summed up in three simple words: be more consistent. How do you do that? Keep reading and I’ll tell you. How to be more consistent The secret to earning money is not luck or intelligence or creativity — it’s consistency. The people who are the most successful are the most consistent. This is true whether we are talking about money or sports or art or anything in between. You must show up each day, do the best work you can, and then do the…

  • How to Get 283 Free Business Leads Every Month, Rank #1 in Google, and Get 91% More Traffic to Your Website

    James Clear
    28 Apr 2012 | 10:37 pm
    How’d you like to learn about one quick action you can take that will bring hundreds (or even thousands) of customers straight to your website for free? I bet that sounds good — possibly even too good to be true — but I’m going to show you exactly how I do it every single month. Now, this takes a little bit of technology, but don’t let that intimidate you. Just one year ago, I knew absolutely nothing about this process and now I get thousands of visitors for free every month. After this post, you’ll know everything you need to know. The Power of Blogging for…

  • The Truth: Why Trading Time For Money is the Best Way to Make More Money

    Danny Iny
    25 Apr 2012 | 10:44 am
    Do you want to stop trading time for money? Yep — you, and everybody else. Thanks to the Tim Ferriss and his band of passive income pursuers, “not trading time for money” has become the rallying cry of people who are stuck in a job that they don’t like, and want to create the freedom to quit and do something different. They say it with pride, confident that they are making the smart, strategic choice that their corporate colleagues don’t have the guts or foresight to make. But most of the time, they go about it all wrong. Most of them never see a dime, and years after they’ve…
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    fivecentnickel.com

  • Being Too Frugal Can End Up Costing You Money

    Hank Coleman
    15 May 2012 | 12:27 pm
    I recently came across a coworker who was burning the midnight oil. I thought that I was the only one who had to work late that night. When I asked him what he was doing, he told me that he did not have an internet connection at home, so he was using our work internet after hours. Setting aside the ethical implications to this scenario, I decided to delve deeper into his life and frugality. Come to find out, he does without a lot of things to cut costs — cable television, internet, phone service, and he even drives across town for cheaper gas. There’s difference between being…

  • Check Fraud: Use a Shredder — and Hope Everyone Else Does, Too!

    Nickel
    14 May 2012 | 11:36 am
    I’ve suggested in the past that you should think twice before writing a check to a complete stranger. After all, your checks contain both your account number and your banks routing number — exactly what someone would need to help themselves to your money. This is especially troubling given the ease with which checks can be printed, as well as the fact that bank accounts don’t typically have the same level of fraud protection as credit cards do. Well, guess what? Now that more banks are accepting remote deposits using photos of checks, you have reason to worry even if the…

  • HSA Contribution Limits for 2013

    Nickel
    11 May 2012 | 3:56 pm
    It’s never too early to look ahead to next year. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight the 2013 HSA contribution limits. As many of you know, we’ve been using our health savings account as an additional retirement investment vehicle. That is, we’ve been contributing to it and saving up the documentation related to our medical expenses, but not withdrawing the funds. The only drawback has been that my employer’s HSA custodian has horrible investment options, so I’ve been waiting for the money to reach a critical mass before transferring it to another custodian…

  • How to Close an Ally CD Early

    Nickel
    10 May 2012 | 12:12 pm
    I’ve talked a lot in the past about using long-term CDs to improve your short-term savings yields. In particular, I’ve talked about using five year CDs from Ally thanks to their low early withdrawal penalty. Until now, however, much of that strategy was theoretical. Yes, I had bought the five year CDs to hold some of our short-term cash, but I hadn’t actually tried to break any of them early — until today. The time has come to re-deploy some of the cash that was sitting in those CDs, so I contacted Ally via their online chat interface. For the record, you can close…

  • Seven Ways to Make Big Bucks at Your Garage Sale

    Ed Avis
    10 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    As the weather grows warmer, many people start thinking about unloading those assorted, needless items they’ve accumulated over the last year by holding a garage sale. How many wicker baskets and bud vases does one family need, after all? Most garage sales fail to produce the windfall the proprietors are seeking however, because they just wing the stuff out there in the lawn and hope for the best. Beat the odds by implementing some of these tips. Do things right and your garage sale will be the shopping destination of the day! 1. Planning pays off No, don’t try to have a garage…
 
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    The Millionaire Nurse Blog

  • Your Co-worker Quits Breathing, What Do You Do?

    Dr.Dean
    15 May 2012 | 4:39 pm
    Can You Save A Life? You are in the break-room getting a cup of coffee and shooting the breeze with Ladon, your co-worker.   Actually, you’re rolling your eyes while he’s getting all hot under the collar about something or other-as he does almost every day.  You know from experience to expect his face to flush as a Bieber sighting teen as his voice hits a pitch high enough to make you wish you’d left your ear-buds in.. You turn around to grab the creamer for your coffee, hoping Ladon will calm down or get back to work. “Thunk” you hear as Ladon hit the floor, …

  • What are Your Dreams?

    Dr.Dean
    13 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Sheila Saul Dreams What are your dreams? Are you uncertain how to make them come true?  Join the crowd. A few among us have decided to quit dreaming and start making things happen.  Sheila Saul is one of those. The health and wellness arena, unlike the economy in general, has continued to grow.  Research and development in that industry is constantly delivering new products and an ever changing market of ideas and innovations. Innovations are opportunities! In our search around the globe for nurses who are expanding their traditional roles from the bedside to a more entrepreneurial arena,…

  • Financial Follies: Breast Feeding Toddlers Edition!

    Dr.Dean
    11 May 2012 | 3:53 pm
    The Friday Financial and Health Follies (FFHF) summarize the important (or just fun) financial and health issues of the week. Share the humor of the funny Make fun of the stupid. Highlight and explain new financial and health news-so you don’t miss it! Friday Financial Follies If you haven’t seen the Time magazine cover that has been flying around the web this week, then check it out here. What do you think?  When is it time to wean the child? There is so much discussion recently about: helicopter parents, not letting our kids grow up, parents siding with kids rather than…

  • Talking About Ourselves: A Turn On?

    Dr.Dean
    10 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Bragging Rights What do Facebook, Twitter,  the guy’s locker-room at the gym, and the break-room at the hospital all have in common?  And why will efforts to stop cell-phone use while driving  fail just as miserably as prohibition? These are all places  where we get to do something that turns us on!  We get to talk about  OURSELVES! A new study at Harvard explains why we love Facebook and why we love to talk and share  our lives with others: what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, when we’re doing it, and who was with us when we did it. Talking About Us Is…

  • When You Hate Your Car!

    Dr.Dean
    8 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Your Car And The End Of Its Life You think your car is killing you one quart of oil at the time.  Drip, drip, drip on your driveway. You feel the money leaking from your wallet in the same way: drip, drip, drip….  You can’t stand the idea of putting more hard-earned cash money into that 10 year old rag of a car that vomits smoke with the least tap of the gas…. You think: “Who would be stupid enough to throw good money after bad, throw money down the toilet, wasting away in Margaritaville.”  (Oops,  wrong metaphor…) When is it time to rid yourself of the…
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    AllFinancialMatters

  • A Real-Life Example of People Thinking with Their Hearts and Not Their Brains

    JLP
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Yesterday’s link to the article about people not saving for retirement, brought back the following memory. I remember back when I was in high school, my dad telling me about how my cousin had withdrawn something like $30,000 out of her Walmart retirement account in order to buy a new car. I know new car prices were nowhere near $30,000 back then so I’m not sure why she took out so much unless she just cashed out. Anyway, based on 20% withholding and a 10% penalty (I believe both existed back then), she would have lost $9,000 right off the top. Then, she would have spent…

  • Half of All Americans Aren’t Doing a Thing for Retirement?

    JLP
    15 May 2012 | 11:59 am
    If this is true, it’s sad: Half of All Americans Aren’t Doing a Thing for Retirement Half?!? I’m pretty sure SOME of those people COULD save something if they really wanted to. I don’t know about you but this makes me concerned for our future as a country.

  • Interesting: Hope and Poverty

    JLP
    15 May 2012 | 9:36 am
    I read this short piece from the Economist this morning: Free Exchange: Hope Springs a Trap Bottom line: in order for people to move out of poverty, they must have hope. Sounds “new-agey” but it makes a lot of sense. And, in my opinion, being on the government dole has the opposite effect of creating hope. Being told by politicians that you NEED what they have to offer, forces you to become dependent.

  • OT: My Daughter’s Mother’s Day Card for Her Mom

    JLP
    14 May 2012 | 12:38 pm
    I thought this was pretty funny. It’s the card my daughter made for her mom for Mother’s Day. I think the reason she didn’t just start over with a new piece of paper is becuase that was teh only piece of paper she had that was that size. Anyway, I laughed a lot over this one yesterday. Oh, and I came to the full realization that she is my daughter…hahaha. Anyway, I hope all the moms out there had a very happy Mother’s Day! Sorry this is late. I tried to post this yesterday but wasn’t at my computer and I couldn’t get the picture to upload via my iPad.

  • A Little Music to Start Off Your Weekend

    JLP
    11 May 2012 | 6:07 pm
    Love this classic:
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    FreelanceSwitch

  • Why Controversy Can be a Good Thing

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    As a journalist, I sometimes write columns and blogs that people don’t agree with. Sometimes I feel so lambasted when people leave comments about what I’ve written that I literally can’t read them. I have a pretty tough skin, and I am aware that I’m not always right—but still, sometimes I get angry and hurt. My goal in writing something controversial is to never regret writing it. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, and I try to be as explicative as I can when I know I’m writing about a touchy topic. I don’t have all the answers to everything, but I know that posing the…

  • Understanding the Design Audit: Getting the Biggest Benefits for You and Your Clients

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Signage, stationary and forms, oh my! Businesses can easily create enough visual material to fill up an ark. There’s a logo, of course, and everything it gets applied to, such as: brochures, catalogs, websites, print and e-newsletters, Facebook pages, ads, uniforms, vehicle graphics, and more. When a company is successful, it grows and expands. As it moves from infancy to adulthood, its visual armaments grow as well. One location becomes three, then twenty and so on. Each one brings with it more of everything. More signs. More stationery. More forms. This can avalanche out of control.

  • PR Professionals and Journalists: How to Make Everyone Happy

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    15 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    I got a telephone call today at the office from the wife of a certified public accountant. She was pitching me on a story that her husband had just written about the benefits of creating an LLC versus an S-Corp. I listened politely, then told her why I couldn’t run her husband’s obviously wonderful story. I can’t tell you the number of times I get pitches that we would never publish—not because it’s a bad idea but because it just doesn’t fit in the pattern we have already created. The magazine I edit is a regional publication that has a pretty narrow focus. We only publish stories…

  • Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck with Shared Office Space

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    15 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Many freelancers work out of the house. But there are situations in which at least having access to office space is important: Maybe you need a place to meet with clients. Maybe you need a place where there aren’t kids demanding attention. Maybe you just need a safe place to keep gear that pets can’t get at. Sure, for many of these purposes, you can just head to your local coffee shop. But it’s worth considering office space, especially if you can get it inexpensively. Shared office space, whether we’re talking about a coworking space, a conference room you can rent, or even just a…

  • 5 Principles to Better Networking for Freelancers

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Networking is more than just attending events and swapping business cards. Freelancers, in particular, can find fellow collaborators, future partners, prospective clients, and a tribe of fellow freelancers when they network. Networking is about building relationships and like all relationships it takes trust and personal contact built over time. 1. Do a head check first and look inward. The first relationship to consider before you jump into networking is the one you have with yourself. Can you deliver commitments and handle setbacks in a professional way? Do you recover quickly when things…
 
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    The Digerati Life

  • What To Consider Before You Cancel Your Credit Cards

    Allison W.
    15 May 2012 | 8:38 pm
    Not that long ago, I was pretty fastidious about how I had my financial accounts set up, so much so that I was bent on consolidating everything from bank accounts to mutual fund accounts to credit card accounts. Little did I know that there are consequences to being so gung-ho about organizing, simplifying and downsizing [...]What To Consider Before You Cancel Your Credit Cards Copyright 2011 TheDigeratiLife.com All rights reserved.

  • Exploring Alternative Investment Diversifiers & Asset Classes

    Silicon Valley Blogger
    14 May 2012 | 9:07 pm
    Is there more to investing than putting your money into stocks, bonds and cash? Find out some ways to spice up your portfolio with alternative investments. For most regular investors, a portfolio of index stock funds, bonds and savings accounts are sufficient to achieve some reasonable level of diversification. But those who are seeking the [...]Exploring Alternative Investment Diversifiers & Asset Classes Copyright 2011 TheDigeratiLife.com All rights reserved.

  • The Household CFO: Home Financial Taskmaster

    Silicon Valley Blogger
    12 May 2012 | 1:45 pm
    In every household, somebody’s got to handle the finances — whether it’s the Mister, the Missus, or both, running things as a team. And in our case it’s moi. We figured long ago that it’s easiest that way so that we don’t get into each other’s nerves by sharing custody of the finances, though knowledge [...]The Household CFO: Home Financial Taskmaster Copyright 2011 TheDigeratiLife.com All rights reserved.

  • Strange Mother’s Day Gifts: What’s Your Special Gift For Mom?

    Silicon Valley Blogger
    9 May 2012 | 4:47 pm
    How much are you willing to pay for sentiment? What do you do for Mother’s Day? As the day approaches, I receive junk mail (for flowers, jewelry, figurines(?)) and see the commercials, which strongly encourage me to do my share of giving and gifting for yet another celebratory opportunity that involves nice, sweet and sometimes [...]Strange Mother’s Day Gifts: What’s Your Special Gift For Mom? Copyright 2011 TheDigeratiLife.com All rights reserved.

  • How To Monitor Your Credit For Free

    Silicon Valley Blogger
    7 May 2012 | 10:20 pm
    The only person I know who isn’t interested in their credit is someone who doesn’t want to buy a house or car, doesn’t have any credit cards, and has no worries about identity theft. However, if you’re well over the age of eighteen and use a credit card, then you may have a fairly sizable [...]How To Monitor Your Credit For Free Copyright 2011 TheDigeratiLife.com All rights reserved.
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    Mighty Bargain Hunter

  • Mortgage rates continue to drop

    mbhunter
    14 May 2012 | 1:39 am
    Mortgage rates continue to go lower.  Crazy low: 30-year fixed-rate mortgages at 3.61%, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages at 2.83%.  This places the rates squarely below 4% and 3%, respectively. Seriously: How low can they go? These rock-bottom mortgage rates are happening at a time of year during which sales are most brisk: springtime.  Demand for mortgages doesn’t seem to be driving their price up, which could indicate that lenders are still holding on tight to their money, or because there are a lot of properties that are worth less than what’s owed against them. With the…

  • Time is not money

    mbhunter
    28 Apr 2012 | 10:22 pm
    I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “time is money.” Time is related to money, for sure: People exchange their time for money at their jobs. People choose to pay others to do tasks that will take time away from something they’d rather be doing. People take time to make lunches, change their own oil, mow their lawn, etc., to save money. People pay more to live in a city to cut down their commute time to work. And so forth … There is one big difference between time and money, which is why time is not exactly the same thing as money.  Time is scarce.  Money…

  • A neat way to see the interest you save by paying extra principal

    mbhunter
    19 Apr 2012 | 12:23 am
    I’ve been taking a Bible study offered by Crown Financial Ministries.  It’s a well put-together study that involves scripture memorization, Bible verse study, group discussion, practical exercises, and more. This past week’s topic was debt, and not surprisingly, the Bible doesn’t have too many good things to say about debt and encourages people to avoid almost all kinds of debt, and to get out of debt as quickly as possible. Part of the discussion within one of the workbooks revealed a nice illustration of how paying extra on debt saves interest expense over the life…

  • I guess I’m nuts: I bought no tickets for the $640M lottery

    mbhunter
    1 Apr 2012 | 1:40 am
    No doubt there are three highly ecstatic people in this country: the three people who chose the magic numbers on the record-breaking $640 million Mega Millions lottery.  Let’s hope that they haven’t gone through all of the money within the next few years, as they’re likely to do.  (The US Government, of course, will burn through its 25% withholding cut in less than a half-hour.) One gentleman quoted in the MSNBC article, who bought five tickets for chances at the giant jackpot, had this to say about the enormous payout: “When it gets as big as it is now, you’d…

  • Talking about money? Please do!

    mbhunter
    19 Mar 2012 | 2:15 am
    I ran across this post on SavingAdvice.com which argues that it’s almost always a bad idea to talk about money outside of the family. This topic of conversation often leads to jealousy, feelings of superiority, pity, and offense, according to writer Jennifer Derrick. So, she feels the less said about money outside of the family, the better; ideally, nothing should be said. Taking such a strong stance about money talk does prevent news of your riches or lack thereof from spreading. That’s the upside. The downside of this strong stance is that it precludes conversations with other…
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    Personal Finance Articles, Tools, Calculators and Resources

  • Step by step tax saving with ELSS

    10 May 2012 | 1:55 pm
    An Equity linked saving scheme (ELSS) is similar to tax saving instruments like National Savings Certificate and Public Provident Fund. However the returns are directly linked to equity. An ELSS has a lock-in period of 3 years. It is covered under Section 80C of Income Tax Act and allows investment of up to Rs. 1 lakh in the current financial year. The amount invested can be deducted from total income, reducing total taxable income. ELSS offers benefits by ways of shorter lock-in period (3 yrs) than NSC & PPF. ELSS has the potential of earning higher returns and Dividend payout available…

  • Cost of Free Advice is more than One Crore!

    8 May 2012 | 3:27 am
    Why pay for financial advice when you can get it for free? You get it free from friends, colleagues, relatives, bank executives and insurance agents, right? But have you ever wondered that the free advice might cost you a lot of money? For example, if you buy costly insurance plan that you don’t need or a mutual fund that does not suit your investment profile, you will lose much more than the annual fee of a financial planner. True Financial Planners are not Advisors or Product Sellers and they prepare a Financial Plan that is based on your need, your situation, your goals and your risk…

  • Does LIC has an Achille's Heel?

    5 May 2012 | 1:42 am
    Editor's Note: LIC is the number 1 service brand in the country and statistically the number 1 in claim settlement operations. However, we all know about Achilles' heels which is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, that can actually or potentially lead to downfall. PV Subramanyam takes a look at Why LIC will underperform. Here's what Subramanyam writes: .... have been saying why one should not buy LIC policies, let me tell you the exact / specific reasons why, and I have these views for the past umpteen years, even pre 2001, when you had NO CHOICE: 1) LIC policies like classic…

  • LIC Increases Rates for Financial Transactions

    5 May 2012 | 1:24 am
    LIC revised it’s interest rate for various financial transactions like loan and dating back of policies for year 2012-13. Major change you look for is loan rate which is currently 9% changed to 10%. Revival and Dating Back of policies changed from existing 8% to 9.5%. The details of the same are as below Srl No. Type of Transaction Current Rate of Interest (%) Revised Rate of interest (%) 1 Policy loans (under all plans except Jeevan Aastha (Plan 195) and Jeevan Vridhhi (Plan 808) 9 10 2 Policy Loans under Jeevan Aastha (Plan 195) and Jeevan Vridhhi (Plan 808) 10.25 10.5 3 For policies…

  • Insurance Digest For Indians

    27 Apr 2012 | 11:52 pm
    Insurance is a subject matter of solicitation. Every print ad from an insurance company has to compulsorily say that. It is another sentence which fails to make a meaning clear. Solicitation is what? To solicit means to ask for or try to obtain. From whose perspective? The client or the agent!! Actually it officially means that the client or the policyholder must ask or try to obtain insurance. But in reality, insurance solicitation is entirely the job of the agent! So the difference between theory and practice starts with the slogan mentioned above. In Insurance, life insurance and health…
 
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    Generation X Finance

  • Order Types for Buying or Selling Stocks

    Jeremy Vohwinkle
    15 May 2012 | 9:05 am
    Buying or selling stock couldn’t be easier with today’s technology. Investors can go online or call an automated trading platform to instantly place a trade. But just because it’s easy, it doesn’t mean you can’t make a mistake. There are a number of different order types that can be used to help you protect losses and maximize gains if used properly. Market Orders Market orders are the most common and easy to understand of the order types. A market order is simply an instruction to buy or sell the securities at the current market price. Unless you give…

  • Five Places You Can Listen to Music for Free

    Charissa
    8 May 2012 | 10:19 am
    Want to listen to music while working out or cleaning house but don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it?  Why don’t you try these five sites on for size?  Not only will you have unlimited access to all your favorite tunes, it also won’t cost you a cent!  Now, that’s what I call a bargain! Pandora: Since 2000, Pandora has let listeners access their favorite songs, artists, and genres for free.  Users can register on the site, add the tunes they want to listen to and access their stations through the net, their phones, and tablets. Yahoo MusicSimilar in format to Pandora, Yahoo…

  • My Employer Stopped Matching My 401k – Should I Still Contribute?

    Jeremy Vohwinkle
    7 May 2012 | 9:35 am
    This is one of the most frequently asked questions I’ve been receiving lately both at work and via email. Companies across the country are trying to find ways to cut costs during this recession and a prime target is the matching program on a 401(k) or 403(b). This is bad news for employees, but the silver lining is that cutting the match may reduce the need for cutting jobs. That might be a glass half-full way to think about it, but what if your match is taken away? Should you still contribute? Should you switch to an IRA? Or is it time to give up on retirement saving completely?

  • 3 Things to Think About When Getting a Pay Raise

    Jon the Saver
    3 May 2012 | 8:05 am
    The story is very typical.  You get a call from the big boss and he asks you to come into his main office.  You’ve been working hard the last two years and you’ve been hoping and praying for a pay raise.  Your blood races faster and you start smiling.  You walk confidently into his office and shake your boss’s hand.  You sit down and wait for your boss to speak.  ”You’re getting a pay raise, Jimmy!” You smile some more and exhale a big “thank you!” You feel like you’re on top of the world and now all the hard work has finally paid…

  • How to Buy a New Car the Right Way

    Jeremy Vohwinkle
    2 May 2012 | 7:32 am
    Next to buying a home, buying a new car is right up there as one of the largest and more stressful financial decisions you’ll make. After all, buying a vehicle is a commitment and your decision will likely stick with you for a few years and become an integral part of your life. That’s why most people have so much difficulty making this important decision and why there are so many salesmen and dealers using tricks to manipulate the sale, which could cost you thousands. But if you go into a new car purchase with the right information, know the questions that must be asked, and the tricks to…
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    Earn More and Invest Wisely at The Sun's Financial Diary

  • Zecco and TradeKing to Merge

    Sun
    16 May 2012 | 7:37 am
    Look at that!Yesterday, hours after I wrote an article on SmartMoney’s 2012 Best Brokers Survey, in which I wondered how come Zecco and TradeKing were ranked next to each other in the magazine’s annual rating, an email from Zecco arrived, with the subject line “Zecco and TradeKing Are Merging”.I have to say that I was more surprised by the announcement of merger than by the rankings in the SmartMoney survey because I just couldn’t understand the reason behind the latest development. To me, these two brokers are far too apart in almost every area, except online…

  • SmartMoney Best Discount Brokers of 2012

    Sun
    15 May 2012 | 7:19 am
    I have followed SmartMoney Maganize’s annual survey of online discount stock brokers for some time, writing the first post about the survey in 2009. In the past, when I looked at the ranking of best and worst brokers, there were always some surprises, especially when brokers I have never heard of were thrown in the mix. For those names that I already knew, the survey didn’t provide much new information because I have personal experience with few of them, so I knew what it feels to be a customer of a particular broker and the pros and cons. However, the 2012 survey, which was…

  • Discounted Ways to De-Stress

    Shannon M. Medisky
    9 May 2012 | 7:14 am
    With the economy the way it is, stress for all of us is at an all-time high while the money in our bank accounts may be struggling at an all-time low. Don’t neglect your sanity (or your blood pressure), though. Fortunately there are plenty of ways to de-stress at a discounted price. So the next time you’re feeling worn down and tapped out, consider trying one of these at-the-ready respite rescues to help you de-stress without guilt and without forking over a ton of dough in order to do it. Download a new MP3. Music can do wonders to lift moods. And with the advent of downloadable MP3…

  • No More Trips to the Bank

    Sun
    8 May 2012 | 7:25 am
    Well, almost.A while ago, shortly after we moved from New Jersey to Virginia, I wrote a post on why we still bank with Bank of America. In that article, I listed a few reasons for staying with the bank when there were a lot of talks about moving away from big banks such as BofA to smaller community banks and credit unions. One of the reasons I gave was that, even after moving to a different state, we still have a BofA branch office that’s not too far away from where we live, making a quick run to the bank to, for example, deposit a check, very convenient. Since we are using direct…

  • Alternative Uses for Ordinary Stuff

    Shannon M. Medisky
    3 May 2012 | 7:10 am
    Got a household problem or challenge that needs a solution? Chances are you don’t have to spend a dime to find it. There are plenty of multi-tasking items around your home masquerading as plain old ordinary “stuff”. If you want to solve your dilemma while saving some money, too, get ready to help some of these items alter their ego by putting them to use in alternative ways. Here are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:Got raw skin around the nose and upper lip from allergies or a cold? Dab a bit of Vaseline or chapstick to the tender area. Both of these items are…
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    Money Hacks

  • Treat Your small business Like an organization

    PeteJ
    28 Apr 2012 | 2:06 pm
    Before you go into a catering business it happens to be wise build a in depth business approach. Whether you could be new to as a possible entrepreneur or you have got primarily or maybe exclusively worked well for other people, this strategy for planning on your workday can help you transition into to be a profitable business proprietor. Breaking within the top 7 normally requires knowledge together with time Jamal Daniel staying certainly, there takes work. Save dollars on duty. Selective volunteer Kenny Wood commented, "Selling programs in electric form that happen to be downloadable…

  • Strategies of Avoiding a fabulous Sedentary Way of life

    PeteJ
    28 Apr 2012 | 12:24 pm
    The major UK monetary commentators agree with the fact that you will see more work lost during 2012, the David Wayne Fish California is the total number of and where by in Britain will probably be hit undesirable. A good diet can help you save time as well as money. Local authorities are generally the major employer through cities not in the Southeast for England. Elevators, escalators, all kinds of transport, tv set, fast healthy foods – all are made to make some of our lives "easier’ in addition to, in it, almost totally sedentary. Serena’s Peacefulness will delight…

  • Instant Router – A great Device To your Network

    PeteJ
    28 Apr 2012 | 10:18 am
    D-Link innovates new top speed regarding wireless N900 router – Dir-937. This router is commonly employed to allow having access to a personal pc network or even the Internet from your radio say technology. The circle that works on the radio tide technology is actually referred because wireless ‘network ‘. The Asus RT-10 EZ N doesn’t offer just about any software wireless network assistance through DD-WRT along with the web interface would be a little perplexing. Proper router placement may help in supervising, regulating, as well as controlling wireless network…

  • Knowing Motivation throughout Youth Activities

    PeteJ
    28 Apr 2012 | 7:20 am
    Getting determined is tougher for many people then it happens to be for handystrahlung, it helps for those who have a natural involvement with the issue where you must have the inspiration. Being an important trainer I had had an opportunity to witness various personalities along with what inspires them, and it’s surprising the way in which people really get persistent. It is going to be great if we’re able to just suspend a carrot face-to-face with someone for you to motivate these but you can find other issues like might be he eager and may he for instance carrots. Think in…

  • Reasons To Receive Professional Steam Upholstery cleaning

    PeteJ
    28 Apr 2012 | 6:33 am
    Steam carpet cleaning alexandria is critical, we all know, but do we realize why. What positive aspects does this approach of upholstery cleaning bring people, and what are top possibilities for contacting the golf pros?. When washing machines has become popular numerous decades gone by, there wasn’t many eco considerations. Unfortunately, many companies don’t deliver on the promises. Kind-hearted CEO Rochelle Eaton replied, "Advanced variations of carpet cleaners units coming from leading suppliers carpet cleaning in alexandria va heated and also non-heated variations."…
 
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    My Open Wallet

  • I'm a Landlady! (For the Next Month)

    Madame X
    15 May 2012 | 8:37 pm
    I've been agonizing over what to do with my apartment for a while. For all intents and purposes, I live with Sweetie, and my apartment had become a place I'd visit to pick up mail, and a storage place for my books and papers, and only very rarely a place we'd spend the night. This of course makes me sad-- it was only a few years ago that I put so much effort into buying my own place, and then got such pleasure out of living there, after all the years I'd spent in my super-tiny rented studio. But life is full of surprises, and here I am. When I bought my place, I knew I could afford it, and I…

  • Overheard: Puppy Edition

    Madame X
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:15 pm
    I was walking down the street behind a mom with her two daughters, who were maybe around 8 and 10 years old. I guess they had been begging their mother for a puppy and she'd asked them if they were willing to work hard for the money it would cost. One daughter said yes, she would get a job and work hard for the money. The other shrieked very loudly that she was not going to work hard to get money-- instead she was going to SAVE UP lots of money to pay for the puppy! It was cute-- it got me thinking about how a kid might hear their parents talking about money coming from a job and coming from…

  • The Latest News

    Madame X
    13 Apr 2012 | 12:41 pm
    Yes, it's been too long since I've posted a net worth update or any other juicy details. And it's not just because I'm in love! I've been really, really busy at work, far more stressed out than I've been in years. One night I came home from work almost feeling like I was having an anxiety attack-- it's times like this that I start to wonder how else I could earn a paycheck...So with all that going on, I haven't wanted to be on the computer all that much in my downtime. I haven't been blogging much, and hadn't even updated all my financial data in a while. But I did just catch up on some of…

  • Paying for Casual Friday??

    Madame X
    5 Apr 2012 | 9:09 pm
    Apparently some companies tell employees they can wear jeans on certain Fridays in exchange for a charitable donation. Have you ever heard of something like this? If people in my office had to donate $5 every time they wore jeans, we could probably feed NYC's homeless all year!

  • Why???

    Madame X
    6 Mar 2012 | 8:00 am
    Why did someone give this to me for Christmas? Found it while gathering items to donate to Goodwill...
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    7million7years

  • An interview with AJC …

    Adrian
    16 May 2012 | 2:39 am
    I don’t mind doing interviews, because it helps me get my thoughts across a little better. Normally, though, I avoid credit card-themed sites like the plague (mainly because I have absolutely no interest in credit cards, besides using them and paying them off in full each month), but Bill’s just such a nice guy, I couldn’t resist. It also helped that he did such a wonderful job interviewing my blogging-friend Steve (a.k.a. Brip Blap) who is also a really great guy and writer/blogger: http://www.creditcardassist.com/blog/bripblap-best-of-the-best-blogger-series-2812/ So,…

  • Poor little rich doctor …

    Adrian
    11 May 2012 | 8:16 am
    A couple of weeks ago, I responded to a reader request from a young doctor who is on what can only be described as an OMG level of income: I am a young physician (early 30s) making approximately 800k per year. After expenses and taxes, I am left with ~300k to save/invest. Never mind the fact that he is losing approximately $500k a year in “expenses and taxes”, a $300k take home is still pretty good in anybody’s language! There was plenty of well-considered reader debate and advice for the young doctor, including this highly-reasoned argument from traineeinvestor: I’d…

  • Why are professional athletes so horrible with money?

    Adrian
    6 May 2012 | 4:54 pm
    In 2009, Sports Illustrated observed: 78% of NFL players and 60% of NBA players are bankrupt within two years of leaving the game. From this Get Rich Slowly concluded: Many professional athletes are horrible with money Why does this occur? Investopedia in a recent article stated the obvious: Athletes have a unique problem that many other professions don’t: the earnings window is small. While the more traditional careers may allow a person to work 30 to 50 years, a professional athlete will work only a fraction of that time. This leaves the retired athlete with the job of managing…

  • How to start with next to nothing in cash and build up from there?

    Adrian
    28 Apr 2012 | 8:49 am
    Ken H asks: I am just starting my journey to the concept of making money when you buy. Can I get more examples of what can be bought to use this concept? Where do I learn a strategy that I can start with next to nothing in cash and build up? Great question, Ken! The short answer is that you need a source of cashflow. The long answer: A high-paying job is ideal (but, only if you invest 30% to 50% of it after tax) … … if not a high-paying job, then a second source of income. I like the idea of starting an online business ‘on the side’ and reinvesting 100% of the profits…

  • How to become a wealthy doctor?

    Adrian
    21 Apr 2012 | 3:02 am
    We all have this image of doctors. We believe that that they are all-knowing and well … rich. But, is that really the case? Let’s check out what this young doctor (a new reader), David, has to say: I am a young physician (early 30s) making approximately 800k per year. After expenses and taxes, I am left with ~300k to save/invest. However, I have been making ~40k for the majority of my working life and am completely overwhelmed as to how to handle this chunk of change (unfortunately I received no financial education in medical school…). Do you have any advice as to how and…
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    Lazy Man and Money

  • Profiles of Success: Getting into some Monkee Business

    Lazy Man
    15 May 2012 | 8:38 pm
    I saw something the other day that reminded me of The Monkees. You might think it was the recent death of singer Davy Jones, but I had been extremely busy that weekend and it was something else entirely. I don't remember what it was, but probably an actual monkey playing a guitar or some foolishness. Having been born in 1976, The Monkees had stop recording years before. However, that didn't stop the television show from making an immediate impact on me in the early 80's (other shows in that category include The Banana Splits and The Baseball Bunch). Having little money buy the music, I would…

  • Infant CPR Day (and Personal Finance Links)

    Lazy Man
    14 May 2012 | 10:21 am
    In a few minutes I'm off to learn infant CPR... and I think some adult CPR as well. I should have done this long ago, but at least I'm getting it in now. I've been told that the cost of this one day training is usually around $60, but in Silicon Valley that's $110. Yikes! I'll put that in the category of baby insurance. Not sure if that makes it feel any cheaper. Lately I've been consumed by HerbaLife, and the pyramid scheme questions around it. It looks like a lot of people are finally starting to learn about MLMs. There are three great articles that I really think are must-reads: Barron's…

  • Six Months with a Windows Media Center DVR (No Cable Equipment Rental Fees! Woohoo!)

    Lazy Man
    11 May 2012 | 1:27 pm
    Nearly a year ago, I got pretty excited about the Silicon HDHomeRun Prime that was coming to market. It came with the promise of ending cable box rental fees... fees that have totaled over $2000 in the last years that I've enjoyed the wonders of DVR. Here's how it works. You buy a SiliconDust HD HomeRun Prime and hook it up to a computer running Windows 7, and ask your cable company for a CabeleCard. Put the CableCard in the Prime, configure some software in Windows Media Center and connect the HDMI out from the computer to your television and enjoy a DVR with the ability to record three…

  • What’s Hot and What’s Not from Finovate 2012

    Lazy Man
    9 May 2012 | 3:59 pm
    On Monday, I mentioned that I was going to Finovate for the fifth time, but for the first time I had reservations as to whether the event would be worth going to. When I started going, most of the companies were creating products that you, the consumer could sign up and use right away. Every year Mint, Credit Karma, Lending Club, Prosper would show up. There were companies like Wesabe that didn't make it and companies like Money Strands that are technically still around, but whose blog has one post in the past year and a half. In fact there were so many PFMs (that's personal finance…

  • This Week: My Fifth Year of Finovate

    Lazy Man
    7 May 2012 | 2:48 pm
    For the last 5 years, I've been going to Finovate and this year is no different. Finovate Spring is in less than 24 hours. This is where I got to meet the people behind Prosper, Lending Club, Credit Karma and more. For the first time in 5 years, I decided to be un-Lazy with Finovate and look at the companies presenting in advance. I couldn't be more disappointed. I went through 48 of the 64 companies presenting last night and did not see much for consumers to get excited about. One of the few exceptions was WattzOn a company that helps you save money on electric bill by analyzing how much you…
 
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    Dividend Money

  • What I Sold To Pay Off My Mortgage

    Tyler
    15 May 2012 | 9:28 am
    As a follow up to my article on paying off my mortgage, I promised to post which stocks I sold, when I sold them, and what the price was if readers showed any interest in that information. I received a few e-mails requesting those details so, as promised, here is the data: February 29, 2012 Sales: TransCanada Pipeline – $43.02 Sun Life Financial – $$21.70 Proctor and Gamble (USD) – $67.70 March 1, 2012 Sales: Crescent Point Energy – $46.98 Fortis – $32.70 Davis and Henderson – $17.63 Power Corp. – $25.50 ScotiaBank – $55.59 Bonterra Energy…

  • Why I Hate Buying Cars – And You Should Too!

    Tyler
    9 May 2012 | 4:07 pm
    Bottom line: Buying a depreciating asset that requires constant monetary support to utilize and maintain is a financial anchor. I am not going to argue that motor vehicle transportation isn’t convenient, or even necessary in some circumstances, but it certainly is a bad investment in most cases. As a site that focuses on cash flow, unless you have tens of thousands in credit card debt, having a car payment is quite possibly the worst debt you could have. Let’s Examine Vehicle Ownership A car loan is typically amortized over anywhere between 4-6 years. So, for half a decade…

  • Paid Off Mortgage – Now What?

    Tyler
    8 May 2012 | 10:16 am
    A comment from a reader, Joe, on the recent article outlining why I paid off my mortgage  has prompted me to complete this follow up article on what happens next! How Does It Feel? In Joe’s comment, he offered up that I had missed a reason to pay off my mortgage and that is the peace of mind that it offers. While he is correct that it does offer peace of mind knowing that as long as I pay my property taxes, my house will never be taken away from me, it honestly doesn’t ‘feel’ any different. It isn’t that I expected to feel much different without a mortgage…

  • Why I Paid Off My Mortgage Early

    Tyler
    4 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    As some of you might know, I have had a frequent battle with myself about whether or not to pay off my mortgage early. Because I was paying just 2.5% on the mortgage proceeds, it was a very difficult decision to sell off some of my equity holdings and liquidate some of my savings to pay the mortgage out completely. At the beginning of March 2012, I started selling off some stocks and finally paid out my mortgage on March 16, 2012. Why Paying Off The Mortgage Was Right For Me The one constant that we have in personal finance is that everyone’s situation is different. That is, in…

  • Rules of Stock Trading from Jesse Livermore

    Skinny
    5 Feb 2012 | 1:32 pm
    Jesse Livermore’s 5 money management rules. These are the tried and true money management rules for traders, given to us by the greatest trader of all time.  I felt obligated to share these points as I read through them- even though I am more of a long term investor. I have always said that there are many ways to make money in the market and that you can always learn from others.  That said, please take these words of Mr. Livermore and figure out what they mean to you and your investing or trading plan. 1) Don’t lose money. Don’t lose your stake. A speculator without cash…
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    No Credit Needed

  • Mortgage Payoff Progress for May 2012 with Chart

    NCN
    9 May 2012 | 11:17 am
    Two years and two months ago my wife and I purchased our very first home.  We love our new home – and we are working hard to pay off our mortgage. We have a conventional, fixed-rate 15-year mortgage. Our goal is to pay it off our mortgage in less than ten years. As of May 9, 2012, we have made 26 regular monthly mortgage payments. We have also made several additional principal-only payments. Our mortgage payment is drafted from our primary checking on the first day of each month. Additional principal-only payments are made throughout each month, as we earn additional income and find…

  • Catching Up

    NCN
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:29 pm
    After several weeks of limited posting, I thought it would be nice to catch up with all of you guys.  First off, I hope that you are all doing well!  Here in Georgia, we had a very mild winter – and it already feels like summer.  I think it hit 92 degrees today! My kids and I planted a “garden” this year.  I use the quotes, because we only managed to plant some onions, some strawberries, and some butter beans.  I had plans for much more planting – but then baseball and softball seasons rolled around – the kids were busy with practice – so we just…

  • Mortgage Payoff Progress for April 2012 with Chart

    NCN
    9 Apr 2012 | 11:34 pm
    Two years ago my wife and I purchased our very first home. We have a conventional, fixed-rate 15-year mortgage. Our goal is to pay it off our mortgage in less than ten years. As of April 9, 2012, we have made 25 regular monthly mortgage payments. We have also made several additional principal-only payments. Our mortgage payment is drafted from our primary checking on the first day of each month. Additional principal-only payments are made throughout each month, as we earn additional income and find ways to decrease budgeted-for expenses. Here is our most recent chart - The chart shows two…

  • 2011 Income Taxes Filed

    NCN
    14 Feb 2012 | 7:46 pm
    I have just finished filing my 2011 income taxes.  I used H&R Block at Home Online (now offering a 15% discount). Due to the fact that I changed jobs mid-year, my annual income was a little lower in 2011 than it was in 2010.  Couple that with the fact that we now have a mortgage (and mortgage interest) – and we received a little-bit-bigger-than-anticipated refund. I am not a big fan of “loaning” the government my money (interest free, at that), but I knew that the job-change might result in the refund.  We’ll count it as a blessing – and use the money…

  • Mortgage Payoff Progress for January 2012 with Chart

    NCN
    13 Jan 2012 | 10:52 pm
    Two years ago my wife and I purchased our very first home. We have a conventional, fixed-rate 15-year mortgage.  Our goal is to pay it off our mortgage in less than ten years. As of January 13, 2011, we have made 22 regular monthly mortgage payments.  We have also made several additional principal-only payments. Our mortgage payment is drafted from our primary checking on the first day of each month.  Additional principal-only payments are made throughout each month, as we earn additional income and find ways to decrease budgeted-for expenses. Here is our most recent chart - The chart…
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    Free From Broke

  • How to Avoid Investment Scams

    Miranda
    16 May 2012 | 4:52 am
    We all want to make more money. And, for many, the dream is to make money quickly and with a minimal amount of work.  This is why investing is such a popular method of making money. If you take a measured approach, you should be able to regularly invest in carefully chosen stocks, index funds or some other boring investment, and, over time, amass a reasonable amount of wealth as you receive returns on your investment. Many people, though, don’t want to take the measured approach. There are stories of people making money fast by choosing the right investment, at the right time. How many…

  • Should You Charge Your Boomerang Kids Rent?

    Melissa
    15 May 2012 | 4:36 am
    Years ago, children graduated from high school, got a job and shortly thereafter got married, bought a home and had children. This pattern may have been delayed a few years as more and more people obtained college educations, but the pattern remained basically the same. Now, however, the number of adult children living with their parents has skyrocketed.  In fact, as recently as 2010, Calculated Risk shared that nearly 13.5% of individuals ages 24 to 35 lived at home with their parents.  This group has even been given their own name—Boomerang Children–because they leave the nest for…

  • Ally Bank Online Savings Account Review

    Kevin Mulligan
    14 May 2012 | 4:43 am
    It used to be revolutionary to hold your money with a bank that didn’t have any brick and mortar locations for you to visit. Now high yield online savings accounts are more common and the decision comes down to which online bank you should open an account with. There are many key factors in that decision — high interest rate, customer service, and account fees — that Ally Bank’s online savings comes out on top if you compare to other accounts. What is Ally Bank? Ally Bank’s story sounds eerily familiar to the mythical firebird phoenix that is rebirthed out of…

  • Facebook Goes Public This Week and Links

    Kevin Mulligan
    13 May 2012 | 4:08 am
    Facebook is set to have its formal IPO this week and trading will likely begin on Friday. It is one of the most anticipated initial public offerings in history and will make Mark Zuckerberg quite the wealthy individual. His employees won’t turn out so bad either — although they’ll likely pay about 45% in tax on the shares they sell.  That’s okay though, since the average tax hit is anticipated to be $1.1 million per employee.  ($1.1 million is 45% of $2.44 million, which would leave the average employee with $1.34 million.  Of course we know how averages work: some…

  • The Best Small Business Credit Cards

    Glen Craig
    11 May 2012 | 5:34 am
    Having a line of credit handy is extremely important for a small business. Honestly, you never know what kind of expense may creep up that you can’t cover with your cash flow at the moment.  But it’s not easy or practical to get a business loan in a tight jam.  What to do? Enter small business credit cards. Not only do they provide credit, you can also find benefits such as cash back, rewards, flexible payment terms, separate tracking for business expenses, and more! Is a business credit card always the best option for you? No.  The CARD Act of 2009 put consumer protections in…
 
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    Clever Dude Personal Finance & Money

  • Living a Life of Payments

    Clever Dude
    14 May 2012 | 11:13 am
    Copyright 2006-2011 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. How many of you have said “I’m always going to have a car (or credit card, or student loan) payment”? Ten years ago, I was definitely one of those people, and I know a number in my family still think that way, and I’m sure some friends and other associates do as well. Even if it’s not in the forefront of your mind, you may not be able to imagine your life without a payment, even including a mortgage payment. Basically, for most of us, we CAN live a life without payments, even if we’re earning barely more…

  • 10 Car Shopping Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

    Clever Dude
    30 Apr 2012 | 10:46 pm
    Copyright 2006-2011 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. As you know, I love cars, yet I’m trying to force myself not to get a new one (I’m slowly losing the battle though). As part of my love for cars, I subscribe to a number of car mags and numerous car blogs. Every so often, I’ll also peruse books and other publications for information. Back in 2005, Consumer Reports published a book called Smart Buyer’s Guide to Buying or Leasing a CarThey compiled a list of common car shopping mistakes and a few ways to avoid them. Since I have fallen for a few of these, I’d…

  • I hate running. Why do I do it?

    Clever Dude
    25 Apr 2012 | 3:25 pm
    Copyright 2006-2011 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. I’ll start off by saying I use to be a cute skinny kid up until the age of about 5 or 6 years old. Blame it on TV or moving back to PA with my Gram and her Italian cooking (“You have to eat everything on your plate!”) or my own lack of self-control (probably more of the last one), but I became the heaviest kid from probably 1st through 12th grade, excluding the heavyweights on the football offensive line. I was fat, and I knew it and was picked on for it for all of my childhood and some of college (I put an end to that…

  • Financial Failures and Money Saving Auto Repairs Not to Do Yourself

    Clever Dude
    24 Apr 2012 | 6:25 am
    Copyright 2006-2011 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. (Guest Post by Heather C. Stephens) You know that pit in your stomach feeling you get when you’ve been hit with an unexpected car repair? You don’t have the money to fix it, but you’ve absolutely got to have a car to get to work? Add to it that you’ve been working arduously to pay off your credit card debt, so charging is not an option. What do you do? If you’re like me, you try do to it yourself. Sometimes it works…this time it didn’t. Read on to hear how I turned a money-saving DIY auto repair…

  • I started saving for a car, then…

    Clever Dude
    18 Apr 2012 | 10:23 am
    Copyright 2006-2011 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. I always have to repeat this for new or one-time readers, but I’m a car nut. If it has 4 wheels, I have an opinion on it, and there’s a good chance I’ve considered buying one. So, needless to say, I’ve been saving up for a “new” car (to me, new might mean brand new or used), whether as a replacement for my 2006 Honda Ridgeline truck (almost 90,000 miles) or a second “fun” car. We do our banking at ING Direct (post a comment if you want to get $25 for opening a new account and I’ll email…
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    Don't Mess With Taxes

  • Why is the IRS so slow to pay tax whistleblower rewards?

    skbell1
    15 May 2012 | 2:09 pm
    Sen. Charles Grassley is blowing the whistle on the federal tax whistleblower office. The Iowa Republican, a long-time supporter of rewarding those who help track down tax cheats, thinks the Internal Revenue Service's relatively new Whistleblower Office isn't doing its job. Under revisions to the tax cheat tracking mechanism, rewards to whistleblowers are no longer discretionary. They are to receive 15 percent to 30 percent of the collected proceeds. But that's not happening, at least not to the extent that whistleblowers and Grassley, a member of the Senate Finance Committee…

  • Supreme Court rules against Arizona farmers in bankruptcy capital gains tax

    skbell1
    14 May 2012 | 3:32 pm
    Family farms are among the most iconic of American symbols. That's why these patches of agrarian productivity often are invoked in tax fights, most notably by folks who want to do away with the federal estate tax. This tax is often cited, usually incorrectly, as a killer of family farms. Internal Revenue data show that only a fraction of the millions of estates left each year involve farm assets. And the New York Times reported that in 2001 the pro-repeal American Farm Bureau Foundation could not cite a single case of a family farm lost due to the estate tax. Still, the possibility of…

  • Tax refunds smaller in 2012

    skbell1
    13 May 2012 | 11:07 pm
    If you got a federal tax refund the last two filing seasons, chances are that your check from Uncle Sam this year was smaller. The average tax refund amount through the end of April was $2,716. That's $106 less than the average refund amount issued at around the same time last year, according to the latest Internal Refund Service 2012 tax filing season data. It's also this week's By the Numbers figure. Taxpayers who had their refunds directly deposited averaged slightly larger checks: $2,923. [1]Results for 2011 vary from those posted last year because certain results were…

  • Mother's Day generosity

    skbell1
    13 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    Happy Mother's Day! I'm spending this Sunday with my mother. Like most moms, she doesn't want anything extravagant on her special day. Just spending time together is the best gift, or so she says. I'm taking her at her word! Mother's Day gift that keeps giving photo by Katatonic28 / Flickr  Visiting with Mom is much more manageable since she moved closer to the hubby and me about a year and a half ago. Getting together is the easiest it's been since I was in college. For most of the time that Mom's been here in Central Texas, we've been getting her new…

  • Last week at my other tax blog: Facebook IPO taxes; adoption tax credit ending

    skbell1
    12 May 2012 | 11:30 pm
    The taxes facing new Facebook millionaires and the impending end of the adoption tax credit were the topics last week at my other tax blog. Mother's Day is just hours away and moms soon will be getting lots of presents. But some mothers also get a tax break gift from Uncle Sam thanks to the adoption tax credit. Unless Congress acts, however, this tax break will become much less beneficial in 2013. Without the adoption tax credit, some parents will find they will need much more money to add to their families this way. Of course, everyone -- with or without kids -- wants to make lots of…
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    Money Smart Life

  • Why Your Investments Care if You Use a Broker vs Fiduciary

    Ben
    15 May 2012 | 2:02 pm
    [I know advisors at Registered Investment Adivsors (RIA) firms who frequently emphasize the difference between what they do as a fiduciary and the role that brokers fill – and what that distinction means for you as investor.  Jeremy Brenn’s firm is a RIA and today I’ve asked him to explain why your kid's college fund or your retirement accounts might care which you choose to work with a broker or a fiduciary.] Finding an AdvisorMost people find a financial advisor by word-of-mouth. You might ask a friend or colleague who they hired when it was time to start thinking…

  • Build Your Dream Fund for Your Next Big Idea

    Ben
    11 May 2012 | 7:50 am
    If you think you’ll never have a million dollar idea, watch Shark Tank on Friday nights and you might change your mind. I think I relate the most to the parents of little kids who come up with cool business ideas inspired by their children. On Shark Tank, current or aspiring entrepreneurs present their products to a panel of investors (the Sharks) and ask for money in exchange for a stake in the product. Show Me the Money One of the questions the Sharks always ask the entrepreneurs is how much cash they’ve invested into the venture.  I’m impressed by how…

  • 5 Ways to Save Money If You Hate Negotiating

    Kevin
    25 Apr 2012 | 8:39 am
    Negotiating is a skill that can save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. But bartering can also be a stressful, anxiety-filled experience for many people. If you hate haggling over price and just can’t bring yourself to do it, there are some ways you can save money without having to suffer through the back and forth of a negotiation. Have Someone Negotiate for You Outsourcing your negotiating sounds like an off the wall idea, but in reality this happens all of the time. Your real estate agent handles the actual negotiation of the price of the house you are buying. A recruiter…

  • 5 Ways to Get Costco Membership Discounts

    Ben
    21 Apr 2012 | 8:52 am
    Costco Membership Discounts 2012 Costco membership certainly has rewards, such as discounts & deals on your purchases and cashback with the TrueEarnings Card; but access to these benefits does require an annual fee.  Fortunately there are Costo membership discounts and promotions where you can save money on the fee, with the right offer or coupon code you could even get a free Costco membership. If you’re trying to decide if Costco is worth it to your family, the lower the fee the more likely it is your membership will pay for itself.  There are five…

  • 4 Productivity Mistakes You Might Be Making Too

    Ben
    19 Apr 2012 | 9:32 pm
    I’ve been a case study for what not to do in terms of productivity over the last several months. Today I’ll share my mistakes so you can try and avoid them. 1) Spreading Your Focus Too Thin If you want to cross things off your list, it’s best to remain focused on the top item until it’s complete.  If you can block out distractions and focus your energy on a specific task then your odds of completing it go up significantly. As you might remember, we had a baby girl a few months back.  The combination of a newborn and our other two young kids have turned my…
 
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    BeingFrugal.net

  • How to Save Money on Car Insurance

    Lynnae McCoy
    9 May 2012 | 9:00 pm
    If you’re on a quest to lower your bills, take a hard look at your car insurance. Car insurance is an area that can yield monthly savings with just a few phone calls and inquiries. Many people get comfortable with their car insurance company and just continue to pay the premium year after year, without making adjustments. But it’s a good idea to evaluate your car insurance once a year to make sure you’re getting what you need at the best price. Shop Around Prices can vary a lot between insurance companies. When we switched insurance companies several years ago, we ended up…

  • Dutch Bros-Like Blended Frozen Coffee Recipe

    Guest
    8 May 2012 | 11:12 pm
    Here is a frozen coffee recipe from our reader, Robert Johnson: Dutch Bros-Like Blended Frozen Coffee Recipe Print Recipe type: Drink Author: Robert Johnson Ingredients 1 tray of small ice cubes 1 cup of milk (slightly less than 1 cup) 1 1/2 tablespoons of Caffe D’Amore Mocha Frappe Freeze Coffee Mix 1 tablespoon of Nescafe Tasters Choice Gourmet Roast Coffee 1-3 tablespoons of Torani Chocolate Sauce depending on your taste preferences. Instructions Mix it all up in the blender and enjoy! 2.2.6   Notes from Robert First I use ice cubes that are really small. You should be able to…

  • 6 Tips to Save Money on Your Next Computer

    Pinyo
    8 May 2012 | 10:45 pm
    It happens to the best of us. Either the old computer you’ve been nursing gives up the ghost before you’re ready to part with it (and usually in the middle of creating a vitally important document for school or work), or the window of time before your computer becomes completely obsolete is much smaller than you anticipated — and you find yourself shopping for a new machine without the luxury of time and savings on your side. So how do you get back on track without paying through the nose? Here are a few tips to save money on your next computer: 1. Know Your Needs As with any…

  • Avoid Going into Debt When Disaster Strikes

    Lynnae McCoy
    7 May 2012 | 4:00 pm
    You’re at home on the weekend getting caught up on the chores. You wipe down the sink, sweep the floor, and then open the dryer to fold the clothes. That’s when you realize that something is terribly wrong. Your clothes are still wet. You don’t have an emergency fund. What are you going to do? No! Don’t reach for that credit card! Don’t open a line of credit at Sears! Try these things first. Ask yourself if you can do without the dryer while you save the money to get it fixed or buy a new one. Is it possible for you to line dry your clothes? If you don’t…

  • 8 Fun and Frugal Outdoor Activities

    Lynnae McCoy
    6 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    In many areas of the country, the weather is beginning to warm up. The temperatures are nice, but not stifling, and it’s the perfect time for getting outdoors. If you’re looking for some frugal outdoor activities, here are a few that come to mind. Camp out in a tent in the back yard. Read to your children under a tree. Take a nature walk around the neighborhood. See how many different kinds of flowers, bugs, and animals you can find. Play an old fashioned game of Hide ‘n’ Go Seek. Go to the park. Ride bikes, scooters, or roller skate. If it’s hot enough, turn on the…
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    I've Paid For This Twice Already...

  • 3 Social Lending Networks

    paidtwice
    12 May 2012 | 5:08 pm
    More and more people are looking to borrow money in order to launch startups businesses and develop new products and services. Fortunately for them, an increasing number of entrepreneurs out there out there looking to invest in projects they think could make a splash. These groups are now looking to online social lending networks in order to cut out the middleman (in this case, banks) and optimize the money being put forth. Because of these lending networks, it is more likely you will be able to launch a business, make sound investment, and calculate your target retirement amount amount…

  • Tough Financial Decisions

    paidtwice
    12 May 2012 | 5:07 pm
    Life is full of tough decisions. Some of the toughest we face are financial decisions, because nothing is more aggravating than money and money management issues. Who among us can honestly claim they haven’t wracked their brains over how to save money and how to proceed into the future with fiscal responsibility? Sometimes, the best way to view money is imagine it stretched out over time. That way you can compare alongside the necessary expenditures that will come about and see how you can best optimize your finances in order to plug in those gaps. The following are three examples of…

  • Avoiding Financial Ruin

    paidtwice
    8 May 2012 | 10:46 am
    If you’ve ever found yourself plunging into financial ruin, you will probably never forget that feeling of helplessness and despair. Financial uncertainty can be a terrifying ordeal that may take years to fully recover from. Some people never do recover and spend decades of their lives wallowing in bills and getting harassing phone calls from creditors. If you feel you are hedging close to the edge but want to avoid this is the kind of scenario, you may need to look at your options for steering clear of financial ruin: Declare bankruptcy Many people mistakenly view bankruptcy itself as…

  • Why You Should Teach Your Kids Personal Finance Now

    paidtwice
    7 May 2012 | 6:45 pm
    Consumer debt, aside from obesity, is one of the biggest woes facing the average American today. Those suffering from thousands upon thousands of dollars of credit card debt, over the top mortgages, and high car payments generally have their lacking financial knowledge to blame. Credit seems to be easy money, and very few are able to determine how much such purchases will cost them in the end. In today’s education system, finance or personal finance courses are not required in most schools. This leads to entire generations without the slightest idea of how to properly manage their…

  • How To Use Craigslist to Make a Quick Summer Buck

    paidtwice
    5 May 2012 | 5:06 pm
    It’s amazing these days what one can sell online and how easy it is to do.  Heading into summer, it’s especially nice to have some extra cash in your pocket for those air-conditioning costs, family vacations, or general summer fun.  Whatever your reasoning, using Craigslist is an easy, sure-fired way to make some extra cash this summer with relative ease.  You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by just how much stuff you can sell with the help of a camera and a computer if you follow some simple steps. - What to Sell The simple answer is: pretty much anything.  Unlike Ebay,…
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    Queercents

  • LGBT Pride And Queer Currency

    DJ
    8 May 2012 | 9:31 pm
    I have no doubt that many of us are planning our summer months right now, and one of the primary events to look forward to as the weather heats up and the exposed flesh increases in the street is the sheer avalanche of LGBT Pride parades around the country, and indeed around the world. I’m [...]

  • Like a Facebook page for chance to win an iPad 3

    LizParker
    8 May 2012 | 7:40 pm
    I am normally not a fan of Facebook giveaways because they normally require you to take part in some sort of social reader or app that you have too discontinue but this one was simple enough. All you have to do is LIKE their page and be entered to win. iPad’s are such amazing gadgets [...]

  • Earn Free Flights, Free Hotels with Travel Credit Cards

    DJ
    3 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Hotel rewards credit cards are a great way for any traveler to make his or her travel dollar go further. With broader earning options, more generous introductory bonuses, and lower minimums for redemption, hotel credit cards will likely prove more useful to the casual traveler than airline credit cards. Anyone wanting to compare travel rewards [...]

  • Costs of Lesbians Trying to Have Babies

    LizParker
    1 May 2012 | 11:18 pm
    In this day and age, families are formed in many different ways. Whether you are gay, straight, single, or one half of a couple, you are able to have a child. True, you need both a male and a female, for both sperm and an egg. However, it doesn’t matter if you are in a [...]

  • Gay Pimp Jonny McGovern Answers Celeb Money Questions

    DJ
    25 Apr 2012 | 5:41 am
    It’s been awhile since we brought back our Celebrity Ten Money Questions and lately it seems we have had many from the nightlife and music business including Chris Ryan. This month we had the opportunity to interview Jonny McGovern known as the Gay Pimp while he is promoting his exciting new album “The Gayest of [...]
 
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    MoneyNing

  • How Do You Like Your Coffee?

    AJ Pettersen
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    The warmth in the morning followed by the energy later makes coffee the drink of choice for people across the world. Coffee comes in many flavors, varieties and prices. Coffee can be obtained in a number of places. Many love to pick it up at their favorite coffee shop on the way to work, some [...]

  • What is Contrarian Investing?

    Miranda Marquit
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    One of the terms that you might have come across as an investor is “contrarian.” In some cases, the savvy contrarian investor can make money by engaging in strategies, and making investment moves, that are considered different than the conventional wisdom. A contrarian investor can take advantage of situations that allow them to position themselves [...]

  • Money Leaks Are Costing You Hundreds Every Year (This is How to Plug Them)

    Vincent King
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    You work hard every day, doing everything you can to bring more bacon home, and trim the fat from your spending. But it still isn’t enough. If you’re still wondering what you can do, consider looking behind the walls of your own home for the biggest leaks in your bottom line. When totaled, there are [...]

  • Is Fine Art a Good Investment?

    Emily Guy Birken
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Last week’s auction of Edvard Munch’s The Scream for a record-breaking $120 million made international news — and made many money-savvy individuals who have never thought about fine art wonder if this is an investment opportunity that they’re missing out on. Between this story, and the wonderful surprises sometimes seen on shows like Antiques Roadshow, [...]

  • Avoiding the Payday Loan Trap

    Jamie Simmerman
    10 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Last year, I counseled a young mother of two small children who came into our community program distraught, nearly hysterical, and on the verge of divorce. What was the issue? Payday Loans. She and her husband were both working, but she came in for assistance because she had absolutely nothing in the cupboard to feed [...]
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    treesfullofmoney.com

  • Home Heating Oil Price Predictions for the 2012/2013 Winter Heating Season

    Ben
    24 Apr 2012 | 2:14 pm
    In just a few short months, homeowners in the northern parts of the US will once again be faced with a decision to pre-buy their home heating oil.  To help aid in this decision, I am once again offering my home heating oil price predictions for the fall of 2012 and winter of 2013. Pre-buying home heating oil via pre-paid or pre-purchase contracts, can be a great way to save money on heating oil costs during the cold winter heating season. However, if you’re not fully aware of the risks, you can also end up paying way too much money for heating oil as many consumers found out in…

  • Starting a Small Business: Ideas vs. Opportunities

    Ben
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:21 am
    If you’re like me, you’ve probably entertained the thought of opening a small business at some point over the last few years. Indeed, small businesses form the backbone of the economy; however, starting one can be a seemingly risky prospect for individuals with little or no business experience. So how do you know if your small business plan is a worthwhile undertaking? The first step in determining the feasibility of your small business idea is to consider whether you have recognized an actual business “opportunity” or, if you have only conceived a simple business…

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Investment Risk

    Ben
    8 Feb 2012 | 8:39 am
    With all the uncertainty in the financial markets over the last few years, and the recent downgrade of the US Debt Rating by Standard & Poor’s, I thought it would be “worthwhile” to write an introduction explaining the basics of portfolio risk as it relates to any retirement, savings, or brokerage accounts you may have. We hear a lot about “diversification” and “asset allocation” in magazines, newspapers, financial blogs, and TV, but you may not know why these terms are important and how you may be exposing your personal investments (retirement or…

  • How to Protect Yourself from Rising Oil and Gas Prices

    Ben
    4 Jan 2012 | 7:53 am
    Simple “Hedge Fund” Investment Techniques for the Average Person With the World’s economy starting to “turn-around” and now Iran’s threat to disrupt the shipping routes of oil tankers passing through the Middle East. Many analysts are expecting the price of oil to once again climb to new record levels over the next few months. If you’re one of the many expecting oil prices to rise, it may be a perfect time to implement some of my “hedge” techniques to protect yourself from rising gas and home heating oil prices! There has been a lot of…

  • How to Do a Home Energy Audit: A Do It Yourself Guide

    Ben
    3 Jan 2012 | 8:01 am
    How to do a home energy audit yourself! The following article has been prepared as a step by step guide on how to conduct a do it yourself home energy audit. It is not my intention to replace the services offered by a professional energy evaluator; instead this article shall serve as a DIY guide for families that (for what ever reason) choose not to hire a professional at this time. Identify Air Leaks (Drafts) In Your Home Stopping cold air drafts in your home is essential to maximizing the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling system. According to the US Department of Energy,…
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    The Frugal Law Student

  • Think You’ll Get Social Security…Think Again

    Brett McKay
    10 May 2012 | 12:08 am
    When most people think of social security, they think of senior citizens collecting a paycheck. That’s just half the story. A lot of people also receive social security checks due to disability. Due to the poor job market, suddenly more and more are seeking this assistance. This is putting additional strain on the social security system. Between the ponzi-like finance of social security, the aging baby boomers, and now more and more people being disabled, young lawyers can pretty much count that they won’t be getting social security payments until they’re very, very old (if…

  • Exercise for Cheap

    Brett McKay
    7 Apr 2010 | 11:09 pm
    The benefits of staying in shape have been espoused numerous times. I don’t want to focus too much on that here. Though, it is worth keeping in mind that studies have shown thinner, more attractive-looking people receive preferential treatment in the job market. While that might be “unfair” or “discriminatory”, the fact of the matter is, human nature responds better to people we view as being attractive. Remember this little fact as you near potential job interviews or important meetings. “Looking good” never hurts and exercise certainly helps your…

  • Blog for Bites

    Mike
    10 Mar 2010 | 4:31 pm
    Although it may seem a bit out-of-context blogging for meals can actually be a great starting point. For those who are seeking alternatives to high-priced recipes, usually found in mainstream recipe books, a good blog-spot can be worth more than a barrel of high-end recipe cards. On the contrary, and for the general purpose of seeking out low-budget foods, you may find a treasure-trove waiting to be discovered. Simply searching the right phrase can lead you to mountains of easy, inexpensive recipe alternatives. Thousands of bloggers have dedicated their time to reinvent “cooking on a…

  • Is Law School Worth The Cost?

    Mike
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:59 pm
    Given the economic crisis that is going on, the difficulty new lawyers are having getting jobs, and the soaring cost of law school, I’m doing a little analysis to see if law school is worth it for many prospective students. A lot of people go into graduate or professional school believing the debt and time spent will pay off in a more rewarding/higher paying career. While this may be happen for some, it’s by no means a guarantee. Let’s break this down by numbers: Cost of tuition (three years): $60k up to $140k depending on the school. Opportunity cost of not working (three…

  • 7 Ways To Save Money On LSAT Prep

    Brett McKay
    31 Jan 2009 | 2:46 pm
    In this guest post, Steve Schwartz, a professional LSAT tutor in NYC and blogger at LSAT Blog, gives 7 tips on how you can save money as you prepare for the LSAT. 1. Download free LSAT PrepTests from LSAC’s website Two LSAT PrepTests are available to download for free from LSAC: June 2007 LSAT – Free Sample PrepTest (PDF) October 1996 LSAT – PrepTest 20 (PDF) LSAC also provides an overview of the LSAT with sample questions and explanations (PDF). 2. Use Freecycle to get LSAT books for free You can search your local Freecycle group’s message board to see if anyone…
 
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    The Dough Roller

  • SmartMoney’s 2012 Broker Survey (the Best and Worst)

    Rob Berger
    16 May 2012 | 10:35 am
    Surveys are worthless. SmartMoney just released its 2012 survey of the best and worst brokers. Let’s be honest here. I don’t trust movie reviews, so why would I put stock in a survey of investment brokers? Part of the problem is that even the best surveys are of limited valued. For example, here are the categories SmartMoney used to rate brokers: commissions and fees, mutual funds and investment products, banking services, trading tools, research, and customer service. Now there is nothing wrong with this list, per se, except that several categories are completely useless to me.

  • Is the Press Pumping Facebook’s IPO?

    Rob Berger
    15 May 2012 | 7:31 am
    This morning I read an article on CNN with the headline, “Seniors clamoring to invest in Facebook IPO.” Of all the silly articles written about Facebook’s impending IPO in an effort to draw readers to news websites, this one has to be the lamest. So of course I read the article. It turns out the article’s headline is not lame–it’s completely misleading. Apparently 79-year old Alvan Sweet told CNN that Facebook’s IPO is “one of the hottest topics” in a retirement community in Boyton Beach, Fla. It’s so hot, in fact, that three (yes,…

  • Credit Scores and Fannie Mae–What You Need to Know

    Rob Berger
    14 May 2012 | 10:03 am
    Here are three facts about mortgage applications that at first glance are difficult to reconcile: Fact 1: Mortgage rates are at historic lows. Fact 2: Real Estate prices have fallen substantially over the past few years. Fact 3: The number of mortgage applications over the past 2 months are DOWN. So what’s going on here? Well, according to the WSJ, part of the problem is persistent unemployment. Rates and prices can be low, but if you are looking for work, you won’t be buying a home or refinancing a mortgage. But there is a second problem that has persisted for several…

  • Should You Pay Off Debt or Save for Retirement?

    Rob Berger
    9 May 2012 | 2:17 pm
    One of the questions I see a lot deals with which financial goal you should tackle first. Should you pay off your credit card debt first, and then build an emergency fund? Should you save for retirement while you still have school loans? Which credit card should you pay off first? Yesterday, Deacon from Well Kept Wallet asked the following question in response to my post on the 2012 Retirement Confidence Survey: I agree with trying to start investing as early as you can but what if you have debt? Shouldn’t you pay that off first? My first reaction was to look through the archives here…

  • Facebook Worth $100 Billion (and I Can Whistle Dixie Out My @$$)

    Rob Berger
    7 May 2012 | 9:35 am
    They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Tech Buble meet Facebook. Facebook is on the verge of ushering in the largest IPO ever. FB plans to offer 337 million Class A shares at between $28 and $35 per share. At the high end of that range, and adding in other outstanding shares, you arrive at a valuation just shy of $100 billion. Last year the company’s net income was about $1 billion. At a $100 billion valuation, Facebook’s price-to-earnings ratio would stand at 100. In other words, at current earnings it would take investors…
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    Moolanomy Personal Finance

  • How to Prepare for Disaster Without Going Broke

    Kevin Mulligan
    9 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Have you ever seen the television show “Doomsday Preppers“? A few weeks ago on a Friday night I happened across the show on the National Geographic channel. It was dedicated to telling the stories of people [...]Read the rest of How to Prepare for Disaster Without Going Broke at Moolanomy.com. Copyright 2007-2012 Moolanomy.com. All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.

  • 5 Tips to Help You Save More and Get Rich Quicker

    Matthew Malone
    8 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Let’s face it: We all waste money. Sometimes it’s that pair of jeans we don’t really need or that brand-name cereal that tastes just like the generic label that’s $2 cheaper. But with a small amount [...]Read the rest of 5 Tips to Help You Save More and Get Rich Quicker at Moolanomy.com. Copyright 2007-2012 Moolanomy.com. All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.

  • 3 Financial Implications to Consider for Stay at Home Parent

    Miranda Marquit
    7 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Many people will tell you that being a parent is rewarding and interesting work. Indeed, many people insist that, even though having children is difficult, it also offers a great deal of fulfillment. However, it’s important [...]Read the rest of 3 Financial Implications to Consider for Stay at Home Parent at Moolanomy.com. Copyright 2007-2012 Moolanomy.com. All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.

  • 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Finances

    Elizabeth Carraro
    6 May 2012 | 3:09 pm
    With taxes out of the way, it’s time to prepare for some summer fun. But like your house, your finances will be much more manageable when you take the time to spruce things up this spring. [...]Read the rest of 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Finances at Moolanomy.com. Copyright 2007-2012 Moolanomy.com. All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.

  • How to Become a Financial Planner and Why

    Pinyo
    3 May 2012 | 10:09 pm
    Financial planners enjoy a unique level of professional freedom, since they are able to effectively customize their practice based on the types of services and financial products they wish to offer, the type of clients they [...]Read the rest of How to Become a Financial Planner and Why at Moolanomy.com. Copyright 2007-2012 Moolanomy.com. All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.
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    Hustler Money Blog

  • Discover Miles Card Review- Earn 20,000 Bonus Miles worth $200!

    Hu$tler
    15 May 2012 | 2:19 am
    If you’re looking for a no annual fee credit card that rewards you for spending on traveling and dining, look no further than the Miles by Discover® Card , which is currently offering 20,000 Bonus Miles for new cardmembers(Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles with every $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months).  You’ll get 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months. There is absolutely no annual fee with the Miles by Discover. Allowing you to earn 1X mile for every dollar spent, this card offers no limit to the number of miles you can earn. Best of all, the Discover Miles gives…

  • My Banking Direct Review – 1.15% APY Rate

    Hu$tler
    14 May 2012 | 10:17 pm
    My Banking Direct is offering a 1.15% APY rate on its money market account for balances of at least $5,000. A division of New York Community Bank, MyBankingDirect offers a promotional 1.15% APY for balances between $10K and $150K. The free online banking has no monthly service charges, free bill pay, and free ATM card. As with all Money Market Account, you’re limited to 6 of these withdrawals per month. Pros: High interest rate on MMA’s Easy to open an account Free Bill Pay Cons: Must request login information for their website There’s a $5 monthly fee to link to outside…

  • Business Green Rewards Card from American Express Review – 5,000 Bonus Membership Reward Points

    Hu$tler
    14 May 2012 | 6:48 pm
    The Business Green Rewards Card from American Express is offering 5,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after you make your first purchase. It is a charge card, which must be paid in full each month, hence there is no pre-set spending limit or finance charges. With the purchasing power that evolves with your business, you can cover more expenses while earning points that you can use to reinvest in your business. Card members are enrolled in Membership Rewards with points that can use to pay for travel, business expenses, Amazon.com purchases, and more. There is also a $0 introductory annual…

  • Best Bank Rates Nationwide, May 2012

    Hu$tler
    14 May 2012 | 3:02 am
    The following savings accounts are available to everyone. Make sure to read their terms and conditions in order to get the high rate. Find the best bank rate available nationwide! Bank or Credit UnionAPYTermsHard InquiryReview TIAA Direct1.25%$25 min to openYesReview MyBankingDirect1.15%$5000 min to openYesReview FlagStar1.15%4 month guaranteedYesReview EverBank1.05%6 month guaranteedYesReview Acacia Federal1.00%direct deposit or 3 billpaysYesReview Salem Five Direct1.00%Guaranteed til AugustYesReview Barclays1.00%$0 min to openYesReview Alliant CU Savings0.95%Join local PTA to…

  • Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Card 40,000 Bonus Miles & Loaded Benefits

    Hu$tler
    13 May 2012 | 1:47 am
    United merger with Continental has announced a vastly improved Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Card with loaded benefits + up to 40,000 bonus miles. The new Chase United MileagePlus Explorer card is much better than its predecessor with bag check fees waivers for all cardmembers + one guest. You get priority boarding in which cardmembers and companions can board immediately after first-class and elite travelers. Another extra perk with the Chase United MileagePlus Explore includes free access to the United Club – a $100 value. Some other improvements with their frequent flier redemption…
 
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    American Consumer News

  • Party Planning on a Budget

    Debbie
    20 Apr 2012 | 1:32 pm
    Being on a budget is no reason to sacrifice fun or creativity. In fact, some of the best party plans are the result of the need to pinch a few pennies. Here are few ideas to help jumpstart your own creative process. What’s In a Theme? Setting a theme for the night instantly makes it more festive! If you have a large group, a taco night can be a cost effective alternative without sacrificing delicious food. Beans and rice will help fill up your crowd while also providing a tasty vegetarian option. Throw a “Fire and Ice” party and ask all female guests to wear something red while male…

  • Summer Fun on a Budget

    Debbie
    19 Apr 2012 | 9:11 pm
    If a full summer vacation is out of reach financially this year, don’t rule out all types of summer entertainment.  There are still many things you can do during the warm summer months to have fun and feel like you are enjoying a vacation or break from the typical routine while still keeping to your budget.  Here are some ideas for summer fun on a budget to get you started, what can you come up with? Camp Out – there’s nothing stopping you from pitching a tent in your backyard or sleeping in your camper even if you can’t take an official trip this year.  Have a small campfire,…

  • Finished Your Taxes? It’s Time to Prepare for Next Year

    Debbie
    18 Apr 2012 | 8:38 pm
    The 2011 tax season has officially come to an end, but before you shove everything into a fire safe box or a box at the bottom of your closet – it’s time to prepare for next year’s taxes.  You probably just want to put the finances behind you and breathe a sigh of relief that it’s over for another year – but you can take small steps now to make future tax years easier and less stressful. Set Up a Simple Filing System Having just finished your taxes, you probably have a good idea what kind of receipts and paperwork you needed to gather in order to finish filing.  Instead of waiting…

  • How to Save on a Family Movie Theater Excursion

    Debbie
    18 Apr 2012 | 10:20 am
    Taking the family out to the movie theater is no longer an affordable activity the whole family can enjoy. The cost of movie tickets is high and the concession costs are even higher. It can be costly experience even for a family of four once you factor in food and drinks for everyone in addition to the admission fee for the movie. You can easily rack up $100 worth of expenses for a two hour night out on the town. Here are some ways you can cut costs at the theater and still treat your entire family with a flick: Go for the Matinees If you have several theaters in your area, scan the newspaper…

  • Yes You Can Save on Organic Products

    Debbie
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:17 am
    With an increased focused on better health, many consumers want to do the right thing and choose better products and foods to feed their family. However, many complain that the cost of buying organic foods exceeds the cost of regular processed foods and they feel there is no way to start eating better, safer foods. It is important to first know what organic means. Organic relates to how the food is grown and involves the farming methods used. Crops must be grown without certain pesticides, man-made fertilizers, sludge, and other elements to be labeled organic. Livestock raised for food must…
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    Personal Finance, Investing, & Career | Cash Money Life

  • Resume Fraud – Never A Good Idea

    Ryan Guina
    16 May 2012 | 5:07 am
    This article was originally published on Personal Finance, Investing, & Career | Cash Money Life at Resume Fraud – Never A Good Idea.Yahoo recently announced they would fire their CEO four months into his tenure after it was revealed that his resume had some “inconsistencies” with his academic credentials. If you haven’t read the stories, his bio at Yahoo lists his undergrad degrees as Accounting and Computer Science, but he only has an Accounting degree. There are a few varying stories regarding whether or not Scott Thompson submitted a falsified resume to Yahoo.

  • Why I’m Not Buying FaceBook Stock

    Ryan Guina
    15 May 2012 | 4:44 am
    This article was originally published on Personal Finance, Investing, & Career | Cash Money Life at Why I’m Not Buying FaceBook Stock.FaceBook will soon launch their IPO and shares of the company will soon be available to the general public and institutional investors (the IPO is scheduled for Friday May 18th). But I don’t count myself as one of those who will be lining up at the opening bell to purchase stock in FaceBook. Why? Well, there are a lot of reasons, but perhaps Warren Buffet said it best: “The idea that something coming out…that’s being offered…

  • 5 Tips for Hiring a General Contractor

    Miranda Marquit
    14 May 2012 | 5:13 am
    This article was originally published on Personal Finance, Investing, & Career | Cash Money Life at 5 Tips for Hiring a General Contractor.Whether you are building, remodeling, or just doing a few home improvements, it can help to hire a general contractor. There are those who point out that you can be your own general contractor, and this is true. However, if you don’t have the time, skills, or the inclination to be your own general contractor, it is always possible to hire someone. A general contractor can simplify the process. You hire the contractor, and he or she hires everyone…

  • CitiBusiness ThankYou Card Review and $150 Sign Up Bonus

    Ryan Guina
    11 May 2012 | 5:45 am
    This article was originally published on Personal Finance, Investing, & Career | Cash Money Life at CitiBusiness ThankYou Card Review and $150 Sign Up Bonus. If you are a small business owner, chances are good that you will need a credit card at some point. As a small business owner, I use my business credit card for at least half my purchases, primarily because many of them are made online or where it is inconvenient to use a business check. Aside from the normal consumer protections credit card provide, many of them also offer a solid rewards program, which makes using them a good idea…

  • How to Find Balance With Your Savings Goals

    Ryan Guina
    10 May 2012 | 4:14 am
    This article was originally published on Personal Finance, Investing, & Career | Cash Money Life at How to Find Balance With Your Savings Goals.One of the most effective ways to save money is by creating savings goals. This gives you a defined reason why you are saving for something, instead of just throwing money into a pot and pulling it out whenever you “want something.” If you want to take it a step further, you can create a sinking fund, or a unique subaccount for your savings goal. This is easy to do at many online banks, including ING Direct and Ally Bank. Sub accounts…
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    Grad Money Matters

  • The Ultimate Guide to Writing, Promoting, and Selling an eBook

    Sam Baker
    27 Apr 2012 | 10:49 pm
    Have you always wanted to see your name in print? Are you an entrepreneur with a missionary bent? So full of ideas that your blog is no longer the best medium to share them? Or do you simply want to make your affiliate marketing sites more profitable? No matter what your reason for wanting to write an eBook, this article will provide all the information you need to set you on your way. It’s written with the non-fiction entrepreneur in mind; however, the basics will apply to any novice writer, whatever the market. Write Writing is communication. To succeed, you need to reach your audience on…

  • How to Successfully Find Clients Through oDesk, Elance and Similar Websites

    Sam Baker
    7 Apr 2012 | 11:50 pm
    Websites offering online work opportunities have expanded significantly over the last two years. The growth of websites offering freelance job opportunities such as oDesk, Elance, and Freelancer, demonstrates that contractors have an appetite for sourcing work online. Some commentators see the demand for online freelance work as a sign of the current economic situation, with redundant workers seeking alternative work because regular job opportunities are shrinking. However, supporters of online freelance websites view their growth as a positive response to changing attitudes to work. Pros and…

  • How to Import: A Guide for eBay Sellers

    Guest Author
    12 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    [Last week I published a guest post about importing from China. That article seemed to have got some of the readers dabbling in eBay excited about a new option they have not explored before for cutting through the competition. I had several mails asking me about some of the basics of getting started. Since the guest author, Alice, is an expert on this topic, I asked her if she could help us with a more basic How-To guide. And she was kind enough to oblige. I hope this will come in handy for some of you.] I recently wrote a post about The 6 Essential tips for importing from China. Not…

  • Importing from China to Sell on eBay: 6 Essential Tips for Successful Importing

    Guest Author
    5 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    If you are interested in making money on eBay, you might be aware of the fact that some sellers find that competition on the eBay marketplace a little intense. For many items such as electronic gadgets like mobile phones and mp3 players, it’s pretty much impossible for a new seller to make sales. This is because you are going head-to-head with long-term sellers with big budgets (they often make wholesale orders of over $20,000 -$30,000 at a time) which is difficult to compete with. However, there are still a lot of unsaturated markets on eBay and therefore, there are still plenty of…

  • From Financial Advisor to Financial Comparison Site Owner: How To Quit Your Job and Support a Dream Lifestyle

    Guest Author
    29 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am
    This is the story of how I went from being a bored financial advisor to owning a financial comparison website that lets me travel the world on the profits. I’m usually not comfortable telling people how to make money online but I wanted to share my story because if I can do it then you can do it.  I’ll also give you some tips on what NOT to do when starting a niche site like this.  If you avoid the mistakes I’ve made then you’ll save yourself a lot of wasted time and energy, and you’ll probably start making money a lot more quickly too. My story I am a qualified independent…
 
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    brip blap

  • frugality or decluttering, or both

    Steve
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Some people don’t care for the word “frugal.” their opinion is that it combines the virtues of being resourceful, buying quality items to avoid replacing them, and saving on unnecessary purchases with the vices of a poverty mindset and denying yourself too much in the present for a future that may or may not occur.  I don’t have much trouble with the word, but considering I’ve just watched a large amount of the money I’ve saved over the years disappear into thin air during the recent market contortions, being frugal in order to save for the future is much…

  • 20 ways to outlive 106 billion people

    Steve
    8 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Copyright © 2011 brip blap. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact us at bripblap.com so we can take legal action immediately.

  • recent carnivals catch-up…

    Steve
    7 May 2012 | 6:59 pm
    I’ve been included in quite a few recent carnivals, so I wanted to give a quick mention for all of them:   Best of Money Carnival #153 hosted by Prairie Eco Thrifter Financial Carnival for Young Adults #10 hosted by 20’s Finances Carnival of Money Pros hosted by Money Cone Carnival of Financial Camaraderie #31 hosted by 101 Centavos Carnival of Retirement #16 hosted by Broke Professionals Carnival of Money Pros hosted by My Journey to Millions Totally Money Carnival #64 hosted by My Personal Finance Journey   It’s always great to be included in carnivals, and you’re probably…

  • stability and desperation

    Steve
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:53 am
    The same people who crave stability and the idea of “never being without a paycheck” are often in the most unstable positions – they just don’t realize it. They are so dependent on the next paycheck that they can’t begin to imagine even two or three weeks without a paycheck. There are other people who never anticipate a paycheck – they are always working on freelance gigs or alternative income. I’m somewhere in-between; I welcome the chance to work on my alternative income streams when my paychecks from clients run low. For me it’s a challenge,…

  • 7 things you don’t want to skimp on

    Steve
    24 Apr 2012 | 8:21 pm
    You don’t always want to save as much as you possibly can on everything. I can think of at least a few examples where spending the least amount possible is not always a great idea. 1. Education. I am a huge proponent of public education for two reasons: 1, the involvement with your community, both for parent and child, is going to happen somewhere – there is no sense in insulating yourselves from it; 2, you’ve already paid for it (through taxes). That having been said, education – particularly college, but also secondary and elementary – is not a good candidate…
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    Think Your Way to Wealth

  • I Bond Rate for May 2012 through October 2012- 2.20 %

    RC
    15 May 2012 | 10:36 am
    May  2012- I Bond Earnings Rate 2.20 %, Fixed Rate 0.0 % I bond rates were lowered again for the 6 month period of May 2012 to November 2012, which is reflected in the 6 month offering period for I bonds, with a semi-annual inflation rate of 1.10%, and an overall return of 2.20% for the next  6 months.  This is a decrease from the previous 6 month period which had a total return of 3.06%. The fixed rate component, which is added to the inflation rate, is again 0.0%. (The fixed rate portion has remained at 0% since November 2012. I bonds must be held for at least 1 year. But if you buy them…

  • ING DIRECT Black Friday Sale 2011- $107 Bonus plus More!

    RC
    25 Nov 2011 | 9:55 am
    As usual, ING DIRECT has some great deals for Black Friday with free money offers for you! Here are the details on the three great deals: $107 Electric Orange account opening bonus Open Electric Orange November 25th – 27th and make a total of 5 purchases (either signature or PIN-based) using your Electric Orange Card or Person2Person Payments (or any combination of the two) within 45 days. Your $107 bonus will be automatically deposited into your account on day 50. Bonus only available for new Electric Orange checking. Only one bonus will be provided per household. $27 Kids Savings…

  • Obama Proposes Changes to Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)- Will It Help?

    RC
    25 Oct 2011 | 12:22 pm
    The federal government announced changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) on Monday, hoping to allow more homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages to qualify for the program, and by re-financing and potentially reducing their monthly payments, making it easier for them to make their payments and assisting with possible cash flow problems. The program, originally started in 2009, was supposed to help upwards of 5 to 10 million homeowners who are upside down on their mortgages refinance and take advantage of lower interest rates that are being offered for mortgages these…

  • Groupon $20 for $40 at the Body Shop

    RC
    24 Oct 2011 | 2:35 pm
    Groupon, the local and national deal site, is having another $20 for $40 at the Body Shop physical store locations. They ran this deal back in April, and it was great for Mother’s Day, so grab it again to get a head start and save 50% on some of your Christmas shopping-now is a great time to start. This offer expires at midnight, tomorrow, 10/25/11, so be sure to grab it before then in order to take advantage of the offer. If you haven’t signed up with Groupon, sign up 1st using my Groupon referral link and I’ll get a few Groupon bucks- you can refer your own friends for…

  • 2012 Social Security Benefits Increase to be 3.6%

    RC
    19 Oct 2011 | 12:21 pm
    The government announced this morning that social security recipients, who number approximately 55 million Americans, will get a 3.6% cost of living adjustment, or COLA, starting in January 2012. 8 million Americans who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive a 3.6% increase as well. This will be the first COLA since 2009, when the increase was a rather large 5.8%.  There were no increases in the COLA for 2009 and 2010, since the measured inflation rate during the weakened economy was too low to bring it above the rate measured in 2008 which was used for the 2009 increase. …
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    The Wisdom Journal

  • Retirement 101: Traditional IRAs vs. Roth IRAs

    Ron
    16 May 2012 | 8:20 am
    Though Roth IRAs permit tax-free growth and withdrawals, they’re not necessarily the best choice for everyone. To help decide between any tax-deductible and tax-deferred plan, such as a Traditional IRA and its tax-free Roth version, consider your current tax bracket and your expected tax bracket at the time you plan to withdraw the funds: If you expect your tax bracket at withdrawal to be roughly the same as, or higher than, your current tax rate, you should probably choose the Roth version of the plan. If you expect your tax bracket at withdrawal to be significantly lower than your current…

  • Retirement 101: Roth IRAs

    Ron
    15 May 2012 | 9:01 am
    Roth IRAs are one of the greatest wealth vehicles that has been made available to the average person in decades. By using after tax dollars to make your contributions, your growth and earnings are not taxed when you withdraw them after age 59 1/2! Roth IRAs are similar to traditional IRAs, but with three major differences: All Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars. Investments in Roth IRAs grow tax-free and are not subject to tax upon withdrawal. Since Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars, they don’t qualify for tax deductions. Roth and Traditional IRAs…

  • Retirement 101: Traditional IRAs

    Ron
    14 May 2012 | 8:32 am
    Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts, called Traditional IRAs (or often just IRAs for short), are retirement plans that you can set up on your own, whether or not you participate in other, employer-sponsored retirement accounts. How Traditional IRAs Work Unlike 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s, traditional IRAs are retirement accounts that you set up directly with a bank, a financial services firm, or an online brokerage. Even though you’re not tied to an employer with IRAs, they do have various contribution limits based on your annual income. Here’s a quick breakdown of how they work:…

  • Why I Bought Life Insurance On My Kids

    Ron
    11 May 2012 | 8:35 am
    One of the biggest myths surrounding the purchase of life insurance is that you’re only insuring income. Nothing could be farther from the truth, just ask anyone who’s lost a loved one and had to get back to work the day after the funeral. I have a friend who lost his young son in a tragic accident. His medical insurance had a very high $2,500 deductible with a family maximum cost of $15,000. Those numbers were quickly surpassed prior to his son passing away at the hospital. The Life Flight helicopter alone was over $8,000 but his medical insurance only paid $250 (a common standard). His…

  • Retirement 101: 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans and how they differ from 401(k)s

    Ron
    10 May 2012 | 8:06 am
    403(b) plans are similar to 401(k) plans but are reserved for employees of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, such as public schools, hospitals, foundations, charities, and churches and other religious organizations. Like 401(k)s, 403(b)s allow you to set up tax-deferred accounts and invest in mutual funds, stocks, bonds and various other investments. 403(b)s vs. 401(k)s There are two major differences between 403(b) plans and 401(k) plans: Company match: 401(k) plans offer company-matching contributions much more often than 403(b) plans do. Company management: Companies that offer 403(b)…
 
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    Everybody Loves Your Money

  • Young People Don’t Have it Very Easy These Days

    admin
    9 May 2012 | 10:25 pm
    Rob Carrick with the Globe and Mail wrote an interesting article comparing what it was like to be a young person in 1984 versus what it’s like to be a young person in 2012.  It was a great article and really makes you think, especially about the cost of getting an education.  The reality is that he could have thrown in health care (if this was about the United States) and it would have been even more significant. Go check out the article and then peruse the comments.  As of this writing there were 913 comments on his article. And when you’re done with that, go check out…

  • Number One Tip for Personal Finance in Your Forties

    admin
    1 May 2012 | 9:12 pm
    I turned 40 last year and, while the milestone was a little hard to swallow, I think I’m finally finding my “40’s groove”.  It’s amazing how fast life happens.  It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in a college dorm room with only a few dollars in my checking account thinking about whether I had enough for a takeout pizza and a six pack of cheap beer.  Since those days I’ve seen my life evolve to a good place.  I’m happily married (14 years tomorrow), I have a beautiful, healthy, happy 8 year old daughter and I’m employed.  I’ve also arrived at that point in life…

  • Health Insurance in the US Needs HELP!

    admin
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:38 am
    If you read JD’s account of how he struggled to get health insurance, and don’t walk away thinking there is something horribly wrong with our health insurance system in the US, I would be very surprised.  It shouldn’t be this way.  It HAS to be fixed! http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/04/30/hunting-for-health-insurance/ Health Insurance in the US Needs HELP! is a post from: Everybody Loves Your Money

  • Looks Like I’ll Be Tracking the Cost of Owning a Hamster

    admin
    24 Apr 2012 | 7:30 am
    I suppose it was going to happen sooner or later.  We finally have an actual pet at our house.  Yes, we now have a HAMSTER living in our home.  It’s been a solid week now and, so far, the Hamster has only escaped once.  While this doesn’t seem like much of an event for most of you reading this, it is a really big deal for us.  My nickname amongst all my friends is “Bubble Boy” because I’m pretty much allergic to the earth and everything on it.  Animals, of any size, top the list of things I need to keep out of my bubble, so it was with a lot of…

  • Should You Buy the Rental Car Insurance?

    admin
    19 Apr 2012 | 7:08 am
    As I posted about previously, we recently returned from vacation in Southern California.  As part of our vacation package, we opted to get a rental car while we were there.  Rental cars can be pretty reasonably priced but it’s always shocking to me how different the prices are from one company to another.  We ended up renting a car from Avis for a total of 9 days for about $220 (I have absolutely no loyalty to rental car companies.  I shop by price).  For $24 a day, we figured that it would be worth having the convenience of a car so that we could explore a few…
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    CreditCards.com

  • Facebook IPO blog gets Mother's Day nod

    Connie Prater
    14 May 2012 | 9:48 am
    My blog about hoping to get in on the upcoming initial public offering (IPO) of Facebook stock was selected for the 361st edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance.Hosted by One Cent at a Time, the carnival had a Mother's Day theme.Blog carnivals are collections of blogs about certain topics, such as personal finance. Each week, a different blog acts as host and selects the best of the blogs submitted to showcase in the carnival.The Facebook IPO blog recounts my quest to be one of the "small" -- emphasis on small here (think tiny) -- investors eTrade is allowing to bid on IPO shares of the…

  • When it comes to marriage, how much debt is too much?

    Kelly Dilworth
    11 May 2012 | 11:53 am
    Would you call off your wedding if you just found out your partner was deeply in debt? How about if he missed a couple of credit card payments and now has a black mark on his credit report?It's an uncomfortable question, and the answer you get depends on the person you ask -- and the depth of the financial damage, according to a recent study by TD Ameritrade. According to the study: Women are a lot less forgiving than men when it comes to major financial problems, such as bankruptcy and foreclosure. Asked if bankruptcy would cause them to call off or postpone their wedding, 42 percent of…

  • Mom's financial advice sticks for many of us

    Connie Prater
    11 May 2012 | 11:20 am
    What do you remember about what your mom told you about managing your money?If you're lucky, you had a money-wise mom who taught you the importance of saving something for a rainy day or a nest egg. Not everyone was blessed with such mentoring -- from either parent. If that were the case and the advice stuck, we would all be like Warren Buffett, the billionaire investment guru. Mom's most memorable wordsA survey published this week in time for Mother's Day found that the most popular of mom's words of wisdom remembered over the years were: "Money doesn't grow on trees." Surely, many of us…

  • Emily's list: Mother's Day edition

    Emily Starbuck Crone
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    I love my mom for many reasons. Just one reason is because she raised me to be so responsible, especially when it comes to my finances. She showed me the importance of savings and having an emergency fund. She uses her credit card only when necessary and pays it off in a timely manner. She meets with a financial planner whenever she undergoes major life changes. My elementary school did a banking program through Bank United for kids to help teach money basics at a young age. I remember my mom going with me and enrolling me with a small starting amount. She and my dad started giving me an…

  • I want a piece of the Facebook IPO, but I'm just a small potato

    Connie Prater
    8 May 2012 | 11:46 am
    Call me crazy, call me a "sucker," but don't call me too late for the Facebook initial public offering (IPO).Full disclosure: I'm one of the half billion daily active Facebook users. I was excited when I heard that Facebook Inc. was finally setting an estimated price range (of $28 to $35 a share) for the IPO on its stock. This is the most anticipated stock offering in years. I want a piece of it -- even if it's only a single share.But, as many people know, IPOs are almost always the realm of high-volume, high-roller institutional investors. The folks who walk away with money in the deal are…
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    Born To Sell Covered Call Blog

  • Weekly Apple (AAPL) Trade For May 14, 2012

    14 May 2012 | 9:01 am
    Based on the success of last week's weekly trade and the fact that Apple and the market are down this morning on European fears, we're going to propose another Apple trade idea. This is a 5 day covered call trade using the May 19 expiration. Annualized Return Of 19% to 38% There are several in the money strikes offering an annualized return of 19% or higher right now. To make one of these weekly trades, you would buy AAPL today and then sell a call option that expires this Friday, with the hope of having your stock called away. Buy AAPL at 563.50 and then sell one of these: Strike Call Bid…

  • Early Exercise Of Call Options

    13 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Early exercise for a call option is when an option holder exercises his purchase right prior to the option's expiration date. Normally an option holder would not do this; he would just wait until expiration day and then decide if he wants to exercise or not. However, there are some cases where taking early exercise is the optimal decision. The Call Option Buyer's Rights Buying a call option means the purchaser has the right, but not the obligation, to buy 100 shares of stock at the strike price any time between today and when the option expires. The buyer does not need to give a reason for…

  • Weekly Apple (AAPL) Trade For May 8, 2012

    8 May 2012 | 11:01 am
    Apple is down 1.5% this morning along with the broader market based on European concerns. This presents a good opportunity for a 4 day covered call trade using the weekly May expiration this Friday. We did this before and it worked out well. Annualized Return Of 25% Or Higher There are several in the money strikes offering an annualized return of 25% or higher right now. To make one of these weekly trades, you would buy AAPL today and then sell a call option that expires this Friday, with the hope of having your stock called away. Buy AAPL at 559.19 and then sell one of these: Strike Call Bid…

  • Sell (Call Options) In May And Go Away

    7 May 2012 | 4:02 pm
    The expression Sell In May And Go Away has its roots in the historical returns for the summer months, which have lower average monthly return than the rest of the year. This chart from Bloomberg illustrates the pattern over a 23 year span: While May itself isn't so bad, it's the 4 months that follow it that people are freaked out about (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep). So what is a covered call writer to do? Sell Call Options In May That Expire In Late Summer One way to go about it is to sell in-the-money call options against your positions with an expiration date sometime in the summer. That way if the…

  • High Frequency Trading

    30 Apr 2012 | 11:02 am
    High-frequency trading (HFT) accounts for around 3/4ths of all daily trading volume. These firms' average holding time is often less than a second. They submit thousands of bids and then cancel the vast majority of them before they are executed. Although HTFs compete mostly with other HFTs, their presence in the market affects all of us, and not necessarily for the better (remember the flash crash?). Declining HFT Profits, But Still A Lot Of Nickels In 2011, HFTs' US profits are estimated at $1.5 billion, which is down considerably from their 2008 take of $4.5 billion. Sniffle. A large part…
 
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    Money Smarts Blog

  • Should You Sell Your House And Avoid The Market Crash?

    Mike Holman
    15 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    Rob Carrick wrote about a Vancouver couple who sold their house recently with the idea that they would rent for a while and then buy back into the real estate market after the coming crash. I know a couple who did this same move in Toronto.  They might make out like bandits in the end, [...]

  • How To Win A House Bidding War

    Mike Holman
    1 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    There are some hot real estate markets in Canada, namely Toronto and Vancouver.  One of the results of a hot market is a tendency for sellers to underprice their houses in order to create a bidding war.  This benefits the seller because it speeds up the selling process and they might get an above-market sale [...]

  • LinkStuff – Model Train Show Edition

    Mike Holman
    23 Mar 2012 | 4:00 am
    Recently, I took my family to the Model Railroad Club of Toronto show.  If you ever get a chance to attend this show or something similar in your city, I strongly urge you to do so. I’m not really into model trains myself, but the club has been working on their display since 1938 and it [...]

  • How To Find A Lost Locked-In Retirement Account

    Mike Holman
    20 Mar 2012 | 4:00 am
    I received a very interesting email from Sandra recently [edited for privacy and to combine several emails] who is trying to locate a locked-in retirement account from 20 years ago: Hi Mike…How can I find a lost vested pension when I don’t know who the RRSP account was with? I worked at Company A until [...]

  • LinkStuff – Valentine’s Day Edition

    Mike Holman
    17 Feb 2012 | 4:00 am
    In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would share this true love story: My daughter (age 3) tells me every day: “Daddy, I love you.  I don’t love you as much as I love Mommy, but I still love you a lot”.  I’m thinking an appropriate response might be “Honey, I love you.  [...]
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    One Frugal Girl

  • Selling One Thing to Buy Another

    One Frugal Girl
    15 May 2012 | 9:22 pm
    I celebrated my first mother’s day this weekend. My husband, son and I went out for a long walk around the lake, attempted to make handprints and planted a beautiful tree in our front yard. Just spending time with the family was the greatest gift, but it turns out my little man had a gift all his own to give me. While playing on the couch between my husband and I my six month old son pulled himself into a standing position. I looked at my husband and my husband looked at me. We were both in disbelief and plopped him back down into sitting position to see if he could do it again. Sure…

  • Ideas for My First Mother’s Day

    One Frugal Girl
    11 May 2012 | 9:57 pm
    Last week I asked my readers for suggestions on how to spend my first mother’s day. I was so happy and inspired by the comments that I thought I’d provide a summary here. I can’t thank my readers enough for all of their wonderful ideas! Without further ado here are a few of my reader’s suggestions: Plant a tree with your child. You can watch it grow over the years and take photographs every year of your child in front of it. (I LOVE this idea and plan to pick one that flowers on Sunday.) Mother/Baby photo shoot. (I’ve asked my husband to take some photos of my…

  • Cleaning Out the Fridge Never Felt So Good

    One Frugal Girl
    9 May 2012 | 8:47 pm
    This month I’ve vowed to waste less food. Well, truth be told I vow this every month, but this time I’m taking the vow more seriously. We have two refrigerators and a freezer in my home and with so many appliances around it’s tough to keep track of all the ingredients that might spoil. So one afternoon while Baby A was sleeping I rummaged through the fridge, checked expiration dates and sorted through the fruit and veggie bins. I found a plethora of foods in need of consumption. Among the list were cream, milk, carrots, onions, potatoes, yogurt and tomatoes. I turned to the…

  • I Found a Use for that PayPal Money

    One Frugal Girl
    8 May 2012 | 9:02 pm
    Last week I blogged about the $4,000 I racked up in my PayPal account. I decided to transfer the money to a real bank account because it wasn’t earning interest and as Little Miss Moneybags pointed out the folks at PayPal can freeze your account at any time. It took years of selling unwanted stuff and earning advertising revenue to reach that $4,000 number and I’m pretty proud of the final total. It just goes to show that pennies really can add up. I wanted to do something special with the money but I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. First I transferred the money out of…

  • It’s Definitely Meant to Be

    One Frugal Girl
    7 May 2012 | 9:23 pm
    If you read this blog you know that I struggled with the decision to stay-at-home with my son or return to work as a software developer. After months of weighing my options I decided I wasn’t ready to return to the working world quite yet. My journey to become a stay-at-home mom is an interesting one. After working in the same department for over 11 years I decided to interview for a new job that was closer to home. I wasn’t ready to leave my company, but I wanted to look for a new opportunity that would cut my commute in half. I interviewed for that position on Valentine’s…
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    My Dollar Plan

  • 11 Free Travel Apps to Save Money

    Kristen
    16 May 2012 | 8:29 am
    Travel can be pricey, but if you’re willing to look for the good deals, the savings can add up to an affordable vacation. Lucky for us, Travel Apps make it that much easier to not break the bank during travel. Here’s a list of my favorite totally free travel apps for android and why should download them before your next trip. Save money on travel by downloading free apps. source: Das Telefonbuch Free Travel Apps GasBuddy. Ideal for road trips, this app lists all the gas stations near you, the current price per gallon, and directs you how to get there. With gas prices soaring, you can’t…

  • Should I Convert My Retirement Plan into a Roth?

    Nick
    15 May 2012 | 8:29 am
    Ok, fellow readers, I’ve got a question for you. I think that Roth IRAs are the bomb, and my wife and I have had one ever since I learned about how cool they are. There is one problem with the Roth IRA though; that pesky $5,000 per year deposit limit. Employer Options At my work, however, we have a new option. I have a 457b plan (much like a 401k, but you can begin withdrawals when you stop working, rather than waiting until the magical age of 59 1/2). I chose this over the 401k because of the ability to withdraw, without tax penalty, your balance if you ever leave service. You…

  • Why I Have a 5 Year CD… That I Do Not Plan to Hold for 5 Years

    Adrienne
    14 May 2012 | 8:29 am
    I know many people are wary of CDs because they don’t want to tie up their money for long periods of time. It’s hard to want to commit to a long term CD especially when rates are so low. The general feeling is “rates have to go up eventually and then I’ll be stuck with a low rate!” While not all CD rates are currently worth it (for instance I’m not advocating using a CD when you’re getting a better rate on your on-line saving account) some are and it helps to do the math. For an example I’ll use actual rates and penalties that I chose when moving some money to a 5 year CD last…

  • Free Amazon Gift Cards from My Dollar Plan Rewards

    Madison
    11 May 2012 | 8:23 am
    I’m really excited to roll out our new My Dollar Plan rewards program! Rewarding our most loyal fans and readers is our way of saying thank you for all you do! Of course, since it’s Free Money Friday, we’re rolling out the loyalty program with free Amazon gift cards! How to Earn Amazon Gift Cards Sign up for the My Dollar Plan rewards program by clicking the Earn Points Now! banner below. Email readers will need to visit the article to sign up. Earn points for various activities at My Dollar Plan. Redeem your points for Amazon Gift cards. How to Earn Points Earning points is…

  • What is Inflation?

    Don
    10 May 2012 | 8:29 am
    You hear about inflation all of the time, yet many do not understand what it is or how it is measured. The definition of inflation is the rate at which the price level of goods and services rise. Historically, inflation has averaged around 4% per year. This means that something that costs $1.00 today will cost $1.04 next year and something that costs $100 today will cost $104 next year. If you were around back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s inflation spiked up to around 15%. If you were a saver, this was welcome news as interest rates on savings accounts were in the double digits,…
 
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    My Financial Journey

  • Retirement Nestegg Report – April 2012

    MFJ
    1 May 2012 | 8:34 am
    Well the good news is that my retirement nestegg grew again this month, the bad news is it was only because I contributed nearly $8,000 to my retirement accounts. That being said it felt good to max out my and my wife’s Roth IRAs again and give me some more cash to invest into the market. My performance overall and vs the SP500 was lacking this month, but that is to be expected on a short term period like a month. On another positive note I signed up a for a new service called SigFig which is a really cool service for tracking your investments and it makes me feel good because my…

  • Retirement Nestegg Report – March 2012

    MFJ
    31 Mar 2012 | 5:40 pm
    Another month of nice growth for my retirement nestegg report. My first monthly report north of $200k and I cleared that hurdle by a good margin. Performance on a whole trailed the market some as my 401k performance as usual trailed and my individual stock as usual bested the SP500. It may be time for me to think about just moving all of my 401k money into a standard index fund and just worry about beating the market with individual stocks. Another exciting fact is that I made my first contribution to a Roth IRA since 2008! We had put this off as we were saving for a house/land, but our house…

  • Comments Fixed

    MFJ
    1 Mar 2012 | 10:57 am
    Sorry to all of you that tried to leave me a comment in the last 8 months or so – just realized my spam plugin was blocking all comments – I just thought I turned unpopular Anyway you should be able to leave comments now. Sorry for the troubles. Copyright © 2012 My Financial Journey. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.(MFJ Digital Fingerprint)

  • Retirement Nestegg Report – February 2012

    MFJ
    1 Mar 2012 | 8:30 am
    Well I gave a little back in the last two days so I will have to wait before I have a retirement nestegg report over $200k. A good month for my retirement nestegg growth but a good chunk of that was due to an extra $5400 that my company deposited in my 401k as part of my matching funds. My performance actually trailed the SP500 slightly this month. One item that I am considering is restarting contributions to our Roth IRAs which I have not contributed to since 2008! Our house/land fund is getting sufficiently big and I think it is time to start increasing our retirement savings again and…

  • Interum Retirement Nestegg Report – I broke $200,000

    MFJ
    28 Feb 2012 | 1:06 pm
    Traditional Rollover IRA $17,604.34 My Roth IRA $52,623.89 Wife Roth IRA $25,600.70 Current Traditional 401k $104,658.75 Total Retirement Nest Egg $200,487.68 Fell kind of dorky doing this 2 days before the end of the month but wanted to celebrate a mini milestone the day after it happened. Just 28 months ago I wrote my post celebrating that I had broken 6 figures for the first time and as of yesterday I broke $200,000 for the first time. A couple things to point out. Just a little over three years ago the market was in turmoil and my retirement nestegg had dropped nearly in half. Everything…
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    MoneyCrush

  • You Need a Plan

    Jackie
    16 May 2012 | 8:44 am
    What’s your money doing for you right now? If you can’t answer that, or it’s not doing exactly what you want it to be doing, you need a plan. You see, if you don’t tell your money what to do, it will just sort of hop right into the pockets of others. And when you look back at what you did with the money you make, you won’t know. Your short- and long-term money plans You need a plan that covers both the short- and long-term. Short-term could be considered anything from what you intend to spend at the grocery store tonight, to how you’re going to pay your car…

  • How to Succeed As A Freelancer Without Even Trying

    Jackie
    14 May 2012 | 8:49 am
    Many people dream of becoming self-employed, but it’s nice to hear from people who have actually done it. This guest post from Anastasia Kingsley Kinkusic explains how she switched gears to be a SAHM and freelance writer and editor.  Here’s what she has to say: Does the idea of working on the internet, wearing slippers with the kids, dog, garden, and coffee pot sound appealing? I personally had my doubts – would I be able to work with all that activity around me?  Let me be the first to say that you can definitely organize work time around school schedules and make it happen.

  • How to Wrench Open the Door to Success

    Jackie
    11 May 2012 | 8:50 am
    Know what makes a person successful? It’s no real secret: they do. Let’s take someone who wants to be a model as an example. Sure, sometimes a model is “discovered” while walking down the streets of New York, but that’s the exception and not the rule. And even if they are discovered, they still have to do the work. It’s not like, bam, they’re rich, famous, and successful because they decided to step out for donuts one day. No, they have to show up for the hours of prep work. They have to smile on cue all day during the work itself. They have to make…

  • What Does “Invest in Yourself” Mean?

    Jackie
    9 May 2012 | 8:36 am
    You’ll hear it said that the best investment you can make isn’t in stocks or bonds. Instead, it’s in yourself. But have you thought about what it really means to invest in yourself? It’s not about the money Most people think that “invest on yourself” is really just another way of saying “spend money on a class” or “go back to school and get a degree”. It’s not about spending money or taking classes per se. Instead, it’s about taking a look at your life to see what areas you could be doing better in and/or at areas…

  • The Etsy Experiment: Month Four (Or, What Not to Do)

    Jackie
    7 May 2012 | 7:48 am
    About four months ago, I opened an Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jacquelinebeck to try to sell some of my oil paintings as an experiment. I’ve been tracking and reporting the results of the experiment here ever since, and will continue to do so for the first six months of this year. What I did in April The short answer to “What did you do for your Etsy store in April?” is “Not much.” And that’s definitely a what not do to. The longer answer is that I tried a couple of small things, but without really putting a lot of effort into it. I set up a…
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    Million Dollar Journey

  • Top 5 Smartphone Apps to Save Money

    Guest Blogger
    16 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    Smartphone usage in Canada has increased exponentially in recent years. According to a September 2011 report released by comScore, there are 20.1 million mobile phone subscribers in Canada, 8 million of which own a smartphone. With nearly 1 million apps available for iPhone and Android smartphones, there are apps for just about everything, including saving money. Let’s take a look at the top money-saving apps for frugal shoppers. 1.ShopCatch Website: http://www.shopcatch.com/ Free, Torstar Digital Phones: Android, BlackBerry, iPhone Searching flyers for the best deals can be a drag –…

  • Smith Manoeuvre Portfolio – May 2012

    FrugalTrader
    14 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    For those of you just joining us, below is my portfolio that is leveraged with money borrowed from my home equity line of credit (HELOC). As the money borrowed is used to invest, the interest charged is tax deductible. I write an update every so often to show new positions added along with any market gains/losses. For more details on the strategy and procedure, check out my modified smith manoeuvre strategy and my comparison of online stock brokers. It’s been almost half a year since the last update (Dec 2011) with a bit of activity in the leveraged portfolio.  We have added to a couple…

  • $500k for Retirement, Top Financial Products for Canadians and More!

    FrugalTrader
    11 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    Follow Us! For the recent new readers joining us from mainstream media, here are some ways that can follow Million Dollar Journey: Email - Get the latest blog posts delivered to your inbox. RSS – If you read blogs via RSS, add us to your list! Twitter - Daily posts are updated in my twitter feed. Facebook – Daily posts are updated in my facebook feed. Money Tips Newsletter – This is a newsletter that I started to provide subscribers with money tips separate from the content on this blog.  Give it a try, it’s free to join and easy to unsubscribe. Weekend Links Can a…

  • Are you Ready to be a Homeowner?

    Clark
    9 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    Most of us would probably buy at least one house during our lifetime. For some, buying a home is a dream; for some, it is a definition of their success in society; for some, it is simply a shelter where they don’t have to pay rent. No matter the justification, when a person starts to think about buying a home, it is prudent to conduct a self-evaluation to see if they are financially ready to get their feet wet in home ownership. This post looks at some of the key aspects that may be worth considering before taking the leap. Consumer debt If a person is riding the debt wave well by…

  • How to Get the Best Price on Car Rentals

    FrugalTrader
    7 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    With the summer right around the corner, we decided to plan a short vacation with the kids to visit friends and family.  This particular vacation involves a short flight, a relatively long drive (car rental)  for an infant and toddler (3.5 hrs), and a house rental for the week.  As I’m the “research to death” type person to get the best deal, I thought I would share a method of getting a good price on a car rental. When I started the search, I went directly car rental company websites and googled coupons.  While I found coupons helpful for reducing overall cost, it…
 
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    Bible Money Matters

  • How And Why To Check Your Credit Score If You Plan On Buying A House

    Peter Anderson
    16 May 2012 | 11:39 am
    My wife and I have pretty good credit. We’ve never missed a payment on any of our debts, have had a variety of credit types (installment loans, mortgages and credit cards) and the cards that we do still have, we’ve had for years. We’re not too concerned about having a good credit score these days because we don’t really use debt that much, we pay cash for most things.  There is one thing that we DO need a good credit score for, however, that may be happening within the next year or two. Buying a house. When buying a new home it is important to stay on top of your…

  • 7 Roth IRA Mistakes To Avoid

    Guest Poster
    15 May 2012 | 9:41 am
    When it comes to saving for your retirement, a Roth IRA offers you a simple and understandable vehicle for planning ahead. But while investing in your Roth IRA isn’t rocket science, investors from all walks of life tend to encounter the same potential pitfalls over and over. So make sure you know the rules of the game as well as the hidden dangers which threaten to throw a wrench in even the best laid retirement plan. Here are seven Roth IRA mistakes you need to avoid: 1) Not Making The Maximum Contribution (or Any At All) One of the worst mistakes you can make is to not make any…

  • Can You Afford Your Lifestyle?

    Melissa
    14 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    About six years ago, my husband and I had a fairly comfortable lifestyle.  I worked full-time and my husband worked part-time as a graduate assistant.  We had one child, and we had no credit card debt.  We did have my student loan debt from graduate school, though it was less than $10,000.  We budgeted and set aside money for yearly expenses such as home insurance and twice yearly expenses such as car insurance, as well as car repairs.  My employer automatically withdrew 8% of my salary and deposited it in a retirement account. Sounds good, right?  We thought so.  We thought we could…

  • 50 Ways To Make Money: Maximizing, Creating And Increasing Your Income

    Peter Anderson
    11 May 2012 | 12:28 pm
    A week or so ago I published a post called 50 Easy Ways To Save Money Every Month where I gave tips for how people can save money every month and improve their bottom line.  We gave tips on how to save on regular recurring bills, how to repair money leaks, and how to get creative to find other savings around the house. The idea is to have more left over to pay off debt, or if you don’t have any debt -  more left over for giving, saving and investing. While I think it’s important to find ways to save every month, I also think it’s important to make sure you maximize…

  • Should You Combine Finances After Marriage?

    John Frainee
    10 May 2012 | 8:33 am
    Are you engaged? Married? Wondering if you should combine your finances during marriage? What are the pros and cons of a combined financial plan? Let’s explore this topic and figure out why you should or should not combine your finances when you’re married. Two Arguments on Combining Finances After Marriage Everyone I’ve met with when talking about this topic has always been passionately on one side of the argument or the other. People a lot of different feelings when it comes to this debate, and I’m going to try and be as objective as possible and then propose the…
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    Canadian Personal Finance Blog

  • Video: TVO Agenda with GVO

    bigcajunman
    16 May 2012 | 4:27 am
    For those of you who might have missed it on Monday night, Gail Vaz-Oxlade did her impersonation of St. George and took on the Financial Dragons (i.e. Banks and the C.D. Howe institute), in a very entertaining battle, entitled “Deconstructing Personal Debt” on TVO’s show “Agenda”. The show seemed to pit Gail and Moshe Milevski against Phillip Cross of the C.D. Howe Institute and Derrick Burleton a VP at TD (apologies on the spellings) (from this point on, they will be known as “the suits”). Gail did a great deal of the battling, where the…

  • Take Advantage of the Rules When You Can

    bigcajunman
    15 May 2012 | 4:51 am
    Over the years I have learned a great deal about the importance of knowing the rules in life (not all the rules, and I am by no definition an expert). What kind of rules? Mostly rules in systems that directly affect me, like my health insurance(s), dental insurance, rules for banking, etc., etc.,. The first time, was figuring out that my Health Insurance with my employer (at the time) would actually pay for private testing for my children (to determine whether they were gifted and/or if they had learning disabilities). What looked to be a very expensive bill (well over $1500 at the time),…

  • More Working and Higher Unemployment in April (2012)

    bigcajunman
    14 May 2012 | 6:27 am
    Canada continues to add jobs, but also seems to be adding more folks looking for jobs as well in April according to Stats Canada. Another month where Canada has added more jobs (Full-time jobs, which is great), however, thanks to more folks out there looking unemployment is up as well. Employment increased by 58,000 in April, mostly in full-time work. This was the second consecutive month of notable gains after four months of little change. With more people searching for work, the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 7.3%. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment was up…

  • Happy Mother’s Day, Smokey Metros and Sunday’s Best

    bigcajunman
    13 May 2012 | 7:03 am
    To all my Matriarchal Readers and Mothers everywhere, Happy Mother’s Day! Hope you are enjoying your day, and if you are a Father, remember the argument “You are not my Mother”, is a dangerous game to play (speaking as someone who foolishly made that statement one Mother’s Day). As a Montrealer (who lives in Ottawa), I was appalled to see the Metro under attack (OK, with smoke bombs) and shutting down the system for 3 hours. I have no idea who is behind this, and who(m)ever is, I hope the book is thrown at them, but it remains to be seen who will claim responsibility.

  • Credit Cards, Cheques, and Random Thoughts

    bigcajunman
    11 May 2012 | 6:35 am
    I seemed fixated on credit cards and modes of payments this week, but with the RCMP shutting down a large (worldwide) credit card and debit card fraud ring, I guess I was spot on target for topics (I’ll have to thank Mrs. C8j for having her debit card cloned again). In Quebec, students continue to complain that they have the lowest tuition fees in Canada, and in fact are now asking that Post Secondary Education be free and available to all who wish to attend. Why does that sentence seem like something out of Alice in Wonderland? I wish Les Etudiant et Membres de CLASSE bonne chance,…
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    2million's Personal Finance Blog

  • When is a SmartPhone the Right Financial Decision?

    2million
    14 May 2012 | 7:50 am
    I last purchased a typical cell phone back in October 2008 with a 2 year contract when we returned from China. My old cell phone broke while we were on assignment in China and I needed something once we were back on the ground in US. I have been eligible for an upgrade for quiet some time, but have resisted getting a new phone that required a data plan. Like many, my head danced with the idea of being able to get so much more done while on the road and staying connected. I knew when I bit the bullet to get a basic cell phone years ago that I would never go back to going without one and I know…

  • April 2012 Net Worth Update (+$2,763)

    2million
    9 May 2012 | 10:01 pm
    Highlights for AprilWe like to take advantage of 0% APR balance transfers and other credit card offers for free money. We are actively looking at taking advantage of new credit card arbitrage opportunities. We received $1,000+ in rewards cash on 2 Chase Ink credit cards (one for my wife and 1 for myself) after we spent each spend $3,000 on each card in 3 months. We used Amazon Payments to maximize our credit card spend to qualify for these offers.Our properties are listed on our balance sheet based on their cost basis, not current market value. I believe real estate is too illiquid to list…

  • Best Kitchen Time Savings Technique

    2million
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:22 am
    I have found one very powerful time savings technique that has really paid off for us more than any other in terms of saving us time in the kitchen and still being about to eat really well with our busy schedules. We now will typically buy 5-10 pounds of a grill meat (typically chicken breasts or pork loin) when its on sale and then marinade/grill it all for a weekend meal and then continue to use the leftovers in quick and/or one skillet meals over the next several weeks. Its little extra work and really gives us more flexibility and time savings for dinners during the busy weekdays. For…

  • We Just Earned $1,000 For A Few Hours of Work

    2million
    23 Apr 2012 | 7:15 am
    My wife and I each recently cashed our $500+ cashback checks from Chase Sapphire for a total of just over $1,000 for opening 2 credit cards and just a few hours of work. In January my wife and I each applied for a Chase Sapphire Credit Card with 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards bonus points promotion after you spent $3,000 on the card in 3 months. Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth $0.01 per point for cash rewards so 50,000 points are worth $500. It easy to request a rewards check via their web site or you can apply the points to travel purchases for further bonuses, but these days we are opting…

  • Investment Performance March 2012 (+2.35%)

    2million
    18 Apr 2012 | 2:11 pm
    This is an ongoing monthly update on how our equity investments are performing. Please see this background on the investment tool I developed and how I am using it to track our performance against a benchmark to measure our progress or lack thereof. March Highlights: March's market gains weren't nearly as strong as the first two months of the year, but its hard to complain with nice growth. We posted a +2.35% increase in our portfolio compared to our VTI benchmark increase of +2.63%.I've now been tracking our monthly investment performance for over 3 years and recently posted an analysis of…
 
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    Wealth Creation Strategies | OnMoneyMaking

  • Can You Make Money From Pinterest?

    admin
    28 Apr 2012 | 6:49 pm
    Pinterest: if you haven’t heard of it you’ve been living under a rock. Or you simply don’t speak to anyone of the female persuasion. Pinterest is the fastest growing social sharing site on the web right now, and it has a distinct demographic: women. More so, women in the 20-40 range who love shopping, cooking, or anything visually appealing. Of course, as with any rising star, there are some who view it as an opportunity to latch on and make some money. So we’re here to answer the question: Can you really make money from Pinterest? Make Money with Pinterest Have you…

  • How to Blow Your Cash Quickly This Valentine’s Day

    admin
    10 Feb 2011 | 2:57 pm
    If you’re tired of being weighed down by heavy, money laden pockets then why not go extreme this Valentines day and really show your sweetie that you really care. Of course a simple five star restaurant won’t be enough so why not take things to new heights by splurging 40K on dinner? Not just any dinner either, for $40,000 (I’m not sure if tax and tip are included, so maybe bring a little extra for those) you can enjoy a meal at a table raised 180 feet off the ground. Also, the company offering this service (Dinner in the Sky) lets you bring a few (22) people, so those of…

  • Are Store Credit Cards Worthwhile?

    admin
    18 Dec 2010 | 8:26 pm
    Okay, so I’ve been holiday shopping and about a dozen or so times so far this festive season I’ve been greeted at the checkout by a cashier who wants to know A. If I have “insert store’s name here” credit card and  B. Would I like to sign up for one? Usually doing so results in an immediate benefit such as fifteen percent or so off my purchase that day. Of course, there are usually exclusions and so any big screen televisions or similar big ticket items that I’d like to buy would be exempt to such a large discount (but would probably be eligible for a…

  • Refinance Second Mortgage – Some Tips

    admin
    6 Mar 2010 | 1:09 pm
    Recently I had a discussion with a friend who was looking to refinance her second mortgage in order to get a lower interest rate and pay her home loans off faster. It’s something she had been putting off for quite some time due to lack of time and a busy work schedule. However now that she’s in the right frame of mind to take steps toward refinancing her second mortgage, it’s extremely important that she does her research in order to receive the mortgage that’s right for her. The truth is, one thing that can hold us back from growing our wealth is an abundance of debt…

  • 6 Sites to Make Money Online From Writing

    admin
    25 Jan 2010 | 3:44 pm
    Having been an online content producer for some time now, I’ve found myself lucky to stumble across what I consider some of the better sites for online writers. In most instances, before you begin work with an online content site, it’s a good idea to conduct your due diligence. Read some reviews by those who have used the site, look for reports of problems with payments or service, and consider testing the site with an article or two before committing any real work to it. Here are a few of the sites that I’ve had contact with and some of what I’ve learned and liked about each site. 1.
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    FIRE Finance

  • Interesting Investing Case Studies with Important Lessons

    14 May 2012 | 11:21 pm
    May 15, 2012: We found these interesting case studies related to investment portfolios of five families namely The Budds, The Zallas, The Ericksons, The Handel/Laports, and The Peters very informative. The article, "Fix Our Mix", was posted at CNN Money. From these case studies we can learn the following lessons: Clearing debts is the first step towards savings. Saving money for investments is Click on the post title to continue reading .....

  • Happy Mother's Day

    12 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    May 13, 2012: We wish you a warm and happy Mother's Day. It's a fantastic day to acknowledge the celebration of motherhood and selfless contributions of mothers to our birth, growth and development. We all know that our moms do a thankless job. So let us seize this opportunity to thank them wholeheartedly. We also express gratitude to Anna Marie Jarvis (1864-1948), who, following the death of Click on the post title to continue reading .....

  • Top Traffic Referrers for FIRE Finance - Apr 2012

    10 May 2012 | 3:34 pm
    May 10, 2012: April was a fantastic month of blogging. We thank our loyal readers and subscribers for lending their attention and support to what we write. Visitors to our site have been steadily on the rise :). We express our gratitude to fellow publishers in the blogging community who have sent traffic our way and linked to our articles. Our top traffic referrers for this month are: Jonathan Click on the post title to continue reading .....

  • $30 OFF - OfficeMax Coupon Codes | Promotional Codes | Discounts - 2012

    8 May 2012 | 1:42 pm
    May 08, 2012: Here are some great OfficeMax coupons that can come in handy if you are planning to make some big ticket purchases for office supplies. These coupons from OfficeMax can give you substantial savings if you are planning to buy tax or personal finance software. We hope that these Office Max coupons help save your hard earned dollars. OfficeMax Coupon Code - $30 OFF $30 OFF your Next Click on the post title to continue reading .....

  • April's Best of FIRE Finance - 2012

    4 May 2012 | 12:11 am
    May 04, 2012: April begins with a fools day :). Jokes apart it is the month of financial literacy! April was originally the second month of the Roman calendar. Around 700 BC, King Numa Pompilius added the months of January and February. Thus April was relegated to the fourth position. April was sacred to Venus, the Festum Veneris et Fortunae Virilis being held on its first day. Some scholars Click on the post title to continue reading .....
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    How I Save Money.net

  • Time To Review Your CDs

    LuluGal
    16 May 2012 | 8:35 am
    It is time again to review your CDs and I don’t mean those musical discs you keep all your music on. I am talking about your certificates of deposit where you keep the money that you do not have an immediate need for.I like to review my CDs every few months to make a note of when they will be maturing. When a CD matures you have the option of cashing it out if you think you will need the money, or if the interest rate is not worth it any more.You may also choose to renew your CD if you do not need to use the money in the near future, or if you will be getting a better interest rate by…

  • Save Money On Interest Payments With A Balance Transfer

    LuluGal
    14 May 2012 | 2:45 am
    This is part 1 of 3 in a series where I expand on the post where I said you can save money by reducing your interest rate. I used to have a lot of high interest credit card debt and at one point I felt like I would never be able to get out from under the mountain of debt that I had gotten myself into.I realized that I had to find different ways to save money and one of the ways to do this was to reduce the amount of interest that I paid on the debt I owed. I knew I was not able to completely rid myself of the debt because I did not have money to pay off the entire balance so the next best…

  • A Few Trading Account Options

    LuluGal
    11 May 2012 | 11:43 am
    The stock market is a crazy place and it can be really scary especially when you see things like Chase announcing a $2 Billion loss happening right before your eyes. Of course people can still make money when the price of a certain stock goes down or they can protect their money by moving it out of that affected stock as well.If you are looking for a trading platform for your stocks, options and ETFs a good way to save money is to look for one that has low fees.There are a number of places you can choose from but each one has a different set of requirements, ranging from the  minimum to…

  • It Is Time To Lighten Your Wallet

    LuluGal
    9 May 2012 | 1:33 pm
    It is time to lighten your wallet….and I don’t mean swapping out the black wallet for a tan one!!! Too many people are carrying around TONS of stuff in their wallets on a daily basis.Do you REALLY need to carry EVERY single credit and debit card that you own all day long. Do you really need to carry around your library card with you. You know the library card that you use maybe once a month because you have tons of books on your kindle that you have not gotten around to reading yet, so you don’t have time to stop at the library.Do you have to carry around that giant wad of…

  • Save Money By Reducing Your Interest Rate

    LuluGal
    7 May 2012 | 2:15 am
    Some people think that the only way to save money is to actually put money away into an account of some kind. This can be a savings account at a bank or credit union, or a checking account or even a retirement account of some sort.Other people think that you can only save money by getting a reduced price on something that they are going to purchase. This can be in the form ofrebatescoupon usesaleand you see the immediate savings on what your bill would have been.While those are excellent ways to save money, most people tend to overlook the fact that you can also save money by reducing the…
 
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    Funny about Money

  • DIY Paint Chips: How to Decide on a Color

    funny
    15 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    So as I was saying yesterday, among the several things the Funny Farm needs is a new paint job. Was feeling mighty proud of the Behr paint samples I got, and expected at least a couple of the colors to look swell and elegant on the walls. As you know if you’ve ever painted a house, those tiny little paint chips you get at the Depot or the paint store are a cruel joke. There’s NO way you can estimate what the color really will look like, because the leap of imagination between the sample and a wallful of the paint is just too large for the human brain to traverse. One strategy is…

  • Shoring Up the Barricades

    funny
    14 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Okay, so assuming I’m not moving away from Crime Central anytime soon—because I can’t afford anything I want to live in anyplace where I want to live—then presumably it makes sense to shore up the defenses. This house’s barricades are easy to breach: three old sliding doors, all of them ugly, two of them installed by different previous owners, two of them with locks that don’t work, and none of them energy-efficient. The handle set on the front door is falling off; every now and again I have to screw it back on. Neither of the two wooden gates is very sturdy, and…

  • Funniest Customer Disservice Eff-You Remark EVER!

    funny
    13 May 2012 | 6:08 pm
    Okay, so today I’m wrestling with the pool—its filter pressure is running twice as high as normal, so I’ve backwashed it and now go to prime the pump. This is easy: just turn it on with the pressure release valve open to drain off the air; then when the pump is primed, shut the valve and go on about your business. Well. No. Turn the breaker switch to “on” and the system kicks in and looks like it’s gonna run OK…for about 10 seconds and then holeee gawd it’s suckin’ air out of the skimmer basket. A great water tornado has formed in the skimmer…

  • Professional Indemnity Insurance for Self-Employed People

    funny
    11 May 2012 | 6:50 pm
    Being self-employed certainly has its benefits—you can choose your own hours, you have only yourself to answer to, and if you’re ill, you don’t have to phone in sick.  On the downside, as well as the occasional inconsistency of income (if you don’t work, you don’t get paid), you also have to sort out your own tax, national insurance and insurance. There are several types of insurance you might need for your self-employed business.  If you have any employees (or even people who help you voluntarily), you must have employers’ liability insurance in place.  In any event you might…

  • Why Am I Here?

    funny
    10 May 2012 | 1:04 am
    Look at this. And this. Or maybe this. A hundred and ninety-five grand for that first hacienda, and I’ll bet you can get it cheaper. Matter of fact, I’ll bet I could rent something like it for less than a 5% return on investment from the proceeds of sale of the house I’m living in right now. Gardener in: clean up courtyard, plant flowers, plant una jacaranda. Owner’s furniture out. Local purchases in. Aquí: all my furniture goes to my son. The junk, like the books and the piles of trash I never even look at, goes away. Dog gets a double dose of every vaccine known to…
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    Rule #1 Blog: Phil Town on Investing

  • CRIBBED NOTES FROM BUFFETT'S ANNUAL MEETING

    Phil Town
    5 May 2012 | 7:56 pm
    Mr. Buffett and Mr. Munger have just held forth in Omaha again.  Thank God.  I love these guys.  I didn't get to go because I was hung up in a negotiation but in between contract readings and phone calls I read the notes as they posted.  Its all good stuff and worth the read through.   I have unashamedly stolen these posted notes from the Wall Street Journal and some other website and filted out the noise.  Here's Warren and Charlie: Question is about business school. It is "astounding" how schools have focused on "one fad after another in finance theory, usually very mathematically…

  • I GOT YOU A SORT OF FREE BOOK FROM MY FRIEND BRENDON BURCHARD

    Phil Town
    3 May 2012 | 11:03 am
    Brendon Burchard is a good friend of mine.  He's clearer about how to create a a great business and a great lifestyle and how to use internet marketing than anyone I know.  And he's just written a new book that he's letting me get out to you guys for free so you can report to the world what you think about it. If you haven't figured it out by now, let me just tell you straight out that Melissa and I are all about living a life, not just accumulating wealth.  We enjoy things like competing our horses in 3-Day Eventing, having our horse Can't Fire Me and our friend and trainer Becky Holder…

  • HOW WARREN BUFFETT CREATES 35% ANNUAL DIVIDEND YIELDS

    Phil Town
    19 Apr 2012 | 8:27 am
    Warren Buffett has a secret: His portfolio delivers gigantic cash flow which he reinvests into other long-term gigantic cash flow yields that compound billions at 20% per year or higher, year after year after year.   The power of compounding yields is often discussed but rarely understood.  For example, every fund manager out there knows about compounding but almost none use an investment strategy which has compounding as an integral part of the strategy and therefore, almost no fund managers beat the market rates of return much less achieve 20% or higher annual cash flow.  So how does…
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    Timothy Sykes

  • The Children Are Our Future: My Student Names His Baby After Me & My Scholarship Is Awarded

    Timothy Sykes
    16 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
    As I tweeted HERE last week, I was SO honored to hear about how one of my trading challenge students named his son after me. I do love teaching and helping others make money and become self-sufficient, but I’ve learned … Continue reading → .

  • With Penny Stocks, What A Difference A Week Makes (How I Predicted A 60% Drop & We Made $65,000)

    Timothy Sykes
    15 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    Last Tuesday I wrote this post entitled “Right Now You Get To Witness A Pump And Dump In Real-Time!” all about how I thought DOMK was pumped up with questionable press releases from their one employee who has a checkered … Continue reading → .

  • Should A Trader Share Their Successful Strategy?

    Timothy Sykes
    14 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    A PennyStocking Silver subscriber sent me this question: In your book you said that when you told other traders about your strategies, it minimized and eventually wiped out your profits. Why are you educating your students about your strategies? Do … Continue reading → .

  • LiveStock On Demand From Bali Where I’ve Made $100,000 In A Week

    Timothy Sykes
    13 May 2012 | 12:00 pm
    Good not great LiveStock from Bali Friday night…good internet but it was a bit choppy at the end when I went inside thinking there’d be better internet than outside near my private lagoon…LOL…as trading challenge students have learned, sometimes its … Continue reading... .

  • You Must Know About These Traders

    Timothy Sykes
    12 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    I love stories like this: Read about these 5 amazing traders This is the beauty of trading, it’s life changing Click to read how these traders’ lives have changed Sincerely, Timothy Sykes PS This is pure genius .
 
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    MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

  • 7 Reasons Why the Bull Market Will Resume

    Minyanville.com
    16 May 2012 | 1:07 pm
    These days we hear every conceivable argument about why the bull market will die, or stop, or correct, and by how much, how fast, etc. Among the many triggers discussed, there are EU elections, job creation angst, social media bubbles, fiscal cliffs, solar flares, lunar cycles, lycanthropy (after all, we have seen a record number of investors morphing into bears since ’08), and yes, the specter of the all-powerful price at the pump. In all seriousness, I’ve talked about the negativity bubble a number of times, and in my view, it’s still thriving. What we don’t really…

  • Things You Should Never Buy Used

    Nicholas Pell
    16 May 2012 | 1:00 pm
    Like most people, you don’t like to pay too much. To that end, you’re into buying things second-hand, from clothing to cars. But be careful: not everything is something you should buy second hand. In some cases, you’re merely getting a bad deal. In other cases, you’re actually putting your family in danger. Here are some things that even the most conscious penny pincher should never buy used. Baby Furniture It’s great to get your baby’s clothes from a second-hand store. Especially since babies outgrow clothing so quickly, you’re going to save a ton of money. But there are some…

  • Favorite Summer Fare for Less

    Frugal Foodie
    16 May 2012 | 6:20 am
    Lazy days of summer? Hardly. All that nice weather means there are plenty of barbecues, picnics, and other parties to attend and host. That busy social calendar, in turn, can mean elevated food costs. An American Express survey from 2011 found that 64% of consumers planned a blowout summer celebration, spending $422 on food and drink for 17 guests. Three-quarters of hosts say they plan to ask guests to chip in by bringing a dish, too. But you don’t need to limit your menu to crudités or bring chips-n-dip to every event to stick to a budget. With a little creativity and a few recipe tweaks,…

  • How to Invest In Movies

    Investopedia.com
    15 May 2012 | 3:11 pm
    Investing directly in a movie could be a perilous endeavor. Scouting the right talent, managing production costs, and finding the right distributor are but a few of the hurdles that investors share as the production moves forward to fruition or perdition. The hardest to gauge is the personal whim of the moviegoer. Taste is fickle. A story with a broad appeal in one decade could fall flat in the next. If a movie does well, it may open the possibilities of a franchise; if it flops, it could claim numerous casualties, from studios to the careers of actors. Considerations Before Investing Good…

  • MintFamily with Beth Kobliner: New “Money as You Grow” Learning Program for Kids

    Beth Kobliner
    15 May 2012 | 11:36 am
    On ThursdayI attended the first-ever White House Summit on Financial Capability and Empowerment. This event was designed by the Obama administration to advance financial knowledge in this country—particularly among the young, who were well represented in a room normally filled with Important People in suits and ties. Government officials, employers, community leaders, NFL stars, and school kids all spent a few hours talking about what they’re doing—and what more can be done—to help people take control of their financial futures. I was especially proud when Cecilia Munoz, the…
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    Personal Finance Buzz - Published news

  • TD Ameritrade Review: Highly Rated Discount Brokerage

    biblemoneymatters
    15 May 2012 | 12:43 pm
    One discount brokerage that stands out among the pack, even with all the other great brokerages out there, is TD Ameritrade . They have great tools, are highly awarded and have customer service second to none

  • Credit Card Review: Platinum Plus MasterCard from MBNA

    CreditCardsCanada
    15 May 2012 | 12:25 pm
    It's rare that you see a Canadian credit card with a 0% balance transfer offer. However, MBNA has a balance transfer card, and it's a good deal. The Platinum Plus MasterCard from MBNA features a 0% APR for 10 months.

  • 7 Roth IRA Mistakes To Avoid

    biblemoneymatters
    15 May 2012 | 9:47 am
    Investing in a Roth IRA isn't rocket science, but investors from all walks of life tend to encounter the same potential pitfalls over and over. Here are some mistakes to avoid.

  • US Dollar Gaining Ground

    MMarquit
    15 May 2012 | 8:19 am
    US dollar is gaining ground after pulling back earlier. After pulling back against the euro earlier, the greenback is now gaining the upper hand.

  • UK Pound Drops Against Stronger Euro

    MMarquit
    15 May 2012 | 7:40 am
    UK pound is declining today, especially against the euro, as the latest news indicates that the eurozone is likely to avoid a recession. The pullback in the pound is not limited to its performance against the euro, though. The British currency is also down against the US dollar as Forex traders re-evaluate recent gains made by the pound.
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    Free Money Finance

  • How is Your Emergency Fund Doing?

    NA
    16 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    The Wall Street Journal discussed emergency funds recently and noted the following: The oft-quoted rule of thumb is to save three to six months of living expenses in your emergency fund. But many people these days will need nine months to a year of expenses covered just to get by. Consider that the average duration of unemployment is nearly 40 weeks. That means even if you have six months of expenses saved, there's a good chance you'll use it up before landing a new job. They also quote these startling facts: According to a 2011 study by Bankrate.com, 46% of Americans haven't saved enough to…

  • Words of Advice on Selected Insurance and Risk Management Topics

    NA
    16 May 2012 | 3:29 am
    The following is an excerpt from Securing Your Financial Future: Complete Personal Finance for Beginners courtesy of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. All Rights Reserved. A list of brief tips on some of the most common categories of insurance appears below, plus a few important items from the broader field of risk management. These are brief, so think of them as broad guidelines, not ironclad rules. You’ll need to do lots more research on your own. Above all, keep in mind that these comments are specifically intended for a typical person in the 1st third of their financial life. If…

  • The Best of Money Carnival

    NA
    16 May 2012 | 3:05 am
    The Best of Money Carnival is now up. Enjoy!

  • How It Went with My New CPA

    NA
    15 May 2012 | 2:45 pm
    A few months ago I told you that I had hired a new CPA to do my taxes. Now that the tax season is over and the dust has settled, I thought I'd list the pros and cons of working with the new firm. Let's start with the pros: They were much more involved in tax planning. While I hired them officially in late 2011, I had met with them earlier in the year and they had given me some tax-saving tips. Some I took and some I didn't, but they were pro-active on their advice -- which is something the other firm never was. In addition, the new firm has continued offering suggestions well into 2012. The…

  • 10 Steps to Writing a Great Resume

    NA
    15 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    The book The Damn Good Resume Guide, Fifth Edition: A Crash Course in Resume Writing lists 10 steps to writing a great resume as follows: Choose a job objective Find out what skills, knowledge, and experience are needed Choose a resume format Make a list of past jobs List your skills and accomplishments Create action statements Arrange your action statements List your education, training, and professional development Summarize your key points Polish and proof Here's my take on these: I absolutely hate having a job objective for three main reasons: 1) It serves no purpose. The objective is…
 
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    Ultimate Money Blog- Save Money and Live Green!

  • I’m a Recovering Tightwad

    Mrs Money
    28 Apr 2012 | 11:01 am
    I’m starting to realize that before I had a baby, I was pretty much a tightwad.  Since my baby’s been born, I’ve loosened up a little.  For instance, I’ve purchased a few new outfits for her that didn’t come from a thrift store.  I’ve purchased new cloth diapers that I didn’t really need just because I wanted to try them or they are cute (I can also re-sell them if I don’t like them, or when I’m done with them).  We’ve used the dishwasher and dryer more times than I’d like.  We probably aren’t saving quite as much…

  • Our Cloth Diaper Stash

    Mrs Money
    7 Mar 2012 | 11:36 am
    Even when we were trying to conceive I knew I wanted to use cloth diapers.  When we finally got pregnant I started doing research (basically asking a million questions to one of my BFFs) and decided to go the simple route and try prefolds and covers. Prefolds are the cloth diapers you probably think of- the old fashioned ones your grandmother probably used.  The covers are a lot easier to use now and have snaps or aplix (velcro) that secure the diaper on the baby and keep the baby’s clothes dry.  There were many benefits for using prefolds: 1. They are cheap compared to other diapers…

  • Life With a Baby

    Mrs Money
    28 Feb 2012 | 9:11 am
    So far, I love being a mom.  I love taking care of my baby and doing as much housework as I can.  It’s been tough to get much done around the house because someone doesn’t like to be put down much.  She’s getting much better at it lately!  Here are some things I’ve observed since becoming a mama: -Sometimes convenience is key.  We’ve done a lot of things that we wouldn’t normally do convenience-wise since we’ve had the baby.  We’ve gotten take out a few times when Mr. Money wasn’t in the mood to cook.  I’m not stressing about…

  • Welcome, Baby Money!

    Mrs Money
    7 Feb 2012 | 12:41 pm
    I had my baby on January 22, 2012!  She was born at home and weighed 6 pounds even and was 19 inches long.  She came a lot earlier than I ever expected (I thought I would have her today!)  Life has been great lately, but more busy!  I can’t believe how much laundry a little person can help create.  We are so in love and couldn’t be happier.  I’m trying to think of a good nickname for her for the blog and the only thing I’ve come up with so far is Penny! I can see how our money is going to change as a result of the baby- I think our electric bill will be higher…

  • Gluten Free Pancake Recipe

    Mrs Money
    11 Jan 2012 | 5:37 am
    One of my favorite breakfast foods is pancakes. Since going gluten free, I’ve had pancakes less often than usual. For awhile, we were buying Pamela’s Ultimate Baking and Pancake Mix but it got to be too expensive. I just couldn’t justify adding that into our food budget. I had to come up with some recipes that would be gluten free using items we normally had on hand. I have an awesome gluten free pancake recipe that has been tested and endorsed by those who are not even gluten free! Gluten Free Pancake Recipe (serves at least 2 people) -2 cups ground oats (you can use…
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    Money Crashers

  • 17 Tips to Deal With Workplace Burnout & Job Stress

    Casey Slide
    15 May 2012 | 4:30 pm
    Do you find yourself going through the motions every day at work? Are you physically showing up for the job, but leaving your mind elsewhere? Are you feeling detached from what formerly gave you joy and fulfillment? If so, you are likely suffering from workplace burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion [...]17 Tips to Deal With Workplace Burnout & Job Stress is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

  • What Is Home Title Insurance – Policy Costs & What It Covers

    Jaime A. Heidel
    15 May 2012 | 2:45 pm
    Buying a new house can be one of the most exciting events of your life. It’s an occasion that signifies that you are settling down – “building a nest,” so to speak – and maybe even starting a family. It is, however, often a stressful and costly process, and you are sure to want to [...]What Is Home Title Insurance – Policy Costs & What It Covers is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

  • How to Get More Financial Aid for College

    Evan Pierce
    14 May 2012 | 1:55 pm
    As kids graduate from high school and prepare to move on to the next phase of their lives, many parents face a similar conundrum: How in the world are we going to pay for college? Whether you have one child or several, the costs of college are simply daunting. With college costs rising approximately 7% [...]How to Get More Financial Aid for College is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

  • 10 Easy Ways to Trim Your Entertainment Budget

    Valencia Higuera
    11 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    Whether it’s going to the movies or checking out a new restaurant, I’m always looking for an excuse to get out of the house and explore the town. However, if I don’t keep my personal budget in check, my spending can easily spiral out of control, and paying off my credit card bill at the [...]10 Easy Ways to Trim Your Entertainment Budget is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

  • How to Save & Invest Money for College

    Evan Pierce
    10 May 2012 | 12:10 pm
    As many people know, earning college grants and scholarships can be difficult – there is a great deal of competition, and even students who get excellent grades are denied. Unfortunately, it can also be difficult to obtain student loans – even though that money must be paid back with interest. Funding your kids’ college expenses [...]How to Save & Invest Money for College is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.
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    Mighty Bargain Hunter

  • Mortgage rates continue to drop

    mbhunter
    14 May 2012 | 1:39 am
    Mortgage rates continue to go lower.  Crazy low: 30-year fixed-rate mortgages at 3.61%, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages at 2.83%.  This places the rates squarely below 4% and 3%, respectively. Seriously: How low can they go? These rock-bottom mortgage rates are happening at a time of year during which sales are most brisk: springtime.  Demand for mortgages doesn’t seem to be driving their price up, which could indicate that lenders are still holding on tight to their money, or because there are a lot of properties that are worth less than what’s owed against them. With the…

  • Time is not money

    mbhunter
    28 Apr 2012 | 10:22 pm
    I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “time is money.” Time is related to money, for sure: People exchange their time for money at their jobs. People choose to pay others to do tasks that will take time away from something they’d rather be doing. People take time to make lunches, change their own oil, mow their lawn, etc., to save money. People pay more to live in a city to cut down their commute time to work. And so forth … There is one big difference between time and money, which is why time is not exactly the same thing as money.  Time is scarce.  Money…

  • A neat way to see the interest you save by paying extra principal

    mbhunter
    19 Apr 2012 | 12:23 am
    I’ve been taking a Bible study offered by Crown Financial Ministries.  It’s a well put-together study that involves scripture memorization, Bible verse study, group discussion, practical exercises, and more. This past week’s topic was debt, and not surprisingly, the Bible doesn’t have too many good things to say about debt and encourages people to avoid almost all kinds of debt, and to get out of debt as quickly as possible. Part of the discussion within one of the workbooks revealed a nice illustration of how paying extra on debt saves interest expense over the life…

  • I guess I’m nuts: I bought no tickets for the $640M lottery

    mbhunter
    1 Apr 2012 | 1:40 am
    No doubt there are three highly ecstatic people in this country: the three people who chose the magic numbers on the record-breaking $640 million Mega Millions lottery.  Let’s hope that they haven’t gone through all of the money within the next few years, as they’re likely to do.  (The US Government, of course, will burn through its 25% withholding cut in less than a half-hour.) One gentleman quoted in the MSNBC article, who bought five tickets for chances at the giant jackpot, had this to say about the enormous payout: “When it gets as big as it is now, you’d…

  • Talking about money? Please do!

    mbhunter
    19 Mar 2012 | 2:15 am
    I ran across this post on SavingAdvice.com which argues that it’s almost always a bad idea to talk about money outside of the family. This topic of conversation often leads to jealousy, feelings of superiority, pity, and offense, according to writer Jennifer Derrick. So, she feels the less said about money outside of the family, the better; ideally, nothing should be said. Taking such a strong stance about money talk does prevent news of your riches or lack thereof from spreading. That’s the upside. The downside of this strong stance is that it precludes conversations with other…
 
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    Rich Credit Debt Loan

  • How to Start Saving More Right Now

    Rich Leverage
    16 May 2012 | 12:51 pm
    For many of us, saving is something that we always plan to do, but never quite get around to it. The bottom line is, if you don’t have a savings account and a regular plan for putting money aside, you may regret it in the future, especially as you get closer to retirement. A savings account can be incredibly useful in an emergency and it can also help increase your odds of getting a loan in the future when you may really need it. So, how can you start putting money aside right now, even if things are tight? Here are some tips to get you started. First, it’s important to remember that…

  • What Determines a Credit Score pt 1

    Rich Leverage
    16 May 2012 | 12:39 am
    Here is some basic information on what you need to know about credit scores and what goes into determining your credit score. What is responsible for determining my credit score? Your credit score has become a very important focal point for a variety of things. Your score is now the main determiner of details like whether or not you will be approved or denied, if you will need to make a deposit or a down payment, whether you get favorable or unfavorable conditions for things like a mortgage or loan, and many other things. Your credit score can determine your auto insurance premium, deposits…

  • Index Funds 101

    Rich Leverage
    15 May 2012 | 12:37 pm
    The most significant invention in the 20th century as far as investing goes is mutual funds, at least if you are a small individual investor with modest means. Thanks to mutual funds, the benefits associated with large scale international capital markets are now capable of being taken advantage by more than just the wealthy elite. There is a special type of mutual fund that is known as an index fund, and it is capable of representing an important evolution in the standard mutual fund model, which allows for smaller level investors to benefit far more than they were capable of in the past.

  • A Review of Rich Dad Poor Dad

    Rich Leverage
    15 May 2012 | 12:24 am
    With all of the hype surrounding Robert T. Kiyosaki's book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, I fully expected a life changing read that would open new horizons and unlock the mysteries of the wealthy. What I got was a nice little parable with very little actual advice and a whole lot of pep talk. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting people fired up about making money, it won't do them much good if they can't put the advice into action right away. My main complaint with this book is that the techniques mentioned in it are really only useful for those who are in their early 20's and willing…

  • Introduction to the IRA

    Rich Leverage
    14 May 2012 | 12:13 pm
    The IRA is an Individual Retirement Account that was originally created by the United States Congress as a means of providing retirement savings with tax advantages to workers that were not already being covered under an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Unlike the standard 401(k) plan, the purpose of an IRA is not to require any sponsorship by an employer in order for a worker to qualify. These IRA accounts are capable of being opened directly through a number of different types of reputable fund companies, and they can also be invested in practically any type of asset imaginable unlike…
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    Spilling Buckets

  • Home and Business Energy Savings – Ever Consider Switching?

    Ryan
    14 May 2012 | 7:02 am
    Actual lightning photo taken in May Have you ever taken advantage of your energy provider choice program? I’ve switched my home energy provider in the past and have captured some savings but what about a business situation? Choosing an energy supplier for your business can be complicated – different unit rates, special offers, various contract types and all that jargon can seem daunting. I was recently contacted about this very subject and thought it might be helpful to share a little more about some of the options that exist out there. Make It Cheaper is an online price comparison…

  • Making a successful claim on your car insurance

    Ryan
    2 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    It’s a fact of life that with millions of motorists taking to the road each year some will be involved in an accident. Car insurance provides some peace of mind in this situation, however there are a few simple steps that people can follow to make sure any claim they make is successful and is awarded with the least amount of hassle. I don’t think I’ve posted about it here but our car was broken into about 9 months ago and our navigation system was stolen.  The crook used an old rail road spike to bust the window while I was photographing the barbecue festival. The…

  • Would a Billboard Encourage You to Save Money?

    Leslie
    2 Mar 2012 | 12:11 pm
    On my way into work every day I pass several billboards. Lately one of them has caught my eye. Feed the Pig Billboard The billboard shows a person skydiving with Alexander Hamilton on their back, and the caption: It takes Courage, but saving money is worth it. At the bottom you see that the sponsor of the ad is Feed The Pig Feed the Pig is a site that helps you find ways to save money every day. A similar site in the UK is Money Supermarket. They go beyond daily savings and even help with saving money with expenses like energy by comparing electricity suppliers. It’s true that saving…

  • Gazelles Across the Savanna: How You and Washington are Fighting the Same Battle

    Ryan
    23 Feb 2012 | 6:59 am
    How many can you guide to safety? Gary Gensler, chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission under President Obama shared a favorite “way the world works” metaphor in the book Confidence Men. More than just how Washington works, I think it can be applied to a lot of the challenges we face everyday in achieving goals. Here’s why we need to think more about gazelles. “The way Washington works is you often start with whats optimal, a best solution to some complex problem, and surprisingly there’s often quite a bit of bipartisan consensus on what will…

  • Top 19 Funniest and Just Plain Wrong #FedValentine Tweets

    Ryan
    13 Feb 2012 | 7:15 am
      I love spontaneous conversations, especially when something as absurdly unrelated as the Federal Reserve and Valentines Day get mashed together. Thought up by economist Justin Wolfers, some of the funniest #FedValentine tweets have come from economists and Federal Reserve branches themselves, not to mention a slew of regular financial cupids looking to join the fun. It was pointed out on Marketplace.org just how strange it is that the dry and wonky Fed itslef got involved in this whole thing. Who knew they had it in them? Here’s what I mean: @SFFedReserve before #Fedvalentines…
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    Saving to Inve$t

  • 2012 Tax Refunds Smaller Than 2011 Payments

    andys2i
    14 May 2012 | 9:04 pm
    The IRS recently published some statistics on 2011 tax returns (filed in 2012, excluding extensions) which revealed some interesting factoids, such as: - If you got a refund this year, chances are that it was lower than the one you received in 2011. The average tax refund amount paid by the IRS through the end [...] Read the full article at savingtoinvest.com - 2012 Tax Refunds Smaller Than 2011 Payments Related posts: Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments and Installment Due Dates – 2011 and 2012 schedules 2012 Tax Filing Deadline Dates – When You Can File 2011 Tax Returns and Get…

  • Buying a Used Car: Unnecessary Hassle or Financially-Savvy?

    andys2i
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:39 pm
    Your once-proud set of wheels is now a sad, rusted-out tin can. And what’s that new rattle as you head to work? Repairs are mounting and it’s time to face the piper: like it or not, you need to buy a new car. Unfortunately, a new car is prohibitively costly: according to a 2011 study, [...] Read the full article at savingtoinvest.com - Buying a Used Car: Unnecessary Hassle or Financially-Savvy? Related posts: Forget buying a Laptop or Notebook – I am getting a Netbook Ten Car Buying Tips to Getting a Great Deal

  • 2012 and 2013 College and University Tuition Rates Increasing

    andys2i
    23 Apr 2012 | 9:38 pm
    As a part time MBA student, with a single income and young family, I am particularly sensitive to rising education costs. So I was dismayed to see that my university’s (already expensive) tuition costs were again rising. This is the third year in a row and my degree will end up costing roughly 10% more [...] Read the full article at savingtoinvest.com - 2012 and 2013 College and University Tuition Rates Increasing Related posts: Saving for the Future: College Tuition vs. Retirement How to Choose a 529 Plan And Save Now For Future College Costs – Prepaid vs. College Tax Savings…

  • 2012 Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, EITC and Foreign Earnings Deduction Change

    andys2i
    19 Apr 2012 | 10:32 pm
    With the 2011 tax filing deadline past (unless you filed for an extension) it’s a good time to remind yourself about some key 2012 tax changes. You can see the latest 2012 tax tables here which saw a widening of tax brackets and increases in personal exemptions and standard deductions due to inflation. Personal and [...] Read the full article at savingtoinvest.com - 2012 Personal Exemption, Standard Deduction, EITC and Foreign Earnings Deduction Change Related posts: 2012 Tax Brackets and Federal IRS Rates, Standard Deduction and Personal Exemptions 2011 Tax Brackets, Rates and Federal…

  • No More Social Security Checks in 2013

    andys2i
    16 Apr 2012 | 8:14 pm
    Before you freak out at the title, know that social security payments will still be made in 2013; it’s just they will no longer be sent via checks in the mail.  The US treasury announced that by March 2013 it will phase out paper checks for all benefit programs. This covers social security, veterans benefits, [...] Read the full article at savingtoinvest.com - No More Social Security Checks in 2013 Related posts: 2011 Government Shutdown Impacts – Will Social Security Benefits, Contractor and Federal Employee Pay Checks Stop? Free Money From The Government – More Stimulus…
 
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    Personal Finance Blog For Women || Girls Just Wanna Have Funds ||

  • 3 Essential Tips To Help You Choose The Best Credit Card Processor

    Ginger
    8 May 2012 | 12:01 am
      If you’re the owner of a growing business, then you’ve probably considered credit card processing solutions to manage your payments.  Before you take the plunge, consider the following tips before signing up with a credit card processing company. Research, Research, Research! When doing research on any credit card processing company, you’ll come across several options for you to chose from.  Don’t go with the first company that pops up on the first page of your search results.  Google them.  Bing them.  Check the BBB ratings in their state and check sites…

  • Got Bad Credit? Follow These 6 Effective Tips To Get a Bad Credit Loan

    Ginger
    7 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
      Most people have a period of time in their lives that their credit is not perfect. Those with bad credit know that it is very difficult to live without access to credit. Fortunately, it is possible to get a loan with bad credit. Of course, interest rates are higher for those with bad credit because they pose more of a risk to the lender. The more responsibly they handle credit, though, the higher their credit scores will be. Following these tips will help someone with bad credit get a loan and begin to establish a better credit rating. 1. Consider a payday loan. Payday loans are…

  • Warren Buffett’s Must Read 3 Investment Insights For Women

    Ginger
    6 May 2012 | 11:03 pm
      On Monday, May 7th, FOX Business Network’s Liz Claman will interview legendary billionaire and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charles Munger and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in an exclusive sit-down (9:30 AM/ET) following the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting this weekend. Claman is no stranger to Buffett, having interviewed him countless times throughout the course of her career. Below, she shares some insight on what she’s learned from spending time with Buffett over the years. How can women can become educated investors? Educating…

  • 7 Ways to Save When Travelling in Europe

    Ginger
    3 May 2012 | 2:40 pm
    A summer vacation in Europe is the trip of a lifetime for many people, but one that they fear is out of reach due to the cost. Europe isn’t always the cheapest place to travel and with everyone’s budget belts being tightened summer holidays are often one of the first things to go. This doesn’t have to be the case though! If you are a savvy traveler and put some effort in you can save on everything from accommodation and food, to entrance fees and transportation costs. Use any, or all, of these money saving tips when planning your next vacation in Europe and you’re sure to have a…

  • 4 Absolutely Essential Tips To Separate Your Business and Personal Finances

    Amanda LaConte
    1 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    For a small business owner it can be tough to keep your business and personal finances separate because, well, you are your business!  You live it and breathe it; and chances are, you have a passion for your business that most of your W-2 earning friends don’t have for their own jobs.  Keeping your business expenses separate is particularly challenging when your business is new.  It may even feel a little silly when you’re not even sure if this thing will even take off.   However, the earlier you make this a priority, the easier you make things for yourself down the road. Why it’s…
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    The Finance Buff

  • Best Broker For a Custodial IRA For Your Kids

    TFB
    16 May 2012 | 7:15 am
    The age of majority is 18 in most states in the U.S. Kids under 18 are allowed to work for pay but they aren’t allowed to open an account with a financial institution unless an adult over 18 is either a joint owner or a custodian. This is because kids under 18 can’t legally sign a contract and agree to the terms. When a kid works for pay, a parent can open a Roth IRA for the kid and fund the Roth IRA with the parent’s money, up to the kid’s earned income. However, an IRA by definition has only one owner; there’s no joint IRA. Because the kid under 18 can’t…

  • Diversify Stocks and Bonds Investments With Rental Property

    TFB
    14 May 2012 | 7:44 am
    A co-worker told me she bought a house as a rental property in Las Vegas (we are nowhere near Las Vegas). She said a few other co-workers thought it was a great idea and bought there too. Clark Howard, a consumer advocate and personal finance guru on radio, also says now it’s a great time to buy a home, either to live in or as a rental property. So far all my investments are in stocks and bonds. I’m not sure if the home I live in counts as an investment in real estate. Suppose it doesn’t, should I diversify my investments with a rental property? Diversification On one hand,…

  • Friday Reading: Give Up Those Tax Breaks

    TFB
    11 May 2012 | 7:27 am
    Life: How Much Will You Leave On the Table? by Scott Burns at AssetBuilder “Excessive caution, he told me in a recent interview, means we buy long-term security at the expense of giving up many things we’d like to do today. We leave estates that are larger than planned and feel remorse for experiences we’ve missed.” Former Oregon retirement plan manager jailed in Idaho on fraud charges by AP Matthew Hutcheson carried the flag about 401k fees being too high. He’s also a co-founder of BrightScope, a company that rates 401k plans. I mentioned his interview on public radio…

  • 2013 HSA Contribution Limits

    TFB
    9 May 2012 | 7:28 am
    The IRS announced contribution limits for Health Savings Account (HSA) for 2013. HSA Contribution Limits   2012 2013 Change Individual Coverage $3,100 $3,250 +$150 Family Coverage $6,250 $6,450 +$200 You can only contribute to an HSA if you have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). HDHP Qualification The IRS also defines what qualifies as an HDHP. For 2013, an HDHP with individual coverage must have at least $1,200 in annual deductible and no more than $6,250 in annual out-of-pocket expenses. For family coverage, the numbers are minimum $2,400 in annual deductible and $12,500 in annual…

  • 401k vs Pension: How To Make Your 401k Pay As Much As a Pension

    TFB
    7 May 2012 | 7:17 am
    For the most part, 401k plans replaced pension as the prevailing vehicle for people’s retirement. Surveys and studies show very bleak numbers. The balances in 401k and IRAs aren’t nearly enough to pay for a comfortable retirement as the previous generation’s good ol’ pension once did. Most public sector employees still get a pension. This often brings envy. People who don’t get a pension and don’t get enough from their 401k’s are increasingly unwilling to pay those who do. It also leads to some people saying the 401k system is a failed experiment and…
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    Amateur Asset Allocator

  • Is That Investment Opportunity A Scam Or Is It Legit? How To Tell The Difference

    Kyle Bumpus
    9 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    When most people think about being pitched an investment opportunity, two things probably come to mind. One, they conjure up an image of a slimy salesman type selling snaked oil, or two, they think of a balding, middle-aged stock broker calling to give them the latest hot stock tips. Easy enough to recognize, easy enough to resist, right? Unfortunately, most get-rich-quick investment opportunities aren’t pitched by a stereotypical scammer. We are constantly bombarded with “hot stock tips” from the mainstream media, can’t-miss business opportunities from family members,…

  • 5 Simple Lessons On Investing For Retirement Today

    Kyle Bumpus
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    Holly Mangan is the managing editor of Money Crashers Personal Finance, a blog that provides tips for saving for retirement, building wealth, and utilizing investment strategies. When it comes to planning for retirement, far too many people feel intimidated or are simply uneducated on the matter. For these reasons, they save next to nothing. In fact, one-third of all Americans have nothing whatsoever set aside for retirement, and half have less than $2,000. This is obviously a recipe for disaster, especially considering that the current U.S. Social Security system is in peril. If you are…

  • What Happens If You Forget To Make Your Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments?

    Kyle Bumpus
    12 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    Most W2 employees will find this post boring, but 1099 contractors, business owners, and the self-employed know all about the importance of paying their quarterly estimated taxes. You see, the IRS prefers to be paid quarterly throughout the year rather than all at once at the end. This means that in most cases, you can’t simply wait to pay what you owe until you file your taxes in April. Paying Your Quarterly Estimated Taxes Is Easy While annoying, actually making your quarterly estimated tax payments online is really simple once you get things set up. First, you’ll need to sign…

  • Roth IRA, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways

    Kyle Bumpus
    26 Mar 2012 | 11:01 pm
    This post is part of the Roth IRA Movement started by Jeff Rose of GoodFinancialCents.com. Click the link for background info on what it’s all about. To commemorate the occasion, I have composed a brilliant sonnet. Bathe in its glory. Roth IRA, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Thy tax-free distributions a path to retire, financially secure, never to be mired in dreadful labor til the end of my days. Forever the tax man will you keep at bay, thanks to you old age to me will not be as a blight upon the noble tuber, nor will I have to fight til the end, laboring ever to earn my…

  • A Methodical Way To Determine Your Ideal Stock vs Bond Split

    Kyle Bumpus
    21 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    We’ve all heard the various rules of thumb for splitting your portfolio up between stocks and bonds, the two most fundamental asset classes. Age in bonds. 120 – your age in stocks. Double your maximum tolerable loss in stocks. The list goes on. These are all reasonable rules to be sure, but they all feel just a bit too arbitrary for many investors. Why 120 minus your age in stocks? What’s the logic behind that particular magic number? Let me be frank: it really doesn’t make much of a difference in the long term if you hold 35% of your portfolio in bonds instead of 32%…
 
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    Tip'd / Published News

  • 5 Tips for Hiring a General Contractor

    MMarquit
    16 May 2012 | 1:24 pm
    Whether you are building, remodeling, or just doing a few home improvements, it can help to hire a general contractor. However, you do need to be careful. Here are 5 things to keep in mind as you hire a general contractor.14 Tips (http://cashmoneylife.com)

  • What is Contrarian Investing?

    MMarquit
    16 May 2012 | 11:30 am
    One of the terms that you might have come across as an investor is contrarian. In some cases, the savvy contrarian investor can make money by engaging in strategies that are considered different than the conventional wisdom.14 Tips (http://moneyning.com)

  • Is Prepaid Debit a Good Idea?

    MMarquit
    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    In recent months, there has been a lot of discussion about prepaid debit cards. It seems like prepaid debit is everywhere. But what is prepaid debit? And is it really a good idea?15 Tips (http://www.bargaineering.com)

  • TD Ameritrade Review: Highly Rated Discount Brokerage

    moneymatters
    16 May 2012 | 6:54 am
    One discount brokerage that stands out among the pack, even with all the other great brokerages out there, is TD Ameritrade . They have great tools, are highly awarded and have customer service second to none13 Tips (http://www.smartonmoney.com)

  • 7 Roth IRA Mistakes To Avoid

    moneymatters
    16 May 2012 | 5:08 am
    Investing in a Roth IRA isn't rocket science, but investors from all walks of life tend to encounter the same potential pitfalls over and over. Here are some mistakes to avoid.13 Tips (http://www.biblemoneymatters.com)
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    DollarVersity

  • Does Cash Really Keep You From Overspending?

    Eric J. Nisall
    16 May 2012 | 5:26 am
    People out there think that by only using cash, shunning credit cards in the process, they will put themselves in a better position to stay out of debt and control their spending.  They think that simply because cash is a finite resource, they can only spend what they have available and no more.  They also believe that the only form of debt is overextending themselves with credit and credit cards.  Unfortunately for all of these people, that line of reasoning cannot be further from the truth.   There are a couple of misconceptions when it comes to cash and debt.  Both, if taken too…

  • There Is Being Frugal And Then There Is Being CHEAP

    Eric J. Nisall
    14 May 2012 | 5:32 am
    As a financial professional, it’s my responsibility to be able to help people come up with ways to save money, whether it be on their taxes or on day-to-day expenses.  As someone who has financial responsibilities of his own, I read a lot  on the subject for my own benefit as well.  And even though I don’t view myself as being frugal I do read quite a bit on the subject.  What I have found in my research sometimes shocks me: the extent that some people go to in order to save money, even in very small increments, just blows my mind.  I have no problem doing comparison…

  • What You Thought You Knew About MPG Ratings Is Probably Wrong

    Eric J. Nisall
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    This post was featured in Carnival of Personal Finance: The Color Wheel Edition     Do you remember me telling you that advertisements lie, how the marketing people (as well as the product manufacturers themselves) think you’re a sucker and how their goal is to target gullible people who believe everything they see and hear? Well, it’s still true, and nothing is going to change that.  This time, my ire wasn’t drawn to companies claiming to be the “best” or “highest quality” or any other subjective claim.  No, lately I’ve been more…

  • The Pros and Cons of Paperless Billing

    Eric J. Nisall
    23 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    This is a special guest post from David Bakke, who writes about small business, careers, and money management skills on Money Crashers Personal Finance. If your email inbox is anything like mine, it is probably chock-full of offers to go paperless from a lot of the companies that you do business with.  Some of them may appeal to you out of concern for the environment, while others are appealing from a financial standpoint.  While it may seem like a no-brainer to go paperless, there are some things to keep in mind before making that leap.  Here are the pros and cons of paperless billing.

  • Done With Tax Returns And Giving Away $100

    Eric J. Nisall
    18 Apr 2012 | 7:58 am
    Today marks the first day that I do not have to think about preparing peoples’ tax returns.  This was a particularly difficult tax season as one of the partners in the firm had a brain tumor removed in December and didn’t play a large part, essentially leaving the bulk of the work to myself and the other partner (plus a temp for a couple weeks, but he really sucked and we had to redo most of his work anyway).  It’s a pretty nice feeling to have taxes behind me for a little while, and I have to admit that the day does seem a little brighter, although this is South Florida…
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    No More Spending.net

  • Grocery Spending May 2012 #3

    Laura @ No More Spending
    16 May 2012 | 11:22 am
    Hello! Here I am again with more grocery shopping......an empty freezer sure needs some re-filling! Here's a few of the items I purchased... and a few more... The cubed chicken was £9.12kg before offers, £7.96kg after and even cheaper with the money off coupon - I buy it like this, in packs of 250g, as it's a perfect 'meal' amount for us. I also bought 3 packs of sausages (3 for £6) and 3 packs of British Bacon (3 for £6) for the freezer, which is now full. In total I spent £39.46 on food and £12.39 on a gift and birthday cards. I had a £7.50 money off voucher and in all I saved…

  • Menu Plan Monday (May 14th)

    Laura @ No More Spending
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    I'm in the process of menu planning the whole month - just waiting on hubby to finalise his work plans - for now though, here's this weeks menu: (Salmon Fishcakes) Monday: Simple Tomato Bruschettas's Tuesday: Chicken Kiev's & Veggies Wednesday: Sausages & Veggies Thursday: Salmon Fishcakes & Salad Friday: Pasta Saturday: Chicken Curry & Naan Sunday: Griddle Chicken & Veggies Tonight it's just me and my daughter - we have a lot of tomatoes to eat up, so I'm making simple bruschettas: toast, olive oil and seasoned chopped tomatoes. Yum! What's on your menu…

  • Weekly Spending Report May 2012 #2

    Laura @ No More Spending
    13 May 2012 | 2:15 pm
    This week was good for spending, just grocery and a couple of cards for the arrival of a new baby and a wedding rsvp...my little sister is getting married in the summer. Yay! Monday: £50.57 Grocery Tuesday: No spend day Wednesday: No spend day Thursday: £51.36 Grocery £2.48 Cards Friday: No spend day Saturday: No spend day Sunday: No spend day How was your spending this week? ♥ Subscribe by Email | Subscribe by RSS | Follow on Twitter ♥

  • Sunday Link Love (13th May 2012)

    Laura @ No More Spending
    13 May 2012 | 3:01 am
    It's been a while since I shared some of my favourite posts.........so here are just a few links that I have saved in my reader; Looking Forward to the Bank Statement at Making Sense of Cents (Guest Post) Your Money of Your Life Thoughts at Little House in the Valley Doing It Again - Renting out a Spare Bedroom at Budgeting in the Fun Stuff Little Dented Apple at How I Got This Far What Do You Think of No Spend Days? at Making Sense of Cents How to Have a HUGE Savings Rate at Canadian Dream - Free at 45 Over at Move to Portugal: Life List Updated Summer To Do Focus Have a great day, back…

  • Grocery Spending and A Food Inventory

    Laura @ No More Spending
    12 May 2012 | 1:41 am
    I finally got around to defrosting the freezer, but guess what lol? Restocking it costs money and may well knock your grocery budget off for the month! Oops. But I'm not too unhappy about it as I'm taking steps towards my ideal grocery shopping scenario, which is: once a month store cupboard shopping and a weekly local delivery/shop for fresh products. Eventually I'd like to eliminate the weekly supermarket run from my life. Which sounds a bit dramatic, but over the last few years in my quest to simplify everything, I've got rid of lots of things that don't enhance my life, so why not…
 
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    Think Money

  • What is term life assurance?

    16 May 2012 | 12:29 pm
    With term life insurance you only pay for life insurance for a certain term, or as long as you need it.Full article: What is term life assurance?Visit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • 36 easy steps to cheaper food!

    16 May 2012 | 12:26 pm
    Here are 36 easy ways to save money on your food bill, from ethical savings to savings that can help your waistline. Your food doesn't have to cost the earth!Full article: 36 easy steps to cheaper food!Visit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • Facts about critical illness cover

    16 May 2012 | 11:53 am
    Knowing the facts about critical illness cover can help you decide what course of action to take.Full article: Facts about critical illness coverVisit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • What is the average debt per person in the UK?

    16 May 2012 | 11:07 am
    Levels of personal debt have greatly increased in recent years, but the financial crisis changed many people's attitude to debt. Read about the average level of unsecured and secured debts in the UK in 2012 here.Full article: What is the average debt per person in the UK?Visit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • What happens if you don't pay credit card debts?

    16 May 2012 | 10:05 am
    As with any other type of unsecured debt, not repaying credit cards can come with some serious consequences.Full article: What happens if you don't pay credit card debts?Visit: www.thinkmoney.com
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    Capital Stories

  • Update on our Segregated High Yield approach

    patrickmullins
    14 May 2012 | 10:32 am
    This year we have been busy researching and buying corporate debt. To date we have acquired about 70 percent of the total maximum number of positions we would like to own. Below I will discuss the attributes of the current portfolio as well as the conditions that would alter our expected return. Attributes of the portfolio • 3.42 years = Average Term (modified duration) • 8.05% = Yield to Maturity • 10 = total positions. We are diversified across 7 different industry groups with the largest exposure to Oil and Gas, representing less than 17%, and the smallest exposure to pharmaceutical…

  • Biggest Winner – Update

    patrickmullins
    13 Feb 2012 | 3:34 pm
    13 February, 2012 Well it has been 6 weeks and I have accomplished my initial goal of having a weight number that starts with the number 1!  I have dropped about 3 pounds per week for a total of 18 pounds and have hit the magical 199 last Sunday. My ultimate goal is to weigh 180 pounds from the starting point of 217 pounds. This implies a 2.2 pound rate of weight loss per week for 17 weeks to our end date of May 1st. This past week represents a redoubling of effort so as to achieve a below 200 level. For me this manifested in two-a -day work outs; an early run on the treadmill followed by a…

  • The Biggest Winner

    patrickmullins
    8 Jan 2012 | 12:38 pm
    Like a lot of you one of my goals this year is to improve my general health. Exercise can only do so much so with a little help from my friends I’m trying to drop some weight by paying attention to what I eat. Four of us weighed in on January 3rd and will compare again in about 17 weeks on May 1st. The “winner” with the most percentage weight loss will take the prize and admiration of the group. Though the truth is we all expect to benefit by simply participating. Our start points were as follows: Mr. A 280 lbs, Mr. D 219 lbs, Mr. M 214 lbs and me 218 lbs. We are all business…

  • So, what’s wrong with the Stock Markets?

    patrickmullins
    9 Sep 2011 | 11:24 am
    Many conversations about investing this year are centered on what is wrong with stock markets in 2011. The assumption underlying this concern is that markets are only acting correctly when prices move higher, like in 2009/10, and are therefore defective when they move lower. There are however, periods of time when economic risk is higher; the global debt problems and Japan’s difficult natural disaster come to mind. In some time periods earnings are generally not growing. If markets are discounting higher risk then it stands to reason there should be some additional volatility and in…

  • Too big to fail….The National edition

    patrickmullins
    8 Aug 2011 | 6:43 am
    I am not a fan of sequels.  It seems to me that little new is added to our understanding of the main characters, and the plot outcome seems predictable from the start. Many observers say sequels are never as good as the original hit, the exception perhaps being Godfather II. The volatility and pressure in world stock markets is regrettable. Risk has manifested in providing little if any return for the past decade. It seems to me that this current downturn has been triggered by the perception of a lack of effective leadership on the part of governments around the globe. Of the three main…
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    MaximizingMoney.com

  • National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Free Annual Pass for Military

    MaximizingMoney.com
    16 May 2012 | 4:17 am
    Military members can now receive a free annual pass for U.S. National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands. Starting on May 19, 2012, active duty military personnel and dependents with proper identification (CAC Card or DD Form 1173) may obtain a free annual pass to our National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands. The free pass can be obtained in person at federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees. The pass covers entrance to Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites that charge entrance fees, and Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau…

  • Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express 5X Points on Shipping and Advertising

    MaximizingMoney.com
    15 May 2012 | 4:47 am
    The Business Gold Rewards Card(R) from American Express OPEN is now offering 5X Points on Shipping and Advertising for the first 3 months of card membership, up to $20,000. Apply for the Business Gold Rewards Card(R) from American Express OPEN to get more rewards for your business with 5X points on shipping and advertising for the first 3 months. You’ll always earn 3 points per $1 on airfare; 2 points per $1 on advertising, gas, and shipping; and 1 point per $1 on everything else. The annual fee is waived for the first year, but there is an annual fee of $175 per year after your first…

  • Eversave Deal Site $10 Sign-Up Bonus for Limited Time Plus $5 Referral Bonuses

    MaximizingMoney.com
    15 May 2012 | 4:39 am
    The Eversave daily shopping deal site is offering a $10 sign-up bonus to all new members for a limited time during their May Madness promotion. You’ll get $10 in Save Rewards to spend on your first deal at Eversave when you join for free today. You can also earn a $5 referral bonus when you refer new members, and all of your referrals will get a $10 sign-up bonus as well. This Save Rewards sign-up bonus is only available for a limited time, as the usual sign-up bonus is only $1 for new members, so take advantage of this offer today. Sign up to get your $10 Eversave New Member Bonus when…

  • American Express My Offers Mobile Merchant Promotion Engine on American Express iPhone App

    MaximizingMoney.com
    15 May 2012 | 4:26 am
    American Express has launched My Offers, a mobile merchant promotion engine that recommends merchant offers to AMEX card members via the American Express iPhone App. American Express My Offers will focus on local offers in New York City and Los Angeles at first, but there will also be select offers available nationwide, such as the current $5 off $10 at Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts. This American Express mobile offer engine recommends and ranks relevant merchant offers in real time for U.S. card members based on your spending history and location, which is known as your…

  • Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card – $250 in Gift Cards

    MaximizingMoney.com
    15 May 2012 | 2:17 am
    The Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card – $250 in Gift Cards offer is an excellent way to earn bonus cash with no annual fee*. Apply for the Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card – $250 in Gift Cards to get 25,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you make $2,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening, which is redeemable for $250 in gift cards. Plus, you’ll get 1 point for every $1 that you spend on all purchases. There is no expiration and no limit on the amount of points that you can earn. You will also receive an anniversary bonus for every year…
 
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    Darwin's Finance

  • More Tips and Tricks for Project Managers

    Darwin
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:42 pm
    A few years back, I wrote an Article for Project Managers which got some pretty good feedback so I thought I’d go back and draw from a few more years of experience in the role and share some more insight.  And by the way, while you may not be a Project Manager by title, virtually [...]More Tips and Tricks for Project Managers is an article from Darwin's Finance No related posts.

  • Lazy Portfolios – I’m Laughing At You Again

    Darwin
    27 Mar 2012 | 2:51 pm
    It’s been a few years running now (2011, 2010) where I pointed out the the contrived beauty and simplicity of the “Lazy Portfolios” regurgitated by MarketWatch’s Paul Farrel ad nauseam is nonsense.  See, these nifty portfolios were set up with the benefit of hindsight and spewed out a few years ago when virtually every asset [...]Lazy Portfolios – I’m Laughing At You Again is an article from Darwin's Finance No related posts.

  • What is the Financial Threshold that Compels People to Steal Ridiculous Stuff?

    Darwin
    29 Feb 2012 | 9:27 pm
    Each time we see gas prices start to move up around $3.50 nationally and higher, the utterly moronic stories start to surface about people siphoning gas out of cars and other seemingly ridiculous thefts.  Here are some gems on the topic: Yes, there is actually a website dedicated solely to gas theft www.gastheft.com.  Incredible. The [...]What is the Financial Threshold that Compels People to Steal Ridiculous Stuff? is an article from Darwin's Finance No related posts.

  • FACEBOOK IPO: They Missed The Boat. I’ll Pass

    Darwin
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:45 pm
    Friday, news broke that Facebook was preparing to file papers for an IPO possibly as early as next Wednesday.  While just about everyone is ON Facebook, many people probably haven’t considered all the reasons this will be a bad investment for retail investors trying to jump in after the open.  Here are just a few [...]FACEBOOK IPO: They Missed The Boat. I’ll Pass is an article from Darwin's Finance No related posts.

  • Should Teacher Salaries Be Published for All to See?

    Darwin
    23 Dec 2011 | 1:34 pm
    The other day, a friend sat down at my wife’s table at a kids’ school function and seemed a bit sad and said, “Well, now that you all know what my husband makes…that’s how my day’s going”.  My wife and the others at the table actually didn’t know what her husband made (until she made [...]Should Teacher Salaries Be Published for All to See? is an article from Darwin's Finance Related posts:Should Americans with No Kids Be Able “Opt-Out” of School Taxes?
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    Do You Dave Ramsey?

  • Dukan Diet Redux Week 1

    Dave Ozment
    14 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    Monday – April 30 Breakfast – Dukan Pancake, 4 egg fritatas, coffee Lunch – 2 chicken breasts with yogurt and water Dinner – Salmon cakes (made without breading), yogurt, spoon of peanut butter and water Stepped back on the scale… after a long time.  Truth is I gained back 10 lbs which put me back at 235.  Still down from 255.5 but up from my recent low of 225.  I’ve already stepped through this in more detail so I’ll let that be. I did workout today.  Its the 3rd day in a row I’ve worked out so that’s nice.  I’m not setting the…

  • Return To Dukan

    Dave Ozment
    7 May 2012 | 6:06 am
    Where I have I been? Good question. The short answer is that I’ve been both on and off course. I documented several days of being on the diet late last year but failed to post that progress – I’ll paste this below for the heck of it. And then as the holiday, and New Years, and…. first couple months of the year unfolded I strayed from both the diet AND the documentation. So with that being the case I need to re-orient my status and then I’ll summarize a couple lessons learned over this time frame. First, off I’ve gained back some of what I lost. In the month…

  • Dukan Diet Week 16

    Dave Ozment
    12 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    Week 16 – Cruise Phase In this report I get treated and tricked by Halloween.  What a horrible holiday, one that forces you to have massive amounts of candy in the house. Monday, October 31, Day 106 Breakfast – eggs with peppers and spinach, coffee Lunch – protein milkshake Dinner – sirlion steak, salmon This being Halloween, we had to have candy in the house.  I had 2 ‘fun’ sized candies.  I hope we have lots of visitors so we can dump this blessed wretched stuff. Tuesday, November 1, Day 107 Breakfast – Dukan pancake and frittatas with coffee Lunch – Grill Mahi Mahi…

  • Dukan Diet Week 15

    Dave Ozment
    5 Mar 2012 | 5:00 am
    Week 15 – Cruise Phase In this report we crunch some numbers related to my progress.  I also have several transgressions.  Who knew Cracker Barrel had a low carb menu? Monday, October 24, Day 99 Breakfast – Dukan pancake and turkey sausages, coffee Lunch – Left-over meatloaf, yogurt Dinner – Pork chops, yogurt, protein shake Tuesday, October 25, Day 100 Breakfast – Dukan pancake and turkey sausages, coffee Lunch – Left over pork chops Dinner – Roast with a Dukan gravy recipe, yogurt I’ve been reading a site that is doing something very similar to what I’m doing here.  …

  • Dukan Diet Week 14

    Dave Ozment
    27 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am
    Week 14 – Cruise Phase In this report another business trip with all day meetings and all day food options.  I fall hard for a donut. Monday, October 17, Day 92 Breakfast – Dukan pancake, frittatas and coffee Lunch – Chicken salad and yogurt Dinner – 2 Salmon fillets Tuesday, October 18, Day 93 Breakfast – Dukan pancake, frittatas and coffee Lunch – none Dinner – 10 oz Fillet with green beans and a margarita Left this morning for a business trip… 3 days of team dinners and catered lunches, some of the best pitfalls for those trying to manage their diets. My flight landed on…
 
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    theBKBlog

  • Even the Rich and Famous Sometimes file Bankruptcy

    Jonathan
    22 Apr 2012 | 11:30 am
    Just about everyone acknowledges that the economy has been rough for the last couple of years. Bankruptcies are being filed more than ever, and nearly everyone knows someone going through the process. It may surprise you to learn that filing for bankruptcy is something that even happens among the rich and famous. Money troubles with the wealthy tend to be much more extravagant, and if the individual is famous enough, it’s likely that their bankruptcy story is headline news. In fact, quite recently two major players in the sports world have had to file bankruptcy – that’s…

  • How Chapter 7 Can Help You Pay Your Non-dischargeable Student Loans

    Jonathan
    15 Apr 2012 | 6:19 am
    In my last post, I argued that the current Bankruptcy Code standard for discharging student loans is unduly harsh and burdensome.   Currently student loan debt – and this includes private student loans, government backed student loans, parent incurred loans, and loans paid to schools that have closed down before the student received training or a degree – may not be discharged in bankruptcy unless the debtor can show “undue hardship.”The courts have read undue hardship to mean some reason beyond the debtor’s control that would preclude repayment.   This…

  • Should Student Loan Debt Once Again Be Dischargeable in Bankruptcy?

    Jonathan
    12 Apr 2012 | 3:20 pm
    Last week, an editor at the Atlanta Journal Constitution contacted me to ask if I would write a guest editorial about student loans and bankruptcy.  Here is a slightly enhanced version of my editorial.  Click on the link to view the original online version of the articleImagine graduating from college with a tassel and $80,000 of student loan debt.  Now imagine that life happens over the next 15 years – periods of unemployment, no raises, a sick child, and home repairs.  Perhaps you are one of the 50,000 metro Atlanta area families each year who make the difficult decision to file…

  • Can I Pay my Taxes with a Credit Card, then File Bankruptcy to Discharge the Debt?

    Jonathan
    29 Mar 2012 | 3:45 pm
    With April 15 just around the corner, many of us will be scrambling to come up with money to pay Uncle Sam.  For those who are self employed, estimated tax liability payments are due every quarter.  The IRS does allow you to pay your tax debt with a credit card, but you can expect to pay a “convenience fee” of around 2% of the amount charged. for this option.Further, if you do use your credit cards to pay your tax debt, the Bankruptcy Code specifically disallows that part of your credit card debt to be discharged in a bankruptcy case, unless the tax you are paying is dischargeable as…

  • Payday Loans Banned in Georgia? Not So Fast….

    Jonathan
    21 Mar 2012 | 8:58 pm
    In 2004 the Georgia legislature passed legislation that was designed to outlaw “payday lending” – the practice of finance companies making high interest short term loans of a few hundred or a few thousand dollars.  According to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, a payday loan involves the practice of using a post-dated check or electronic checking account access to repay the loan.Payday loans can have an effective interest rate of 300% and bad check and delinquency charges can quickly turn a $300 loan into a $1000 debt.When payday loans were legal, most of the loan…
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    Young and Frugal

  • The Enemy of Success

    Daniel
    14 May 2012 | 9:37 pm
    Success means different things to different people, but no matter your definition of success, there is only one uniform enemy to it. It doesn’t matter if you have reached success or are far from it, you should be very scared of one thing; you should be scared of becoming complacent. Complacency happens when you reach “a good place,” that place where everything is nice; when there are no pending deadlines and it feels good to just coast…that is complacency. It will quickly sneak into work life and personal life if we let it, so we must remember that we have to…

  • The Art of Being Ageless

    Daniel
    9 May 2012 | 11:09 pm
    A few years ago I was featured in Forbes Magazine for being a “Savvy Shopper.” As you can imagine I was pretty darn excited about it, so I told the world, including my boss, that I was going to be featured in this prestigious magazine. When the magazine came out I rushed to the store in an effort to see a large photo of myself gracing the pages; it was pretty cool. The next day, my boss, who had been traveling when it came out, brought in a copy she had purchased and started showing people at work. I was thrilled that she was bragging about me, but little did I know that our once…

  • Pack Less

    Daniel
    7 May 2012 | 8:32 pm
    There is a fundamental flaw in taking a vacation: having to pack. Packing causes us to lose site of the freedom of a vacation in an attempt to solve any future problem that might arise. What if we go to a nice restaurant and I don’t have the right clothes? How many pair of shoes should I bring? How many days do you think we will workout? All these questions lead you to question and doubt your vacation before you even leave; they have you envisioning “what if” in a negative light instead of in a positive light, and they yield undue stress (did we pack everything?) and…

  • Role Models

    Daniel
    2 May 2012 | 10:05 pm
    Who do I want my son’s role models to be? Lately this question has been bugging me because it’s honestly kind of hard to think of some. I understand that no one is perfect, but when I look around I can’t help but skeptically think of what a potential role model’s dirty laundry is and when it will be front page “news.” Maybe it’s because I always think of Mayberry when I think of my parents growing up, but I imagine that for my parents and grandparents generations it was pretty easy to look around to find a role model. One might think that with…

  • How To Slash Your Cell Phone Bill

    Daniel
    30 Apr 2012 | 11:03 pm
    As Mary and I have been continuing to slash our monthly expenses we turned to a place that didn’t seem likely; our cell phone bill. Last June, after being with Sprint for 8 years, our contract was up, we shopped around, and came to the realization that while we were in our last contract, cell phone plans had gotten REALLY expensive. We felt trapped, but we needed phones (more like we needed wireless communication devices; as they are not used for talking very much), so we went with the cheapest option, which meant staying with Sprint. We got our new smartphones and signed our new…
 
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    Bible Money Matters

  • How And Why To Check Your Credit Score If You Plan On Buying A House

    Peter Anderson
    16 May 2012 | 11:39 am
    My wife and I have pretty good credit. We’ve never missed a payment on any of our debts, have had a variety of credit types (installment loans, mortgages and credit cards) and the cards that we do still have, we’ve had for years. We’re not too concerned about having a good credit score these days because we don’t really use debt that much, we pay cash for most things.  There is one thing that we DO need a good credit score for, however, that may be happening within the next year or two. Buying a house. When buying a new home it is important to stay on top of your…

  • 7 Roth IRA Mistakes To Avoid

    Guest Poster
    15 May 2012 | 9:41 am
    When it comes to saving for your retirement, a Roth IRA offers you a simple and understandable vehicle for planning ahead. But while investing in your Roth IRA isn’t rocket science, investors from all walks of life tend to encounter the same potential pitfalls over and over. So make sure you know the rules of the game as well as the hidden dangers which threaten to throw a wrench in even the best laid retirement plan. Here are seven Roth IRA mistakes you need to avoid: 1) Not Making The Maximum Contribution (or Any At All) One of the worst mistakes you can make is to not make any…

  • Can You Afford Your Lifestyle?

    Melissa
    14 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    About six years ago, my husband and I had a fairly comfortable lifestyle.  I worked full-time and my husband worked part-time as a graduate assistant.  We had one child, and we had no credit card debt.  We did have my student loan debt from graduate school, though it was less than $10,000.  We budgeted and set aside money for yearly expenses such as home insurance and twice yearly expenses such as car insurance, as well as car repairs.  My employer automatically withdrew 8% of my salary and deposited it in a retirement account. Sounds good, right?  We thought so.  We thought we could…

  • 50 Ways To Make Money: Maximizing, Creating And Increasing Your Income

    Peter Anderson
    11 May 2012 | 12:28 pm
    A week or so ago I published a post called 50 Easy Ways To Save Money Every Month where I gave tips for how people can save money every month and improve their bottom line.  We gave tips on how to save on regular recurring bills, how to repair money leaks, and how to get creative to find other savings around the house. The idea is to have more left over to pay off debt, or if you don’t have any debt -  more left over for giving, saving and investing. While I think it’s important to find ways to save every month, I also think it’s important to make sure you maximize…

  • Should You Combine Finances After Marriage?

    John Frainee
    10 May 2012 | 8:33 am
    Are you engaged? Married? Wondering if you should combine your finances during marriage? What are the pros and cons of a combined financial plan? Let’s explore this topic and figure out why you should or should not combine your finances when you’re married. Two Arguments on Combining Finances After Marriage Everyone I’ve met with when talking about this topic has always been passionately on one side of the argument or the other. People a lot of different feelings when it comes to this debate, and I’m going to try and be as objective as possible and then propose the…
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    Christian Personal Finance

  • It All Belongs to God: A Devotional

    Chris
    16 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Psalm 50:10-12 – “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains.” Our Nature For you and me it was an old worn out tool, but to a little boy it was a treasure … and it was mine! Little Aaron was playing with daddy’s tool belt left on the floor after a long day of work. Quickly he noticed the most fascinating multifunction screwdriver and took off to accomplish some minor repairs around the…

  • How to Hire Financial Help

    Cherie
    15 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Hiring a financial professional can be a daunting task. It can be a bit like dating – you need to understand yourself and what you need out of the relationship. Get up to speed on the lingo of professional credentials. Then you can look for some good candidates to team up with you. Finally, a few clicks on the Internet can confirm credentials and find out about any past problems. What is your current situation? The hardest step in meeting with a professional is doing your homework first! Take time to gather some general information about your household that includes a list of your assets…

  • How to Train Others: Five Lessons From Jesus

    Joe Plemon
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Whether you hire workers for your own business, train co-workers within the context of your current position, or equip others for ministry in your church, you should consider the following lessons from the Master trainer: 1. Be real during the interview process. If you are salivating over a prospective employee, don’t succumb to the temptation of sugar coating the job.  When a teacher of religious law asked Jesus if he could follow him, Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to even lay his head.”  (Matthew 8:20)  If you…

  • How Residual Income Works: What You Need To Know

    John Frainee
    11 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Are you stressed out by your paid-by-the-hour job? Do you feel like you’ll never make a substantial income? Then you should take some time to learn how residual income can help you relax and increase your profits at the same time. Are you ready? Linear Income vs. Residual Income The Definition of Linear Income With linear income, you do work and get paid once. Pretty simple. Like many of you, I was raised as a kid to produce linear income. I was told by teachers that the way to make a living was to go to college, get a steady paying job, and support a family. All of that is great, but…

  • The Basics of Value Investing

    Kevin
    10 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    In today’s mutual fund–and computer–driven investment environment value investing can sound almost exotic. Yet it’s probably the most time-honored way to successfully invest in stocks. It has none of the thrill of watching your portfolio grow every quarter or every year in bull markets, but it can be a cozy place to be when the market is heading the other way. Think of it as being as close to “patient capital” as it gets in the stock market. What is Value Investing? Value investing is buying stocks that are lower in price than other stocks in the same industry group. This can be…
 
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    Denise Richardson

  • Beware of New Twists on Old Scams

    Denise Richardson
    11 May 2012 | 6:01 pm
    At some point or another you've probably heard the phrase "everything old is new again."  Unfortunately, that goes just as well for scams and identity theft as it does for fashion and design.  Old scams that you'd think had gone...

  • 4 Dangerous Places to Swipe Your Debit Card

    Denise Richardson
    7 May 2012 | 10:57 am
    Even though you might think you are doing your best to safeguard your finances, you might be doing the exact opposite by regularly using your debit card to complete transactions. Despite the fact that debit cards look identical to credit...

  • Identity Theft Protection Services Reviewed

    Denise Richardson
    1 May 2012 | 3:15 pm
    The Consumer Federation of America recently released a report that reviewed 20 of the major identity theft protection services that are available today.  The review was a follow-up to a set of voluntary "best practices" guidelines that the CFA created last...

  • Key Features of a Good Spyware Removal Program

    Denise Richardson
    28 Apr 2012 | 5:48 pm
     If you're a regular surfer of the web, chances are you've come across a very annoying (and potentially dangerous) thing called spyware.  Spyware, a cousin of viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other malware, is a type of malicious code that...

  • Oops! $10 Million Reasons Debt Collectors Shouldn't Break Laws

    Denise Richardson
    26 Apr 2012 | 9:37 am
    Never underestimate the depths to which some debt collectors will sink when it comes to finding new ways to collect on a debt --whether it's owed or not. They will harrass, intimidate and levy threats all in an attempt to instill enough fear in...
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    PT Money

  • Your Mileage (and Costs) May Vary on Hybrid Cars

    Emily Guy Birken
    16 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    Toyota Prius V Hybrid Car - Est. MPG 44/40Whether you’re interested in reducing your carbon footprint or lowering your fuel costs, hybrid vehicles and their 50 mile-per-gallon efficiency claims may seem like a great solution.Unfortunately, as Heather Peters of California discovered, the claims and the reality do not necessarily match up.Ms. Peters took Honda to court recently when she found that her 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid consistently did not make 50 miles per gallon, despite the automaker’s advertising that it would in both city and highway driving.Note: This and other MPG claims…

  • Make Extra Money as a Dog Sitter

    Philip Taylor
    15 May 2012 | 6:30 am
    Is dog sitting a legit way to make money?Love dogs? Need some extra money?Today is your lucky day.Here are two new sites that connect dog sitters (and potential dog sitters) with dog owners in need of a sitter: DogVacay.com and Rover.com.Both have been around less than a year, but they look like a promising way to bring in some extra income for the right individual.If you’re familiar with AirBnB.com, the concept is very similar. As a sitter (boarder), you offer up your services and place for potential dog owners.Dog owners check the site for sitters in their area and pick the one they…

  • Citi Business / AAdvantage World MasterCard 30,000 Mile Bonus

    Michael
    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Citibank has been spending a lot of time revamping their business line of credit cards and earlier today, they re-launched the Citi Business / AAdvantage World MasterCard which now includes a 30,000 mile up front bonus.  While it’s a pretty solid offering for American Airlines flyers, it’s not overly spectacular.  Here’s my interpretation of what has become a cookie cutter offering from Citi.Citi Business / AAdvantage World MasterCard ReviewThe opening bonus of 30,000 miles is provided to all new Citi Business / AAdvantage World MasterCard holders after they’ve spent…

  • How to Decide Where to Live and Why We Chose to Stay Put

    Philip Taylor
    14 May 2012 | 11:13 am
    Where to next?Have you ever wondered if you’re living in the right place?The right neighborhood? The right city? The right part of the World?Mrs. PT (my wife) and I struggled with this question recently.As you know we’re in the process of moving. Our recent offer was accepted and we close on the loan for our new home at the end of this month.This may sound crazy, but our primary motivation for moving (right now) was so we could have a yard. We live in a townhome now. We don’t have a yard. That fact stinks now that we have little kids.You may be going through a similar…

  • Quick Money Tips: Cheap Entertainment Ideas

    Philip Taylor
    11 May 2012 | 2:08 pm
    Welcome to PT Money’s Quick Money Tips, a roundup of the latest and greatest money tips from around Internet. In today’s edition, we focus on keeping entertainment as cheap as possible, whether it’s cable television, music, or summer vacation.Best Quick Money TipsCutting the Cord on Cable TV’s Pricey Monthly Bill — If you’re not a die-hard television viewer, or even if you are, then this post offers some great ideas for cutting cable expenses.Five Places You Can Listen to Music for Free — I’ll make it 6 places by adding Grooveshark to the list. It is…
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    RetirementRevised

  • LGBT couples can’t bank Obama’s blessings yet

    Mark Miller
    15 May 2012 | 2:06 pm
    When President Obama embraced same-sex marriage last week, he tried to frame it as an issue for the states to resolve. But federal laws and policies are very much front and center in the battle for a level financial playing field for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans – especially seniors. And the Obama [...] Related posts:LGBT caregiving portal launchesRetirement planning for gay and lesbian couplesObama’s DOMA decision points to yawning gap in LGBT retirement benefits

  • Five ways to change your retirement math

    Mark Miller
    11 May 2012 | 8:51 am
    We’ve all seen the studies – one seems to land on my desk once or twice a week. “Americans are living longer.” “Fewer have defined benefit pensions.” “The value of Social Security is shrinking.” “Boomers don’t have enough money to retire comfortably.” “A retirement crisis is looming.” Just a couple recent data points: –Working American [...] Related posts:Number One worry: cost of health care in retirementCan you adapt to change as you age?Five ways to make 401(k) plans more like pensions

  • Why new online Social Security statement doesn’t cut it

    Mark Miller
    10 May 2012 | 3:11 pm
    Imagine getting the following notice in the mail from your life insurance carrier: “Dear Customer: Due to the difficult business climate, we no longer will be mailing out a regular statement on your account as a cost-saving measure. We do expect you to continue paying your premiums, so please log on to our website to [...] Related posts:Social Security to stop mailing annual benefits statementsThe other Social Security battle: The SSA budgetSocial Security suspends mailing of critical annual statements

  • Uncle Sam gives workplace Roths a big push

    Mark Miller
    8 May 2012 | 10:51 pm
    Roth workplace accounts, which have grown more popular in recent years, are about to get a shot in the arm from Uncle Sam. This week the federal government started rolling out a Roth option to 3.3 million employees who participate in its main retirement program. Unlike tax-deferred retirement accounts, Roth contributions are made with after-tax [...] Related posts:Workplace Roth plans slow to take offNew law gives a boost to surging workplace Roth accountsReader mailbag: Allocations, Social Security taxes and Roths

  • Should Ford retirees take a lump sum buyout?

    Mark Miller
    3 May 2012 | 2:22 pm
    Ford Motor Company is making an offer it hopes 90,000 former employees can’t refuse: a lump sum buyout of their pensions. The auto giant plans to offer a voluntary buyout of defined benefit pensions to salaried retirees and former employees, with payouts to start later this year. Although Ford hasn’t revealed the exact terms of [...] Related posts:Why lump sum pension payouts are a bad deal for most retireesWorried governmental retirees wonder: traditional pension or lump sum?Five factors to consider if you get a job buyout offer
 
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    MoneyMinding Monitor

  • Simplify and complete and the rewards of giant check marks on the seemingly endless list of to-do’s.

    admin
    26 Apr 2012 | 2:17 pm
    I’m sooooo grateful for the support of my amazing husband with this project because for years – yes years - there has been a task allocated to administration that has been cluttering up my peace of mind. Tonight we sat down and looked at how long it would take to complete and what exactly was involved so we could get the help necessary to get the job done. Well, several hours later, we had enjoyed some quality time together including some nice chardonnay and the result is that a huge volume of material that has been sitting in mVillage (the MoneyMinding Membership community) that wasn’t…

  • Are you Dead of Alive with Money?

    admin
    12 Apr 2012 | 6:42 pm
    There is no doubt that with, or without money, it’s a topic that causes uncertainty today. In many cases, money anxiety can lead to divorce, illness, investment loss, business failure, family turmoil, and a life unlived! The solution to financial issues, however, is a paradigm shift away from conventional wisdom that promotes ‘spend less than you earn, get out of debt and, save more for retirement’. This is outdated information that is actually fuelling the problems! My newest resource called The Death by Money Report, the causes of money stress and how a $10 solution can save your…

  • Why Getting Out of Debt Can Sabotage Your Financial Success

    admin
    11 Apr 2012 | 11:58 am
    Contrary to conventional wisdom, financial freedom doesn’t happen when you have no debt. In fact, the road to debt freedom and the process of maintaining it will actually halt your progress. That’s not to say that you should run out and rack up your credit cards and abandon your debt – that’s just irresponsible. It’s to say that the missing key to financial success; to reducing financial uncertainty; to experiencing financial peace – doesn’t happen when you have no debt. When you have access to credit you have access to an incredibly powerful wealth building tool. If you use it…

  • Feedback and Questions from ‘Small Change’ Workshops

    admin
    15 Mar 2012 | 2:25 pm
    Here is some of the feedback and quesitons from the Small Change Financial Expo where I delivered the following workshops in Victoria: 1. Preparing a Budget that Makes You Money 2. Teaching Your Kids About Money 3. The $10 Solution to Saving Your Financial Life  Loved it, best one from Friday and Saturday. ~ Carleen  I was interested to hear how to build a plan and impart that to kids. I found the drawer technique helpful. ~ Aidan  Very good. A different way of thinking about money. ~ Sue  A very motivational speech. ~ Philip  Great chat. Keep up the good work. You’re doing a…

  • Math and Emotion on Rent or Own

    admin
    12 Mar 2012 | 1:15 pm
    I don’t think I would surprise anyone if I shared that a top financial goal for most people is to own their own home. Imagine my horror at a financial advisor who specializes in insurance, explaining to a group of young families, how over a 5 year period they would be better off financially if they rented. Emotions are what drives decisions, whether we want to admit it or not. The young people were attending the presentation because they wanted to know how to buy their first home. Unfortunately, as the presenter explained that the median price of a 3 bedroom home in the area was $530,000…
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    RateNerd

  • 8 IRS Audit survival tips

    Rate Nerd
    1 May 2012 | 6:21 am
    The IRS audited 11 percent more returns in 2010 over the year before,  and more than double the agency’s pace just eight years earlier. That’s almost 1.6 million individual taxpayers in 2010, and that pace may continue rising as the government works harder to collect every dollar it’s owed under the tax code. If you get [...] 8 IRS Audit survival tips is a post from: RateNerd -... To read the full article, please visit http://RateNerd.com and find more unadvertised deals from banks.

  • 8 IRS red flags that could get you audited

    Rate Nerd
    21 Apr 2012 | 6:14 am
    Scary but true: The Internal Revenue Service audited almost 1.6 million individual taxpayers in 2010. That’s an 11 percent increase over the year before and more than double the agency’s pace just eight years earlier. With Uncle Sam confronting a trillion-dollar budget deficit, that pace may continue rising as the government works harder to collect [...] 8 IRS red flags that could get... To read the full article, please visit http://RateNerd.com and find more unadvertised deals from banks.

  • How To Use The American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits

    Rate Nerd
    26 Mar 2012 | 11:05 am
    You can slash college bills with tax benefits – but you need to know how. Other than buying a home and automobile, a college education is one of the biggest investments Americans typically make. On average, in-state tuition and fees at a four-year public college increased by more than 8 percent to $8,244 for the [...] How To Use The American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits is a... To read the full article, please visit http://RateNerd.com and find more unadvertised deals from banks.

  • Eight red flags that could get you audited

    Rate Nerd
    24 Mar 2012 | 1:52 pm
    The Internal Revenue Service audited almost 1.6 million individual taxpayers in 2010. Here are some ways to stay out of the spotlight.   2010′ audit rate represents an 11 percent increase over the year before and more than double the agency’s pace just eight years earlier. With Uncle Sam confronting a trillion-dollar budget deficit, that [...] Eight red flags that could get you... To read the full article, please visit http://RateNerd.com and find more unadvertised deals from banks.

  • 2011 and 2012 Tax Credits For College

    Rate Nerd
    3 Feb 2012 | 8:16 am
    Slash your college bills with tax credits  Other than buying a home and automobile, a college education is one of the biggest investments Americans typically make. On average, in-state tuition and fees at a four-year public college increased by more than 8 percent to $8,244 for the 2011-2012 academic year, and room and board now [...] 2011 and 2012 Tax Credits For College is a post from: RateNerd... To read the full article, please visit http://RateNerd.com and find more unadvertised deals from banks.
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    The Financial Blogger

  • Cold Calls Boot Camp!

    The Financial Blogger
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
      I got an email from Blake last week (a fellow planner and loyal TFB reader). He’s a really good, honest planner and knows that he can add a lot of value for his clients. He is meticulous and is always looking to improve his clients’ situations. In other words, he’s part of us good guys . He told me that he was able to close almost everybody that he meets in a one-on-one conversation. The problem is that he would like to get more clients (who doesn’t want to make more money anyways, huh?). In our business, there are 2 ways to gain clients:   1-      Referrals (from…

  • Partnership Failures and Lessons Learned

    The Financial Blogger
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
      It’s a total coincidence, but it seems that I’m making a lot of confessions this week. After telling you how I feel at work (I’m already doing better now!), I want to share some failures I have had in the past with regards to my business ventures. Believe it or not, this is not at my first attempt to build a company and not my first partnership either. When I was in University, I started a small computer business. We were building new computers and repairing old ones. I didn’t know much about computers (like I don’t know much about tech stuff today!). But I liked computers…

  • Epicness of the Week

    MD
    11 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    My favorite piece by far from this past week is A Nerd’s Guide to Healthy Drinking @ Nerd Fitness. We’re going to shift away from finance today to look at a popular fitness topic. Anyone looking to lose weight or get in in better shape, has had to think about sneaking in a drink or two without feeling guilty. An eye-opener in this post is some thoughts on red bull and vodka: “The alcohol tries to slow you down, the caffeine tries to speed you up – your body has no effing clue what to do.” Every young person going to a party after a long day of school or work, has tried…

  • Do You Care About Job Security?

    MD
    10 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    How important is job security to you? Are you worried about losing your job tomorrow? I understand that anyone with a family, kids, a mortgage, car payments, or any other real responsibilities is obviously going to want job security. You want to know how much money you’re going to have coming in so that you can cover your current expenses and plan for the future. I totally understand that aspect of job security. Nobody wants to work in an industry with a high turnover rate when they have a family because they want to be able to put food on the table. There’s one problem though. I…

  • Here’s The Truth I Never Told

    The Financial Blogger
    8 May 2012 | 5:12 am
      A couple of months ago, I told you that I started a new job and that I was joining the big leagues. More recently, I compiled a few videos on how I motivate myself to get the ball rolling.  And it works: after 6 weeks at my new job, I’ve already achieved my annual objective and have an interesting pipeline for next year!   I received a few emails and comments on this blog asking how I make cold calls and how I start a new book. Readers are basically asking me what I do to be so successful at work. I guess the secret is to find what you are really good at and hustle. Passion and…
 
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    Intelligent Speculator

  • Ultimate Sustainable Dividend Portfolio – May 2012 Update

    IS
    16 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Last year I did some in-depth research to find long term sustainable dividend stocks and have been doing updates on this Ultimate Sustainable dividend portfolio since then in the attempt to show how well such a portfolio can perform over the long term but also show how I would manage such a portfolio. I have said it before, I do not believe in stocks that you can hold “forever”. Thus, even in a long term portfolio such as this one, I will end up making some trades from time to time. I did do one last month so nothing new is coming in April. I do discuss the search for new high…

  • Why the next Facebook might never have to pay taxes

    IS
    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    I discuss taxes frequently on this blog. It’s a polarizing subject and one that I hate to see simplified. Some such as the new left wing French government think that simply raising taxes will bring in more revenue. That might be true in the short term but not in the long term. Why Raising Taxes Is Not Always The Best Solution I’ve discussed how companies such as Facebook ($FB), Google ($GOOG) and General Electric ($GE) have managed to pay a tax rate that is often below 5% through various strategies. The high US corporate tax rate is a big reason why these companies have been given…

  • New Stock Pick Long LinkedIn (LNKD) & Short Pandora (P)

    IS
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Wow, another brutal week as my average trade return is profitable this year but not by much and not anywhere close to last year’s very solid results. Today, I’m opening a trade that I opened just a few months ago with success.  This one comes as no surprise for the IntelligentSpeculator Tech Mailing List members (free to join if you are interested!). Let’s look at the numbers for these 2 stocks: TickerNamePriceEPSPE RatioPE Next YearReturn YTDSales GrowthAnalyst ratingBook Value LNKDLinkedIn Corp107.230.15903.6687.8476.16114.813.926.37 PPandora Media…

  • Closing Trade (ZNGA, NILE)

    IS
    14 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    This morning I will be closing off a new trade, which stands at -21.16%, bringing down the average trade return so far this year to 0.86%!

  • Facebook ($FB): It’s Not All About Revenues

    IS
    11 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Everyone knows it, I’m a big believer in Facebook, in its stock $FB, and where it will lead its users, employees and investors. Facebook seems to be increasingly polarizing as its IPO approaches. Many see the biggest and most obvious sign that we are back in the a tech bubble while others such as myself think that while very risky, it:s still a great investment opportunity. I think there are plenty of arguments that are very solid reasons to think twice about buying $FB. Many others however are poor ones. Today I wanted to discuss one useless stat that has been coming up over and over:…
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    Kingdom Calling

  • Willow is Born!

    Wes Bridel
    11 May 2012 | 8:47 am
    Our daughter finally arrived this week.  She checked in at 7 pounds 11 ounces and 20 1/2 inches.  Kara did an amazing job in the delivery and managed to bring her into the world about 45 minutes after showing up at the hospital!  How’s that for efficient?  It was alot more relaxing experience than when our son was born since it was an early morning delivery, and was so much shorter and less exhausting.  We’re home getting readjusted and recovering this week and next.  Here’s a short clip of our son meeting our new daughter…. If are not keeping up with our ongoing…

  • The US Will See Real Recession

    Wes Bridel
    27 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    Recession in the US?  According to the media, we’re far from this, right?  Well, maybe.  Right now, we’re seeing slow growth that doesn’t get anyone excited, but is actually positive.  Will we see slow growth like China, or full blown recession like Europe? What the media and government don’t like to mention is that the money printing they are doing (via the Fed) is highly inflationary.  Thus the cost of goods that you must buy throughout the year costs considerably more than they did the year before.  If the cost of goods rise by 4% across the country, and the economy grows by…

  • China’s Growth Slows

    Wes Bridel
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    Moving from Europe to China, the story stays similar.  While Europe is in recession, China’s growth has slowed dramatically.  This is another prediction that has already begun to come true since we first made the prediction.  However, we see this trend continuing. China’s economy is largely based on sending cheap manufactured items to the US and Europe.  Both of these areas are not seeing the growth necessary to drive increased sales.  Thus, China’s suffering with the rest of the world. Because China’s still in the emerging part of it’s growth cycle and generally sees very…

  • Europe Will Experience a Sovereign Default (and Perhaps Multiple Defaults) in 2012

    Wes Bridel
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    We spoke on Friday about the possibility of sovereign default in Europe.  There is the possibility that the European Central Bank (ECB) will print enough money to bail out all the problem countries.  However, this would surely lead to hyperinflation and since Germany is still the main power in Europe, this seems unlikely to us in the end.  (They have certainly started down this road, we’re just betting they pull up short). So we’re thinking that the problems of Europe will come to a head in 2012 and cause a country to default.  And it’s likely that once one of them defaults, several…

  • Europe Undergoing Severe Recession

    Wes Bridel
    20 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    It might be obvious to all now that Europe will not escape a severe recession.  At the time we first wrote this prediction, the media talk was about how the rest of Europe was pulling together and saving Greece. Well, they’ve “saved” Greece and now Greece is back in trouble.  They’ve “saved” the European banks with their LTRO bailout and now the banks are in severe trouble again. Spain is the headliner now because their problems are severe and unavoidable.  Also, Spain is much larger than Greece and not nearly so easy to “bail out”. But let’s be clear.  The bailout of…
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    Don't Quit Your Day Job...

  • How Do You Know You’re Ready For Active Investing?

    PK
    16 May 2012 | 12:45 am
    My Fantasy Portfolio Returns vs. S&P 500 at Updown.com If you read my recent article on my returns as an active investor, you’ll note that for years I invested in mutual funds before ever putting a single dollar into an individual stock. I mean, what gives?  At what point did my confidence (ego?) allow me to make the leap from a passive investor to an active investor? Thousands of Pages of Reading I tend to over-analyze a lot of things (do you read this site?).  Since the day I started investing I knew that eventually I would have at least some of my portfolio in individual…

  • Who Will Rate the Raters? The Analyst Crisis on Wall Street.

    PK
    14 May 2012 | 12:41 am
    We here at Don’t Quit Your Day Job are sometimes a cynical crew.  We have a keen sense of the absurd and love to share the most egregious absurdities with you.  You see, there is a position on Wall Street called a Financial Analyst – and those Analysts are trusted to do a very fundamental job: break the investment prospects in various companies down into one of 5 categories.  There are positive categories (like buy or overweight), neutral categories (like market perform, market weight or… neutral) and negative categories (like sell and underweight).  Different firms have…

  • The DQYDJ Weekender (Week of 5/7/12)

    PK
    12 May 2012 | 1:41 pm
    New Blogroll Link! Through some stupid oversight, I didn’t have Burbed in my blogroll.  That situation has been rectified.  If you want to share my appreciation for overpriced Bay Area homes (one of which I am typing this from!), click through there, or read this sarcastic piece on Mountain View keeping new houses away. Links Featuring Us! The Carnival of Financial Camaraderie (This Week, seems to have gone up early) The Carnival of Financial Camaraderie (Last Week) The Carnival of Wealth The Totally Money Carnival The Carnival of Personal Finance The Yakezie Carnival Financial Uproar…

  • S&P 500 Return Calculator

    PK
    8 May 2012 | 11:51 pm
    One issue you run into a lot when you are discussing optimal savings strategies is the inability of people discussing their returns versus the S&P 500 to produce a fair comparison.  They will say, for example, that the S&P 500 index was at the same level as it was at some time in the past – so therefore investing in the index was a waste of time. It’s time to correct this nonsense.  I have taken Robert Shiller’s data on the historical S&P 500 index and created a dividend reinvestment index going back to 1876 (from PK: as of this posting, through April 2012. …

  • Is It Possible to Beat The Stock Market?

    PK
    7 May 2012 | 1:37 am
    You recently completed a very verbose series here at DQYDJ on investor psychology, the failure of the Efficient Market Hypothesis, and how to improve on buy and hold.  If you survived all of that, you’re probably wondering: “hey PK!  You mentioned in the EMH article that you trade stocks on valuation.  How do you know that you’re doing the right thing?” Good point dear reader, and to tell you the truth, until I ran the numbers this weekend I wasn’t quite sure.  However, lucky for you (and my ego) I have now run the numbers and am ready to share my investing…
 
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    savingtools.com - How to Save Money

  • Kid Spent Hundreds Using His iPod Touch? How to Get Your Money Back

    Jessica Bosari
    16 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Imagine my horror to find my bank account drained of almost $500 from, of all things, an app on my son's new iTouch! The game Gun Bros offers coin packs to players that they buy for real money. The downside is that they don't make it obvious you are using real money to buy these packs. After all, who would imagine paying $200 for some tokens to use on an app? Seems inconceivable, doesn't it? You could easily spend hundreds playing a stupid little game designed to kill time.Read the rest...

  • How to Retire On Less: 6 Alternative Lifestyles

    Jessica Bosari
    15 May 2012 | 9:00 pm
    With the decline of the economy and retirement funds seeing dramatic losses in the past few years, more employees are realizing that traditional retirement might not be possible for them. If you are approaching retirement age and either not willing or not able to quit your job just yet, then here are five alternatives to the conventional ideas about retirement.Read the rest...

  • How to Use Social Media to Help in Your Job Search

    Jessica Bosari
    14 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Let's face it, the job market is a disaster. Those who fail to keep up with technology could be left behind in the job search. Show your proactive side by using social media to help you find your next job and prosper during tough times.Read the rest...

  • Planning a Summer Vacation: How to Start Saving

    Jessica Bosari
    11 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    With spring well underway and most school semesters drawing to a close, many people are looking forward to summer as a time for vacations and relaxations. While summer vacations are a long-standing family tradition, they can strain the pocketbook, especially in a troubled economy. Between gas prices, food, lodging and entertainment costs, even a simple vacation can quickly escalate into a prohibitively expensive affair. Fortunately, with a little forethought and planning, you can set aside money for a dream vacation and cut vacation costs. Read the rest...

  • Getting Married? Don't Overlook These Financial Planning Issues

    Jessica Bosari
    10 May 2012 | 9:00 pm
    As you prepare for your big wedding day you are planning to make a lot of changes in your life. You are changing from being single to the beginnings of your own family, you are where and how you live and perhaps you are even changing your name. With all of this change, and in addition to planning a big party and a big move, you should also take the opportunity of marriage to reassess your finances and look at how your financial needs, goals and processes will change after the wedding.Read the rest...
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    Sound Money Matters

  • How to Find Deals on Baby Stuff

    Aryn
    2 May 2012 | 6:02 am
    Babies grow fast, but styles don’t frequently change, so it’s easy to find bargains on the essential baby gear. Those trendy diaper bags being carried by celebrities may not be available for a steal, but you don’t need that, so let other people be the fools who pay $400 for Posh Spice’s diaper bag. Baby Product Reviews and Bargain Recommendations First, I recommend buying the book Baby Bargains. Buy the most recent edition available. I also use Consumer Reports to back up those reviews in major categories like cribs and strollers. Consumer Reports is $30 a year, and…

  • Getting Started with a Cloth Diaper Stash

    Aryn
    16 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    Yes, I’m going to be one of those cloth-diapering, breastfeeding, baby-food making moms. Not only are all three better for the baby and the environment, but they’re cheaper, too. Seriously, mash up a fresh banana instead of spending 79 cents on a single jar of baby food! But that baby food will be another post, once my baby gets to solid food. First, come the diapers. If you plan to use cloth diapers, start building a stash before the baby comes.  There are several types of diapers you can try. If you want to test a variety, Jillian’s Drawers offers a $10 three-week cloth…

  • That Makes Me Stabby: Resort Fees

    Aryn
    11 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    This weekend, my husband and I went to Las Vegas and encountered the most ridiculous resort fee ever. My only previous encounter with a resort fee occurred at an actual resort and included “resort” items like two free bottles of water per day (useful at a Disney resort), towel service at the pool, and similar amenities. The fee was still somewhat ridiculous, but at least it provided something of value. This weekend’s resort fee was nothing other than a way to increase prices without actually increasing prices, and that makes me stabby. You WILL Receive Business Services I…

  • That Makes Me Stabby: These Houses are NOT Half-Off

    Aryn
    21 Mar 2012 | 3:37 pm
    Yesterday, Good Morning America featured a story explaining how you buy a house for half price. They kept touting it as half-off or 50% off. Except it wasn’t. At one point they did explain that the homes were 50% from their last sold price at the real estate peak. But that doesn’t mean the house is half-off. That means it reached an unreasonable price and is now being sold at an appropriate price. GMA’s claim is no different than a department store doubling the price of an item on Monday, and then putting it on sale for 50% off on Tuesday. They’re still selling it for…

  • Budgeting for Baby

    Aryn
    24 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am
    I’m about halfway through my pregnancy, so it’s time to turn my thoughts to baby gear. I still haven’t come to terms with the idea that I will actually have a baby in five months, but I can at least be prepared. We started with a budget. I will be having baby showers and getting hand-me-downs, but I’m also budgeting for the things we need to buy or spend money on that first year. What You Really Need If you walk into a baby store and ask them what you need, they will give you a very long and very expensive list. So here’s what you really need: Crib…
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    The Quizzle Wire

  • Does Canceling My Credit Cards Boost My Credit Score?

    Juliana Weiss-Roessler
    16 May 2012 | 10:05 am
    The financial world we live in is a scary one where many people are no longer comfortable holding onto credit cards with high limits that might tempt them into making purchases they can’t afford – especially if they’ve already got a mediocre credit rating due to credit debt! Some people have even asked if it’s possible to boost their credit score by canceling credit cards. It’s not entirely crazy. Once you’ve taken care of the debt, eliminate the possibility of getting into more debt by closing cards. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works in the credit world. In fact, canceling…

  • Memorial Day Weekend Offers Americans a Gas Holiday

    Michael Adain Carroll
    16 May 2012 | 9:51 am
    After climbing to record highs in recent months, the price at the pump has finally leveled out and is showing relief signs as the Memorial Day weekend approaches. A welcome change for would be holiday travelers, decreasing prices at the pump and slight increases in consumer confidence indicators means a few more drivers on the road and a few more dollars in your pocket. According to a survey conducted by travel and leisure group AAA, 30.7 million Americans will hit the open road over Memorial Day weekend, a 1.2 percent bump from a year ago. While thicker traffic might mean longer car rides,…

  • Facebook IPO – Not as Public as You Think

    Michael Adain Carroll
    15 May 2012 | 10:49 am
    Investment bankers and Wall Street sharks aren’t the only ones salivating over this week’s expected initial public offering (IPO) from social media giant Facebook. Tech geeks and Facebook fiends are lining up to grab their piece of the company whose initial valuation could be $100 billion. Spoiler alert… despite your enthusiasm, scooping up Facebook shares may not be so easy for the general public to acquire at the offer price. Associated Press writer Dave Carpenter sums it up best, but the gist is simple – it’s who you know or how much money you have. In other words, if you’re…

  • How to Help a Friend with Financial Problems

    Benjamin Gran
    14 May 2012 | 11:48 am
    With the economy still going through a long, slow recovery, millions of Americans are feeling financial pressure. Whether you’ve lost your job, had your hours cut, or are feeling underemployed, under-challenged or undercompensated at your job, chances are that you or many of your friends can relate to the feelings of financial stress that are affecting so many people in today’s economy. If your friends are struggling financially, here are some ideas for how you can help: Don’t give them money: If one of your friends comes to you asking for financial help, it can be tempting to give them…

  • Fudged Resume Shakes up Yahoo

    Michael Adain Carroll
    14 May 2012 | 11:04 am
    Resume padding is a time-honored practice. Stretched accomplishments, embellished responsibilities and title tweaking have long helped the struggling job applicant find they edge they need to get the job they really want. I know what you’re thinking… did he just advocate lying on your resume?  No, but I will say that finding a way to market yourself to a new employer can involve a little resume creativity. Lying may get you a job, but just ask Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson how fabricating education accomplishments on his resume worked out for him, the company, and its shareholders. While the…
 
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    How to Get Out of Debt With the Get Out of Debt Guy

  • Non-Profit Housing Counseling Agencies to be Focus of IRS Examinations

    Steve Rhode
    16 May 2012 | 10:59 am
    From How to Get Out of Debt The report below comes from Venable law firm. All I can say to my credit counseling friends is they better learn the meaning of the phrase BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Comes Again). Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service’s (“IRS”) Exempt Organizations (“EO”) division unveiled its annual work plan. The plan highlights EO’s priorities [...] Read the full article at... [To view the rest of this article go to GetOutOfDebt.org]

  • Realty Law Center – Consumer Complaint – 5-16-2012

    Consumer
    16 May 2012 | 10:46 am
    From How to Get Out of Debt Consumer Statement: they called me constantly before all the money was sent but now im not receiving even a simple phone call from anyone Consumer Action Taken: i have made numerous phone calls every day and mrs gomez was supposed to be handling my case and she has not got back with me at all. [...] Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Realty Law... [To view the rest of this article go to GetOutOfDebt.org]

  • Credit Card Delinquency Rates Continue Decline

    Steve Rhode
    16 May 2012 | 10:18 am
    From How to Get Out of Debt What spells good news for American consumers, spells more bad news for the debt relief industry. According to TransUnion, the national credit card delinquency rate for people more than 90 days past due has dropped to 0.73% from last quarters 0.78%. In addition the average credit card debt per borrower decreased by $242 to $4,962. [...] Read the full article at... [To view the rest of this article go to GetOutOfDebt.org]

  • Can I Get Into the UK if I Have An Old Debt There? – Manish

    Jon Emge
    15 May 2012 | 2:09 pm
    From How to Get Out of Debt “Dear Jon, my name is manish.i have lived in UK for 5 years and have some debts.i have come back to my home country because my student visa was running out..it has been 2 years since i have come back from UK. can i travel back to UK, if i had some old UK debts?is [...] Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Can I Get Into the UK if I Have An Old... [To view the rest of this article go to GetOutOfDebt.org]

  • The Credit Repair Company Seems Out of Control

    Steve Rhode
    15 May 2012 | 2:08 pm
    From How to Get Out of Debt A Craigslist ad came to my attention for a credit repair company called “The Credit Repair Company.” It appears that someone is running an advertisement claiming: “WE HAVE BEEN HELPING OTHERS ALL THROU THE UNITED STATES WITH THE BAD CREDIT ISSUES SINCE 1995 WE HAVE AN A+ RATING WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WE CAN [...] Read the full article at... [To view the rest of this article go to GetOutOfDebt.org]
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    Creditshout

  • Why a Checking Account is Almost Always Better Than a Prepaid Card

    Clay Wyatt
    16 May 2012 | 9:16 am
    Does your favorite celebrity endorse a prepaid card? Do all the ads out there for prepaid cards tempt you to get one? If so, it is a good idea to reconsider your options.While prepaid cards may be the latest rage, the time-tested option of using a checking account is still a superior means of conducting transactions and storing money.Checking Accounts Actually Cost LessA 2011 study by Consumers Union analyzed fees at some popular banks and compared them to those of popular prepaid cards. The study showed that savvy customers can end up with very limited fees or even no fees at all with a…

  • Marshall’s Credit Card – Worth Applying For?

    Clay Wyatt
    15 May 2012 | 4:30 pm
    “Would you like to sign up for a (insert relevant store) credit card? You can save a zillion dollars and it will make you the king of a small nation.”Alright, I embellished that a bit, but you get the drift. How many times have you been asked to sign up for a store credit card? The cashier is probably required to ask all customers to sign up for a card and may even get a small commission for signing you up. Still, you may occasionally wonder whether or not the offered card is actually worth it.The situation is no different at Marshalls, as customers may be asked to sign up for a credit…

  • Disney Premier Visa Card Review

    Clay Wyatt
    9 May 2012 | 3:24 pm
    Secure Application CREDITSHOUT RATING: Very Good Verdict: The Disney Premier Visa card is a good card to have for Disney fans. It comes with a $100 gift card to kick things off. Also, it offers strong purchase rewards with 2 percent cash back (in rewards dollars) on many common purchases, not just Disney purchases. This card should be among the your finalists if you are a Disney fan.Disney Premier Visa Rewards ProgramThe Disney Premier Visa card is geared heavily toward Disney fans. Basically, if you love Disney products and/or locations, this card offers substantial rewards.Sign Up Bonus:…

  • How To Get $893.75 Towards Your Next Disney World Vacation With Credit Card Rewards

    Kevin Fleming
    7 May 2012 | 12:24 pm
    With June quickly approaching many families are starting to prepare for a summer vacation. In less than a month, many kids will be finishing up the school year and parents will be exercising some well earned vacation days.At CreditShout, this means helping our readers maximize their travel points to make that trip a little more affordable. One of the most popular destinations for families redeeming their card rewards (or least the one we get the most questions about) is Disney. Every week around this time we get a few emails that look something like this:Dear CreditShout,My wife and I are…

  • How To Get a US Credit Card as a Canadian

    Clay Wyatt
    4 May 2012 | 9:08 am
    If you are a Canadian who frequently purchases US goods, a US credit card could be beneficial to your budget. Sure, the Canadian Dollar is currently slightly stronger than the US Dollar, but that benefit will be negated by the typical 2.5 percent conversion fee. Thus, it may make sense to use a US card and avoid that fee.The easiest way for a Canadian to obtain a US credit card is through a Canadian financial institution. The process is the same as applying for a Canadian credit card, except that you’ll be able to make purchases in US dollars. You’ll need a Canadian credit history and…
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    blogstash.com

  • Top 10 Ways to Make Money Online

    satrap
    11 May 2012 | 6:51 pm
    What are the top 10 ways to make money online?… If you ever wondered how to make money from home, I am sure you have asked this question once or twice. Well, it depends on what you would consider “top” and what kind of qualifications an online money making method has to have to qualify [...] You May Also Like:There Are Only 2 Ways to Make Money Online!6 Ways Online Forums Can Help You Make Money OnlineBest Ways To Make Money Online

  • Earning Money with WebAnswers – Passive Income?

    satrap
    3 May 2012 | 2:23 pm
    WebAnswers.com is basically a questions and answers site just like Yahoo Answers where people can ask and answer questions. However, unlike Yahoo Answers, you can actually make money by posting questions and also answering other people’s questions. WebAnswer is basically a revenue sharing kind of Q&A site where the revenue earned from Google Adsense ads [...] You May Also Like:Get Paid to Answer Questions – 11 Sites to Make Money withMake Money Answering Questions OnlineMake Money Online Using Yahoo Answers and CPA Offers

  • 101 Ways to Make Money Online

    satrap
    26 Apr 2012 | 8:59 pm
    There are lots of 101 ways to make money online kind of posts out there. I always liked these kinds of posts simply because they can give you lots of other ideas. For some people, these kinds of lists may not help them make money per se, but they certainly are great for opening your [...] You May Also Like:Best Ways To Make Money OnlineThere Are Only 2 Ways to Make Money Online!8 Easy Ways to Make Money Online Without A Website

  • 3 Part-Time Home Business Ideas

    satrap
    17 Apr 2012 | 5:42 pm
    There are many great part time home business ideas out there. Most of us would love the opportunity to have our own home business but we either don’t know how to get started or are just not ready to take the risk of living a full-time day job that pays the bills to start a [...] No related posts.

  • QuickRewards Review – Scam or Legit Reward + Cash Back Program?

    satrap
    13 Apr 2012 | 10:10 am
    QuickRewards network review has been on my mind for a while now. If you have been trying to make money on the Internet using Get paid to and rewards programs for a while, I am certain you have heard of QuickRewards.net by now. Quick rewards has been making lots of noise recently and an increasing [...] You May Also Like:Swagbucks.com: Scam or Gateway to Free Money and Prizes?MySurvey Review – Scam or Legitimate Paid Survey SiteIs Cashcrate a Scam Or a Legitimate Site For Making Money Online?
 
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    Getdebthelp.org - by American Debt Counseling, Inc

  • Tips For Selling Your Home!

    American Debt Counseling
    11 May 2012 | 10:07 am
    Tips for Selling your Home First impressions are important.  Think about the last time you drove by a home that had overgrown shrubs and a fountain that was covered in mildew, or the paint coming off the front door.  Was that a home that you wanted to go inside?  Probably not so be sure your “curb appeal” is attractive. A few dollars can prove to be priceless.  Upgrade kitchen and bathroom faucets and drawer hardware to make them appear new.  Walls are a huge aspect to many buyers so paint them a neutral color, such as white or off white.  A fresh coat of paint will not only make…

  • Dumb Moves Homebuyers Make

    American Debt Counseling
    7 May 2012 | 9:16 am
    Dumb Moves Homebuyers Make If you want a new home and can afford it, now is an exciting time to buy. According to the National Association of Home Builders, prices nationwide are the most affordable they’ve been in decades. Interest rates are low. And there shouldn’t be a supply problem – RealtyTrac predicts a lot more foreclosures ahead.   One potential fly in the ointment? Getting the loan. As you already know if you’re a house hunter, mortgage financing is no walk in the park. “Extraordinarily tight standards currently prevail,” Elizabeth Duke of the Federal Reserve said…

  • FAFSA 101

    American Debt Counseling
    12 Apr 2012 | 10:31 am
    FAFSA is a term any college student or graduate is very familiar with.  FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  It is the first step in getting the process started for financial assistance.  Everyone is encouraged to fill out this form regardless of your financial situation.  The reason is you may qualify for a scholarship or other form of assistance that is not on a financial needs basis.  This form is overwhelming at first, however if you are prepared it should not take longer than 30 minutes to fill out.  Below I have listed some main points to keep in mind while…

  • Paying For College

    American Debt Counseling
    12 Apr 2012 | 10:29 am
    The US Census Bureau stated that a college graduate will make 1.2 million more in a lifetime than a high school graduate.  Research also has proved that college graduates are half as likely to be unemployed.  With the current unemployment rate that is a nice incentive to go to college.  So we understand that a degree can be a priceless investment, however the question many ponder is how to financially achieve that investment.  Please refer to the chart below to see the average cost of college annually. Annual Cost 2 year public college (In state students) 4 year public college (In state…

  • Private Loans

    American Debt Counseling
    12 Apr 2012 | 10:28 am
    As many of you have seen lately the press has been covering the “student loan debt crisis”.  Student loan debt has passed $1 trillion, which is more than the nation’s credit card debt.  Millions of current and graduated students are faced with mounting student loan debt, yet due to the economy are unable to make payments at the moment. The President recently has addressed this issue and put into place some changes that will go into effect in 2013 to lessen the burden on some borrowers.  However, unfortunately it will not help everyone. With those facts brought to our attention it is…
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    About.com Financial Software

  • 3 Steps to Download Transactions

    15 May 2012 | 4:50 am
    Not everyone is comfortable with using the automatic transaction downloads that most online personal finance apps offer, but, entering all transactions manually is time consuming.  A good option that falls between auto-updates and entering data yourself is to import transactions from your bank and other financial institutions to the online software. This is a two part process: first you download selected transactions to your hard drive, and then import to the software....Read Full Post

  • Adaptu Review: Strong Community and Investment Support

    10 May 2012 | 7:19 am
    When I first learned about Adaptu, I blogged about its investment support features.  I still think the Investor Center is a great addition to this free online personal finance software, and the Community, which is separate from financial tools, offers great advice from expert personal finance coaches, complete with videos and discussions. Of course, the money management tools are on par with what other online personal finance apps offer....Read Full Post

  • Apps and Software Take the Sweat Out of Tracking Receipts

    8 May 2012 | 6:20 am
    Has keeping track of receipts become a real hassle? Look no further, there are solutions for getting all that paper organized, whether you need to do so for expense reporting, backing up potential insurance claims, to keep better tax deduction records, or for any other reason....Read Full Post

  • 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Mess Up Personal Finance Software

    2 May 2012 | 5:07 am
    It's really pretty easy to set up personal finance software. Just start with setting up accounts that mirror your real financial accounts, then let the software guide you through the rest. So why do people so often try to take short cuts when the set up is already anything but time consuming? Maybe plowing through stuff like setting up software is just human nature, or maybe people are just lazy. Or both....Read Full Post

  • Financial Apps Put Bills on a Calendar

    30 Apr 2012 | 12:30 pm
    All personal finance software will show you a list of bills that are coming due.  While looking over that list is a really easy way to determine when you need to sit down with the checkbook or onlinebill pay, being able to see your bills on a monthly calendar can add a better perspective to when you're going to need the funds to pay bills.  Learn more about financial calendars in personal finance software, and what software titles offer this calendar....Read Full Post
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    Mogo Lounge | Mogo Blog

  • The Toastabag changes the way I think about toaster, grilled cheese forever (video)

    Alan
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    If your toaster is wide enough, and your imagination is big enough, you could have created the Toastabag. Instead, Dutch firm Boska came up with it. Basically, the Toastabag is a parchment-paper-like bag that enables you to make an evenly cooked grilled cheese in your toaster, without the imagined mess. Videos speak better than text, so look on: Want to buy one? Head over to the Boska website for more info.

  • Top 5 iPhone apps every user should have

    Nikki
    15 May 2012 | 10:15 am
    iPhone app shopping can be quite overwhelming. With so many options to choose from, it’s sometimes difficult to separate the good and the bad from the bug-ridden. We help you to choose tried and tested apps which can really add something to your life. Skype for iPhone This Skype app allows you to call at a fraction of the cost of regular calls. This is especially helpful for long-distance calls. If you call from your Skype account to another, it’s absolutely free! You can run Skype in the background so your Skype calls come through as regular calls. See more here. Documents to Go…

  • High Park Heaven in Toronto

    Nikki
    14 May 2012 | 10:08 am
    Toronto is described as the ‘city in a park’. This is a fairly accurate statement as you can’t walk more than a few blocks in any direction without hitting a park, parkette or grassy knoll. The greatest of all the parks is High Park. This massive 399 acre rambling forest in the city center is Toronto’s defining element and greatest asset. Spring in High Park is simply sublime. The flowering cherry trees in early May make a dazzling display. You can amble over its rolling hills or picnic on the lawns. Children can choose from a variety of playgrounds and water fun parks…

  • Happy Mothers Day, Moms!

    Alan
    13 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Whether you’re a saver, a spender, or somewhere in between, you’ve been affected by some of the moms in our world. From us at Mogo, we just want to say “Thanks” to all the mothers out there. My mom taught me a lot about saving, living and laughing. Thinking of you on this Sunday! Happy Mothers Day! image via manumilou

  • Province by province breakdown of Canada’s unemployment rate

    Alan
    12 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    CBC recently dropped this interactive look at the unemployment rates in Canada on a province-by-province level. Mouse over each major city (or entire province) to see the exact changes from March to April. Click through to see the sectors that bring the most jobs, the state of all our provinces and territories and much more.
 
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    Ready To Be Rich

  • The Things I Do To Stop And Overcome Procrastination Part 2

    Fitz
    16 May 2012 | 5:59 am
    This is the last part of this article, to read the first part, click here: The Things I Do To Stop And Overcome Procrastination Part 1 The first part of this article showed ways on how to overcome the most common excuses that procrastinators say. This second part will give you more tips on how [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:The Things I Do To Stop And Overcome Procrastination Part 2Advertisement:Reach out to the almost 5,000 subscribers of this blog. Learn…

  • The Things I Do To Stop And Overcome Procrastination Part 1

    Fitz
    14 May 2012 | 6:50 pm
    The thing about work, and life in general, is that there will always be something that you need to do. Finish one task, errand or project; and a new one pops over the horizon. Every day is a constant, personal battle between productivity and procrastination. And if you’re a freelancer or an entrepreneur who works [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:The Things I Do To Stop And Overcome Procrastination Part 1Advertisement:Reach out to the almost 5,000…

  • Best Job in the World: A P&G London 2012 Olympic Games Film

    Fitz
    13 May 2012 | 6:20 pm
    Mother’s Day is already done and I hope all my mommy readers enjoyed their special day with their loved ones. For today, I’d like to continue the celebration and start this week off by sharing with you something quite inspirational. Below, is a short film produced by Procter & Gamble that honors everything that all [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:Best Job in the World: A P&G London 2012 Olympic Games FilmAdvertisement:Reach out to the…

  • How Do You Make Money From UITF Investing?

    Fitz
    9 May 2012 | 6:03 pm
    I consider UITF’s as one of the most basic and simplest investment product out there. Surprisingly, many are not aware what it is exactly, and how one makes money from it. That’s why for today, I’m providing a basic explanation of what UITF means. I will tell you how how it works; how you make [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:How Do You Make Money From UITF Investing?Advertisement:Reach out to the almost 5,000 subscribers of this blog. Learn…

  • An Infographic on Fuel Economy: How To Save Gas and Money

    Fitz
    7 May 2012 | 5:34 pm
    If you own a car, then you know how petroleum expenses can eat up a big portion of your monthly budget. That’s why it’s very important for all vehicle owners to learn about fuel economy, so you can save on gas and consequently, save money. I’ve already written a couple of articles about this in [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:An Infographic on Fuel Economy: How To Save Gas and MoneyAdvertisement:Reach out to the almost 5,000 subscribers of…
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    Cash Flow Planning for Life

  • #2. Gather Your Financial Documents

    Mark
    2 May 2012 | 5:54 pm
    This is the second installment of “Divorce. What You Need to Think About from a Financial Perspective”, which can be downloaded for FREE from makara-assoc.com. You should have your financial documents in order prior to beginning the divorce process. Before you even go into the first appointment with your attorney, you should have a clear understanding of where you and your spouse stand financially. It is best to bring in your accountant or a professional to assist you in this step. Both parties in a divorce will be required to complete a financial affidavit to determine your income and…

  • #1. Hire a Good Attorney

    Mark
    27 Apr 2012 | 5:43 pm
    This is the first installment of “Divorce. What You Need to Think About from a Financial Perspective”, which can be downloaded for FREE from makara-assoc.com. Even if you and your spouse feel that you are basically in agreement about the legalities of your divorce, it is important to have knowledgeable, dependable legal council to guide you through the process. If you are in the midst of a contested divorce, of course, a knowledgeable attorney is absolutely essential. A “good” attorney does not necessarily mean the highest priced firm. Although some attorneys have earned their higher…

  • Divorce. What You Need to Think About from a Financial Perspective

    Mark
    14 Mar 2012 | 4:43 pm
    Divorce, one of those life changing events that affects over 50% of couples in the United States. Financially, it can be devastating. However, with the proper divorce planning, it is possible to get through it and move forward. This FREE eBook is intended to guide you through the financial aspects of divorce, providing you some tips from different experiences I have had. When it comes to something as emotionally, mentally, and financially taxing as going through a contested divorce, there is really no way to “prepare” yourself for it. Over the next few months,  I will post segments from…

  • Tax Deductions and You – What You Need to Know

    Mark
    8 Feb 2012 | 5:30 pm
    Over the past couple of months we have provided tips about tax deductions. Whether you are familiar with taxes and accounting or not, we hope you have learned more about what is deductible and what is not. In case you haven’t read this information, you can download it as a FREE eBook by clicking the picture above. Or simply read on and we’ll give you a summation of our posts on what you need to know about tax deductions. Know What is Tax Deductible and What’s Not What You Should Know About Home Equity Loan Interest What Do You Need to Know About Student Loan Interest? What You Need to…

  • 4: What You Need to Know About Mortgage Interest

    Mark
    18 Jan 2012 | 5:30 pm
    This is the fourth installment of Tax Deductions & You: What You Need to Know which can also be downloaded from our free eBook library. Although most people understand that mortgage interest is deductible, many people may not be aware that there are certain situations in which it actually creates a greater savings not to claim a deduction as mortgage interest. Under Treasury Regulation 1.163-10T(o) a taxpayer may elect to treat mortgage debt as not secured by a qualified residence. Once this election is made, it is effective for all subsequent years and can only be revoked with IRS…
 
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    JoeTaxpayer

  • Mother’s Day Roundup 2012

    JOE
    13 May 2012 | 9:44 pm
    Completely unrelated to finance, I’d like to share a poem appropriate for Mother’s Day. The Lanyard was published in 2005 by Billy Collins who was U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001-2003. I have to admit, if I just read it myself it might not have had the same impression as hearing the author read it himself. Billy Collins was a guest on the 2005 New Year’s Eve A Prairie Home Companion and I guess that if I recall his reading this over 6 years later, it must have caught my attention. Take a read or listen and let me know if you ever had your own lanyard experience with mom. Frugal…

  • Fair Trade?

    JOE
    12 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    In the United States we celebrate Mother’s Day tomorrow. In Mexico, it was celebrated yesterday, pretty cool to have it fall during the week, I’d day. There was a time that the true test of the local phone companies was whether they could handle the traffic on Mother’s Day, as this is the highest phone use day of the year. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s who are reading.

  • Abundance – The Future Is Better Than You Think

    JOE
    10 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    This book makes the remarkable case for a future in which the current level of poverty at the low end is virtually eliminated. I continue to be stunned by the data at Globalrichlist.com which shows that half the world lives on less than $850 per year. It doesn’t take much in the way of improvement to double and redouble their standard of living. I’ll offer a few observations from my reading of Abundance as to how the world may change over the next decades. The larger issue for the poorest of this world is the lack of clean drinking water. Authors Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler…

  • 7 of Most Expensive States for Car Insurance

    JOE
    7 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    A guest post by Nick Simpson - Car insurance isn’t just something that’s nice to have; it’s required by each of the 50 states if you want to operate a motor vehicle. For some, car insurance is a necessary evil; it’s an added expense on top of already-tight budgets. Other people recognize the value and protection that it provides, and don’t mind paying for it. To make things even more complicated, insurance rates can vary greatly from one state to the next. Here’s a list of some of the most expensive states to insure your car: Some rights reserved by InsureWish.com Louisiana. Year…

  • A Credit Card Fail Roundup

    JOE
    6 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Let’s start this week with Barry Ritholtz’ Big Picture. In A Graphic Presentation, he offered a few amazing charts, the one that got my attention showed the annual change in earnings over the past decades. We are at a point where the current job recovery is wage-less, or at least growth-less. At Savings Advice.com, Why You’re Likely To Be In A Higher Tax Bracket When You Retire. I humbly disagree. I like her writing. I like that she warns about the phantom rates retirees will see as a result of their social security benefits becoming taxable. I just don’t see a savings…
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    Simplified Saving

  • Free Christian Fiction Kindle Book: A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    16 May 2012 | 1:18 pm
    Right now you can get a free download of A Necessary Deception (The Daughters of Bainbridge House) by Laurie Alice Eakes. When young widow Lady Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreamed he would turn up in her parlor. But just as the London Season is getting under way, there he is, along with a few other questionable personages. While she should be focused on helping her headstrong younger sister prepare for her entré into London society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting…

  • Hillshire Farm Deli Carvers Lunchmeat Printable Coupon

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    16 May 2012 | 10:08 am
      Right now you can print a coupon for $0.55 off Hillshire Farm Deli Carvers™ Lunchmeat. Share This

  • Fast Company Magazine $3.50 Per Year

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    16 May 2012 | 10:01 am
    Right now you can get a 1 year subscription to Fast Company Magazine for only $3.50 when you use coupon code SIMPLIFIEDSAVING at checkout. That’s 70% off! You can order up to 4 years at this price. This is one of those magazines that I read cover to cover every month and I’m always really inspired! This offer expires Thursday 05/17/12 09:59 AM EST EST. Not interested in this magazine? You can save 20% off most magazines when you use coupon code SIMPLIFIEDSAVING at checkout. Share This

  • Family Handyman Magazine $6.99 Per Year

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    16 May 2012 | 8:45 am
    Today only, you can get a 1 year subscription to Family Handyman Magazine  for only $6.99 when you use coupon code SIMPLIFIEDSAVING at checkout. That’s 64% off! You can order up to 4 years at this price. Not interested in this magazine? You can save 20% off most magazines when you use coupon code SIMPLIFIEDSAVING at checkout. Share This

  • Eating Well Magazine Subscription $5.99 Per Year

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    15 May 2012 | 9:34 am
    Today only, you can get a 1 year subscription to EatingWell Magazine for only $5.99 when you use coupon code SIMPLIFIEDSAVING at checkout. That’s 59% off! You can order up to 4 years at this price This offer expires Wednesday 05/16/12 09:59 AM EST EST. Not interested in this magazine? You can save 20% off most magazines when you use coupon code SIMPLIFIEDSAVING at checkout. Share This
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    Money Is Not Important

  • Job-hunting app matches candidates’ personalities with...

    16 May 2012 | 8:36 am
    Job-hunting app matches candidates’ personalities with vacancies Job hunting can be a daunting prospect – with the modern job market offering a variety of careers that can leave prospective applicants bewildered by the diverse choice on offer. In the past we’ve come across systems that simplify the process for employers, with sites such as Unrabble, and now we’ve come across something similar to help those looking for work. Apply App.ly makes job seeking less daunting by narrowing down the choice and matching candidates with vacancies, not only through previous professional…

  • You have the freedom to do whatever you’d like, but you...

    15 May 2012 | 1:39 pm
    You have the freedom to do whatever you’d like, but you don’t have freedom from the consequences of your choices. Don’t spend more than you earn.  Fund a Roth IRA.  Don’t take your life savings with you to Vegas.

  • Checkbox Syndrome: Why We Spend Money on Things We Don’t...

    15 May 2012 | 9:29 am
    Checkbox Syndrome: Why We Spend Money on Things We Don’t Need (and How to Avoid It) Ever been overwhelmed by the temptation to buy the latest shiny thing because it’s got another checkbox in the features column? We call this “checkbox syndrome,” or jumping at a new gadget or product just because it’s an upgrade from the last one, not because it’s better. Before you fall for a list of tech specs designed to impress an audience at a big flashy announcement, stop and think about whether it’s really an upgrade for you.

  • Sell your old textbooks to Chegg! As you’re getting close to the...

    15 May 2012 | 8:51 am
    Sell your old textbooks to Chegg! As you’re getting close to the end of the semester, it’s a good time to start thinking about selling your textbooks (after your finals, of course).  Chegg is one of the best textbook rental companies, and they are very competitive when it comes to buying your used textbooks. Head over to their site to get a quick quote, and compare it to your university’s bookstore.

  • Become who you are

    14 May 2012 | 7:56 pm
    Become who you are
 
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    Move To Portugal

  • 2012 Goals: Watch 52 Films

    movetoportugal
    16 May 2012 | 12:54 am
    Over the years we’ve cut back on a lot of things, one of them being going to the pictures. Before reducing our spending to concentrate on the mortgage we would to go to see a film at least once, often twice a month and at £15 a film, it can eat into your budget.  So now we rent DVD’s. Our current subscription is 3 movies a month at £5.99. At first I thought this might be a big ask but as the year progresses we’re doing well……….taking two seven hour flights really helped Favourites in bold Larry Crowne The Switch Sarah’s Key Last Night One…

  • Monday Miscellany

    movetoportugal
    14 May 2012 | 1:56 am
    Writing yesterday’s post was just what I needed to get back into focus mode and so I’m back to starting the week with a simple to do list.  Having a to do list is my best way to function.  I could have a list containing 5  jobs or 40 jobs, it wouldn’t matter, if it’s written down, I’m okay. This week’s simple to do: Chase up ISA account funds transfer Menu plan the rest of May Organise New York photos Clean all upstairs windows Post RSVP for wedding Buy Mum’s birthday gift and post Buy birthday cards x 3 Post sold book Finish reading Julie and…

  • Life List Updated

    movetoportugal
    13 May 2012 | 1:23 am
    I hate to admit it but since returning from our holiday I’ve been in a real slump……but now it’s time to lift myself out of it.  It’s time to refocus on my dreams. I doubt that I’ll ever complete everything on my life list, but more than anything I hope that the Portugal one becomes a reality. Completed in bold Travel: Visit Paris Spend at least one month in Manhattan Tour New England Take Amtrak from Seattle to San Francisco (2015) Visit Rome (June 2012) Visit Vienna (2013) Tour California Visit Brighton Visit Vancouver Visit Washington DC Visit Boston…

  • Levels of Coverage for Travel Insurance

    movetoportugal
    11 May 2012 | 12:40 am
    The following is a guest post; Travel insurance should be taken out prior to any trip. Direct travel insurance is designed to cover a variety of areas which can often be specialized depending upon the trip and what you will be doing while away. There are three basic types of travel insurance: these are single trip, annual multi trip and gap year. Single trip is as the name implies for one trip. Annual multi trip is a good value for those who travel more than one time in a calendar year. The third type is gap year which is for trips that have a longer duration. For instance, a trip that will…

  • Summer To Do

    movetoportugal
    9 May 2012 | 1:07 am
    I’ve written a long list of household jobs that I want to complete before the summer is out and I’m starting with the freezer – as you can see it’s badly in need of defrosting! My list includes spring cleaning and household maintenance items, and if we complete everything on the list it will put us on top of our household again – something we’re a little behind on. I feel a lot happier when the house is clean and all the small issues are sorted out, so I’m eager to get started. I’m not sure why we’ve procrastinated on things so much…
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    Personal Dividends - Money+Lifestyle

  • Do Children Make Us Happy?

    Miranda
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    With Mother’s Day over, and with Father’s Day just around the corner, many of us reflect on what it’s like to be a parent. Many of us say that we find parenting fulfilling, and that we are happy, but some studies suggest that this isn’t the case. Indeed, over the course of decades, many studies find that parents are unhappy as they have more children. Over the years, since the 1950s, researchers have been trying to measure levels of happiness in parents. With married couples, some studies find that satisfaction decreases as children are introduced into the mix, and…

  • The Importance of Negotiating the Perfect Relocation Package

    Danielle
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Part of dedicating your time and energy to a particular company means you may face the need to move to a new location when business expands. Even with your company’s help, moving is an expensive proposition. To protect your income and savings, you’ll want to negotiate a relocation package with your company. If your company is a good one, it will extend you the courtesy of making this transition as stress free as possible. Know the Costs What are the costs of a corporate relocation? You are going to need to pay movers, purchase moving insurance, work through the sale of your home,…

  • Money + Lifestyle Roundup

    Tom Drake
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Most of us have trouble realizing what we really want in our lives.  Copyblogger wrote an insightful post about How to Craft an Offer That Can’t Be Refused.  This is a great read for business owners. This week Man vs. Debt talks about the 5 Things We Love About Being a One-Car Family. We all love Target and this week Wise Bread shared some of their Best Money Tips: How to Save Money at Target. If you’ve recently made the switch from car to bicycle, you’ll want to check out A Beginner’s Guide to Bicycle Maintenance by Expert Enough. This week the Canadian Finance Blog…

  • Want to Start a Small Business? Consider Where You Live

    Miranda
    9 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    It’s becoming increasingly popular to start a small business. After all, when the economy when down the tubes, many people realized that they didn’t need to work for someone else; they could work for themselves. The fact that technology makes it so easy to start a business is also a major factor. Whether you want to beat inflation with a solid investment, or whether you are replacing a lost traditional job, or whether you just want to make a little more money, it’s possible to start a small business. But you need to pay attention to where you are. Some states are more…

  • This Week in History: The End to WWII in Europe

    Miranda
    8 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    This week, many countries will observe the end to World War II in Europe. May 8 marks Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day), the day in which the unconditional surrender of the Germans was accepted. The Allies accepted the surrender of the Germans on May 8, 1945. The surrender was tendered by Adolf Hitler’s replacement, Karl Donitz. (Hitler had committed suicide on April 30, during the Battle of Berlin.) The act of surrender was actually signed on May 7, in France, and then ratified in Germany on May 8. Prior to the actual unconditional surrender, different German forces had been…
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    Benzinga Feeds

  • S&P 500 Now Down 5% in May

    Scott Rubin
    16 May 2012 | 1:41 pm
    Remember that old investing adage, "Sell in May, and go away?" For such a simple-minded nugget of advice, it sure has proved prescient in recent years. With the S&P 500 trading very moderately lower on Wednesday, the widely watched barometer of the American stock market has now shed just under 5% in the month of May alone.

  • Social Media Outlook for Wednesday 16 (OPNT, CHS, JCP, ANF)

    Social Market Analytics
    16 May 2012 | 1:25 pm
    In recent years, traders and investors have increasingly turned to social media to discuss their investments. Now, interested parties can get a scientific look at what is being discussed on a weekly, monthly, and even hourly basis. Provided by Social Market Analytics, here is the social media outlook for Wednesday, May 16.

  • Paulson's Fund Reports Holdings, Continues to Like Gold

    Niranjana Kannan
    16 May 2012 | 1:24 pm
    Paulson & Co., John Paulson's hedge fund, has retained its stakes in SPDR Gold Trust, the biggest exchange-traded product backed by gold, since the second quarter of 2011. Paulson came to fame after having the foresight to gamble against the mortgage market before the 2008 financial crisis.

  • 4 Small-Cap Stocks Yielding Over 5% With Strong Buy Ratings

    Scott Rubin
    16 May 2012 | 1:16 pm
    A simple scan looking for small-cap stocks that are yielding over 5%, have gained at least 10% in 2012 and are rated "Strong Buy" by the majority of analysts covering them turned up four names. The logic behind these metrics was to look for small-caps that may be offering both a very healthy dividend yield as well as potential share appreciation.

  • Meryl Witmer of Eagle Capital Partners Likes Gildan Activewear, Viacom

    Brandon Pilzner
    16 May 2012 | 1:08 pm
    Meryl Witmer spoke at the Ira Sohn investment conference on Wednesday. She is a general partner at Eagle Capital Partners. Limiting risk and investing in strong businesses with great free cash flow characteristics, at a significant discount to their intrinsic value, is the foundation of Eagle Capital's investment philosophy.
 
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    Much more than debt, IVA and personal finance from ClearDebt.

  • Bankruptcy Rise Reflects Fewer People Repaying Debt

    Marketing
    4 May 2012 | 5:23 am
    Bankruptcy Rise Reflects Fewer People Repaying Debt is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. Debt solution company, ClearDebt, believes today’s government personal insolvency figures reflect a worsening in people’s ability to repay debt. Commenting, ClearDebt CEO, David Mond, said: The 6% increase in bankruptcies and debt relief orders between the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 indicates, we believe, a worsening in the circumstances of many indebted individuals and that some are giving up all hope…

  • Credit Union Loans – Ever taken one or heard of them?

    Paul Gailey
    3 May 2012 | 9:19 am
    Credit Union Loans – Ever taken one or heard of them? is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. In this video from The Guardian, John Harris documents a credit union, Dragon Savers in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales and its customers. Credit Union loans are an alternative to getting a payday loan and have become more widely known in recent times with the support of high profile public backers such as the Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy. View this then VOTE in the poll below. In Ireland, 50% of the population are…

  • A client’s story – The voice of experience

    Sally Hardiman
    2 May 2012 | 7:08 am
    A client’s story – The voice of experience is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. ‘It’s that first step which is the hardest’ our client John explains. When faced with a daunting decision or admitting you are out of your financial depth the first step is the difficult part, the rest is just a case of momentum. John had made the first difficult step and contacted Abacus our sister company when he found his situation overwhelming; we were able to provide the momentum he needed to get his life back…

  • Frugally Delicious – Buy the Book

    Marketing
    26 Apr 2012 | 8:35 am
    Frugally Delicious – Buy the Book is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. Frugal = something which costs little, or is inexpensive. Right now most of us are watching the pennies more closely, looking to save money where we can and live a little more frugally. With this cookbook we hope to help people do just that. But ‘frugal’ needn’t equal drudgery. Frugally Delicious is a cook book chock-full of taste bud pleasing recipes made from great ingredients which won’t break the bank. This…

  • Are we a nation of mothers who equate childbirth with debt?

    Jacqueline Cohen
    25 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    Are we a nation of mothers who equate childbirth with debt? is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. This month comparison website uSwitch.com claims one in ten women are forced to cut short maternity stay with their newborn babies due to money worries. The report also confirms the belief that nearly a third of mothers end up £2,500 in debt while preparing for their new arrival. As someone who has been through this very experience, I decided to swallow my pride and share my story with The Sun to try and show people…
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    Money Watch

  • iZettle Begins Mobile Payments Test In UK

    Rob Lewis
    16 May 2012 | 2:30 am
    iZettle, the mini chip-card reader and app turns an iPhone or iPad into a credit card terminal, today announces the launch of its invite only beta programme with MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club in the UK. To participate in iZettle’s beta programme simply download the app from the Apple App Store and request an invitation or sign-up via iZettle’s UK website. iZettle is looking for a wide spread of users to ensure it tests the service with all kinds of businesses and individuals using it for different purposes. It has 3000 mini chip-card readers to give away. If you are one…

  • Win £10,000 With Barclays PingIt

    Rob Lewis
    8 May 2012 | 5:17 pm
    Barclays is promoting its new PingIt app by offering users the chance to win £10,000. Anyone making a transaction through PingIt this week can enter the competition before it closes at 12 noon on Friday 11th May 2012. If you’ve made a PingIt transaction between 2pm last Friday (4th May) and noon this Friday, fill in the form on the Barclays website to enter the competition. You have to be over the age of 16 and be prepared to have your name published on ITV and in Barlcays’ promotions. As long as you make at least a £1 payment to another UK mobile number, your transaction will…

  • 10 Apps To Save You Money

    Rob Lewis
    8 May 2012 | 4:57 pm
    TechRadar has posted a list of the 10 best iOS apps to save you money. The list includes a lot of the usual suspects, such as voucher app VoucherCloud, Groupon‘s deal app and price comparison scanner RedLaser, but there are also a few less obvious apps on the list. These include Supermarket, an app to help you work out whether it’s worth bulk buying whilst browsing the aisles, and MyGas, which helps you find the cheapest petrol in your area. Read the full article at TechRadar. For more apps, view the top personal finance iPhone apps.  10 Apps To Save You Money was originally…

  • Confused.Com Quick Quote: Car Insurance By Text Message

    Rob Lewis
    3 May 2012 | 4:27 pm
    Confused.com have launched a new service which allows customers to get a car insurance quote by text message. The service, Quick Quote, promises to return the lowest car insurance quote from 130 insurance companies, if you’ve previously been registered on the Confused.com website. If that’s the case, then you can text the number plate of the car you want to insure, to 66800. Beware though, each text costs £1 (plus your standard network rate). Here’s Confused.com’s breakdown of how it works, followed by a video of Quick Quote in action: I’d expect that for those…

  • Google Relaunches Financial Comparisons

    Rob Lewis
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:20 pm
    Google has relaunched its financial comparison ads on certain search terms, according to The Telegraph. When you enter search terms including keywords such as credit cards, savings and current accounts, you’ll be shown Google’s own results. We’ve tested it out, and found the following example when searching for “best credit cards” (click for a larger view): A similar sponsored result comparison box is shown for “best savings account“: There are likely to be lots of different variations of keywords triggering these ads. Google provides an explanation…
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    Yes, I Am Cheap

  • Social Security Statements Move Online

    Sandy
    11 May 2012 | 11:35 am
    As of 2011, your annual Social Security statements are no longer being mailed to your home. Did you get that memo? I didn’t and neither did you since the Social Security Administration didn’t send one. What they have done instead was introduce online access to your statements beginning the week of May 29, a move that could save the government more than $70 million each year. According to a Reuters article, more than 130,000 individuals have signed up as of May 10. You can access your Social Security Statement Online at any time of the day, seven days a week. For those of us living…

  • Stay At Home Dads on The Rise

    Sandy
    9 May 2012 | 11:46 am
    I’ve discovered a new term, the “Mancession” – a reflection of how badly the recession affect employment for men.  One of the more pleasant, but unforeseen result of the recession is the number of men playing the role of stay-at-home dad.  Although women still earn less than men on average, Liza Mundy, author of the book, The Richer Sex claims that “almost 40 per cent of working wives out-earn their husbands” – and this number was rising. As the main breadwinner in my family, I know that it can take a bit of a mental adjustment for men who are bring…

  • Why I’m Buying Rental Property While Still In Debt

    Sandy
    7 May 2012 | 10:56 am
    I mentioned in my review of April that I’ve been considering purchasing another investment property.  I’ve come to this decision after a very long thought process and a multitude of discussions with my brother.  We’ve crunched the numbers together and what came out at the end made so much sense to us, that I’m willing to share it here with you. If you listen to the news, it would make you run in the opposite direction of buying property at a time when you probably should be running directly to real estate.  Apparently many of you do not watch the news either because, according to…

  • Spirit Airlines Charges $100 Baggage Fee

    Sandy
    4 May 2012 | 10:52 am
    Spirit Airlines has officially lost its damn mind.  They have come up with a scheme to charge you up to $100 for a carry on bag beginning in November!  Yes, you read that correctly, one hundred dollars for a piece of luggage.  Spirit has adopted a strategy of nickel-and-diming passengers for everything they can think.  Apparently it’s working because Spirit made a profit of $76.4 million last year – with a full third of its operating revenue coming from fees for carry-on and checked bags, choosing seats in advance and extra legroom. Spirit announced it will increase the fee…

  • Can I Afford To Get My Master’s Degree?

    Sandy
    3 May 2012 | 12:25 pm
    Many graduates are so buried in debt by the time they earn their Bachelor’s degrees they are hesitant to pursue their educations further. Once they enter the job market they are hit with the cold truth of the Catch 22 of the American job market—it’s hard getting a good job without a Masters degree and once you get your Masters degree it’s hard finding a job that can pay off the debt. Tuition bills and the costs of living seem to keep rising while average incomes continue to stagnate. So what’s the answer?  Should graduates give up their dreams of working for a…
 
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    Money Reasons

  • When Water Is Worth More Than Gold

    Money Reasons
    15 May 2012 | 2:31 pm
    There are many reasons that the price of gold has gone up so much over the past few years. One reason is that the developing countries (especially India) is buying more gold as these countries become more wealthy.  Another reason is that it’s a scarce resource so naturally as the population all over the word [...]

  • Debt Free… Now What? Real Estate

    Money Reasons
    13 May 2012 | 1:05 am
    I’ve been Debt Free since the beginning of February 2010! I write about the money I became Debt-Free in the article called “I Am Debt Free, My Mortgage Countdown #1 – Equilibrium” .  In the article I revealed the technique I used to become Debt Free and how I felt…  It was truly an exciting [...]

  • Fixing The Penny Problem With A New Currency?

    Money Reasons
    9 May 2012 | 8:14 pm
    In my article “Should Pennies Be Made From Recycled Plastic“, I suggested replacing pennies with recycled plastic.  The idea being that if we replace a penny with a plastic instead of metal, the benefits would be two-fold.  First, the recycled plastic version would be much cheaper to create that the metal version, and secondly we [...]

  • Is Now The Time To Buy Real Estate?

    Money Reasons
    6 May 2012 | 11:28 pm
    With interest rates are a ridiculously low rate, I have to wonder “Is this the time to buy real estate“? Since interest rates are below 4.0% for both the 15 year and 30 year mortgage loans, I’ve started to unconsciously notice the houses and multi-family apartments for sale.  For the multi-family units, I’m mostly looking [...]

  • Shound Pennies Be Made From Recycled Plastic?

    Money Reasons
    3 May 2012 | 7:02 pm
    In the United States, it cost more to make a penny than it’s work! “It costs almost 1.7 cents to make a penny,” said U.S. Mint director Ed Moy.  See original 2008 article here: Penny Problem. Since it cost more to make a penny, why not start to make the pennies out of recycled plastic? [...]
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    LifeQuote Blog

  • Just Because You Smoke Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Get Term Life Insurance

    Ileana Bravo
    14 May 2012 | 9:50 am
    There are many smokers who don’t get term life insurance simply because they believe they aren’t eligible for it. Wrong! Perfect health and a non-smoking status is not a prerequisite to qualify for term life insurance. Doesn’t everyone deserve to … Continue reading →Just Because You Smoke Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Get Term Life Insurance is a post from: LifeQuote Blog Related posts: Invest Your Cigarette Money On Life Insurance This Great American Smoke-Out Term Life Insurance and Tobacco Don’t Mix

  • Has a Madoff-Like Scenario Destroyed Your Savings? Affordable Life Insurance is Your Answer to Protecting Your Family

    Ileana Bravo
    10 May 2012 | 2:50 pm
    To those who have lost nearly all of their assets, there is hope. Individuals who have fallen prey to Bernard Madoff-type rip-off schemes and in turn, lost a lifetime of savings, can still provide security to their families through life … Continue reading →Has a Madoff-Like Scenario Destroyed Your Savings? Affordable Life Insurance is Your Answer to Protecting Your Family is a post from: LifeQuote Blog Related posts: Found: Affordable Term Life Insurance for the Self-Employed Lost Your Job? You Have More Options Than You Think for Affordable Life Insurance Maintain a High Credit…

  • Found: Affordable Term Life Insurance for the Self-Employed

    Ileana Bravo
    9 May 2012 | 5:02 pm
    Good news for entrepreneurs:  you can buy hundreds of thousands of dollars of term life insurance protection for much less that you ever thought possible.  For those who are self-employed, it is important to insure yourself with term life insurance … Continue reading →Found: Affordable Term Life Insurance for the Self-Employed is a post from: LifeQuote Blog Related posts: Getting an affordable term life insurance policy – Tips to save your dollars Maintain a High Credit Score to Qualify for Affordable Insurance

  • Lost Your Job? You Have More Options Than You Think for Affordable Life Insurance

    Ileana Bravo
    7 May 2012 | 4:52 pm
    Did you recently lose your job, and in turn, your group term life insurance? You may now be thinking your new job search should take priority, but if you are uninsured, even a short lapse in life insurance is risky. … Continue reading →Lost Your Job? You Have More Options Than You Think for Affordable Life Insurance is a post from: LifeQuote Blog Related posts: Maintain a High Credit Score to Qualify for Affordable Insurance

  • Financial Spring Cleaning Includes Term Life Insurance: Do it in 5 Easy Steps

    Ileana Bravo
    9 Apr 2012 | 12:33 pm
    Once the Easter bunny has cleared out, Spring has officially sprung. Pull out the whites and pastels and start clearing out the remnants of Winter. But Spring cleaning should be more than just cleaning out your garage and packing your … Continue reading →Financial Spring Cleaning Includes Term Life Insurance: Do it in 5 Easy Steps is a post from: LifeQuote Blog Related posts: Best Time to Buy Life Insurance? Spring forward! Term Life Insurance 101: Top Things to Know Getting an affordable term life insurance policy – Tips to save your dollars
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    Moola Days

  • Managing a Successful Retirement Account [Infographics]

    Albert
    1 May 2012 | 1:16 pm
    Credit: Criag Murray from http://www.wineinvestment.org/ Managing a Successful Retirement Account [Infographics] is a post from: Moola DaysManaging a Successful Retirement Account [Infographics] is a post from: Moola Days

  • What is the Difference Between Personal and Business Class Email?

    Albert
    26 Apr 2012 | 5:34 pm
    Millions of people all over the world have email addresses. Email is a great source of communication for professional and personal reasons. Because people use email for different reasons, there are personal and business class email options available for people to consider. Some people assume that a personal class email service can be used for [...]What is the Difference Between Personal and Business Class Email? is a post from: Moola Days

  • Easy Ways to Reduce Your Food Budget

    Albert
    25 Nov 2011 | 5:57 pm
    People are always looking for ways to lower their budget and save some money, and this is even more the case during times when unemployment is high and the economy is stagnant. An enterprising budget cutter will realize that there are always core expenses that can be reduced and peripheral expenses that can be eliminated. [...]Easy Ways to Reduce Your Food Budget is a post from: Moola Days

  • 5 Easy Ways For College Students To Save Money

    Michal
    5 Nov 2011 | 1:26 pm
    The economy has seen its better days over the last couple years and many of us have been forced to change the way we spend money.  Many people have found themselves unemployed or underemployed and some are even going back to school as a result.  Saving money while you are still in school is one [...]5 Easy Ways For College Students To Save Money is a post from: Moola Days

  • Should You Upgrade Your Laptop to Access the Latest Technology?

    Albert
    27 Oct 2011 | 7:58 pm
    When the iPhone 4S was released, buzz of the new app called Siri surrounded the launch of the product. Apple has taken artificial intelligence and found a way to integrate it into their ever so popular device. Users of older generation models were left disappointed when they received word that their products would not receive [...]Should You Upgrade Your Laptop to Access the Latest Technology? is a post from: Moola Days
 
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    broganfinancial.wordpress.com

  • Jim Brogan: Retirement accounts not governed by wills

    broganfinancial
    7 May 2012 | 8:32 am
    Jim Brogan’s column, “Retirement accounts not governed by wills” can be found online today at the Knoxville News Sentinel’s site and in the May edition of the Greater Knoxville Business Journal. Here’s an excerpt from the column: “Understanding the critical function of beneficiary forms for IRAs, 401(k)s and other retirement plans is essential in financial planning. You can probably put your hands pretty quickly on your legal documents, whether they are in a safe deposit box, fireproof safe at home or file cabinet. But what about beneficiary forms for your…

  • The Three Greatest Risks to Your Retirement Income

    broganfinancial
    1 May 2012 | 3:06 pm
    Worried about making mistakes while planning for retirement? Check out Jim’s thoughts on the three most costly mistakes in retirement planning today.

  • Mayor Madeline Rogero discusses the importance of social media on “More Living with Jim Brogan”

    broganfinancial
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:13 am
    Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero joined Jim Brogan on “More Living” on Saturday, April 26th to discuss the importance of social media in staying connected with the community.

  • Mayor Rogero discusses Knoxville’s pension plan on “More Living with Jim Brogan”

    broganfinancial
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:10 am
    Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero joined Jim Brogan on “More Living” on Saturday, April 26th to discuss the issues that the city’s pension plan faces.

  • What will taxes look like in 2013?

    broganfinancial
    12 Apr 2012 | 7:37 am
    As many of you know, many of the tax cuts from the Bush administration are set to expire at the end of 2012. If they do expire, it would create one of the largest tax increases in US history. I get asked often what my opinion is regarding how our congress and presidential administration will handle this looming question, and how we can plan for the potential consequences. It would be next to impossible to predict how this will play out. However, one thing I feel pretty sure of is that nothing will change prior to the election in November. Many of you may agree with that assessment. While both…
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    Financial Woman

  • One Minute Friday Financial Course

    camille
    11 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Enjoy our One Minute Friday Financial Course to enhance your money savvy one simple step at a time. Are you using your money as a tool to get what you want in life? During your next car ride or workout session, brainstorm this question, and ask yourself why or why not. Remember: What you focus on grows, so to grow money, give it your attention!

  • Add Money to Your Life’s Toolbox

    camille
    9 May 2012 | 4:00 pm
    Forbes magazine published an article on the Top Five Money Mistakes Women Make. The first mistake given is being emotional about money. I believe that this trait ties back to the fact that money provides for our most basic needs of foods and shelter. After all, without this, we cannot even live for long. It is interesting that physical money is actually paper, and paper has little value. Once we add those familiar “dollar green” graphics, that paper takes on a life of its own triggering emotions ranging from security to fear or greed. One step to overcome the mistake of being emotional…

  • One Minute Friday Financial Course

    camille
    4 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    Enjoy our One Minute Friday Financial Course to enhance your money savvy one simple step at a time. Be strategic with your borrowing. Think about your debt with a historical perspective.  Is it paying for something that will increase in value over the long term? Does your mortgage rate make sense in light of the fact that the prime interest rate was almost 20% in the early 1980′s? Remember: What you focus on grows, so to grow money, give it your attention!

  • Lessons from My 1974 Orange VW

    camille
    2 May 2012 | 3:02 pm
    Financial Education from a VW Bug One of the most important lessons of financial education that can easily be overlooked is that not all debt is bad. In this time of great fervor over formerly zero percent credit card rates that are now at astronomical levels, it’s not easy to see any debt in a positive light. Wisely used, however, debt can be a wealth management tool that allows an investor to grow money while also living quite comfortably. With this in mind, I want to offer the following financial education tips regarding debt. Good debt enables the purchase of assets that accumulate in…

  • Friday Financial Woman Money Solution

    camille
    27 Apr 2012 | 11:00 am
    Enjoy my Friday money solution and enhance your financial savvy one simple step at a time. Did you know that some investments had good returns during the period from 2000 to 2011?  These investments moved in the opposite direction of the overall financial markets; this is known as non-correlated.  Know how to evaluate the returns of any investment service you use or product you own! Investing is simpler than you think!
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    Control Your Cash: Making Money Make Sense

  • A Guest Post From A Dog

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 6:16 am
     Occasionally we run guest posts. If you’d like to submit one, see our requirements here. Today’s is written by one of the very few submitters capable enough to meet all our criteria, Froofy the Dog. He already writes better than most Carnival of Wealth submittersHi, this is Froofy! My brain can do the following, and not much else:-remember which people I can trust -know where my food and water are -allow me to whimper so the people mentioned above will open the door and let me out when required. Yet even I know that you’ve got to be some kind of lower vertebrate to take…

  • Carnival of Wealth, Tim Duncan Edition

    admin
    14 May 2012 | 7:33 am
    And he's a mime, too! Here he is doing "Stuck In Center Alignment On Control Your Cash" Why can’t everyone be like the big man? Year after year of quiet excellence, and no desire to share his personality with the world at large. Consistency and aptitude still count for something, right?We could give a damn who wins the NBA title; not that we’re not fans, rather that we have no emotional investment nor rooting interest in something that only tangentially affects us. But it’s hard not to pull for the stoic giant who forever redefined the power forward…

  • Expose Yourself For Fun And Rewards

    admin
    11 May 2012 | 6:55 am
    She's smiling because she's AB-. That'll get you $20 a quart.A company is struggling, and the struggle has no quick resolution. (How) can you profit off this situation?Case in point, and a real-world example. We needed an polyurethane iPad Smart Cover, which is made by Apple and sells for $40. It’s the only accessory we could find that hit the multiple criteria of a) being made especially for the product it’s supposed to accessorize and b) coming from a trusted manufacturer (Apple itself). There are plenty of knockoffs available, but we’re not interested.While…

  • Preventative Maintenance, Your New Best Friend

    admin
    9 May 2012 | 6:05 am
    WARNING: Never mind the graphic images. Once this gal’s voice enters your head, it ain’t coming out anytime soon.  When your humble blogger was a Cub Scout, his pack watched an anti-smoking film that contained his first exposure to tracheotomy. The video featured a guy smoking a cigarette through a hole in his neck, which was followed by a helpful if nauseating cross-section diagram that showed how surgeons somehow detached the patient’s windpipe from his blackened larynx and had it connect to the outside world at a point of contact somewhere near his Adam’s apple.

  • Carnival of Wealth, Ode to Joy Edition

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 6:59 am
    "Fine, here's my g.d. autograph. You're not a collector, are you?" Vienna, 188 years ago today. Ludwig van Beethoven “drops” his latest, and ultimately his last, the Symphony No. 9 in D minor. If this isn’t the greatest piece of music ever written, it’s definitely in the top 7. Beethoven himself conducted the premiere, marking his first on-stage appearance in 12 years. The audience was speechless when he began, and remained so throughout the performance.If you read methodically enough, and click on every link, today’s Carnival of Wealth…
 
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    UniBul Credit Card Blog

  • Increased Lending, Higher Balances Lead to Lower Credit Card APRs

    UniBul
    16 May 2012 | 9:05 am
    That is how two Cleveland Fed researchers – O. Emre Ergungor and Patricia Waiwood – interpret the fall of credit card interest rates in the past two years. There is not a mention in their short release of either of the two big payment-card-related legislations passed during that period – the Card Act of 2009 [...]

  • The More You Use Your Debit Card, the Lower Your Credit Score

    UniBul
    15 May 2012 | 8:33 am
    That is the conclusion of a recent study by Fumiko Hayashi and Joanna Stavins from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The researchers say that they set out to verify the anecdotal negative relationship between the use of debit cards and credit scores and have indeed confirmed the validity of this common assumption. Hayashi and [...]

  • Prepaid Cards Keep Getting Better

    UniBul
    14 May 2012 | 8:41 am
    Chase is the latest big bank to enter the prepaid card market in a serious way. Its new entry into the increasingly crowded field – called Liquid – is a worthy competitor to Americans Express’ prepaid card, which until now was the undisputed leader. AmEx’s product is still the best option for everyone with a [...]

  • Americans Are Slashing Credit Card Debt and Other Facts

    UniBul
    12 May 2012 | 9:27 am
    Americans have been in a debt-slashing mood ever since the onset of the financial crisis in September 2008 and they have been especially keen on paying down their credit card balances. The aggregate amount of credit card debt in the U.S. has been continually falling since the collapse of Lehman Brothers. It is now well [...]

  • You Can’t Get in Trouble with Prepaid

    UniBul
    11 May 2012 | 8:29 am
    That may not be the official tagline for the campaign that has been launched to tout the virtues of the latest American Express prepaid card, but it sure could be. It is catchy enough and was uttered by Laura Kelly – an AmEx SVP – in an interview, the WSJ’s Andrew R. Johnson tells us. [...]
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    Cheap Credit Cards - Serving All Your Credit Needs!

  • FTSE Plummets; Longterm Unemployment At Its Highest

    Susan Mitchell
    16 May 2012 | 4:47 am
    The number of people out of work for more than 12 months has risen to the highest level in 16 years, official figures showed today. Data from the Office of National Statistics showed the number of people unemployed for more than a year increased by 27,000 to 887,000, the worst total since 1996. In the [...] Related posts: Youth Unemployment: Record 20% of UK Young People Are Now Unemployed Latest FTSE News: BA Shares Soar Assets Value Plummets But Debt Takes Longer To Pay Off

  • Obama Says JPMorgan Loss Shows Need For Wall Street Reform

    Susan Mitchell
    15 May 2012 | 4:50 am
    President Barack Obama said on Monday the huge trading loss at JPMorgan Chase & Co illustrated the need for Wall Street reform and warned that the same kind of error at a less stable bank may have required government intervention. "JPMorgan is one of the best managed banks there is. Jamie Dimon, the head of [...] Related posts: Can Wall Street Crash Again? 10 Reasons To Beware Bank Tax By Obama Set To Be Passed On To Consumers Supreme Court Rules For JPMorgan On Credit Cards

  • Student Loan Rates To double If Congress Doesn’t Act

    Susan Mitchell
    10 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    With federal student loan interest rates set to double July 1, the Senate failed Tuesday to get enough votes to take up a bill to extend low 3.4% rates for another year. The vote was 52-45 to take up the bill, 8 fewer than the 60 needed to officially start debating the bill. Senate Republicans [...] Related posts: New Federal Student Loan Law To Cost 2,500 jobs Student Loan Providers Offered Support To Help Save Jobs Federal Student Loan Program Overhaul Placed On Fast Track

  • Debt Inequality Is The New Income Inequality

    Susan Mitchell
    2 May 2012 | 8:54 am
    The rich are getting richer, and everyone else is going deeper into debt trying to keep up. The bottom 95% of Americans have seen debt levels balloon compared to their earnings over the past 20 years or so, as falling incomes made them more dependent on credit to maintain their lifestyles. In 1983, the bottom [...] Related posts: Global Income Inequality Debt Relief: Top 5 Debt Relief Solutions. 2 Types of Debt: Unsecured Debt and Secured Debt Whats The Difference?

  • Wal-Mart Shares Plunge Amid Bribery Probe

    Susan Mitchell
    24 Apr 2012 | 12:41 pm
    CHICAGO/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc lost $10 billion of its market value on Monday on concerns that a bribery investigation in Mexico could be very costly and hinder its plans to grow. In a sign that the problem was widening for the world’s largest retailer, two U.S. lawmakers said they were launching their [...] Related posts: BP Shares In Freefall Home Sales Plunge To The Lowest In 9 Years DOW Plunges 122 Amid European Debt Worries
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    Savings Scoop

  • Groupon Coupon Saves Money

    Andrea
    14 May 2012 | 4:30 pm
    Sign up with groupon to save money on things you like to do in your city or on vacation, you can save 5o-90% on  spas, restaurants, tourist attractions, and more. It’s free to sign up, why pay full price when you can save you hard earned money and still enjoy the benefits of daily deals in your city with Groupon.com!. To sign up with Groupon.com today! just click on the picture or the links above and receive daily email with coupons for your local area with savings up to 90%.     Pass this daily deal on to family and friends.   Feel free to follow Savings Scoop on :…

  • Motivational Monday Quotes, Savings Scoop 5/14/12

    Andrea
    14 May 2012 | 5:30 am
          It’s Motivational Monday so let’s start with a few quotes to help us through the week.       “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.  Then give up.  There’s no use in being a damn fool about it”.   ~W.C. Fields     “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” Oprah Winfrey       “Everyone has his burden. What counts is how you carry it.” –Merle Miller       “If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes”. St. Clement of…

  • 5 Lesser-Known Ways of Saving Money on Grocery Shopping

    Guest Blogger
    11 May 2012 | 2:00 am
      When you’re trying to repair your credit reports, merely making efforts to remove the negative items from your credit reports isn’t enough. You also need to make an effort to keep up with your current budget and ensure that there are no mistakes  on your  reports. In keeping  a check with your expenses, grocery budgets often seems too big for many households. Of course, you can use  coupons, but in many cases, these  coupons are not the coupons that you  need to save  huge amounts of money. So, how are you supposed to save when you don’t have the right coupons to keep your…

  • Friday Freebies 5/11/12

    Andrea
    10 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
          It’s  FRIDAY FREEBIES, where we find fun, and fabulous, things for free.  It could be free coupons online, free grocery coupons, free restaurant coupons,  free samples, free workshops, free financial resources, or ideas about free things to do with friends and family. So if you are on a budget and need to save money take advantage of Friday Freebies on Savings Scoop…   Just click on the links or the pictures below to get your  coupons for free stuff at  Friday freebies today.       The Freebie Site- New Freebies and coupons daily at that…

  • 25 Ways to Have Fun

    Andrea
    7 May 2012 | 11:15 am
          Are you stuck in the rat race of life always working, worrying, and stressed out, not taking time out for the most important person in the world? When was the last time you smiled or had a good laugh? When was the last time you got in touch with the kid inside you? Remember when you were younger, you always had something fun to look forward to like going outside to play with your friends, summer vacation, the ice cream truck. Those days were simple and carefree. Then you became an adult, and forgot what’s its like to  have fun. Well it’s time to find that …
 
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    DaleSiegel.com Feed

  • FHA Starts No Collection Account Rule July 1, 2012

    14 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Mortgage Monday There have been many changes in FHA regulations in the past few years. They have changed (increased) lots of fees including the Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) amount required for upfront and monthly amounts. They tightened qualifying guidelines to mirror those of Fannie and Freddie, increased minimum credit scores and other reasonable requirements in order to borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars. One of the most recent changes FHA is initiating is the “no collection accounts” rule, and some people are in an uproar. Previously, FHA allowed outstand collection accounts…

  • Are You Thinking of Living in Carroll County, MD?

    10 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Realtor Thursday A conversation with Diane M. Phillips, REALTOR® with Frankly Real Estate, Inc. of Carroll County, MD. Welcome to Carroll County, Maryland: feel right at home...I do! As a lifetime resident I can’t imagine living any place else. I grew up in Carroll County and chose to raise my family here too! The combination of history, business, agriculture, amazing people and Central Maryland location makes Carroll a desirable location for professionals commuting to Baltimore and Washington D.C. Read more...

  • HabitChanger.com – Break Your Bad Habits in Just 42 Days

    1 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Technology Tuesday Most of our everyday lives are habitual and without conscious decisions about these tendencies, they become very hard to break. But whether they are good or bad, habits can be changed to make your life significantly better. Habit Changer is a website and application that motivate individuals to correct these bad habits in approximately a month and a half. This program is designed to provide features that will keep in constant contact with its clients. There are specified programs that help with personal finance decisions, money and relationships, and how to maintain good…

  • FHA increases MIP: will it kill the housing recovery even more?

    30 Apr 2012 | 12:00 am
    Mortgage Monday FHA is increasing the upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP) from 1% to 1.75% of the loan amount as of April 9th, 2012.The increase is being used to help refund the ever dwindling reserves of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). This is the fourth time in three years that the cost of the premium has been increased, hoping to cover losses already accrued and deter the risky borrowers from entering the market at all. The increase does not apply to all FHA loans that have been registered and assigned an FHA Case number before the date. It does not mean that the loan needed…

  • Are You Thinking of Living in White Plains, NY?

    26 Apr 2012 | 12:00 am
    Realtor Thursday A Conversation with Ruthmarie Hicks, Realtor with Keller Williams NY Realty of White Plains, NYWhite Plains is often thought of as a microcosm of New York City. The diversity among the residents is a reflection of what White Plains has to offer. There is literally something for everyone. It is a true city with a thriving business district and a suburban town rolled into one. The fine public school system combined with the relatively low taxes and cost of living make it an attractive destination for those seeking the suburban lifestyle without the price tag of a Scarsdale or…
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    Smart Balance Transfers

  • Cash Back Credit Card Bonuses Shrink In May but $150 Cash Back Bonuses Available

    Jason Steele
    15 May 2012 | 7:30 am
    While the credit card market is replete with offers for travel rewards, many cardholders still prefer the value, convenience, and simplicity of cash back rewards. Nevertheless, April saw the expiration of a pair of limited time, cash back sign up bonus offers. Both the Freedom card from Chase and the Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa [...]

  • The Incredibly Shrinking Credit Card Rewards Sign Up Bonus

    Jeffrey Weber
    13 May 2012 | 7:06 am
    If an observer follows a market for long enough, eventually a pattern emerges. Competitors repeatedly try to outbid each other in their efforts to acquire a scarce commodity. Ultimately, the increased offers cannot be sustained and the market collapses. This can take the form of a minor correction or it can resemble a bubble bursting. [...]

  • Using a Credit Card Rewards Bonus for a Summer Vacation

    Jason Steele
    11 May 2012 | 6:07 am
    Summer is just around the corner and many are just starting to plan their vacations. Since summer is a peak travel season, it is a great time to use credit card rewards rather than pay cash. For those who need a new credit card to accumulate enough points or miles for a trip, there is [...]

  • Review: LivingSocial Visa From Chase

    Jason Steele
    10 May 2012 | 9:56 am
    Group buying programs have become one of the biggest hits among the latest generation of online companies. By partnering with merchants, these companies can sell coupons which can save consumers a tremendous amount of money. Although featured businesses may even end up selling their goods and services at a loss, most use this technique to [...]

  • May 2012′s Best Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers

    Jeffrey Weber
    8 May 2012 | 8:22 am
    After a rocky start to 2012, a number of credit card companies have at least temporarily ceased tinkering with the lengths and fees of balance transfer offers. Consequently, May 2012′s best balance transfer cards are essentially the same as April’s. As in April, the Chase Slate card remains the sole no fee balance transfer credit [...]
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    Mogo Lounge | Mogo Blog

  • The Toastabag changes the way I think about toaster, grilled cheese forever (video)

    Alan
    16 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    If your toaster is wide enough, and your imagination is big enough, you could have created the Toastabag. Instead, Dutch firm Boska came up with it. Basically, the Toastabag is a parchment-paper-like bag that enables you to make an evenly cooked grilled cheese in your toaster, without the imagined mess. Videos speak better than text, so look on: Want to buy one? Head over to the Boska website for more info.

  • Top 5 iPhone apps every user should have

    Nikki
    15 May 2012 | 10:15 am
    iPhone app shopping can be quite overwhelming. With so many options to choose from, it’s sometimes difficult to separate the good and the bad from the bug-ridden. We help you to choose tried and tested apps which can really add something to your life. Skype for iPhone This Skype app allows you to call at a fraction of the cost of regular calls. This is especially helpful for long-distance calls. If you call from your Skype account to another, it’s absolutely free! You can run Skype in the background so your Skype calls come through as regular calls. See more here. Documents to Go…

  • High Park Heaven in Toronto

    Nikki
    14 May 2012 | 10:08 am
    Toronto is described as the ‘city in a park’. This is a fairly accurate statement as you can’t walk more than a few blocks in any direction without hitting a park, parkette or grassy knoll. The greatest of all the parks is High Park. This massive 399 acre rambling forest in the city center is Toronto’s defining element and greatest asset. Spring in High Park is simply sublime. The flowering cherry trees in early May make a dazzling display. You can amble over its rolling hills or picnic on the lawns. Children can choose from a variety of playgrounds and water fun parks…

  • Happy Mothers Day, Moms!

    Alan
    13 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Whether you’re a saver, a spender, or somewhere in between, you’ve been affected by some of the moms in our world. From us at Mogo, we just want to say “Thanks” to all the mothers out there. My mom taught me a lot about saving, living and laughing. Thinking of you on this Sunday! Happy Mothers Day! image via manumilou

  • Province by province breakdown of Canada’s unemployment rate

    Alan
    12 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    CBC recently dropped this interactive look at the unemployment rates in Canada on a province-by-province level. Mouse over each major city (or entire province) to see the exact changes from March to April. Click through to see the sectors that bring the most jobs, the state of all our provinces and territories and much more.
 
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    Credit.com News + Advice

  • CFPB Still Pushing for Clearer Credit Card Agreements

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    When it gained full regulatory power over the financial services industry last year, the federal agency tasked with protecting consumers from predatory or misleading lending practices has as its primary goal the creation of simpler lending agreements that were easier to understand. However, in the intervening months, there has been little in the way of action toward that goal. Now, though, one of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s top officials says that the need for a uniform, simplified lending disclosure for credit card agreements is still very much on the…

  • How I’m Repaying $120,000 in Student Loans

    Eric Bell
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    In less than a month, I will graduate from my MBA program at Georgetown University with more than $120,000 in student loans at 7% interest.  Six months after graduation, my grace period will end, and I will have to start repaying more than $1,000 per month.  Here is my strategy for repayment. Earn Baby, Earn The first thing I have to figure out is how to increase my income from its current level.  Without more money coming in, there is no chance for me to pay down my debt and maintain my current lifestyle.  Some student loan repayment strategies I’m considering are…

  • Why It’s Important to Teach Kids About Credit

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Millions of Americans are still struggling financially, but likely do not want to pass the kind of money problems and related stresses they feel onto their kids. One of the best ways to help youngsters avoid these problems in the future is by taking the time to instill good, basic advice about money while they’re young. Even if consumers have had trouble sticking to what they know to be good credit practices in the past, it can still be extremely helpful to kids to learn the basics of smart account management at a relatively young age, according to a report from Tulsa, Oklahoma,…

  • Discover Tops List of Best Credit Card Websites

    Kali Geldis
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    When it comes to website security and functionality, Discover tops a new list from Forrester Research. The Forrester study, titled “2012 U.S. Credit Card Secure Website Rankings,” was conducted from March 6-9 and compared the top six U.S. issuers on 50 different criteria. [Free Resource: Check your credit score and report card for free before applying for a credit card While Discover didn’t get a perfect score, it did achieve an 80 out of 100, the highest among all of the issuers. The issuer ranked highly  in the online servicing category and the site’s security…

  • Defaults Rise Slightly for Capital One

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Since the end of the recession, consumers have been repeatedly cutting the rates at which they feel behind on their credit card payments and repeatedly failed to pay the bills, but that trend might be reversing itself. Analysts recently suggested that the record-low instances of delinquency and default observed by credit card lenders since the end of the recession were expected to bottom out at some point this year, and already, this might be taking place for at least one major lender, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires. In its monthly filing with the Securities and Exchange…
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    Money Help For Christians

  • One Reason Why You Should Live with Integrity

    Craig Ford
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Several months ago a woman, who is not my wife, came to my house and falsely claimed that we had an intimate relationship. The lady came by my house and dropped off a gift and a card. When I saw the package, I just put it on the ground and went back to pruning the shrubs. My wife came by and asked about the package. I told her who it was from and that I wasn’t going opening it. (The woman who dropped off the letter had been attending our church for a few years, but was mentally unstable). My wife opened the card. “You’d better look at this,” she said with an…

  • Wow! How to Pack a Lifetime of Activity in a Short 5 Weeks

    Craig Ford
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    It’s been a long time since I’ve written a post here at Money Help for Christians.  I almost feel like I should introduce myself. My name is Craig Ford and I’m guy behind the blog MH4C. So, what have I done in the last five weeks? I went through the stress of selling a house in PNG.  The sale of our house didn’t finish before we left the country.  We had several tense days as we tried to manage everything from Malaysia.  Fortunately, God was faithful and the sale of the house was completed!  Thus, we are now officially nomads.  My two-year-old daughter has been…

  • Vote for Your Favorite MH4C Writers Challenge Article

    Craig Ford
    10 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Be sure to take time to Facebook Share, Tweet, or Google + your favorite article from the MH4C Writers Challenge. Next week  I’ll be totaling up the social media love and declaring a winner.  May 14th is your last day to vote.  Remember, there are cash prizes for all the writers, so I’m sure they would appreciate your support. How do you vote? That’s simple.  Just click on the link to your favorite article (below).  The page will show up with three buttons to the right of the title.  Every FB Share, Tweet, or Google + will be considered a vote. Here’s an…

  • Why Going Into Debt for Adoption is the Right Thing to Do

    Craig Ford
    9 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    This article is part of the MH4C Writers Challenge. Since I’m taking a little break over the next few weeks, I’ve chosen ten guest articles to feature on this blog. I’d like to see which articles you like the most. If you like an article, please take a moment to ‘Like’ it on Facebook, ‘Tweet’ it, or give it a ‘Plus One’ on Google +. (To the right of the title, you’ll see each of those buttons so it should make your job easier.) The winner of the MH4C Writers Challenge is the article that has the most social media shares. The…

  • What Am I Teaching My Kids About Money?

    Craig Ford
    7 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    This article is part of the MH4C Writers Challenge. Since I’m taking a little break over the next few weeks, I’ve chosen ten guest articles to feature on this blog. I’d like to see which articles you like the most. If you like an article, please take a moment to ‘Like’ it on Facebook, ‘Tweet’ it, or give it a ‘Plus One’ on Google +. (To the right of the title, you’ll see each of those buttons so it should make your job easier.) The winner of the MH4C Writers Challenge is the article that has the most social media shares. The…
 
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    Moneyhacker

  • Renting v Buying – Which is Safer in This Economic Climate?

    Sherin Dev
    16 May 2012 | 12:02 am
    As banks and other financial institutions stick to very tight criteria for mortgage lending, the debate over whether it is wiser to buy or rent a property has again come to the fore. Currently, it is sad but true that many people have no choice in the matter. They are forced to rent while they try to scrape together the funds needed to meet the demands for a high deposit by lenders who are increasingly wary of their exposure to bad debts in a turbulent housing market. Deposit demands of 20 or 25 per cent of a property's asking price are becoming the norm. In contrast, landlords or agents…

  • How Can You Save Money and Eat Better at the Same Time?

    Sherin Dev
    15 May 2012 | 12:49 am
    If you’re interested in saving money, the first changes you make should be at home. There are a million and one things that you can do to cut back on your expenses, but if you really want to make the most effective changes, you should look not only on cutting back on obvious extravagances, but also at saving money on your everyday essentials. Food is something that you aren’t going to be able to cut back on when your bank balance is looking a little low, so finding ways to save money on your weekly shopping trip should be at the top of your list of things to do. One of the best ways to…

  • Why Small Business Should Take Liability Protection Seriously

    Sherin Dev
    14 May 2012 | 12:55 am
    When you are a small business owner, it is essential to anticipate and plan ahead to any sort of issues your company might encounter in the future. This means taking into account not only the small day to day operations, but the worst case scenarios that jeopardize the financial health and the very foundation of your business. Everything from vandalism, fires, lawsuits or employee injuries could potentially bankrupt your finances and ruin your company's reputation. It could not only affect your ability to do business, but your ability to stay in the industry itself. This is why almost all…

  • Match your Insurance to your Warehouse Contents

    Sherin Dev
    11 May 2012 | 10:40 pm
    A warehouse can be a huge concern, employing numerous staff and running 24 hours a day. Depending on the nature of your business, your warehouse could be exposed to any number of risks – from burglary or staff dishonesty, to fire and industrial accidents – so it’s vital that you have adequate specialist warehouse insurance in place to cover every eventuality. If you are not fully insured, any incident could lead to serious financial implications for the future of your business. When it comes to insuring your warehouse, you should think carefully about sourcing a specialist provider.

  • Benefiting from Credit Card Sign-up Bonuses

    Sherin Dev
    11 May 2012 | 9:48 pm
    In tough economic times, many people struggle to live on less, even as the cost of living rises. As a result, there is a smaller pool of consumers with excellent credit and more who are over their heads in debt. In an effort to lure the best customers during harsh times, credit card companies will traditionally offer bigger rewards to sign on for a new account. So with the current value of incentives at an all time high, perhaps it’s time to consider applying for a new card. Consumers with good credit may be offered reward cards, but big bonuses will be reserved for those with excellent…
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    Centsible Life

  • Spray Paint Closet Door Makeover for $21

    Kelly
    16 May 2012 | 10:53 am
    One of my favorite parts of our budget bedroom makeover is the closet door transformation (you can see a video of the room makeover here). Since the bed faces the closet doors I knew I need to do something that would make a big impact on the look without spending a ton of money. The doors are literally floor to ceiling metal doors on a track. While they are great function-wise allowing access to the very top of the closet, they definitely looked their age-about 42 years old. My first step was a little recon trip to Lowe’s to learn more about closet doors. After perusing the closet door…

  • Beach Getaway for Mother’s Day: Wordless Wednesday

    Kelly
    16 May 2012 | 8:58 am
    Last weekend we surprised my mom with a visit in celebration of the anniversary of her 39th birthday and Mother’s Day. What I didn’t realize was how much I needed that time away from all the projects (work and household) that stare at me all day at home. Face in the sand Sign in an antique store Store window, Lewes DE Merry Go Round, Rehoboth DE   Fortune Telling Machine, Rehoboth DE My tickets-all for $1 in play! Mother’s Day goodies Lunch with a lovely sangria The view doesn’t hurt either. For more inspiring photos, check out: The Bonafide Life, Better in Bulk,…

  • Video Tour of our Remodeled Master Bedroom

    Kelly
    15 May 2012 | 1:41 pm
    Excuse the Blair-witchiness of the video, but here’s a brief video sharing the Master Bedroom makeover. Kelly Disclosure: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Bloggers and Creators Network I received a $300 gift card to aid in the purchase of supplies for this project. © 2012, Whalen Media LLC. All rights reserved. To repost or publish, please email Kelly. Copyright © 2009-2011 This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an…

  • How to Budget

    Kelly
    15 May 2012 | 12:03 am
    Budgets are a necessary part of your personal finances. They only seem like a four letter word. Many people cringe when they think about looking at all of their bills, or seeing all their debt in one place. However, budgeting gives you something you wouldn’t expect–freedom from worry and peace of mind that you can manage whatever life throws your way financially. So when a reader shared a question via email about budgeting I knew I needed to write a post about the basics. It’s not the first time I’ve had this question, and I know many people struggle with where to…

  • 365 Day Meal Plan: Week 19

    Kelly
    14 May 2012 | 2:07 pm
    Last week’s menu was sort of a ruse to cover up a surprise that we were visiting my mom for her birthday (she’s 39 again in case you’re wondering) and Mother’s Day weekend. Since she reads my blog <Hi Mom!> I had to cover it up by creating a fake menu for last Thursday-Sunday. This week’s menu is pretty repetitive since we found a deal on chicken and grass-fed ground beef, but that makes it easier too. Which in my book is always a good thing! Reminder: You can create your own rotating menu plan by downloading my menu plan templates which includes a handy…
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    The Daily Reckoning

  • “Jon Corzine – What’s Going On?”

    Sydney Williams
    16 May 2012 | 12:56 pm
    It pays to be rich, powerful and a Democrat with friends in Washington. While Anna Gristina, a Connecticut mother accused of being a New York “madam” sits in a cell on Riker’s Island, Jon Corzine, the former CEO of MF Global sits at home in his New Jersey mansion. MF Global had been a publically traded securities firm with $40 billion in assets, but with liabilities even larger, filed for bankruptcy late last year, after being accused of co-mingling customer funds with its own, a flagrant violation of securities law. As we all know, prostitution is illegal. Ms. Gristina has been charged…

  • Correction Fighting: How Feds Prolong Economic Depressions

    Bill Bonner
    16 May 2012 | 11:02 am
    “Liquidate labor, liquidate stocks, liquidate farmers, liquidate real estate… it will purge the rottenness out of the system. High costs of living and high living will come down. People will work harder, live a more moral life. Values will be adjusted, and enterprising people will pick up from less competent people.” — Andrew Mellon Down, down, down… Oil is at a 5-month low. Russian stocks are 20% below their high. Commodities are back to 2010 levels. Everything is going down. Even gold. Wait a minute. Since we know from Einstein that all motion is relative, everything…

  • British Pound Sterling Losses “Safe-Haven” Status

    Chris Gaffney
    16 May 2012 | 10:28 am
    Good day. Another busy day on the desk yesterday, as the increased volatility in the currency markets had the phones ringing. Many of the clients calling the desk were worried about the recent drop in the currencies and metals. Some want to bail out, while others are seeing the fall in prices as a good buying opportunity. We continue to remind callers that diversification is the key to long-term investing success, and the best strategy is to make an investment plan and stick with it. But before I get in trouble with the lawyers, I better get back to the purpose of this letter, which is to…

  • The “Corzine-Dimon Syndrome”

    Eric Fry
    15 May 2012 | 1:33 pm
    On its best days, the American judicial process is a blindfolded Lady Justice — prosecuting the truly guilty and exonerating the truly innocent. On its worst days, it is a Water Wiggle — whirling around unpredictably, without any apparent connection to guilt, innocence, Constitutionality or the proportionality of alleged crimes to one another. On good days, guilty parties go to prison; innocent parties do not. On very good days, innocent parties do not even have to go to the trouble of hiring a lawyer and showing up in court. Law enforcement agencies correctly decide to spare them the…

  • What Happens When the World Economy “Goes Japan”

    Bill Bonner
    15 May 2012 | 12:02 pm
    The Dow sinking. Gold sinking. Oil sinking. Copper sinking. Yields sinking. We struggled with this, Dear Reader. We meditated. We prayed. We drank heavily. And finally…we overcame the rank desire to say: “We told you so!” As you know, Martin Wolf, of The Financial Times, is the voice of The Economics Establishment. All that is great and good in the field — which isn’t very much — is given voice by Wolf. Then, it is acceptable for policymakers, Treasury ministers, and central bankers, not to mention the people you talk to at cocktail parties. And lo! Here cometh the…
 
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    Canadian Finance Blog

  • The Economy of Diablo 3

    Alan Schram
    16 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    In the wide world of video game launches, May 15, 2012 marked the day that Diablo 3 launched. Diablo is an action RPG game set in a medieval town beneath which Diablo, the Lord of Terror reigns. It is the sequel to the widely popular games Diablo 1 and 2. The series is best known for it’s addictive nature as one of it’s primary goals is collecting loot – gold and items dropped from the fallen bodies of your opponents. Diablo 2 was launched about twelve years ago. It featured multiplayer for the first time in the series, and along with that, came item trading. Perhaps you…

  • Putting Your Best Foot Forward for Job Interviews

    Guest
    15 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    This is the third post in a series of guest blogs throughout the month of May, with each writer trying out for a staff writer spot (or two) on Canadian Finance Blog. Once all the posts are online, I’ll publish a wrapup highlighting all the writers and their guest post. There are a lot of talented writers here, so it’s not going to be an easy choice! – Tom When Tom first announced he was looking for a new staff writer for Canadian Finance Blog, we exchanged emails and he asked me to write a guest post. As I sat down to do so, I realized I was very nervous – I really wanted to write…

  • Marrying For Money and Earning Potential

    Teacherman
    14 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    I sometimes find it interesting how many people automatically jump on the idea of marrying for money, or the earning potential of a partner. Of course, if that is the ONLY reason that you are marrying someone you’re probably going to run into problems, but to pretend that the ability to contribute to an increased style of living has no bearing on relationship choices is ridiculous. This is especially true when you consider how many relationships run into trouble specifically because of financial decisions. Evolution or Devolution? It has been fairly well established at this point that women…

  • Friday Links

    Tom Drake
    11 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    This week Rob Carrick shared the good news that the Days of Berserk Borrowing (Almost) Behind Us. Owning a home is a big responsibility, and that’s why the Million Dollar Journey asks, Are You Ready to be a Home Owner? If you have been wanting to give loans to your children, you’ll want to read this post on the Retire Happy Blog that explains why you should Formalize Loans to Your Children. The Canadian Personal Finance Blog discussed a provocative topic this week with their article on, Credit Card Cheques, What Gives? This week the Canadian Couch Potato brought up the question,…

  • Should You Donate To The Homeless?

    Guest
    10 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    This is the second post in a series of guest blogs throughout the month of May, with each writer trying out for a staff writer spot (or two) on Canadian Finance Blog. Once all the posts are online, I’ll publish a wrapup highlighting all the writers and their guest post. There are a lot of talented writers here, so it’s not going to be an easy choice! – Tom I commute into downtown Toronto every day. And every day, I pass people on my way to and from work asking for change.  I don’t think I’ve ever donated money to them. In fact, I feel annoyed by them being there. Since I’m either…
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    Credit.com News + Advice

  • CFPB Still Pushing for Clearer Credit Card Agreements

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    When it gained full regulatory power over the financial services industry last year, the federal agency tasked with protecting consumers from predatory or misleading lending practices has as its primary goal the creation of simpler lending agreements that were easier to understand. However, in the intervening months, there has been little in the way of action toward that goal. Now, though, one of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s top officials says that the need for a uniform, simplified lending disclosure for credit card agreements is still very much on the…

  • How I’m Repaying $120,000 in Student Loans

    Eric Bell
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    In less than a month, I will graduate from my MBA program at Georgetown University with more than $120,000 in student loans at 7% interest.  Six months after graduation, my grace period will end, and I will have to start repaying more than $1,000 per month.  Here is my strategy for repayment. Earn Baby, Earn The first thing I have to figure out is how to increase my income from its current level.  Without more money coming in, there is no chance for me to pay down my debt and maintain my current lifestyle.  Some student loan repayment strategies I’m considering are…

  • Why It’s Important to Teach Kids About Credit

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Millions of Americans are still struggling financially, but likely do not want to pass the kind of money problems and related stresses they feel onto their kids. One of the best ways to help youngsters avoid these problems in the future is by taking the time to instill good, basic advice about money while they’re young. Even if consumers have had trouble sticking to what they know to be good credit practices in the past, it can still be extremely helpful to kids to learn the basics of smart account management at a relatively young age, according to a report from Tulsa, Oklahoma,…

  • Discover Tops List of Best Credit Card Websites

    Kali Geldis
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    When it comes to website security and functionality, Discover tops a new list from Forrester Research. The Forrester study, titled “2012 U.S. Credit Card Secure Website Rankings,” was conducted from March 6-9 and compared the top six U.S. issuers on 50 different criteria. [Free Resource: Check your credit score and report card for free before applying for a credit card While Discover didn’t get a perfect score, it did achieve an 80 out of 100, the highest among all of the issuers. The issuer ranked highly  in the online servicing category and the site’s security…

  • Defaults Rise Slightly for Capital One

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Since the end of the recession, consumers have been repeatedly cutting the rates at which they feel behind on their credit card payments and repeatedly failed to pay the bills, but that trend might be reversing itself. Analysts recently suggested that the record-low instances of delinquency and default observed by credit card lenders since the end of the recession were expected to bottom out at some point this year, and already, this might be taking place for at least one major lender, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires. In its monthly filing with the Securities and Exchange…
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    QROPS.net the Global Leaders in UK Pension Transfers

  • HMRC QROPS clean-up sweeps away 1 in 10 schemes

    QROPS.net
    16 May 2012 | 8:19 am
    The latest QROPS offshore pensions list reveals the full extent of the recent market clean up by HM Revenue & Customs. New tax rules came in to force on April 6, closing 358 out of 3,008 QROPS schemes worldwide – and 304 of the schemes removed from the official QROPS list were based in Guernsey. The action has sliced 11% of all QROPS schemes from the market as another 30 have been added since April 6, 2012 giving a net loss of 328 schemes. The latest QROPS list shows 2,680 are offered worldwide across 49 countries. HMRC singled out Guernsey by drafting even more new pension rules…

  • Are bank holidays the scourge of the economy?

    QROPS.net
    16 May 2012 | 4:37 am
    For every person looking forward to an extra day off, there is a killjoy who claims that office and factory workers stopping work for 24 hours is financially irresponsible. The Centre for Economics and Business Research is one of those killjoys. The think tank has said that the effect of bank holidays is that the economy takes a hit, but the extent of the damage depends on which industry you are in. 45% of businesses suffer, losing £2.3 billion. Apparently, the biggest challenge that bank holidays cause is that businesses lose momentum. If we scrapped them, the think tank claims, the…

  • Social media banishes homesickness for expats

    QROPS.net
    14 May 2012 | 4:46 am
    There may be no place like home – but the internet and social networking is helping ex pats tackle homesickness and keep in touch with their loved ones. Facebook lets families and friends stay in contact with messages and photos – but many are switching on to online video conferencing services like Skype. Twitter, Flickr and YouTube also contribute to ex pat well being in a big way. By plugging in to technology 70% of ex pats are banishing home sickness, which they claim is the biggest draw back to living overseas. For years, not seeing family and friends was at the top of ‘miss…

  • Currency, China cracks to give yuan wider trading limits

    QROPS.net
    13 May 2012 | 1:44 pm
    China has hinted at a major shift in currency strategy to let the value of the yuan to be decided by market supply and demand. Beneath the move is a long held wish of the Chinese to move the stability of their currency away from the vagaries of the dollar. The first step more open trading of the yuan – sometimes called the renmimbi as well – was taken with the announcement from the People’s Bank of China that the daily trading limit with the US dollar eases the exchange rate between the two currencies. The yuan can rise and fall daily by up to 1% in value against the dollar, up…

  • EU ready to rule on expat’s right to vote in UK

    QROPS.net
    13 May 2012 | 3:11 am
    A quiet, longstanding dispute between a 90-year-old expat and the British government has inched towards a conclusion in the European Court of Human Rights. The campaign tackles a broader issue than one man’s fight against bureaucracy – an individual’s right to vote in the country of their birth. Harry Shindler’s case has been before the ECHR since 2009 – and he has been told a ruling is on the way. The decision could affect a million or more British expats living around the world who lose their right to vote in the UK when they have been absent from the country for 15 years…
 
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    The Dividend Guy Blog

  • Are You Bullish or Bearish – Does it Really Matter?

    Mike
    16 May 2012 | 4:00 am
        Some companies are doing great right now (Coke, Disney, Apple, Toyota, Magna International, etc) while others have disappointed investors in this recent earning season. The Greek saga is probably the best show you can see on TV right now (unless you are watching the Quebec university boycott saga!). Obama wants to kill dividends, the Fed keeps promoting a bullish feeling on Wall Street by keeping interest rates low until 2014 (will they ever have the guts to raise it one day?) and the Canadian Housing Market worries more than one economist. Fortunately, we do have the Facebook…

  • What I Would Do With $10,000

    Mike
    14 May 2012 | 4:00 am
        Last week, I asked you what you would do with an extra $10,000. Most of you answered that you would invest in the stock market, precisely into dividend stocks. I wasn’t too surprised by this answer. While I discussed several options, I didn’t really tell you what I would do with an extra 10K. So here we go…   Pay Off an “Expensive Debt”   I recently bought a pool based on an expected tax return. This was a really dumb move! Last year, we were able to use my wife’s tax credit to decrease my taxes. This year, I doubled my RRSP contribution (I was…

  • Mother’s Day Weekend Roundup

    MD
    11 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Did you guys get your Mother’s Day gifts yet? I’m sort of torn this year because I’ve exhausted every good gift idea so far (trip to Bahamas, spa days, and surprise parties). I’m also under the impression that my mom still hasn’t cashed in a few gifts yet. Do you have any ideas? Let’s look at the top dividend articles if you have some spare time this weekend: 1. An Example of Why I am Not Sure I believe in The Efficient Market Hypothesis @ MJTM. 2. Will Investing And Spending On Credit Lead You To Hell? @ IS. 3. April 2012 Cash Flow @ Retire by 40.

  • AFL Aflac Dividend Stock Analysis

    Mike
    9 May 2012 | 5:02 am
        After the analysis of MCD last week, there was another stock on my radar that I wanted to check out. To be truly honest, I didn’t know much about this Dividend Aristocrat; Aflac Incorporated. I’ve been trading for several years but I’ve been looking into dividend stocks only since 2008. The fact that Aflac is an insurance company (AFLAC stands for American Family Life Assurance Company) was enough for me to check elsewhere to build my “stock on the radar list”.   But the fact that AFLwas part of our Dividend Growth Index caught my attention. I thought that if a…

  • If You Had $10,000 Today, What Would You Do With It?

    Mike
    7 May 2012 | 4:00 am
      I was talking with a friend the other day and he asked me a very interesting question: what is the best investment that I can make TODAY? I’m not going to explain the whole context around this discussion but I wanted to mention these thoughts on this blog. Let’s say you have a specific amount (for this article, let’s put it at $10,000) that you can use to make more money. You don’t need this money for a while and are looking for the best investment possible. What would you do?   What is the “Best” investment?   In today’s economy, the “best” investment is…
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    Debt Free Adventure

  • How To Pay Off Debt With a Lump Sum

    Matt Jabs
    12 May 2012 | 10:45 am
    How to pay off debt using a lump sum or windfall is situational. Income, debt, and windfall amounts vary so use this as a template for your situation.

  • Repair or Sell a Wrecked Vehicle

    Matt Jabs
    1 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Deciding to repair or sell a car that has been wrecked depends on many factors such as car insurance, vehicle value, ability to sell and much more.

  • Homemade Ultralight Backpacking Water Filter

    Matt Jabs
    26 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    This backpacking filter is the homemade, ultralight water filtration response to overpriced alternatives at gear stores. Make it at home, save, and be safe.

  • Should I Pay Off Student Loans

    Matt Jabs
    23 Apr 2012 | 1:00 pm
    Should I pay off student loans with my savings? It depends on a number of things such as emergency fund savings, job security, and monthly expenses.

  • File A Tax Extension – Tax Year 2011

    Matt Jabs
    18 Apr 2012 | 9:10 am
    If you are running behind and unable to file your 2011 tax return by the April 17th, 2012 deadline, you can file a tax extension several different ways.
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    Gen Y Wealth

  • Credit 101

    Matt
    16 May 2012 | 10:10 am
    Before you get a credit card you should consider the risks that can be involved, especially if you do not have a lot of income.  There are quite a few things you need to consider before you go and sign up for a credit card, otherwise you could be setting yourself up for failure and hurting your credit score.  Not to mention reversing credit score damage can take years and years making you pay higher interest along the way simply because you did not consider the risks of credit before enrolling. Credit is not free money. Often when someone gets a credit card for the first time they feel as…

  • What You Need to Know Before Becoming a Day Trader

    Matt
    6 May 2012 | 10:09 am
    You see it everywhere, “read how I made $100,000 day trading”.  Naturally, this peak your interest into researching more into day trading.  For those of you who do not know what day trading is, its trading stocks or currency within a day to catch a large upward or downward movement.  Seems simple enough right? Wrong.  Day trading is extremely risky if you do not know what you are doing and things can take a turn for the worst in a matter of moments.  Before you venture into the world of day trading you should consider these points: You are not an investor, you are a trader.  There…

  • Top 5 Personal Finance Apps

    Matt
    25 Apr 2012 | 10:08 am
    These days there is an app for almost every aspect of our lives, some are helpful and some are just for entertainment.  Chances are you already know the entertainment apps but not many of the personal finance apps that could help you in different aspects of your finances.  Here is a list of five of my favorite personal finance apps. Google Finance.  This app is for keeping an eye on the market while you are on the go.  It tracks US and world indices and your own portfolio holdings.  Aside from that they have imported financial news so that you know what is going on in the Stock Market at…

  • Beware of Penny Stock Newsletters

    Matt
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:07 am
    Do you ever see those advertisements that promise you 100%+ return on investments?  Do you ever think that maybe you should give it a try?  Well save your time because most are just “pump and dump” scams.  A “pump and dump” scam is when someone boasts about a particular stock just to get investors to give money to the stock.  Most of these scammers use penny stocks because they are extremely liquid and will yield the highest return.  Once they hype up the stock and it is up big, the scammer then sells all their shares causing the other investors to panic and sell their shares…

  • Get Into Monthly Dividend Stocks

    Matt
    5 Apr 2012 | 10:04 am
    Wouldn’t it be nice to get a monthly dividend check in your brokerage account?  Well, there are quite a few different ETFs and companies that pay out a monthly dividend to its shareholders.  The amount of the dividend of course depends on how much you invest.  Nonetheless, it is still nice to receive a monthly sum that compounds over time. When looking for a monthly dividend paying stock you want to make sure the fundamentals are intact.  It is not recommended to buy a stock just because it pays out monthly.  That will most certainly lose you money over the long term.  So whether you…
 
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    Matt About Money

  • Money Roundup: Identity Thieves Set Their Sights Lower, Managing Your Smartphone Costs, and More

    Matt Bell
    27 Apr 2012 | 10:41 am
    There’s no end to the personal finance advice available today, and some of it is even helpful!  Actually, a lot of it is helpful.  Here are 10 of the better money-related articles I’ve come across over the past week. 6 Reasons Why You Should Never Purchase an Extended Warranty (US News). Consumer Reports agrees that extended warranties are usually not worth the cost.  The one possible exception has to do with products made by Apple, which provides a relatively stingy manufacturer’s warranty. What’s a Credit Score? Really (Main Street).  A comprehensive look at an important topic…

  • Money Roundup: Why It’s Good For Your Kids to Help Pay for College, Specialized Job Search Sites, and More

    Matt Bell
    20 Apr 2012 | 9:21 am
    There’s lots of good personal finance advice floating around in cyberspace.  Here are 10 of the most helpful, interesting, or otherwise worth-your-time-to-read articles I came across over the past week. The Upside to Not Saving for Your Child’s College Education (MSNBC).  A new study finds that students who pay for at least a portion of their college costs do better than those whose parents foot the entire bill. What Broke Athletes and Celebrities Can Teach Retirees (Forbes).  Being excellent in one field doesn’t necessarily translate into being excellent in another, like money…

  • Money Roundup: Product Price Comparisons Gets Trickier, A Great Lower-Cost Vacation Option, and More

    Matt Bell
    13 Apr 2012 | 9:36 am
    Every week I read lots of personal finance articles, searching for the ones that are most helpful for anyone intent on using money well.  Here are 10 of the better ones I came across over the past seven days. How to Do Really Tricky Product Price Comparisons (USA TODAY).  Think you saw the same product for less in another store?  You probably did.  Here’s how to see if similar products are actually the same. College Students Are Credit Card Dunces (Time).  The headline may sound harsh, but this article points to the importance of teaching kids about plastic before they leave home. A…

  • My Biggest Announcement in 7 Years

    Matt Bell
    10 Apr 2012 | 8:30 am
    In the summer of 2005, sensing God’s call to have me write and speak about biblical money management full-time, and with the strong support of my amazing wife, Jude, I left a well-paid corporate job to follow that call.  It’s been one of the greatest adventures of our lives. Along the way, Jude and I have done our best to hold this work with open hands, eager to do what God asks of us and to have the greatest possible impact. Last summer, we started sensing that God may be redirecting our path.  At the end of the year, clarity came in the form of some conversations with Sound Mind…

  • Money Roundup: Sticking Together During the Tough Times, What it Takes to Change a Habit, and More

    Matt Bell
    7 Apr 2012 | 8:30 am
    There are lots of great personal finance articles out there, and each week I do my best to keep up on who’s saying what.  Here are 10 of the better articles I came across over the past seven days – articles that’ll help you manage money more effectively, along with a special music video link at the end in honor of Easter. 6 Myths About Saving for Retirement (Time).  At least now people’s expectations are starting to line up with reality. The New American Household: 3 Generations, 1 Roof (CNNMoney).  A good trend, assuming you like your extended family! Marriage Maintenance When…
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    Steadfast Finances

  • Best of Steadfast Finances

    Corey
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Many of my faithful readers may have already read all of these posts, but I figured it was time to do a Best of Steadfast Finances. This website has been around for several years and has featured over 600 quality articles. It’s hard for even me to keep up with all of that. So, here is a quick look at the best of the best that can be located on this website. Top Posts of 2012 (so far) Why Personal Finance Matters in Politics Understanding the connection between personal finance and politics is important. Not only do tax payers have a vote in changing legislation, but those who are in…

  • Facing Foreclosure? Here are Some Programs that Might Be Available for You

    Shaun
    10 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    If there is anything this recession has proven to Americans, it is that unemployment can happen to anyone. The economic turmoil has been particularly brutal for those on unemployment. According to economic reports, the average duration for unemployment has ballooned to over nine months in the last few years. Just because your paychecks have stopped, doesn’t mean that your mortgage payments go into hibernation. No matter how dire your situation has become, there are options. Banks and the Federal Government have a number of programs for those facing foreclosure. However, you’ll never take…

  • Investing in a Timeshare – Is It Worth It?

    YFS
    7 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Exclusive membership, unique settings, beautiful resorts, fabulous locations, great marketing pitch, and access to above ordinary amenities. These are just some of the things that may encourage an individual to invest in a timeshare. You may already know the wonderful perks included in timeshare offers, and since it’s been made obvious from day one by agents with great marketing schemes, there is one question you need to consider before putting your hard earned money in this arrangement. With all the wonderful amenities that you will receive, is it all worth it? Will you get your…

  • Traits of a Successful Business

    Corey
    7 May 2012 | 4:09 am
    If you are looking to start your own business, you are probably wondering what you can do to ensure that it is a success. Hundreds of books have been written about this very topic and it seems that everyone has their own idea on what it takes to be a successful business. Yet, times have changed and are constantly changing. What a business needed years ago will no longer fully apply to a business today. Technology and the market has changed drastically in the past years. A profitable business needs to adapt to fit the current market demands in order to appeal to customers. Here are several…

  • Tax Incidence: What It Is and Why It Matters

    Shaun
    3 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Did you know that you might be paying corporate taxes and not even know it? Don’t bother checking your 1040 for an accounting error. If you aren’t self-employed, but paying corporate tax rates, you are never going to know for sure thanks to something known as tax incidence. Tax incidence is a term used in government to define the party who pays the financial burden of a given policy. Just because a piece of legislation outlines a tax or fee to one entity doesn’t mean that the identified entity bears the brunt of the legislation. Taxable entities and individuals often have the ability to…
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    Fiscal Fizzle

  • My Experience with Forex

    Wojo
    12 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    While my personal investment style is conservative and focused largely on index funds, one of my goals for this site is to learn about and introduce some of the lesser-known investment opportunities available. With the proliferation of internet access and the rise of the “online broker” over the last decade, even those opportunities that seemed reserved for professionals and the elite are becoming available to the common investor. One example is the upcoming launch of the Facebook IPO, which will reportedly be made available to investors with accounts at E-Trade and TD Ameritrade. Playing…

  • Getting Frequent Car Insurance Quotes

    Wojo
    9 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    When it comes to keeping expenses under control and spending within our means, regularly evaluating your ongoing expenses is a big part of the equation. Making sure that you have the cheapest car insurance at all times is one area where it pays to keep a watchful eye on your life and your options. The College Years I grew up in New York and later relocated to Florida, and as a result I didn’t have a license until I was 19, and didn’t own my first car until 22. I had limited use of my parent’s car and limited need to be on their insurance, but when I hit 22 and received ownership of my…

  • Do You Pay for Financial Services?

    Wojo
    7 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    Do you pay other people or companies for the privilege of dealing with even the simplest areas of your finances? If so, it may be time to re-evaluate whether you’re getting your money’s worth with these expenses. Let’s look at three of the most common financial management areas where people often spend money for things where free alternatives exist: Free Checking About 5 years ago, right around the time that online banks were just coming into the mainstream, it seemed that you could get a free checking account anywhere you looked. To some extent, that’s till the case…

  • The Pros and Cons of Buying a Condo

    Wojo
    4 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    For a lot of good reasons, the first question on my list of 72 when evaluating where and what you want to buy deals with the type of home. Generally speaking, the options are single-family homes and condos, though with the second type, the selection gets more complicated. Whatever the setup, a condo is essentially ownership of a “unit” within a larger building and ownership interest in the common property shared by all the condo owners. While an unspoken assumption on our family’s part has been that a single family home was our intended buying target for later this year,…

  • How to Fight to Get Your Invoice Corrected

    Wojo
    1 May 2012 | 8:00 am
    I had an experience last week that rattled me a bit. I was getting major repair work done on our beloved rental car for the first time since we bought it two years ago, and a dealer error almost cost me $106 in erroneous charges. I’ll walk you through what happened and share some tips on dealing with similar situations in the future. The Setup To illustrate what happened, let’s use an example with simple & round numbers: The repair cost, labor and parts included, was $300. My extended warranty covered $200 of this amount. If you did the quick math and decided that I owe $100 (which is…
 
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    The SpendLessTV.com Money-Saving Blog

  • 11 Tips for Entrepreneurs & Independent Businesses

    SpendLessTV.com
    6 May 2012 | 4:01 pm
    We’ve gathered up some of the best tips for business owners and entrepreneurs, of all varieties.  Just starting out? Looking to increase your product reach or your circulation? Looking for marketing pointers? Could you use a little practical inspiration?  We’ve got the inside info. in these audios, videos and articles from the experts! An Interview with Stacey Ross - Stacy is an entrepreneur and founder of SanDiegoBargainMama.com. In this is MP3 downloadable she is interviewed by Debra Simpson of North San Diego Business at Large. Stacey shares the evolution of San Diego…

  • 8 Tremendous Tips for Small Business

    SpendLessTV.com
    6 Apr 2012 | 4:41 pm
      Whether you’re a seasoned business owner, entrepreneur,  just beginning, or considering starting your own business, the tips in these videos from business and marketing experts on starting, financing, managing, and marketing a small business will take you even further. 4 Online Marketing Mistakes Local Businesses Make - Business coach Marie Forleo gives 4 of the biggest mistakes local businesses make in online marketing. Four simple solutions that will bring in results! Start Your Own Business Questions Answered - Susan Solovic, Small Business Contributor and CEO of SBTV.com,…

  • We’re Thinking Spring to Save Money & Make Money

    SpendLessTV.com
    4 Mar 2012 | 11:07 am
    We were inspired by a recent post we came across by Gayle Lynn Falkenthal on SanDiegoBargainMama.com - and it’s got us thinking Spring Shopping!  No matter what the season, shopping previously-owned is a sure way to find quality items, do the environment a favor, and also save some money – an all around win, win, win. The article in SanDiegoBargainMama.com’s post is all about the return of  San Diego’s biggest garage sale, the annual Thursday Club Rummage Sale, March 10 and 11. Now in its 85th year! You know if this has been going on for 85 consecutive years, they…

  • Reduce Your Medical & Hospital Bills – Don’t Get Taken!

    SpendLessTV.com
    19 Feb 2012 | 8:10 am
    My first experience with a medical billing error was quite frightening. My son had some health issues which were not too serious, but required him to remain in the hospital for about a week after his birth. Treating his condition meant the possibility of his needing a blood transfusion. As it turned out, he did not require a transfusion, but the bill I received from the hospital about a month after he came home showed a transfusion, which we were being charged for. This, of course, was quite distressing to see, and my general concern was additionally intensified by the fact that this was in…

  • Ways to Save Money on Health Insurance

    SpendLessTV.com
    22 Jan 2012 | 7:22 pm
    Urrg! The rising cost of health care and health insurance is distressing and aggravating, to put it mildly. In November, I received notice that my health insurance premiums are going up. As of January 1  they are increasing a whopping 24% – that’s an increase of $198.44 per month!  Yes, per month, bringing my yearly premium total to $12,279.72. I guess this was an early “Happy New Year” greeting. I am not currently employed, do not seem to qualify to join a “group” for group rates, and I do not yet qualify for Medicare (and I’m not sure if I…
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    JoeTaxpayer

  • Mother’s Day Roundup 2012

    JOE
    13 May 2012 | 9:44 pm
    Completely unrelated to finance, I’d like to share a poem appropriate for Mother’s Day. The Lanyard was published in 2005 by Billy Collins who was U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001-2003. I have to admit, if I just read it myself it might not have had the same impression as hearing the author read it himself. Billy Collins was a guest on the 2005 New Year’s Eve A Prairie Home Companion and I guess that if I recall his reading this over 6 years later, it must have caught my attention. Take a read or listen and let me know if you ever had your own lanyard experience with mom. Frugal…

  • Fair Trade?

    JOE
    12 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    In the United States we celebrate Mother’s Day tomorrow. In Mexico, it was celebrated yesterday, pretty cool to have it fall during the week, I’d day. There was a time that the true test of the local phone companies was whether they could handle the traffic on Mother’s Day, as this is the highest phone use day of the year. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s who are reading.

  • Abundance – The Future Is Better Than You Think

    JOE
    10 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    This book makes the remarkable case for a future in which the current level of poverty at the low end is virtually eliminated. I continue to be stunned by the data at Globalrichlist.com which shows that half the world lives on less than $850 per year. It doesn’t take much in the way of improvement to double and redouble their standard of living. I’ll offer a few observations from my reading of Abundance as to how the world may change over the next decades. The larger issue for the poorest of this world is the lack of clean drinking water. Authors Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler…

  • 7 of Most Expensive States for Car Insurance

    JOE
    7 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    A guest post by Nick Simpson - Car insurance isn’t just something that’s nice to have; it’s required by each of the 50 states if you want to operate a motor vehicle. For some, car insurance is a necessary evil; it’s an added expense on top of already-tight budgets. Other people recognize the value and protection that it provides, and don’t mind paying for it. To make things even more complicated, insurance rates can vary greatly from one state to the next. Here’s a list of some of the most expensive states to insure your car: Some rights reserved by InsureWish.com Louisiana. Year…

  • A Credit Card Fail Roundup

    JOE
    6 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Let’s start this week with Barry Ritholtz’ Big Picture. In A Graphic Presentation, he offered a few amazing charts, the one that got my attention showed the annual change in earnings over the past decades. We are at a point where the current job recovery is wage-less, or at least growth-less. At Savings Advice.com, Why You’re Likely To Be In A Higher Tax Bracket When You Retire. I humbly disagree. I like her writing. I like that she warns about the phantom rates retirees will see as a result of their social security benefits becoming taxable. I just don’t see a savings…
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    Financial Samurai

  • The Average Net Worth For The Above Average Person

    Financial Samurai
    14 May 2012 | 5:08 am
    Everything is relative when it comes to money.  If we all earn $1 million dollars a year and have $5 million in the bank at the age of 40, none of us are very wealthy given all our costs (housing, food, transportation, vacations) will be priced at levels that squeeze us to the very end.  As such, we must first get an idea of what the real average net worth is in our respective countries, and then figure out the average net worth of the above average person! According to CNN Money, the average net worth for the following ages are: $9,000 for ages 25-34,  $52,000 for ages 35-44, $100,000 for…

  • Longing To Take A Break But My Conscience Won’t Allow

    Financial Samurai
    11 May 2012 | 4:08 am
    All I want to do is nothing, if only just for a little while.  I’ve got 30 days to relax until a decision needs to be made whether to jump back into the work force or give this entire entrepreneurial endeavor a full go.  Why?  I’ve decided to take a sabbatical, and I might never come back! Although I’ve got 30 days to decide, I’ve really been thinking about this moment ever since I launched Financial Samurai three years ago.  The first words in my About page talk about how money stopped being a driving factor.  Instead, the elusive balanced lifestyle is what keeps…

  • How To Outperform The Stock Markets And Make Ladies Love You

    Financial Samurai
    9 May 2012 | 3:08 am
    The stock markets are tanking right now thanks to Europe and you’re loving it!  Why?  Because you and I are sitting pretty on our 12% gains since we took profits around March 15, 2012 when the S&P 500 was hovering at 1,405.  We are disciplined, and realized that a 6X return over the 10-year government bond yield of 2% in just two and a half months was outsized and unsustainable. Furthermore, we know that plowing our proceeds in a stable value fund that yields just 2.5% guarantees ourselves a total return of roughly 13.5%.  Anything above a 10% return in this shaky environment…

  • Understanding Structured Derivative Products As An Investment

    Financial Samurai
    7 May 2012 | 4:08 am
    The best CD interest rate I can find is 2.3% for a 7-year CD offered by Bank of America at the time of this post (5/7/12).  2.3% is pretty weak, but the next best rate I’ve seen from a known institution is around 1.85% for the same duration. I’m seeking yield to further enhance my passive income streams for financial freedom (highlights the various income streams).  My current CD monthly interest income is around $2,800 a month and I’ve got some liquid cash that’s sitting in a money market account earning 0.2% interest.  Let’s say that amount is $225,000 in…

  • Making Money Too Fast Destroys You And Everything Around You

    Financial Samurai
    4 May 2012 | 2:08 am
    Eddie from Finance Fox writes an intriguing post entitled, “Money Will Change You“.  I salivate at the picture he uses because it is my dream to one day never have to fly commercial again!  Having a matching Aston Martin waiting for me with Kate Upton in Monaco wouldn’t hurt either! When Eddie was in serious debt, he writes, “My mood sucked. I was edgy, worrisome, desperate and a nut case. Our moods are strongly tied to our earnings. I know this first hand.”  Who can blame him, given not being able to do what you want due to a lack of money, or worse yet,…
 
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    Automatic Finances

  • These Debt Collectors Picked The Wrong Woman to Mess With

    Jason Unger
    26 Apr 2012 | 8:30 am
    It's a short post, but something I just had to share with you. From ABC News: In a twist of irony, a West Virginia woman is trying to collect money from a collection agency. Diana Mey, of Wheeling, W. Va., won the largest judgment ever against an abusive debt collection company — more than $10 million. "I'm a mom, and I'm a housewife, and I'm an accidental activist," Mey said. From her small-town home base in Wheeling, Mey went after a debt collection empire that hounds people nationwide and won. But she still hasn't received any money. "I…

  • Is 2012 the Year Bank Accounts Pay For Everything Online?

    Jason Unger
    5 Jan 2012 | 10:01 am
    I mentioned it briefly in my last post about Verizon's $2 online billpay fee (which has since been canned due to public and FCC response), but it looks like 2012 is shaping up to be the year credit cards see a legitimate challenger in online e-commerce. Since the Internet's inception, credit cards have been the primary means buying things online, whether it's through standard e-commerce shopping carts or through a third-party processor like PayPal or Google Checkout. Obviously, the "security" credit cards provide and the relative ease of the transaction has made them…

  • Verizon Now Charging for Online – But Not Automatic – Payments

    Jason Unger
    30 Dec 2011 | 8:06 am
    Verizon has announced that they will begin charging customers a $2 fee for paying their bills online via credit card, in order to "continue to support these single bill payment options in these channels and is designed to address costs incurred by us for only those customers who choose to make single bill payments in alternate payment channels (online, mobile, telephone)," the company says. While the fee applies to one-time online payments, there will be no charges for using the company's AutoPay option, which will pay your bill automatically each month via either credit/debit…

  • Here's Even More Proof the 'Experts' Aren't Always Right

    Jason Unger
    22 Dec 2011 | 8:17 am
    I'm not going to spend the time linking back to posts where I argue that you shouldn't listen to so-called 'experts' when it comes to investing or stock picking – I've talked about it so much that if you haven't gotten the message yet, you're on your own. But yet again, there's irrefutable proof that even the folks the financial media and institutions hold up as investing 'experts' can make some really bad calls. As reported in the December 2011 issue of Money magazine, three so-called experts made horrible investing choices this past…

  • 10 Myths About Online Banking

    Guest Post
    26 Sep 2011 | 3:56 pm
    In a survey conducted this year, researchers found out that four out of five households with Internet access now use online banking. This new way to keep track of your finances has become somewhat of a norm in our society, but the few who do not take advantage of this option have made accusations about banking online. To help weed out some of these accusations, here are ten myths about online banking. Myth 1: Your Money Is Not Safe If You Bank Online A very common myth about online banking is that your money is not secure. However, the reputable companies who provide online banking are…
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    Saving Money Today

  • Inexpensive Mother’s Day Gifts

    Mike
    7 May 2012 | 8:35 pm
    Mother’s Day is right around the corner! You forgot didn’t you? Well have no fear! In today’s post I’ll share some money saving ideas for inexpensive Mother’s Day gifts so you don’t show up empty-handed. 1. Flowers. What mom wouldn’t love a beautiful bouquet of flowers? You don’t have to spend a fortune either. You can order flowers online and have them shipped right to your mom’s front door for as little as $30 to $50. 2.  A Family Portrait. Get the whole family together and have a professional portrait taken.  It won’t cost much…

  • How to Find Cheap Public Liability Insurance Quotes

    Mike
    3 May 2012 | 11:22 am
    If you have a business, chances are that you rely on it for your livelihood.   Just as you would insure your home and car against disaster, you must ensure that your business is insured against anything that could damage it and take away that livelihood. But the cost of insurance for anything – house, car, pet, business – is never as cheap as we would like to be. It can be an unwelcome expense during the best of times, never mind when business is slow or profits are tight. Yet if adequate insurance is not in place, the cost of righting any damage or liabilities will be far, far greater…

  • Aweber Review – List Management and Email Autoresponder

    Mike
    2 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
    In today’s post I’m going to tell you about my experiences with Aweber’s autoresponder/email marketing service. What is Aweber? Aweber is a popular email list management and autoresponder tool used by bloggers, business owners, and internet marketers. It allows you to build a list of subscribers, send out an email newsletter, and create an unlimited number of email marketing campaigns using autoresponders so you can send out a series of messages automatically while you lay in the sun sipping cocktails. I use Aweber on this blog and on another site I own, and I have several…

  • Affordable Summer Family Activities

    Melissa
    30 Apr 2012 | 5:42 am
    In just a few short weeks, school will be out for the summer.  While your kids may be counting down the days to summer freedom, if they are like most kids, within a few weeks, you will begin to hear the dreaded whine, “I’m bored!”  This summer, keep the whine at bay with some of these fun, affordable activities: Visit free museums and other attractions.  The site FreeAttractions.com helps you find free activities in your city and other surrounding areas.  I found several new activities that I did not previously know about using this site. Go to factory tours.  Most kids love to…

  • Dealing With Debt Collectors

    Mike
    24 Apr 2012 | 6:48 am
    I remember when I was a kid my parents went through a tough financial time and ended up declaring bankruptcy.  There was a span of several months where debt collectors were constantly calling and trying to get us to give up our bank account information so they could collect the debt.  Since I was just a kid I always told them I didn’t know what they were talking about (which was pretty much true anyway), but now that I’m an adult I’m more aware of the rights we have as consumers dealing with debt collectors. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act places a number of restrictions on…
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    Personal Finance Stories

  • Small Business Lessons From Coca-Cola

    Twila VanLeer
    13 May 2012 | 9:14 am
    Innovation Never Ends When does a successful company come to the point at which it can rest on its laurels and coast? Never, according to Muhtar Kent, CEO of the Coca-Cola Co. When he took over the reins of the soft drink giant four years ago, it was a bit stagnant, struggling to keep up with the PepsiCo competition. Through a series of brilliant manipulations, he put Coke back on top of the rankings. Last year, the Fortune 500 company racked up sales of 5.5 billion cases of product in the United States alone, with more than twice that amount in top markets throughout the world.Coke…

  • Start Saving Money Now

    Twila VanLeer
    9 May 2012 | 7:29 am
    When it comes to personal savings, getting started is the hard part. Few people would disagree with the concept that having a cushion to see one through emergencies and to provide against the day when retirement becomes a reality is a good idea, but a surprising number of people don’t get around to starting a savings program until it is very challenging. Facing reality is a good place to start. Know precisely how much income you have. Don’t confuse gross income with net. Don’t forget such items as taxes that automatically reduce your take-home pay. Consider all the sources…

  • Social Networks Can Boost Business Start-Ups

    Twila VanLeer
    16 Apr 2012 | 1:41 pm
    Getting the word out about a new e-business can be a considerable challenge for a beginning entrepreneur. Social networking on such sites as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can be an inexpensive and effective way to promote, but there are some things you need to know before setting out. In a recent Wall Street Journal column, Sarah E. Needleman offers advice for the uninitiated, with the underlying message being to take time to understand how the networks work and use good judgment in choosing where to post your messages to get the biggest payback. The sites are free and “wildly…

  • Don’t Let Mistakes Sabotage Your Retirement

    Twila VanLeer
    11 Apr 2012 | 3:54 pm
    The time to start planning for retirement is long before retirement becomes an immediate issue. And avoiding the pitfalls that trip up many Americans in their pursuit of financially healthy retirement years is essential. A recent Wall Street Journal column by Veronica Dagher posted five such mistakes. Watch Your IRA Accounts Don’t be complacent about your 401(k). Many employees who simply have their employer deduct the maximum possible amount to a 401(k) without asking any questions may be missing out on more productive alternatives, according to financial experts. In some instances,…

  • Tax Strategies For The Self-Employed

    Sherry Tingley
    30 Mar 2012 | 11:29 am
    Are you prepared for tax season? Have you thought of using a (SEP-IRA) Self Employed Pension plan to help you reduce your tax liability and prepare for retirement? In the past five years, job losses in the United States have given people incentives to start their own businesses. These self employed people have become successful financially and have never really been forced to think about how they are going to manage paying their own taxes. With additional money coming in, they need a tax strategy to help them plan for retirement. The formula they might use in saving for taxes needs to benefit…
 
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    Control Your Cash: Making Money Make Sense

  • A Guest Post From A Dog

    admin
    16 May 2012 | 6:16 am
     Occasionally we run guest posts. If you’d like to submit one, see our requirements here. Today’s is written by one of the very few submitters capable enough to meet all our criteria, Froofy the Dog. He already writes better than most Carnival of Wealth submittersHi, this is Froofy! My brain can do the following, and not much else:-remember which people I can trust -know where my food and water are -allow me to whimper so the people mentioned above will open the door and let me out when required. Yet even I know that you’ve got to be some kind of lower vertebrate to take…

  • Carnival of Wealth, Tim Duncan Edition

    admin
    14 May 2012 | 7:33 am
    And he's a mime, too! Here he is doing "Stuck In Center Alignment On Control Your Cash" Why can’t everyone be like the big man? Year after year of quiet excellence, and no desire to share his personality with the world at large. Consistency and aptitude still count for something, right?We could give a damn who wins the NBA title; not that we’re not fans, rather that we have no emotional investment nor rooting interest in something that only tangentially affects us. But it’s hard not to pull for the stoic giant who forever redefined the power forward…

  • Expose Yourself For Fun And Rewards

    admin
    11 May 2012 | 6:55 am
    She's smiling because she's AB-. That'll get you $20 a quart.A company is struggling, and the struggle has no quick resolution. (How) can you profit off this situation?Case in point, and a real-world example. We needed an polyurethane iPad Smart Cover, which is made by Apple and sells for $40. It’s the only accessory we could find that hit the multiple criteria of a) being made especially for the product it’s supposed to accessorize and b) coming from a trusted manufacturer (Apple itself). There are plenty of knockoffs available, but we’re not interested.While…

  • Preventative Maintenance, Your New Best Friend

    admin
    9 May 2012 | 6:05 am
    WARNING: Never mind the graphic images. Once this gal’s voice enters your head, it ain’t coming out anytime soon.  When your humble blogger was a Cub Scout, his pack watched an anti-smoking film that contained his first exposure to tracheotomy. The video featured a guy smoking a cigarette through a hole in his neck, which was followed by a helpful if nauseating cross-section diagram that showed how surgeons somehow detached the patient’s windpipe from his blackened larynx and had it connect to the outside world at a point of contact somewhere near his Adam’s apple.

  • Carnival of Wealth, Ode to Joy Edition

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 6:59 am
    "Fine, here's my g.d. autograph. You're not a collector, are you?" Vienna, 188 years ago today. Ludwig van Beethoven “drops” his latest, and ultimately his last, the Symphony No. 9 in D minor. If this isn’t the greatest piece of music ever written, it’s definitely in the top 7. Beethoven himself conducted the premiere, marking his first on-stage appearance in 12 years. The audience was speechless when he began, and remained so throughout the performance.If you read methodically enough, and click on every link, today’s Carnival of Wealth…
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    Budgets Are Sexy

  • 14 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

    J. Money
    16 May 2012 | 5:44 am
    I got these from a pamphlet on 100+ Ways to Improve Your Electric Bill, but the others just bored me to death and were too full of acronyms and heavy text ;)  So I plucked out a handful of my favorites instead to share with y’all today, as some of them I had nooooo idea about and even thought that the opposite would be true! So check them out and see if they help you out at all.  I doubt I’ll change much of my own habits after reading the whole thing, but it was nice to know at least a few of the things we already do make sense energy-wise :) Maybe you’ll get something out…

  • The 3 Winners of “The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom”

    J. Money
    16 May 2012 | 5:23 am
    YIKES! Almost forgot to tell y’all who the winners of last week’s book giveaway were!  The 3 lucky winners of Suze Orman’s latest update to The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom are… dum dum dum…. Cristalle Sue DebtsnTaxes Congrats! You’ll be getting an email from me shortly :)  And to the rest out there, thanks for participating!  We’ll have another giveaway going up shortly for sure…. and remember you can always pick up this book over at Amazon too if you’d like, it’s going for $10.87 right now. ‘Till next time…

  • Nice Try, Credit Card Scammers!

    J. Money
    15 May 2012 | 5:06 am
    Whelp, it looks like I’m officially a victim of credit card theft.  Some asshat tried stealing my c/c number to make all kinds of purchases online, but was promptly REJECTED cuz they were going up against our beloved USAA (BAM!).  So bye bye went their $300 purchase failed attempt in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as well as their $2.00 trial out in the UK (probably to see if it would go through so they could forge ahead with larger charges). Needless to say though, I was both shocked, and the opposite of, at the same time. You never see this stuff coming, but when you’ve got a killer…

  • The Moldy Bathroom and Super Wife

    J. Money
    14 May 2012 | 5:18 am
    Yup. It’s official – our shower area has black mold in it! Just when we think we’re in the clear for a bit, something else in this house jacks up. Reason #3,001 to set aside money for stupid house stuff! Arghhh… But as much as I’d love to blame the previous homeowners on this one, I really can’t put it ALL on them… Yes, they did a shoddy job re-tiling the tub and grouting the whole dang thing, but we weren’t that much better in keeping it in tip-top shape either.  So naturally with a concoction like that you’re bound to come across a mess…

  • My New Hustle: Blog Consulting

    J. Money
    11 May 2012 | 5:04 am
    Yup, it’s official: The Blog Agency is now open! ;)  And pretty funny considering we literally JUST thought this up in our heads a few weeks ago, haha…  But what better way to combine my love of “the game” and helping others, while making money all at the same time? It’s like the perfect concoction for me right now, and we’ve already been blessed with over 10 awesome clients so far. Not a bad way to start a project :) And honestly, 3 weeks ago it wasn’t even on our minds… The Back Story A while ago I had played around with the idea of doing 1…
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    Justmeans

  • Getting Ready for Its Rio+20 Debut: The Natural Capital Declaration

    Reynard Loki
    15 May 2012 | 5:31 pm
    In the run-up to Rio+20, more finance sector CEOs have made a commitment to support the preservation of ecosystem servicesThe concept of "ecosystem services"that humans benefit from the products that nature providesis an ancient one. Even Plato realized the connection:"What now remains of the formerly rich land is like the skeleton of a sick man with all the fat and soft earth having wasted away and only the bare framework remaining. Formerly, many of the mountains were arable. The plaines that were full of rich soil are now marshes. Hills that were once covered with forests and produced…

  • Novo Nordisk Wins Best Sustainability Performance at 2012 Social Innovation Awards

    Reynard Loki
    10 May 2012 | 7:33 am
    The Danish healthcare firm continues its march to sustainability, collecting another honor along the wayJustmeans hosted the 2012 Social Innovation Awards, which were held on April 25 in Boston in conjunction with the 2012 Ceres Conference: Igniting Innovation, Scaling Sustainability. The conferencewas marked by release of a new Ceres/Sustainalytics report that evaluated the sustainability performance of 600 leading American companies.The Best Sustainability Performance Award went to Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO, 143.47, -4.50), a global healthcare company based in Denmark. The award recognizes…

  • Transparency International to Rio+20: Address Corruption in Climate Financing

    Reynard Loki
    9 May 2012 | 10:24 am
    With Rio+20 around the corner, the leading international development corruption monitoring group warns of failure if mechanisms for climate financing transparency are not put into placeAccording to the United Nations' 2011 World Economic and Social Survey, an "incremental green investment of about 3 percent of world gross product (WGP) (about $1.9 trillion in 2010) would be required to overcome poverty, increase food production to eradicate hunger without degrading land and water resources, and avert the climate change catastrophe."[1] The report asserts that at least 50 percent of the total…

  • Shortlist Announced for 2012 FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards

    Reynard Loki
    8 May 2012 | 5:21 am
    "This is a very impressive list of nominees, combining institutions we know well from previous years with new names that are beginning to make a mark in this important field." -- Martin Dickson, Deputy Editor, Financial Times, and Co-chair of Sustainable Finance Awards judging panel[1]The Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private sector arm, have announced the shortlist for the 2012 FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards. Currently in its seventh year, the program constitutes the world's preeminent awards recognizing financial institutions that have…

  • Monsieur Hollande's Opus: Sustainable Finance and a Socialist France

    Reynard Loki
    6 May 2012 | 8:44 am
    A Socialist will be moving into the lyse Palace. What does that mean for sustainable finance?In defeating Nicholas Sarkozy in the French presidential election, Francois Hollande has become the first left-wing president since Francois Mitterrand left office in 1995. Proponents of sustainable finance should be saying, "Trs bien!"Hollande has made some commitments that have pleased the Green Party members as well as the renewable energy sector. For one, he promised that, if elected, he would "preserve the independence of France by diversifying our sources of energy," including "a reduction in…
 
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    Smart On Money

  • Finding Alternative Methods Of Getting What You Need

    Miranda Marquit
    1 May 2012 | 1:39 pm
    We live in a society where it’s fairly easy to simple to just head over to the store and buying something when we want it. Indeed, we often pay money for things without stopping to think that there might be a better way to acquire them. You don’t have to buy new all the time in order to get a good value. Here are some alternative ways to get what you need: Buy Used There are plenty of goods that you can buy used, and it’s not just used cars that work well. Head to the local thrift store, or look in the Classifieds or online for items that you want to buy. You might be…

  • 3 Roth IRA Rules Benefitting Military Personnel

    Guest Contributor
    27 Apr 2012 | 9:36 am
    If you serve in the military, you have the option to take advantage of early retirement. Service of 20 years or more makes you eligible to retire with a pension of 50% or more of your military pay. Unfortunately, 50% of military pay most likely isn’t going to yield enough money to retire and live the high life. But it does get you a step closer to your retirement goal. If you’re wise, you’ll supplement your military pension with various forms of investment income, such as income from a rental property and cash flow from your retirement savings. For members of the military, a…

  • ING Direct Remote Deposits Now Available: Does Your Bank Offer A Remote Deposit App?

    Mr. Money
    26 Apr 2012 | 12:59 pm
    Yesterday I heard the news that one of my favorite banks, ING Direct, had just released a new remote deposit app for Iphone and Android devices. I quickly downloaded the app to take it for a spin. I’ve got a couple of accounts with ING, and knew that I would most likely be using the remote deposit functionality on a regular basis.  As a blogger I still get a lot of checks from a wide range of clients, and I need to make deposits more than the average Joe. What better way to deposit them than by quickly snapping a couple of pictures with my smartphone? Today I thought I’d do a…

  • Banks Will Pay You To Avoid A Drawn Out Foreclosure Process: Short Sale Incentives

    Mr. Money
    24 Apr 2012 | 4:55 pm
    Foreclosure is never going to be an easy process to go through.  When you’re going through it you’re most likely losing your home, losing a piece of your security and it’s shocking to be having to leave the place you’ve lived for years. While going through foreclosure isn’t an easy process, it isn’t exactly an uncommon happening these days.  Thousands of people are going through the same thing, and the banks are seeing a glut of foreclosed homes piling up on their ledgers. Owners of more than 14 million homes are in foreclosure, behind on their mortgages…

  • What Are You Doing To Make Your Money Dreams A Reality?

    Miranda Marquit
    23 Apr 2012 | 11:33 am
    Many of us have money dreams. Often, these dreams focus on some point in the future, when you have more money. We think about the things that we’ll do when we have more money: Go on vacation, set up a charitable foundation, get rid of debt, pay off the mortgage, or accomplish some other feat. Unfortunately, while dreaming about what we’ll do when we have more money, we often overlook the intervening step of planning to make those dreams a reality. We dream of a financially sound future, but we neglect to make any provisions for actually getting there. As a result, having more…
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    Financially Poor

  • Do Not Be Scared About Debt, Do This Instead

    Kevin
    16 May 2012 | 1:39 am
    Hello my fellow Financial Freedom Guerrillas. I know being in debt can seem overwhelming but you can win if you don’t curl up and die. The last thing you want to do is freeze up, because then the debt will have won. You are stronger than that and I know you can overcome it. There are a lot of things in life to be scared of, but debt isn’t one of them. The boogie man, Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot, those are things to be scared of. Debt is just an over indulgence of life. Instead of being scared become resourceful. Think to yourself “what can I do to get out of this…

  • Should I Buy This Book? Review: Creating Your Own Destiny

    Kevin
    14 May 2012 | 1:32 am
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lgDAI6V5_k I am just going to give you a quick review of Creating Your Own Destiny.  I really enjoyed this book.  It teaches you how to control your life and not let others control it for you.  It also talks about creating your own wealth by starting businesses and starting different streams of income which is the key to becoming financially free. This book also has a great section about overcoming fears and adversity.  Just start.  Go after what you want in life.  A great example is starting your own business; the hardest part is just starting.  This…

  • 3 Tips For Couples To Make A Budget

    Kevin
    12 May 2012 | 1:23 am
    Having a budget as a couple is not an easy thing. Me and my girlfriend have one and I’ll be the first to tell you it takes a lot of adjustments. I have definitely learned a lot going through that. Here’s some tips to get you through it. Be Open Talk about how you feel about a budget. If you’re both not ready for one then it’s not going to work. Go over the whole budget together and talk about each category. Make sure that you agree on how much you are going to spend on the categories. The important thing is to talk about it and make sure that you let your feelings out. If you have a…

  • How To Get Your Partner On Board With Finances – 3 Ways

    Kevin
    10 May 2012 | 1:15 am
    I receive emails from people explaining the problems they are facing in personal finance. The main issue I receive is about working out finances with a significant other that doesn’t really want to get on board. What can I tell these people? I don’t believe there is really an answer that can be given because everyone is different and has different motivations. Everyone has a different breaking point. You’ve reached it and that’s why you want to take control of your finances, They have obviously not gotten to that point yet. Some people never make it there, especially if you end…
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    Couple Money

  • May Fuel Challenge Check-In #2

    Elle
    14 May 2012 | 7:45 am
    It’s another Monday, so it’s time for me to check in with my own progress with the Fuel King/Queen Challenge. I had a fuel up this week and it wasn’t pretty – I got 22.8 miles per gallon this tank. Ouch! I have got to get back to getting 28-30 miles per gallon. I’ve been doing a lot of city driving and the results show – I got to change up my driving habits, quick. Here are a few things I’ll be working on when driving with this tank: Be consistent with my driving speed. When I’m driving to the other side of town I tend to get stuck on Capital Blvd…

  • Roadtrip Giveaway (Plus Posts I Loved This Week)

    Elle
    12 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    I recently reviewed a set of puzzle books on My Financial Reviews. Since many couples and families are taking a road trip this month, I thought a puzzle giveaway would be great. Prize Pack Includes:  The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Picture Puzzles, Vol. 2 Puzzle Baron’s Sudoku Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles, Vol. 2 If you’re already a subscriber to either Couple Money or My Financial Reviews, you’ve already been entered. No fuss, no muss – just my way of saying thanks for being a part of the community  (If you haven’t signed up, just simply use one of links.)…

  • Early Retirement? Maybe Not So Extreme…

    Elle
    11 May 2012 | 7:08 am
    It’s been pretty quiet over here with our finances recently. Once we bought the car, we’ve been building up our car fund a bit (to cover our current cars’ maintenance costs). Our finances have been automated so we’re continuing to pay down the student loan and the mortgage while contributing to our retirement accounts. I’ve been using the last month or so to catch up on my blogroll and my personal library. Among what I’ve been reading are Early Retirement Extreme (both the blog and book) and Mr. Money Mustache. Could We Plan Our Retirement…

  • Why Knowing Your Net Worth Matters

    Elle
    9 May 2012 | 7:28 am
    If you’ve been following this blog for some time, you’ve noticed that I do monthly net worth reviews. It’s one of the most popular series on this site. Today I wanted share some reason why we do this and then share a couple of reason why we don’t stress over it obsessively. Why We Do Net Worth Reviews The purpose of the net worth reviews is to give us a regular system to look at our accounts, see what’s changed, and analyze what went well and what we need to work on. Net worth reviews gives us an opportunity to talk. We have spoken about money before doing…

  • May Fuel Challenge Check-In #1

    Elle
    7 May 2012 | 7:46 am
    It’s Monday, so it’s time for me to check in with my own progress with the Fuel King/Queen Challenge. I started this Challenge as a way to save some money to pay off the student loan faster. Now, in just a few days of taking the challenge I’m embracing the friendly competitiveness of it. Please remember to leave your progress in the comments below – it’s encouraging and a way for us to see how each other is doing. If you have any tips that you’ve used (not just what you’ve read), please share them as well. I’ll be compiling them…
 
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    Beating Broke

  • Are You Rationalizing Your Way Into Debt?

    B.B.
    16 May 2012 | 7:26 am
    Are You Rationalizing Your Way Into Debt? is a post from: Beating Broke, if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed.Staying out of debt is difficult.  Terribly difficult.  It isn’t made any easier if you rationalize yourself into debt, either.  Many of us spend a good deal of our time and energy trying to get out of debt, and stay out of debt.  We do that through so many devices, and each have our own system that helps us along the way.  Budgeting is obviously a big tool that many of us use to make sure that we have enough money to pay the bills, and ourselves at…

  • Last Days to Win Money Rules and Other Notes

    B.B.
    14 May 2012 | 7:32 am
    Last Days to Win Money Rules and Other Notes is a post from: Beating Broke, if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed.As you know, I started my new job last week.  I also had a very busy last few weeks away from work.  As a side effect of all of that, I haven’t had the time I would have liked to have had to write posts here.  I’m hoping that will change some in the next few days, but for now, this is the best you’re gonna get.   I’ve got a few nice posts up my sleeves, so keep your eyes open for those.In the mean time, don’t forget to go and…

  • Carnival Round Up, May 12, 2012

    MelissaB
    12 May 2012 | 7:13 am
    Carnival Round Up, May 12, 2012 is a post from: Beating Broke, if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed.Beating Broke was included in three carnivals last week:Carnival of Money Pros hosted by Young Adult FinancesCarnival of Financial Camaraderie #32 hosted by Young and ThriftyYakezie Carnival – The Facebook IPO Edition hosted by One Cent at a TimeThanks to all of the hosts for including my posts!

  • Working From Home and Business Insurance

    Guest Contributor
    9 May 2012 | 10:06 pm
    Working From Home and Business Insurance is a post from: Beating Broke, if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed.Working from home is an increasingly popular choice for many people who may have found entering, remaining in or returning to the general job market a struggle. Parents wanting to balance working life with caring for their children are perhaps the most likely group of people to want to work from home, since doing so allows for maximum flexibility.There is a whole range of businesses that can be operated from home, from will-writing, to copywriting, to ICT support…

  • The Work Revolution

    B.B.
    7 May 2012 | 7:10 am
    The Work Revolution is a post from: Beating Broke, if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed.The Work RevolutionBy: Dr. Julie ClowThere are so many gurus and life coaches out there that are telling everyone that they can that the only way to truly be happy with work, is to leave work, and get on an entrepreneurial journey.  There’s books, seminars, and more than enough websites that are dedicated to helping you find a way to escape the daily grind that is your work.  Dr. Clow thinks there’s a better way to go about it.  In The Work Revolution, Dr. Clow lays…
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    Denise Richardson

  • Beware of New Twists on Old Scams

    Denise Richardson
    11 May 2012 | 6:01 pm
    At some point or another you've probably heard the phrase "everything old is new again."  Unfortunately, that goes just as well for scams and identity theft as it does for fashion and design.  Old scams that you'd think had gone...

  • 4 Dangerous Places to Swipe Your Debit Card

    Denise Richardson
    7 May 2012 | 10:57 am
    Even though you might think you are doing your best to safeguard your finances, you might be doing the exact opposite by regularly using your debit card to complete transactions. Despite the fact that debit cards look identical to credit...

  • Identity Theft Protection Services Reviewed

    Denise Richardson
    1 May 2012 | 3:15 pm
    The Consumer Federation of America recently released a report that reviewed 20 of the major identity theft protection services that are available today.  The review was a follow-up to a set of voluntary "best practices" guidelines that the CFA created last...

  • Key Features of a Good Spyware Removal Program

    Denise Richardson
    28 Apr 2012 | 5:48 pm
     If you're a regular surfer of the web, chances are you've come across a very annoying (and potentially dangerous) thing called spyware.  Spyware, a cousin of viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other malware, is a type of malicious code that...

  • Oops! $10 Million Reasons Debt Collectors Shouldn't Break Laws

    Denise Richardson
    26 Apr 2012 | 9:37 am
    Never underestimate the depths to which some debt collectors will sink when it comes to finding new ways to collect on a debt --whether it's owed or not. They will harrass, intimidate and levy threats all in an attempt to instill enough fear in...
 
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    Ex-Consumer

  • Too Many Commitments = Sickness

    Jenny
    7 May 2012 | 12:42 pm
    We try to keep a moderate schedule. My oldest son is typically in one or two extracurricular activities that never require more than a couple of hours one or two evenings each week. This spring, however, we agreed to let my son play soccer. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but my son also takes Taekwondo and participates in Cub Scouts. Now, in addition to three days a week for soccer practices and games, he has one Taekwondo session and many weeks he has a Cub Scout commitment as well. Throw in a random evening school concert, art show or skit and my son has an overpacked schedule. It…

  • Wow. I Did Not See that Coming

    Jenny
    1 May 2012 | 12:44 pm
    Source: Uploaded by user via Cynthia on Pinterest   There have been some exciting developments happening in my world lately. A couple of fantastic opportunities I’ve never before considered have presented themselves — and some of them have to do with this blog and my new e-book. As things take shape, I’ll give you more details. For now I’ll just say, wow. I didn’t see that coming. As I work through some of the transitions happening in my working life, I’m finding my time rather pinched. I’m hoping that will change in the coming weeks as well.

  • What’s Your Ideal Work Arrangement?

    Jenny
    23 Apr 2012 | 10:59 am
    Source: bordengymnastics.ca via Jenny on Pinterest   The past few weeks have been a total whirlwind for me. Earlier this month I launched my first e-book, then awaited some changes looming in my full-time job. Late last week, I finally got the news. I am being switched from salary to hourly employment. While the details aren’t finalized, what’s certain is there are going to be some huge changes in my working life. As I figure out exactly what this new work arrangement means for me, there are a few things I’m nervous about: Not knowing what my weekly or monthly income…

  • Spend More on the Things You Love

    Jenny
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:17 am
    Source: flickr.com via Jenny on Pinterest   There are many areas in my life where I practice frugality, or just do without. The funny thing is, those areas where I cut back are areas in which I don’t notice any kind of lack. In other words, I never feel like I’m missing out. For example, we almost never eat out. This is no big deal because I like to cook and have my family gather around the kitchen table for meals. Sure, some nights it would be easier to just order take out, but I enjoy the challenge of making a meal out of what we have on hand. Home and personal care…

  • Letting Go

    Jenny
    11 Apr 2012 | 9:25 am
    When we find ourselves in the midst of a crisis, it can be difficult to let go of our current circumstances and jump into the unknown. Sometimes clinging to the familiar — no matter how painful — is more comfortable than exploring the unfamiliar. Today I want to invite you to become uncomfortable. If you’re already unhappy with the current circumstances in which you find yourself, what’s the worst that could happen if you take a step in a more harmonious direction? What are you most afraid of? For me, it’s the fear of time that holds me back. Less of it, that is.
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    First Generation White Collar

  • Tax Refunds

    L. Marie Joseph
    14 May 2012 | 5:34 pm
    In a survey for Capital One Financial, only one-quarter of  respondents who owe taxes this year had set aside cash specifically to cover the cost  Tax refunds can be a good thing. Why? Because the average American don’t save or cannot strategically allocate their tax withholding to pan out to evenly. Some calculations maybe be off and people wound up owing the government money afterwards. Unless you’re a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or know one, don’t try to guess how many withholding is correct. Most pundits experts say a tax refund is giving away money to the…

  • Housing should be no more than 25% of your income

    L. Marie Joseph
    3 May 2012 | 7:55 pm
    Yeah I said it!   Owning nothing beyond property taxes, insurance, and utilities creates incredible freedom -Laura Vanderkam   In a perfect world! The best way to be debt free is having your debt to income ratio low. Paying more on your debt than required. The more money you pay on debt the more likely you’ll be out of debt sooner. The trade-off is putting off fun, entertainment and nice weekends. The key is to not overextend yourself  to begin with. So the next time you look for an apartment or home make sure the monthly payments are 25%  of your monthly income. For…

  • Quote of the Day

    L. Marie Joseph
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:01 am
    Money’s easy to make …..But with few exceptions people don’t want money. They want luxury, love, admiration - John Steinbeck  

  • Dave Ramsey and His All Cash Route

    L. Marie Joseph
    24 Apr 2012 | 6:49 am
    I do like and have listened to Dave Ramsey. I find him very entertaining. Callers call in to his AM Talk radio show with their money problems. His answer to most questions is to get out of debt and stop dining out. I stopped listening to his show because he was beginning to sound like a broken record. (Same beat different drum) It’s easy to say get out of debt but once you’re out, it becomes harder to stay out of debt. The problem I find is that you have to make the income to avoid debt. Making $35K a year and being debt free is hard to maintain than making $70K and staying debt…

  • Great Quote

    L. Marie Joseph
    17 Apr 2012 | 6:23 am
    My trigger is boredom. If someone says, I went to Macy’s, they had these things on sale. I say, I’m not sure why you’re telling me this. I push past the idle gossip conversations. I don’t think they’re useful - Reid Hoffman
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    Greene Consulting Associates Blog

  • Balancing Current Family Needs with Future Retirement Needs

    Woody Burriss
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    In this our second in a series of articles about helping clients in the Accumulation Phase of Retirement Planning, we address the second root cause of inadequate retirement saving, which is the difficulty of balancing current family needs with future retirement needs. People want to set aside more money for retirement, but they are spending all of their income on current family “needs” and do not believe they can allocate more funds to retirement savings. To be sure, there are situations (e.g., severe health care costs) that prohibit saving for retirement. However, the Employee Benefit…

  • What Does a CFP® Certificant Do?

    Dan Madden, CFP®
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    One of the great benefits of the CFP® Certification is the number of doors it opens in terms of a career path. While the traditional financial planner is what most people associate with a CFP® Certificant, there are many jobs in the financial services industry you’ll see certificants working in. Below we’ve listed a few of the most common, with a brief description of what that job is and why it’s important to have the certification. Financial Planner Clearly this is the #1 job that a CFP®Certificant is qualified to do. If you’re a financial planner working for a large firm, your…

  • Financial Planning Strategies to Maximize Social Security Benefits

    Rick Tyler
    16 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    A major decision in retirement planning is identifying when to begin withdrawing Social Security retirement benefits. If you begin receiving benefits before your normal retirement age, you receive a smaller monthly benefit, but with a longer life expectancy (resulting in more benefit checks received); if you delay until after normal retirement age, you get larger benefit with a shorter life expectancy (resulting in fewer benefit checks received). Which strategy is optimum? The answer depends upon your life expectancy. If you are age 62 and terminally ill, by all means begin drawing your…

  • Telling Your Story Can Lead to Successful Relationships

    Dan Madden, CFP®
    2 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    Everyone knows the importance of making a connection with your client. Well, hopefully everyone. But the problem for some can be how to make that connection. The latest issue of Financial Planning Magazine has a succinct article on one way to go about doing that – sharing a powerful personal story. The point of the article is that many clients are easily bored with recitations of numbers, projections, and pontifications. If you want your client to listen, to have interest, and to have trust in you the advisor, let them know “who you are and what you stand for” by telling them your story…

  • Financial Advisors and Financial Planners can Now Put the IRS in their Pockets

    Rick Tyler
    19 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    It seems like everyone is involved with social media these days – even the IRS.  You can get Twitter news feeds from the IRS; you can even go to their Facebook page, although I don’t see anywhere where you can become a “friend” (either that, or no one has yet signed up to be a friend!).  And now you can even get their latest app for your smartphone! Now available in the Apple Store and the Android Marketplace is IRS2GO 2.0, a free app offered by the IRS.  This is an expanded version of its smartphone application designed to provide taxpayers with easier access to practical…
 
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    Stack The Chips

  • Stop Wasting Your Money & Start Saving

    ipadedwin
    10 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Many people make plenty of money to live comfortably, but they struggle to make ends meet each month. It is a paradox that leaves people complaining about the high cost of living and wondering where all of their money is going each month. If this sounds familiar to you, the fact is that you may simply be wasting your money when you could be saving it. You can make a ton of money each month, but you may be “cash poor” if you spend every last dime you have. With every dollar you earn, you have the choice to spend the money or to save it. So how can you stop wasting your money and…

  • Careers You Can Have Forever

    ipadedwin
    22 Apr 2012 | 2:09 am
    It’s unfortunate to see people who are aging in the workforce be forced into beginning a new career. Such events are becoming more commonplace nowadays. Sometimes industries go on the decline and employers have to make cuts. Other times workers age and can no longer handle the heavy workload. So when choosing a career it’s important to choose one that both has longetivy and that you can continue to work in well into your 60′s and beyond. Choose one of the careers on the list below and you can possibly stay with the same employer until you decide to retire. Teacher There will…

  • It’s Time To Spring Clean Your Finances

    ipadedwin
    9 Apr 2012 | 8:34 pm
    Can you believe it’s already spring time again? It seems like it was just yesterday we were making New Year’s resolutions about cutting back on our spending or slashing our debt. How are those coming along so far? If you’re already off track you are not alone. Most people break their resolutions a few weeks into the new year. But indeed, spring time is upon again this year already. Spring is a team we clear out the back yard of debris, get rid of old clothes in the closet, wipe the windows down and clean behind the couch and under the bed. So why not clean up your finances…

  • Guide To Paying For College

    ipadedwin
    16 Mar 2012 | 7:52 pm
    College is as expensive as it’s ever been. With tuition rates on the rise yet again college is becoming almost impossible to afford without accruing tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. But don’t despair just yet. There’s a way that you or your children can still afford to go to college. Here are some tips to help pay for college. Savings Account There’s a little known savings account you can get called a 529 college savings account. A parent can open one of these accounts for their kids any time they want to, whether they’re an infant or already in…

  • Survey On Parents, Children And Finances

    ipadedwin
    12 Mar 2012 | 5:36 pm
    I’ve always felt that schools should educate the youth on practical things like personal finance, rather than on memorization of facts. But this responsibility falls solely on the shoulders of parents. TD Bank recently surveyed 1,637 parents to discover some facts on the financial knowledge of parents and how, if at all, parents are educating their children about financial matters. Here are some of the more interesting facts I found in the survey by the numbers. 34% – The amount of parents who rated their knowledge of financial matters as good (or better). This low number…
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    Savvy Saving Bytes

  • Bogus “Natural” Cereals Booted Off Store Shelves

    SSB
    14 May 2012 | 4:47 pm
    It turns out Kashi wasn’t the only “natural” cereal brand kicked out of Green Grocers because it contained genetically engineered grains (GMOs) and pesticide residues. Three other cereal brands also got the boot at the Portsmouth, RI natural foods retailer: Barbara’s Bakery, Peace and Bear Naked. Their banishment started with Cereal Crimes, a report produced [...]

  • ‘Tuna Scrape’ – ‘Pink Slime’ with Fins?

    SSB
    9 May 2012 | 5:06 am
    Just after pink slime (ground-up beef trimmings) was banned at McDonalds and school cafeteria lunchrooms, along comes another dicey sounding item called ‘tuna scrape’. Scraped off bones after the fillets are removed, tuna back-meat is combined with other fish, then minced, frozen and shipped to retailers and distributors who further truck the stuff to grocery [...]

  • Two-headed Trout and Selenium in Yellowstone

    SSB
    1 May 2012 | 9:08 pm
    This is a story about mutant two-headed trout in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and two reports about those trout and the selenium that poisoned them. The first report was compiled by the J.R. Simplot Company, owners of Smoky Canyon Mine (see photo), an open pit phosphate mine in Idaho. For years the mine had been [...]

  • Is Your Steak Cemented Together with Meat Glue?

    SSB
    23 Apr 2012 | 6:20 pm
    If your fridge happens to contain any yak, elk or Llama meat, you have a treat coming, according to an ad for transglutaminase (a.k.a. meat glue). Slap these singular meats together with meat glue and you can now “create an Exotic Mixed Grill Filet.” Or how about gluing some “Swordfish with Salmon to create a [...]

  • 100 Year Old House Ceiling Crashes in the Night

    SSB
    16 Apr 2012 | 6:24 pm
    I was up late that Saturday night reading the Sunday Times when I hard an odd snapping noise. Snap-snap-SNAP — the snapping got faster and louder and suddenly burst into what sounded like powerful firecrackers going off. Alarmed, I jumped up, trying to figure out what was happening and where the scary sounds were coming [...]
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    Money Fox

  • Selling A Car The Easy Way

    Guest Post
    14 May 2012 | 3:35 am
    If you’re in the market for a new car for whatever reason, you’ll want to make sure that you get as much money as you can from selling your old one. While this may sound tricky, especially when there are so many quality used cars for sale, to get the best price possible, you’ll need to make your car stand out from the crowd. When thinking to yourself ‘how do I sell my car?’ to get the money you want, how can it be done? Valuing Your Car The first thing to do is work out how much a car like yours is worth. Look around used car websites for models like yours, and you’ll begin to get…

  • Top Financial Myths Debunked

    Guest post
    8 May 2012 | 12:43 am
    Many people feel intimidated by the world of finances because they feel that they simply do not understand. It’s a common assumption that you are either a ‘numbers person’ or not, therefore if you fall into the latter category, it is likely that you will listen to the scare mongers or the financial rumour drill when it goes into overdrive. Therefore we have put together five top financial myths so that we can debunk them before you rush out and action something based on mis-leading information. It is a good idea to buy a house while house prices are low Faced with the relentless…

  • Lesser Known Ways to Improve Your Credit

    Guest Post
    7 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    Credit scores are based on multiple factors such as the types of credit used, payment history, credit inquiries, length of credit history, and outstanding debt. Currently, many companies offer a quick solution to increase low credit scores. However, fast and miracle credit rating repairs are impossible based on a report by the Federal Trade Commission. Although, credit scores can be increased modestly up to fifty points in little known simple and legal ways: 1. Open a new credit card account. If there are several cards with high balances or just one, open a new account to be used sporadically…

  • Top 10 Financial Posts – April

    The Financial Fox
    5 May 2012 | 7:09 am
    Spring has sprung, the birds are singing and it looks like summer is finally on its way…unfortunately, we’ve also just dropped into a double dip recession! So is the world of personal finance blogging in the doldrums or has it got a sunnier disposition? Let’s find out by taking a look at the top 10 financial posts from April… The Lean Times - Holiday spending money, what is the best way to go? The Lean Times is one of the best PF blogs around and this is a timely post for anyone that is looking to get away for the summer and are sorting out their travel money. The article…

  • 5 reasons why your business needs contract hire

    Guest Post
    26 Apr 2012 | 12:05 pm
    1. Depreciation It’s a great feeling getting into a brand new car and breathing in that ‘new car’ smell, but it’s a sad but true fact that in the motor industry,  as soon as your shiny new toy has been driven off the forecourt, it has already decreased in value. For a business, this equals an immediate guaranteed loss. Purchasing property or land may provide your company with some additional income as time goes by, but motoring is unfortunately not one of these areas – something that Paul Getty, oil tycoon, summed up perfectly: “If it appreciates, buy it. If it depreciates, lease…
 
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    Compare Australian Credit Cards and Offers

  • Credit Card Key Facts Sheets: Using a Credit Card Key Fact Sheet to Compare Credit Cards

    Pritom
    14 May 2012 | 5:43 am
    Comparing the range of credit cards available can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many features and differences between them that there has to be an easier way to find the right one. This is why banks will be releasing new key fact sheets as of July 1, 2012 for every type of credit card they have available.

  • Coles my5 flybuys: Is the news Coles and fly buys rewards scheme my 5 worth your time and money?

    Pritom
    4 May 2012 | 1:31 am
    flybuys my5 at Coles Review Nearly every household in the country now has a flybuys card and the promise of saving a couple of bucks when it comes to shopping at Coles. We have a look at whether Coles’ latest move in the supermarket chess game for the nations stomachs and wallets is a smart [...]

  • Keeping your Contactless Payment Credit Card Safe – Credit Card Finder on Channel 7 The Morning Show 1 May 2012

    Jeremy
    30 Apr 2012 | 8:18 pm
    Interview with Jeremy Cabral publisher of CreditCardFinder.com.au on The Morning Show For those viewers looking for more tips on how to protect their contactless payment credit cards, check out some of the additional tips and a more detailed explanation on the tips mentioned on today’s show Could contactless payment fraud happen in Australia? How? It [...]

  • NAB flybuys Rewards Card

    Credit Card Finder
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:20 am
    For an annual fee of just $65, the NAB flybuys Rewards Card is gives the opportunity to get in the air and be protected once you’re there. Earn points at a rate of 1:1 for all your everyday purchases in addition to an accelerated rate of accrual with flybuys partners and be covered with seven [...]

  • Member First Credit Union Silver Low Rate MasterCard

    Credit Card Finder
    25 Apr 2012 | 10:22 pm
    Whilst the need to borrow money or use credit from time to time is now greater than ever in some households, there are many people who want to try and find the most affordable way to borrow money and minimise on the amount that they have to repay in terms of interest. The interest rates [...]
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    Money Spruce

  • The $100 Startup: More Possible For You Than Ever

    Jeffrey Trull
    10 May 2012 | 6:50 am
    There’s been no better time to start a business in history than today. The possibilities are endless, with new opportunities for startups being created all the time. It’s easier to access more customers than ever before (i.e. the entire wired world). And, it costs so little to create a new business. Chris Guillebeau released his new book The $100 Startup on Tuesday that’s all about this topic. I received an advanced copy, and, after diving in, it’s truly a great read. What I like most of this book is the range of real-life ideas and stories of others that it contains.

  • Who Does Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover?

    Guest
    10 May 2012 | 6:49 am
    The following is a guest post. Professional Indemnity Insurance is available to protect you from the costs of defending (and perhaps settling or being ordered to compensate) cases brought by clients dissatisfied you’re your professional work. Depending on the type of business you own, the sort of cases that might be brought against you will vary. So for example, if you were running accountancy or bookkeeping businesses, if you were to make a mistake in your advice or calculations you might cause your client to lose a significant amount of money. Your client might sue you for that money…

  • Travel When Retired? No! Travel Now!

    Jeffrey Trull
    2 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    I just don’t buy into the whole “travel when you’re retired” thing. It seems like such a waste to wait my whole life to travel (and, not to be morbid, but assuming I make it to retirement age). I just got back from my latest trip to Montreal, which was fantastic. It was my first visit, and it definitely won’t be my last. Despite the cost $400 and the fact that I’ll soon be jobless, I took the trip on my own for a few reasons: 1) I really wanted a getaway from New Haven and 2) I wanted to test out traveling on my own. I definitely cut back on spending in…

  • Only 72: If You’re Serious About Building an Online Business

    Jeffrey Trull
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:50 am
    If you want to get right to the sale, click here to go to Only 72. I’m writing today about the Only 72 sale. It’s 90% off over $1,000 in ebooks and guides for the entrepreneur – but only for 72 hours. Why I’m writing a post about it Almost 2 years ago, I began searching for a different path in life. I was frustrated with where I was headed, and I didn’t know how to get out of it. That’s when I stumbled upon a few different Ebooks about starting an online business – one of which was How to Live Anywhere by Karol Gajda (one of the Only72 creators). I…

  • How to Quit Your Job and Love What You Do Next

    Jeffrey Trull
    24 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am
    I’ve been in a bit of a panic lately. I’m only a month away from quitting my job and losing my full-time income. But while scrambling frantically to replace my full-time income, I came across this great post on Live Your Legend that’s on how to quit your job. To summarize the whole post, the takeaway: do NOTHING immediately after quitting or getting fired. At least for three weeks, according to Scott Dinsmore. Now, I hadn’t thought about this too much before reading this post. I’d been focused on trying to replace my income right away by taking on more work,…
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    Personal Finance News

  • Credit Card Details Sold Online by Thieves

    MarketProSecure
    15 May 2012 | 11:04 am
    You are able to purchase almost everything over the internet of late, due in part to the bigger vendors and auction sites such as eBay and Amazon, and Craiglist.

  • Cash and Credit Cards On Course for Extinction by 2020

    MarketProSecure
    14 May 2012 | 11:55 am
    All and sundry are aware that smart phones and mobile tech are shifting the way we go about everything currently, from shopping and corresponding to entertaining our children in the back of our automobile.

  • Mobile Card Processors and Payments Gain Popularity

    MarketProSecure
    11 May 2012 | 11:50 am
    The biggest dealer of mobile credit card payments in recent times gives an account of just what in the last months it has seen and its annualized anticipation for transaction costs grow by 25 percent.

  • Federal Regulators Scrutinize Banks Advance DD Loans

    MarketProSecure
    10 May 2012 | 11:43 am
    Citizens who have rushed to their local cash advance store for fast cash are discovering more resources for quick-fix loans in unanticipated places, like the local branches of their bank.

  • Why You Need to Check Your Bills For Mysterious Charges

    MarketProSecure
    9 May 2012 | 11:02 am
    Do you look carefully at the credit card bill you receive? I mean really take great care in looking at it? Criminals are hoping that you do not give it more than a cursory glance.
 
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    Credit Cards Blog

  • JPMorgan $2 Billion Loss and the Volcker Rule

    Carolyn
    14 May 2012 | 3:23 pm
    Hindsight is 20/20, but how much of a difference in the massive $2 billion mistake would the Volcker Rule have made were it in place?

  • New Credit Card Products for College Students

    CreditCardsCo
    11 May 2012 | 3:04 pm
    While it's now illegal for credit card companies to target college students on campus, there is a work around in the form of prepaid cards. American Express introduces its own "work around" for marketing to college students.

  • Welfare Debit Card Fraud

    Carolyn
    9 May 2012 | 4:52 pm
    The welfare system in this nation has historically been plagued with problems. The EBT cards most states now use also present unique problems, some of which plague the credit card industry.

  • Medical Bills and Your Credit

    CreditCardsCo
    7 May 2012 | 5:01 pm
    We first heard about the Medical Debt Responsibility Act a few years ago. Now, it's once again in the spotlight and if it's passed, it can greatly affect millions of consumers and their credit reports.

  • Chase Sapphire Preferred

    Carolyn
    4 May 2012 | 3:14 pm
    In a world where credit card perks are constantly updated to keep pace with the competition, it just might be the Chase Sapphire Preferred leads the pack.
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    Qwoter Investment Advice

  • Planning for Retirement

    Qwoter
    8 May 2012 | 2:34 pm
    Do you really have enough funds to be able to live comfortable when it comes time for you to retire? There is no doubt that most of us would like to enjoy a financially-secured retirement — after all, this must be the moment when we have to enjoy what we have worked for our entire lives. However, we cannot deny the fact that there are only few who have the minimum average retirement savings to be able to retire comfortably. Read more on Planning for Retirement…Related topics: Early Retirement Planning Year-end Tax Planning Tips Financial Planning Consultants

  • Early Retirement Buyout

    Qwoter
    8 May 2012 | 1:33 pm
    Some companies and employers may suffer from a downturn especially when the economy fails. This prompts them to find ways on how to cut down on expenses so they can maximize savings and preserve more of their assets. Some of these companies choose to reduce their workforce through laying off some workers so they can minimize on costs for salaries and benefits. While this is an effective way to cut down expenses, there are some companies and employers who also care for the future of their workers — thus, instead of firing them, they offer a buyout or an early retirement program. Read…

  • Learn How to Invest

    Jennifer
    8 May 2012 | 11:44 am
    Saving for the future may be one of the reasons as to why people may want to invest in stocks, retirement plans, mutual funds, and so on. However, before investing in any plan, it may be wise to consider the potential outcomes of the investment and the purpose of the investment or investment goals. Read more on Learn How to Invest…Related topics: Learn Currency Trading Why Invest Where to Invest

  • Retirement Plan Investments

    Qwoter
    30 Apr 2012 | 3:50 pm
    All of us would want to have a financially secured and a more comfortable retirement. In order to achieve our financial goals for our future, most retirement advice that we get from that experts is that we have to make the best choices for our investments. Investing is definitely the best and proven formula to achieve our long term financial goals — and it is very critical that we start to invest as early as possible. When it comes to preparing for a more secured retirement, it is really important for us to choose the best investment mix for our retirement account, and it is best to…

  • Why Invest

    Qwoter
    24 Apr 2012 | 12:31 pm
    These are difficult times we are living in nowadays, and people tend to find challenges when it comes to their finances. People even work double — even triple — time just to earn enough money to support their own needs and those of their families. However, we must understand that it is difficult to get rich just by working harder, even if we get ourselves more than two jobs at a time — not to mention that we will be spending a lot of time and effort working, which might deteriorate our health as well. If we get sick, we will be spending money for our hospitalization and…
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    Good Financial Cents | Financial Planning and Retirement Blog

  • Does Your 401k Need a Monkey on its Back?

    Jeff Rose
    16 May 2012 | 7:58 am
    Many investors are becoming more interested in applying the “do-it-yourself” approach to managing their portfolios. But let’s be clear: Managing your own investments is not easy. Good investment management practices are complex and time consuming, requiring discipline, patience, and consistency of application. Some investors can handle it.  Let’s just say that I’ve met my fair share that can’t.  At all. Too many investors fail to follow some simple, time-tested tenets that improve the odds of achieving success and, at the same time, reduce the anxiety…

  • Oh Crap! I Screwed Up….How to Fix an Error on Your Credit Report

    Miranda Marquit
    15 May 2012 | 7:54 am
    One of the most important aspects of your finances is your credit history. Your credit report is a record of your financial life as it relates to borrowing money. It is, essentially, your financial reputation. When your credit report looks good, you look good — and like a good financial risk. Lenders are more likely to approve your application, and give you competitive interest rates. On the flip side, negative information in your credit report can indicate that you might not be as solid as a lender would like. In order to offset some of that risk, the lender can charge you higher…

  • How a $75 Parking Ticket Almost Ruined My Life

    Jeff Rose
    14 May 2012 | 8:24 am
    I was quickly on the path to becoming a loser all because of a stupid parking ticket. That parking ticket made me initially lose hope and give up on myself. It’s one of the few times in my life where I can remember saying out loud, “F*** it.  I quit!“. You’re probably wondering how a trivial parking ticket could have such a drastic impact on my life. Let me explain….. My father was a college dropout and spent most of his life trying to make things work. I knew that he was disappointed in his choices, and he didn’t want to see me follow suit. He constantly…

  • Retiring Early? Don’t Forget About 72(t)!

    Jeff Rose
    11 May 2012 | 8:03 am
    Ask any financial advisor about 72t and I’ll bet you’ll see them cringe. It’s not a popular planning method, mostly because it comes with lengthy restrictions that, if violated, can you lead to severe penalties. Clients don’t like paying penalties.   Advisors don’t like when their clients pay penalties.   72(t) has the potential, if done wrong, for the clients to pay a huge chunk of penalties.   See why we cringe about 72(t)? Some of you may have no clue what 72(t) is.   If you are not planning on retiring early (before the age of 60), then skip this post…

  • 8 Warning Signs You Need to Fire Your Financial Advisor

    Jeff Rose
    10 May 2012 | 8:30 am
    Do I really have to say it? You're fired! You’ve been working with a financial advisor for some time now, but now you’re starting to have doubts that you hired the right person for the job. Hopefully, you did a background check on them first, right? Is that financial planner more interested in helping you achieve your financial dream or just trying to sell you something? Too often people have handed their money over to a financial advisor without researching whether they were good or not. Even worse is that when they suspect that they are not getting the service they deserve,…
 
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    Wallet Blog

  • How’s a Little Medical Bill Transparency Sound?

    John Kiernan
    16 May 2012 | 9:24 am
    Posted by: John KiernanImagine entering a restaurant and being told to wait for a table by a surly host, who shrugs off your repeated contention that you have reservations before handing over a questionnaire about your history as a restaurant patron and instructing you to complete it. Then, when you’re finally led into the dining room, you’re given a menu written completely in French that lists a whole bunch of foreign-sounding dishes, but no accompanying prices. You inquire and are told that the bill will be worked out at the end of the meal. Now, is that something you’re likely to put…

  • Mortgage Rates Hit Record Lows

    John Kiernan
    9 May 2012 | 5:18 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanIt might just be time to buy that home of your dreams or refinance your existing mortgage. According to a Freddie Mac survey released May 3, average rates for a number of fixed and adjustable rate mortgages hit record lows last week, creating a significant savings opportunity for refinancers and prospective homebuyers who’ve recovered sufficiently from the negative effects of the Great Recession. Ok, but how much savings are we talking here? Well, a 1% lower interest rate can save a consumer literally tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a mortgage. More…

  • Students with Summer Jobs Shouldn’t Forget the Tax Man

    John Kiernan
    2 May 2012 | 10:48 am
    Posted by: John KiernanOnce that final bell rings on the last day of school before summer break, the minds of students across the country will immediately shift from history, math, and science to pools, beaches, summer sports leagues and free time. For most, summer jobs will be a means to an end, a way to afford summer fun, and taxes won’t even be on their radar. That’s a dangerous oversight, according to the California Society of CPAs (CalCPA). Understanding the implications of taxes on summer earnings can save student workers both time and money down the road, and the California…

  • It’s Their Fee Party, and Prepaid Card Issuers Will Charge If They Want To

    John Kiernan
    25 Apr 2012 | 5:43 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanThere’s no doubt that prepaid cards are growing in popularity. Only 11% of consumers used them just two years ago, and not only has the number since grown to 15%, but we’re also seeing big-time celebrities like Lil Wayne, Suze Orman, and George Lopez sign up as endorsers, highlighting the growing mainstream appeal of these products. While some of the best prepaid cards can be cheaper to use than a checking account for certain folks, reaching this conclusion can also be quite difficult. In short, prepaid card fees are out of control, and the problem needs to be…

  • 6 Fun Facts about Credit Cards

    John Kiernan
    18 Apr 2012 | 1:08 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanWe use credit cards on a daily basis, but how much do we truly know about them? That’s probably not a question you’ve ever given much thought, and even so, you might find it hard to believe that such a small piece of plastic could carry many secrets or surprises. The truth, however, is that while we take the ubiquity of credit cards for granted, they have a rich and complicated history, and many facets of their usage and evolution do offer the kind of interesting tidbits that one could pull out at a cocktail party or game night (‘cause that’d really impress your…
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    One Family's Blog

  • Tracking Wilbur Ross’s Holdings – Q1 2012 Update

    ks
    15 May 2012 | 11:10 am
    <!--[if gte mso 9]> 14.00 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Tracking David Swensen’s Yale Endowment Holdings – Q1 2012 Update

    ks
    15 May 2012 | 9:37 am
    This article is the first of a series that provides ongoing analysis of the changes made to Yale Endowment’s US stock portfolio on a quarterly basis. Yale Endowment had 6.7% of its assets allocated to US equities as of 06/30/2011. The total value of the endowment is just shy of $20B, about 15% below the all-time high of $23B reached in 2008. It’s ten-year performance of over 10% places it in [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Tracking Seth Klarman's Baupost Group Holdings: Q1 2012 Update

    ks
    14 May 2012 | 8:14 pm
    Below is a spreadsheet that highlights Seth Klarman's moves this quarter. Please check-out our SeekingAlpha column for an analysis of the moves: [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Trip Report to Pattaya

    ks
    2 May 2012 | 11:19 pm
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  • Kalyan Silks return experience

    ks
    2 May 2012 | 10:39 pm
    <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
 
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    Cash The Checks

  • Health Insurance For The Self Employed

    Edwin C.
    12 May 2012 | 3:57 pm
    You certainly don’t need me to tell you that the healthcare industry is a mess in America. The costs continue to rise and there doesn’t seem to be anything that the average American worker can do about it. For those of you who get health insurance benefits from your employer, the cost of health insurance is something you complain about when you see your check stub. But for those of us who are self employed, we wish we had it as good as you do. Our employer doesn’t pay for part of our health insurance, because we do not have an employer. Those who are self employed must pay…

  • Top 3 Elderly Care Costs

    Edwin C.
    10 May 2012 | 4:55 am
    In a downward spiraling global economy, many generations are feeling the burden of expenses and ever-increasing bills. Our elderly parents and grandparents are facing these challenges, too. Retirement savings and health care costs are unbalanced and many are feeling the pinch and are unable to seek help. Here are the top 3 costs for aging seniors and easy ways to cut expenses and enjoy a stress-free retirement: 1. Assisted Living Busy jobs and long-distance locations restrict access to elderly family members. In such cases many families opt to set up seniors in assisted living facilities.

  • How To Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt

    Edwin C.
    5 May 2012 | 5:47 pm
    Some people have a great time charging up their credit card balances. They live life to the fullest, using their credit cards to live beyond their means to buy fancy dinners, a nice vacation and expensive clothing they could not otherwise afford. Others fully intended to use their credit cards responsibly when they opened their account. They may have only applied for a credit card for use in emergency situations. However, emergency after emergency cropped up, and the debt balance grew. Regardless of how you accumulated credit card debt, one thing is for certain. Now this debt needs to be paid…

  • Being Debt Free is a State of Mind – Or Is It?

    Edwin C.
    5 May 2012 | 4:38 am
    Most of the time under normal circumstances, when the economy is running smoothly, it is possible to say that being debt free is a state of mind. However, New Age gobbledygook aside, being debt free can be a state of mind if you learn to train your mind to think along the right channels. This may mean programming yourself to make some sacrifices along the way but, even then there are simply times when the money to pay bills just isn’t there. Many people have lost their jobs during this time of austerity when massive cuts are being made in the job force, both in the public and…

  • Basic Thoughts On Networking For Contractors

    Edwin C.
    5 May 2012 | 12:54 am
    The economy today in the UK has driven many professionals to become self-employed and as a result there are now tens of thousands of new contract workers in search of clients, just within the past few quarters. Since companies are either reluctant to add to their workforce or simply don’t have the budget to add workers along with benefits packages, freelancers and contractors are becoming a lot more commonplace. However, finding work can be a bit wearisome simply because there are so many out there in the same boat. Easy Way To Build Client Base This is where networking with other…
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    Mango Blog

  • Surprising Salaries

    Natalie
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Have you ever wondered just how glamorous it might be to be a supermodel? Or if that’s not your thing, perhaps how cush the life of an important legislator is? Well, I hate to tell you, but you might be sorely disappointed if you were expecting a life of glamor with either of these two jobs. Matter of fact, you might be better off working as a flight attendant or even farm manager. There are a whole handful of professions with salaries that might surprise you, and so in today’s post, be prepared to be shocked and awed. Check out these 14 surprising salaries, from the remarkably low to the…

  • The Money Power of Moms

    Mango Money
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    This weekend is Mother’s Day, and it’s a time when we show our appreciation to that special lady in our lives for tending to scraped knees, filling empty stomachs, and teaching us important lessons. If you think you’ve got a good handle on your cash, then this year be sure to tell Mom thanks for passing along her money management skills to you because whether you realize it or not, moms’ fiscal decisions keep America’s households running. Check out our video tribute to the economic power of mothers everywhere. Afterwards, share it with your mom then tell us what…

  • 8 Crazy Expensive Toys of the Rich and Famous

    Natalie
    10 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Planes, trains, and automobiles: No we’re not just talking about various means of transportation or the name of an 80’s movie classic; we’re talking about what have come to be considered as mere toys for the rich and famous. Millionaires and billionaires all over the world have been collecting things like mega-yachts, luxurious private jets, and super swanky cars for decades, but as technology progresses and the rich seem to be getting even richer, their modes of transportation have gotten downright outrageous in some cases. So in today’s post we thought we’d show you some of the…

  • Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: The Breakdown

    Natalie
    8 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: We’ve all heard these names, seen them in papers and online, and for a while there, you couldn’t turn on the television without someone mentioning the duo. Now we all know that Fannie and Freddie isn’t actually a pair of people, the latest duo from Dancing with the Stars for example; but that they are the names of firms involved in the housing market. But beyond that, many of us don’t really know all that much about the details. What exactly do they do? And did they really cause the country’s financial meltdown in 2008? Well, a few years have passed,…

  • Free Comic Book Day is Saturday!

    Natalie
    3 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Do you love free stuff? Do you love comic books? Well then this Saturday is your day. Free Comic Book Day is that little known, but hugely awesome holiday of sorts that takes place on the first Saturday of each May. Participating comic book shops across the US and around the world give away comic books, you guessed it, for absolutely no charge. Click here to find a participating store near you. Last week we briefly introduced you to Free Comic Book Day in our post on the benefits of giving away products. But it is Friday and Friday means learning day, right? So let’s delve a bit deeper into…
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    How to Save Money

  • How much of a loan can I take from my 401k?

    howtosavemoney
    3 May 2012 | 8:37 pm
    A 401k is a retirement plan that you can contribute to through your employer. Payments toward the 401k are removed from the employee’s paycheck before taxes are assessed; taxes are only paid once the funds have been cashed. The employer will contribute to the fund as well or match the employee’s payments. These funds are then invested into money market investments, stocks or bonds. Upon retirement, the funds are released to the employee, where they can supplement social security or other types of retirement funds. Many people wisely choose to invest in a 401k from an early age,…

  • Do people still write checks?

    howtosavemoney
    24 Apr 2012 | 10:44 pm
    For many years, checks were the primary way for people to conduct certain types of transactions. They were much more convenient than withdrawing and carrying around large sums of money, and they served as an easy way to pay bills and make purchases. Since the earliest days of banking, checks were the primary method of showing the changing ownership of money without using actual bills or coins. In recent years, however, electronic funds transfers have all but supplanted checks. The electronic debit card acts as a multi-use check, and many people pay all of their bills with their card.

  • Why doesn’t everybody accept credit cards?

    howtosavemoney
    24 Apr 2012 | 1:29 pm
    With cash money and check payments becoming substantially more uncommon than in years past, it may come as a surprise that some companies still refuse to accept credit cards. This happens most often in small family-owned businesses, but many large national chains also refuse certain types of cards. Merchants reject card payments because of processing fees; essentially, merchants receive higher profits when paid in cash than they do when paid in other ways. Debit vs Credit A credit card provides an individual with a line of credit. The insured pays for purchases with the card, then pays off…

  • Why are my credit scores so different between credit bureaus?

    howtosavemoney
    24 Apr 2012 | 1:24 pm
    An individual’s credit score is one of the most important pieces of financial information that they have. Credit scores are used to determine whether or not you will qualify for credit cards, car loans, mortgages and other forms of credit. They’re also assessed in apartment applications, car insurance costs and even job applications. People with bad credit often pay higher interest, do not qualify for many forms of financial assistance and may be seen as less trustworthy by employers. Because of the importance of credit scores, it’s vital to know what your credit is and take…

  • How to save money while Keeping Fit

    howtosavemoney
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:49 pm
    Fitness is often associated with the high life. We might resent certain carefree, imaginary people — those named Mimi and Biff who find time for personal training, tennis and a steam as their Mercedes is being detailed. But the truth is that you can get fit without spending a small fortune on gym memberships or fitness equipment. Here are some ways to get professional-quality workouts at a reasonable price. 1) Save money on an exclusive gym membership Exclusive gym memberships in New York, LA and other high-rent cities can cost more than $1200/year. Even if you’re paying half that…
 
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    Financial Highway

  • Increasing Fixed Income Returns

    Geoffrey
    16 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    With interest rates at historical lows, many investors are looking for innovative ways to increase the returns they are receiving on the fixed income portion of their portfolios. Here are a few ways an investor can increase returns, while understanding the risks of higher yielding securities: Increasing the Duration of your Portfolio Basically, increasing duration means purchasing longer term fixed income securities. If the investment is appropriate for your needs, extending term can be one way to obtain a higher return on your fixed income portfolio. One must be careful with extending the…

  • Six Ways to Enjoy Summer Without an Expensive Vacation

    Kristen Kuchar
    15 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    With temperatures warming up and summer well on the way, the topic of summer vacation is sure to be on everyone’s mind. Most people are excited to be planning a big extravagant trip. However, there are more options than just booking an expensive flight, staying in an overpriced hotel, and blowing all of your hard earned money. In fact, you don’t even need to leave your own city to have a great vacation. Here are six easy ways to skip the pricey vacation and still have fun locally: Spend time in outdoors. Parks are good for a lot more than just the play equipment. Visit parks that have a…

  • 4 Transactions You Should Complete with a Credit Card

    Miranda
    14 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Even though it can be easy to fall into the debt trap when you use a credit card, the truth is that sometimes it’s best to use a credit card. It’s true that you can use a debit card in much the same way as a credit card, but there are some things a debit card is missing. Many banks tell you that you can have similar protections with a debit card branded with a major credit card company logo, but there are different requirements in effect to receive that protection. Another consideration is that with a debit card, the money is taken from your account immediately, and you have to…

  • Win $500! Share Your Best Money Saving Tip

    Ray
    10 May 2012 | 6:29 am
    We all would like to know how to save more money and improve our balance sheet  and hopefully one day reach financial freedom. As always we would love to help you get there and today we have partnered up with Life Insurance Finder to help one lucky winner add $500 to their bank account and get closer to financial freedom! Entering is simple and you can get as many as 10 entries! All you have to do is share your best money saving tip in the comments, for more options see below. To get things going I’ll start with my Top 5 Money Saving Tips! 1.) Cut cable. We haven’t had cable for…

  • Twelve Small Steps That Can Add Up to Big Savings on Your Water Bill

    Marlene Alexander
    9 May 2012 | 6:16 am
    Water is one of those things we tend to take for granted. We turn on a tap and it’s just there but, if like most of us, you’re tired of rising utility costs, try these four small steps that can add up to big savings on your water bill. You probably already know the basics of water conservation, but let’s review: Take a shower instead of filling the bathtub. It takes 35 gallons of water to fill a bathtub. A five minute shower using a low-flow showerhead saves 22.5 gallons. It may not be possible for many of us to shower in five minutes, given that we also wash our hair and/or shave in…
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    Credit.com News + Advice

  • CFPB Still Pushing for Clearer Credit Card Agreements

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    When it gained full regulatory power over the financial services industry last year, the federal agency tasked with protecting consumers from predatory or misleading lending practices has as its primary goal the creation of simpler lending agreements that were easier to understand. However, in the intervening months, there has been little in the way of action toward that goal. Now, though, one of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s top officials says that the need for a uniform, simplified lending disclosure for credit card agreements is still very much on the…

  • How I’m Repaying $120,000 in Student Loans

    Eric Bell
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    In less than a month, I will graduate from my MBA program at Georgetown University with more than $120,000 in student loans at 7% interest.  Six months after graduation, my grace period will end, and I will have to start repaying more than $1,000 per month.  Here is my strategy for repayment. Earn Baby, Earn The first thing I have to figure out is how to increase my income from its current level.  Without more money coming in, there is no chance for me to pay down my debt and maintain my current lifestyle.  Some student loan repayment strategies I’m considering are…

  • Why It’s Important to Teach Kids About Credit

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Millions of Americans are still struggling financially, but likely do not want to pass the kind of money problems and related stresses they feel onto their kids. One of the best ways to help youngsters avoid these problems in the future is by taking the time to instill good, basic advice about money while they’re young. Even if consumers have had trouble sticking to what they know to be good credit practices in the past, it can still be extremely helpful to kids to learn the basics of smart account management at a relatively young age, according to a report from Tulsa, Oklahoma,…

  • Discover Tops List of Best Credit Card Websites

    Kali Geldis
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    When it comes to website security and functionality, Discover tops a new list from Forrester Research. The Forrester study, titled “2012 U.S. Credit Card Secure Website Rankings,” was conducted from March 6-9 and compared the top six U.S. issuers on 50 different criteria. [Free Resource: Check your credit score and report card for free before applying for a credit card While Discover didn’t get a perfect score, it did achieve an 80 out of 100, the highest among all of the issuers. The issuer ranked highly  in the online servicing category and the site’s security…

  • Defaults Rise Slightly for Capital One

    Credit.com
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Since the end of the recession, consumers have been repeatedly cutting the rates at which they feel behind on their credit card payments and repeatedly failed to pay the bills, but that trend might be reversing itself. Analysts recently suggested that the record-low instances of delinquency and default observed by credit card lenders since the end of the recession were expected to bottom out at some point this year, and already, this might be taking place for at least one major lender, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires. In its monthly filing with the Securities and Exchange…
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    Money Fox

  • Selling A Car The Easy Way

    Guest Post
    14 May 2012 | 3:35 am
    If you’re in the market for a new car for whatever reason, you’ll want to make sure that you get as much money as you can from selling your old one. While this may sound tricky, especially when there are so many quality used cars for sale, to get the best price possible, you’ll need to make your car stand out from the crowd. When thinking to yourself ‘how do I sell my car?’ to get the money you want, how can it be done? Valuing Your Car The first thing to do is work out how much a car like yours is worth. Look around used car websites for models like yours, and you’ll begin to get…

  • Top Financial Myths Debunked

    Guest post
    8 May 2012 | 12:43 am
    Many people feel intimidated by the world of finances because they feel that they simply do not understand. It’s a common assumption that you are either a ‘numbers person’ or not, therefore if you fall into the latter category, it is likely that you will listen to the scare mongers or the financial rumour drill when it goes into overdrive. Therefore we have put together five top financial myths so that we can debunk them before you rush out and action something based on mis-leading information. It is a good idea to buy a house while house prices are low Faced with the relentless…

  • Lesser Known Ways to Improve Your Credit

    Guest Post
    7 May 2012 | 3:00 am
    Credit scores are based on multiple factors such as the types of credit used, payment history, credit inquiries, length of credit history, and outstanding debt. Currently, many companies offer a quick solution to increase low credit scores. However, fast and miracle credit rating repairs are impossible based on a report by the Federal Trade Commission. Although, credit scores can be increased modestly up to fifty points in little known simple and legal ways: 1. Open a new credit card account. If there are several cards with high balances or just one, open a new account to be used sporadically…

  • Top 10 Financial Posts – April

    The Financial Fox
    5 May 2012 | 7:09 am
    Spring has sprung, the birds are singing and it looks like summer is finally on its way…unfortunately, we’ve also just dropped into a double dip recession! So is the world of personal finance blogging in the doldrums or has it got a sunnier disposition? Let’s find out by taking a look at the top 10 financial posts from April… The Lean Times - Holiday spending money, what is the best way to go? The Lean Times is one of the best PF blogs around and this is a timely post for anyone that is looking to get away for the summer and are sorting out their travel money. The article…

  • 5 reasons why your business needs contract hire

    Guest Post
    26 Apr 2012 | 12:05 pm
    1. Depreciation It’s a great feeling getting into a brand new car and breathing in that ‘new car’ smell, but it’s a sad but true fact that in the motor industry,  as soon as your shiny new toy has been driven off the forecourt, it has already decreased in value. For a business, this equals an immediate guaranteed loss. Purchasing property or land may provide your company with some additional income as time goes by, but motoring is unfortunately not one of these areas – something that Paul Getty, oil tycoon, summed up perfectly: “If it appreciates, buy it. If it depreciates, lease…
 
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    CCCS | MoneyAware

  • London: capital of debt

    Peer
    11 May 2012 | 3:41 am
    London: home of debt (photo: Luciano Mortula / Shutterstock.com)Popular opinion of London isn’t favourable: it’s portrayed as a fat cat city, spending large while the rest of the country suffers from a recession. But this hides a surprising truth: London is actually the most over-indebted region of the country.Think about the residents of west London borough of Kensington and Chelsea and what comes to mind? It’s unlikely to be an area with the highest debt repayment burden in the capital. Or how about the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham? No one would think of it as one of London’s…

  • Happy Birthday CCCSVA

    Matthew
    9 May 2012 | 7:53 am
    Happy Birthday CCCSVA (thanks to Sophie)Where were you in 2007? Five years ago saw the start of the credit crunch, and you’ll no doubt remember the first bank bailout, after a ‘run’ on Northern Rock.The country looked to be heading for trouble; we knew this could result in an increased demand on our service. With this in mind CCCSVA was launched.CCCSVA was set up to provide in-house individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) for our clients. CCCSVA is wholly owned by our umbrella charity – The Foundation for Credit Counselling – and shares the same ethics and…

  • How to clean up your credit file after an IVA

    Matthew
    9 May 2012 | 7:34 am
    Post IVA credit file clean upIt’s a happy day when your individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) finally ends, you’re well and truly free and clear and your money is your own again.You can also take satisfaction from the fact that you have done your best by your creditors. After all they were happy to accept the terms of the IVA and to complete the IVA you’ll have complied with the terms that were set out.First stepsThe first thing you’ll receive from CCCSVA is your IVA Completion Certificate. The certificate will be signed by your Insolvency Practitioner and is proof that your IVA is…

  • Can I reclaim PPI while on an IVA?

    Matthew
    8 May 2012 | 9:11 am
    To reclaim or not to reclaim?Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) has been in the news a lot recently and many people are taking the time to check and see if they had been mis-sold any policies in the past.PPI was sold on the proviso that it would cover borrowers’ loan repayments if they fell ill or lost their jobs. In many cases this has been found out to be false and mis-leading and some customers were sold policies without their knowledge. Many of our IVA clients believe that they can’t reclaim any mis-sold policies because they’re in a legally binding arrangement with their…

  • 10 things you need to budget for

    Matthew
    4 May 2012 | 5:37 am
    Stick to your budgetIf you’ve resolved to take back control of your finances, the first step you need to take is to put together an accurate income and expenditure budget. Around a quarter of the UK population have never put a budget together, and this often means they miss things off a budget that should always be included.Lots of people tell you to budget but there aren’t that many detailed guides as to what your budget should include.It may seem obvious that priority bills need to be included, along with things like your mortgage, rent and secured loans, utility bills and council…
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    freemoneywisdom.com

  • Use Credit Card Bonuses to your Advantage and Make a Killing

    Jon the Saver
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    When most people hear the words “credit card,” they usually shut down and stop listening.  With the irresponsibility of big banks and credit card companies in the past, this reaction is totally understandable.  Heck, anything related to “borrowing” and most people run for the hills it seems!  However, I want you to read this article closely.  Please pain attention because credit cards are not evil.  In fact, most people don’t realize the simple fact that you can make money off credit companies risk free with no consequences! I call what I’m going to explain to you the…

  • 5 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Without Breaking the Bank

    Kevin
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Mortgages aren’t as easy to get as they were a few years ago. But even if you can’t refinance your loan there are steps you can take that will enable you to pay your loan off early and save you tens of thousands of dollars. There are different ways you can do this, making it easier to find a way that will work in your particular situation. Find one of the five below that will be most comfortable for you. For each example we’ll assume you have a 30 year mortgage for $200,000 at 4%, with a monthly payment of $955. Use this mortgage calculator to see how this will work for your particular…

  • Why You Should Be Debt-Free on Your Car

    Kevin
    11 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Car loans have become so common that most of us seldom think of buying a car without one. But you should think about doing just that, and there are a number of strong reasons you should. Other Big Debts are only getting bigger A house is an expensive proposition these days; so is a college education. Most people today are using debt to pay for the majority of these purchases, and that’s forcing overall debt levels to get steadily higher. As the bigger debts get even bigger, one of the best ways to manage debt overall is to be debt free on everything else. That means no credit card debt, no…

  • The Short and Sweet Guide to Compounding Interest

    Jon the Saver
    9 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    Who wants to work forever? No, I didn’t ask who wants to live forever, but who wants to work forever. When I got out of high school I said there’s no way I’m going to work till I’m old. Then I started working and wondered how I was ever going to get to stop working if they didn’t pay me enough to save for it. And there’s the kicker. You may not get paid enough, but you can most definitely save…..at least some or hopefully more. But should you invest in a Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, 401k, 529 plans or maybe become a day trader? Good question, but one thing all of these have in…

  • Zecco Review: a Broker for the Masses

    Jon the Saver
    7 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    As an investor, you need an account with a brokerage to gain access to the financial markets. When choosing a broker, you definitely have a lot of options to consider. Some brokers are better than others and the quality of your broker can make a big difference in how successful you are as an investor. One of the leading brokers in the industry today is Zecco. Zecco offers a lot of features at prices that are superior to what you will find with other brokerages. A Top Discount Broker Zecco is considered to be a discount broker because of the cheap rice is that they offer on commissions. With…
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    Help Me To Save

  • Are You a Savvy Saver or a Spirited Spender?

    Karen Bryan
    16 May 2012 | 2:06 am
    You can take part in the Secure Trust Bank’s Debt Awareness Survey to find out if you are a Savvy Saver, a Spirited Spender, a Brainy Budget or a Jammy Juggler. It only takes a few minutes to answer the 10 questions. I came out as as an 89% Savvy Saver, quite fitting for a canny Scot. UK consumer debt totalled £207 billion in December 2011; that’s a lot. Maybe by bringing some humour into discussions about debt, Secure Trust Bank can encourage people to take the first steps toward mastering their money. I agree that there’s been too much rampant consumerism in the UK, with…

  • Halifax Pay Half Stamp Duty Offer

    Karen Bryan
    14 May 2012 | 3:06 am
    I noticed when I went into the Halifax site that they are offering to pay half the stamp duty for home purchases between £125,000 to £250,000 for first time buyers and people moving home. As stamp duty for this property price bracket stands at 1%, this offer could save you up to £2,500.  You need to apply by 6 June 2012 and some types of mortgages are excluded, e.g. Head Start Home Saver. Although this offer may sound tempting, you could save more money by getting the lowest rate mortage deal. Say you could find a three year mortgage deal from another bank or building society that had an…

  • When Do I Retire? – My Money Podcast #18

    Karen Bryan
    12 May 2012 | 3:57 pm
    The My Money Podcast no 18 looks at answers to the question “When Do I Retire?” with reference to the articles below. Retire Early – This is more likely if you’re a member of a final salary pension scheme or have investment income. Plan Retirement – I explain how it’s virtually impossible to plan when you’ll be able to retire if you are relying on a stock market based private pension. National Employment Savings Trust – Most workers will be auto-enrolled in this new workplace pension scheme aimed at topping up the State Pension. When to Retire…

  • Save Your Change with a Round Up Debit Card

    Karen Bryan
    11 May 2012 | 2:01 am
    During a recent Money Crashers Twitter Chat on vacations @eMortgageChat mentioned their round up debit card as an effortless way to save your change; everytime you pay for something with your debit card, the amount paid is rounded up to the next pound and the difference between your transaction value and the round up is transferred into your savings account. For example if you paid £32.47 at the supermarket, the transaction would be recorded at £33 with 53 pence going straight into your savings account. I had vaguely heard of this round up debit card option but wasn’t sure which UK…

  • Should IFA Fees Be Performance Related ?

    Karen Bryan
    9 May 2012 | 2:06 am
    I’ve been thinking about the role of independent financial advisers (IFAs) in the UK. From January 2013 they will have to charge a fee versus relying on commission from financial products that they recommend to clients. I think this is a good move toward transparency. Would any independent financial advisers be willing to put their money where their mouth is and offer their clients some sort of performance related guarantees for stock market related investments? For example a (partial) refund of fees if the investment doesn’t reach a certain level over an agreed period of time.
 
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    NerdWallet Credit Card Blog

  • Wells Fargo Puts Free Checking on the Chopping Block…Again

    Laura
    15 May 2012 | 7:14 pm
    Wells Fargo has officially yanked the rug out from under free checking customers in Washington, D.C., and 5 more unsuspecting states: Florida, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina. The new $7 monthly fee goes into effect August 7th. Déjà vu, anyone? Wells Fargo made a similar announcement in March for 6 states on the East Coast, and that was after converting 23 other states to the new fee structure. To our friends in the South, we say now’s the time to move your money. Why not get a checking account at your local credit union instead? At credit unions, free checking and…

  • BofA’s New Travel Cards – It’s Cute How They Try

    Stephen
    15 May 2012 | 1:22 pm
    Bank of America just rolled out 3 brand spanking new travel credit cards for the 2012 summer season. We’ll admit, they’re not bad. But are they the best? Not a chance. Here we review BofA’s new arsenal of travel cards and offer alternatives you might want to consider instead. Bank of America Privileges with Travel Rewards  The BofA Priveleges card wants so badly to be the Capital One Venture. It tries. It really does. But despite the Privileges’ best efforts, its attempted swagger comes off as a sort of awkward, labored gait. The Privileges offers 2 WorldPoints on…

  • 5 Last-Minute, No-Hassle Mother’s Day Gifts

    Laura
    11 May 2012 | 1:33 pm
    Did you forget that Mother’s Day is this Sunday? Don’t worry – we can help you find that last-minute gift that says, “I love you, I just have poor time management skills.” Lucky for you, retailers knew you’d forget before you did, and they’re well prepared with last-minute deals. It’s easier than you think to find the perfect gift for your mom. NerdWallet’s here with five suggestions for gifts that you can buy online without being late. Many of these places will even let you buy the gift on Mother’s Day! We certainly don’t recommend that for next year,…

  • NerdWallet’s Top 9 Nonprofit Microfinance Organizations

    Stephen
    9 May 2012 | 5:55 pm
    Without access to the proper financial resources, the poor and underprivileged have little hope of bettering their economic standing. Nonprofit microfinance organizations issue small loans to individuals unqualified to borrow from traditional financial institutions. Rather than simply gifting charitable donations, microfinance organizations allow individuals to make investments in economic opportunity. Check out a few of our favorites, and feel free to make a donation or two in the process! For helping those who help others: Accion Founded in 1961, Accion has helped build 62 microfinance…

  • The Chase Liquid Prepaid Debit Card: Yeah, It’s A Game-Changer

    Anisha
    9 May 2012 | 3:51 pm
    Yesterday, Chase announced its newest product: the Liquid prepaid debit card. It’s not like most prepaid cards out there on the market: there are no fees for activating or closing the card, getting a replacement, receiving paper statements or paying bills. And as long as you use Chase ATMs or bank branches, you can deposit checks or cash, withdraw money, and check your balance for free. The old guard of prepaids, on the other hand, charges for all of the above, as well as for customer service, bank transfers, declines and more. But that’s not the real news. Low-cost, bank-issued prepaid…
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    Card Hub

  • What Do the VISA & MasterCard Digital Wallets Have to Offer?

    Liana Arnold
    16 May 2012 | 2:10 am
    Posted by: Liana ArnoldVISA and MasterCard are after your wallet. No, they don’t want to steal it or anything like that, but they do want to put it online. Each last week announced the launch of a digital wallet, adding another page to burgeoning tale of contactless payment technology in the United States. VISA’s “V.me” and MasterCard’s “PayPass Wallet Services” will enable customers to pay for purchases online by signing into their respective accounts, rather than entering billing information on a site itself. Not only will this make online shopping more secure and less time…

  • Review: Bank of America’s New Travel Rewards Credit Cards

    Liana Arnold
    9 May 2012 | 9:37 am
    Posted by: Liana ArnoldIt seems like Bank of America really meant that advertising tagline, “Think What We Can Do For You.” The bank on May 8, 2012 launched three new travel rewards credit cards – the BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card, the BankAmericard Privileges with Travel Rewards Credit Card, and the WorldPoints Travel Rewards for Business Visa Credit Card – ostensibly to fulfill the desire of consumers who want easy-to-use travel rewards. “Our customers told us they wanted a travel card that gave them the flexibility to use points for travel-related expenses without a…

  • Review: Chase’s Liquid Prepaid Card

    John Kiernan
    8 May 2012 | 8:26 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanThe Durbin Amendment dominoes continue to fall. Following the disappearance of debit card rewards and the rise of bank account fees – two of the main compensatory moves predicted for banks after the Federal Reserve’s debit card interchange fee cap cost them roughly $8 billion in revenue annually – major banks are stepping up their prepaid card game, as expected. Chase, on May 8, 2012, became the latest banking power to make a big splash in the prepaid card space, launching its first prepaid card, dubbed the Chase Liquid Card. “We are working hard to deliver…

  • Does New Jersey Want to Steal Your Gift Cards?

    John Kiernan
    4 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Posted by: John KiernanThe state of New Jersey won’t make you pump your own gas, but it just might use your gift card balances to fund public works programs and avoid tax increases under a controversial law passed by the state legislature in 2010 that is soon to be implemented. The law will require merchants to collect the zip codes of consumers who purchase gift cards so that the state can appropriate unused balances after two years of dormancy. The funds, according to the New Jersey Treasury Department, will then “be made available for the benefit of all New Jerseyans to prevent tax…

  • Most HSBC Credit Cards Become Capital One Credit Cards

    John Kiernan
    3 May 2012 | 4:01 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanOn May 1, 2012, Capital One completed its acquisition of the majority of HSBC’s United States credit card business for a reported $2.6 billion, adding definitiveness to a sale that caused a stir among consumers following its tentative announcement in August 2011. The deal was originally announced less than two months after Capital One, currently the ninth largest bank in the United States by total assets, bought ING’s American online banking division, ING Direct USA, for $8.9 billion. This transaction itself drew consumer criticism over concerns that fees would rise…
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    Forex Research Blog | FXTechstrategy

  • GBPUSD: Takes Out Key Support, Set To Recapture The 1.5805 Level.

    16 May 2012 | 1:25 pm
    GBPUSD: With the pair selling off and breaking below its medium term rising trendline, further bearishness is expected in the days ahead. On continued weakness, GBP will target the 1.5805 level, April 05’2012 low with a violation of there allowing for more weakness towards the 1.5642/53 levels, its Feb 14/15’2012 lows. A breach of here if seen will aim at the 1.5497 level, its Jan 10’2012 high. Its daily RSI is bearish and pointing lower supporting this view. The alternative scenario is for the pair to halt its weakness and then return above its trendline. This will target the 1.6180…

  • USDCHF – Builds On Its Recovery, Eyes The 0.9591 Level.

    15 May 2012 | 10:21 pm
    USDCHF: With USDCHF breaking and hold above its key resistance at the 0.9331 level, it now looks to extend further upside gains towards the 0.9504 level, its Jan 13’2012 low. A break of here will call for a run at the 0.9591 level. Its daily RSI is bullish and pointing higher supporting this view. On the downside, support lies at the 0.9331 level. A reversal of roles as support is likely to occur. Below here will leave the pair relapsing to the 0.8929 level, its Feb 24’2012 low. Further down, support comes in at the 0.8890 level, its Nov 03’2011 low where a breach will call for further…

  • Dollar Index: Rallies, Pressure Builds On Key Resistance.

    15 May 2012 | 4:02 pm
    Dollar Index: Rallies, Pressure Builds On Key Resistance.US Dollar Index: With continued rally seeing the Index strengthening and holding above its broken resistance, it remains biased to the upside towards its key resistance at the 81.78 level, its Jan 2012 high. A clearance of here will set the stage for more strength towards the 83.55 level, its Aug’2011 high and possibly higher targeting the 84.55 level. Its daily RSI is bullish and pointing higher supporting this view. On any pullback, the index will aim at the 80.73 level with a breach turning focus to its Feb 06’2012 low at 78.36…

  • EURUSD: Weakens, Retains Its Bearishness Medium Term.

    15 May 2012 | 11:46 am
    EURUSD: Having continued to weaken and hold below the 1.2993 level, the risk is for EUR to decline further towards the 1.2733 level, its Jan 18 2012 low. A decisve clearance of here will extend bear presssure towards the 1.2620 level, its Jan 2012 low and then the 1.2587 level. Its daily RSI is bearish and pointing lower supporting this view. Alternatively, the pair will have to break and hold above the 1.3387 level to end its broader weakness and turn attention to the 1.3484 level. A cut through here will push the pair further higher towards its Dec 02’2011 high at 1.3547. Further out,…

  • USDCAD: Hesitating With Downside Bias.

    15 May 2012 | 7:28 am
    USDCAD: We continue to hold onto our downside view on USDCAD as it trades below its key resistance at the 1.0048/51 levels. While holding below here, there is risk of a relapse to the 0.9804 level, its Sept 19’2011 and the 0.9806 level. Further down, support lies at the 0.9779 level, its Sept 16’2011 low followed by the 0.9724 level, its Aug 31'2011 low. Its daily RSI is bearish and pointing lower supporting this view. On the upside, the pair will have to climb back above the 1.0048/51 levels to annul its broader bearishness and bring further gains towards the 1.0146 level. Further out,…
 
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    CreditDonkey

  • Summer Opportunities for Students

    14 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    With summer fast approaching, large numbers of high school and college students are searching for summer jobs, beginning an internship or enrolling in summer school. Other students choose to use summer as an opportunity to sleep in, hit the beach and take advantage of a carefree lifestyle.

  • Discover Escape Review: Rewards for Travel

    11 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    If you are looking for a simple way to earn travel rewards, consider Escape by Discover. This card earns double miles on all your purchases. The rewards program is very flexible and offers many travel options for your miles.

  • AT&T Universal Card Review: Rewards for Business

    9 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Does your business use AT&T as its internet and phone provider? If so, you should check out the AT&T Universal Business Rewards Card, offered by Citibank. This card earns points on all purchases, plus bonus points for money spent at AT&T. This gives you the chance to earn free merchandise and cash back while paying your company’s monthly phone and internet bill.

  • Best Grocery Credit Card Deals

    8 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Rising food prices are putting a squeeze on everyone’s grocery budget. According to The World Bank’s food price index, global food prices rose by 29% during 2010 and are approaching the record level set in 2008. These higher prices are due to a combination of rising energy costs, agricultural damage from poor weather, and increased food demand from developing nations like China.

  • Financial Infidelity: Marriage and Money

    7 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Married people are happier by many measures, yet many marriages are unhappy or fail because couples bring to the partnership significant debt, including student loans and credit card balances, as well as self-deceptions and outright lies about money. Our new research infographic urges couples to take a clear-eyed look at their prospects for happiness if they are not honest with themselves and their partners about money.
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    The Penny Hoarder

  • Give a FREE $5 Gap or H&M Gift Card to Your Facebook Friends

    The Penny Hoarder
    15 May 2012 | 7:37 pm
    Apparently we’ve become so trained to ignore ads that some companies believe the only way we’ll pay attention to them is by giving us free stuff. (I’m guilty.) At least that’s what Wrapp.com is counting on. Wrapp is a new app for both the iPhone and Android that connects to your Facebook account and reminds you when you have a friend’s birthday coming up. In this case, Wrapp is hoping that you choose to send them an electronic gift card, because they earn a commission off of each gift card sold through their mobile store. The really cool part about Wrapp is that…

  • University Will Pay You $3,500 to Eat Only Fast Food for 3 Months

    The Penny Hoarder
    15 May 2012 | 8:22 am
    Photo by ratterrell/Flickr Oh, brother… A new study at Washington University in St. Louis is looking for participants who would be willing to eat only fast food for 3 months! And they’re paying folks $3,500 to do it! The researchers want to study obesity and why some overweight people develop certain diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular conditions. This seems like a really bad idea, but if you’re interested, I’ve got all the details: You’ve got to be between 18 and 65 years old, a non-smoker, and non-diabetic. Lastly, you must already be at least 30 pounds…

  • Win a Kindle Fire in our Flash Giveaway (05/15 – 05/19)

    The Penny Hoarder
    14 May 2012 | 11:01 pm
    We have teamed up with COUPONING4YOU and a bunch of other amazing bloggers to bring you a 5 day flash giveaway for a Kindle Fire. This giveaway will run from May 15TH 12:01 AM Eastern Time and will close May 19TH 11:59 Eastern time. So make sure you get your entries in this giveaway, because it will be gone in a flash!  This giveaway is open Worldwide. a Rafflecopter giveaway &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.

  • Win $400 in the May Extreme Cash Giveaway! (05/14 – 06/10)

    The Penny Hoarder
    14 May 2012 | 8:28 am
    Welcome to the May Extreme Cash Giveaway! The Penny Horder has teamed up with over 80 awesome blogs to bring you the chance to win $400 cash! This giveaway runs for a whole month, so don’t worry if you don’t have time to do all the entries at once. And don’t forget there are daily entries as well so come back every day to rack up all the entries you can. Giveaway is open worldwide and ends June 10th at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck Penny Hoarders! a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Win an iPad 3 from Bee Savy! (5/14 – 6/04)

    The Penny Hoarder
    14 May 2012 | 8:04 am
    Welcome to the iPAD May-nia Giveaway! We are giving away the latest iPad to one lucky winner! The Penny Hoarder, Bay Area Mommy, and BeeSavy and partnered with some awesome bloggers to bring you this exciting giveaway for the most-coveted tablet out in the market! BeeSavy is your digital personal shopping assistant that pays YOU for serving you! BeeSavy scours the internet to make sure you get the lowest prices on the products you want at the stores YOU love. The best part? BeeSavy gives you cashback on your purchases! Sweet! Check out their site to learn more! To get a chance to win, enter…
 
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    Financial Management Blog

  • What are the Characteristics of the Best Bank?

    Gil
    16 May 2012 | 9:03 am
    Having the best bank for your savings or checking account is very important to have a peace of mind and protect your money in case of a future problem. Yet, selecting the best bank is not easy thing to do. It might require tedious research and surveys but if you can get a list of the characteristics of the best bank, your selection process will be a lot easier. In the Philippines and other rich countries, there are many banks that you can choose but the question is which one is the best among these banks. In this article, I would like to point out several characteristics that you should look…

  • What to Do When BPI Wrongly Debited Money from your Account

    Gil
    15 May 2012 | 8:33 am
    On April 30, 2012, before I applied my Overseas Exit Clearance (OEC) at Philippine Overseas employment Agency main building at Ortigas Avenue, I tried to withdraw P5,000 to have enough money for paying OEC fees. There is no BPI ATM inside POEA but there are other ATMs like Land Bank, and branch offices of Banco de Oro and MetroBank. I know there is a Land Bank ATM inside so I have no problem withdrawing money even if I’m a BPI customer. I have been doing it several times before and I have not encountered any problem. The Story However, for the first time, I experienced a problem withdrawing…

  • The Proper Way to Register a Domain Name

    Gil
    11 May 2012 | 1:03 am
    In order to make a website or blog, you need to have two essential things: a domain name and a web hosting. So what is a domain name? A domain name is the name you can see on the address bar of your Internet browser. As an example, today’s most common domain names are www.google.com, www.facebook.com, www.yahoo.com, and www.wikipedia.org. Similar with a land or a real estate, a domain name should be registered before you can use it to build and start your own blog or website. However, domain registration is much easier than registering a land or a real estate. Before picking and registering…

  • What to Do when You are Laid Off in Your Job

    Gil
    2 May 2012 | 8:48 am
    It is a difficult time when you are laid off in your job especially if it is your only source of income and you don’t have enough savings to cover your monthly expenses. Maybe you’re feeling several negative emotions like fear and loneliness because of that situation. Perhaps you know that I am a contractual worker in my current company and somewhat it is not good situation for me since I am bounded with the contract. Anytime I can be laid off from my work when bad situation happens to the company. The good thing about this company I’m working right now is that it gives severance…

  • I am on Vacation for 2 Weeks

    Gil
    26 Apr 2012 | 5:34 pm
    Hi there! Ii just want to inform you that I am on vacation for more than 2 weeks so I have limited time replying to your comments and emails. I hope you understand.  If you have questions you want to know, just leave your comment below and I will try my best to answer it whenever I am connected to the Internet. In addition, you can see all my posts here if you want to browse the whole topics and posts that I published before. It’s been a very tough for this blog this week because of a recent Google update that cause my blog to drop in Google search so I have less visitors and traffic.
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    Bay Area Planners Blog

  • Student loans are OK up to a point

    admin
    30 Apr 2012 | 2:55 pm
    Student loans are OK up to a point – that being the point at which they become unsupportable by the student. Obviously, graduating with no debt is preferable, but I maintain that the student taking the federal Stafford loan is a reasonable part of how to pay for college. The [...]

  • Student loans take a toll on Gen Y – Can they manage their debt?

    admin
    13 Apr 2012 | 2:07 pm
    According to recent reports, student loan debt is pushing a large number of younger Americans into bankruptcy. With too many loans and a labor market that isn’t offering many jobs, they’re falling behind on the monthly payments. More than 4 out of 5 bankruptcy attorneys report significant increases in potential [...]

  • Latest News on Financial Aid

    admin
    14 Mar 2012 | 1:50 pm
    Two quick notes, one a change in aid that happened, the other a change that didn’t. First, Congress approved a reduction in the income level needed for a zero EFC to $23,000. This means families with incomes between $23,000 and $31,000 will no longer automatically receive a Zero EFC, though [...]

  • California Admissions Update

    admin
    14 Mar 2012 | 1:49 pm
    Latest numbers are that sixteen of the twenty three CSU campuses are now impacted (up from eleven in 2010-11). Freshman applications to the UC system are up an incredible 19% this year. The UC’s will deliver decisions on Freshman by end March, transfer students by end April, and wait-listed students [...]

  • Should your Senior file a tax return?

    admin
    27 Feb 2012 | 10:53 am
    If your high school Senior has no earned income, but has assets that generate interest, dividends, or capital gains, you may have included this income on your tax return in past years. Should you do so again this year? Until now, you have only needed to consider the tax implications; [...]
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    Consumer Help Central

  • 5 Simple Steps To Getting Your Car Title After Bankruptcy

    Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
    30 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    If you filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, chances are good that your lawyer either was able to reduce your interest rate, lower the balance of the car loan if the car was old enough to qualify, or both.  Now that your bankruptcy is over, how do you get your title from the finance company? It should be simple, but it isn’t always the case. You didn’t pay the full sum due under the original contract, and the Chapter 13 trustee was taking your Plan payments and distributing the funds to the car company. After bankruptcy, the loan bounces from one department to another in search of a…

  • Here Are Your Options When Served With A Collection Lawsuit

    Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
    27 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    It’s terrifying to be served with a collection lawsuit. You know you’re in debt, but the prospect of going in front of a judge just makes it all worse.  Thankfully, you’ve got options. Lots of my clients come to me after they’ve been sued, some while there’s still time to do something and other times after a garnishment or bank account freeze has been put into place. I wish they all got to me the day they got served, but that’s not always practicable. If you’re served with a collection lawsuit, there are a few things you can do. Ignore The Lawsuit…

  • Can Same-Sex Married Couples File Bankruptcy Together?

    Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
    26 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    Same-sex marriage is a hot-button issue, dividing the nation as to whether marriage can be only between a man and a woman.  When looking at bankruptcy, the question of whether same-sex married couples can file together can be thorny as well. Under the Section 302(a) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, a joint bankruptcy case may be filed by an individual and that individual’s legal spouse. What, then, of same-sex married couples who look to file for bankruptcy together? Where Can Same-Sex Couples Get Married? Couples of the same sex can get married in Washington, D.C. as well as in six…

  • In Matters Of Consumer Finance, You Shouldn’t Hate The Player – Or The Game

    Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    The New York Times is reporting that banks are courting people with bad credit again, after taking a post-Lehman hiatus over the past few years.  We’re supposed to be surprised that the lenders have run out of people with good credit as potential customers, and are now going back to the till for the sub-prime borrowers. The article notes that Credit card lenders gave out 1.1 million new cards to borrowers with damaged credit in December, up 12.3 percent from the same month a year earlier, according to Equifax’s credit trends report released in March. These borrowers accounted for 23…

  • The Top 7 Consumer Law Resources Online

    Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
    20 Apr 2012 | 6:45 am
    I recently provided you with a list of the top bankruptcy law resources online, and the feedback was excellent.  It seems as if the problem with consumer law resources is slightly different than that of bankruptcy law. Whereas there is an overwhelming amount of bad bankruptcy information online, there’s a relative paucity of consumer law information available beyond the basic 5-page website launched and maintained by a few lawyers. Given the lack of information out there, is there any wonder why people have no idea about their rights against harassing debt collectors, credit report…
 
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    Musings of a Money Manager

  • Sell In May And Go Away? Watch Apple For Clues

    john
    15 May 2012 | 1:00 pm
    S&P 500 trading at support levelsSell in May and go away?The recent pull back in the US stock market has many wondering if the old Wall Street adage of “sell in May and go away” will hold true this year. The adage is based on the actions of large institutional investors and money managers: quite simply, they go on vacation during the summer and as a result there is less market activity.S&P 500 Index Sectors (source S&P)This year, however, many market watchers are wondering if that will be true. 2012 is a Presidential election year and the US economy will be the main…

  • Weekend Reading: Psychology Of A Market Cycle

    john
    12 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    via: WallStCheatSheet.com

  • The Business Optimism Index Was Released This Week

    john
    11 May 2012 | 2:44 pm
    The NFIB Business Optimism Index came out this week showing continued optimism from small business owners:The Index of Small Business Optimism gained 2 points to 94.5 in April, a nice gain on an absolute basis. This month’s Index is the highest reading since December 2007, the peak of the last expansion. Reports of positive earnings trends improved a stunning 11 points to a negative 12 percent in April, the best reading since April 2007. The improvement was driven by the best sales trend reports since April 2007. Profits are the major source of capital for financing hiring and expansion…

  • Stock Trader’s Almanac: Friday Before Mother’s Day, Dow Up 11 of Last 17

    john
    11 May 2012 | 10:20 am
    Interesting fact from the Stock Trader’s Almanac: The Friday before Mother’s Day, the Dow has been up for 11 of the past 17 years.Of course JPMorgan’s (a Dow component) news of a $2 billion trading loss will have an impact today:

  • Bloomberg: Facebook IPO Overvalued at $96 Billion in Global Poll

    john
    11 May 2012 | 9:00 am
    Is Facebook's IPO Overvalued? Bloomberg Poll ResultsFacebook IPO Overvalued According To Bloomberg’s Investor PollLast night, Bloomberg released its results of a poll of 1,253 investors, analysts and traders who are Bloomberg subscribers asking their thoughts on the upcoming Facebook IPO. The results showed that 79% of those polled thought the valuation was too high (Facebook is hoping to raise $96 billion in next week’s IPO).A big concern is the company’s growth has shown signs of slackening. Sales climbed 88 percent to $3.71 billion last year. According to researcher…
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    Credit Card Wisdom

  • Maximizing JetBlue TrueBlue Points

    Jason Steele
    14 May 2012 | 1:40 pm
    Airlines started to offer frequent flier miles to their customers in order to encourage repeat business from their passengers. Today, carriers have another increasingly important reason to award points and miles; to encourage customers to sign up for their co-branded airline credit cards. As customers earned more and more miles from credit cards and other [...]

  • What Is An Authorized Credit Card User

    Jason Steele
    10 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    A credit card is merely a piece of plastic, but it represents a bank account that has been opened. On most credit card applications, the account holder can order additional cards for other authorized users. There are several advantages to adding authorized users – as opposed to joint credit card users – but there are [...]

  • What Is A Joint Credit Card Account Holder

    Jason Steele
    6 May 2012 | 1:32 pm
    One credit card account can have several different credit card holders, yet not all of them are created equal. While it is fairly easy to add additional authorized card holders, adding a joint account holder is another matter entirely. Like a primary account, joint account holders are fully responsible for the management and payment of [...]

  • The Disney Premier Visa Card from Chase

    Jason Steele
    2 May 2012 | 11:22 am
    Fans of Disney movies and theme parks can be excited by the idea of earning credit card rewards in the form of Disney Dollars.  This has been possible for some time through the use of the Disney Rewards Visa card from Chase which earns 1% back in the form of Disney Reward Dollars. Unfortunately, some [...]

  • Carnival of Financial Planning – Money Management Edition #234 – April 27, 2012

    Guest
    27 Apr 2012 | 8:25 am
    Carnival of Financial Planning – Money Management Edition #234 – April 27, 2012 Welcome to the April 27, 2012 Money Management Edition #234 of the Carnival of Financial Planning. This edition is arranged by subject heading, so that you can browse efficiently. Enjoy! The Skilled Investor, Editor Budgeting and Economics Dr Dean presents 100 Words On How To [...]
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    Simple Debt-Free Finance

  • College Grad Unemployment and Useless College Degrees.

    Joe
    11 May 2012 | 10:03 am
    The college grad unemployment or underemployment rate is currently at 53%, but is a poor economy to blame or useless college degrees? Before we get into that question, let’s step back and take a look a closer look at the unemployment problem for recent grads. College grad unemployment/underemployment is bad, real bad. The news has been awash in horror stories about recent college graduates not finding work. Many more are able to find work, but not in their chosen field. “More than half of America’s recent college graduates are either unemployed or working in a job that…

  • Lear Capital Commercial Pushes Mysterious Asset, but is it the One Asset to Rule Them All?

    Joe
    28 Apr 2012 | 5:14 pm
    There’s a new Lear Capital commercial I’ve been hearing a lot on the radio lately. I find it compelling because Lear Capital makes great use of the element of mystery in this commercial to sell a specific asset. The mystery of course is: what asset? For all the talk of this asset in the Lear Capital commercial – they never say what the asset is! Here is an example of how they discuss this asset in the  Lear Capital commercial: This asset is up over 100% since 2008 and Morgan Stanly predicts it could rise another 30% for 2012! Is your curiosity whetted? If not, the ad…

  • Are Rising Rent Prices in 2012 Good for the Housing Market? (Video)

    Joe
    24 Apr 2012 | 8:57 pm
    Rising rent prices are bad for renters but is it good for the housing market? I say it is, and here is why. Rising rent prices and rental rates across the country Rental rates rising across the country and prices are expected to increase 3.8% this year and 4% projected for 2013. That’s an average for the nation, which means the rise in rent prices could be much higher in cities with high rental demand. In NYC for example, the rental vacancy rate is just above 1%. Demand is so great that renting often requires the level of paperwork usually reserved for mortgage applications! Rising rent…

  • 3 Ways To Negotiate a Credit Card Debt Settlement Yourself.

    Joe
    10 Apr 2012 | 9:25 pm
    If you’re one of the millions of credit card holders who has found themselves buried in credit card debt with a balance you can’t hope to pay down, then you may be wondering if you can Negotiate Your Credit Card settlement yourself. Well, it is possible to do, but it’s not easy. 3 Ways To Negotiate a Credit Card Debt Settlement Yourself. The first thing you need to consider is what kind of arrangement you are going to seek. Let’s be honest, you’d like your credit card company to forgive all your debt and pretend it never happened, but short of bankruptcy, that…

  • Minimalism vs. Simplicity – Are You Missing the Point?

    Joe
    5 Apr 2012 | 7:09 pm
    A recent stay at a “Boutique Country Hotel” got me thinking about the meaning of minimalism vs. simplicity and how they relate to personal finance. It all began with our hotel room. It was a renovated riverside hotel from the 1800′s, with a curious mix of old and modern. The floor boards were the wide, plank floor boards common in 19th century construction, while the bathroom featured a state of the art Jacuzzi. This is what our shower looked like, only ours had no shower head. The decor was sparse, yet modern too. There was a flat panel television and one piece of…
 
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    Thirty Six Months

  • Camping the frugal way

    Marissa
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Victoria Day is just around the corner. While I know we get the day off to celebrate the Queen’s birthday, I associate the day with camping. We’ve gone camping every year since I was 14. It helps that out family owns a cottage 2 hours away or that the camp grounds are 5 min drive from my house. I have a huge extended family, along with 3 siblings and Victoria Day long weekend is normally the first weekend of the year that all the families get together. Naturally the holiday holds a special place in my heart. Camping vacations have been a popular choice for families for many years.

  • Change is a good thing.

    Marissa
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.” - Charles Kettering I was 20 when Desperate Housewives first came on air. I watched the show religiously with my mum for 2 seasons. Something happend after that I really don’t recall, but I stopped watching. I tuned into tonight because my favorite show, The Goodwife, is over for this season. I sat there mesmerized watching these 4 women move on with their lives and came to the realization that change, as scary as it can be is a great thing. We may not like it, or think its for the best, but change makes…

  • GIft ideas that my mom would actually like.

    Marissa
    12 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    “When all is said and done, all you really have left is your story. Make sure its a good one” I don’t have enough words to explain how much our mum has done for us. She is our champion, hero, and our protector. She is also a confidant, and a keeper of secrets, big and small. In short, she is a mom. She sees her future in us and has always made sure that we know that we are her world; that we are her storytellers when she can’t tell her story anymore. I love my mother. My siblings and I were champions at  coming up  with the tackiest Mothers’ day gift ideas, and…

  • The most expensive cars to insure

    Marissa
    10 May 2012 | 9:00 pm
    People often assume that the only thing that is preventing them from owning their dream supercar is the high initial purchase costs. However this isn’t the only handicap that motorists would face, with the annual running costs often being equally as extortionate. This is more of an issue now than ever before in light of the price rises which have recently occurred in both the fuel and car insurance markets.   With average premiums differing by up to $1,600 depending on which state you live in, giving exact estimates of likely auto insurance premiums on these types of vehicle is…

  • Companies with a heart.

    Marissa
    9 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Does knowing that they product you are buying helps people have any influence on your purchasing decision? Are you willing to pay slightly more for something when you the entire process is completely transparant? We are a product of generations past, and we control what we leave for our children. Lately, I have been on the hunt for companies that make it their mission to give back, and those companies win my business everything time. Don’t get me wrong, they consistently make an excellent product and employee people who really need the work and are great at it. The social entreprise…
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    Thirty Six Months

  • Camping the frugal way

    Marissa
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Victoria Day is just around the corner. While I know we get the day off to celebrate the Queen’s birthday, I associate the day with camping. We’ve gone camping every year since I was 14. It helps that out family owns a cottage 2 hours away or that the camp grounds are 5 min drive from my house. I have a huge extended family, along with 3 siblings and Victoria Day long weekend is normally the first weekend of the year that all the families get together. Naturally the holiday holds a special place in my heart. Camping vacations have been a popular choice for families for many years.

  • Change is a good thing.

    Marissa
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.” - Charles Kettering I was 20 when Desperate Housewives first came on air. I watched the show religiously with my mum for 2 seasons. Something happend after that I really don’t recall, but I stopped watching. I tuned into tonight because my favorite show, The Goodwife, is over for this season. I sat there mesmerized watching these 4 women move on with their lives and came to the realization that change, as scary as it can be is a great thing. We may not like it, or think its for the best, but change makes…

  • GIft ideas that my mom would actually like.

    Marissa
    12 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    “When all is said and done, all you really have left is your story. Make sure its a good one” I don’t have enough words to explain how much our mum has done for us. She is our champion, hero, and our protector. She is also a confidant, and a keeper of secrets, big and small. In short, she is a mom. She sees her future in us and has always made sure that we know that we are her world; that we are her storytellers when she can’t tell her story anymore. I love my mother. My siblings and I were champions at  coming up  with the tackiest Mothers’ day gift ideas, and…

  • The most expensive cars to insure

    Marissa
    10 May 2012 | 9:00 pm
    People often assume that the only thing that is preventing them from owning their dream supercar is the high initial purchase costs. However this isn’t the only handicap that motorists would face, with the annual running costs often being equally as extortionate. This is more of an issue now than ever before in light of the price rises which have recently occurred in both the fuel and car insurance markets.   With average premiums differing by up to $1,600 depending on which state you live in, giving exact estimates of likely auto insurance premiums on these types of vehicle is…

  • Companies with a heart.

    Marissa
    9 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Does knowing that they product you are buying helps people have any influence on your purchasing decision? Are you willing to pay slightly more for something when you the entire process is completely transparant? We are a product of generations past, and we control what we leave for our children. Lately, I have been on the hunt for companies that make it their mission to give back, and those companies win my business everything time. Don’t get me wrong, they consistently make an excellent product and employee people who really need the work and are great at it. The social entreprise…
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    Charge Responsibly

  • What is a Credit Freeze and Should You Use It?

    Chris
    15 May 2012 | 11:15 pm
    In some states it is legal to institute a freeze on your credit, which is done by paying a fee of about $20 to each of the “big three credit reporting agencies – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You also have to fill out a simple form or mail them a letter that outlines your request. Then they will not release any credit information about you without you first notifying them and telling them that it is okay to do so. Having this kind of policy in place means that if someone tried to use your confidential credit information in a fraudulent way – like to apply for a credit…

  • The Limited Credit Card Review

    Michael
    15 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    With the summer season approaching, new fashion trends are being rolled out by the industry.  One of the more popular mall boutiques for the ladies out there, The Limited, has its fair share of die hard fans and loyal shoppers.   That is why they have made it beneficial to be dedicated with their two tiered store card, The Limited Credit Card.  However, you don’t have to be a high end spender to benefit big from being a cardholder. When you sign up for The Limited Credit Card, you are considered a Classic member.  This is The Limited’s modest spender account.  As a Classic…

  • Capital One Shows the More You Spend, the More You Earn

    Michael
    14 May 2012 | 11:30 pm
    Keep on spending!  With Capital One posting a 37 percent profit increase for the first quarter of 2012, that is exactly what they want you to do.  The powerhouse lender not only has its recent $9 billion dollar purchase of ING Direct to thank for this boom, but that of continued consumer spending.  The reason for the consumer splurge is credited to the increasingly popular credit card rewards programs. Within 31 days of their latest promotion, where cardholders earned double rewards points for every purchase with use of their Capital One Venture Card, the lender gave one BILLION reward…

  • USAA Credit Card – Expect More from USAA

    Chris
    11 May 2012 | 3:22 pm
    So, I’m a huge fan of USAA. I have my auto and home insurance through them and find it to be one of the most reputable companies in this country. Agents are always prompt, courteous, professional and never try to add things you don’t need. I’m personally not a military veteran, but am privileged enough to have access to it because my father-in-law served in the 1960′s. USAA has built an outstanding reputation for it’s customer service as well as business acumen dealing with customer claims’ and needs. It’s a company you have a feeling will treat you…

  • The New BP Visa Gas Card Has Too Many Leaks

    Michael
    9 May 2012 | 2:30 am
    In a post-Gulf Coast Oil Spill world, BP has been doing everything in their power to give themselves a better public image in the face of rising public outrage.  Recently, BP decided to change up their credit card offer to the chagrin of many.  The old BP credit card was considered a must-have credit card.  However, those days are now long gone.  Now backed by Chase, the BP Visa Pump Rewards Credit Card has taken a spill of its own, down the rankings of must own gas credit cards. BP Pump Rewards Visa Card Review BP introduced a new rewards program recently and unfortunately it is quite…
 
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    Eileen E Jacobs

  • Three Headwinds that Today’s College Students Face

    eileenejacobs
    7 May 2012 | 1:25 am
    You should always treat your education like it’s an investment. That said, when the cost of any investment rises beyond that point at which a reasonable return can be made, it’s time to look at different options. This may include not making a decision at all. It is also important to note that by doing nothing, you are still taking a position. In fact, we see this in investing all the time. For instance, by deciding not to be in the stock market, you are taking a position in either cash or an alternative investment. In recent years, tuition prices have risen to unbelievable levels.

  • Choosing the Right Type of Investment Property

    eileenejacobs
    27 Mar 2012 | 7:24 pm
    The properties that make the best rentals generally fall just below the typical median priced home. There are several reasons for this. For starters, this is a home in which the typical renter can afford. By simply being available to a bigger group of people, this will keep vacancy loss costs lower. In addition, most renters will be able to afford their payments and remain in the home longer. The bigger the home, the more attractive it is to another buyer rather than a renter. Despite having better resale value, more expensive homes don’t necessarily make a good income property. Since…

  • Narrowing Your Focus to Find the Right Location

    eileenejacobs
    22 Mar 2012 | 6:22 pm
    When you narrow your focus, you are better equipped on finding yourself the best possible deal. When buying a home, you can use this strategy by focusing on a specific neighborhood. If you’re new to a city, it’s wise to take some time to know what area you want to live in. Once you’ve done this, you can narrow your focus to a specific area. This has several benefits. First, you become an expert quickly. You become more aware of trends that affect the area. You also have a good understanding of what type of home you like. You also know approximately how much each house is…

  • Why Real Estate is a Good Investment Choice

    eileenejacobs
    12 Mar 2012 | 3:39 pm
    Real estate allows an investor to control a valuable asset with only a small commitment. For investment purposes, an initial investment consists of a 20% down payment plus some closing costs. If you are buying a fixer, then your investment will be higher. That said, your initial investment is much smaller in relation to the value of the asset you are purchasing. Few investments allow this kind of leverage. Indeed, leverage can be a double edged sword. It can magnify your investment results when things go well. It can work in reverse as well. That is why a margin of safety is vital. A margin…

  • How We Make Financial Decisions

    eileenejacobs
    29 Feb 2012 | 11:34 am
    Financial decision making is simply more tricky than it seems. When we make our decisions, they always seem rational at the time. In addition, economists mistakenly have looked for ways to justify our decisions as being rational. Obviously, this cannot be the case. We often buy things on emotion. Economists would rationalize this by saying that the item we bought gave us the most utility at the time. In reality, the thing we bought could have been a snickers bar or a soda. Something with no real value, in other words. But it gave us a feeling of satisfaction. Does this qualify as a rational…
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    ArgelTiburcio.com

  • How to End Burnout [Infographic]

    Argel Tiburcio
    14 May 2012 | 9:40 am
    In our fast-paced reality of multi-tasking, we tend to juggle our work, our friends, our loved one, our family and of course ourselves. Whether we like it or not, becoming burned out is not a far-fetched condition that, sooner or later, we will suffer from. Good thing The Simple Dollar created the infographic on how to end burnout once and for all! Below, you will discover 6 simple yet... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com

  • SuperBetter: The Video Game that Helps You Reach Your Goals

    Argel Tiburcio
    28 Apr 2012 | 9:00 am
    I never imagined that a video game can help me attain my personal goals in a very easy and fun way. I just started "playing" and I wanted to share this to you right away that's why I can't say much about this game yet. It's straightforward to sign up using Facebook or leaving your email. It would take you less than a minute and then you are on your way to getting closer to your... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com

  • Yet Another 6 Killer Resources for Getting Free University-Level Online Classes

    Argel Tiburcio
    22 Apr 2012 | 11:00 am
    Online course - price will no longer be an issue As a follow-up to the 6 Killer Resources for Getting Free University-Level Online Classes, here's another six! But, this time it is from the website Coursera. They are a social entrepeneurship company that partners with the top universities (Princeton, Stanford, University of Michigan, Penn just to say some) in the world to offer courses... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com

  • 6 Killer Resources for Getting Free University-Level Online Classes

    Argel Tiburcio
    19 Apr 2012 | 10:30 pm
    Who says quality education cannot be free? Did I just use the words free, university, online and classes in one sentence? Yes I did! Thanks to the belief of the awesome people at Udacity that university-level education can be both high quality and low cost, they are happily providing anyone (with Internet, of course) with free online classes mainly about computer science and... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com

  • How to Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals and Reach Them in Record Time

    Argel Tiburcio
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:26 am
    Setting Your Eye on the Bulls Eye The alarm rings, you wake up. You turn off the alarm and begin the series of morning rituals that would get you showered, dressed, fed with breakfast, and eventually on your way to the office. You kiss your wife on the cheek as she prepares herself for work and taking the kids to school. You say your goodbyes. As you take your vehicle from the driveway, you... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com
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    TrendFollowing101

  • Why Do We Keep Creating Banks?

    Michael Sankowski
    14 May 2012 | 8:28 am
    (reprinted from Modern Monetary Realism) We’ve had a bit of discussion about banks a few weeks ago. I was thinking a bit about Taleb’s statement about the banking system: “Banks are not net profitable if you consider their entire history.” It’s a provocative statement, and probably true. Banks need bailouts over and over again. But last night, I had a question. Let’s grant banks aren’t net profitable over their entire history, and even over relatively short periods of time (any 30 year period) without large bailouts. If banks aren’t net profitable over their entire history,…

  • 2 Well Known Ways to Beat the Stock Market (and the Unusual Method Everyone Missed)

    Michael Sankowski
    11 May 2012 | 7:05 am
    It’s really not that hard to beat the stock market – but you do need a consistent system and plan. There are two tried and true ways to beat the stock market:  Value Investing and Small Cap investing, both beat the stock market. But there is an unusual way to beat the stock market – and nearly everyone missed it until recently. It’s better than value investing or trying to pick small caps, because it doesn’t take any special knowledge or much time to do. Momentum investing has only been known for a few years, but it beats the market even better than value investing or small caps.

  • Monetary Policy Distortions

    Michael Sankowski
    10 May 2012 | 12:27 pm
    (article written by Michael Sankowski, reprinted from Monetary Realism) Over at Naked Capitalism, there are two interesting posts up, and I’d like to point out an important link between them. One is an interview with Jamie Galbraith “Finance as Wealth Transfer Mechanism” who says this: “The act of extending credit – a macroeconomic force – generates fees and capital gains and other incomes that accrue, largely, to the top strata. You can see this very plainly in US data, but also in most other countries we’ve looked at, from Brazil to China. In sectoral data, it shows up in the…

  • Oil and the Canadian Dollar, Together Again

    Michael H. Sankowski
    10 May 2012 | 8:57 am
    Oil and the Canadian Dollar have a well known relationship. When Oil goes up, so does the Canadian Dollar. This correlation has been estimated to be extremely high during some time periods. The FXC shows this relationship very well, as does the USDCAD. Still, this correlation can change in strength - sometimes the Canadian Dollar does not respond as much to oil prices changes as in other times. When oil gets above roughly $95 USD per barrel, the strong fundamental reason for a link between the Canadian Dollar and oil gets muddy. It’s simple to see why the Canadian Dollar should be…
 
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    Money Q&A

  • How Tickets Can Affect Your Car Insurance Rates

    Hank Coleman
    16 May 2012 | 8:15 am
    What is one of the first things that you think about when you get pulled over by the police for speeding or some other traffic violation? I know that one of my first thoughts goes to my car insurance and how much my car insurance premium may go up if I get a ticket. We all understand that tickets affect insurance rates, but many of us do not know how do speeding tickets affect insurance rates and how other violations play into our rates. Now, Insurance.com has done the leg work for you with a new study that they have just published dissecting how much auto insurance rates increase for common…

  • How A Little Preparation And One Question Saved Me Over $1,000

    Hank Coleman
    14 May 2012 | 6:45 am
    Recently my wife and I bought a new car. I hate buying a new car because I always feel like the deck is stacked against me. As much as I try to be prepared, I feel like the car salesman has more information than I do and subsequently the better hand in negotiation. But, there were a few things that I had going for me this time. Here is how a little preparation and one simple question he me save money buying a new car. A Little Preparation Goes A Long Way Besides doing your homework and trying to figure out exactly what the dealership purchase the vehicle for at wholesale, there are a few…

  • Weekly Roundup: Great Money Articles This Week

    Hank Coleman
    13 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Here are some of my favorite and great money articles this week from some great personal finance writers around the web. Be sure to check them out! Working From Home and Business Insurance @ Beating Broke 4 Simple Steps for Managing Finances After College @ Good Financial Cents 10 Things to Do Before You Make an Offer on a House @ PT Money Career Lessons From My Mom @ Modest Money How To Outperform The Stock Markets And Make Ladies Love You @ Financial Samurai 6 Ways College Grads Can Save On Their First Apartment @ Planting Money Seeds How Can I Refinance My Mortgage With Negative Equity? @…

  • Skipping Home Maintenance Can Be Disastrous To Your Insurance

    Hank Coleman
    12 May 2012 | 7:31 am
    If you are a homeowner, you know that it is expensive to maintain. I never realized how many things you are nickeled and dimed for until buying my first house. Not only do you have your mortgage, insurance, taxes, utilities, and possibly even association dues, but you’ve also got the little things you don’t dream of like home maintenance now falls on your shoulders. The yard or fence needs to be refurbished. These were not issues when you were a renter. With all of these bills adding up, you may be wondering if you could skip out on something as minor as home maintenance or maybe…

  • What Is Cyber Liability Business Insurance?

    Guest Contributer
    10 May 2012 | 7:16 am
    Very few businesses these days get by through word of mouth or paper advertising – most will have a website or be cited in various online sites (such as general advertising-listing sites or comparison sites).  Many businesses also carry out much of their work online, creating and sending often sensitive data via email.  Whilst it is advantageous to use technology so effectively, there are risks associated with conducting work over the web.  This is where cyber liability insurance comes into its own.  What Is Covered By Cyber Liability Insurance What is covered by cyber liability…
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    Novel Investor

  • The Complete Shareholder Proxy Vote Guide

    J.P.
    15 May 2012 | 11:36 am
    Companies are bringing more social, environmental, economic and corporate issues to a shareholder proxy vote.  Some of the proposals are no more than a litmus test to public sentiment, but it’s a start to broader corporate reform and a good thing for shareholders.Of course, for this trend to continue, shareholders need to take part, which seems to be the biggest obstacle.  Whether you have 100 shares or 100,000, it doesn’t matter.  It’s your money invested in these companies and a wasted opportunity by not voting.As a shareholder, understanding your rights, the proxy…

  • Happy Hour: Zuckerberg, Butt Dialing, & JPM

    J.P.
    11 May 2012 | 11:43 am
    Welcome to the value edition of Happy Hour!  Sit back, relax and enjoy some of the more interesting things I’ve come across this week.ZuckerbergThe Facebook IPO is about a week away.  It will be interesting to see how it all turns out.  I’ll be sitting on the sidelines, watching to see how much people will overpay for the stock.  If you’re planning to buy Facebook, take the time to read The Maturation of the Billionaire Boy-Man about Mark Zuckerberg.  Remember, he’ll have a 57% controlling interest in the company, stockholders are just along for the ride.Butt…

  • Remember Your Investment Horizon

    J.P.
    10 May 2012 | 11:54 am
    When the markets start acting crazy, remembering your investment horizon will bring everything back into perspective.  Fears in Europe, slowing economy, unemployment concerns, and a few hundred other data sets all contribute to the daily swings of the market.  But you can lower your risk to these issues by building your portfolio around a strict investment time horizon.So are we heading for a repeat of last year?  Or are the recent market headlines just another gut check for every investor out there?  More importantly, should it really matter?  What is different today that will affect…

  • Value Investing Lessons From Warren Buffett

    J.P.
    8 May 2012 | 7:37 am
    The biggest value investing name today is Warren Buffett.  He didn’t get his Oracle of Omaha moniker from being average.  So, when I have the opportunity to learn even a little bit from someone who’s been successfully investing for over 60 years, I take it.The value investors journey to Mecca, the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, was this past weekend.  Anytime the event rolls around, the value investing blogs usually unleash a few hidden gems.One of those gems was an interview Warren Buffett did back in March for the MBA program at the University of Western Ontario, through…

  • Happy Hour: Booze Will Save The Post Office & $50K To Happiness

    J.P.
    4 May 2012 | 12:58 pm
    Welcome to Happy Hour, where I offer up some of the more interesting and informative things I’ve come across this week.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the weekend!Shipping Beer And Wine Via USPSNew legislation was recently passed in the Senate to help the financially strapped Post Office.  The legislation includes several things like a 5 day delivery week, restructuring health benefit payments,  provide retirement incentives to many employees, and most important, allow shipping of wine and beer by the postal service.  Imagine, a 103 year old law has prevented the Post Office’s…
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    The White Coat Investor- Investing And Personal Finance Information For Physicians, Dentists, Residents, Students, And Other Highly-Educated Busy Professionals

  • When Is a Warranty a Good Deal?

    White Coat Investor
    16 May 2012 | 1:30 am
    My general advice is to not buy “consumer insurance” like warranties on appliances.  The mantra is that you should insure against financial catastrophe, and self-insure against the rest.  I spend lots of money on good disability, life, property, and liability insurance.  Then I have an emergency fund that takes care of the rest.  But every now and then, I am offered a deal that seems too good to be true.  Here are some recent examples. I was at Home Depot picking up some sprinkler system parts.  I’ve been meaning to get a leaf blower to blow off the walks, driveway,…

  • What do physicians make on an hourly basis?

    White Coat Investor
    14 May 2012 | 1:30 am
    This post falls into the category of “that’s interesting.”  For all but the medical students reading, there isn’t a lot of actionable information here.  But it is difficult to find this information out there.  Physician income information is relatively easy to find, but work hours information is notoriously difficulty to find.  The only information that combined physician work hours with their income is from a survey in JAMA published in 2003, and obviously using even older data.  Here’s the “money shot”: There’s a lot of information there,…

  • Tax-O-Phobia – A Common Infirmity Among Doctors

    White Coat Investor
    11 May 2012 | 1:30 am
    I’ve noticed that many doctors suffer from a common malady I call Tax-O-Phobia.  When combined with a closely-related, but also common illness, Liability-Phobia, it makes doctors make poor financial decisions.  Tax-O-Phobia comes from three things: sticker shock, a misunderstanding of the value of various tax breaks, and a confusion between marginal tax rates and effective tax rates. Sticker Shock There’s nothing quite like that first 5-figure paycheck when you get out of residency.  Of course, no one cares about “good” sticker shock.  What you notice is what…

  • Drive A Beater….Get Rich

    White Coat Investor
    9 May 2012 | 1:30 am
    I wrote much of this rant many months ago, but it never seemed quite right, so I stored it away and never published it.  I had an email the other day that convinced me to dust the cobwebs off it and publish it.  It was from a doc several years out of residency whose medical school was paid for by the military looking for general financial advice.  I was surprised to see that he still had a negative net worth.  The main reason was that his family “owned” a 2011 car on which $30K was still owed and a 2012 car on which $29K was owed.  There was a little bit of educational debt,…

  • 8 Reasons Why You Should Invest With Mutual Funds Instead Of A Variable Annuity

    White Coat Investor
    7 May 2012 | 1:30 am
    Variable annuities (VA) are an insurance product that is best described as a mutual fund wrapped in an insurance wrapper and covered with fees.  They have several advantages over mutual funds (in a fully taxable brokerage account), including tax-deferred earnings, some protection against creditors, and tax-free buying and selling within the account.  But no reasonable person would argue that investing in a VA is a smarter move than investing in an IRA, Roth IRA, or 401K.  However, it isn’t uncommon to hear arguments that “a doctor in a high tax bracket should invest in a VA…
 
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    Bad Credit Blog

  • Refinance Home Mortgage, the Good, the Bad and the Not So Ugly

    William M. Davis
    11 May 2012 | 12:45 pm
    If you are contemplating refinancing your home mortgage loan in order to improve your current financial stability, there are some trends worth considering. Did you know that in 2009, America witnessed a jump in the number of refinancing applications? However, this increase did not translate to any distinct escalation in the number of mortgage refinance processing activities (or mortgage originations) for the year. Reports hinting at low mortgage rates were probably the main reason behind the boom in the mortgage refinance numbers around this time, coupled with a growing restlessness over the…

  • 5 Simple Ways You Can Rebuild Credit after Bankruptcy

    William M. Davis
    20 Apr 2012 | 5:25 am
    After bankruptcy, it is very important that you revive your credit score and manage your finances effectively. When you file for bankruptcy, you will be free of your debts immediately and you will not be pestered by your creditors. You should then make sure that you do not get into debts again and should work towards rebuilding your credit. Ways to Rebuild Credit Score after Bankruptcy If you have filed for bankruptcy, it will be seen in your credit report for about 7-10 years till you revive your credit score. It will be removed if you are able to improve your credit rating before the bad…

  • Quick Ways to Get a Bank Loan After Bankruptcy

    William M. Davis
    16 Apr 2012 | 2:39 am
    Usually people believe that if they have filed for bankruptcy, they are ruined their life and will not be able to revive their financial status or will have poor credit score for ever. However, according to the law, the maximum duration a bankruptcy stays in the credit report is about ten years. With the help of your credit agencies you can reduce this duration by being responsible, keeping your debts low and clearing your bills on time with regular, steady income. If you fulfill the above conditions, you can even apply for a bank loan. Ways of Getting Personal Loans After Bankruptcy Here are…

  • 15 Year Mortgage Loan – A Significant Way to Save Money

    William M. Davis
    13 Apr 2012 | 2:23 am
    Mortgage rates are at historic lows and if you have currently got a home loan, you may be wondering if you can take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Depending upon what your mortgage rate is now, it is possible a term refinance into a new 15 year mortgage that could make your payments about the same as your current 30-year loan. It will potentially help you save thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan. The Census Bureau’s 2009 American Housing Survey revealed that around 24.1 million first mortgage loans had an interest rate more than six percent. It is…

  • 6 Things to Prevent You from Being a Homeowner

    William M. Davis
    9 Apr 2012 | 2:47 am
    Buying a new home can be exciting but intimidating at the same time as a lot of things need to be considered. A survey conducted by real estate listing service Trulia, revealed that around 59 percent of renters aspired to own a home but something or the other prevented them from doing so. Below is a rundown of the most common things that prevent prospective homeowners from owning a home. 1. Not Enough Money for a Down Payment One of the biggest obstacles for prospective homeowners is the lack of money. Purchasing a new home requires a large amount for a down payment. However it is possible to…
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    Forex Beginner

  • Daily Technical Analysis - 15 May 2012

    Alexandre Rook
    14 May 2012 | 8:25 pm
    MACD Settings:- First EMA = 12 | Second EMA = 26 | Signal EMA = 9 Stochastic Settings:- Period = 5 | Average Period Fast = 7 | Average Period Full =7 Bollinger Bands Settings:- Average = 20 | Standard Deviation = 2 Date: 15 May 2012 Time: 9:12 AM (+8 GMT) EUR-USD Technical Indicators 4 Hourly Daily Weekly Monthly MACD Down Down Up Down Full Stochastic Down Down Down Down Bollinger Bands Bottom Bottom Bottom Bottom Chart Formation Rally downward Flag Downward Head/Shoulder Flag Downward Market Direction Down Down Down Down Market Comments Short-Term Down | Long-term Down GBP-USD Technical…

  • Daily Technical Analysis - 10 May 2012

    Alexandre Rook
    10 May 2012 | 9:33 am
    MACD Settings:- First EMA = 12 | Second EMA = 26 | Signal EMA = 9 Stochastic Settings:- Period = 5 | Average Period Fast = 7 | Average Period Full =7 Bollinger Bands Settings:- Average = 20 | Standard Deviation = 2 Date: 10 May 2012 Time: 10:05 PM (+8 GMT) EUR-USD Technical Indicators 4 Hourly Daily Weekly Monthly MACD Up Down Up Down Full Stochastic Up Down Down Up Bollinger Bands Middle Bottom Middle Bottom Chart Formation Head/Shoulder Downward Wedges Head/Shoulder Downward Wedges Market Direction Up Down Neutral Down Market Comments Short term Up and Sideway | Longterm Down Trend GBP-USD…

  • EUR-USD Technical Analysis 21 February 2012

    Alexandre Rook
    21 Feb 2012 | 7:05 am
    There is a sign that EUR-USD might want to break the 1.3311 level as Stochastic and MACD on the weekly time frame are both moving upwards direction. However traders are very cautious on the consequences as the long-term bearish trend is still fresh and strong. So the ideal intermediate direction should be moving side ways. The range of trades is expected to fluctuate within 1.3294 and 1.3051. We will wait and see if there is the unexpected happens.

  • EUR-USD Technical Analysis 13 February 2012

    Alexandre Rook
    13 Feb 2012 | 2:00 am
    Never say never, indeed the EUR-USD is closed to reach the 1.3320 level as discussed in the previous "EUR-USD Technical Analysis". Based on the historical level, this could be the strongest support level for correction. Anything beyond that should be temporary. However that does not meant the price will be starting to go down very soon, based on the MACD and Stochastic indicators there is already sign of flags formations upward for this weeks and the coming week. Otherwise if the unexpected happens it could break higher.

  • EUR-USD Technical Analysis, 2 February 2012

    Alexandre Rook
    1 Feb 2012 | 11:33 pm
    As discussed on the last post EUR-USD Technical Analysis 21 Jan 2012, the fiber should be bullish (intermediate) for the entire remaining week of January. Despite of showing weaknesses after reaching resistant 1.3228 level there is still possibility it could go higher to 1.3332 level. However that would be depending on huge luck if anyone dare to enter buy position at this point :). The long-term bearish trend is still long way to go and the fuel to burn is still a lot more. Based on the chart we can foresee that it will be going down for many months to come. We wait and see.
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    Creative Money

  • Money, Intimacy and Control

    Mindy Crary
    15 May 2012 | 4:42 pm
    I am a recovering control freak and codependent.  And throughout my life, money has been a tool to tip the scales in my favor—because money can control others.  Even the lack of money can be used to control others (see how much I am giving up to be with you?). I realized I had created a world for myself where I had control, but no meaningful connections.  No true collaboration or support.  People were around because of what I could do for them, and not because of my intrinsic, lovable self.  That sucked.  So I changed. My entire network fell away.  Once I ceased my money…

  • Regrouping Is Part of The Process

    Mindy Crary
    20 Apr 2012 | 4:04 pm
    Setting goals and planning for success is easy.  It’s FUN to imagine what the world will look like when you reach your goals.  Yet many of us—me included—tend to become short-sighted over what happens when your plan is NOT working.  Instead of regrouping as part of the planning process, we tend to abandon it altogether. I’ve been losing weight this year.  After about ten years of letting the excess weight “ride” for a variety of reasons, I finally found the energy and renewed motivation to start exercising regularly.  I already ate pretty healthy, so that wasn’t a huge…

  • How To Solve Money Problems Creatively

    Mindy Crary
    11 Apr 2012 | 3:47 pm
    Creativity has so many different definitions and applications; in terms of your money problems or challenges, creativity is the ability to stay open to boundless possibilities . . . perhaps the possibility of new interpretation of your situation, OR the possibility that things don’t have to go EXACTLY as planned for everything to turn out fine. When we’re willing to accept that our money problems and challenges don’t have to be addressed or solved in the perfect, exact, ideal way we imagine–and still be willing to allow for the possibility that everything will be all…

  • Why Downtime Is Essential To Money Peace

    Mindy Crary
    5 Apr 2012 | 11:46 am
    For a lot of people who work hard for their money, they see downtime as a luxury they can’t afford.  Downtime is frivolous.  Downtime isn’t goal driven.  Downtime might even be a detriment to your “status,” because successful people are perceived as being very busy. The past several years, many people have had ENFORCED downtime—it’s called being laid off.  It’s been a source of shame for many whose financial lives were completely disrupted by unemployment—even when the monthly expenses have been covered by another spouse or family member. Whatever you might think of the…

  • Four Simple Steps To More Conscious Spending

    Mindy Crary
    29 Mar 2012 | 11:35 am
    Budgeting is a lot like dieting—it might yield some immediate support, but actually prevent us from succeeding in the long-term.  Why?  Because budgeting prevents us from reaching the ultimate goal of spending consciously. Budgets can be very motivating when you think you’re making changes that will increase cash flow immediately.  The problem, however, is that real life intercedes and forces you to abandon the budget when you exceed the limit or forget to include a specific expense. Instead, I advocate conscious spending.  This is the belief that once you examine your consumer habits…
 
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    Three Thrifty Guys

  • How to Save a Few Dollars – part 1

    Charlie
    15 May 2012 | 6:17 am
    Most people that visit, Three Thrifty Guys, will notice that we post on a number of topics from avoiding pre-mades to investing to holiday gift ideas. However, today I’m getting back to basics and focusing on how to save a few dollars for our readers. Here are a numbers of ideas that I implement in my life that may help you: Couponing – since having our third child in 2009 we’ve started couponing to help save on our family a few dollars. A few websites I utilize are MoneySavingMom, iheartwags, CouponGal, and MojoSavings. I also used YouTube to find how other people were…

  • Mother’s Day – Amazon Gift Card Winner

    Charlie
    15 May 2012 | 6:16 am
    Congrats to our Amazon gift card winner, Mandi L.!! She won a $20 Amazon gift card for comment in the Creative Mother’s Day Idea Series. You’ll be receiving an e-mail shortly! Congrats again, and look for more entries in the future! Other posts you might be interested in: None found

  • Creative Mother’s Day Gifts – Series 3 of 3

    Charlie
    11 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    Guy’s you’re coming down to the last minute on coming up with a creative mother’s day gift! Your palms have to be sweating! You need to come through in the clutch, and score that ultimate creative gift! One that looks like you spent weeks planning. Here are a few last minute gift ideas that might help you along with the other posts in this series. Creative Mother’s Day Gifts – Post 1 and Post 2 Groupon or Living Social – have you checked out either of these deal sites lately? They are offering a lot of Mother’s Day Deals, which might be a great last…

  • How to Start Your Own Online Store

    Aaron
    11 May 2012 | 3:55 am
    Out of college, I wanted to illustrate greeting cards for Hallmark (yeah, I’m kinda touchy-feely). While my dream didn’t exactly come to fruition as I had planned, I did end up creating my own greeting card line and had a mini online store. Sales weren’t exactly brisk – but it was fun to have my work out there for public consumption. Do you have a desire to sell your own goods or other products online? Well, it’s really not as hard as you may think. Starting an online store The internet has truly opened up a whole new world to merchants everywhere. An individual living in…

  • Creative Mother’s Day Gift Ideas – Series 2 of 3

    Aaron
    9 May 2012 | 4:00 am
    Let’s face it – mother’s are great. This is why we are spending a week talking about them and offering you some Mother’s Day gift ideas. The one thing my mother always cherished – even though I didn’t know why (but am now starting to understand) were hand-made goods. So, the following are some things you can do yourself. Your mother will appreciate it (more than if you got her another gift card to Kohls). Coupon book of freebies You don’t have to get too carried away with how this is organized or anything. This is more about what’s on the coupons. You…
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    Money Infant

  • 5 Smart Things to do With Your Money

    Money Infant
    24 Apr 2012 | 8:23 pm
    The following was written as a guest post for MI: Learning to make your money work for you is a good idea for anyone who has suffered from the economy in recent years. There are several things that can be done to start earning a return on your money. Pick the ones that best suit your needs and you could soon see a turnaround in your finances, provided you pick a method and stay with it. 5 Tips that can decrease debt and increase savings One of the first things that should be done is to start saving money and when you compare savings accounts you can choose the one that has the most favorable…

  • Happy Songkran from Thailand

    Money Infant
    17 Apr 2012 | 9:32 pm
    No, I haven’t lost my mind. I know it isn’t New Year in most of the world, but here in Thailand it is. It is the reason things have been quiet around Money Infant and if fact around the entire internet where I’m concerned over the past 10 days or so and all I can say is one word…Songkran. Most of you probably aren’t familiar with the word Songkran, it is the Thai New Year and is equivalent to Christmas, New Year’s, Easter and the 4th of July all rolled up into one! Thailand becomes a huge party and water fight the likes of which you’ve never seen for…

  • Kings of Cash Flow – The Scepter Edition

    Money Infant
    5 Apr 2012 | 6:23 am
    It’s always fun for me to go through the carnival submissions and see all the new and interesting ideas being put forth by bloggers I might not always read. These folks have put a lot of time, thought and effort into sharing ways to help improve your personal finance. Show your appreciation by heading over to their posts and leaving a comment about what they’ve written. Nick @ Step Away from the Mall teaches us how to improve cash flow with real estate in Adventures in Real Estate – Looking back at a real estate deal I didn’t make and what could have been. Michelle @…

  • Making Money with Collaborative Consumption

    Money Infant
    4 Apr 2012 | 8:45 am
    I’m not certain when and where it all started (perhaps with CouchSurfing?), but collaborative consumption is making a huge splash these days thanks to technological advances and the peer to peer (P2P) social community model. In case you aren’t aware of what collaborative consumption is it can be defined as an economic model based on sharing, swapping, bartering, trading or renting access rather than purchasing goods or services directly. It’s not a new idea (think public libraries or exchange type stores), but it is one that has been redefined by technology. In 2010,…

  • Our Bangkok Budget

    Money Infant
    3 Apr 2012 | 2:52 am
    At last the much hyped and long awaited Bangkok budget! Keep in mind that this budget is for 2 adults and a 2 year old living in what is considered one of the better areas of Bangkok. If you are single or willing to cut back on food and conveniences you can probably get by on less than we are currently. You can also get by on less in other areas of Thailand such as Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Pattaya or virtually any of the islands (Phuket excepted). In fact, we are currently planning on moving out of Bangkok ourselves to cut back a bit on expenses. So, consider this an interim budget and look for…
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    The Passive Turtle

  • The Price is ALWAYS Right

    The Passive Turtle
    1 May 2012 | 2:00 pm
    I saw this post recently from Smart Money, 3 Stocks Up 83% — for the Wrong Reasons The article lists 3 stocks that have soared in the past months even if all of the fundamentals say they shouldn’t – SHLD, ODP, and HOTT.  I’m not a big fan of fundamentals (P/E Ratio, EPS, Market Cap, Sales Numbers, etc).  I have learned during the market crash in 2008 that fundamentals alone do not dictate market movement.  Markets move in an unpredictable fashion and cannot be controlled… so why fight it? There is only one solid indicator if a Stock is a good buy or not – the Price.  Price…

  • The Hardest Thing in Stock Trading

    The Passive Turtle
    4 Apr 2012 | 10:24 am
    “It’s the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do To look you in the eye And tell you I don’t love you”  – 98 Degrees You know what is the easy part of stock trading – buying stocks.  You know what is the hardest thing in stock trading – selling stocks.  When you are in a winning play and the stock starts to pull back, it is hard to decide if you should sell or wait for it to go back up.  It is even harder to sell a stock if it is already on a losing trade.  Every tax season I re-evaluate my losses for the year and last year was no different.  My big…

  • March Performance

    The Passive Turtle
    2 Apr 2012 | 10:25 am
    March was another strong month.  This was the month of the Earnings Trend .  I have probably played this trend over and over again this month and without fail it has delivered.  Some stocks I wish I held beyond the earnings announcement, but so far I cannot complain.  A few great ones were BAMM, GRVY, and most recently LNDC.  The Earnings Trend was really prevalent with LNDC.  The company posted TREMENDOUS Earnings and actually shot up 12% in the After-Market hours, but then fell like a rock the day after.  I’ve written about this behavior in an earlier post, “Stock Trend…
 
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    Finance Fox

  • How To Buy a Used Computer

    Eddie @ Finance Fox.ca
    16 May 2012 | 7:32 am
    Buying a second-hand computer is not only green, but it will save you quite a few bucks well. However, much like buying anything else, you need to do your research beforehand. Somewhere and through someone we’ve heard horror stories about buying second-hand stuff that would discourage anyone, but buying a second-hand computer is not all that bad as it may sound. Most don’t flinch at the idea of buying a used car, but the thought of a used computer sends them squirming. The tech industry tries their hardest to keep it that way: they advertise new products in such a way to render…

  • Car Buying Guide – Part 2 – Financing Your New Vehicle Purchase

    Eddie @ Finance Fox.ca
    15 May 2012 | 7:59 am
    Lease or Finance? The quick response to the question of whether it’s best to lease or finance a new car is to simply pay cash. It’s the most simplest option, and also happens to be the least expensive one as well. But, like most Canadians, I wasn’t in the position to drop $20k on the go. Instead I decided to finance my new used vehicle purchase. Before I embarked on the car shopping journey, I compared all of my options on financing, leasing, and even paying in cash which fell quickly out of favor after I realized my rough purchase price. I also came to the realization pretty…

  • Sunday Link Charity # 23 – Mothers Day 2012 Edition!

    Eddie @ Finance Fox.ca
    13 May 2012 | 11:00 am
    To all you moms out there: Happy Mother’s Day! There is no more important job in the world than that of being a mother. I’ve been blessed with a great Mom, a beautiful soul, and the hardest working person I know. Work? Nothing comes close to the work a mother puts in to raising her family. Remember to appreciate your mom’s, respect them for who they are, and cherish every moment you have with them, both the good and the bad, because how you look and what you are deep down inside has a lot to do with your mom. As a son to a proud mother, I’ve learned to look past what I…

  • Car Buying Guide – Part 1 – I Bought a New Used Car

    Eddie @ Finance Fox.ca
    10 May 2012 | 11:40 am
    Personal finance has a lot of rules, and one of the cardinal rules of it is NEVER EVER buy a new vehicle. This cardinal rule is backed by two arguments; A) New cars depreciate faster and B) Used cars are cheaper and easier to afford. I’ve always followed this rule, and only bought used cars in the past. One thing that’s different this time around is that I’ve never bought a new-er car like this. Until now, I’ve owned four cars, and this newly purchased vehicle happens to be my fifth.  The first car I bought with the help of my parents was 1993 Mazda 323. I drove the…
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    James Petzke

  • I’m Hosting the Carnival of Personal Finance!

    James Petzke
    15 May 2012 | 5:33 pm
    Well, I have some exciting news for my readers. Next Monday I will be hosting the Carnival of Personal Finance here. For those of you who don’t know what that is, the Carnival of Personal Finance is a weekly roundup essentially of all kinds of different personal finance related blog posts from literally hundreds of bloggers throughout its lifetime. Each week, a different volunteer blogger hosts the Carnival on his blog, and next week its my turn! I’m really excited for this opportunity, as I will hopefully see some growth for my blog as a result of hosting. For those of you with…

  • The Rise of Warren Buffett

    James Petzke
    12 May 2012 | 4:22 pm
    I decided to post something slightly off topic on my blog today. I recently wrote a research report entitled “The Rise of Warren Buffett”, and I realized that it may be interesting to my readers here. It is quite lengthy, but is a great summary of Warren Buffett’s early years. Warren Buffett is a household name these days. He’s not a movie star or politician, but a business man. He lives in a house he bought for $31,500 in 1958. And yet, he is one of the most influential, famous, and wealthy people in the world. Warren Buffett is arguably the most successful investor…

  • Well, I Built a Search Engine

    James Petzke
    10 May 2012 | 10:45 am
    I’ve officially launched the new business website I’ve been hinting at the last couple weeks. Currently in its beta stage, this website is a search engine known as Less Junk. Check it out at LessJunk.org. Here is the description of the search engine directly from it’s about page: Less Junk is a search engine that aims to help sift through the junk on the internet. Let’s face it, there is way too much on the internet, and sometimes, you can’t find good information with a regular search engine. Less Junk searches only the top 5000 sites in the world based on user…

  • The Downsides of Self-Employment

    James Petzke
    5 May 2012 | 5:27 pm
    As I’ve mentioned before, and have promoted heavily in my previous posts, I am currently self-employed in several respects. I have a freelance web design business which is my primary source of income at the moment. I also have been working on several niche websites, and other website projects which I haven’t yet released. I am very happy with this, as all of these things have huge income potential. However, there are some definite downsides, which I think I should share to even out the perspective of this blog on the matter. Inconsistency of Income This is probably the biggest…

  • Return from Nationals

    James Petzke
    1 May 2012 | 6:14 pm
    Well, I’m back home after going to Chicago for the 2012 Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference. I’m happy to report that the trip was an enormous success (with the exception of me and my teammate both getting sick halfway through), and I’m able to add something big to my resume that I never had before. I’ve competed in the web application team event of BPA for three years now. I’ve won state twice, and had gotten 8th and 6th the last two years respectively. This year, I am excited to report that I finally made the podium when my team…
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    kitces.com | Nerd's Eye View

  • Is The Fiduciary Standard Alone Enough To Protect The Public?

    16 May 2012 | 6:02 am
    One of the major reasons that advocates recommend the fiduciary standard is the belief that if only everyone were subject to the standard, fewer client abuses would occur, because advisors would fear the repercussions (i.e., legal liability) of inappropriate recommendations that fail to meet the standard. Yet at the same time, the financial services industry has been plagued with scandals, and it's not just Bernie Madoff, Allen Stanford, and numerous commission-based advisor improprieties; in the past three years, there have even been investigations against two former NAPFA presidents for…

  • Is Quarterly Performance Reporting Too Frequent For Clients… Or Not Frequent Enough?

    15 May 2012 | 6:02 am
    As financial planners - especially those who provide comprehensive financial planning services - try to convey the overall value of the services they provide, it is increasingly popular to reduce how often portfolio performance is reported to clients. As the theory goes, if performance is reported less frequently, clients will fixated on it less often. Yet perhaps the reality is not that performance reporting is making clients focus on investments, but instead that clients are simply being prudent stewards of their wealth who want to know how they're progressing towards their goals? If that's…

  • Technology Will Improve Financial Planning And Augment Planners, But It Won't Replace Them

    14 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    The financial planning world is in a state of change, as the rise of the digital age begins to exert its impact upon the profession. Thus far, trends have included the shift to outsourcing, the rise of web-based software, and a growing number of planners using services like GoToMeeting and Skype to supplement face-to-face meetings with more virtual interactions. As the coming decade wears on, technology will play an increasing role in the financial planning world, driving change in everything from how we deliver services to the client experience. Nonetheless, while technology will continue to…

  • Weekend Reading for Financial Planners (May 11-12)

    11 May 2012 | 1:02 pm
    Enjoy the current installment of "weekend reading for financial planners" - this week's edition focuses entirely on practice management issues, leading off with a discussion in the Journal of Financial Planning about whether the profession needs to institute a process of peer review to both clean up those delivering poor advice, and to help challenge everyone to deliver better advice. From there, we look at some articles about how to navigate the challenges of being in a small firm, from how to demonstrate that you can compete with the services of larger firms, to supporting the…

  • Will Veralytic Reform The Life Insurance Industry?

    10 May 2012 | 6:06 am
    Life insurance policies - permanent ones in particular - have long been difficult to accurately evaluate, due to the relative opacity of actual pricing representations comingled with performance assumptions in policy projections. To address this challenge, a company called Veralytic has developed a tool to "x-ray" through a life insurance policy illustration, evaluating and benchmarking the underlying policy expenses and their viability. In the near term, Veralytic's analytical tools may provide a way for financial planners to finally conduct effective due diligence on client…
 
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    GoldETFs.biz

  • Gold Stock ETF Bounce?

    Christian Magoon
    16 May 2012 | 7:43 am
    While gold prices have taken a nose dive, gold mining stocks have had a much steeper descent. Could this plunge actually be setting up gold stock ETF funds for a bounce?  Here’s the gold stock ETF performance grid. Pay special… [Read More]

  • Short Gold ETF Products Outperforming

    Christian Magoon
    15 May 2012 | 9:47 pm
    Gold is getting hammered – first by the crushed hopes for QE3 in late February and now by the EU debt crisis and weakening economies within India and China. These factors combined this week to push traditional gold ETFs into… [Read More]

  • Gold ETF Funds Go Red

    Christian Magoon
    15 May 2012 | 2:17 pm
    Gold ETF funds have historically been desirable due to gold’s history of holding up during crisis events. The current EU crisis however has now turned Gold ETF Funds red for the year. This has investors concerned. Here’s the year to… [Read More]

  • Gold ETF Alert: Crisis Crushing Gold

    Christian Magoon
    14 May 2012 | 10:10 pm
    Investors in gold and gold ETF products were dismayed today as the price of gold went negative for the year in the face of more EU turmoil. Gold has long been valued for its staunch performance during tough times, making… [Read More]

  • Gold ETF Report: EU Chaos Melts Gold

    Christian Magoon
    13 May 2012 | 5:34 pm
    This past week saw physical gold ETF product leaders the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) and the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) suffer declines of 3.7% and 3.6% respectively. A “risk off” mentality flooded markets worldwide as the EU crisis took another… [Read More]
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    Savvy Scot

  • Second Thoughts & Borrowing Money from Family

    savvyscot
    13 May 2012 | 11:25 am
    Today Mrs Scot and I decided to take the motorbike to her Mums for lunch. It was so much fun to be out on the open road together with our headsets plugged in so that we could chat. Although driving on the motorways is not much fun (very straight and generally quite busy) it was such a good feeling. Also, they had guests for lunch who were very excited by the noises and the bike in general. I realised how ‘cool’ it is all over again!! Starting to have second thoughts about selling it. Maybe I should just declare it ‘off the road’ and not insure it for a while? Or will…

  • Defining Purpose and the Importance of Moderation

    savvyscot
    8 May 2012 | 1:15 pm
    Happy Tuesday readers only working days until the weekend!! What is your purpose? Purpose – what does this word mean to you? The dictionary defines purpose as ‘The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists’ To me the meaning of purpose is what drives me, it is the ‘why’ and the reason. I think purpose is something we all need to find; in everything we do. Purpose is related to goals – the purpose of something could be to ultimately achieve a goal. But then the purpose itself should be worthwhile. WTF did I just say?? Let me…

  • Choosing Your Head Over Heart

    savvyscot
    2 May 2012 | 1:03 pm
    I was in a really good mood when I got home today – had a meeting at work that went really well and excited that the long weekend is just around the corner… That is, until I opened a letter to find a speeding ticket . I was caught doing 42mph in a 30 zone which means that I am going to get a min. £60 fine and 3 points on my license. Gutted. Not good for insurance premiums. Worse still, I don’t qualify for the ‘safer driving course’ alternative as I was >39 mph. I would have thought that the faster you are driving, the more suited you would be to the course!

  • Why You Should Become a Toastmaster

    savvyscot
    28 Apr 2012 | 3:37 am
    Toastmasters is probably not the best choice of word for a speakers club in this day and age. When you say Toastmaster you see an image of very posh man in a red coat with a big sneering grin.  A bit like this: The truth of the matter is that Toastmasters is a fantastic global organisation which promotes improvement of speaking, presentation and leadership skills in a ‘safe’ environment. There are over 100k members and 100s of clubs worldwide. The concept has something to offer to everyone – from seasoned presenters to total novices. I have recently started up a…

  • Lessons in Negotiation

    savvyscot
    24 Apr 2012 | 7:49 am
    As I mentioned on my last post, Mrs Scot and I decided to take out a contract at our local gym. With some successful experience in sales (through a part time job), I consider myself to be quite a good negotiator and my secret is to use a diverse range of tactics. I’ll start with an example. When holidaying abroad in Thailand, it is very hard to get a base price for items. It is not unusual for street vendors to start at over 10 times the normal selling price of an item. They negotiate a little, the customer leaves delighted, thinking they have got a deal, yet the street vendor has…
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    I Need Money

  • Difficulties with Getting a Mortgage if you’re Self Employed

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 7:15 pm
    It is notoriously difficult to get a mortgage if you are self-employed. It’s certainly not impossible, but it is harder to achieve than if you are employed by someone else. And it has got even harder since the financial collapse of 2007, which was due in part to irresponsible mortgage lending. What’s more Self cert mortgages, which many self employed home owners relied on, are not outlawed in the UK. The problem lies in the fact that banks are not totally comfortable lending money to those who don’t have a steady and clearly quantifiable income stream and they don’t want to take any…

  • 5 Simple Ways to Save Money at University

    admin
    5 May 2012 | 4:15 pm
    Managing finances is a hard enough task for middle aged adults, never mind students. As university life requires us to invest a lot of money into alcohol drenched parties, quirky clothing and various concerts, the importance of budgeting and planning is often forgotten about. For many people, university is the first time they have had to be totally independent. This includes taking control of their finances. For the majority of students, taking care of food costs, bills and overdraft charges is a new experience and so ensuring that you are well equipped to manage these requirements is…

  • Simplest Ways to Increase Your Credit Score

    admin
    3 May 2012 | 4:51 pm
    Your credit score is a number from 300 to 850 that summarizes your credit history. A score closer to 300 signifies to potential lenders that you don’t have a pristine track record, while a score closer to 850 means you typically use loans wisely and pay them back promptly. Because your credit score takes into account all recent credit history, improving it typically takes time. Usually, the only way to improve your credit score drastically is to use credit responsibly for a series of months or years. But there are some actions you can take now which can boost your score almost…

  • Future Financial Success: Plan Your Yearly Cash Flow

    admin
    1 May 2012 | 4:43 pm
    In business, the prediction of cash flow is an important aspect of budgeting and effective accounting practices; the management of any company’s finances is vital in ensuring that it remains in a good financial state. But the systems used by companies can be transferred to personal accounting practices as well. By managing your cash flow in advance, you can budget for expenses, such as holidays, more accurately. There are small adjustments you can make to your accounting system that will help you in predicting your expenditure for the coming months, which will help you work towards any…

  • How to Save Money in Minutes

    admin
    30 Apr 2012 | 4:32 pm
    No matter how careful you are with money, you have most likely noticed a few of your monthly expenditures soar over the last couple of years. There is no denying that the economic is tough to say the least at present and that every penny counts. If you are looking for ways to reduce the monthly outgoings there are a few tried and tested methods of doing so and this article highlights a few of the main ways to save. Dig Out Your Insurance Policies If you have a few policies up for renewal, it is worth taking the time to research other offers sooner rather than later. Firstly, check the details…
 
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    Zoho Blogs

  • Group Calendar Support & Other Neat Updates in Zoho Calendar

    Hari Murali
    16 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    There is no refuting the fact that be it work, family or friends, in order to get things done, it is necessary to be on the same page as a group or with your group. At times, it is crucial for each person in a group to be aware of everyone’s calendar of activities. This is tough considering other complications like employees in the same company sitting at different time zones, teams changing frequently and what not. Well, in relation to these thoughts, we are glad to share with you the latest update to Zoho Calendar.…

  • Introducing Zoho Sites, Free Website Builder for your Business​

    Raju Vegesna
    15 May 2012 | 11:05 am
    We are excited to announce a new addition to our broad application portfolio; Zoho Sites. This new application is a website builder aimed at simplifying website creation, including mobile websites. Users can create websites easily just by dragging and dropping elements, without having to write even a single line of code. ​There are hundreds of Website builders available in the market already. Then, why are we launching Zoho Sites now?​ At Zoho, we want to offer a broad set of business tools, so that you can run your entire business on Zoho.…

  • Customer Spotlight: Nubifer’s search for an accounting software ended with Zoho Books

    Reshma Roy
    11 May 2012 | 8:26 am
    With companies relying more and more on newer technology to remain competitive, it becomes crucial for the decision makers to be aware and unbiased towards better solutions. Reduced IT costs, faster implementation and better collaboration is making the technology heads see cloud computing in a different light. Nubifer Inc has taken it upon themselves to help companies welcome cloud computing with open arms. Their talented consultants, along with their slew of products and services like SaaS (Software as a Service), CRM (Customer Relationship Management) , HRIS (Human Resource Information…

  • Just In: Engage and Support your Customers in Twitter and Facebook with Zoho

    Rodrigo Vaca
    10 May 2012 | 11:15 am
    We are excited to share with you the newest update to Zoho Support. We have just enabled social media integration with Facebook and Twitter so you can engage and support customers through those channels, seamlessly integrating Tweets and Facebook posts into your existing operation to increase your social reputation while improving your overall customer experience. Today’s connected customers expect a high level of support – and customers are increasingly taking to social media to get their problems fixed. You need to make sure you’re listening and have the right tools to…

  • Doing a task more than twice? Then, Automate it.

    Sharanya R
    9 May 2012 | 10:11 am
    “Anything that you do more than twice has to be automated.” -Adam Stone, CEO, D-Tools Our daily work pattern will have certain activities that we repeat on and off. And when I say ‘on and off’, it means several times that span the entire workday. Take this typical cold calling scenario, for example: You, as a sales rep, have a list of leads that you call on a daily basis. Now, every time a lead accepts your proposal, you send a ‘Thank you’ email to the person.…
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    Money Estate - Personal Finance Blog

  • Understanding Time of Day in the Forex Market

    Money Advisor
    16 May 2012 | 2:40 am
    The Foreign Exchange Market is the largest financial marketplace in the world.  There is no central location where all forex orders pass through.  For example, if you are trading a stock that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, then the order to buy or sell that stock is eventually passing through a floor [...] Related posts: Forex Trading to Boost Your Personal Finance The world of financial trading used to be the domain...

  • Cannot Afford Continuing Education? Make your Boss Pay for it

    Money Advisor
    15 May 2012 | 2:43 am
    People return to college for many different reasons, but typically it’s to earn a set of skills that will make them a more valuable contender in the work force and potentially help them earn a higher salary. But if it’s a higher salary that you seek, then that means funds to return to school may [...] No related posts.

  • You CAN Get Cash from your Old Mobile Phone – How?

    Money Advisor
    10 May 2012 | 2:03 am
    WAIT – don’t throw away your mobile phones! It’s bad for the environment – electronic components contain dangerous chemicals and they are indeed real wastes. You could opt for hiring someone to collect your electronic junk and pay them to dispose your thrash legally. But there’s a better way to dispose your unwanted mobile phones [...] Related posts: Less Than Stellar Credit: Can I Still Get A Cell Phone? If you have less than stellar credit, you might be... Easy Ways to Earn Extra Cash If you are like most people in this world, you...

  • Should I Lease or Buy My Next New Car?

    Guest Author
    7 May 2012 | 2:15 pm
    Have you ever wondered why some car commercials are more geared towards leasing rather than selling? Is there a reason leasing is better than buying for the consumer? More importantly, what exactly does leasing involve? Let’s take a closer look at whether or not you should buy or lease your next new car. Pros and [...] Related posts: To Buy or Not To Buy: The Lowdown on Rental Car Insurance It’s the season of travel and you may find yourself... Should You Put Your College Student on Your Car Insurance Policy? Choosing whether to add your college student to your car...

  • The Best Ways to Find Quality Eyeglasses on the Cheap

    Guest Author
    3 May 2012 | 9:57 pm
    Having a suitable pair of eyeglasses can help to correct vision problems and enable people to lead more productive lives. Unfortunately, corrective lenses and frames can be quite expensive. There are, however, a few different ways that a person can go about saving money on eyeglasses. Here are a few of the best tips for [...] Related posts: 5 Ways to Save Money When Shopping Online Online shopping is easy, convenient, and fun. When shopping online,...
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    Approvals.com

  • Avoid the Biggest Tax Filing Mistakes

    Timothy James
    9 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    There’s no way of getting around this.  The biggest mistake people make when preparing their taxes, according to the IRS,... continue [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need?

    Timothy James
    7 May 2012 | 4:30 am
    Few people would argue that the decision to buy life insurance is one of the biggest we make in our... continue [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Debt Management: How to Save Money while Reducing Your Debt

    Timothy James
    2 May 2012 | 4:54 am
    The age-old question as to whether it’s better to allocate your money to savings or debt reduction remains open as... continue [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Parenting on a Budget

    Timothy James
    30 Apr 2012 | 4:33 am
    By some estimates parents will spend as much as $300,000 raising one child, not including college costs.  While we all... continue [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Finding Financial Security for Paycheck-to-Paycheck Earners

    Timothy James
    25 Apr 2012 | 3:57 am
    Life is all about the unexpected.  It’s why we plan – to ensure that contingencies are covered and risks are... continue [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
 
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    Cult Of Money

  • Golf lessons, deciding to get better at golf

    Karl
    9 May 2012 | 4:02 am
    Getting better at golf, health and business opportunities? Because I don’t have nearly enough going on in my life right now (ha!), I’ve decided to try and get better at golf.  I’ve tried to like golf in the past, but it didn’t go so well.  I wasn’t consistent enough nor good enough at golf to make it remotely enjoyable.  You can only go hunt in the woods for your ball so often before you decide that Mark Twain was right, golf simply ruins a good walk. So let’s take a look at the cons of learning to golf: This activity would obviously take time away from being able to do…

  • How to retire on a pension?

    Karl
    7 May 2012 | 4:46 am
    Don't put all your eggs in one basket, even the pension backet. What is a pension? A pension, also called a defined benefits plan (which provides a defined monthly payment or benefit versus a 401k which employers contribute to, thus a defined contribution plan), provides a set of cash flows over a period of time.  Most pensions pay money on a monthly basis, and is funded by employers and employees to differing degrees.  This type of arrangement is also called an annuity if you pay the cash value for the future stream of monthly (or annual) payments. The differences between an annuity…

  • Carnival of Financial Planning – Money Management Edition #235

    Karl
    4 May 2012 | 12:59 am
    Carnival of Financial Planning hosted this week by Cult Of Money Welcome to the May 4, 2012 Edition #235 of the Carnival of Financial Planning.  This edition is arranged by subject heading, so that you can browse efficiently.  Enjoy!  The Skilled Investor, Editor Budgeting and Economics W presents The College Formula posted at Off-Road Finance, saying, “A look at how much you should be willing to pay for college. Jon the Saver presents Do Your Kids a Favor and Open a 529 Plan posted at Free Money Wisdom, saying, “Did you you can benefit from a 529 college savings plan if you…

  • How to be Happy

    Karl
    30 Apr 2012 | 4:35 am
    Would you love to travel or see ancient history? Will you be dead before you find happiness? Can you determine how to be happy?  The idea that I’m building on is the NPV calculation, the Net Present Value used to determine the better option between competing projects with differing time-frames.  I’ve been thinking about a net present happiness (NPH), about considering those things that bring short-term happiness, and those that may require an investment in order to reap larger happiness in the future.  If you’re wondering what something like this might look like, look no further than…

  • There is no try

    Karl
    26 Apr 2012 | 4:21 am
    Yoda from Starwars, "do or do not, there is no try." Doing something isn’t hard.  You really can do just about anything you want to.  The best part is that doing something doesn’t require that you decide on a course of action.  You simply need to decide to do something, everything else follows from there.  Your intention to do something, to perform and action is much more important than almost anything else.  If you really do want something, focusing on that day after day is the only way to actually achieve a goal.  If someone tells you to do something, you may go along…
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    The GLC Money Saving Blog

  • Been Scammed? Get Your Money Back

    Alex
    11 May 2012 | 8:47 am
    Been Scammed? Get Your Money BackGet Your Money Back! Before you read any further, stop; this method will only work if you paid for your supposed goods or service with a credit card. If you paid using cash or another method then this post won’t help you – however, we plan to write some posts for other payment methods in due course. If you’re looking to reclaim loan fees from a loan scam then take a look at our post on reclaiming loan fees. So, if you’ve recently paid for something on a credit card that has later turned out to be a scam (or simply wasn’t what you…

  • Money Saving Cooking Tips – Save Money in the Kitchen

    Bonnie
    10 May 2012 | 3:41 am
    Money Saving Cooking Tips – Save Money in the KitchenAfter your mortgage / rent, bills and travel costs, food and cooking are probably your next biggest expenses. Here are some of our top money saving cooking tips to help your weekly budget go a little further. Plan Ahead It’s an oldie but a goodie – taking time to plan your week’s menus really does save you money. By looking through your freezer and storecupboard, seeing what is on offer at the shops and supermarkets, and planning a list of meals for the week you can avoid waste, double up on cooking where possible…

  • Save money on cleaning products – go green and natural!

    Bonnie
    3 May 2012 | 3:19 pm
    Save money on cleaning products – go green and natural!While we all love a sparkling clean and fresh smelling home, the massive array of cleaning products out there these days can see us spending a fortune every month. One cleaner for the kitchen, one for the bathroom, another for the oven, then one for the windows, polish for the furniture, a different polish for the floor; the list is endless and you do have to worry how our grandparents managed without this plethora of products! Apart from the amount of space this lot takes up, what about the cost? Well there is one way you can save…

  • Top 7 UK Freebies Websites

    Bonnie
    25 Apr 2012 | 9:56 am
    Top 7 UK Freebies WebsitesWe all like something for nothing, and what better way to achieve that than having free samples of your favourite products posted directly to your door? We’ve compiled a list of seven UK freebie websites that will send you samples, vouchers and money off vouchers in return for your email address – sign up to them today and you could have your freebies by the end of next week! Freebies 365 http://www.freebies365.co.uk/ Billing themselves as ‘The UK’s best hand-picked freebies, all day, every day’, this site is updated daily with freebies,…

  • Take Professional Looking Photos Yourself

    Alex
    24 Apr 2012 | 7:33 am
    Take Professional Looking Photos YourselfNothing looks quite as good as a picture of the kids or family on the wall or in a frame. When it’s done by a professional with an expensive camera (perhaps in a professional studio) then the effect can be even more dramatic. There’s something about the sharpness of professional photos that makes the image seem in an entirely different word to your average family snap taken using your compact. The problem with professional photography is the excessive cost, and I do mean excessive. I guarantee you can take professional looking photos yourself…
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    Personal Finance Hub by PFhub.com | News | Advice | Loans | Investing

  • JPMorgan Chase Paying 1.10% APY on 60 Month CD

    Sophia Ryan
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    JPMorgan Chase is offering 1.10% APY on a 60 month CD special. Customers have to deposit a minimum of $10,000 to avail the rate. Chase is also offering 0.50% APY on 36 month CDs. Only individuals who live in a state with a JPMorgan Chase branch can purchase the CD.

  • Identifying Budget Focus Areas

    Skip Stamous
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Chapter 1: How to Make a Budget and Stick to It Chapter 2: Creating Personal Budget Goals Chapter 3: Assessing Your Current Financial Situation Chapter 4: Identifying Budget Focus Areas Chapter 5: Staying Committed to Your Budget Chapter 6: Budget Software The assessment of your current financial state tells you exactly what you are doing [...]

  • Understanding Economies of Scale: Brokerage Commissions

    Steven Johnson
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    The other day I received a question at work about how it is that a mutual fund or ETF can provide an investor with scale in an investing portfolio. The asking party was mainly curious about how it is that the diversification benefits of a fund can outweigh the liquidity that an individual investor has. [...]

  • GECU Offering 2.07% APY on 36 Month CDs

    Sophia Ryan
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    GECU is paying 2.07% APY on a 36 month CD. The minimum deposit required to avail the rate is $1000. The credit union is also offering 2.68% APY on a 60 month CD with the same minimum deposit. The CD rates can be availed only by residents of Dona Ana or El Paso. Employees living [...]

  • What are Tangible Assets?

    Skip Stamous
    12 May 2012 | 10:59 pm
    After evaluating the credit score and financial ratios of an application, a lender will proceed to look at a borrower’s net asset value, and what amount of that value could be considered as being actually tangible. Unfortunately, it is during this part of the application process that many customers will become offended by the lender’s [...]
 
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    Faslip.com - Faslip - Financial Advice Simplified Learn Invest Prosper

  • The Cost of Kids

    3 May 2012 | 5:10 pm
    I am a member of USAA. If you have not heard of USAA, they are an organization for those who have served or serve in the armed forces. In order to be able to take advantage of the benefits you must be a veteran or active duty armed service member to qualify for membership. Or if you are the spouse or child of a member you can become a member. This is how I became a member and I have already signed up my kids so they can benefit as well. I get their magazine in the mail and most of the articles are written for military families. However, there is more general financial advice and USAA offers…

  • Visa Network Temporary Outage and Global Payment Security Breach Update

    11 Apr 2012 | 8:43 pm
    Global Payments has released an update saying that only one and a half million people were affected. The frustrating thing is as a consumer they try to make this sound like it is good news. We are supposed to feel better when they have not said how or where the breach occurred. So again a company that has access to our personal information, social security numbers and credit card numbers, fails to protect that data. In the article Global Payment states that only credit card numbers were taken not names or social security numbers. This means the hackers are able to create bogus credit cards…

  • Visa Network Temporary Outage and Global Payment Security Breach

    2 Apr 2012 | 9:45 am
    I was hanging out with the kids and decided I would stop and get them a treat. Thought it would be a nice treat and they had been behaving so well that day. I went to pay with my debit visa and the girl seemed to be taking awhile to run the card. Now I am a bit paranoid when it comes to identity theft and the possibility of someone stealing my data or money. Not to where I am doing anything extreme but I have a healthy respect for how easy it is for someone to commit fraud. Especially being in the technology field and knowing how smart some of these people are that are hacking various systems…

  • Firstrade Low Fee Discount Brokerage Firm

    22 Mar 2012 | 12:53 pm
    When it comes to building wealth minimizing the amount of fees, interest, etcetera that you pay is important. The more you keep, the more there is to grow, the faster it will build. I have been using Firstrade for several years now and have been very happy with their site and service. Best of all when it comes to normal stock trades they only charge $6.95. This is cheaper than Scottrade ( $7.95 ), Schwab ( $8.95 ), etrade ( $9.99 ), as well as other major firms. Some of these offer better values if you trade frequently but this article is more for the buy and hold readers. In addition to…

  • The IRS - The Government is Doing Their Share to Get Your Identity Stolen

    15 Mar 2012 | 4:51 pm
    So if you have been following my blog you will know that most of the articles I write are from my own experience, readings, research, etc. Well this one is from my own experience. I am hoping to raise awareness and maybe our government will make changes but in light of precedence, I am not holding my breath. In the United States, we have the infamous Social Security number. This number is used to identify us to the government but also links us to our credit history and practically all things finance related in our lives. Losses from stolen identities continue to grow and that is just the…
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    Wealth Creation

  • Work, Life and the Pension

    Money Cactus
    13 May 2012 | 8:37 am
    As you may already know, my wife and I recently welcomed our second child into the world.  Honestly, it was just as good as the first time and the thrill of creating life and having something so small and beautiful totally reliant on you is quite overpowering.  I guess I was a little more relaxed this time around as I had some idea of what to expect, but when it happened the first time I got a little worried about… well everything and consequently wasn’t thinking quite as rationally as usual.In my haste to ensure my wife and I could provide the best for our child I made some…

  • Business Banking Tips For Your Home Startup

    Money Cactus
    26 Apr 2012 | 8:19 am
    In addition to a number of other valuable business lessons, working in a small business for a number of years taught me the value of having access to money and being able to process transactions with relative ease.  Any small business is difficult to float if you try to do it without a loan, but small business loans can be difficult to secure at any stage in business.Financing a small businessBefore you start making any decisions, remember that all banks are different.  Just because you do your personal banking with one, doesn’t mean you should use them for your business banking as…

  • The Importance of Teaching Personal Finance Early

    Money Cactus
    17 Apr 2012 | 7:20 am
    This is a guest post by Sam PetersMany people in the world today have financial problems and much of it stems from not learning how to handle money early enough in life. Those who are broke now, probably learned what they know about money from the way their parents handled money. This creates a never-ending cycle of struggling to get by financially. If you want your kids to live a comfortable lifestyle financially, you need to teach them early on how to handle money.Strong Financial FoundationPeople do not inherently understand how to handle money. This is a skill that must be taught and…

  • Why Your House is a Liability, and How to Change it Into An Asset

    Money Cactus
    12 Apr 2012 | 6:55 am
    Shaun’s note: Unfortunately I haven’t fully surfaced again since my wife gave birth to our second child.  Both our kids have been pretty great and my wife is doing all the hard work with feeding, but we are both feeling the effects of reduced sleep and attempting to get things done in less time (kids are great for productivity!).  Fortunately there have been some very nice members of the Yakezie challenge that have helped me out with some gust posts to keep things ticking over here in the mean time.  I promise to be back soon, but today I hope you enjoy this guest post…

  • How to Earn Extra Money by Painting Numbers

    Money Cactus
    3 Apr 2012 | 7:17 am
    This is a guest post by Kyle Taylor at ThePennyHoarder.comChances are, you’ve heard of (or have painted) a Paint by Number kit. In it, you are supplied with all of the necessary tools to paint a beautiful picture, including a pre-made board that tells you exactly which colors to paint and where. What if you could apply that concept to painting your way to a larger income? If you’ve ever heard of curbside number painters, you’re already on your way!Like a Paint by Number, a curbside number painter is exactly how it sounds: Someone who paints the street numbers on curbs in front of homes.
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    SMSF Industry News

  • Budget 2012/2013

    9 May 2012 | 9:25 pm
    The following provides a summary of the major superannuation announcements. 1. Deferral of higher concessional contributions cap In the 2010 Budget, the Treasurer announced that from July 1 2012 those aged 50 or over with super balances below $500,000 would be allowed to make up to $50,000 in concessional contributions without being hit with an extra tax bill. This measure has now been delayed until July 2014. Until then, the concessional contributions cap of $25,000 will apply from July 1, 2012 to everyone regardless of age. As the standard concessional cap is likely to have increased to…

  • Franking credits are good for your SMSF

    3 May 2012 | 1:49 am
    Your Self-Managed super Fund, as an Australian Trust, should receive franking credits, also known as imputation credits, for Australian income tax they have paid. These ‘tax credits’ are passed on to investors when the company or trust pays franked dividends or distributions. Due to the Australian company tax rate of 30%, the tax credit attached to most fully franked dividends is 30%. These ‘tax credits’ can be used to reduce the amount of income tax payable by your SMSF, or if the credits exceed the total tax bill, the credits may be refunded to your SMSF by the…

  • Why an SMSF?

    3 May 2012 | 12:43 am
    The most common reason for choosing to establish a SMSF is investment flexibility. Many people ponder what the point is of having a SMSF if you only want to own cash, shares or managed funds. I want to highlight a few reasons why a SMSF should be considered in addition to investment flexibility. A SMSF gives you: The ability to upgrade the trust deed at your discretion, meaning you can immediately take advantage of strategic opportunities arising from changes in legislation. Reduced costs of managing your superannuation depending on your account balance, as most other superannuation funds…

  • Transition To Retirement

    18 Apr 2012 | 12:34 am
    Ever heard of a workplace pension or a TTR? Well, these are often terms thrown around referring to a pension that you draw from your super fund before you actually retire. Why would you do this, well, perhaps you want to reduce your working hours and top up your income from your super account. Under the transition to retirement rules, if you have reached your preservation age, you may be able to reduce your working hours without reducing your income. You can do this by topping up your part-time income with a regular 'income stream' from your super savings. In earlier years you could only…

  • Remember our Blog

    12 Apr 2012 | 9:52 pm
    Remember our Blog – What happens if I exceed contribution caps back in November last year…well it is time for an update. The ATO has very kindly set out the Key Superannuation Rates and Thresholds Prior to 30 June 2013 a member under the age of 50 can contribute $25,000 per annum without breaching the concessional cap. A member over 50 years of age can contribute $50,000 per annum up to 30 June 2012. We cannot stress enough that there are no age differences in the non-concessional cap, with this being set at 6 times the standard concessional cap. So this makes it $150,000 at present. The…
 
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