Personal Finance

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    I Will Teach You To Be Rich

  • Time management: How an MIT postdoc writes 3 books, a PhD defense, and 6+ peer-reviewed papers — and finishes by 5:30pm

    Ramit Sethi
    19 Nov 2009 | 11:30 pm
    I’m always on the lookout for “hidden gems,” or people who are doing remarkable work that the whole world hasn’t caught on to, yet. Today, I asked my friend Cal Newport to illustrate how he completely dominates as a post-doc at MIT, author of multiple books, and popular blogger. How does he do it all? Cal writes one of the best blogs on the Internet: Study Hacks. His guest post shows how you can take I Will Teach You To Be Rich principles — plus many others — and integrate them into a way to use your time effectively. Below, you’ll learn: How to use…

  • Behind the scenes: I was on the Today Show last week

    Ramit Sethi
    17 Nov 2009 | 11:11 am
    I flew to New York last week to appear on the Today Show. Here’s the clip: Interesting things to note: Green rooms are the best places to meet people. I walked in and Maya Angelou was sitting there. In hair/makeup, Marissa Mayer and a bunch of other interesting people were there You enter NBC through a totally unmarked door, not the conspicuous 30 Rockefeller entrance you’d think They steam your shirt/coat, do your hair/makeup, and have lots of food available to eat before going on air. But nobody eats anything Camera operators came into our studio literally 15 seconds before…

  • The Money Diaries: The 25-year-old single mom who writes bad checks

    Ramit Sethi
    8 Nov 2009 | 4:54 pm
    Today is another post in the Money Diaries series, which is based off New York Magazine’s Sex Diaries. We’ve collected stories from real people about their spending habits over seven days, anonymized them, and posted them here. Today’s entry is by a 25-year-old single mother. This woman’s spending is definitely troubling — she spends 8% of her take-home pay on self-described “bad habits,” including cigarettes and writing bad checks. But be careful: It’s easy to say, “Why don’t people just SPEND LESS??!” without understanding the full…

  • WTF happened last night? Oh yea, my server got CRUSHED

    Ramit Sethi
    6 Nov 2009 | 12:16 am
    Listen, if you tried to access my webcast last night, you probably didn’t get in, and I am REALLY sorry. I have literally never seen as much traffic as last night — not even when I was on the FRONT PAGE OF YAHOO.COM. At 6:50pm, I logged onto my webcam and finalized everything At 6:55pm, I logged into my blog to add a link to the webcast URL. By this point, my server had slowed to a crawl At 6:56pm, over 1 person/second was trying to access iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog At 7:01pm, we had my webhost on the phone attempting to resolve the issue It took until 7:21pm to completely fix…

  • Live webcast tonight: Psychology techniques + live answers to your questions

    Ramit Sethi
    4 Nov 2009 | 11:40 pm
    The webcast is over Tonight (Thursday, 11/5), I’m doing a live webcast to show you 5 psychological techniques to change your financial behavior. You’re learn how to trick yourself to save and earn more using powerful techniques I haven’t mentioned anywhere else. After showing you the new psychological models, I’ll do a Lightning Talk to answer YOUR questions. I’ll also answer questions about the Boot Camp. I want to pack this full of information in 30 minutes, so here’s what I’m covering… 7:00pm – 7:10pm: 5 Psychological Techniques to…
 
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    Get Rich Slowly

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Handle Peer Pressure?

    J.D.
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    Your friends and family influence you. They affect the way you view life. If your friends are frugal, it’s easier to be frugal yourself. But if they’re wrapped up in consumerism and materialism, and can be difficult to resist the urge to join them. It’s only natural to want to fit in. Rob wrote yesterday to ask how to handle a situation where he wants to lead a simple life, but those around him aren’t supportive. How can he cope with peer pressure? Here’s his story: Since we try to live frugally, we don’t have a television or video games or any other electronic…

  • Stimulus Programs: Cash for Buyer’s Remorse?

    Baker
    19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    This post is from GRS staff writer Adam Baker. Baker, along with his wife and 20-month old daughter, will be spending the next couple of months exploring Thailand as they continue their recent backpacking journey. Since the start of the economic slump started in 2008, the U.S. government has issued several incentive programs in an attempt to stimulate some positive movement in the economy. First, came the popular $7500 tax credit for first time home buyers, which was to be paid back in $500 increments starting with the 2010 tax year. Next, they extended the homebuyer tax credit further into…

  • Links Roundup: No Credit Needed Edition

    J.D.
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:47 pm
    Work on Your Money: The Missing Manual continues apace. I’ve finished the first seven chapters (happiness, goals, budgets, debt, frugality, income, and banking) and have just begun on chapter eight, which is about credit. As part of this chapter, I’d love to profile a GRS reader who gets by on minimal credit. Specifically, I’m looking for somebody who doesn’t use credit cards at all, and who can talk about the implications. What are the advantages? What are the drawbacks? Do you know how it’s affected your credit score? I know I could interview my friend NCN from…

  • Obsessive Consumption

    J.D.
    18 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm
    To take control of your spending, you must first be aware of your spending. This mindfulness can be difficult for many people to achieve. GRS reader (and awesome artist) Tsilli pointed me to the work of Kate Bingaman-Burt, who has a unique way of being mindful of the money she spends: She draws it. Bingaman-Burt teaches graphic design at Portland State University, but for the past eight years, she’s also been documenting her spending habits at her blog, Obsessive Consumption. But this isn’t just a spending log — it’s art! Here’s an example: Would drawing my…

  • Master Your Money with a Financial Health Day

    J.D.
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    This is a guest post from Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool. Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the advisor for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. He contributes one new article to Get Rich Slowly every two weeks. Today at 3pm Eastern, Robert will by leading a live discussion about money and relationships at BlogTalkRadio. Howdy, folks. I’m writing you from a hotel room in Charlottesville, Virginia. All alone. My wife kicked me out of the house. But it’s a good thing. You see, for reasons too boring to enumerate, it’s been a topsy-turvy few months in the Brokamp…
 
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    Personal finance news - CNNMoney.com

  • Best gifts for the outdoorsy type

    19 Nov 2009 | 2:44 pm
    Your favorite nature lover will appreciate these affordable woodsy offerings.

  • Black Friday: Best day to buy a car

    19 Nov 2009 | 10:45 am
    When people think of Black Friday shopping, they usually think of things like flat screen TVs, toys and sweaters. Now you can add cars, trucks and SUVs.

  • Best gifts for the foodie

    19 Nov 2009 | 9:42 am
    Choose one of these culinary gift ideas for the kitchen lover in your life.

  • A brief introduction to bond investing

    19 Nov 2009 | 6:22 am
    Question: I'm 26 and want to set up a diversified portfolio for retirement. I'm almost totally invested in stocks, but I know that I should put some money into bonds. I really don't understand how they work, however, and I don't feel comfortable investing in something I don't understand. For example, I think I get the basic idea of a bond, but when I see bond yields fluctuate, I get confused. Aren't they supposed to have a consistent interest rate? --John, Portchester, New York

  • 7 tips for buying foreclosures

    19 Nov 2009 | 2:21 am
    Foreclosures are dominating the housing market. Right now, there are 1.5 million such homes for sale, and more are expected to be available soon. That provides both opportunities and pitfalls for bargain hunters.
 
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    CONSUMERISM COMMENTARY

  • Enforcing Tax Laws Works. Go Figure.

    Smithee
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am
    Earlier this Fall, the IRS was offering an amnesty program for offshore tax cheats to come forward and admit their wrongdoing, thereby getting a more lenient punishment. Nearly 15,000 Americans who knew they were cheating came forward and admitted their bad behavior. From Reuters: While IRS officials were still analyzing the amount of offshore assets declared in the amnesty program, Shulman said, “we are talking about billions of dollars coming into the U.S. Treasury” from the new disclosures. This is not the end of the story. Combining these (perhaps) brave souls to the 4,450…

  • Ben Stein Offers Four Lessons From the Recession

    Flexo
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    The United States must be approaching the end of the recession when economists begin offering their retrospectives. Even if the data are pointing to an end to the recession, in technical terms, the economy is a long way from recovery. Just look around at the people out of work. Even those who have maintained their jobs are finding it difficult to qualify for mortgages, keeping the real estate industry itching for more handouts like the extension to the home buyers’ tax credit. And some economists are not convinced that the worst is over. We may be in the lull of a double-dip recession.

  • Living It Up… At the Library?

    FruGal
    19 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am
    Over the next couple of weeks, six finalists will be auditioning for the opening of “staff writer” at Consumerism Commentary. Each will be providing two guest articles to share with readers. After the six writers have shared their guest articles, readers will have an opportunity to provide feedback before we select the staff writer. This article is presented by FruGal, a consultant for a prominent online educational program. From the time I was a little girl, I can remember making regular trips to my local library. The sights, smells, and sounds are still with me as if it were…

  • Put Your Finances on Cruise Control, But Stay Alert

    Flexo
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    My Honda Civic has an option for cruise control. Unfortunately, most of my driving currently takes place on the New Jersey Turnpike and local highways during rush hour and construction, so I rarely have an opportunity to activate this feature. In the slim occasion I find myself driving on a deserted country road, I activate the cruise control and sit back, letting the car’s computer maintain my speed. I like to imagine cruise control is an auto-pilot device, so I can relax, close my eyes, and wake upon arrival. If you’ve ever driven with cruise control, you’ll know it is not…

  • How To Do Your Holiday Shopping Through Rebate Sites

    V.C. McGuire
    18 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am
    Over the next couple of weeks, six finalists will be auditioning for the opening of “staff writer” at Consumerism Commentary. Each will be providing two guest articles to share with readers. After the six writers have shared their guest articles, readers will have an opportunity to provide feedback before we select the staff writer. This article is presented by VCMcGuire, a regular contributor to the New York Times and other publications. I hate shopping. A lot. I have been known to buy the wrong thing, for the wrong price, just to get out of the store. Buying gifts is the worst.
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    MSN Money Latest Articles

  • 8 lessons from a $20 billion trade

    20 Nov 2009 | 5:25 pm
    In the greatest trade ever, a New York hedge fund manager scored big betting on the housing collapse. Even average investors can learn from his tactics.

  • How much longer can gold rise?

    20 Nov 2009 | 2:25 pm
    As the precious metal continues to soar, naysayers abound. But a few things need to happen before the yellow fever cools off.

  • Toyota, safety group squabble over ratings

    20 Nov 2009 | 2:04 pm
    The automaker objects to being left off a list of the safest vehicles, saying the exclusion is 'extreme and misleading.' The tester defends its methods.

  • Give one good gift this year

    20 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm
    Instead of burying a loved one with lots of smaller, not-so-special gifts, why not pool your resources with other folks to buy a truly memorable present? Start with these 9 ideas.

  • What's to hate about Starbucks

    19 Nov 2009 | 5:45 pm
    An empire built on airs, the company has begun shunning its own image for hipper garb. But its big new style is decidedly down-market.
 
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    My Money Blog

  • Gift Idea: Costco Membership Certificates w/ $50 in Free Costco Coupons

    Jonathan
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:03 pm
    I was walking through Costco today and saw that they starting to promote the Costco memberships as gifts for the holidays. I got one last year, and I thought it was a nice, practical gift idea for these frugal times. But hey, why not give them a $50 membership and $50 in coupons good towards free Costco stuff? Read on: I am happy to be able to offer special Costco membership certificates again to MyMoneyBlog readers. Available only online, they are $50 each with free shipping, and are good towards new Gold Star memberships and also upgrades to Executive Membership. Just bring them into your…

  • Savings Account Interest Rate Updates

    Jonathan
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:32 am
    Still not much action in interest rate land, but here’s another update. Reward Checking Accounts These are checking accounts, usually through local credit unions, that pay a very high interest rate if you jump through some hoops each month. However, if you make a mistake you’ll forfeit virtually all your interest for that month, so it can be tricky. But for the very diligent, their rates are still averaging around 3-5% APY usually on balances up to $25,000. A current example is FAB&T Kasasa checking at 3.50% APY on up to $50k, which requires 10 check card purchases each…

  • Follow-Up: Google VoiceMail Now Works With Sprint

    Jonathan
    18 Nov 2009 | 11:40 pm
    Just a quick note that Sprint conditional call forwarding is now free of charge. This means that Sprint customers can now forward all busy and unanswered phone calls to Google Voice without incurring the previous $.20/minute for conditional call forwarding – normal minutes usage still applies. Thanks to reader Matt G for the reminder. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see last month’s post on Using Google Voice To Enhance Your Cell Phone Voicemail. I’ve been using it for the last few days, and I must say that I like it a lot. I can have unanswered phone calls…

  • Costco Auto Buying Program Experiences?

    Jonathan
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:41 am
    After having some more issues with our 15-year old car, we may be in the market for a new or lightly used car. We were looking at the Honda Fit (the newest gen looks even better than the previous one), and went to a local dealer for a test drive. I actually sat down to haggle prices for a bit (stupid me) and after being lied to about four different times, I just got up and left. I went home, and remembered the Costco Auto Buying Program that offered a no-haggle pre-negotiated price. Ideally in true Costco style, they would offer a “good” deal as opposed to a rock-bottom…

  • Berkshire Hathaway Stock Split, S&P 500, & Index Funds

    Jonathan
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:01 am
    Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK) recent announcement that it was buying railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI) also included a provision for a 50-for-1 stock split of B shares so that smaller shareholders of BNI would be able to be converted to Berkshire shares and avoid capital gains. Warren Buffett has been trying to avoid this for years, so after some random web surfing — I mean… research, I figured I’d share my findings. At the end of trading yesterday 11/18, Berkshire’s A shares currently cost $103,100 apiece and B shares were $3,430. After a 50-to-1 split, a…
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    The Simple Dollar

  • It’s Not the School, It’s the Student

    Trent
    21 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    Yesterday, I read a fascinating research paper by Stacy Berg Dale and Alan Krueger (you can read the abstract here) which offers up a surprising result. In a nutshell, once you take a student’s pre-existing talents into account (as shown by standardized test scores), the school they attend has almost no impact on their lifetime earnings. In other words, a student’s natural talents lead to career success, not going to the right school. That’s not to say that students who attend a more selective school don’t earn a higher salary – they do. However, it is the…

  • “So, What Do You Want for Christmas?”

    Trent
    20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm
    Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard this question several times from various people who find me on their Christmas gift list this year. I’m guessing they’re all thinking more or less the same thing: what do you get for a guy who doesn’t really want anything? So they ask me, and then I’m left with that difficult question to answer. Frugal people are often the hardest to buy winning gifts for. Quite often, frugal people don’t want things that don’t have obvious utility or that don’t match their tastes well – it’s just…

  • 10 Tactics for a Cheaper (and Saner) Thanksgiving Dinner

    Trent
    20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    By this time next week, most Americans will have gathered with friends and family and eaten the traditional Thanksgiving meal. I’ll be gathering for three separate Thanksgiving dinners during this holiday weekend. Quite often, I’ll see people spend exorbitant amounts of money on lavish Thanksgiving spreads. While I completely understand the reason for doing this – often, it’s the one time in the year that we can gather around one table with a lot of people we love – there’s still a lot of simple things we can do to reduce the financial outlay and the stress…

  • The 40/30/30 Rule

    Trent
    19 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm
    Recently, I was reading a great article at The 99 Percent entitled The 40-30-30 Rule: Why Risk Is Worth It. I originally intended to include it in my weekly roundup, but as I thought about the 40-30-30 idea, I found that the connections to careers, personal finance, and life were profound. What is the 40-30-30 rule? Simply put, it’s an argument that when you prepare for anything in life, only 40% of the preparation is physical – the rest is mental. Thirty percent of preparation is technical skill and experience, and the second thirty percent is the willingness to take risks. This…

  • Personal Finance 101: How Averages Lie

    Trent
    19 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    Whenever a personal finance writer – or a writer of any kind – wants to make a bold, shocking point, they’ll often pull out an “average” of some set of numbers. That average, when read without further investigation, is often really shocking. Could that really be true? Here are some examples. The average square footage of single-family homes under construction fell dramatically, from 2,629 in the second quarter to 2,343 in the fourth quarter. (from USA Today) The average credit card debt per household — regardless of whether they have a credit card or not…
 
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    Wise Bread

  • 3 Ways to Ban Spam and Stop Junk

    Stacy Johnson
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:42 am
    By Stacy Johnson   I work at home, often under high pressure, so I'm not fond of interuptions. And yet they come constantly: spam emails that bury ones I need to see, stupid junk mail I have to sort through, people knocking at my door trying to sell me everything from steak to magazines and phone calls from people trying to sell me something.  I'm mad as hell and not going to take it any more! How about you?  On the phone front, we finally acheived a partial victory in September when the Federal Trade Commission…

  • Best Deals For Friday 11/20/09

    Paul Michael
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:03 am
    By Paul Michael Today's WISEBUY. JR.com Black Friday DVD Blowout Already Underway! JR.com's Black Friday DVD Blowout is underway, with discounted prices on a selection of DVD and Blu-ray movies and TV shows. DVDs start at $3.99, while Blu-ray Discs start at $9.99. Pay $2.95 for shipping.   FREE Microsoft Office 2010 Plus Beta Download! Microsoft offers downloads of its Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 Beta for free via this link. It includes Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and more, for Windows XP, Vista, and 7.   FREE 50 Kodak 4x6 Prints For New Members Just sign up for…

  • Get More Bang for Your Membership Buck!

    Kelly Whalen
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am
    By Kelly Whalen If you are looking for a way to get out of the house, and do something without breaking the bank, it may seem your options are limited, but using these simple tricks, you will be able to get out of the house without going broke. Free Days Many museums offer days of the year, or hours during the week, where you can get in for free or reap deep discounts. For instance, here is a fantastic list on NY.com of museums in New York City that are free, take only donations, or offer free times every week. Scout your local area's websites, and call your local museums/attractions, to find…

  • 5 Creative, Simple, and Frugal Recipes for Leftover Turkey

    Sarah Winfrey
    20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    By Sarah Winfrey It's that time of year again. No, not the holiday season. The time when everyone and their mother tells you what to do with all that leftover turkey you're going to have in a week. Not wanting to be left out of such honored company, here are some of the best ideas I've heard (and had!) for using up those extra bits of bird. Besides being tasty, they might not be anything you've had before, they whip up quickly, and they use ingredients that most people have on hand. 1. Turkey Bar-B-Q Sandwiches These are a great spin on the overdone after-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches.

  • Urgent: Check Your Withholdings

    Philip Brewer
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:08 pm
    By Philip Brewer Your paycheck has probably been bigger this year because the government stimulus package cut the amount of tax withheld from people who were expected to get the new "Making Work Pay" tax credit. But there's a problem: According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, more than 15 million taxpayers may unexpectedly end up owing taxes. The idea was to get the stimulus out sooner (by workers taking home larger paychecks) rather than later (at tax refund time), but the new tables were applied too broadly.  Among the people who may be…
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    Bargaineering

  • Your Take: Your Best Career Tip?

    Jim
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:02 am
    I hope you got as much out of reading and commenting about the posts in Career Week as I did writing them. While the posts themselves were written to speak to those who are currently unemployed, I think the ideas and tips I shared are applicable to anyone looking for a job. If you have employed and are looking for a better job, you can use the tips from Career Week to get to the next level. If you are employed and looking to change your career path, you can use the ideas from some of these posts to help you make that change. For this week’s Your Take, I wanted to ask you to share your…

  • So What? by Mark Magnacca

    Jim
    19 Nov 2009 | 11:02 am
    A publisher sent me So What? by Mark Magnacca a few weeks ago and it sat on my shelves because I wasn’t sure how it fit Bargaineering – until today. So What? is a book about how to change your mindset so that you become a more effective communicator and salesperson. Mark Magnacca is a 15+ year veteran of the management consulting world and president of Insight Development Group, described as a “leading sales training, coaching, and consulting company that helps sales and management teams become more effective.” Published by the Financial Times Press, So What? is…

  • Interview Like A Politician: Dominate the Conversation

    Jim
    19 Nov 2009 | 10:58 am
    If you’ve ever listened or watched to an interview of a politician, you’ll probably recognize the “talking points” when they come up. Talking points are ideas, also known as takeaways, that an interviewee wants the audience and the interviewer to learn during the course of the interview. Politicians are great at this because they recognize that while it appears the interviewer is in control, the reality is the interviewee is the one that has the ability to shape the discussion based on his or her answers. J.K. left a great comment on my post about the most common…

  • How To Write an Interview Followup Thank You Letter

    Jim
    19 Nov 2009 | 9:17 am
    The courting process doesn’t end with the conclusion of an interview, first round or on-site. After an interview, it’s a good idea to write a follow up or thank you letter so that you can thank the interviewer and maintain an open channel of communication. Not every interviewee will do this, so by writing a letter you stand out. In most cases, the purpose of a thank you letter isn’t to help you land the job. The point is to make you stand out since many people won’t write thank you letters. In many organizations, a hiring decision is made very soon after the conclusion…

  • How to Answer the 10 Most Common Interview Questions

    Jim
    19 Nov 2009 | 7:19 am
    Bookmark with Del.icio.us! In the course of my career, I’ve been involved in over forty interviews. More than half have been in the capacity of the interviewee and the rest were as the interviewer, with an even mix of on-site and on-campus interviews. I’m by no means an expert but having navigated so many, several common themes emerged and hopefully I can pass along that information to you, prospective interviewee or interviewer, to make the whole process easier for you. When it comes to interviews, there are two types – the soft qualitative interview and the hard…
 
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    fivecentnickel.com

  • Effect of Foreclosure, Short Sale, and Bankruptcy on Your Credit Score

    Nickel
    20 Nov 2009 | 1:07 pm
    Have you ever wondered what kind of impact a foreclosure, short sale, or bankruptcy would have on your credit score? Well, wonder no more… According to a recent report from VantageScore Solutions, which is a credit scoring company created by the “big three” (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), here’s what you can expect: Short sale = 120-130 points Foreclosure = 140-150 points Bankruptcy = 355-365 points Apparently loan modifications, where late payments and penalties are rolled into the mortgage balance, can actually have a small beneficial impact on your credit…

  • DIY Garage Kayak Racks: Fast, Frugal, and Effective

    Matt
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Today I want to share with you one of my recent home projects… Frugal and effective DIY garage kayak racks. As I’ve continued down the path of voluntary frugality, I’ve gotten more and more interested in DIY projects of all kinds. Whether or not you’re handy around the house, most frugal homeowners eventually jump on the DIY bandwagon. Benefits of doing it yourself You control the quality. When you do it yourself, you’re in complete control of the quality of workmanship. I know some folks are very particular, and others who just want to hurry up and get it done.

  • Lending Club $25 Bonus Reminder

    Nickel
    18 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am
    This is just a quick note to remind you that the good folks at Lending Club are still offering a $25 signup bonus just for opening a Lending Club account. Here’s how it works… 1. Visit Lending Club using a link in this post 2. Open and activate a lender account 3. The $25 will be automatically deposited in your account shortly thereafter That’s it. Note that there are some eligibility requirements for opening a Lending Club account (must be 18, certain states excluded, etc.), but those should quickly become apparent when you click through. *Note: The signup page won’t…

  • Coupons are a Waste?

    Nickel
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:53 am
    I recently ran across an interesting letter to the editor in Time Magazine, and thought it would make good fodder for discussion. For background, this letter was written in response to an article by Joel Stein titled “The Week of Living Cheaply.” Here’s an excerpt from the letter: “Coupons are the worst kind of junk mail and a terrible waste of paper in our green economy — never mind the time waster they are in the saving, sorting, filing and waiting at the checkout counter. Think of the p.r. coup for the company that announces, “No more coupons!” I,…

  • How to Save Money on Pet Care

    Laura
    17 Nov 2009 | 5:22 am
    Last month was a bit of an adventure with our seven year old cat. He ran away (something he’s never done) and we were worried sick. Once we got him back, we spent some money on keeping him healthy. In addition to taking him to the vet for a check up, we also got him updated on his rabies shot. I couldn’t have imagined the true costs of being a pet owner when we first adopted him. I thought it would be cheap and easy to take care of an animal, but that’s not always the case. If you’re thinking of adopting a pet, please read this article. It’s my hope that pets get…
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    AllFinancialMatters

  • Doing the ‘Right’ Thing – A Topic That Will Not Die

    JLP
    16 Nov 2009 | 7:58 am
    Just watched this video clip on Larry Winget’s facebook page: Regardless of what the guy does, he’s in deep doo doo. He paid $340,000 (financing $272,000) for a house that is now worth between $120,000 and $140,000. He can afford the payment but is still thinking about walking away since the purchase is no longer in his favor. I wish I had more details regarding his situation but I don’t. That one advisor who talks about the after-tax cost of the mortgage makes some sense in that the true cost of the mortgage is less than this guy thinks it is. Still, using a current value…

  • Addressing a Dave Ramsey Fan’s Comment

    JLP
    15 Nov 2009 | 9:48 pm
    My old Dave Ramsey posts regarding comparisons between the 15-year and 30-year mortgage still receive comments from time to time. This afternoon I noticed the following comment (on this post) that I want to address: In the comparison above the amount in savings is only listed for the 30 year mortgage. Where does this number come from? Multiplying $458 times 180 (months) come to $82440. Nonetheless, one really important peice is missing. If I am in the 15 year category, and I just paid off my last payment of $1696. How’s about I save $1696/mo for 15 years and then let’s compare savings…

  • Advice for a Reader with a Really Bad Car Loan

    JLP
    12 Nov 2009 | 8:15 am
    I received this email yesterday: Hello, I am recently divorced and I recently filed bankruptcy and discharged. I needed transportation so I had to take what I could get under my circumstances. This is what I got which is not too good, but I needed something. Loan $23,108.93 APR 19.50% 72 months Payment $546.84 which will make my total of payments $39,372.48 Should I double (or more) up on payments and try to get this paid off sooner? Should I make my payments for awhile (2 years) to build up my credit and then try to get a better loan? Should I put the extra money into some type of account to…

  • Taxation of Dividends

    JLP
    11 Nov 2009 | 11:47 am
    BG left the following comment on one of my previous posts: “JLP won’t like me saying it, but even the ultra-rich play this game where their “income” (dividends & investments make up the majority of their income) is only taxed at 15%, whereas I’m in the 25% bracket. That is their gain, my loss.” The reasoning for this is simple: dividends are taxed at the corporate level and again at the individual level. That’s why they are taxed at a lower percentage at the recipient level. If the “ultra rich” are getting all of their income from dividends and…

  • Some Pleasant News: The Social Security Wage Base Is Not Increasing for 2010

    JLP
    11 Nov 2009 | 9:39 am
    I was doing some work on the family budget for 2010 and looked up income subject to Social Security taxes in 2010 on the SSA website. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the income subject to social security taxes is not increasing in 2010. That means the amount subject to social security taxes is going to stay at $106,800, leaving the maximum an individual pays into social security at $6,621.60 (twice that when the employer’s amount is included). Of course, this also means that recipients are not getting a raise this year.
 
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    Personal Finance Advice

  • How To Avoid Looking Cheap

    David G. Mitchell
    19 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    I need to buy new sneakers today. I know this because when I took my dog for a walk this morning, the plastic heel guard in my right sneaker tore through the fabric cover and scratched my heel. More specifically, the abrasion continued for the full mile that I walked so that I [...]

  • The Perils of Pre-Paid Gift Cards

    Jennifer Derrick
    18 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    As we head into the holiday season and start looking for gifts to give to those hard to buy for people, gift cards stand out as easy gifts that everyone enjoys. But if you’re thinking of giving a pre-paid gift card that’s branded with a credit card logo, you might want to think of another [...]

  • How to Cook Like in the Great Depression

    Jeffrey Strain
    17 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    Looking for inexpensive meals on a tight budget? Look no further than Great Depression Cooking with Clara where 94 year old Clara teaches the meals she made during the great depression (the videos were made from the time she was 91 – 94) while telling stories of the past. A great combination that will [...]

  • A Life Without Debt: Work Doesn’t Have To Be A Drag

    Sadie Morris
    16 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    My last “real job” where I worked full-time for someone else was a mess. There was sexual harassment, bullying, unfair hours and demands, and all sorts of other foolishness going on. I was young and hadn’t yet saved up a large emergency fund, so leaving wasn’t possible unless I had another job lined up. Not [...]

  • Are You Making Your Life More Complicated (And Expensive) Than It Needs To Be?

    Jennifer Derrick
    15 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    Many of us find ourselves pressed for time and/or money, at least some of the time. And while it’s true that life can be harrying with it’s demands of cooking, cleaning, work, childcare, and maintenance chores, it’s also true that we bring some of those demands upon ourselves by doing way more than we need [...]
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    FreelanceSwitch

  • Rules for Successful Client-Freelancer Working Relationships

    Brian Casel
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am
    So you’ve hired a freelancer to help you achieve your business goals. Now what? It’s vitally important that you, as the client, do your part in fostering a positive working relationship with your contractor. Embarking on a new project can be overwhelming, especially if it involves technical aspects (such as web design). That’s why you’ve hired an expert! But in order to make your project a success, you need to develop a solid working relationship, and be aware of some basic “rules” when working with a freelancer. Rule #1: Respect the Freelancer’s…

  • 7 Tips For Good Record Keeping

    Thursday Bram
    19 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am
    For many freelancers, records are the last things we think about. There’s a design to finish for a client or an accounting department to call about an invoice — there’s always something more important than handling records. But the fact remains that those records are important at some point. Whether you need to go back to an old version of a project for your client or you need to pull your copy of an invoice, having an organized system is crucial. The biggest problem we face in getting our records into order (and keeping them that way) is that most of us work on our own.

  • FreelancerPro Interview: The Foundations of Freelancing

    Kristen Fischer
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am
    Looking to get big-name clients? Hear what Briant Grant, the creative director at Anisometric, has to say. Brian took his time to get experience and leveraged that agency experience into a thriving design firm based in London. Tell us how you got started in the design industry. I remember being particularly inspired by a new art teacher at my school when I was around 14 years old. His name is Guy Harring and he really was a towering influence on me and showed that there was no limits on what I could achieve in my life. I knew that I wanted to do something related in some way to art when I…

  • Linkswitch #14

    Joel Falconer
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am
    Freelancing From The Road: The Tools to Take With You “One of the great things about being a freelancer, is the freedom that comes with having chosen this career path. As a freelancer you can take to the road when you need, and the best part is, that you can also take your job with you! Now this is conditional on being able to put together the proper toolkit to take with you on your journey.” How to Work ON Your Business, Not IN it “We get so caught up in the daily life of running a business, it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees. Not that you have a choice! You’re…

  • Freelance Freedom #131

    N.C. Winters
    16 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am
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    No Credit Needed

  • Financial Priorities And Principles

    NCN
    12 Nov 2009 | 7:10 am
    I think it’s important to focus on simple, achievable goals.  As such, here are my top five financial priorities and principles - Priorities - I will maintain adequate cash reserves, sufficient to replace my income for 12 months. I will remain debt free, paying upfront for all purchases. I will save for retirement, focusing on both pretax and after-tax accounts. I will teach my children sound financial principles, and help them pay for college. I will look for opportunities to bless others, both with my finances and my time. Principles - I will live on a budget. I will respect every…

  • Check Out Cash Commons

    NCN
    7 Nov 2009 | 10:28 am
    I’ve been away from blogging for a few weeks, busy with work.  I want to thank those of you who reached out to say “hi” via Twitter or email.  You guys rock.  Things have settled down now and I should be back to my normal blogging routine. A few weeks ago, MBH from Mighty Bargain Hunter reached out to me and asked me to check out a new site he’s been working on – Cash Commons.  I’ve spent some time on the site, and I’m really impressed.  As a member of the Cash Commons community, users can ask questions, answer questions, and vote for their…

  • Taking My Daughter To The Bank To Open Her First Savings Account

    NCN
    13 Oct 2009 | 8:11 pm
    I am so excited. I am going to take my oldest daughter to the bank and help her open her first savings account! She’s ten now, having recently celebrated her birthday, and she has some birthday-checks to cash.  One of our local banks offers a no-fee, no-minimum balance required savings account for children under 16.  This type of account will be perfect for my daughter. Over the past few years, my wife and I have worked hard to teach our kids about saving, spending, and giving.  Last year, we introduced them to the wildly-successful Kids’ Fun Fun. I want to incorporate trips to…

  • How A Silly Little Experiment Helped Me Get Out Of Debt

    NCN
    12 Oct 2009 | 4:01 am
    I once sent a credit card company $5 per day, every day, for a month.  Seriously. The year was 2005 and I was in full on debt reduction mode.  Pumped up by the comments left by my readers – and ready to be debt free – I spent most of my waking-hours thinking about ways to reduce my debt. Somehow, the thought struck me:  What if I manage to save $5 a day – say by skipping my morning trip to the convenience store or brown-bagging lunch – how quickly could I put that $5 to work? I decided, just to see if it would work, to use online bill-pay to send a series of $5…

  • Only Six Months Left To Make Year 2009 Contributions To Roth IRA Or Traditional IRA

    NCN
    9 Oct 2009 | 11:58 pm
    My wife and I both have contributions to the retirement plans offered by our employers deducted from our paychecks.  In addition to those pre-tax retirement contributions, we also make monthly contributions to our Roth IRAs. For me, the annual contribution limit to my Roth IRA is $5000.  (See IRS Publication 590 for complete information about contribution and income limits.)  My wife’s limit is the same. The contribution time-table for both the Roth IRA and the Traditional IRA runs from January 1, 2009 until April 15, 2010.  That’s right.  We have until the tax-filing…
 
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    Uncommon Cents

  • Do Consumers Also Come Out in the Black on Black Friday?

    admin
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm
    It’s November, so the Black Friday madness has begun. Black Friday, as you know, is the day after American Thanksgiving, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the holiday season, and so named because it’s a day retail businesses are supposed to be in the “black” (meaning profitable), versus the “red” (meaning not profitable) they may be a lot of the rest of the year. And to lure consumers in, there are many, many sales at the year’s lowest prices at stores all over the world. Many of the items are “loss leaders”, meaning that the…

  • Has Amazon Gotten Too Expensive?

    admin
    19 Nov 2009 | 1:36 pm
    One of the stocks I own–in rather low quantity–is Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN). It was one of the stocks I looked at when I decided to stop buying into Apple, Inc. (AAPL) because it met a few important criteria for me: I’m a customer myself, the company is profitable, and they are, in my opinion, the best in the world at their primary business (Internet retail). They also have a toe in other businesses where they may not be the best (the Kindle electronic book reader, the Amazon MP3 music store, and the Amazon Unbox online video rental store). Not too long ago, the stock had a…

  • Waiting for Flex Spending

    admin
    18 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm
    My employer is offering for the first time (to my employee class, anyway), a flexible spending account, where I can deposit pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses. For someone like me who is in the 28% federal tax bracket and pay about another 5% to the State of Hawai’i, this can be a huge thing–a 30% discount. Interestingly, a few weeks ago, my prescription glasses broke in a basketball game. I am currently using my backup pair, which is many years old (actually, my broken pair were already many years old) for driving only. I have yet to make a new appointment for a glasses…

  • Where Does Extravagance Begin?

    admin
    17 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pm
    I often check eBay for bicycles that I would love to own but aren’t likely to ever will. This past week I came across this beauty: Serotta is one of the best known and believed to be among the best bicycle builders in the world. The original price of this bicycle is $9199.99, so the minimum starting bid of $5,899.99 might seem like a bargain! Might. Yes, I would love to have a bike like this; my feeling is that my Cannondales and Bianchis wouldn’t compare on the road, but I could also buy dozens of those versus one Serotta. Is there a point where buying something like this would…

  • Brand Loyalty Doesn’t Always Mean More Expensive

    admin
    16 Nov 2009 | 1:54 pm
    We’ve looked at brand loyalty in the past; there are some times that brand loyalty costs money. There are items where I am very loyal to the brand–MP3 players and computers, Apple; motor vehicles, Toyota; shorts, Surf Line. In other areas it doesn’t matter as much (shoes, pants–although I am partial to Tactical–shirts, and other items). But I discovered this week that brand loyalty doesn’t always cost you money. Sometimes it may actually have you pay less. My example: earbuds. One of the dogs at home loves to eat earbuds and has ruined a couple in the $70…
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    The Digerati Life

  • Can A Home Loan Modification Ruin Your Credit?

    Stacey Doyle
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:43 pm
    To follow up on her story about dealing with loan modification companies, we bring you this post by Stacey Doyle. After paying our mortgage on time for eight years, we found ourselves three months behind. To try to save our home and finances, we are considering a home loan modification. Unfortunately for us, we are past due on other bills, so our credit rating has plummeted. We’ve therefore contemplated on doing a mortgage loan modification, but we worry about what the effect of such a move will be on our credit. Can A Home Loan Modification Ruin Your Credit? Homeowners who find…

  • Carbonite vs Mozy: Online Backup Services

    Silicon Valley Blogger
    19 Nov 2009 | 9:42 pm
    Those of us doing any kind of work on our personal computers know how crazy things can get when the “infrastructure” goes down. Perhaps you want to start an online business or more likely, you care a lot about what you’ve got stored in your machines. If so, then you should get into the habit of backing up your data. Once, I actually had to shell out $1,450 for data recovery when my computer crashed without a back up system in place. Ouch! On this note, I thought to share the following guest post by Millie Kay G., about a couple of software options one can look into for…

  • Mint.com’s Twitter Feature: Money Tweets!

    Silicon Valley Blogger
    18 Nov 2009 | 8:00 pm
    There have been a lot of developments with Mint.com lately, the biggest of which was their acquisition by Intuit (the makers of Quicken software). Mint is known primarily for their free online budgeting tool, which we’ve enthusiastically recommended here; and if you haven’t had a chance to check them out yet, you may want to give them a try. They’ve vastly improved their software, web site, blog and overall content. They’ve recently gone on the social media bandwagon and have leveraged the power of Twitter by developing what they call their “Money Tweets”…

  • Why Lottery Winners Go Broke: Prospect Theory At Work

    Jacques Sprenger
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:43 pm
    Here’s how to become a millionaire overnight: win the lottery. But before you start playing, know that rich people have their own set of problems. You may have heard about how some of them harbor millionaire secrets, but they’re not the kind you’d want to have. Image from guardian.co.uk A study I read several years ago revealed the fate of sudden millionaires through lottery tickets or unexpected inheritance. The panorama was devastating. Very few people are able to survive the fame, the incessant supplications for help, the recent accumulation of “friends”, the hounding…

  • Best Student Credit Cards For College Students

    Guest Blogger
    16 Nov 2009 | 6:02 pm
    Should your college student own a credit card? That’s an interesting question that many parents dwell upon. This much is true: applying for and finally receiving that first credit card is a big step for any individual. I believe that it can be helpful for someone to become exposed to using a credit card early (with caveats), depending on how “ready” for this exposure the individual is. With the appropriate guidance (and guidelines), using the right kind of credit card can prove to be a helpful financial tool for a student. What distinguishes a student credit card from all…
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    Mighty Bargain Hunter

  • One week until Black Friday (Fiscals)!

    mbhunter
    20 Nov 2009 | 9:50 pm
    Can you feel the excitement??? All of that black ink just waiting to be put on the ledgers?? Nah, I can’t either. Here are some interesting links from my feed reader: The Simple Dollar discusses the 40/30/30 rule (as opposed to the 80/20 rule, or the Rule of 72). Consumerism Commentary recommends putting some of your finance on cruise control. Five Cent Nickel asks: “Are coupons a waste?” Generation X Finance suggests embracing your inner secret shopper. Bargaineering lists a who’s who of career web sites. The Digerati Life reveals why lottery winners go broke. A Gai…

  • Has Black Friday jumped the shark?

    mbhunter
    18 Nov 2009 | 12:07 am
    I mean, it’s still there and all, but does it really mean anything? And if it does mean something, what more can retailers do that they already haven’t? WalMart Stores, Radio Shack, The Apple Store, Best Buy, KMart, Kohl’s, Toys “R” Us, and Target have already had their Black Friday ads “leaked.”   I can’t really believe that these leaks were anything but completely planned: orchestrated to create buzz. Black Friday just doesn’t seem that special anymore. It’s gone from being a crowded, but otherwise lighthearted, shopping day to a…

  • Welcome to the Carnival of Debt Reduction

    mbhunter
    15 Nov 2009 | 11:44 pm
    Howdy!  Here are the on-topic submissions for this week’s carnival: Bargaineering hosts a guest post on how to sue debt collectors. The Smarter Wallet shares some first-hand experience with debt collection practices. The Digerati Life runs through options for debt consolidation loans for people with good credit. Studenomics asks if student loan consolidation is right for you. Ask Mr. Credit Card has a radio interview with Lending Club, with an emphasis on debt consolidation. Budgets Are Sexy wouldn’t mind moving back in with the ‘rents to pay down debt. Thanks! Follow me on…

  • Here’s a great comeback when negotiating to buy a property

    mbhunter
    13 Nov 2009 | 10:42 pm
    It’s no secret that there are federal tax credits available for many people who are looking to buy a home.  Both first-time and non-first-time homebuyers now can play the game. The people who are among most aware of the credits, of course, are people wanting to sell a home.  It’s not difficult at all to find For Sale signs also advertising the $8,000 tax credit, and, as I may find out soon, it will probably enter the conversation at the negotiation table. Especially if the initial offer is a lowball offer: “Why, Mr. M.B. Hunter, that offer is awfully low. Perhaps you…

  • Friday Fiscals: Black cat dancing on a broken mirror

    mbhunter
    13 Nov 2009 | 7:56 pm
    Happy Friday the 13th. Check out these lucky links from my reader: Five Cent Nickel has a guest post from Money Help for Christians with several good tips on how to find a good deal. Digerati Life reminds us that not all cheap houses are bargains. The Simple Dollar relates the Hawthorne Effect to activities at work. Generation X Finance lists out how to avoid Holiday Financial Hangover. Consumerism Commentary’s potential staff writer discusses the trouble with target date funds. Wise Bread asks whether extended warranties are ever a good deal. Free Money Finance explains why you…
 
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    Personal Finance Online Resources for Indian Users

  • Beginners Guide: Financial Products for Tax Savings

    11 Nov 2009 | 8:13 pm
    It is the busy month of March and the tax planning season is at its peak as it is the last month to make investments in tax saving products to avail maximum income tax benefits. David is a 22 year old person working in an MNC. He will be filing his income tax returns for the 1st time. The entire year David did not do anything about his tax planning and hence the last minute scramble to look for financial products to save tax. David is getting calls from various life insurance agents, mutual fund advisors and bank sales guys etc with each of them explaining to him how their company products…

  • Rupee Cost Averaging – Get More Value for Your Buck

    10 Nov 2009 | 6:58 pm
      Sameer is a common investor. He wants to invest in the stock market, but is worried that the market will fall after he invests as the market has run up too much too fast. But at the same time he is worried that the market may continue to rise without a meaningful deep correction as it has being doing so since the last 2-3 months and he might miss the rally and the potential gains that he would make with it. Sameer is in a dilemma whether he should jump into the market immediately at the current level or continue waiting for the correction which refuses to come. In short here Sameer is…

  • An Introduction To Equity Linked Saving Scheme (ELSS)

    10 Nov 2009 | 6:50 pm
      There are different types of mutual funds available in the market. Based on the style of investing the 3 well known types of mutual funds are: 1. Equity Mutual Funds: These mutual funds invest a major portion of their corpus in equity shares and equity related instruments. The aim of this type of mutual fund is to generate long term capital appreciation for the investor. This type of mutual fund is suited to those investors who are looking for high returns and have a high appetite for risk. 2. Debt Mutual Funds: These mutual funds invest a major portion of their corpus in debt instruments…

  • Introduction to Financial Planning

    2 Nov 2009 | 7:36 pm
    Financial Planning is a roadmap to realise and achieve financial goals in life. The process of financial planning involves identifying the financial goals in life, based on the person’s financial position and risk profile charting out a feasible plan to a achieve those goals. Financial Planning includes identifying goals, making the plan, allocating resources and regular review. Common Financial Goals that Every Person has in Life: Everyone has various financial goals in life. Through proper Financial Planning a person can achieve various financial goals in life. Every Financial Goal…

  • Human Life Value – How Much Are You Worth?

    2 Nov 2009 | 7:18 pm
    A popular advertisement in media which most of us must have seen says “There are some things that money can’t buy, but for everything else there is MasterCard.” Ask people in which category does human life belong and without a second thought they will agree that human life is priceless and no amount of money can compensate for the value of a human being. But insurance advisors/agents will differ. To arrive at the amount of insurance cover that a person should take they assign a monetary value to human life which they term it as Human Life Value (HLV). Through Human Life Value (HLV) we…
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    Generation X Finance

  • 5 Reasons Why You Will Retire Broke and Unhappy

    Jeremy
    18 Nov 2009 | 9:45 am
    Retirement is one of the major end goals for many of us. After putting in a few decades of hard work we hope to be able to break free from the daily grind and do what really makes us happy. That could be starting a new career, traveling the world, or simply enjoying a slower paced lifestyle. Whatever your idea of retirement is, there are plenty of roadblocks standing in your way. In a perfect world you will have enough money set aside so that come retirement day you have absolutely nothing to worry about. You’re free to carry out your plans without the added stress of wondering whether…

  • Poll: Do You Use Coupons?

    Jeremy
    17 Nov 2009 | 3:36 pm
    Coupons have been around forever, but it sometimes takes a economic crisis like we have today to get people to start using them. On the other hand, many people have been using coupons long before we entered a recession. So, where do you stand? Have you been a coupon user all along or has the recession led you to begin using them? Or do you simply find them not worth the trouble and don’t use them at all? For me, I use coupons if I stumble across one that is for something I know I’ll need but rarely do I actively sit down and cut out coupons on a regular basis. For one, the only…

  • How to Become a Successful Secret Shopper and Supplement Your Income

    charissa
    16 Nov 2009 | 8:07 am
    Secret shopping has been given a bad rap lately.  Websites that promise “to pay you to shop” and then make you jump through hoops or sign up for their sponsors’ offers have done damage to reputable companies like Strategic Reflections, Beyond Hello, and Jancyn, who are hired by businesses to evaluate the level of customer service that they receive when frequenting their stores or hiring their services.  In fact, secret shopping scams are so prevalent that the people who ordinarily seek out sources of side income find themselves wondering whether a company is legitimate or not.  This…

  • Avoid a Financial Holiday Hangover This Year

    Jeremy
    11 Nov 2009 | 7:16 am
    Plan Ahead to Avoid a Financial Holiday Hangover Does this scenario sound familiar? You use credit cards to do your holiday shopping, promising yourself you’ll pay the debt off within two or three months. Six or eight months later (or more), you’re still paying, and those items that seemed like such bargains end up costing you 10 to 20% more than you thought thanks to the credit card interest. For many Americans, this debt pattern is repeated year after year. Personal finance experts call this the “holiday hangover.” There are times when incurring credit card debt…

  • Start Making Year-End Tax Moves Now and Save Big Money

    Jeremy
    10 Nov 2009 | 7:39 am
    It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but the tax year is rapidly drawing to a close. In less than two months we’ll starting 2010 so if you’re planning on making some year-end tax moves, now is the time. Unfortunately, most people wait until their W-2s and 1099s start coming in before seriously thinking about taxes, but by then you’re left with very few options to correct the current tax year mistakes. By planning ahead you can get a jump on some things that could significantly improve your tax situation in just a few short months. First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit This…
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    Earn More and Invest Wisely at The Sun's Financial Diary

  • Reminder: TradeKing $50 Bonus Still Available

    Sun
    20 Nov 2009 | 9:26 pm
    Last month, online discount broker TradeKing launched the $50 new account bonus promotion as part of their annual fall campaign to sign up new customers. The offer was first supposed to end on October 31st, but the broker decided to extend the promotion by one month to the end of November. I have been a TradeKing customer for more than two years. My experience is that it’s a decent broker despite that the commission it charges for stock trading isn’t the cheapest among online discount brokers. I talk about TradeKing quite often because it’s one of brokers I use quite often.

  • Use Automatic Alerts to Avoid Late Fee and Returned Check Fee

    Sun
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:04 am
    From the first day I had my own bank account, I have always maintained an adequate level of fund in my checking account to cover everyday expenses. Since when money goes out of and comes into the account is very predictable, I don’t have to keep a lot of my money in the checking account that earns me nothing, but still have all the bills paid on time. However, there was a close call this summer when my checking account balance dropped below zero due to an error made when I was setting up an Ally Bank CD account. Before things were cleared, I was very nervous as I also had a few other…

  • The True Cost of a Coupon

    Yolander
    19 Nov 2009 | 7:13 am
    Like many frugal femmes, I love to clip coupons. Every Sunday I relax with a cup of tea, a sharp pair of scissors and the Sunday paper. I flip through all the coupons and clip any I see for products that I regularly use. Recently, I’ve noticed many stores pointing consumers toward the use of online coupons. At first I thought the stores had lost their minds, I mean — showing me how to save money on your products? I know you are reimbursed by the manufacturer and all, but still … it seemed too good to be true. The more I started to examine this trend the more I realized that it was,…

  • Revolution Money To Be Part of American Express

    Sun
    18 Nov 2009 | 8:47 pm
    When I read the news this morning that American Express is paying $300 million to buy Revolution Money, the first thing came into my mind was “What will happen to Revolution Money Exchange once it becomes part of a big business that doesn’t usually offer free services?” I first knew Revolution Money more than two years ago when it launched a credit card, the RevolutionCard, which it claims can better protect cardholder’s identity by not printing name and account number on the card. I don’t know whether that claim has been proven or not, but I wasn’t very…

  • Why Throw Money Away?

    Shannon M. Medisky
    18 Nov 2009 | 7:07 am
    “Are you kidding me?” Those were the exact words I thought when my husband came home and shared with me what he saw his coworker doing. Each week she digs deep into her purse and purges it of all the loose change both in her wallet as well as the coins floating around in the bottom. And when I say “purge” I really mean “throw away.” Yes, you read that correctly: in the trash can, the garbage, with the refuse. My husband must have been anticipating my reaction because just as my jaw hit the floor, he pulled a small sandwich baggie from his pocket chuck full…
 
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    Money Hacks

  • Need a Job? 10 Companies Hiring for the Holidays

    billspaced
    4 Nov 2009 | 12:40 pm
    Here’s a link to a list of 10 companies that are hiring for the holiday season. Most of it’s retail…but that’s not a bad thing. Everybody needs to know how to sell. YOU especially need to know how to sell yourself and you need to know how to interact with customers. For at the end of the day, business is selling and all of selling’s associated components. Plus, if you’re currently looking for work, it’s not a bad idea to fill in that resume. Hiring managers and HR folks get turned off pretty quickly by unemployment gaps. A seasonal job addresses this…

  • CIT Bankruptcy 5th Largest in US History

    billspaced
    1 Nov 2009 | 3:25 pm
    Will this ever end? The economy seems like it's in a funk. The patient is recovering from cancer, only to find out that it has heart problems. What's next? TERMINAL brain damage. CIT files for bankruptcy as part of reorganization plan – Nov. 1, 2009 CIT files for 5th largest U.S. bankruptcy Small business lender seeks court approval for a debt reorganization that has approval of bondholders. ShareThis

  • Young, Broke, Fat, and in Debt

    billspaced
    28 Oct 2009 | 8:49 pm
    Now what? In 12 years, Antoine Walker(notes) made more than $110 million playing professional basketball moderately well. It always seems to happen. Whatever the details, it was a big chunk of change, which, amazingly, wasn’t enough. These guys seem to wind up in debtor’s prison or the poor house, or both. It’s a shame, in a way, to see all that money wind up gone, but at least these guys stimulate the economy, right? I mean, that money didn’t just vanish; it just moved from his pockets to everybody else’s. I’m really surprised that the professional sports…

  • JP Morgan Chase Up on Earnings Report

    billspaced
    14 Oct 2009 | 7:24 am
    Banks, insurers head higher – MarketWatch A quartet of top U.S. bank stocks rose on Wednesday after J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. reported earnings that surpassed Wall Street estimates, and the insurance sector also weighed in with gains to lift financial stocks more than 2%. I suggest that the management at JPM horde all that cash, as the next big mortgage resets occur in 2012 (5 years after the peak of 2007, when everybody and their mother, dog, parakeet, and gerbil bought houses with no money down, poor credit, and insufficient income). Now that many of those same people are now either…

  • The Easy Way to Wealth

    billspaced
    25 Sep 2009 | 11:57 am
    A New York man is suing Bank of America for $1,784,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (I think that’s right). If only they had that much. Reminds me of the old quote from the infamous Willie Sutton, bank robber: Why do you rob banks?Because that’s where the money is! Man sues BofA for ‘1,784 billion, trillion dollars’ | Reuters ShareThis
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    My Open Wallet

  • Single Ma Wants Me to Write About Booze.

    Madame X
    19 Nov 2009 | 6:26 am
    It's actually not a bad topic for a post this week...The other night, I went to see a play at St Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn (The New Electric Ballroom, well worth seeing. You can get discounted tickets using a code from Broadway Box). Before the show, we went to the nearby Water Street Restaurant. It's a convenient place for a pre-show meal, and they have really good burgers, but we were incredibly disgruntled by the wine!First of all, the wine list is very limited, especially if you just want a glass-- they have a much better selection of beers. But I knew if I drank beer, I'd be wanting to…

  • Free Water, Expensive Notebook

    Madame X
    18 Nov 2009 | 6:25 am
    I got a kick out of this article from the NY Times yesterday: Commuters Overlooking Free Treasure:I might not have appreciated the marvel of the Grand Central Terminal water fountain if it hadn’t been for the notebook.I had run into Posman Books after getting off my train and finding myself without a notebook, and grabbed what Moleskine, the high-end paper packager, calls a reporter’s notebook. I’m a reporter; it spoke to me. Until I got to the counter and learned it cost a cool $17.95 plus tax, a sum no reporter I know would shell out for a notebook, even if it came with the story…

  • October 2009 Monthly Recap

    Madame X
    16 Nov 2009 | 8:50 am
    It's a bit late to be getting to this but here's a look at October's results!My net worth at the end of October was $383,344, a decline of 1.5% from last month. The decline was entirely due to the stock market being down a bit. Also, my credit card balance was a bit high due to business expenses of over $1,000 that I haven't been reimbursed for yet. But I did okay in terms of saving some cash.Expenses were as follows: Condo $1,835 maintenance charge just went up Bank Charge $71 stupidity: ATM fee and late charges Business expense $1,060 Charity $100 Clothing $301 Dining/Groceries $828 a very…

  • My Great-Aunt Minnie

    Madame X
    9 Nov 2009 | 1:12 pm
    I've been thinking a lot about my Great-Aunt. I've been meaning to write about her ever since starting this blog, as I mentioned in this post (I gave my great-aunt a water buffalo.), but for some reason I never have. She's now 95 years old and sadly, her health is finally fading and she won't be around much longer. Maybe this is a good thing, in a way-- it must be hard to live so long and feel the pain of losing so many people before your own time comes. My Dad was her nephew and I'm sure she never thought she'd outlive him. But she's never lost her strong spirit, and she's actually been a…

  • An Avatar's Open Wallet

    Madame X
    23 Oct 2009 | 11:41 am
    Here's an interesting concept: spending virtual dollars to live an online live that is much more luxurious than your real one: No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real YouIt may be raining pink slips, and some people may be hard-pressed to make the rent, much less splash out on a pagoda-shoulder jacket from Balmain, but Vixie Rayna is hardly feeling the pinch. Not a month goes by in which she isn’t spending as much as $50,000 on housing, furniture or her special weakness: multistrap platform sandals, tricked out in feathers and beads.Recession or no, Ms. Rayna isn’t reining in her…
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    Almost Frugal- a frugal blog

  • This is What Frugal Looks Like: Me in Millions

    Kelly
    19 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    This is What Frugal Looks Like is a series that highlights different ways that people can be frugal in their lives- after all, frugality doesn’t have to be drastic or just about clipping coupons. Frugality can be fun and easy. Each respondent answers the same four questions. Today’s interview is with Me from Me in Millions. What does frugality mean to you? Frugality means using your resources wisely. It means not surrounding yourself with cheap crap, but buying quality things that will last. It means buying things you use and not just buying things because they’re inexpensive. To me…

  • Cheerleader Goals

    A Guest Writer
    16 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    This guest post is from Craig Kessler, marketing director at BudgetPulse.com. He manages the BudgetPulse Blog and can also be reached on Twitter. Imagine this scenario, if you will. Jen is captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. She loves her teammates and puts so much effort into the squad, with practices, helping new girls out, and working on new dance routines and cheers. Football season is approaching and they have a chance to go to State. Jen and the other members of the squad really want to support the football team and they also want to look their best on the sidelines when doing…

  • Weekly Round-Up: That Lovely Clean Feeling

    Kelly
    14 Nov 2009 | 9:40 am
    You might think I’m a dork for admitting this, but I really like cleaning our new apartment. Maybe it’s just because it’s new, but it’s so fun to clean! OK, even I think I’m a dork now… Meanwhile, here are some of my favorite reads for the week: Living simply with children: Extracurricular activities @ A Journey to a Simple Happy Life Overdraft Fee Opt-In Rule @ Being Frugal The Simple Dollar @ Giving Experiences, Not Things, This Holiday Season Meatloaf Recipe: Healthy Turkey Meatloaf Muffins @ Squawkfox Natural Frugality @ Resurgence PriceYeti – Get…

  • The ABCs of Frugality

    Kelly
    13 Nov 2009 | 2:30 am
    I came up for the concept for this post while vacuuming and had to keep stopping to run to my computer and write things down; it first appeared in July 2008. I think the concepts involved are as valuable as ever…which is why I decided to post it another time. an Apple a Day It keeps the doctor away, we all know that. But fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the most frugal foods you can find in terms of the nutrition:cost ratio. Sure, a bag of oreos might cost less than five pounds of apples (but probably not), but by choosing a piece of fruit as a snack you save calories and get…

  • This is What Frugal Looks Like: Domestic Cents

    Kelly
    12 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    This is What Frugal Looks Like is a series that highlights different ways that people can be frugal in their lives- after all, frugality doesn’t have to be drastic or just about clipping coupons. Frugality can be fun and easy. Each respondent answers the same four questions. Today’s interview is with Nicki, from Domestic Cents. What does frugality mean to you? Frugality is a way of life for me, choosing to be the best steward I can with what I have. Living frugal very much fits in with the lifestyle I’ve chosen. It has less to do with money now than it did to begin with. At first I…
 
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    7million7years

  • When winning the lottery ain’t enough …

    Adrian
    18 Nov 2009 | 11:02 pm
    Motley Fool tells us about Lou Eisenberg who just seems like another Global Financial Crisis statistic: broke and living in a mobile home, supported by $250 per week in Social Security and pension payments … … except that in 1981 Lou “won what was, at the time, the largest-ever lottery payout”, valued at $5 Million. Now, with the 25 year inflation rate averaging around 3.25% (at least, according to my calculations), I put that at something approaching $9.5 million 2009 dollars … … a fortune in anybody’s language! So, what went wrong? A number of…

  • Would you trust your money to this man?

    Adrian
    18 Nov 2009 | 12:50 am
    Lots of people trusted this man with their money, but more on that later … First, I want to tell you about The Finance Buff who wants to offer you personal finance advice … he also wants to know how much you’re prepared to pay, claiming that there’s an under-serviced market here for inexpensive, unbiased personal finance advice: Usually an under-served market exists when there is a big gap between what customers are willing to pay and what it costs to produce what they want. I suspect that’s the case in the financial advice market. [But,] I’m willing to…

  • Is the shark’s bite worse than its bark?

    Adrian
    15 Nov 2009 | 11:07 pm
    I was really impressed with the quality of our readers’ analysis of last week’s video post (from ABC’s excellent show, the Shark Tank, which is about a group of entrepreneurs who listen to various pitches before deciding whether to invest their own money), so I thought that I should do this follow-up piece, while the video is still reasonably fresh in our minds. In case you didn’t see the video, or need a refresher, here is the link: http://7million7years.com/2009/11/12/take-the-money-and-run/ The reader poll shows that people are reasonably split between not giving…

  • The story of banking ….

    Adrian
    15 Nov 2009 | 12:06 am
    Forget the “banks make money from thin air” assertions at the beginning of this video, but watch the cartoon rendition of the creation of the modern-day banking system for an understanding of how banks really work. While it is true that the dollar is no longer backed by gold (in 1933, President Franklin D Roosevelt suspended the standard and revoked gold as universal legal tender for debts), just remember that each George Washington is still backed by “the full faith and credit of the United States government” … now that should be enough comfort for anybody

  • Take the money and run!

    Adrian
    12 Nov 2009 | 12:59 am
    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. Watch this video – remember, these are real investors, preparing to invest their OWN MONEY if the right idea(s) comes along – then answer the poll (and, please make a comment if you can … it would be great to be able to share WHY you feel that way):
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    Lazy Man and Money

  • Amazon Friday Sale

    Lazy Man
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:21 pm
    The Amazon Friday Sale was a little weak this week. I usually find a few products, but with many repeats of previous products, I found only three noteworthy products. (I wish they'd get rid of the whole footware category. I know women like their shoes, but I'm not about to write about it.) The coolest piece of gadgetry is the Urban Trend Tulip Corkscrew. It looks like a tulip, but performs the duties of a corkscrew. I'm really Lazy so my favorite corkscrew solution is still the Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener. It'll set you back another 95 cents, so start scrounging those couch cushions.

  • Why I Don’t Buy Digital Media

    Lazy Man
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:10 pm
    [Caution, I'm going to get on my soapbox for this post. If you are not interested in soapboxes, I suggest you avert your eyes] Yesterday, I touched on the Legality of IPodMeister's digitizer service. Bringing up the First-Sale doctrine opened up a can of worms in my mind. I love digital media, but I won't pay for it (or steal it obviously). I have never purchased a song from the iTunes Store. For too many years, all the songs were looked up so that they'd only play on certain Apple products. There were workarounds, but they were less than convenient for this Lazy Man. The iTunes Store is…

  • IPodMeister: Trade your CDs for an iPod or iPhone… legally?

    Lazy Man
    18 Nov 2009 | 9:35 am
    CNet's Cheapskate Blog is one of my favorite sites for technology deals and very much a daily read. They recently had this article on iPodMeister. They provide you with the labels for free shipping. You simply pack up your old CDs and get a new iPod, iPhone, or hard drive. They'll even send you a DVD with all your music back for an additional cost (more CDs). It sounds interesting, but I have a few questions and so did commenters: Legality of Keeping Your old - The biggest thought in my mind is that once you sell your CD back to iPodMeister, it's probably illegal for you to keep a copy for…

  • Belichick was Right (and Personal Finance Links)

    Lazy Man
    16 Nov 2009 | 10:29 am
    Do we have any football fans in the house? If you aren't a fan, just skip down to the links. If you are a fan, hopefully you caught the Patriots-Colts' "Rivalry of the Decade" game. Whenever these teams get together it's always comes down to the wire. As a Patriots fan, losing a game with a 17 point fourth lead is pretty harsh. There are a lot of reasons why it happened, but everyone wants to talk about the controversial call by Bill Belichick to go for it on 4th-down in an attempt to run out the clock. Before I get to that, there were two previous plays that should get attention. They simply…

  • Why the Google Admob Acquisition is Important to Me

    Lazy Man
    13 Nov 2009 | 4:12 pm
    Earlier this week Google made a $750 Million purchase of Admob a company specializing in mobile advertising. It surprised the market in two ways. It was Google's 3rd largest acquisition (behind DoubleClick and YouTube) ever. The mobile advertising industry is fairly small at this time. However, Google is moving into mobile in a variety of ways. It has a mobile operating system (Google Android), mapping/GPS applications (Google Maps/ Latitude), phone applications (Google Voice), and I'm sure a few thing that I've missed. So what does this have to do with me? I have worked for two mobile phone…
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    No Credit Needed

  • Financial Priorities And Principles

    NCN
    12 Nov 2009 | 7:10 am
    I think it’s important to focus on simple, achievable goals.  As such, here are my top five financial priorities and principles - Priorities - I will maintain adequate cash reserves, sufficient to replace my income for 12 months. I will remain debt free, paying upfront for all purchases. I will save for retirement, focusing on both pretax and after-tax accounts. I will teach my children sound financial principles, and help them pay for college. I will look for opportunities to bless others, both with my finances and my time. Principles - I will live on a budget. I will respect every…

  • Check Out Cash Commons

    NCN
    7 Nov 2009 | 10:28 am
    I’ve been away from blogging for a few weeks, busy with work.  I want to thank those of you who reached out to say “hi” via Twitter or email.  You guys rock.  Things have settled down now and I should be back to my normal blogging routine. A few weeks ago, MBH from Mighty Bargain Hunter reached out to me and asked me to check out a new site he’s been working on – Cash Commons.  I’ve spent some time on the site, and I’m really impressed.  As a member of the Cash Commons community, users can ask questions, answer questions, and vote for their…

  • Taking My Daughter To The Bank To Open Her First Savings Account

    NCN
    13 Oct 2009 | 8:11 pm
    I am so excited. I am going to take my oldest daughter to the bank and help her open her first savings account! She’s ten now, having recently celebrated her birthday, and she has some birthday-checks to cash.  One of our local banks offers a no-fee, no-minimum balance required savings account for children under 16.  This type of account will be perfect for my daughter. Over the past few years, my wife and I have worked hard to teach our kids about saving, spending, and giving.  Last year, we introduced them to the wildly-successful Kids’ Fun Fun. I want to incorporate trips to…

  • How A Silly Little Experiment Helped Me Get Out Of Debt

    NCN
    12 Oct 2009 | 4:01 am
    I once sent a credit card company $5 per day, every day, for a month.  Seriously. The year was 2005 and I was in full on debt reduction mode.  Pumped up by the comments left by my readers – and ready to be debt free – I spent most of my waking-hours thinking about ways to reduce my debt. Somehow, the thought struck me:  What if I manage to save $5 a day – say by skipping my morning trip to the convenience store or brown-bagging lunch – how quickly could I put that $5 to work? I decided, just to see if it would work, to use online bill-pay to send a series of $5…

  • Only Six Months Left To Make Year 2009 Contributions To Roth IRA Or Traditional IRA

    NCN
    9 Oct 2009 | 11:58 pm
    My wife and I both have contributions to the retirement plans offered by our employers deducted from our paychecks.  In addition to those pre-tax retirement contributions, we also make monthly contributions to our Roth IRAs. For me, the annual contribution limit to my Roth IRA is $5000.  (See IRS Publication 590 for complete information about contribution and income limits.)  My wife’s limit is the same. The contribution time-table for both the Roth IRA and the Traditional IRA runs from January 1, 2009 until April 15, 2010.  That’s right.  We have until the tax-filing…
 
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    Boston Gal's Open Wallet

  • How to Escape the Rat Race

    Jane
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:52 am
    The Wall Street Journal article: How to Escape the Rat Race provides a few tips and suggestions to prepare for a career change (assumes new career will pay less than old or at least take time to ramp up to old salary is starting own business), early retirement, or semi-retirement. The experts are quick to point out that health insurance is a huge stumbling block for most considering a rat race escape. But assuming you get beyond that obstacle: "What's the cash in your pocket that you need to check out of the rat race?" Mr. Thompson asks. "I decided I had to have two years' worth of (living)…

  • Amazon.com Friday Sale

    Jane
    20 Nov 2009 | 6:31 am
    Another Friday, another sale! My pick this week? The lightwedge book light - a superior reading-in-the-dark solution to the headlamp (as I found out the hard way). I just recently learned the lightwedge company was founded and run by a man in Newton, MA - always nice to give a shout out to a local business!Find your own bargain at the Friday Sale. - Enjoy!

  • Making Sense New England

    Jane
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:15 pm
    I was flipping channels tonight and caught the show Making Sense New England on PBS. The half hour show had a segment featuring Amy Dacyczyn, the famous founder of the Tightwad Gazette and lifelong frugal zealot. The interview showed Amy's house in Leeds, Maine and took a tour of her sewing room. It was kind of amazing to realize that she started the newsletter in 1991 and by 1996 had retired from interviews and finished with the books. Those books are still selling and presumably she is still enjoying an income stream from those five years of work. If you are curious to see Amy's house and…

  • Upward trajectory reversed

    Jane
    19 Nov 2009 | 6:11 am
    USAToday's article: More members of middle class file for bankruptcy features 40-year-old single Mom Staci Schubert who was earning $275,000, when 6 years ago she decided to start her own business. The article does not say, but I have to assume that her business was not providing much income, since the article implies it ate most of her savings. The great recession has sunk the business and she has run up $65,000 in credit card debt. She tried to find a full-time job without much luck, because the job market was saturated. Temporary freelance design work couldn't cover her bills.So in January…

  • I was dreading this day

    Jane
    18 Nov 2009 | 1:55 pm
    Ever since eBooks started being sold I worried this day would come. But with readers costing over $200 I thought I was safe. But now Amazon has launched Kindle for PC and I am in trouble. You just download this bit of software onto your laptop (or computer) and tah-dah! Instant eBook reader. On the one hand this is great - no need to spend hundreds on a Kindle Wireless Reading Device. But now just about any book I could want to read is available to me at the click of a mouse and instantly available via download (and instantly charged to my credit card). The barrier of first needing to spend…
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    Free From Broke

  • ING Direct Gets In On Black Friday Cyber Monday Action

    ffb
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:32 am
    Black Friday isn’t just for retail stores.  ING Direct will be offering up Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials this year.  If you don’t feel like going out and spending your money you can check out what ING Direct will be offering for you to save.  You know I’ve been an ING Direct customer for years and think it’s a great place for online savings so I’m pretty excited to see what they are going to offer! Here is the rundown of the ING Direct Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals: - Orange CD: On Black Friday ING Direct will be revealing their CD special.  Their…

  • Tips For Shopping Black Friday And Cyber Monday

    ffb
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:06 am
    Can you believe it’s the middle of November already?!? Know what that means?  Yeah, seeing family and overeating on Thanksgiving.  Know what else?  Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping deals! These two days have turned into crazy whirlwinds of shopping and sales.  Do your homework and you can score some great deals. Here are some tips to help you prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday: -Make a list.  What items are you looking for?  Who are you shopping for?  Put a list together of exactly everything you plan to buy.  It’s easy to get lulled into all of the bargains…

  • 6 Tips to Avoid IRS Penalties, Interest and Filing Fees This Tax Season

    ffb
    16 Nov 2009 | 4:38 am
    With Federal and various State tax revenues in decline, the IRS and State tax collectors are not letting any taxpayer fall through the cracks. In fact, if anything the IRS’s computerized Automated Collection System (ACS) is probably better than ever with all the funding the IRS has received from the Federal stimulus. Here are a few tips to avoid IRS penalties, interest and general filing fees: File On Time: The IRS can penalize you up to 5% per month up to a total 25% of taxes owed If You Can’t File On Time: Request a 60 day extension to avoid the 5% to 25% penalty on taxes owed Use Form…

  • Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit May Not Be Good For Existing Buyers

    ffb
    12 Nov 2009 | 5:17 am
    You may have heard that that First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit was extended until April 30th, 2010.  In that extension a new group of home buyers were included – Existing Home Buyers! The credit is a maximum of $6,500. For existing home buyers: They had to live in their home for five of the past eight years The home must be a primary residence Income limit for single buyers is $125,000 and for couples $225,000 The home cannot exceed $800,000. Sounds good, right?  Many argued that existing home buyers should have been included with the original stimulus for first time home buyers. …

  • It’s Official First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended Now For Existing Owners Too

    ffb
    6 Nov 2009 | 3:13 pm
    President Obama made it official earlier today – He signed into law an extension of the First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit.  The tax extension is part of a $24 billion bill signed into law, which hopes to provide incentive for new home buyers as well as existing home buyers to purchase new homes.  The original tax credit, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is set to expire November 30th. For first-time home buyers the tax credit remains a maximum of $8,000.  A new home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the prior three years. Existing home…
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    Blogging Away Debt

  • Saving money while freezing…

    Beks
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:40 pm
    It’s been a little on the cold side in California. No seriously. Stop laughing. It IS cold to us thin skinned folks. The temperatures have been dipping down to the low 40’s at night. Last night it hovered at 60 degrees… inside our living room. Yes, I could turn on the heater but since we’re trying to stretch our cash, we simply do without. We had two blankets on the bed but I was still chilled. I tried to snuggle with my husband to stay warm but his coughing kept shaking me awake. And no, I will not admit his cough is from the frosty internal temperature – well, not to his face…

  • Germ Avoidance…

    Beks
    19 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    I’m officially ‘that person’. ‘That person’ who crazily walks around with tissues to open doors and leaves a shower of Lysol in her wake. Before you harass me about my germaphobic ways, remember I work with the general public. San Diegans are passing around the Swine Flu like a delicious piece of gossip. I wouldn’t be quite so crazy but Thanksgiving is next week. If I have to spend my four days off in the hospital, I’d rather it be from a gnarly fall off a mountain face that bested me than from a virus that originated in an animal I don’t particularly like – even when served…

  • Debt Update…

    Beks
    17 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    Well, we aren’t moving at nearly the pace we were. The good news? We’re still moving in the right direction – FORWARD! We decided to pay less on the truck this month and set aside the cash since we were ahead on payments. I’d rather have a little more cash on hand just in case. In light of the current economy, we’re playing it as safe as possible. Here’s where we’re at – Auto Loan 1: $0 Credit Card: $0 Student Loan: $9,680.19 Auto Loan 2: $11,379.87

  • A case of the Monday’s…

    Beks
    16 Nov 2009 | 8:22 pm
    Sorry for the late post. I think I’m running late on everything today! San Diego mass transit won an award for the most on time performance… something I was resentful of as I ran down the platform this morning chasing – and missing my train. I caught the next one – which promptly broke down two stops later. I showed up a record 30 minutes late for work because the functioning train was stuck behind the broken one. I spilt hot chocolate on my skirt from shivering on the side of the tracks. Then, I tripped down the hallway at work and broke my shoe. All before 9AM. Clearly… I…

  • Financial Frustration…and Weariness…

    Beks
    13 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    When I went on my search to find a dog, my goal was to own a fat lazy dog. In fact, I chose him specifically because he sat on the floor, completely lethargic while the other dogs barked and jumped in the kennel. Maybe it’s because he’s happy, maybe it’s because he’s eating healthy, or maybe it’s because he’s out to SPITE me, but he’s the most energetic dog I’ve ever owned. Saturday, I went hiking and took him along to see if I could finally wear him out. We hiked for HOURS. Up hills, down hills, up steep mountain faces, jogging on trails, climbing through brush, he chugged…
 
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    Clever Dude Finances & Life

  • Our adjustable mortgage rate reset! Oh No!

    Clever Dude
    15 Nov 2009 | 6:14 pm
    Copyright © 2006-2009 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. Actually, I’m pretty excited that our adjustable mortgage rate reset. A couple months ago, I wrote all about the details of our two mortgages. To recap, our primary mortgage, which is about $300,000, is a 5/1 interest-only ARM mortgage. The “5″ means it resets after 5 years. That happens to be NOW! As an aside, although we paid almost $400,000 for our house, we do live in the Washington D.C. area, which is very expensive, and our house is an old cape cod style from 1941.  I just want to make sure you have everything…

  • We’re Free of Consumer Debt!!!!!!

    Clever Dude
    12 Nov 2009 | 12:30 pm
    Copyright © 2006-2009 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. As of today, we have paid off all $113,000 of our student loans, auto loans and credit card debt. We are debt free!!! (except for that pesky mortgage) I sent the final check of about $3,000 off to pay off my student loan last week, and now the website shows a credit of $13.71. See below: I’ve also updated our debt scales on the right so we now only have our mortgage. I’m not listing our primary mortgage since we’re nowhere near paying it off as we’re working on our second mortgage instead. Credit Cards After…

  • Thanks for the Hits! October 2009 Recap

    Clever Dude
    12 Nov 2009 | 6:57 am
    Copyright © 2006-2009 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. In 11 days, I’ll be finishing one of my last 2 masters degree courses; the other one ends December 16th. The first one to end started back in April, and I finally got my act together to finish all my deliverables and commit to a presentation date (Nov 23). This is a culmination of over 2 years of stress, and a steady dwindling of articles here at Clever Dude. But don’t think that I don’t have tons of article drafts waiting to be written, because I do! My brain has been at its limit of juggling work, personal, church…

  • $7,000 We’ll Never Get Back

    Clever Dude
    8 Nov 2009 | 7:31 pm
    Copyright © 2006-2009 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. You’ve heard me complain about the cost of owning a pool before. Well, the problem of being a homeowner is that when something breaks, you’re on the hook to fix it. Such was the case with our pool recently when we asked a couple contractors to come over and give us an estimate to replace some caulking around the pool and above the waterline tiles. It turned out to be much more work than just doing some caulking. The first contractor who came over did some “tap tests” along the brick coping (the darker brick that…

  • Clock is Ticking on ‘09…Surprising Ways to Stretch Your Healthcare FSA

    Clever Dude
    5 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am
    Copyright © 2006-2009 Clever Dude. All Rights Reserved. The following article is courtesy of Coppertone. I normally don’t publish unsolicited articles sent to me, but this one caught my eye because of the items for hand sanitizer and sunscreen.  I’ve added my own notes about each. The average American family spends $2,000 on personal health care expenses each year. Contributing that amount to an FSA can translate to a federal tax savings of more than $500 (assuming the average tax bracket of 27%). But there’s a catch…you need to use all of the funds in one calendar year—or…
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    Don't Mess With Taxes

  • Covering excess Making Work Pay credit

    skbell1
    20 Nov 2009 | 10:38 pm
    One more quick hit on the topic of excess Making Work Pay credit payments.I wrote a piece for Bankrate.com on some steps you can take now if you fear you might be one of the folks who will have to pay back the credit next filing season.Related posts: Making Work Pay tax problems ... again Making Work Pay payroll considerations Want to tell your friends about this blog post? Click the Tweet This or Digg This links below or use the Share This icon to spread the word via e-mail, Facebook and other popular applications. Thanks!

  • A mysterious meeting of taxes, vampires, celebrity dancers and 'Wild' women

    skbell1
    20 Nov 2009 | 10:13 am
    Is it just coincidence that this morning a federal judge, who reportedly is a movie buff, heard the tax conviction appeal of an actor who played a vampire hunter on the very day that the second installment of the pop culture phenomenon Twilight film series hit theaters? And could that convergence mean that things are lining up on this freaky Friday for Blade star Wesley Snipes to have his tax troubles legally erased? Probably not. I personally enjoy interesting intersections of randomly related occurrences, but most of the time they are indeed just happenstance. And that's likely the…

  • A look at who's paying how much taxes

    skbell1
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:47 am
    Who's paying taxes and just how much, relatively speaking, are they handing over to the Treasury? That's been the topic of debate since several groups released income tax studies this year. First, the Tax Foundation reported that the tax burden of the top 1 percent of taxpayers now exceeds that of the bottom 95 percent. Then the Tax Policy Center released its latest analysis of the distribution of federal taxes. And now the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) says lower- and middle-income families spend much more of their incomes on state and local taxes than do wealthy…

  • 2,074 pages + $849 billion = Senate health care bill

    skbell1
    19 Nov 2009 | 11:49 am
    Do you have a flexible savings account? Are you planning on claiming medical expenses as an itemized deduction? What about your workplace insurance plan; is it relatively expensive coverage? Then you'll face some costs in the Senate's humongous health care reform bill. I'm not kidding about the size, both on the pure number of pages (almost 2,100) and the dollars ($849 billion). I haven't yet read the text of H.R. 3590, otherwise known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. But I have looked over the Joint Committee on Taxation's more manageable revenue…

  • NY bagel maker charged with tax evasion

    skbell1
    18 Nov 2009 | 10:41 pm
    H&H Bagels, bakers of what Zagat once called iconic bagels, now has a new, and unwelcome, claim to fame (or infamy). New York City alleges that the bagel company's owner, Helmer Toro, is a tax cheat. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau has charged Toro with pocketing more than $369,000 in income and other taxes that were withheld from employees' paychecks. Toro also allegedly set up shell companies to game the unemployment insurance tax system out of another $33,000. Toro pled not guilty to the charges and was released from custody. If convicted, he could face up to 15…
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    Money Smart Life

  • Real Estate Short Sales Explained

    Victor
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:54 am
    Real estate short sales have become more common in the tough housing market of the last few years.  A short sale is an attempt to sell a home instead of the bank taking it back by foreclosure. This sale can partially salvage the homeowner’s credit rating and lift the stress of large mortgage payments. If you’ve been house hunting over the last year, chances are you’ve run across at least one piece of real estate classified as a short sale. The entire process of the short sale is based on the premise that the bank will take an immediate loss, approve the sale, and eliminate the…

  • Holiday Shopping Tips to Avoid Debt

    Ben
    19 Nov 2009 | 6:11 am
    The holiday shopping season is almost here!  With Black Friday just around the corner, you can use these tips to help you stay out of debt while buying gifts for all your friends and family this year. Set a budget: Obviously if you have credit card debt now, you don’t want to elevate those numbers. Remember, your credit score depends more now than ever on how high your balances are. Start by setting a holiday spending number you will not exceed and make cash your first priority in paying for those gifts and other goods. If you haven’t started shopping yet, do some Christmas budgeting…

  • Five Tips on Buying Foreclosures

    Victor
    18 Nov 2009 | 6:26 am
    Buying a foreclosed home can be a great way to get a deal on real estate but it can be daunting if you’ve never done it before.  Here are a few tips to consider when you’re thinking about buying a foreclosure. Know Thy Neighbor – Remember, when you buy a home, it’s like getting married. You’re not just getting a spouse, you’re getting the in-laws and all of the crazy dysfunction that goes with them. Get to know your neighborhood a little. Drive through it at different times of the day. You’ll get a feel for traffic patterns that could disrupt your work day. You’ll…

  • House Hunting Tips for Busy Parents

    Ben
    16 Nov 2009 | 9:15 pm
    After several nights of weighing the pros and cons of buying a house one thing we realized is that we simply didn’t have enough information to make a good decision.  We haven’t been in the real estate market for years now so we don’t really know what our house will sell for or what we should expect to pay for the kind of home we’re looking for. We’ve started doing some research and talking with our friends in the industry, realtors and appraisers, about the market and about our house. We also decided to start looking at a few homes to get a feel for various neighborhoods and price…

  • Weekend Deals – Discounts & Cash Bonuses

    Ben
    14 Nov 2009 | 1:16 pm
    Deals and promotions keep popping up lately, I’m guessing partly because it’s close to the end of the year and businesses are making a push to meet or exceed their goals for the year. I’m sure part of it has to do with Christmas deals for the upcoming shopping rush.  Here are some of the promotions going on that you might be interested in. Angies List Promotion Angie’s List gift memberships are 50 percent off through the end of the month.  Since it’s a gift, they’re waiving the activation fee so you don’t even need an angies list…
 
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    Being Frugal.net

  • Friday Linkfest: Thanksgiving Break Edition

    Lynnae
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    The kids have been working hard on their schoolwork all week, so they could have a short day today.  And after today, we’re taking a week off for Thanksgiving.  We’re all looking forward to the break! After Thanksgiving, we’re going to do a month of Christmas school.  It will be a nice change of pace, before we get back to our regular curriculum in January.  When all is said and done, I think we’ll actually be in school a month and a half longer than the public school, but “shhh”…don’t tell the kids. News of Note Congratulations to Rebecca C., who won the Merry Madagascar…

  • Prepare for Next Christmas with SmartyPig

    Lynnae
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Christmas is coming quickly, and if your financial habits are like my past financial habits, you’re starting to wonder how you’re going to pay for Christmas.  It’s not a fun feeling, and it’s one I understand. I’m happy to say I’ve changed my ways.  And the good news is that you can too.  It’s not that my financial situation changed much.  We’ve had our up years and our down years.  But I started planning for Christmas much earlier…like in January. SmartyPig is a Savings Account Last year I discovered SmartyPig, a “social savings account.”  Really, it’s a bank…

  • Merry Madagascar Giveaway!

    Lynnae
    17 Nov 2009 | 2:35 pm
    When times are tight, and even when they aren’t, I always encourage people to focus on experiences during the holiday season.  One of my favorite things to do with my family during the holidays is watch holiday specials, both old and new, on TV. It doesn’t take a lot of money to pop some popcorn or make some other snack and cuddle in front of the TV together. Tonight the first of the Christmas specials rolls out (unless I missed one), as Merry Madagascar is scheduled at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.  Walmart and Dreamworks provided me with a copy to preview in advance, and my family watched it…

  • Tightwad Tuesday: Turkey Time!

    Lynnae
    17 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Today’s Tightwad Tuesday tip is short and sweet.  When you’re out and about shopping in the next couple of weeks, buy an extra turkey. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, most stores have incredible deals on turkeys, if you spend a minimum amount.  But spending the minimum amount is usually not a problem, if you’re doing your regular grocery shopping. For instance, over the weekend I was doing my bi-weekly grocery shopping, and I saw that turkeys were on sale at Winco for 22 cents a pound, with a $50 minimum purchase.  I knew that the things on my list would easily add up to…

  • YNAB Giveaway Winner!

    Lynnae
    16 Nov 2009 | 7:49 pm
    The winner of the YNAB Pro Budgeting Software is….. Kate, who was commenter #13!  She has been contacted by email and will be receiving her software, once she confirms her email address with me.  Congratulations, Kate! Copyright © 2007-2009 Lynnae McCoy. This feed is provided for the convenience of Being Frugal.net subscribers. Any reproduction of the content with in this feed is strictly prohibited. Please visit Being Frugal.net for more great content. Did you like this post? Then check these out:Budgeting is Easy with YNAB & a Giveaway!The Winner of the Family Game Night…
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    My Two Dollars

  • Money Quote Friday – “How Fitting” Edition.

    David
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:52 am
    “Those who steal from private individuals spend their lives in stocks and chains; those who steal from the public treasure go dressed in gold and purple.” – Marcius Porcius Cato How fitting for these times… Have a great weekend everyone! Share and Enjoy: You might also like:Money Quote Friday – Characters Are Steadfast Edition.Money Quote Friday – Ridiculous Yachts & Private Planes Edition.Money Quote Friday – Life Of Honest Poverty Edition.Money Quote Friday – The Real Measure Of Wealth.

  • Using Twitter To Get Better Customer Service.

    David
    19 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am
    Do you use Twitter? If no, why not? If you are not using Twitter, you may be missing out on one of the best ways to contact customer service that has ever been used. Sure, you can call a 1-800 number and sit on hold for 20 minutes…or you can find out what a company’s Twitter name is and contact them that way. I have done this on several occasions in the last 3 weeks and twice my issue was taken care of quickly and to my satisfaction. Beats calling up a customer service rep only to get handed to another one and then hung up on! (Thanks, DirecTV and Bank of America) First up,…

  • When In Doubt, Ask About A Discount.

    David
    18 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am
    As you know by now, I just finished a move to Denver, Colorado. And because I moved into a new place, there are a few things I needed to buy to make it more like “home”. I have been checking out a few stores looking for these items, and one thing I have done in every single one of them is to ask if what I am buying is going on sale anytime soon. With the holidays coming up, most stores will be cutting prices, so I wanted to make sure that what I wanted wasn’t going to be advertised next week at a much cheaper price. I found that most clerks were more than willing to tell me…

  • To Save Energy, California To Limit The Size TV You Can Buy.

    David
    17 Nov 2009 | 8:30 am
    I don’t have much to say, really, but I will say that I think this is absurd. Yes, I am an environmentalist. And yes, I am a liberal who is OK with some government regulation. But not selling certain size TV’s to customers in order to save some energy? Ridiculous. On November 18th the California Energy Commission (CEC) is scheduled to vote on a proposal that would require by 2011 flat screen energy use be reduced to 30% of the power used today, and by 2013 the energy use would be reduced to 49%. The Consumer Electronics Association says the current CEC proposal would essentially…

  • My Experience: Don’t Spend A Ton Of Money On HDMI Cables.

    David
    17 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am
    Some of you may remember that I mentioned trading in some American Express Rewards Points towards a new HDTV and a Blu-Ray player, and I finally have them all hooked up here in the new apartment. And while the cable guy brough an HDMI cable to hook the cable box to the TV, the Blu-Ray player didn’t come with one so I had to buy one for myself. So I went online to look for one and was amazed at how vastly different the prices can be! A 6 foot HDMI cable on Amazon.com can vary from $.27 all the way up to $299…I was absolutely stunned. While some are basic and some are high-speed…
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    Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning

  • First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Thoughts

    MoneyNing
    21 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    If you want to hit me, punch here. I’m numb and can’t feel it anyway. As we talked about yesterday, the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit is extended, and that even existing owners who buy will be able to get $6,500. The new requirements – signed purchase agreement by April 30, 2010 and house closed by June 30. How do you feel about that? The Cost Before you answer, here are some interesting facts: Extending the home buyer tax credit will cost $11 billion. It will further lure home buyers to purchase, some of which shouldn’t be buying in the first place. Many…

  • Home Buyer Tax Credit Expanded and Extended

    Guest Contributor
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    After a successful trial run that boosted home sales and brought buyers back to the table, the government has extended the $8,000 first-time home buyers tax credit through June 2010.   Now it’s not just first-timers who are benefiting — the president also signed off on a new $6,500 tax credit for existing homeowners who purchase a new primary residence.   Combined, the dueling tax credits may help spur even greater growth in the housing market, real estate experts say. The new version of the tax credit has the potential to stimulate the housing market even more than the old version due…

  • How To Legally Decrease The Interest Rate On Your Credit Cards (Step By Step)

    Scott Bradley
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    Whether we like it or not, having a credit card is essential to a consumer like salt is to food. Many experts tell you that over usage is bad, but life just sucks without it. But what about those interest rates? With credit easing a little bit and the economy strengthening, the once dependable method of lowering interest rates is working again. Here, we outline the steps to lower the interest rates on your credit cards so you can substantially lower your monthly payments each and every month. Step 1: Collect All Credit Card Offers That You Receive In The Mail You should be getting at least…

  • More Ways than One to Make Money Online

    MoneyNing
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    Shall we start making more money? When I set out to write this post, I was going to talk about different ways to make more money but why talk general when I can take a more focused approach and share with you what people do online specifically? I live and breath the Internet these days, so when I ask you to take some time to make more money, I’m thinking about some of these as suggestions. Blog/Website/Content I need to start here, because doing this led me to take the leap away from the 9-5. I won’t bore you with the details, because you already know what to do – Throw up a…

  • Four Things To Avoid Saying to Your Insurance Agent

    Miranda Marquit
    17 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    In many ways, insurance is a lot like a game. The goal? Trying to get a payment for a claim since you have been paying insurance for that very purpose: Protection against large expenses due to unforeseen events. However, opposing you is the insurance company, which will be on the look out for red flags and indications that fraud may be at work. What you say to your insurance agent can mean a delayed claim — or even one that ends up denied. If you want to come out on top and be the winner, here are four things to avoid saying to your insurance agent: 1. “Flooded” It is…
 
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    Money Blue Book

  • Sell Your Used Textbooks and Old Books Online

    Raymond
    16 Nov 2009 | 4:06 pm
    Selling used books online is one of the easiest ways to significantly declutter your home and earn some extra money in the process. Although it might seem like the intellectual thing to do – to have volumes of books and textbooks lining your book shelves to offer up that desirable professional-looking scholarly facade, but chances are, after you’ve read those books once you’re very unlikely to ever read the vast majority of them ever again. Thus in the name of decluttering and staying organized, why not try to downsize your personal library periodically, and make some extra…

  • Best Online Bank: Savings and Checking Accounts

    Raymond
    7 Nov 2009 | 1:11 am
    Reviews Of The Top Online Banking Options For High Interest Rates If you’re searching for a list of the best online banks to deposit your savings in, then you’ve arrived at the right place. One of the most common, if not the most often asked question I get as a personal finance blogger, is which bank I would recommend to those looking to get the best interest rate of return for their money. While some of us plow our personal savings into home mortgage payments or invest them into stocks, most of us invariably keep a certain stash into more accessible bank accounts for emergency…

  • October 2009: Net Worth, Stock Loss, and New Home Update

    Raymond
    30 Oct 2009 | 8:54 pm
    Well gang, it’s time for another networth update. For those unfamiliar with these reports, I’ve been calculating my net worth and tracking my financial progress for a few years now. The personal balance sheet numbers I report on these updates are not meant to be boastful or intended to be wantonly exhibitionist (although unfortunately I understand how they might come off as such). The purpose of following my networth changes over time is actually to inspire and encourage readers to do the same for themselves. These periodic progress updates are not only great ways to help one…

  • Get Paid To Take Free Online Paid Surveys

    Raymond
    26 Oct 2009 | 6:53 pm
    Reviews of the Best Paid Online Surveys: Avoid Internet Survey Scams If you are searching for a genuinely legitimate paid online survey, you’re at the right place. The following is a recommended list of popular online marketing firms that are offering free paid surveys and is a nice resource for people looking to make some money online from home or earn a little bit of extra cash on the side by filling out short survey questionnaires. After much research with a lot of trial and error, I’ve compiled a list of what I’ve found to be the top paid online survey programs that compensate…

  • ETrade Online Broker: Discount Brokerage Account Review

    Raymond
    15 Oct 2009 | 12:28 am
    Update: Get 100 Free Trades With This E-Trade Promo Offer I Just Found Back when I first started getting serious about investing during college, E-Trade was one of the very first online brokerage firms that I opened a trading account with. My inaugural entry into the world of investing occurred around the time of the dot com bubble in 1999 – when E-Trade wasn’t exactly known for its cheap commissions or discounted fees. At the time, one couldn’t really consider E-Trade a true discount broker – as back then, the firm catered more to the savvier advanced traders who were…
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    My 1st Million At 33 - yes, you can do it too

  • Review on the new gold ETF GDXJ & GDX

    Frugal
    13 Nov 2009 | 9:45 am
    GDXJ was debut this Wednesday. Both GDX and GDXJ (the junior companies) are offered by Van Eck. Here are the links to the company site for GDX and GDXJ. The complete weighting of the components are listed below: Fund Holdings of GDX as of 2009/11/12 Number Holding Ticker Shares Market Value % of net assets 1 Barrick Gold Corp ABX 18,718,639 $783,749,414.93 14.49% 2 Goldcorp Inc GG 14,249,524 $614,011,989.16 11.36% 3 Newmont Mining [...]

  • Missing Gold Bars at GLD ETF?

    Frugal
    30 Oct 2009 | 9:22 am
    Rob Kirby has recently alerted people at financialsense.com for the possibility of missing gold bars at GLD. Here is what he said: An alert reader I communicate with [who shall remain anonymous] has been documenting the length of the published GLD bar list: on Friday, Sept. 25 – the list was 1,381 pages long on Friday, [...]

  • Time to change your auto insurance company?

    Frugal
    17 Oct 2009 | 9:02 am
    I have noticed that Ameriprise, the auto insurance company thru Costco has been raising its price. I just have recently changed to GEICO, because when calling their sales agent, he was willing to not only match the prices from Ameriprise, but also lower the price by a little bit more. A solid proof again that [...]

  • Gold at new high in $US

    Frugal
    6 Oct 2009 | 8:57 am
    Gold broke all time record in $US today. It is a confirmation that the bull market is alive. Some people could argue that this may be a double top. That is definitely possible. However, if gold does get up to more than $1100, then I think that argument is a little weak. [...]

  • Reality check of option ARM recast

    Frugal
    5 Oct 2009 | 12:30 pm
    I have blogged about “different ways for a busted refinancing plan” back in 2006 at the height of housing market. I argued that once the housing markets fall, most of the real estate “investors” will NOT be able to refinance out of their payment troubles. It was very clear to me that a [...]
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    Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck

  • Money and Relationships

    Michael
    18 Nov 2009 | 7:49 am
    Money is often reported to be one the biggest sources of discontent in relationships.  Even if you are fortunate to share the same value system as your friend/significant other/spouse, disagreement about priorities can still cause stress. At 3PM today, the good folks at LifeTuner will be hosting a chat with Motley Fool writers Robert Brokamp and Dayana Yochim.  Topics will include: Reducing money and relationship conflicts Avoiding peer pressure overspending Recognizing how family shapes your money management Finding friends that can help you better manage your money Managing love and money…

  • Just because you’re running doesn’t mean you should take the money

    Michael
    16 Nov 2009 | 8:27 am
    Approximately half of all people cash out their retirement plan when they switch jobs. You: Well, I wasn’t going to leave my retirement plan at my old company either.  My boss was a real jerk. I don’t know your boss, but – You: He was a jerk. I jut told you that. Pay attention. We’ve all had bosses who– You: Not like this guy! Still, you can’t let emotions take over your financial decision-making.  Whether it be due to hatred of your former employer, a desire to experience some retail therapy post job loss, or just an intense desire to cut the ties as…

  • Why does the government hate people who purchased homes between June 30, 2005 and April 9, 2008?

    Michael
    13 Nov 2009 | 4:15 am
    Due to the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 signed into law on Nov. 6, 2009, the rules surrounding the first time home buyer tax credit have changed again. However, these rules only apply to homes purchased after November 6, 2009. You: What if I  purchased a home before November 6, 2009? When did you buy it? You: Between January 1, 2009 and November 6, 2009. Then you might qualify for the 2009 version of the first time home buyer tax credit. You: What about my friend who purchased a home after April 9, 2008 and the end of 2008? Your friend could qualify for the 2008…

  • The new, enhanced, home buyer tax credit – not just for first time home buyers anymore

    Michael
    11 Nov 2009 | 8:14 am
    On November 6, the first time home buyer tax credit was enhanced and updated.  Here are the changes to the 2009 version of the first time home buyer tax credit resulting from the new legislation: Deadline extended: Now you have until April 30, 2010 to establish a contract to purchase a home and June 30, 2010 to close on that home in order to receive the credit. Income limits increased: The phaseout of the credit does not begin until incomes reach $125,000 (single) and $225,000 (married filing jointly). Maximum price established: The credit is not available for homes which sell for more than…

  • The most important financial lesson

    Michael
    9 Nov 2009 | 10:57 am
    I gave a speech to more than 250 highly motivated K-12 teachers yesterday morning at the first ever National Educator Conference, presented by Jump$tart.  What a privilege to share the same stage as Sheila Bair (Chairperson of the FDIC) and Janet Bodnar (the editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine). During the Q & A after my presentation, a teacher from Ohio asked me what financial lessons I hoped my kids would learn at school. “What a great question!” I explained. Although I have no intention of moving to Ohio (Remember, I went to the University of Michigan, so…
 
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    treesfullofmoney.com

  • Credit Card Companies Peddling On My College Campus

    Ben
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:22 am
    I wanted to share my “introduction” into the world of credit cards and debt. I had just turned 18 and was a freshman in my first semester of college.  I was sitting in my dorm room one day when my roommate came in and said “hey man, did you get your free t-shirt and CD over at the cafeteria? They’re giving them away if you sign up for a credit card.” “You can sign up for a credit card in the cafeteria?” I asked, completely ignoring my roommate’s original question. “Don’t I need to have a job before I can do that?” “No, not when your in college man”, he said…

  • The Frugal Yuppie’s Car Buying Guide

    Ben
    20 Oct 2009 | 5:31 am
    With the economy in a funk, many young urban professionals (affectionately known as yuppies) are finding it harder and harder to project an image of success by driving an exotic late model car. If you are one of these vain individuals who “are what you drive” but the economy has placed the most pretentious vehicles out of your reach, don’t worry, this article is written just for you! Roll up the collar of your Lacoste polo shirt, grab yourself an ice cold bottle of Perrier sparkling water, and follow along as we review the best values in budget minded yuppie transportation each priced…

  • Credit: If You Use It, Use It Well

    Ben
    14 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am
    To many people credit cards are a necessary evil. Using credit cards unwisely can lead to significant debt, exorbitant monthly payments and eventual financial trouble. On the other hand, credit in general and credit cards specifically provide access to many of the material things we count on to provide us with a better life, and unless you have an ample supply of cash on hand, credit will play a significant role in your life. Credit allows access to large purchases and good credit affords the same buying power at better rates of interest. When used correctly, credit cards can make some of…

  • Another Goodwill Letter Success Story: Removing A Capital One Late Payment

    Ben
    8 Oct 2009 | 11:29 am
    Last week I received an email from a reader sharing her success removing late payments from her credit reports using my sample “Goodwill Letter”.  Today I am republishing her message with the hopes it will inspire other readers. I wanted to send you a note thanking you for your help and your information posted on your blog. I am trying to repair my credit in anticipation of qualifying for a home loan purchase and had gone thru a rough patch when I had some late pays (30, 60, 90’s) on a few credit cards. My husband had just finished grad school and was unemployed, I was…

  • Installing A Fireplace Ballon To Prevent Chimney Drafts

    Ben
    28 Sep 2009 | 3:43 am
    Stop cold drafts in your fireplace with a fireplace ballon plug! Sixty-five percent, or over 100 million homes, in North America are constructed with wood or gas burning fireplaces. Unfortunately there are negative side effects that the fireplace brings to a home, especially during the winter heating season. Fireplaces are energy losers. Researchers have studied this to determine the amount of heat loss through a fireplace, and the results are amazing. One research study showed that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating-energy consumption by…
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    The Baglady

  • Is the University of California still affordable?

    admin
    19 Nov 2009 | 7:03 pm
    In the last couple days thousands of students have been protesting a 32% increase in tuition at the campuses of the University of California.  They are waving signs such as “Don’t take our education away”, and “affordable education for all”.  As an alumna of UC Berkeley, here is what I think about the issue. First of all, I think that these students are just unlucky to be attending the UC system during the worst recession in several generations.  The California government operates on boom and bust cycles.  If you look at the historic tuition in the UC system,…

  • Could you save money with Obamacare?

    admin
    10 Nov 2009 | 4:42 pm
    If you have not heard, the monstrous 2000 page healthcare bill has passed in the House.  It will be debated in the Senate soon, but chances are it will pass in some form.  I am not going to go on about all the things that are wrong about it because that will take too long.  Instead, I will write about who could save money if this bill passes. First of all, this bill is going to require everyone to buy  government approved health insurance or face a penalty from the IRS.  For individual tax payers, the penalty is   2.5% of gross pay.  For businesses, the tax penalty is 8% of a…

  • Green Shoots and Change We Can Believe In

    admin
    6 Nov 2009 | 6:16 pm
    One of my friends often makes fun of government economic reports and other news by repeating the numbers reported and adding some catchphrase the Obama administration, Geithner, or Bernanke has been spewing.   His favorite phrases are “green shoots” which references Bernanke’s report that the economy is getting slightly better and the ubiquitious “change we can believe in”.  He also likes to say “lols” at the news that are really stupid and refers to generally stupid things as a “clownshow”.   Here is an example of a reading of this…

  • Five things to do for the baby before returning to work

    admin
    2 Nov 2009 | 11:04 am
    I have been at home for almost three full weeks now with the baby, and it hasn’t exactly been a vacation.   I feel like the baby needs me constantly, and when I get a moment alone I tend to fall asleep or I end up pumping out extra milk.   I have to admit that I actually wanted to go back to work on a couple days because taking care of the little one is getting pretty repetitive and I just want some time alone.  Then when I think about returning to work I also feel a bit panicked because I have no idea how I could leave the little one without missing him.  He is a little poop…

  • Thoughts on being a food dispenser

    admin
    24 Oct 2009 | 10:25 pm
    For the past week and a half my daily routine has consisted mostly of feeding the baby and sleeping while the little guy is sleeping.   I have barely had time to read the news or email.  I always knew that I would breastfeed because breast milk is “free” food for the baby and I don’t care much about what my boobs look like, but I have to admit that it is a lot harder than I thought it would be.   Everyday the little guy asks to eat more than ten times, and I feel like he is constantly attached to my boobs.   These are my thoughts on being a walking talking  milk…
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    The Dough Roller

  • Sccusesufl Peosrnal Finnace Deos Not Riqueire Perftceion

    DR
    21 Nov 2009 | 3:33 am
    Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae.The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit any porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Whlie it's not at all claer wheehtr a Cmabrigde Uinervtisy stduy rellay exsits, the concpet has treeemnduos aplpication to presoanl finncae and ivnsetnig. Get the Important Things Right: While we don't have to be perfect, we do need to get…

  • tradeMONSTER Review – Online Discount Broker

    Michael
    18 Nov 2009 | 12:11 pm
    A sister company of optionMONSTER, tradeMONSTER is the newest player in the online discount broker game.  Barron's continues to rate tradeMONSTER as a four-star broker, and while they have many similarities to other discount brokers, tradeMONSTER has no trouble setting itself apart from it's competition. tradeMONSTER's Commission Structure tradeMONSTER provides a very straight forward pricing structure, which entails a cost of $7.50 per trade and $12.50 for the first 20 options contracts, $25.00 for 50 contracts and $0.50 per additional contract thereafter. If mutual funds are your thing,…

  • Is ‘Buy and Hold’ Investing Fool’s Gold?

    DR
    17 Nov 2009 | 12:16 pm
    Last week my family had dinner with good friends of ours. After dinner our conversation turned to investing. Our friends told us about a money manager they were going to use to manage a small portion of their investment portfolio. The wife was fed up with the ‘buy and hold’ investment strategy, she told us, and was looking to become more aggressive with their investments. I cringed. The money manager charges 2% of invested assets and regularly takes short positions (bets against the market). He is also partial to ProShares, a mutual fund that uses leverage to boost returns (and losses!),…

  • Citibank to Charge Bank Account Holders Monthly Fees

    Michael
    16 Nov 2009 | 6:06 pm
    If you have a Citibank Checking or Savings account, be prepared to pay a monthly fee beginning February 1, 2010.  While monthly fees used to be waived if you had a minimum balance, or if you made bill payments from your account, those days are soon over.  However, there is still one and only one saving grace to avoid the monthly charge on your Citibank account and that is if you have direct deposit set up and are receiving funds through this method at least once a month. The new fees come in response to credit card legislation which severely hampers the way credit card issuers generate…

  • 5 Reasons Why You Are Not Wealthy

    Michael
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:34 am
    Ever see that person driving around in the nice luxury car and wonder why you don't have one like that? Or you can't understand why your home isn't as nice as the one across town? Maybe you can't figure out how you have so many bills to pay and so little to show for it in the bank? Face it, you aren't wealthy; at least not now.  If you aren't careful and watch out for these five reasons then you won't be wealthy tomorrow either. 1. You spend more than you earn. It's quite simple; if your outflow of money is more than your inflow then you're in debt. That's what's happening when you spend…
 
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    Moolanomy Personal Finance

  • Pocketsmith Review and Giveaway

    Kelly Whalen (Staff Writer)
    19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm
    PocketSmith is an online personal finance management tool with some unique features. It features a calendar that allows you to add events, multiple calendars, and forecasts how much cash you will have over the next year. Like other personal finance or budgeting sites, you upload transactions to the site from various accounts and are able to see all your transactions in one place. Combining personal finance budgeting software with calendars and the forecast graph creates a unique view of your money. Instead of focusing on the past, PocketSmith allows you to focus on your future. PocketSmith…

  • How To Have A Wonderful Yet Frugal Thanksgiving

    Kelly Whalen (Staff Writer)
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm
    Thanksgiving is only a few days away, and for some of us, financial concerns are more prominent this year than any other years in the past. However, that’s not what Thanksgiving is all about. Regardless of your financial means, you could have a wonderful and inexpensive Thanksgiving. In this article, I am going to cover various aspect of Thanksgiving celebration and share some ideas with you. Hopefully, you can find a fun and frugal way to enjoy yours. Photo by EraPhernalia via Flickr The Place Where you celebrate the holiday will determine whether it’s a fairly inexpensive day,…

  • Help Yourself, Not The Economy

    Kevin (Staff Writer)
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm
    There is a tug of war going on over your money right now.  When you sit down and think about it, you know that you should save your money, pay off your debt and provide for your future.  Unfortunately there are other forces coming after your money.  Not only do you have to deal with the regular advertisements that do everything possible to get you to part with your money in exchange for a shiny new gadget, but now you have to deal with an even bigger force: the U.S. government. Photo by stuartpilbrow via Flickr The U.S. government has declared war on saving since the recession began. …

  • Holiday Shopping: Tips for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

    Miranda Marquit (Staff Writer)
    16 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm
    Chances are, you are already planning your holiday shopping. You might even be looking ahead toward Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With retailers still trying to lure customers into spending, this year offers the potential for some great deals on the biggest shopping days of the year. Here are some shopping tips that can help you get through the mess and score the deals. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Black Friday This day is famous for ridiculous door-busters, long lines and emergency room visits by the trampled. While there isn’t much you can do to avoid the frenzy (other than stay…

  • Tips On Buying A New Computer

    Craig Kessler (Staff Writer)
    15 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm
    A computer these days is almost a necessity for everyone, and an expensive necessity at that. Whether for fun or for work, it is not uncommon to see multiple computers in a household. More and more people are even purchasing laptops for their size and convenience. Purchasing a computer can be tricky and intimidating with all the jargon salesmen might throw out at you when in the store. With such an expensive purchase, you want to be precise and happy with your buying experience. I had a Gateway laptop going into college and used it all the time for school, work, music, and games. After 5…
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    Fabulous Financials

  • Contemplating a Big Financial Move

    Single Ma
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:38 am
    I’ve been contemplating a big financial move.  Right now, it’s just an idea floating around in my head and I’m thinking out loud on the blog.  However, I need to make a final decision soon and take action (if any) by December 31st. I’ve considered using my savings to pay off my second mortgage.  The current balance is just under $50k at a fixed rate of 7.875%. This makes financial sense to me because: 1. If I pay off the second mortgage, my home value will be right side up again. With only the first mortgage remaining, my LTV will be less than 80%. 2. With an LTV…

  • We’re Almost College Bound!

    Single Ma
    13 Nov 2009 | 5:31 am
    [image credit] After an intense 8 week prep course, BabyGirl took the SAT a second time and improved her scores by 110 points.  Most of the improvement was on the writing portion, but the math score improved a little bit too.  We’re satisfied with the score, it’s in the scholarship range, so we don’t plan to test again.  BabyGirl is relieved and my pockets are too. We’ve finalized the list of schools she’d like to attend and she’s already applied to two of them online.  We’re attending the Fall Open House for her top school this weekend and…

  • Money Gossip: Overhead Money Conversation Between Two Teenagers

    Single Ma
    12 Nov 2009 | 2:24 pm
    I was standing in line at Starbucks and overheard two teenage boys talking about money.  They were both well dressed kids, “looked” smart (cussed like sailors though), and I assume they live in my neighborhood, which is pretty affluent.  So I was surprised by what I heard: Kid #1: Yo, which colleges are you applying to this year? Kid #2: (seemed irritated) Man, I told you. I’m not going to college. Kid #1: I know that’s what you said, but I thought you were just f*cking around ’cause your parents were riding you that day. Kid #2: No a**hole, I was serious!

  • If Cash is King, I Want It Dethroned

    Single Ma
    12 Nov 2009 | 5:25 am
    This cash only trial isn’t working too well for me.  Going cash only will require a complete lifestyle adjustment because I happen to like using my credit card for everything.  For example: 1 – When BabyGirl completed her first college application online (yay!), I handed her my credit card.  I’m not comfortable using a debit card for online purchases. 2 – When I stopped for gas, I whipped out my credit card.  I’m not comfortable with the extra hold they place on your funds when using a debit card for fuel purchases. 3 – To curb the urge, I even removed…

  • My Dumbest Financial Decision…Lately

    Single Ma
    11 Nov 2009 | 5:35 am
    I’ve made plenty of dumb decisions in my life.  But last week, I think I did the dumbest thing…ever.  Ok, maybe not the dumbEST, but it was pretty high up there.  Wanna know what I did?  Good, ’cause I was gonna tell you anyway.  But you can’t tell noooooo-body!  I have a reputation to uphold, ya know. LOL  See, what had happened was…the story is guaranteed to be good if it starts like that. LOL I bought a dining coupon from restaurant.com last November and it was scheduled to expire this month.  I bought it during one of those 90% off deals.  You know…
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    Gather Little by Little - Personal Finance with a Christian Perspective

  • Friday Gathering: My favorite holiday is right around the corner!

    Stew
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Some of us are going to be seeing a lot of traffic lights over the next week or so . . . Here are some articles that I like: A great article from Kevin at Moolanomy where he challenges us to help ourselves, not the economy. He is right. Our government needs us to spend money. They want us to spend money, even if it is not in our best interests. I say that they need to balance their own books. Being Frugal recommends using Smarty Pig to save for Christmas next year. That particular type of account has some interesting applications. Peter at Bible Money Matters suggests 50 frugal gifts that you…

  • Talking Money with your (future) wife

    Mike
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:33 am
    As I had written a few weeks ago, a good friend of mine is getting married in early 2010. Being a financial planner, I always find it interesting to see how couples deal with money. It is often overlooked but it shouldn’t be. Studies have shown that financial corners and disputes rank at the top of the reasons for separation/divorce. It’s a lot more complex than most people think and it’s so easy to overlook when you are in love and visualizing the wedding, your honeymoon and all the other good stuff that is to come. There are an infinite number of ways that family finances…

  • Carnival of Money Hackers – My Money Success Edition

    Mike
    18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am
    Hey! Another Carnival at GLBL! Don’t worry; this is the last one until the Carnival of Personal Finance at the end of the year Along with the Carnival, I’ve decided to share a few of my money successes. After sharing my money flaws last week, I also wanted to share some financial achievements from the past year. Handling personal finance is not always easy and it is important to acknowledge our failures yet it is even more important to acknowledge success! But before we start, here are a few good readings from GLBL: - 15 Uses for Coffee Filters - Dave Ramsey’s Gazelle Budget -…

  • More discussion on the homeschool issue

    Stew
    17 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    There were so many questions from yesterday’s post on Homeschool Finance, that I decided to do a follow-up post today and explain a few things: Mike asked: Have you calculated the option cost of having your spouse at home teaching your children instead of working full time or part time? Good question. My wife stays home with the kids and actually makes money by watching other children in our home. Some of you will remember that Mrs. Stew almost worked outside the home this year, but we were going to get free tuition/preschool for our children as a benefit to her job. At the last minute…

  • Homeschool Finance

    Stew
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    When my wife and I started to have children, we never thought that we would end up as homeschoolers. This year we are just that. We have a first grader and a kindergartener and we are educating them at home. I do not want to get into a long discussion about the pros and cons of homeschool v private school v government school. The bottom line is that we believe this is best for our children at this point in time and in the future, circumstances might change that will cause us to reconcider and possibly even choose one of the other options. Today, I just want to talk about the financial aspect…
 
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    Hustler Money Blog

  • Harris Bank $150 Bonus No DD Requirement

    Hu$tler
    20 Nov 2009 | 1:47 pm
    Enjoy getting free bank bonus money? I do too but I hate doing direct deposit. Here’s a $150 bank bonus from Harris bank without direct deposit.  Open a Harris interest checking account with $100 opening deposit with direct deposit or at least 5 online bill payments within  60 days of account opening. This can be easily done with just doing 5 billpays. I simply set my 3 credit cards, sprint bill, and electricity bill and sent $5 to each account. You must add the Harris savings account and the Auto Save option. There is also $100 Dining Dough bonus which equals to $100 in coupons.

  • Chase Sapphire Card 10,000 Bonus Points

    Hu$tler
    19 Nov 2009 | 7:34 pm
    I believe we might be coming back from a recession. How do I know? I notice credit cards bonuses been on the rise lately. Currently, Chase Sapphire(SM) Card is giving away 10,000 Bonus Points after first purchase. The 10,000 bonus points can be cashed in for a $100 check. There is no annual fee with the Chase Sapphire Card. Once you apply for the Chase Sapphire Card, then make one purchase to get 10,000 points. Do the following to cash out: - Call Ultimate Rewards Redemption Center at 1-800-610-5676 - Enter in CC# and zip code when prompted — the automated voice prompt should verbally…

  • Chase British Airways 100,000 Bonus Miles

    Hu$tler
    18 Nov 2009 | 9:20 am
    Want to go to Europe round-trip on less than $400? The Chase British Airways Visa Signature card is giving away 50,000 BA Executive Club miles for new cardmembers with first purchase. The free 50,000 British Airways miles is good enough for an economy class transatlantic flight from USA to Europe Zone 1. This includes the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland. Why the $400 cost even though it’s a free flight? Taxes and fees. Also, get another 50,000 BA miles after spending $2,000 within 3 months which would give you another free…

  • $50 AmEx GC Cadillac Test Drive

    Hu$tler
    17 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am
    Visit a participating Cadillac dealership and test drive any of the vehicles to receive a $50 American Express gift card. This offer has been reported for most people in the Northeast. Now I have done test drives in the past whereas I tell point blank that I am here for the gift card promotion. If they know you are only here for the gift card, then most likely, they won’t make you do an actual test drive and still get the gift card. You will still need the dealer code to get your $50 gift card. Quick Free FICO Score and Report MyFico is giving your credit Score Watch and report Free…

  • Turn $40 into a $50 Gift Card

    Hu$tler
    15 Nov 2009 | 11:43 am
    Go to a local bank and ask for $40 in quarters. Then visit a coin-changing machine operator CoinStar at your local Supermarket or a Walmart to exchange for a $40 gift card. There is a promotion from Coinstar whereas you get an extra $10 gift card by mail. Some of the popular gift cards are Lowe’s, Amazon.com, Starbucks, etc. From the website: Obtain an official claim form when you convert in a single transaction at least 40 U.S. dollars (in coins only) into a gift card or eCertificate at participating Coinstar Centers. The claim form will be displayed at the end of qualified Coinstar®…
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    American Consumer News

  • Consumers Lose on Hair Loss Company

    tisha
    15 Nov 2009 | 7:58 am
    Hair loss can be a traumatic experience for a man or a woman.  Most people would do anything or spend any amount of money to re-grow thinning or balding hair.  Looking for a natural cure to hair loss, many Illinois consumers turned to the Natural Hair Growth Institute headquartered in Chicago.  The company claims its products can re-grow hair without the use of chemicals, drugs, hair pieces, or transplants.  It uses a combination of laser light therapy, scalp massage, and topical hair products which the company guarantees will grow back hair within 6 months or it will refund the treatment…

  • Travel During The Holidays and Pay Double for Your Stuff

    tisha
    14 Nov 2009 | 7:52 am
    With the holiday season already being touted in stores playing Christmas songs, it may be that time to start checking into the travel costs for gathering with family and friends. As travel costs continue to steadily increase, travelers this holiday season can expect to pay double or more just to take their luggage with them. Airlines have found they can earn the extra profit using surcharges during peak travel days surrounding the holidays. Airlines like Northwest, American, Delta and United have now doubled the cost of the ticket surcharges. During such peak travel times, fliers can expect…

  • Overuse of Household Sanitizers Could Cause Health Problems

    trisha
    12 Nov 2009 | 8:22 am
    Our homes can never be too clean, right? Thanks to research and technology we now know a lot more about germs, disease and preventing the spread of sickness than generations that came before us. As a result many homes are stocked with sanitizers and disinfectants that can be used to clean all surfaces and fabrics to ensure our environment is free of dirt and germs. In fact, some products contain chemicals that were originally designed to disinfect hospitals and operating rooms. While this may seem like a good thing, recent studies have suggested that these powerful cleaning agents can…

  • Worst is Yet to Come With Possible “Double-Dip” Recession

    Debbie Dragon
    12 Nov 2009 | 7:17 am
    The outlook on the recession continues to be bleak. With another 200,000 jobs lost in October, 2009, the unemployment rate now sits at 10.2%. According to the New York Daily News, if you figure in the partially employed and “discouraged” workers, the figure actually sits at 17.5%. The numbers are bleak, and not looking to improve anytime soon. Now, President Obama, according to Reuters, is warning of another financial crisis known as a double-dip recession. While on a trip to China, he warned the United States about the need to control the rapidly rising deficits the country is facing.

  • Thanksgiving is the Busiest day for Travel: Here’s How Traveling in 2009 is Different

    Debbie Dragon
    11 Nov 2009 | 5:56 pm
    Thanksgiving is traditionally the most traveled holiday of the year. Digital marketing firm Zeta Interactive conducted a survey and found that 84% of people are positive about holiday travel – with buzz words like “enjoy”, “rest” and “relax” surrounding blog posts about 2009 travel plans. Last year, the same marketing firm found only about 68% of people had positive opinions about the upcoming holiday travel season. Despite the positive outlook, the 2009 holiday travel season will differ from previous years in a variety of ways, including: Traveling because you have to – this…
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    Cash Money Life

  • $100 ShareBuilder Bonus for Account Transfers

    Patrick
    18 Nov 2009 | 9:15 pm
    ShareBuilder is offering customers a $100 cash bonus if they transfer their account from a competing brokerage. This offer is available to new and current customers. Many account transfer offers are only available to new customers at the time of account opening, making this a more unique deal. To qualify for the $100 ShareBuilder bonus you have to transfer your entire account balance to ShareBuilder from a competing brokerage (minimum of $500). You must provide a copy of your most recent brokerage account statement for ShareBuilder to verify you are transferring your entire account.

  • Individual Health Insurance vs. Group Health Insurance

    Guest Contributor
    18 Nov 2009 | 2:16 am
    While the title of this article may sound fairly straightforward there is actually quite a bit of misconception floating around when it comes to comparing individual health insurance vs. group health insurance. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between the two major types of health insurance coverage in the United States and see if maybe you can pick up a few things that will help you understand what the best way to find affordable health insurance coverage really is for your specific situation. Defining the Two Types of Coverage I will certainly not take it for granted that…

  • Gift Cards – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

    Patrick
    17 Nov 2009 | 2:54 am
    Gift cards are a multi-billion dollar business and one of the most popular gifts for Christmas, birthdays, and other events. It’s easy to see why – some people are notoriously difficult to shop for, and others prefer to do their own shopping. But not all gift cards are created equally. What to look for when giving gift cards this holiday season Before making your purchase, you should realize there are pros and cons to giving gift cards: They are convenient and easier to ship than gifts, but they are also impersonal and may come with unpleasant surprises like fees, inactivity…

  • 5 Ways That Inertia Costs You Thousands

    Patrick
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:12 am
    People are lazy by nature. I know, I’m guilty of it myself. It’s too easy to set up a process, get it running smoothly, and forget about it. Unfortunately, leaving things in a state of inertia can cost us money. But the good news is that there are probably dozens of things you can do in a few minutes that will benefit your bottom line. Save and earn thousands with these tips These tips are broad in nature, and can help you save or earn thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime, or even over the course of a few years. Not every one of these tips may apply to your specific…

  • Write for Cash Money Life

    Patrick
    15 Nov 2009 | 4:50 am
    I am always looking for new writers to expand the boundaries here at Cash Money Life. Additional writers help extend the conversation and add other viewpoints to this website, which is great for everyone! Benefits of writing for Cash Money Life Writing for Cash Money Life is a great opportunity to share your experience with a large readership and gain experience and feedback about your writing. If you are a blogger or writer, this is a great way to build your professional portfolio and/or drive traffic to your website. Writing opportunities I am interested in publishing articles by guest…
 
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    Grad Money Matters

  • 10 Things You Should Know Before You Get an Auto Loan

    18 Nov 2009 | 7:53 pm
    (This is a guest article by Karen Schweitzer*)Car dealers are working very hard to make sure that auto sales rebound over the winter season. And while it may seem like the ideal time to buy a new car, there are a few things you should know before you get an auto loan:You Will be Subjected to a Credit CheckAlthough there are some car dealers who are willing to finance buyers without a credit check, most will not. If you get a loan through the dealer or through a bank, you will be subjected to a credit check. Lenders will evaluate your debt-to-income ratio as well as your credit score before…

  • 10 Simple Steps to Improving Your Credit Score

    8 Nov 2009 | 6:28 am
    (This is a guest article by Mike Acheson*)Most financial institutions use credit scores to help decide whether to lend you money or not. It is very important to have a good credit score if you are looking to apply for a personal loan, credit card, or a mortgage. It can be the single determining factor for many banks and credit card companies. In the US, the average credit score is somewhere around 650-675 but most banks consider anything above 700 to be a good score. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to improve your credit score. The first step is to search the Internet to…

  • 5 Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Premiums

    2 Nov 2009 | 8:10 pm
    (This is a guest article*)With auto insurance being mandatory for all drivers, simply canceling coverage is out of the question. But paying for premiums that could be lower when you’re just starting to make some dough isn’t smart either, especially since student loans and other expenses loom. Auto insurance premiums can be especially daunting if your parents were taking care of them while you were in school. Fortunately, there is hope for the struggling grad and you may be able to hold on to more of your hard-earned cash. Do smart comparison shoppingBefore you decide to stick with your…

  • 15 Free Online Accounting Courses for Self-Learners

    23 Oct 2009 | 12:02 pm
    (This is a guest article by Karen Schweitzer*)Getting a quality education in accounting doesn't have to mean spending several months in a classroom and several thousand on tuition. There are many free online courses that allow you to learn in your spare time and at your own pace. Here is a list of 15 free online accounting courses from top-notch colleges, universities, and educational institutions: Financial Accounting - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) provides a variety of free courses for self-learners including this Financial Accounting course. The free online course…

  • 7 Easy Ways to Save on Healthcare

    25 Sep 2009 | 9:21 pm
    (This is a guest article by Mary Ward*)Healthcare costs are among one of today’s hottest topics. And, one thing that’s not up for debate is the fact that, whether you have employer provided healthcare or you’re paying for it on your own, costs have risen dramatically in the last few years. In fact, costs have risen so dramatically that many small businesses have had to cut health insurance for their employees, or at least reduce the benefits they pay for, and new businesses have difficulty adding this benefit for their workers. More people are paying for their own healthcare insurance…
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    brip blap

  • too busy for vacation

    Steve
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:59 am
    When I worked in Germany I was surprised to see that most German companies shut down for at least a couple of weeks in August. I don’t mean that most of the employees stayed away, or that business continued remotely. The accepted cultural norm was just to shut down, turn off the lights, set up out-of-office emails and leave. Everyone.  The whole office, except for a few IT guys.  Yet I see employees here in America postpone vacations because they are “too busy.” I suspect, however, that they are not “too busy,” and that there are more sinister psychological factors at work. So why…

  • How to Fix Up Your Resume (guest post)

    Guest Writer
    16 Nov 2009 | 8:19 pm
    In a job market like this, it’s not surprising that one open position can receive many, many resumes. Often, your resume might have just a few seconds to make an impression. And that can be difference between getting in your foot in the door or getting that door getting slammed in your face. Here are a variety of ways to make your resume better: Formatting – When used appropriately, bullets and bolding make a huge difference. The perspective employer  isn’t going read one long paragraph.  You may have noticed that this article is written with scannability in mind. Grammar…

  • linklings, the lady gaga edition

    Steve
    15 Nov 2009 | 6:48 pm
    I’m sure this happens to everyone. You hear a song and it sticks in your head.  You may not even like the song.  You may even DISLIKE the song.  Yet you can’t shake it.  You try to play Macarena, or Ice Ice Baby, just to dislodge one awful song from your brain by lodging another.  It doesn’t work.  Welcome to my weekend, which was centered around Lady Ga-Ga (or however she punctuates her name) and her latest tune-mangling.  Enjoy the video.  I know I have permanently traumatized my kids by wandering around the home muttering “ra ra romanza!” all weekend.  Please…

  • the bucket list

    Steve
    12 Nov 2009 | 6:21 pm
    I saw the movie “The Bucket List” and, to put it charitably, I sneered. It was a tear-jerker, a four-hankie sobfest and I didn’t care for the moralistic tone.  Yet the more I thought about it, I wondered why it was such a bad idea, despite the silly movie.  Why shouldn’t we have a bucket list? Depending on what day of the week you catch me on, I’ll have one of three ideas about the reason for human life: Continuation of the species (with the admittedly naive caveat that it should be continued AND improved, not just continued) Creation of art, exploration of the universe and better…

  • how to manage money

    Steve
    9 Nov 2009 | 6:19 pm
    I have an account – several, actually – with TD Ameritrade.  I like TD Ameritrade well enough.  The fees are reasonable for trading and they have a fairly user-friendly interface.  I manage my own money so I’m not looking for many bells and whistles. Yet every time a trickle of money enters my account, they call.  If I make a shift in my investments, they call.  The simple fact?  I don’t need help.  I have a simple investing strategy that anyone can follow.  It’s not original to me, but it’s barely original to anyone else, either. I split my…
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    Think Your Way to Wealth

  • New Bank Overdraft Fee Regulations- Will They Have the Desired Effect?

    RC
    13 Nov 2009 | 6:40 pm
    The Federal Reserve passed new regulations last week requiring banks that issue debit cards to let consumers choose whether they want to pay overdraft fees for debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals and have the charge,  purchase, or withdrawal  go through even if they don’t have sufficient funds, or have it declined. This effectively makes consumers  “opt-in” to pay overdraft fees. This move by the Fed comes at a time when Congress is considering even tighter restrictions on the amount and frequency that banks can charge consumers for overdraft fees. The new rules take…

  • Living On One Income- Tips for Going From Two Incomes to One

    RC
    11 Nov 2009 | 8:48 pm
    Living on one income can be a scary thought, particularly if it not something you choose to do but is forced upon you due to the loss of a job or other life event. Even if it is totally planned, it can be a daunting thought that a portion of your household income (even if it is not a large portion) will soon not be coming in to help pay the bills. I know a thing or two about living on one income, as my wife and I have been a one income family for a little over 4 years now and my wife has been a stay at home mom (a very hardworking SAHM, I might add) since that time. My wife didn’t get…

  • $6500 Tax Credit for Existing Homeowners Who Purchase New Home Signed into Law, Not Retroactive, $8000 New Homebuyer Credit Extended

    RC
    9 Nov 2009 | 4:32 am
    The $6500 home buyer tax credit for existing homeowners who purchase a new home and the extension of the $8000 first time home buyer’s tax credit were signed into law on Friday. The official bill, the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama on Friday, after being passed by both houses of Congress earlier in the week. The newly available $6500 tax credit for existing home buyers who purchase a new home (must be a primary residence) between November 7th, 2009 extends until April 30th, 2010. A home must be under contract by the April…

  • Fixing Financial Leaks in Your Life

    RC
    3 Nov 2009 | 9:15 pm
    Every so often, as I am standing at the bathroom sink early in the morning getting ready for work, I hear a familiar sound- Drip, drip, drip, drip…. I know where it it coming from, it is the bathtub faucet. If my wife or I forget to turn the faucet fairly tight after giving the kids their baths the night before, the faucet will drip- (I usually blame it on my wife). There does not really appear to be anything wrong with the faucet, but if it is not tightened just enough, it will leak-just a little. If either of us forgets to consciously turn the faucet off with a little extra effort, we…

  • Save Money by Practicing Moderation in Your Life

    RC
    21 Oct 2009 | 3:57 am
    Somewhere between living in a frivolous manner and grossly overspending and living a spartan, miserly lifestyle there is a happy medium. That happy medium is sometimes called….. Doing things in Moderation. Consuming or spending in moderation in certain areas of your life can be a great way to save money and spend less without feeling like you are sacrificing ” the living” of your life. For some people, when they decide to cut back in certain areas, focusing on the longer term goals, such as financial freedom, living debt free, or having a comfortable retirement can be…
 
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    Poorer Than You

  • Fees Suck – Don’t Pay Them

    Stephanie
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    Even the word “fees” stinks. Think about it: it sort of reminds you of the word “fleas” (another terrible thing), and when you say the word “fees,” your face twists up into a terrible grimace to get the “ees” sound out. Don’t believe me? Go say the word “fees” into a mirror, and you’ll see what I mean. You look stupid when you say it. While we’re avoiding saying the word “fees” so that we don’t look silly, let’s avoid paying them as well, shall we? Because by definition, fees are something you shouldn’t have to pay – they’re a price for nothing.

  • Three Quick Financial Fixes for College Students

    Guest Author
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:03 pm
    Stephanie is still sick, but recovering and will be back soon. In the meantime, we have a very special guest poster: Jim Wang! Jim writes about personal finance and other money issues at his personal finance blog Bargaineering.com. We all know what it’s like to be busy. Whether you’re taking classes or working a 9-to-5, it’s difficult to take a look at your finances when you have so many other things to worry about. Between assignments, long projects, tests, and reviews, it’s understandable that your money issues take a back seat to the things you have to do to make…

  • Can you be sued for credit card debts?

    Guest Author
    11 Nov 2009 | 11:48 am
    Stephanie is sick! Don’t worry, she’s drinking plenty of fluids and getting lots of rest, and will be back to writing next week. In the mean time, here’s a guest post to hold you over! Michelle Taylor is a financial writer and specializes in debt related problems. She has guided many people to pay off debt. Some of the topics she writes about are debt consolidation, debt settlement, credit card consolidation and debt-free. You may have come across troubled debtors asking “Can you be sued for credit card debts?” The answer is yes, but only under certain conditions.

  • Why You Should Join a Credit Union

    Guest Author
    4 Nov 2009 | 4:39 am
    The following guest post was contributed by Christine Howell, who frequently writes about Online Finance Degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, an online college directory and comparison website. Credit unions have been around since the 1840s when a group of weavers in England banded together to form the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers. Credit unions continue to be pioneers in the financial world, providing a level of service to their members that traditional financial institutions cannot match. But why should you join a credit union? Here’s what’s in it for…

  • Net Worth Update: October 2009

    Stephanie
    1 Nov 2009 | 9:24 am
    Did it go up? Did it go up?!? Did it go UP?!? Oh yes, it went up! Change: $112 or 0.29 % Finally, a little breathing room! The last few months of moving and not finding full-time work right away really took a toll on me emotionally – and on my finances. But, things are starting to come solidly come together! Work: Income is a little funny right now. I’ve got a huge freelancing job that’s 40+ hours a week, and the clients are pretty awesome. I love working with them. But, I still have to be careful about money. Because I’m an “independent contractor,” I have to take care of taxes…
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    The Wisdom Journal

  • Too Much Information?

    Ron
    20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    Do you realize how much of what you consider “personal information” is actually out there in the form of “public information?” With the advent of the Internet, courthouses are able to compile vast quantities of data on just about anyone and anything. Some companies do all the digital legwork and build large databases with this public information. By using a company like NetSleuth anyone can research public information databases in courthouses and other venues around the country on your: Employment Background Address history Professional licenses Marriage and divorce records Parents…

  • Roundup and Link Love: Sunny Orlando Edition

    Ron
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    I spent the week in Orlando on business and have decided to return with my family for Christmas this year. Woo Hoo! The weather was awesome and Disney/Sea World is calling! We plan to use our Christmas Club money from our ING savings account to pay for most of it. If you haven’t set up a dedicated account for Christmas spending, DO IT today and save for the 2010 season. I can guarantee you won’t regret saving that money. Enjoy these links from around the blogosphere after you’ve set up that savings account with ING! How to Buy Life Insurance – Buying life insurance can…

  • How To Fight Your Health Insurance Claim Denial

    Ron
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    When a health insurer denies a claim, most people complain to their circle of friends and family, then roll over and accept it, arranging payments and resenting every minute of it. It was bad enough you had to wear that hospital gown, now the humiliation continues? After all, what can anyone do to fight against the big insurers and hospitals? Plenty. If you have health insurance through your employer, your human resources department may be willing to work through the claim and find a resolution. If not, or if your human resources department is just one person with a room full of file…

  • A Few Of My Favorite Books

    Ron
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    A friend asked how many books I had read over the past few years, wanting a recommendation for something to read over the holidays. I had to pause a few minutes to think about the answer and was more than a little surprised to tell him the number: fifty-four — since January of 2008. “Fifty-four?” he asked, “Well, which were your favorites then?” “That’s almost like asking which of my three children I love the most,” I kidded. “I’ll make a list and email it to you.” This article is the result of that email (and these are in no particular order). My Favorite Books…

  • 3 Claims Sure To Jack Up Your Homeowner’s Insurance Premiums

    Ron
    16 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    When you go through a catastrophic incident, making the decision to file a claim on your homeowners insurance is a simple issue. In other cases, it’s a little risky because you could put your name into a database that makes it difficult to obtain or even maintain coverage in the future. Insurance exists to provide you peace of mind and to empower you financially to restore your home to its original state before the homeowners insurance claim. According to my homeowner’s agent, there are three types of claims that could potentially put your name into one of the two major databases that…
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    Everybody Loves Your Money

  • Nicolas Cage Should Read Personal Finance Blogs

    Hazzard
    18 Nov 2009 | 10:54 am
    I’ve been lightly following Nicolas Cage’s money problems over the last few months. It’s always a little bit surprising to see someone who has clearly made many millions over his lifetime deal with such large financial problems that he’s forced to sell many of his assets. When you look at the assets that he has acquired, it starts to become pretty clear why he’s in financial difficulty. Here are just a few of the things that Nicolas Cage has purchased: Two castles 15 palatial homes A number of yachts and Rolls Royces I can only imagine how much he has spent…

  • ELYM Update – Swine Flu Edition

    Hazzard
    15 Nov 2009 | 2:43 pm
    I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I’ve been very busy at work making sure that I keep my spot on the competitive “large institution” roster. There has been a ton going on at work and it’s only going to get crazier as we end the year. On the home front things are smelling rather porkish. We knew it was only a matter of time before we started coming down with swine flu as it worked it’s way around our 1st grader’s class. It finally hit. My daughter is sitting on the couch getting to watch more TV than usual and is in remarkably good spirits…

  • What is the Unemployment Rate for Your Age, Sex, Education Level?

    Hazzard
    7 Nov 2009 | 9:36 pm
    The New York Times has an absolutely top notch interactive feature that lets you look at unemployment rates for various demographics. While I sometimes find myself getting a bit stressed at how high the unemployment rate is, when I punch in my age, sex, race etc, I find that my unemployment rate is 3.9%. While that makes me feel a bit more at ease for myself, the fact of the matter is, our economy is in a world of hurt right now with the general unemployment rate over 10%. Anyway, I highly recommend checking out the link:…

  • Cost of Living in 1972

    Hazzard
    23 Oct 2009 | 5:35 am
    David over at My Two Dollars has a great post talking about the value of items in 1972. It’s always shocking to me to see the prices from only 37 years ago. Here are a couple examples: Avg house: $27600 Tuition to Harvard: $2800 One of the commenters noted that housing was only 2.3 times the avg salary back then and today it’s about 3.7 times. Very interesting…… Anyway, go check out My Two Dollars and see the rest of the figures. David is a good writer and definitely worthy of your RSS reader.

  • 62% of Students Getting Free or Reduced Lunch!

    Hazzard
    21 Oct 2009 | 5:29 am
    I find this absolutely alarming. Over 60% of students getting free or reduced lunch across the country? WOW! http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=227970
 
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    CreditCards.com

  • Emily's list: Children's Day edition

    Emily Starbuck Gerson
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:09 am
    National Children's Day is celebrated on different days in various countries across the world. International Children's Day is on June 1, but today is something special -- it's Universal Children's Day. The holiday was first proclaimed in 1954 by the United Nations General Assembly. It was created in hopes that countries would create their own children's day as a way to celebrate childhood and to encourage an understanding and mutual understanding between children. One of the greatest things my parents did for me as a kid was teach me about saving and spending from a young age. They started a…

  • Senate looking to crack down on deceptive marketing

    Tyler Metzger
    19 Nov 2009 | 1:46 pm
    Always remember someone's name. Trust me -- it could save you at least $19.95. It happened like this: I put an ad on Craigslist looking for a synthesizer. I got a few phone calls from peeps saying they had one, and one person left a message saying he had the exact one I wanted for a baller price. So I returned the call. No answer. I called again. No answer. Being the savvy consumer I am, I figured I'd try a different route to track down this deal. But I couldn't remember the guy's name. I Googled the number, and it brought me to PeopleLookup.com. The Web site said it would give me the name,…

  • In an about-face, NYC cabbies now say they love plastic

    Jeremy Simon
    10 Nov 2009 | 12:30 pm
    For nearly two years, news reports have chronicled New York City cab drivers' love-hate relationship with credit cards -- with an emphasis on the hate. In an abrupt shift, NYC cabbies are now confessing a change of heart toward plastic payments. Why the warming trend? According a report by the New York Times, taxi drivers' turnaround largely boils down to one thing: money. Cabbies' displayed early anger over having to take credit cards. Now, The Times writes: "[T]wo years later, the back-of-the-cab swipe has emerged as an unlikely savior for New York's taxi industry, even as other cities'…

  • Gift card blog post makes cat-centric carnival

    Jeremy Simon
    9 Nov 2009 | 2:27 pm
    Although I knew cats have established a home on the Internet, I was shamefully unaware of the feline finance category -- until today.That's when I saw my blog post, "How to check your gift card balance without leaving home," was included in the Carnival of 20-Something Finances: Cats Love Money edition. What's a blog carnival, you ask? Essentially, carnivals collect links to various blogs united by a central topic (in this case, personal finance), with the carnival hosted at a different site each week.If you want to read some great posts about personal finance, look at pictures of cats…

  • My credit card life living at the Carnival of PF, too

    Tyler Metzger
    9 Nov 2009 | 6:45 am
    A blog post I wrote last week detailing my credit card use for more than a year has a second home. The article, "My credit card life in 4 squiggly lines," is living at this week's Carnival of Personal Finance hosted by Canadian Finance Blog. The carnival, which travels from blog to blog each week, showcases the best personal finance articles the Tubes have to offer. So if you haven't already, be sure to give my post a read, and then check out some of the other great articles at the carnival. Happy Monday reading!
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    Four Pillars

  • Write For Four Pillars

    Mike
    20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am
    I get a lot of requests to do guest posts for Four Pillars so I thought I would publicize some guidelines for these.   As well, I’m also interested in paid writers as well. Benefits of writing for Four Pillars Writing for Four Pillars is a great opportunity to share your experience and knowledge with a large readership and gain experience and feedback about your writing. If you are a blogger or writer, this is a great way to build your professional portfolio and/or drive traffic to your website. Writing opportunities I am interested in publishing articles by guest authors as well as…

  • Blending Investment and Labour Income

    Mr. Cheap
    19 Nov 2009 | 2:24 am
    One and a half years ago I did a post about Labour vs. Investment Income and Mike did a post about Do You Really Earn Your Investment Income? The point of both of our posts was that there is an expected investment return (ROI) that an investor can’t really take credit for.  If you match the average market return, have you proven your skill as an investor, or have you just been in the pool when the water level went up for everyone?  In my post I focused more on whether you want to improving your ROI or on just increasing your income, depending on how much you have to invest. Beyond…

  • Baby Car Seat Cover – Puke Fail

    Mike
    18 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    Some delicate harness work. Recently my daughter puked in the car.  On herself, on the car seat and a little bit on the car itself.  Was it a mild case of H1N1 flu?  Too much Halloween candy?  Who knows?  And it doesn’t really matter – bottom line is that it smelled as foul as you could possibly imagine.  This was no little milk spitup which only smells slightly off – this was absolutely horrible. Luckily, I was safe at work while this nonsense was going on but when I got home I got put in charge of cleaning up the car seat.  My plan was to just take off the car seat…

  • It’s OK Not To Be Saving For Retirement In Your 20s and 30s

    Mr. Cheap
    17 Nov 2009 | 2:42 am
    I always enjoy features in MoneySense or the Globe and Mail where they profile a family, highlight their current money issues, then consult with a panel of financial planners for suggestions on what the family should do moving forward.  Some time ago in MoneySense, they talked to a couple who worked, lived a frugal lifestyle, were paying down their mortgage on an accelerated schedule and fully funding their children’s RESPs, but at the end of the day had nothing left for retirement savings.  They asked what they were doing wrong. Most of us remember at some point seeing the chart or…

  • Kite Surfing – Looks Like Fun But What About The Kids?

    Mike
    15 Nov 2009 | 8:56 pm
    Kite surfers on Lake Ontario I often see kite surfers zipping around Lake Ontario on windy days and I think it would be a great sport to pick up.  The only problem is – what do I do with the kids?  I can’t very well go flailing around in the water with my young kids patiently waiting on the shore for hours at a time.  You might be thinking that maybe my wife could look after the kids – but she is home with the kids all week so I’m not sure that “playing around in the water” qualifies as a bonafide excuse to leave her with the kids. For those of you with…
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    Single Guy Money

  • Free $50 and a Debit Card That Earns Rewards?

    SingleGuyMoney
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:30 am
    I'm all about free money. These days, it's hard to find accounts that are paying bonuses for opening an account. I found out the other day about PerkStreet Financial. They offer a free FDIC insured online checking account that gives you a number of perks for having the account AND now, until December 31, 2009, you can also get a $50 bonus for opening an account. While this account may not be best for everyone, if you need or would like a separate free checking account, this one can be perfect. Opening an account is quick and easy. It took me about 3 minutes to get it setup. You will need your…

  • High Yield Checking Accounts vs. Reward Credit Cards

    SingleGuyMoney
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:30 am
    This is a guest post from Joel J Ohman, a certified financial planner and president of Credit Card Chaser.  If you are in the enviable position of many who have their high interest consumer debt paid off and firmly in control then you have likely reached a point in your financial life where you are maybe in somewhat of a befuddled mindset about how to best make the transition from solely working for your money to putting your hard earned money to work for you as your servant with you being it's master rather than vice versa. This transition of how to best deploy your hard earned cash is…

  • Accelerating Your Mortgage Payoff = Debt Free Euphoria

    SingleGuyMoney
    11 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    Being debt free can be a euphoric feeling that brings on a freer, less complicated lifestyle. Being debt free can be very difficult to achieve completely, especially in this credit heavy world we live in. You want it? You got it-just sign here. Look around your home at all the things you have purchased over the past three years. Flat panel TV, new smart phone, lots of shoes (lots), shiny car and a few sunny weekends in Bermuda. Wow, I bet you really did not need all that stuff and probably now think of some (most) of it as cluttering up your home. Now, look at your home……   Part of…

  • How Long Will It Take You To Pay Off That Debt?

    SingleGuyMoney
    9 Nov 2009 | 3:20 am
    Have you ever sat down and completing the daunting task of calculating how much debt you owe? Taking it a step further, have you calculated how long it will take you to get out of debt. There are numerous financial calculators on the internet that will help make this task a little bit easier. Of course, they won't pay off the debt for you, but they can give you an idea of how long it will take you to get rid of the financial burden called "debt". If you aren't sure what is considered debt, if can be defined as any amount of money you owe to a company or even an individual. If you owe anyone…

  • Involving your Family in Financial Planning and Saving for the Future

    SingleGuyMoney
    5 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    The following guest post was contributed by Christine Howell who frequently writes about Accredited Online Degrees and college related topics for Online College Guru, an online college directory and comparison website. Even before you get married and start a family, it’s not too early to start a savings plan and stick to it. For those who already have a family, it’s essential to get them involved in your savings plan and invested, so to speak, in the financial process. Financial literacy is a hot topic of late, and for good reason; a clear understanding of how finances work is an…
 
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    One Frugal Girl

  • The Penny Pincher's Pantry

    One Frugal Girl
    20 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm
    Bored out of my mind and stuck in a never-ending, over-the-phone survey last night I started flipping through the November issue of Ladie's Home Journal. Much to my surprise, (I've only read the magazine a few times before), I and came across a couple of interesting articles. My favorite was a two-page write-up called The Penny Pincher's Pantry.The article includes budget-friendly recipes for every day staples like pancake mix, chocolate syrup, fresh buttermilk, jarred spaghetti sauce, taco seasoning and packaged bread crumbs. The recipes are ridiculously simple. For example, to make fresh…

  • All That Research and Almost Nothing to Show for It

    One Frugal Girl
    18 Nov 2009 | 8:55 pm
    I spent the last few days researching title insurance companies in the state of Maryland and finally decided to proceed with Stewart Title. I found a very pleasant settlement agent to handle all of our paperwork and patted myself on the back for finding a cheaper solution to the title service recommended by our lender.After reviewing the various costs and running all the numbers I realized we'd save over $280 with the new settlement company. Almost every fee was less expensive including title searches, title insurance, settlement fees and lien releases. The new settlement agent has a few…

  • Shopping Around for Title Insurance

    One Frugal Girl
    15 Nov 2009 | 8:45 pm
    Has anyone ever shopped around for title insurance? My husband and I decided to proceed with refinancing both of our properties, but I hate the thought of paying for two more title insurance policies. I believe the title insurance on our rental home can be reissued, but I think we will need to purchase a new policy for our primary home. Our lender provided the name and quote of a title insurance company, but I'd like to shop around first to see it's the best deal. Has anyone ever shopped around for title insurance? If so how did you go about finding and choosing the title insurance company?

  • $15 for Five New Strands of LED Christmas Lights

    One Frugal Girl
    13 Nov 2009 | 8:59 pm
    I've been eyeing new Christmas lights for the last few years. I love the energy efficiency of LEDs, but I couldn't bear the idea of throwing away perfectly good incandescent ones. I tried to donate our old lights but I couldn't find a donation center willing to take them. It turns out that Christmas lights are synonymous with household fires and the centers didn't want to take on the risk of selling them to anyone. So every time my husband and I passed by Christmas displays I'd point out the LED version and say "one day we need to make the switch."Well that time has finally come. It turns out…

  • Thursday Night Link Love

    One Frugal Girl
    12 Nov 2009 | 7:45 pm
    Just a few of my favorite posts and articles from the last two weeks:Empty Your Brain: The Key to Productivity (Who couldn't stand to be more productive?)How to Stop Being a Workaholic (I constantly struggle with my type-A personality.)Least Stressful Jobs (My job is included in this list.)The Regrets of Christmas Past (Every Christmas I wrestle with the question of what to buy my family members, particularly my niece and nephew.)Can you Buy Your Way Out of the Rat Race? (The freedom of not working is one I think about every time I drive to work.)Is There a Generation Gap in Saving? (My…
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    My Dollar Plan

  • Black Friday 2009 Free Stuff

    Madison
    19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pm
    It’s one of the most exciting Free Money Fridays! Back by popular demand is the Black Friday 2009 free stuff list! I searched through all the sites that I listed yesterday as my favorite Black Friday Shopping Resources to compile the list. It’s separated by free, free after rebate, and free with purchase. Be sure to check the ad scans for accuracy, and verify what time the price ends in your area. You can see last year’s list of Black Friday 2008 Free Stuff. Free Half Price Books Free Tote Bag & $5 Gift Card to First 100 Customers   Ikea Free Breakfast & Coffee Until…

  • Black Friday, Debt, and Taxes

    Madison
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:29 am
    I started making our Christmas lists with some inspiration from the 2009 Holiday Toy List. Since our kids are getting old enough to understand some of the festivities, I’m really looking forward to the holiday season this year. Of course, let’s not get ahead of ourselves… first we need to make plans for Black Friday. It’s just around the corner! Just 8 days to go (but who’s counting?) Here are some of my favorite places to scan the leaked ads for Black Friday. And be sure to check back tomorrow for my favorite Black Friday post…. Black Friday Hangouts Black…

  • Frugal Ways to Celebrate the Holidays

    Amanda
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:29 am
    What a fantastic time of year coming up; the weather has chilled from crisp to cold, the night comes upon us earlier so we feel more snuggly and more like hibernating at home, and generally we all have extra time off from work which means we can spend more time with the people whom we love. Due to the economic recession, something tells me that people are going to be cutting back from their holiday spending this year. In fact, Retail Forward, which conducts substantial consumer research, found that 45% of consumers plan to spend less on holiday shopping this year than in 2008 (and we all know…

  • Cash for Appliances

    Kate
    17 Nov 2009 | 5:29 am
    Cash for Appliances Program Back in August, Cash for Clunkers was the big news in government relief for taxpayers. The program encouraged consumers to buy nearly 7,000 more fuel efficient vehicles in less than 30 days. A similar program from the Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is now in the works. The State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, or “Cash for Appliances,” aims to encourage Americans to upgrade to more energy efficient appliances. Cash for Appliances Features State-Run: Unlike Cash for Clunkers, where the Federal…

  • What to Expect When Working With a Financial Planner

    Jill
    16 Nov 2009 | 5:29 am
    Even the most financially-savvy people sometimes need a little help – and the more money you have, the more you might want to make sure you are handling it as well as possible. If you find yourself with questions you can’t quite find the answer to online, want to make sure you are handling a special situation as well as possible, or just want reassurance that you are on the right financial track, you may want to consider hiring a financial planner. This article will help you understand what a financial planner can do for you and what to expect when working with one for the first time.
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    My Financial Journey

  • Retirement Nestegg Report October 2009

    MFJ
    5 Nov 2009 | 7:39 am
    Short and sweet this month. Pretty flat – although down about 4% from my interum nestegg report where I broke $100,000 for the first time. Traditional Rollover IRA – $10,334.01 (-3.37%) My Roth IRA – $30,592.09 (+1.54%) Wife Roth IRA – $16,801.79 (+4.59%) Current Traditional 401k – $39,156.17 (+0.06%) Roth/Traditional % = 48.92 % (tax free) Total Retirement Nest Egg $96,884.06 (+0.09%) Copyright © 2009 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…

  • Interum Retirement Nestegg Report – I broke $100,000 !!

    MFJ
    15 Oct 2009 | 7:26 am
    Traditional Rollover IRA – $10,782.36 My Roth IRA – $31,604.25 Wife Roth IRA – $17,183.87 Current Traditional 401k – $40,916.17 Total Retirement Nest Egg $100,486.65 Well as you can see from above nestegg report I broke through the 6 figure mark for the first time in my life. What does this mean in the grand scheme of things – pretty much nothing, but it is a fun milestone to know that the value of my retirement nestegg reached $100,000 shortly after I turned 30. On the flip side another milestone that I reached a little late is I now have contributed over $100,000 to my…

  • Retirement Nestegg Report – September 2009

    MFJ
    1 Oct 2009 | 1:49 pm
    My retirement nestegg report for this month. Slowly but surely approaching a six figure retirement nestegg account. Traditional Rollover IRA – $10,694.27 (+3.89%) My Roth IRA – $30,126.74 (+4.66%) Wife Roth IRA – $16,065.05 (+4.41%) Current Traditional 401k – $39,132.26 (+9.73%) Roth/Traditional % = 48.10 % (tax free) Total Retirement Nest Egg $96,018.29 (+6.53%) Copyright © 2009 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…

  • Holy crap I’m 30 – my 20s financial review

    MFJ
    4 Sep 2009 | 5:00 am
    Well it seems like just yesterday I was in high school math class learning about exponentiation when a light bulb went off on my head about the power of saving money with compound interest on your side and now I’m 30 – holy crap time flies. Since this is a pretty historic milestone in my personal finance journey as well as my life in general I thought it would be a good time to sit back and look at the good and bad from the last decade. Some of the items I list may or may not be entirely financial at first glance, but I’m certain they have all affected where I stand…

  • Retirement NestEgg Report – August 2009

    MFJ
    3 Sep 2009 | 7:28 pm
    My retirement nestegg report for this month. Traditional Rollover IRA – $10,294.48 (+2.81%) My Roth IRA – $28,785.64 (+1.79%) Wife Roth IRA – $15,386.78 (-2.53%) Current Traditional 401k – $35,662.31 (+2.65%) Roth/Traditional % = 49.01% (tax free) Total Retirement Nest Egg $90,129.21 (+1.47%) Copyright © 2009 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)
 
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    MoneyCrush

  • A Little Luxury For Me

    Jackie
    21 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    Today marks the first of 9 whole days in a row that I don’t have to go in to my job. There’s the weekend (of course), and then I took a few days vacation, and then comes Thanksgiving and another weekend. For me this is a luxury, and I’m very happy to be able to get vacation time that I can use, etc. Of course my plan is to get as much done as possible during the first part of the week, and then relax on Thanksgiving. What are your plans for the week? Anything interesting going on? You can always do some reading… Tough Money Love provides a holiday spending guide for a…

  • Making Things Easy As Pie

    Jackie
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    Sometimes making more progress financially (whether it’s getting out of debt, saving money, or just plain staying organized) is a matter of making things easier on yourself. This is because little obstacles can prevent you from doing the things you need to do in order to make progress. Eliminating those little obstacles can make a big difference. What kind of obstacles do I mean? In my case recently it was something a simple as not having a pen handy. That’s right, a pen! I actually put off reconciling my credit card statement because I couldn’t find a pen the other day. I…

  • Financial Lessons From a Roll of Toilet Paper

    Jackie
    19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    I was at the Motor Vehicle Department recently and happened to use their restroom. That’s when I discovered that their toilet paper roll only (easily) dispensed two squares at a time. That’s right, two squares. I’d pull on the roll, it’d flip over, and two little squares would tear off. Now you can’t do much of anything with two squares of toilet paper, so of course I pulled on it again. And again. I ended up pulling on it a few more times just because it didn’t seem like much. Then I realized I actually had a lot more toilet paper than I would have if…

  • Working as a Greeter vs. Lounging On the Beach (Or, What Do You Want to Do in Retirement?)

    Jackie
    18 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    If retirement seems like a distant, not-very-pressing event, chances are you haven’t given a whole lot of thought to what you’ll actually do when you’re retired. But the kinds of things you hope to do during retirement will impact your planning. So, what do you want to do? Work as a greeter? Volunteer at the art museum? Lounge on the beach? Travel the world? Or something else? And what kinds of things would your spouse like to do, if you are married? Keep in mind that not only will the kinds of things you want to do in retirement impact your planning, how you hope to carry…

  • What Makes a Person Successful?

    Jackie
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    Have you ever thought about what makes a person successful? I imagine most people would agree that success is having a happy personal life, doing well at a job, and making at least enough money that you don’t have to stress. I think that hard work and determination are a couple of success factors, but lately I’ve noticed something else about the people I know who seem to be successful: They’re filled with enthusiasm and confidence. Of course they make mistakes just like the rest of us, but they don’t spend their time moaning about how they have to work so hard to pay…
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    Million Dollar Journey

  • 3 Principles of Successful Investors Part 1

    Ed Rempel
    19 Nov 2009 | 2:30 am
    “There are some people who, if they don’t already know, you can’t tell ‘em.” – Yogi Berra Are you one of those investors for whom things just seem to always work out well? Getting superior long term returns seems to take little effort. Whatever strategy you use seems to eventually work. You don’t spend much time or effort, yet most of the time you are feeling quite confident about your investments. Or are you the type of investor who always seems to struggle? It seems everything you buy goes down right after you buy. When you finally sell, they take off. And the…

  • Investing Stratetgy: When to Buy Dividend Stocks

    FrugalTrader
    18 Nov 2009 | 2:30 am
    With my debt and savings habits under control, lately my thoughts have been more so on investing strategies. One investment strategy that I believe in, as you may know, is dividend investing. Dividend investing can mean a couple things. It could include investing for yield or dividend growth. Investing for yield is simply basing purchase decisions on the dividend yield of the stock. The higher the percentage yield, the better. The Dogs of the Dow strategy comes to mind for this one. In my opinion, basing investment decisions on yield alone is a dangerous game. More times than not, an…

  • A Little Food Planning Goes a Long Way

    Guest Blogger
    17 Nov 2009 | 2:30 am
    The key to better managing your food life is being organized. If you can make an effort to do this then you will save money and time.  As well, you’ll probably eat a little better, eat a wider variety of food, and you might even live a little longer. The down side is that it involves a little micromanaging, and is not the kind of subject to talk about at parties unless you want people to fall asleep in front of you. Making a Dinner List This might seem simple, but a dinner list is a key step in organizing the food you eat. We keep our list on the fridge and it normally goes two or…

  • EI Benefits for the Self Employed

    FrugalTrader
    16 Nov 2009 | 2:30 am
    As the ranks of self employed Canadians increases, there is a growing problem of employment insurance coverage.  What is the problem?  Self employed business owners previously were not eligible for employment insurance coverage.  As it’s especially applicable to the female entrepreneurs, business income could dry up quickly while on maternity leave.  With no business income or employment insurance benefit, the financial situation could get ugly unless there is substantial savings. This has recently changed however with a new bill introduced for employment insurance for the self…

  • Currency Conversion, Wills and Deals – Nov 15, 2009

    FrugalTrader
    15 Nov 2009 | 2:30 am
    US ETFs vs. Canadian ETFs holding US ETFs – currency conversion @ Canadian Money Forum Is my hand-drafted will valid? @ Thicken My Wallet How to Find a Good Deal @ Five Cent Nickel Portfolio Rebalancing Experiment @ Michael James 10 Steps to Declutter and Simplify Your Finances @ Cash Money Life Carnival of Personal Finance #230 – New Site Edition @ Canadian Finance Blog Corporate Security Or Freelance Freedom? @ Frugal Dad Book Review: Understanding Wall Street @ Canadian Capitalist Bought a Few Stocks Today @ Sun’s Financial Diary Consumer Protection @ Four Pillars how to…
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    Bible Money Matters

  • Black Friday Shopping Tips: How To Get The Best Deals On The Things On Your List

    Peter Anderson
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:12 am
    If you’re anything like thousands of other people out there, you’ve been saving up your hard earned cash for months now in anticipation of finding a great deal on that special item on the biggest shopping day of they year, Black Friday.   Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the day that traditionally retailers books will go into the black for the year, and when they start making a profit.   If the day turns out anything like years past, it will be a day of deep discounts, mobs of people trying not to be trampled and quite a few disappointed people who just barely…

  • Start Saving Up For Infrequent Expenses And Christmas Savings Goals Using Automatic Accounts Like Smarty Pig

    Peter Anderson
    19 Nov 2009 | 10:05 am
    We’re quickly coming upon one of the busiest spending times of the year, the Christmas season. For too many years I would come up to Christmas and suddenly realize that I had woefully under-prepared for the coming holiday. I never saved up enough money to pay for gifts for my immediate family, friends and relatives. This is a snafu that I easily could have avoided by setting up a specific savings goal for Christmas spending, and then saving for the expense throughout the year. Automating Savings Goals Means Never Coming Up Short One thing I’ve learned in the past couple of years…

  • EverBank Bank Review: High Yield Savings Account

    Peter Anderson
    19 Nov 2009 | 9:09 am
    A few weeks back now I wrote about how I had opened a high yield savings account with ING Direct because I really liked all of the budgeting features that the account had, it’s increased security and the fact that it had a competitive rate. I am using ING Direct as a budgeting account to save for short term savings goals like yearly insurance bills, saving up for our next car and vacation savings. Beyond saving for short term savings goals, I also want to find a bank for our 8 month emergency fund where the money will grow at a decent rate of interest, maybe slightly higher than what…

  • Overcoming Money Issues In Marriage

    Jason Price
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:01 am
    Recently, my pastor gave a message about the leading causes of money issues in marriage.  He referred to them as “money minefields” that if not dealt with (or defused) lead to problems in marriage and much of the time divorce. After listening to the message the second time this past weekend, I think it is one of the most profound messages about money and marriage I’ve heard.  It gets to the root of money problems and identifies the one true solution.   I hope you’ll enjoy what I learned.  You can listen to the actual message here. The 5 Minefields:  We Need To Defuse Them 1.

  • 4 Ways To Develop A Thankful Heart Before Thanksgiving

    Craig Ford
    17 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    In just a few days the American government will require you to be thankful (at least they will give you one more reason to be thankful – a day off). What Is Necessary To Be A Truly Thankful Person? Thankful people focus on what they have, not what they do not have. At times I reflect on the situation in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve had everything they needed except for access to one small tree.  It seems as though resisting that tree would be easy – there must have been thousands of other eligible trees.  But, Adam and Eve begin to think about The One Tree (with the help of that…
 
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    Canadian Personal Finance Blog

  • Video: Christmas is Coming

    bigcajunman
    21 Nov 2009 | 4:48 am
    Yes it’s that magical time of the year again when we all go into our wallets and splurge like the world might end tomorrow, with little thought of what else we might do with the money. This documentary portrays the front-line street workers who serve the needy under the umbrella of the Salvation Army. One of the world’s largest social agencies, the Army is a religious institution that serves the practical needs of people first, believing that religion is of no use to anyone who is hungry, homeless and hopeless. Join filmmaker Rosemary House as she peers into the hearts and minds…

  • Random Thoughts: For a Parasitic Website

    bigcajunman
    19 Nov 2009 | 11:50 pm
    One of this week’s Dilbert talked about creating an Internet News service that simply paraphrased other news services, but didn’t actually have any reporters of their own, thus making them Parasites (much like this Friday compendium that I create weekly). It’s good to be a parasite, since you don’t have to do anything, now do you? Parasite Random Parasitic Financial Thoughts This week in the Financial Blogosphere saw lots of things that I can paraphrase, borrow and attempt to pass off as new and original works of my own: Michael James commented on a new way of doing…

  • Consumer Price Index is Trending Up Again

    bigcajunman
    18 Nov 2009 | 10:17 pm
    Sorry but I am derailing my discussions of Risk until Monday of next week with this week’s CPI numbers coming out and the Random Thoughts for Friday. CPI Delta Returns to Positive Yes the CPI for October is up 0.1% year over year (as opposed to last month’s year over year which was negative), this means a modest increase overall in prices, which sounds good, but as usual the numbers may not reflect exactly what is really going on with prices in the marketplace. Well you might ask the question, how much did energy affect this whole thing? Have a look at this graph: CPI with and…

  • Risks in Life (Part II)

    bigcajunman
    17 Nov 2009 | 11:02 pm
    Yesterday we started out by discussing NFL football, and then got onto the topic of Risk and it’s importance in key financial decisions in your life. Today we continue on with more examples from my life about Risk and how it played part in my decision process. Example 2: Exercise Options or Not? When I worked at Nortel, I had stock options and there was always the question about whether I should exercise the options or hold onto them in case the stock went up in price. Luckily for me, they were never worth more than $389.67 (yes I remember the exact amount), and no I didn’t…

  • Risks in Life (Part I)

    bigcajunman
    16 Nov 2009 | 10:56 pm
    On Sunday NFL Coach Bill Belichick (of the New England Patriots) took a calculated risk and instead of punting on a 4th down late in the game he tried to make the 1st down. This in itself is not that risky a play in Football, however there were circumstances around this choice that made the decision very risky: His team was leading at the time by 6 points (more than a field goal, less than a converted touchdown) The ball was on the Patriots 28 yard line There was 2:08 left in the game His team needed to get 2 yards on the play (not a small amount). If he punts the ball to his opponent he…
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    Early Retirement Extreme

  • My Early Retirement Story

    Jacob
    20 Nov 2009 | 11:26 am
    This is a guest post from deegee, who retired at 45 after slowly transitioning into part time work and who has been retired for one year now. I still have one more early retirement guest post lined up. If you want to share your story. Contact me. I retired last year (October 31) at the age of 45. I worked for 23 years in the actuarial field, the first 16 of them full-time and the last 7 of them part-time. I had an awful commute from where I lived on Long Island (New York) to Manhattan for the 16 full-time years and to Jersey City (New Jersey) for the part-time years. My company became a…

  • On Experts and Pseudo-Experts

    Jacob
    18 Nov 2009 | 2:21 pm
    In every field, there are very few true experts, who understand the given subject and operates accordingly. There are, however, typically, very many pseudo-experts, who do not not understand the subject but yet are able to operate because they have compiled a large amount of tips and tricks on how to behave and respond by copying the behavior of the experts(*). The problem that pseudo-experts is that pseudo-experts do not understand why the rules are the way they are. This means that they do not understand the limits and context of the rules they are copying and so when the limits are…

  • My Journey

    Jacob
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:50 pm
    This is a guest post from firefighter, whom you may have seen in the comments. This is the last in the queue that I have lined up (if you have sent me your story and I have not posted it yet, write me a mail to complain). However, a few people said they would write up their story/plan, so more posts should be forthcoming. My journey to early retirement actually began quite unintentionally in the late 1990’s. I work for a large municipal fire department. My father has always been a financial guru of sorts, so when I came home after my second day of rookie school loaded down with benefit…

  • The Ad Show

    Jacob
    17 Nov 2009 | 1:08 pm
    It’s been a little over a week since I started playing around with advertising. Income has been erratic to say the last ranging from $51/day and down to a much more expected $3/day which a few outliers on either side. So far I have joined the following money-making schemes Adsense, which serves text links. Adsense tries to find relevant ads based on certain keywords. It may not be entirely intelligent. For instance, if I say “credit cards are bad”, it might show ads for credit cards. If I suggest using baking soda instead of toothpaste, it might show ads for teeth whitening.

  • How to retire extremely early

    Jacob
    16 Nov 2009 | 5:35 pm
    If your dreams go in a different direction than an eventual corner office and you do not measure achievement and enjoyment in terms of the things you buy nor derive your happiness from being surrounded by possessions, you might be a candidate for extremely early retirement. Instead of working to pay bills, extreme early retires train for sports on a semi-professional basis, they sail around the world, they travel constantly, they volunteer for causes, they start new companies without worrying about the bills, they learn new things and change careers, a few even spend all day watching TV. The…
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    The Happy Rock

  • DD’s Monthly Expenses - October 2009 - Halloween Party Edition

    Debt Destroyer
    9 Nov 2009 | 7:56 pm
    I’m going to blame the tardiness of this expense report due to my Halloween Hangover.  It’s either that or the time change.  It can’t be because I was too lazy to put this together can it? Nope, must be Daylight Savings Time. Here is the latest installment of my family’s monthly expenses. Below are the results from October: $840.39 - Mortgage $759.20 - Health Insurance $675.00 - Life Insurance $531.67 -  Groceries $450.00 - Preschool $166.51 - Halloween Party $160.00 - Student Loan $158.18 - Gas $120.35 - Electricity $113.50 - Donations $103.71 - Phone & Internet…

  • A Tale of Two Athletes - Phil Coke and Antoine Walker

    Debt Destroyer
    3 Nov 2009 | 8:04 pm
    Late October is an exciting time for sports fans.  Football is in full swing, we get the World Series and the NBA season tips off as well.  A little something for everybody. With that in mind a couple of stores in today’s news caught my eye. The first is nothing new.  It is one of seemingly limitless talent being greatly rewarded with riches beyond most of our dreams. Antoine Walker was an NBA superstar.  In his 13 year playing career he made $110 Million dollars.  The Boston Globe is now reporting that he is trouble for writing $1 million in bad checks to Vegas casinos. Not only…

  • Rethinking Credit Card Rewards - Are They Worth It?

    Debt Destroyer
    25 Oct 2009 | 8:36 pm
    5% cashback sounds good right? Or does it? Baker at Man vs Debt, recently posted on why he doesn’t use credit cards. His personal morals don’t allow him to support an industry that he doesn’t agree with.  I thought he made a great case and I applaud his ideals (I can relate since I’m an occasional idealist as well).  But will it change my mind on credit cards rewards? Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I primarily use a Discover card. As many are aware, Discover card offers cashback on all purchases. In addition to that, they run quarterly specials that offer 5%…

  • Need a job? Head to North Dakota

    Debt Destroyer
    17 Oct 2009 | 9:02 pm
    A while back The Happy Rock wrote a post called “40 acres and a mule: free land still available in the US.” It describes how in Kansas and North Dakota there are some programs that still give land away, much like the old homestead days. Normally you won’t hear me say too many good things about North Dakota. As a resident of South Dakota, I’m hard pressed to name anything good coming out of North Dakota besides Hwy 281(I stole that line from Tom Brokaw (former South Dakotan)). But I feel I must tread carefully.  After all I don’t want to upset any of the North…

  • Frugal Family Traditions

    Debt Destroyer
    12 Oct 2009 | 8:31 pm
    This past weekend my family said “Goodbye to Summer” and “Hello to Fall” (Not just because we turned on the heat for the first time either). In what is becoming a yearly family tradition we took a hiking trip in a state park which allowed us to enjoy some beautiful fall foilage.   I understand that in some parts of the country it is no big deal to look at trees, but here in the northern plains it is.  Such a big deal in fact, that we are willing to drive 90 min (one way) to get there. As a kid, my family also did this.  We would join up with my uncle’s family…
 
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    2million's Personal Finance Blog

  • Warrent Buffet Town Hall Event, Charlie Rose Interview

    2million
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:37 pm
    Here are a couple videos featuring Warren Buffet in the past week. A CNBC Town Hall Event with Warren Bufft, Bill Gates, and Q&A with Columbia MBA program students. CNBC Town Hall Event Warren Buffett and Bill Gates: Keeping America Great Also Warren Buffet was featured on the Charlie Rose show with an hour long interview on Nov 13th. Just search for Warren Buffet on the home page to find the show.

  • Investment Performance October 2009 (-2.34%)

    2million
    16 Nov 2009 | 6:32 am
    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. Its still a work in progress, any feedback is appreciated and may be incorporated into future monthly reports. The only equity investments not covered are: 1) my 401k which is invested in institutional index funds through my employer that I haven't found a tracking symbol for. 2) investments roughly worth less than $500, simply because I don't…

  • October 2009 Net Worth Update (-$591)

    2million
    3 Nov 2009 | 6:13 am
    October ended a strong run of monthly net worth gains as extra expenses and losses in the market outpaced our income for the month. Given the size of our portfolio and the reduction in our family income (single income) I think our monthly swings will be largely dependant on the market. Assets Sep-09 Oct-09 Change % Cash & Savings $20,328.62 $9,487.98 $(10,840.64) -53.33% Taxable Brokerage Accts $ 93,930.10 $ 97,755.00 $ 3,824.90 4.07% Roth IRAs $ 42,181.54 $ 43,705.85 $ 1,524.31 3.61% Pre-tax Retirement Accts $ 186,764.04 $ 188,972.59 $ 2,208.55 1.18% Stock Options $22,920.00 $ 21,808.00…

  • Health Insurance For High Risk Individuals

    2million
    22 Oct 2009 | 6:26 pm
    Being a diabetic I have long been in favor of health insurance reform. Right now the biggest unknown in my path to financial freedom is my ability to afford health insurance if I was no longer working for a large employer. I recently heard on the local news about a new high risk insurance pool for those with pre-existing conditions without group health insurance. It turns out that North Carolina has started a state funded high risk insurance pool to help those that don't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. The goal of this high risk insurance pool is to offer those who qaulify individual heal…

  • Investment Performance September 2009 (+3.15%)

    2million
    20 Oct 2009 | 7:02 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. Its still a work in progress, any feedback is appreciated and may be incorporated into future monthly reports. The only equity investments not covered are: 1) my 401k which is invested in institutional index funds through my employer that I haven't found a tracking symbol for. 2) investments roughly worth less than $500, simply because I don't…
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    FIRE Finance

  • In Search Of A Savory Salary

    18 Nov 2009 | 9:19 pm
    [This post is written and copyrighted by FIRE Finance (http://firefinance.blogspot.com).]Nov 19, 2009: We spend more than one third of our lives at our work places. Perhaps its a good idea to make sure that we are being paid well for our sweat and toil. But how do we go about finding out how much our salaries should be?Well in this age of technology, smart people should use good tools to accomplish the job. One of the finest tools for salary search has been released by a company named Indeed. You can check out Indeed's tool here. Playing around with the tool, we discovered quite a few neat…

  • FireSafe Your Personal Finance Documents

    17 Nov 2009 | 9:18 pm
    [This post is written and copyrighted by FIRE Finance (http://firefinance.blogspot.com).]Nov 18, 2009: On a quiet evening, a couple of years ago, we returned from our work to find our apartment complex in flames. In front of our eyes we saw one apartment after another being consumed by a monstrous fire while we helplessly looked on. By God's grace the brave fire fighters put out the flames just a couple of apartments from ours. Though our block was charred our belongings were unharmed. But our hearts reached out to our neighbors who had lost everything. We tried to help to the best of our…

  • Prevent Auto Theft & Home Burglary with Affordable Anti Theft Devices

    15 Nov 2009 | 9:16 pm
    [This post is written and copyrighted by FIRE Finance (http://firefinance.blogspot.com).]Nov 16, 2009: J.D. Roth's Get Rich Slowly is one of our favorite personal finance blogs. We were shaken when we read that JD's car was burgled again! Sometimes incidents like these forewarn us about raising our awareness on how to protect our valuables. The next step of course is to take action on the acquired knowledge.In this information age, it can be frighteningly easy for thieves and other criminals to ransack a home, hotwire and steal a car, or worse. According to the FBI, a vehicle is stolen every…

  • Restaurant.com - Special Discount 80% OFF

    13 Nov 2009 | 8:55 pm
    [This post is written and copyrighted by FIRE Finance (http://firefinance.blogspot.com).]Nov 13, 2009: Today we came across a great deal from Restaurant.com. Since we are frugal diners this special discount on their dining gift certificates is a welcome break for us. Hope it helps in saving some dining dollars.Beginning now, Restaurant.com is offering 80% OFF on their dining certificates!This means that their $25 dining gift certificates that normally sell for $10have been reduced to $2 ONLY.Promo Code: Enter ENTREE at checkout.Hurry! This offer is valid through Nov 16th, 2009.Their website…

  • Happy Veterans Day

    10 Nov 2009 | 9:11 pm
    [This post is written and copyrighted by FIRE Finance (http://firefinance.blogspot.com).]Nov 11, 2009: We wish everyone a Happy Veterans Day and express heartfelt gratitude to all our veterans who have served this great country with honor and pride. It's a state and federal holiday across US. But those of us who are employees of corporate America need to go to work :(.Nevertheless it's a great day with an inspiring history. In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:To us in America, the reflections of…
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    Ranjan Varma

  • Lights Camera Action: The Three Components of Managing Money

    Ranjan
    31 Oct 2009 | 2:31 am
    The tag line of this blog is admittedly a bit over ambitious. It says “Changing the way we learn and manage our money”. I admit that it seems too difficult thing to do. You cannot change the status quo just like that. And it’s not that the financial services industry is immature or fragmented. It’s a mix of seasoned, professional people as well as snake-oil sellers. There are very good financial advisors as well as the agents mis-selling for their own self interests. Somehow I get a feeling that we get the financial service we deserve. Part of the blame of getting…

  • Simplicity v/s Too Many Choices

    Ranjan
    30 Oct 2009 | 1:23 am
    Two articles prompted this post. 1. Selling Simplicity- Not Just Marketing It (Hat tip: Asmita, a Business Communications Consultant) 2. Fear of Apples by Seth Godin Godin says that people are afraid of anything with too many choices and the first article says that, “The reality is that simplicity is highly appealing in a world that is getting more and more complex — where consumers have too many choices, where technology is constantly evolving….” My attempts at building a personal finance business is focused on the principles of simplicity. For example, take a look at my…

  • Hot Stock Recommendations From the Papers

    Ranjan
    29 Oct 2009 | 3:56 am
    Normally, I do not scout for stock recommendations from the MSM dailies or the TV. A bit curious (and having a bit extra time to kill!), I took a look around. I found one here today! (29th Oct, 2009). Just take a look! Screenshot, dated 29.10.2009 Infosys trades @ Rs 2207/ today! Most Commented October 1, 2009 — RupeeManager in Private Beta Now (23) April 15, 2009 — How to Maximize your Income (16) April 12, 2009 — Financial Planning Workshop (14) August 12, 2009 — How I Made Rs 1,27,535 in One Day! (14) September 4, 2009 — Thank You, You Are Invited! (13)

  • Weekly Digest of Money Management Updates & Links

    Ranjan
    27 Oct 2009 | 7:32 pm
    Every week, I will post a few updates and links that would be of interest to you for your money management decisions. Behavioural Aspects of Investing in Stocks: All of us have behavioural biases while we manage our money. More than deciding what’s right or wrong, it’s important to be aware of the biases. Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2009-10: RBI has kept most rates unchanged other than the SLR, indicating a tightening in view of the inflationary pressure in the future. Higher provisioning for lending to the Real Estate sector also dampened the spirits of this sector.

  • SubraMoney: Commoditising “Ideal Portfolio” is Wrong

    Ranjan
    25 Oct 2009 | 8:36 am
    P V Subramanyam is a Chartered Accountant by qualification and a financial trainer by profession. He also is a popular blogger and writes regularly for financial websites and magazines. He responded immediately to my questions that I have asked fellow finance bloggers. I found the answers full of insights and am sure you’ll do too. 1. Why is it that generally people avoid or have a fear of financial planning? Just like having a health check up – you do not know what you will find! And the doctor may say “No drinks, no smoking, do exercise….” Who wants to? What is the fundamental…
 
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    How I Save Money.net

  • Tracking my Finances in 2009: 19 November

    LuLuGal
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:50 am
    Welcome to tracking of income and expenses for the month. Please note that I get paid on the last day of the month so my cash flow net effect will usually be negative until the last day of the month. This does not mean that I am adding to my debt, it just means that the money coming in is less than the money going out because bills are due starting on the first but I don’t get paid until the last day. So again to clarify (since I get so many questions), this shows the cash FLOW for the month. On Day 2 of every month I will have a negative FLOW because I have paid rent etc so money has…

  • Saved Money By NOT Going To CVS

    LuLuGal
    18 Nov 2009 | 6:09 pm
    I did not go to CVS this week because I have decided that from now on I am only going to buy things that give back extra bucks. This week the only items that gave ECBs that I was remotely interested in were some more candles and since I already have a bunch of candles and other air fresheners I opted to stay home this week. I saved money by not driving to CVS even though it is about 3 minutes from work and also by not spending any of my gift card money to stockpile something that I already have tons of. I have looked at the previews for next week and the month end sale and I am setting up my…

  • Am I Unethical For Buying “Boys” Shirts?

    LuLuGal
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    So recently I was able to save money on shirts by buying them in the boys section instead of the women’s section. I first found a shirt that was $6 in Boys that cost $13 in womens. About two weeks later the shirts went on sale (super score!!!!) for $3 each so I skipped over to the Boys section again and got three more (those were the only colors left). I disclosed my findings to a friend to show off my super saving skills…when he turned up his nose at me and said that I was being unethical. He said that the shirts were marked as boys sizes and were being marketed to boys and their…

  • Tracking My Finances In 2009: 12 November

    LuLuGal
    13 Nov 2009 | 3:37 am
    Welcome to tracking of income and expenses for the month. Please note that I get paid on the last day of the month so my cash flow net effect will usually be negative until the last day of the month. This does not mean that I am adding to my debt, it just means that the money coming in is less than the money going out because bills are due starting on the first but I don’t get paid until the last day. So again to clarify (since I get so many questions), this shows the cash FLOW for the month. On Day 2 of every month I will have a negative FLOW because I have paid rent etc so money has…

  • How I Save Money At CVS: 9 November 2009

    LuLuGal
    11 Nov 2009 | 3:58 am
    Today I paid $0.00 out of pocket for $21.11 worth of items. I wanted to make two separate trips so that I could get two scans of my green bag tag and be that much closer to getting an extra $1 ECB but then on Sunday I was handed a $4 off $20 card so I decided to combine the items I was looking at and just have one trip. Transaction 1 Item: Nova Max glucose monitor Price: $9.99 CVS Extra Care Bucks earned: $9.99 Item: 8 packs of  Olive oil deep conditioner Price: $1.39 each CVS Extra Care Bucks earned: $5.00 + $4 for buying $20 worth of items Total coupons used: $0.00 Total out of pocket…
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    Funny about Money

  • What’s more important than a Costco card?

    funny
    21 Nov 2009 | 5:07 am
    Student A (engaging a discussion about the current Presidential administration): I registered to vote, but I didn’t actually vote. I wish I had… Student B: When I turned 18, I got my Costco card. Getting your Costco card is more important than voting! Related posts:Why you should become a teacherDie cast…

  • Assets reviving

    funny
    21 Nov 2009 | 4:56 am
    Well, even though unemployment doesn’t seem to get any better, the economy is said to be recovering. And as a matter of fact, my savings are starting to come back. Last March, investments hit a low point of $420,565, having lost just under $160,000 in ten months. This month, the balance is at $480,753, a $60,188 gain in 8½ months. Not bad, considering that after we were told our office would be closed and our entire staff canned, I used $25,000 of my savings to pay off the second mortgage on my house and that I pay my $800 share of the mortgage on the downtown house with proceeds from…

  • Do you use all your vacation time?

    funny
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:08 am
    Surf off Sutro Baths, San Francisco Brip Blap posts an interesting rumination on the question of why Americans tend not to take all the vacation time they’ve earned. I sure don’t: my most recent paycheck says I have 324 hours coming (with almost seven hours accumulating each pay period, that will come to more than 350 by the time the job ends), and I’ve used 138 hours so far this year. Do you take all your vacation time? If not, why not? Personally, I don’t because I get so much vacation time that if I took it all, no work would ever get done around that place. Or so…

  • Why I secretly feel glad my job is ending…

    funny
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:04 am
    Overjoyed, even. Today I started about 8:30 ayem and worked straight through until 6:30 p.m. without a break—well, with one break long enough to bolt down a piece of cheese slapped on some dry bread—typing the last stage of an index. My RA had compiled about half the book’s index; I took the rest. It was possible for us to do this because the book is a collection of essays. I was careful to give her essays whose subject matter would not much overlap the pieces I kept for myself to work on. Late last night, she e-mailed me her list of subject headings and subheadings (unformatted). I…

  • Where does the junk come from?

    funny
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:09 am
    Does junk reproduce inside closets, the same way wire coat-hangers spawn in the dark? How does so much JUNK accumulate, after you think you’ve shoveled out every drawer, closet, and cabinet in the house? Where does this stuff come from? Well, some of it just blew in from the Great Desert University: a week or ten days ago I hauled the last of the junk out of my office and deposited it in the storeroom, where it filled countertops and shelves, waiting for me to find a place to put it away. About half of it, I should’ve thrown out without ever letting it escape the campus. However,…
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    PHIL TOWN

  • Phil Town on BB&T

    Phil Town
    16 Nov 2009 | 6:59 am
    Raphi wrote in a good question.  Here's his email:"Hi Phil Town I really like your Work. One thing i don't understand: if BB&T is the deal, why we don't see this in the stock price?? regards raphi"I'm not sure from your email if you think the BB&T price is too high or too low.  You could mean either one. So let's see what it looks like to me:Without doing a lot of analysis on the industry or the business, just using the analysts view of this business, let's grow it at 7%, use a 14 PE (the historical average of 10 is just too low for a buyout…

  • We Learned that in Kindergarten

    Phil Town
    12 Nov 2009 | 7:19 am
    Jonathan Grubs wrote on my FACEBOOK Page: "I was with Bank of America for many years, but when the Supreme Court announced their ruling on the Kilo case that allowed companies to seize private property for business use and BB&T responded with a press release announcing that they would refuse financing to any company involved in seizing of private property. I sent an email to the president of BB&T letting him know I would switch from Bank of America to BB&T if they ever opened a branch near me in Central Florida. When I saw the BB&T coming soon sign down the road…

  • BNI at $100 So SELL

    Phil Town
    5 Nov 2009 | 12:17 pm
    Wow.  That was fast.  Back in March, I urged you to get into BNI at anything in the $60’s and below and I  hope you did because Warren Buffett just bought the whole thing for $100 (assuming the deal goes through.)  The stock shot up 20% two days ago to $97.  If you bought it when I said to buy it, you should sell it now.  Your return on investment from March to November (7 months) is anywhere from 50% to 80%.  Time to take the money.I hardly ever urge people to invest in a particular stock at a particular price but Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNI) was a special case of a…

  • Phil Town on Bank of America

    Phil Town
    28 Oct 2009 | 3:59 am
    Bank of America sucksMelissa has had an account at Bank of America since 2002.She deposits a check every month and for every month since she opened the account 8 years ago, she could write checks immediately against the check she deposited and the bank would cash them.For 8 years.Then last month the bank told her they would no longer do that.They were going to hold the check for about aweek until it ‘cleared’.What happened?Bank of America has ordered its branch managers to gather in the ‘float’ at the cost of losing some accounts to more customer friendly banks.(‘Float’ is cash…

  • Phil Town Gives MSNBC Studio Tour

    Phil Town
    23 Oct 2009 | 10:47 am
 
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    PeakStocks.com

  • Authentidate: Ripe for the Taking

    Chris Fernandez
    27 Oct 2009 | 7:30 pm
    Authentidate: Ripe for the Taking By Guest Columnist: Ankit Gupta http://www.selectedfinancials.com Authentidate (Nasdaq: ADAT): Significant Opportunities for Revenue Growth Every now and then I like to give guest authors a chance to share their views either on the stocks that I already cover, or names that I don’t, but that I feel would benefit my readers. Some of these author’s viewpoints agree with mine, and some don’t. I feel that the more information you have about a particular company, stock or the market in general, the better decisions you can make regarding your…

  • It’s time for me to say goodbye…but I want YOUR help in running PeakStocks.com

    Chris Fernandez
    22 Sep 2009 | 5:23 pm
    Well, as you’ve probably noticed, I haven’t written in quite some time. There’s good news and bad news as far as that goes… First the bad, at least as far as you are concerned as a reader of PeakStocks.com: I won’t be posting anything for the foreseeable future. Now for the good: The reason that I won’t be posting anything for the foreseeable future is because I am working on my life’s work and one of my biggest passions in life (other than stocks of course!), and it has taken all my energy, focus and dedication to make that business work. I Want to…

  • It’s Time To Short Tresuries With Inverse ETF’s

    Chris Fernandez
    27 May 2009 | 6:10 pm
    Today is a day to give thanks. I know it’s a little early for Thanksgiving, but I’m talking about being thankful to Uncle Sam and the U.S. government for the bountiful opportunity they have given us to make huge loads of money in a relatively short amount of time. I’m talking about shorting U.S. debt via 2 specific, but very risky vehicles: Ultrashort Lehman 20+Year Treasury Proshares (NYSE: TBT) Direxion Daily 30 Year Treasury Bear 3X Shares (NYSE: TMV)   –> Get updates and real-time stock trades you WON’T find on PeakStocks.com by following me on…

  • SELL ALERT: GeoEye (NASDAQ: GEOY) Sell Full Position @ $21.00

    Chris Fernandez
    21 May 2009 | 8:21 pm
    What: Today I sold my full position in GeoEye, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEOY), a provider of space-based and aerial imagery and geospatial information, at $20.75 per share. The total amount in my portfolio was was for a 3/4 position out of a full position, accounting for about 25% of my portfolio. Those that follow me on Twitter received this update today as I made the transaction. By the time some of you read this post, I will have already exited the position because my price target that I outlined was breached, so I advise you to subscribe to my Twitter feed that can be sent to your phone via text…

  • COVER ALERT: Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) Cover Full Position @ $40.00

    Chris Fernandez
    19 May 2009 | 7:36 pm
    What: Today I covered my short position in Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) at $39.90 per share. The total amount shorted was for a 1/2 position out of a full position, accounting for about 15% of my portfolio. Those that follow me on Twitter received this update today as I made the transaction. By the time some of you read this post, I will have already exited the position because my stop limit order was triggered, so I advise you to subscribe to my Twitter feed that can be sent to your phone via text message or email for any actionable alerts that I will first post there before writing about in these…
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    Lending Club

  • Upcoming WebCast: New Investor Tools. Peer Investing Made Easy.

    Sam Kasle
    19 Nov 2009 | 9:55 am
    Join us next Tuesday, as Rob Garcia shows us Lending Club's new and powerful investor tools that make it fast and easy for you to create diversified portfolios of Notes. "New Investor Tools: Peer Investing Made Easy" Register Now >>> FREE WebCast. Limited space, so save your spot today. Tuesday, November 24th 4:00pm PT (7:00pm ET) Rob, who leads Lending Club's product strategy, will show us how to quickly identify notes you may be interested in investing while  filtering out borrowers that do not fit your investment strategy.  He will also show the automatic portfolio builder,…

  • WebCast Recap: IRAs and The Power of Compound Interest

    Patrick Gannon
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:35 pm
    Last week, Lending Club hosted a WebCast featuring Scott Langmack, and nearly 100 people attended! During Scott’s presentation, he  discussed  why "You don't need to be rich, to retire rich."  He explained how with Lending Club's average net annual returns of 9.67%*, combined with the tax advantages of an IRA, you can create wealth for retirement. We wanted to invite you to view a replay of the broadcast in case you missed it, or wanted to see it again. Please feel free to access this replay anytime, or share with anyone else who may be interested. IRA: The Power of Compound Interest…

  • Rollover to Lending Club’s new No-Fee IRA!

    Patrick Gannon
    12 Nov 2009 | 3:42 pm
    I am pleased to announce the release of Lending Club’s No-Fee IRA account.  Now you can combine the benefits of Lending Club's 9.67% Net Annualized Returns with the current tax advantages of a Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account. Thinking about a rollover?  A rollover could be a good option for those looking for better returns than they receive with current IRA accounts. Find out more here>>> We have partnered with EntrustCAMA to act as custodian of your self-directed IRA and to provide you with quality customer service. If you have questions please give me a call us at…
 
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    Mint.com: Personal Finance Blog

  • How to Justify a $3,000 Coffee Maker

    Steve Barth
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:50 pm
    Photo: CoffeeGeek Are you a coffee snob? Do you sniff at drip? Are you willing to endure a day of caffeine headaches and jitters rather than sip a subpar brew? And most importantly, is this addiction/affliction costing you more money than you can afford? These days a lot of people are telling you to get your caffeine fix at home rather than spending $10 a day at carts and counters. “You probably stop at your local coffee shop at least once a day and grab your latte, cappuccino or Americano,” says sales manager Darren Ruffel of Whole Latte Love (WLL), a consumer-oriented e-tailer based in…

  • The Essential Reverse Mortgage Factsheet

    WallStats.com
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:55 pm
    At MintLife we strive to make complex financial topics easy-to-understand. Most homeowners are already familiar with the concept of a mortgage. A Reverse Mortgage lets you borrow money against the value of your home without your needing to pay it back until either one of two things happen; either you die or you sell the home. With recent government regulations in place, the Reverse Mortgage is a financial instrument set to explode with the wave of retiring baby boomers. These mortgages not only affect the borrower, but their heirs as well, so it’s important to understand the ins and…

  • The End of Credit Card Rip-offs?

    Joshua Ritchie
    18 Nov 2009 | 12:11 pm
    (The Consumerist) For many years, the credit card industry has resembled a modern day Wild Wild West. Unrestrained by regulatory discipline, American credit card companies have made life confusing (to say the least) for millions – often with no serious repercussions whatsoever. This lamentable state of affairs has led to the common complaints we’re all familiar with – unexplained fees, random interest rate hikes and the overall sense that you are being jerked around by “The Man.” However, it appears that the worst of these excesses may be a thing of the past. The…

  • How to Avoid Unnecessary Car Costs

    Carolyn Alburger
    17 Nov 2009 | 3:13 pm
    Photo: Simon Blackley A guy walks into a mechanic and asks for a tune-up. “Looks like your car needs a lot of work,” says the mechanic. “After a quick inspection, I estimate about $1000 worth of services.” It may sound like a joke, but car owners are often hit with an unhappy diagnosis like this. Many of us have little-to-no car expertise. We feel helpless at the sometimes-merciless hand of our mechanic. After all, who are we to say when a spark plug needs changing or steering should be flushed? Jon Bartunek, owner of his family’s Union Street Garage in San Francisco who has worked…

  • Who is Paying Taxes?

    Ross Crooks
    16 Nov 2009 | 4:19 pm
    Recent news articles have brought to light the fact that almost 47% of households in the US currently have zero or negative federal tax liability. We take a closer look at this lack of liability across each income level, highlighting the percentage in each range that will not pay any taxes. Also shown is a full breakdown of who is paying the bulk of all taxes collected by the Federal Government each year. Embed the above image on your site Personal FinanceSoftware – Mint.com
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    Wesabe: Your Money. Your Community.

  • Happy Birthday, Wesabe!

    Marc Hedlund
    17 Nov 2009 | 7:22 pm
    Three years ago today, November 17th, 2006, we launched the Wesabe site to the public for the first time. We were the first of what has become a wide and varied field of online personal finance applications. Our site has changed a ton since our launch, too, as we’ve learned from our users and the market. I was asked the other day whether I thought that online personal finance applications are now a “defined” market — that is, have the borders of the space been set and is all that is left figuring out who can get the most users. “Uh, no” was all I could…

  • A coffee pot is not an "investment"

    Marc Hedlund
    22 May 2009 | 3:55 pm
    Last week, I wrote a post called “Focus on needs, not products,” that talked about a way to save money by thinking differently: focus on what you need your money to do, not a specific product that you want to buy. If you think about your needs rather than products, you can evaluate a broader set of choices and wind up saving a ton. I gave an example of buying a charcoal grill instead of a gas grill I’d been lusting after, and how I saved 90% of the cost by caring more about grilling than a particular type of grill. I saw something on Boing Boing Gadgets today (a blog I read…

  • Money-Saving Tips Galore in WiseBread's New Book

    Marc Hedlund
    18 May 2009 | 10:11 am
    Congratulations to our friends at WiseBread on the launch of their new book, “10,001 Ways To Live Large On a Small Budget.”  The book is authored by a talented group of WiseBread writers (including Wesabe advisors JD Roth of Get Rich Slowly and Trent Hamm of The Simple Dollar) who believe: “the key to financial wellness isn’t a ramen-eating, vacation-skipping, fun-depriving life. Far from it. The best way to ensure that readers will stick to a budget, especially in tough economic times, is to help them create a lifestyle that is as much fun as it is practical.” Wesabe gets a nice…

  • Focus on needs, not products

    Marc Hedlund
    11 May 2009 | 5:53 pm
    One mistake I see people make a lot is to think of their money as a way to get particular products or services they want. I want to buy this particular television because it has the cool new feature thingy and I just can’t live without it. A very common mistake — one I make all too often myself. Why is this a mistake? Isn’t it great to have a particular goal and to work towards it? It certainly is great to have a particular goal, and sometimes focusing on that goal with a specific picture or product in your mind can help get you there. For instance, (Wesabe advisor) J.D.

  • Quite a week!

    Marc Hedlund
    29 Apr 2009 | 11:10 pm
    Wow, it has been quite a week. Over the past five days…. We launched Wesabe for iPhone, our iPhone app, which allows you to edit and tag your financial transactions, see graphs, use the phone’s GPS to automatically locate where you just spent money for fast entry, and more. The reaction has been fantastic, as you can see from the early reviews on the App Store: Incredibly cool! It’s been so awesome to hear people’s reactions and feedback: “This is so much better than anything else out there.” Thanks! Wait until you see the next version. We changed our…
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    Rate Ladder

  • TheCreditTruth.org

    RateLadder
    16 Nov 2009 | 10:36 am
    TheCreditTruth.org offers up exactly what it advertises–the truth about credit, credit reporting and those “free” credit report offers found all over the Internet. The first thing you’ll notice about the well-designed site is the “Credit Report Bill of Rights” listed on the left. This “Bill of Rights” explains that you can get a free credit report from each bureau (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) once per year, or within 60 days of being turned down for credit. The site also explains that you don’t need so-called free credit report…

  • SpendonLife.com

    RateLadder
    16 Nov 2009 | 10:28 am
    SpendonLife.com is an easy to navigate website offering your credit report and credit score instantly online. Through the website, you can access your credit information from the 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. But more than just helping you get this information, the website helps with credit monitoring, and highly informative articles about what the reports mean and why the information should matter to you. SpendonLife is broken down into sections that are clearly marked in a navigation bar near the top. There are sections on debt, identity theft, credit…

  • Shared Interest Launches on MicroPlace

    RateLadder
    12 Aug 2009 | 3:50 pm
    From my email inbox: By Justin G. Moore A little over one year ago I started looking for new ways to diversify my investments. As the declining economy led to interest rate cuts on my regular savings and money market accounts, I wanted to find if there were other places to invest my money aside from regular bank accounts or bonds with limited returns. Inspired by the idea of helping other people while helping myself with a return on my investments, I looked into whether or not microlending was something I could do and found MicroPlace.com. In total I have invested over $2,500 in various funds…

  • $50 to Try Lending Club

    RateLadder
    4 Aug 2009 | 9:04 am
    From Lending Club in my email: Dear Kevin, Since January 1, 2009 more than 11,000 new investors have joined Lending Club. That 122% increase brings the current size of our investor community to over 20,000 investors! To thank you for being an innovator in one of the fastest growing asset classes, when you invite your friends to join us as an investor, we will instantly credit their account with $50 to start investing with Lending Club This is great way for your friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers to try Lending Club for themselves. While it’s no secret to you, it may just be the hot…

  • Prosper Has Returned with New and Improved Features!

    RateLadder
    16 Jul 2009 | 12:57 pm
    If you used the Prosper peer-to-peer lending service in the past, you’ll be happy to know that they’ve significantly enhanced many features of the service and are now accepting new borrowers and lenders. Using Prosper is now safer and more convenient than it’s ever been, making it an even better source of alternative investment opportunities. Improved Security Some of the most significant improvements to the Prosper service include better security, which means lenders can feel more secure about their investments. For instance, borrowers will now be provided a range from which to choose…
 
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    Free Money Finance

  • Know Your Rights Against Debt Collectors

    NA
    21 Nov 2009 | 3:08 am
    The following is a guest post from Kathryn Katz, an avid cat lover, single mom, internet marketer and professional copywriter. Kathryn is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor and works for Consolidated Credit Counseling Services Many consumers have suffered from financial difficulties during the recession. High unemployment, upside down mortgages and increased interest rates on credit cards are just some of the challenges facing Americans. If you’ve gotten behind in your bills, you might find that your creditors have charge-off your debts and suddenly you’re in collections. There are…

  • What Real Millionaires Do

    NA
    20 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am
    I'm done reading my copy of Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire and I'll be posting a bit on it here and there. But for now I wanted to share a general overview of the book's findings  regarding what real millionaires do: Dr. Stanley’s research and the national survey carried out on his behalf by University of Georgia Survey Research Institute rips the lid off just about every assumption we have about who the really rich are (and aren’t), what they do (and don’t do) and what they buy (and don’t buy). For example: The #1 most popular make of car among…

  • Five Steps to Six Figures in Seven Years

    NA
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:29 am
    Here is a piece I originally wrote for Get Rich Slowly. It's only slightly different than the version there (this version has no comments or editting from JD -- though his additions probably made the piece better.) ;-) Historically, "making six figures" has been to income earners what "becoming a millionaire" has been for those tracking their net worths -- a lofty goal achieved by only a select few. And while neither a six-figure earner nor a millionaire can bask in the luxury they could a couple decades ago, there's no doubt that earning over $100,000 a year still puts you in…

  • Carnivals for the Week of Nov 16

    NA
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:19 am
    For weekday updates of what I find to be some of the most interesting personal finance articles on the web, follow me on Twitter. For now, here are the carnivals Free Money Finance was in this week and my posts that were included: Carnival of Personal Finance - Is a College Education Still Worth the Investment?  Festival of Frugality - Eight Steps to Lower Your College Costs Carnival of the Road to Financial Independence - How to Make Money as a Soccer Referee Enjoy! P.S. Carnival Hosts -- If my post is in your carnival in a given week, please send me the URL to the carnival and I will…

  • How to Define Net Worth

    NA
    19 Nov 2009 | 1:45 pm
    Here are some interesting thoughts from Stop Acting Rich: ...And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire on how to define net worth. Here are the two ways he defines net worth in the book: Augmented net worth is the "traditional" definition -- assets minus liabilities. It includes ALL assets and ALL liabilities. Specifically, it includes the market value of your home as well as the debt for your mortgage. Net worth as he describes it in most instances refers to investment levels. If someone has "investments" (such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, equity shares in a private business, annuities,…
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    Ultimate Money Blog

  • Breaking the Seal

    Mrs Money
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:23 pm
    You’ve probably heard the term before, but be assured that I’m not going to talk about that exactly. Last week I spent time with my 20 year old sister. She thinks I am totally a tightwad but that’s another story. We were talking about money and she said that since she’s been unemployed she’s had to tap into her savings account. While she was working, she was always contributing to the account. Now that she’s not, she obviously needs money for gas so it has to come from somewhere. She said that before she became unemployed, she would never touch her savings account. It was almost a…

  • Not the Time for Fantasies

    Mrs Money
    18 Nov 2009 | 2:09 pm
    Now is not the time for fantasies. With the horrible economy, housing market, and environmental issues, it’s not the time to be dreaming of moving or radically changing your life. Or is it? I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I am homesick and want to move closer to my family. I think before we actually have a baby I want to be near my family for support and so they can experience it as well. Unfortunately, they live in Michigan, and we all know that is the worst state for unemployment right now. So what do we do? I’m the type of person that is always wishing and dreaming. I’m…

  • 2010 Health Insurance

    Mrs Money
    17 Nov 2009 | 2:56 pm
    It’s open enrollment time for health insurance at my work. I’ve got two days left to change my mind, but I think I’m pretty set with what I’ve got. I do have to say that I hate changing and I wish they would just keep the same darn plans from year to year. This year they limited our options to two High Deductible Health Plans, and two PPOs.  With the PPO I’ll be paying $74.95 a paycheck, or $1948.70 a year. I don’t think that’s too bad at all.  I decided to go with the PPO, even though the cost each paycheck was considerably higher. Here’s…

  • Buying a New Computer

    Mrs Money
    10 Nov 2009 | 3:51 pm
    I think our computer is on it’s last legs. Five years ago when we moved here, we bought the computer on my brand new credit card at 0% APR for six months.  It was around $1000 when we bought it, a nice Gateway desktop computer with flat screen monitor.  We paid it off over six months, although it was a stretch. Now that we’re considering purchasing a new computer, we’re faced with many options. Do we buy a laptop or another desktop? Do we buy from Dell because I get a discount? Do we get a Mac like Mr. Money wants?  There are just too many decisions. I’m leaning…

  • Pot, Meet Kettle

    Mrs Money
    9 Nov 2009 | 2:02 pm
    Sometimes I feel like a huge hypocrite for getting further into debt while we were working so hard to pay off our student loans. Sure, when our car broke, I could have bought a cheaper car, but if I had spent $7000 on a used Focus, but it wouldn’t have worked out for us. We needed something that we could haul our dogs around in and hopefully future kiddos too. The truth is I still beat myself up about spending that much money on a vehicle. I think as a personal finance blogger I am much more aware of how much I spend and am more analytical. I worry about spending too much money, not saving…
 
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    ITA Wealth Management

  • Portfolio Performance: November 20, 2009

    Physlab
    21 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    Nine of the nineteen portfolio are tracked using the TLH spreadsheet and those updates are available in the table below.  Overall, the market dipped this week and that decline was manifested in all the portfolios.  In a few cases, the Information Ratio (IR), dipped a tenth of a point.  One or two of the portfolios gained on the VTSMX benchmark while others lost ground.  These relative changes are all tied to the asset allocation plans for the different portfolios.  Overall, the percentage changes this week were insignificant. What is important is to see how many of the portfolios are…

  • Power of Diversification

    Physlab
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:51 am
    Diversification is advocated here at ITA Wealth Management as we look for investments that carry low correlations with each other.  Why is this so important?  Follow the logic below as I attempt to explain why we seek low correlation ETFs and stocks. Consider a simple two asset portfolio made up of investments ABC and XYZ.  Further, assume the expected return is 10% for each investment and the projected standard deviation is 15%.  This is not unusual for assets in the current market.  In our first example, we will assume the two stocks or ETFs are perfectly correlated to keep this first…

  • Dividend Aristocrats – Update

    Physlab
    19 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am
    Below is a screen shot of the current Dividend Aristocrats stock list.  I altered the screen from last week to include financial companies.  Other minor adjustments were made to increase the number of available companies. This is not a buy recommendation of stocks.  Do your own analysis before purchasing any of these companies.  This is only a let of interesting companies. Premium Content subscription available for $6.99 per month. Share on Facebook Technorati Tags: Dividend Stocks

  • The Importance of Risk Management

    Physlab
    18 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am
    Risk implies we do not know what is going to happen, even though we have an idea of the range of variation or probabilities we face over the near future.  There are at least two types of risk we face as investors.  There is “systematic” risk that we cannot control.  These risks include credit crunches, business activity, inflation, fraud, currency exchange rates, day to day market fluctuations, etc.  The second type of risk is one we can control.  For example, if an investor chooses to purchase a dozen large-cap growth companies and calls that a portfolio, additional risk is…

  • Dividend ETF – HYG

    Physlab
    17 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pm
    This morning I picked up shares of HYG, a high yield corporate bond ETF.  HYG is currently paying over 9%, a very respectable return.  I ran an analysis on a portfolio containing only this one ETF to see what the chances were of running out of money in retirement given a number of assumptions.  While a portfolio containing only one investment provides no diversification, I was surprised at the rather low risk involved by holding only this one investment.  Also, there was a very low probability of running out of money, based on my standard assumptions. After the HYG test, I began adding…
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    Money Crashers

  • More Black Friday and Cyber Monday Tips, Ideas, and Resources

    Erik Folgate
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:34 pm
    Black Friday is just a week away, and Cyber Monday is 10 days away. I am a big fan of these iconic shopping days, not because people get whipped up in a frenzy and not because I love waiting in ridiculous long lines, but I truly believe that you can get some great deals if you are smart about it. Have an iPhone? Here are some applications to help you get great deals! Deal News App: This app is an iPhone friendly way to search the popular deal aggregator, DealNews.com, which is great at updating you on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Red Laser App: The Red Laser app is the first accurate…

  • Should I Cash Out My 403b Account To Pay Off Debt?

    Erik Folgate
    18 Nov 2009 | 7:02 pm
    Help a reader with this question: I currently have a 403b with about $20k in it. I am planning on leaving my job late April and was previously planning on moving the money somewhere else. However, I owe a family member $15k for a car they bought me almost 5 years ago. I did not pay them back yet because we have been working on paying off all of our other debts (which we have paid them all off!), and the family member was not charging me interest or asking for the money back. So this $15k (and our mortgage) is the only thing holding us back from being debt free. Would it be wise to consider…

  • Black Friday Information and Resources

    Erik Folgate
    16 Nov 2009 | 8:30 pm
    Black Friday isn’t for everyone, but for some of us, it’s the first fun event of the Christmas season. If you treat it like a family event or something fun to do with friends, you’ll have a much better time than treating it like a chore. The one thing I can’t stand about Black Friday is when I hear stories about people getting hurt trying to reach for the Nintendo Wii or whatever. This is absurd, people! It’s just stuff! Have some fun shopping, and if you score a great deal or a door buster, be happy, but don’t turn into a pack of wolves trying to get a…

  • Best Of Personal Finance Articles in 2nd Week of November

    Erik Folgate
    14 Nov 2009 | 8:24 am
    If you’re new to learning about personal finance or you spend most of your time on the internet shopping or playing games, I encourage you to check out all of the great personal finance blogs around the internet. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, so that’s why I like to highlight some of the ones that I read and stay involved in on a regular basis. Bargaineering explains how you can save money by canceling your cable TV. I really like this idea, and it’s becoming a lot easier with internet TV like Hulu and a-la-carte buying on iTunes, but for a sports guy like me, I…

  • Earn Extra Money By Getting A Job Over The Holidays

    Erik Folgate
    12 Nov 2009 | 7:26 pm
    The past 14 months have been one of the hardest time period for Americans looking to find work. The recession will not be over until the unemployment rate stops rising and starts receding again. Our economy cannot flourish without people contributing to the workforce and making enough money to put it back into the economy. I came across this article on Career Builder the other day revealing 10 companies hiring for the holidays AT&T Industry: Communications Number of openings: 1000+ Seasonal positions available: Retail sales associates; store managers; and sales support Location:…
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    Mighty Bargain Hunter

  • One week until Black Friday (Fiscals)!

    mbhunter
    20 Nov 2009 | 9:50 pm
    Can you feel the excitement??? All of that black ink just waiting to be put on the ledgers?? Nah, I can’t either. Here are some interesting links from my feed reader: The Simple Dollar discusses the 40/30/30 rule (as opposed to the 80/20 rule, or the Rule of 72). Consumerism Commentary recommends putting some of your finance on cruise control. Five Cent Nickel asks: “Are coupons a waste?” Generation X Finance suggests embracing your inner secret shopper. Bargaineering lists a who’s who of career web sites. The Digerati Life reveals why lottery winners go broke. A Gai…

  • Has Black Friday jumped the shark?

    mbhunter
    18 Nov 2009 | 12:07 am
    I mean, it’s still there and all, but does it really mean anything? And if it does mean something, what more can retailers do that they already haven’t? WalMart Stores, Radio Shack, The Apple Store, Best Buy, KMart, Kohl’s, Toys “R” Us, and Target have already had their Black Friday ads “leaked.”   I can’t really believe that these leaks were anything but completely planned: orchestrated to create buzz. Black Friday just doesn’t seem that special anymore. It’s gone from being a crowded, but otherwise lighthearted, shopping day to a…

  • Welcome to the Carnival of Debt Reduction

    mbhunter
    15 Nov 2009 | 11:44 pm
    Howdy!  Here are the on-topic submissions for this week’s carnival: Bargaineering hosts a guest post on how to sue debt collectors. The Smarter Wallet shares some first-hand experience with debt collection practices. The Digerati Life runs through options for debt consolidation loans for people with good credit. Studenomics asks if student loan consolidation is right for you. Ask Mr. Credit Card has a radio interview with Lending Club, with an emphasis on debt consolidation. Budgets Are Sexy wouldn’t mind moving back in with the ‘rents to pay down debt. Thanks! Follow me on…

  • Here’s a great comeback when negotiating to buy a property

    mbhunter
    13 Nov 2009 | 10:42 pm
    It’s no secret that there are federal tax credits available for many people who are looking to buy a home.  Both first-time and non-first-time homebuyers now can play the game. The people who are among most aware of the credits, of course, are people wanting to sell a home.  It’s not difficult at all to find For Sale signs also advertising the $8,000 tax credit, and, as I may find out soon, it will probably enter the conversation at the negotiation table. Especially if the initial offer is a lowball offer: “Why, Mr. M.B. Hunter, that offer is awfully low. Perhaps you…

  • Friday Fiscals: Black cat dancing on a broken mirror

    mbhunter
    13 Nov 2009 | 7:56 pm
    Happy Friday the 13th. Check out these lucky links from my reader: Five Cent Nickel has a guest post from Money Help for Christians with several good tips on how to find a good deal. Digerati Life reminds us that not all cheap houses are bargains. The Simple Dollar relates the Hawthorne Effect to activities at work. Generation X Finance lists out how to avoid Holiday Financial Hangover. Consumerism Commentary’s potential staff writer discusses the trouble with target date funds. Wise Bread asks whether extended warranties are ever a good deal. Free Money Finance explains why you…
 
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    Stock Market Analysis, Trading, And Financial Commentary - Rebel Traders

  • Economic Collapse Warnings From Societe Generale

    Chuck
    20 Nov 2009 | 6:52 pm
    Clients of the large French bank Societe Generale are being told how to prepare for a possible global economic collapse. [...] In a report entitled “Worst-case debt scenario”, the bank’s asset team said state rescue packages over the last year have merely transferred private liabilities onto sagging sovereign shoulders, creating a fresh set of problems[...] In a report entitled “Worst-case debt scenario”, the bank’s asset team said state rescue packages over the last year have merely transferred private liabilities onto sagging sovereign shoulders, creating…

  • Bank Failure – Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida Shut Down

    Chuck
    20 Nov 2009 | 6:41 pm
    Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida (Fort Myers) has failed and the FDIC was appointed receiver. On Friday, November 20, 2009 Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, FL was closed by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named Receiver.  No advance notice is given to the public when a financial institution is closed.[...] FDIC statement This is another case where the public had some advance warnings that the bank ‘may’ have been in trouble. July 9, 2009 (Cease and Desist Order FDIC-09-113b) [...]Commerce Bank…

  • CitiBank Forces You To Spend Money, Or Else

    Chuck
    20 Nov 2009 | 6:07 pm
    During this entire economic crisis I have seen many stupid and/or irresponsible actions taken by the banks and investment firms. But this one from CitiBank is so stupid and irresponsible that it leaves me astonished that anyone that is a customer is willing to sit back and take this. If you are a CitiBank credit card customer you are already well aware of your interest rates going up significantly, or you have had CitiBank cut your credit limits, and in some cases had your account held for ransom by telling you to pay the 29.99% interest rate or they will cancel your card altogether leaving…

  • Stock Market Wrap for November 19 2009

    Chuck
    19 Nov 2009 | 10:41 pm

  • Tim Geithner – He Should Resign

    Chuck
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:16 pm
    Treasury Secretary Tim (Turbo Tax) Geithner has come under a lot of fire in recent months, and with just cause I might add. Today Tim Geithner came under heavy fire on Capital Hill for his failed policies, bailouts, and the growing deficit. The pivotal moment for me was when Tim Geithner said the following: {I do not believe that the removal of Glass-Steagall had any impact on the current crisis} That my friends is an outright admission that he does not work for the good of America or its citizens, but instead works for the good of Wall Street, even if it means placing the taxpayers at great…
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    Rich Credit Debt Loan

  • Introduction to the IRA

    Rich Leverage
    21 Nov 2009 | 7:20 am
    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…

  • 3 Reasons Why Paying With Cash Hurts You in the Long Term

    Rich Leverage
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:05 pm
    Many of us have been conditioned to think that living debt free is the only way to be. While there is some truth in this statement, if you’re completely debt free and using only cash, you’re hurting your chances of getting a new home, and you may end up in a situation that requires more money than you have without any recourse. Let’s find out why paying with cash is not always the smartest idea. 1. It hurts your credit rating. You wouldn’t think this would be the case, but you do need to have some debt if you want to build up a credit rating. In some cases, people with absolutely no…

  • Review of Millionaire By Thirty

    Rich Leverage
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am
    Douglas Andrew’s book reads like a rejected first draft of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and right off the bat, it’s kitschy premise (ripped right from the above book) falls more than a little flat. In order to illustrate his points, the author relies on his sons and their imaginary friends – and the discussions they might have about finances. We’ll leave that whole imaginary friend thing alone – that’s just too easy, and focus on the advice that is tossed around. From the start, with the title, you’ll think you’ve got your hands on a great blueprint that will have your financial future…

  • Why is it Bad to Cancel a Credit Card?

    Rich Leverage
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:11 am
    Unless the idea of streamlined credit you have in your head is having 8 credit cards in a single wallet, then chances are good that you have considered canceling some of the cards you do not use much. The truth about canceling credit cards: Do unused credit cards hamper you credit score, or help it? Can removing old or outdated information make you look any better to bankers or lenders? Closing your accounts will not undo damage that has been done. Once a card has been used, you cannot deny it exists. It becomes part of your permanent credit record and your credit report for at least the next…

  • Protecting Your Investments In Times of Economic Crisis

    Rich Leverage
    19 Nov 2009 | 6:50 pm
    The United States economy is currently experiencing a serious financial shake up. No one really understands just how deep or how far reaching the damage is going to be, but what we do know is that there is going to be damage, and that we are going to be at the mercy of the markets and the world economy while we try to deal with the backlash from this particularly messy financial shakeup. Here are a few really important steps that you can take when it comes to protecting your investments in times of economic crisis. 1 - Stop making rash decisions. If you can walk away with one piece of advice,…
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    Spilling Buckets

  • Joining a CSA: Community Supported Agriculture

    Les@SpillingBuckets
    20 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am
    Lately I've been on a bit of a local binge - taking pride in things made in America and made in Upstate NY, and would like to try to change our habits and eat locally produced real food.Ryan's dad's family has taken it even further and is going to try for the 100 miles in 100 days challenge. I am not sure we could go that far (Ryan wouldn't want to give up coffee - which is almost certainly not grown within 100 miles of Rochester), but we are going to try and eat as much locally and seasonally as possible this coming year, even more so than last year.The first thing we are going to do is join…

  • Who Pays Taxes in the United States?

    Ry@SpillingBuckets
    17 Nov 2009 | 11:52 am
    New tax year, similar result.Great graphic from the folks at Mint.46.9% of Americans will have zero income tax liability in 2009. Who pays the rest? We wrote a short piece a little while back (Should everyone pay taxes, even kids?) about the value we believe paying taxes has on an individual's view of themselves and their relationship with the community and their country. It sparked a pretty good debate in the comments section...My question was this: If you get something for free are you more or less likely to appreciate it? An equally as important question might be: If you get something for…

  • "Every Day is a Bonus" - Stars and Stripes Honor Flight

    Ry@SpillingBuckets
    12 Nov 2009 | 4:53 pm
    I stumbled upon this video featuring veterans who were flown to visit the National WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. courtesy of a terrific organization in Wisconsin called Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.Honor Flight is an organization that provides World War II vets and terminally ill patients from other conflicts free travel to Washington, D.C. to tour memorials.Excerpt from their description:"Every day is a bonus," is the motto of Honor Flight and it's a sentiment that rings true for the men who fought and those of us who continue to benefit from their service and sacrifice.I was really…

  • Have You Written Your Fiscal Haiku Yet?

    Ry@SpillingBuckets
    11 Nov 2009 | 4:18 am
    The smart people in charge over at the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, whose mission it is to bring Americans together to find sensible, sustainable solutions that transcend age, party lines and ideological divides in order to achieve real results, have just created a fun way to express our frustration at continued non-solutions in government. Or at least that's my standpoint...It's Called Fiscal Haiku.Here is the one I submitted:leaders tax and spendno deficits they pretendgive future away Message: It’s important that we talk about finances — whether they're our own or our government's.

  • Guide to Designing an Emergency Fund: What is Your Financial Philosophy?

    SpillingBuckets
    10 Nov 2009 | 2:47 am
    If you follow just about any "general public" financial guru, you know that they devote significant air time or book pages on just how important it is to have an emergency fund consisting of cash reserves.On the flip side, more "advanced financial experts" and some wealthy individuals approach emergencies in unique ways, lumping in access to emergency cash via short term debt instruments like HELOCs or credit cards (as to keep maximum amount of money fully invested).So what is the correct way to plan for financial emergencies? Where is the best place to keep emergency cash? Is debt the best…
 
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    Saving to Inve$t

  • 401k Cash-Out For Loans vs. Hardship Withdrawals - Penalties and Taxes

    19 Nov 2009 | 7:53 pm
    Despite a more stable economy, many Americans are still finding it hard to make ends meet and find that they are having to tap one of their most important and final saving vehicles – their company sponsored 401k or 403b (tax advantaged) retirement plans. There are 3 ways that cash can be taken out from a 401K account: A regular 401k loan, hardship or non-financial hardship withdrawal. Each is explained below with the applicable provisions. 401(k) Loan The primary benefits of 401k loans is that the proceeds are not subject to taxes or the ten-percent penalty fee except in the event of…

  • Taxes and Gains I Can Exclude When Selling My Home

    16 Nov 2009 | 9:26 pm
    Following my recent post on Tips for Selling your Home, I received a reader email asking me to clarify the tax consequences of selling their home and what the potential liability/capital gain implications would be. Based on what the IRS says, here are the key tax facts to keep in mind around figuring your gains. taxes and exclusions on the sale of your home:Amount of Taxes You Can Exclude. When you have gain from the sale of your home, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income (single filers). Taxpayers filing a joint return, the exclusion amount is $500,000.

  • Weekly Wrap - Cheaper Online Stock Trading and My New Costco-Amex Card

    15 Nov 2009 | 8:34 am
    I recently completed the application process and got started trading with my OptionsHouse broking account (bought CAT Shares), and so far has been a very smooth trading experience. The reason I switched trading from my current brokers – E*trade and Zecco (with whom I will continue to maintain accounts) – to this relatively new online broker, is simply for the cost. They offer flat $2.95 stock trades and $9.95 all in option tradeswith no minimums!) and using this special new customer promotion I got 100 free trades, which means that for the next few months my trading is all free. Signing…

  • What NOT to Do With Your 401K and IRA Retirement Plans

    12 Nov 2009 | 8:04 pm
    No doubt everyone who has a company sponsored retirement account (401K, 403b) or self managed plan (IRA, Roth IRA) has read about all the right things to do like regular investing, diversification and choosing low fee funds. However, it is just as important to consider what NOT to do with your retirement accounts so that you avoid the various pitfalls and traps ahead of you, and to ensure you have enough in retirement.1. Do NOT Borrow from your plan. A plan loan may be a convenient way to pay for a big expense—but it is not free money. You have to pay back the principal plus interest to…

  • Simple Tips and Ideas on What to Do Before and While You Sell Your Home

    11 Nov 2009 | 7:08 am
    Government incentives like the new home buyer credit and a weak economy definitely make this a buyer’s market. However thanks in large part to all the home buyer and mortgage assistance programs, people are still buying houses. But the key for any seller is to make their home stand out to prospective buyers, which involves having a good sales strategy before and while selling the house. Here are simple, but often over-looked, tips that make the difference between selling your home at the price you want or taking the only price you can get. Prior to Listing Your Home : Prepare the Right Way…
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    MYM Updates

  • 2009 Black Friday Deals Leaked

    milkyourmoney@gmail.com (milkyourmoney@gmail.com)
    13 Nov 2009 | 5:56 am
    This is one of those moments where you should be wary of impulse buying: corporations created this pseudo holiday and are enjoying every minute of it … especially when you say Wow, I wouldn’t normally buy this, but its too cheap not to!” Be sure you are buying what you can afford.  Oh yea…and don’t trample anyone…. Sam’s club Acer Aspire One 10.1″ Netbook – $197.00 HP G71 17″ LED Notebook w/Blu-ray – $499.00 Olympus FE-4000 12 MegaPixel Camera – $98.00 ($30 savings) JVC 1080p Blu-ray Player – $129.00 Garmin Nuvi…

  • Droid vs iPhone vs Palm Pree vs MyTouch: Total Cost of Ownership

    milkyourmoney@gmail.com (milkyourmoney@gmail.com)
    3 Nov 2009 | 6:08 am
    Wow, that was a long title, but this is exactly what it says, a comparison of all these phones and what it might end up costing you in the long run. Its hard to really condone some of these phones simply because, not only are they wicked expensive, but in order to fully realize their potential, you have to buy into data plans that (per MB) are way more expensive than the data connection going to your house. Remember this?] Billshrink.com has put together a nice little huge image that captures a lot of the finer details of what these devices shake out at. (Click to enlarge)

  • Deep Savings at Swoopo.com

    milkyourmoney@gmail.com (milkyourmoney@gmail.com)
    31 Oct 2009 | 10:19 pm
    I received a link from a buddy of mine the other day to a site that kind of blew my mind.  Swoopo.com is a discount shopping site with lightening fast auctions that seems to work really well. My first thought in seeing a site like this is to try and figure out the sites angle in how they make money.  Usually if thats not apparent, then there is usually something amiss, but Swoopo makes it clear how it operates: Register with the site, supply your contact info and purchasing information.  (Site uses https, but you may get a flag that not all content is secure.  Check your browser)…

  • Free Boston Market Coupon!

    milkyourmoney@gmail.com (milkyourmoney@gmail.com)
    27 Oct 2009 | 2:36 pm
    Print the image below and present at any participating Boston Market for a $1 Chicken Meal! Expires on November 1, 2009.

  • Hulu Will No Longer Be Free in 2010

    milkyourmoney@gmail.com (milkyourmoney@gmail.com)
    26 Oct 2009 | 11:18 am
    It was too good to last let alone be true…Hulu will be a paid subscription service as of 2010.  While we all are enjoying this free service kicking the shorts of cable, it seems that the rumors are true and Hulu isn’t able to survive on ads alone.   I am going to make a forecast that this will be the end of Hulu as we know it, not only in its format but in its usage.  People like Hulu for two primary reasons: its completely free and it works well.  Now its just going to work well.  That’s great but after having unadulterated access for so long, how can we go back?
 
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    Liberta

  • Legacy 2009

    Francois Viljoen
    12 Nov 2009 | 3:28 am
    The day you die, the only thing you leave behind is your legacy. What will your legacy be? Legacy is camp for young men, who are still at school (grade 10 to 12). This year the camp is running in Cape Town, from 12 to 18 December 2009. You can get more information about the camp by downloading [...]

  • Reader Q & A: Interest rate predictions for next two years

    Francois Viljoen
    27 Aug 2009 | 2:28 am
    Hi Francois What are your interest rate expectations for the next few years? I’m especially interested in rate estimates till September 2011. Regards, Zafreen Hi Zafreen I wish I could say with certainty what will happen with the economy, inflation and interest rates over the next two years, but unfortunately the best I can do is make an educated guess. I expect [...]

  • Interest rates at 28 year lows

    Francois Viljoen
    13 Aug 2009 | 7:03 am
    The latest interest rate cut by the SARB brings interest rates down to the lowest level they’ve been in 28 years. The prime interest rate is currently touching a 28-year low, which was equaled briefly in April 2005. Before that the last time South Africa had interest rates lower than what we have now was in February [...]

  • SARB lowers interest rates

    Francois Viljoen
    13 Aug 2009 | 6:32 am
    The SARB’s monetary policy committee (MPC) announced today that they’ve decided to lower the repo rate by another 50 basis points. The latest rate cut brings the repo rate down to to 7.0% and the prime interest rate down to 10.5%. The move comes as a surprise to many economists who believed that no further rate [...]

  • Inflation continues its downward trend

    Francois Viljoen
    30 Jul 2009 | 2:56 pm
    The CPI and PPI inflation figures for June 2009 are out. The year-on-year headline CPI inflation rate for June 2009 is 6.9%, 1.1 percentage points lower than the figure for May 2009. PPI inflation also came in lower at -4.1%, also down 1.1 percentage points when compared to the figure for May 2009. You can check out this [...]
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    PennyJobs.com

  • End the Fed Nationwide Rallies, November 22nd

    19 Nov 2009 | 9:03 am
    In two days - on Sunday, November 22nd the ‘End The Fed’ movement is organizing rallies in 40+ cities across the nation. Ron Paul helped start the movement last year with his bill in the house (HR 1207) to audit the Fed.  There is also a bill in the senate (S.604) that is gaining support.  Ron Paul has also released his new book called ‘End The Fed’, which details how the Fed is behind our economic crisis.  Currency inflation is the wrench in the system distorting the market and steeling the savings from the public. "End The Fed".  The End…

  • Obama Warns of a 'Double Dip' Recession

    18 Nov 2009 | 10:10 am
    President Barack Obama says he's worried that spending too much money to help revive the economy could undermine a fragile U.S. recovery and throw the economy into a double-dip recession.In an interview Wednesday, he added that “it's important to recognize that if the nation keeps adding to deficit spending through tax cuts or more stimulus spending, at some point people could lose confidence in the U.S. economy and that could lead to a double-dip recession."What he means is that central banks around the world are losing confidence in the value of the dollar, which could lead to a…

  • Who Is Going to Prick The Global Asset Bubble?

    17 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    A few weeks ago I sold my 401k market positions and parked by money in bonds to avoid the coming market meltdown. Since then, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said he is going to hold interest rates at zero for at least the next six months, and the G20 leaders said they were going to keep the easy money coming until the economy shows more signs of life. Those policy decisions have resulted in a two week increase in global stocks and commodity prices – with gold making new records almost daily. There is clearly a global asset bubble forming from the trillions that has been poured into the…

  • Government Intervention Is a Lose-Lose Situation For the Poor

    16 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    If given the choice of being shot in the chest or forced to work for everything you have, which one would you choose?That is the difference between government intervention and free market capitalism. In the last few days, I've read a few more articles that blame the greed of the free market for the recession. Almost every book or article against the free market always blames capitalism for the problems thatsocialism and government intervention cause.  In almost every case the authors end up talking about how the growing inequality of money between the rich and the poor is…

  • Obama’s Recession and His Job Destroying Agenda

    13 Nov 2009 | 10:07 am
    As the unemployment rate crossed double digits, the Obama administration cannot seem to figure out why the economy isn’t creating jobs. To address the issue, President Obama announced that he will hold a ‘jobs summit’ next week to finally get to the bottom of this problem and find a solution.  He has assigned some of his top advisors to gather research and propose solutions. Here are a few comments for Peter Schiff’s article today, “That's a relief; for a while there, I thought we were in real trouble! In fact, the absolute last thing our economy needs is more…
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    Girls Just Wanna Have Funds

  • The Ten Financial Commandments For Women

    I'm in the process of putting together The Commandments Of Finance for every woman and Ive come up with the following so far, please free to add your own in the comments. We'll discuss these in detail in the coming weeks/days. 1. Thou Shalt Not Make A Man A ...

  • I am back!

    Yes I know that I haven't updated the blog in a few weeks, but I have good reason!  I've been studying for my licensing exam and the GRE at the same time along with balancing my J-O-B.  So last Saturday I took the licensing exam  which meant taking some time ...

  • Find Your Passion: Love Your Work: Tips Galore!

    So I know you're saying, find my passion? Ginger, I can hardly find a job I like much less talk about my passion! Those of you that do have jobs, I know these days may find it hard to tolerate let alone fathom adding the word passionate as a ...

  • Discussion: “If you smoke or are overweight, then you cost me money and I cannot hire you.”-Fair Or Not?

    With Obama's recent visit to the Cleveland clinic, who will cease hiring smokers as of September 1, the Today Show is speculating that this may become a corporate health care trend. Here's the message from Dr Delos Cosgrove, CEO and President at the Cleveland Clinic: While we are on the topic ...

  • Inspiration + Motivation = Financial Freedom

    What motivates you in life? Personally, financial freedom and the ability to pursue my dreams motivate me each and every day.  This is why I started Girls Just Wanna Have Funds because I believe that women should be be inspired and motivated towards breaking any glass ceilings present in their ...
 
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    The Finance Buff

  • Treasure Hunting in Secondary CDs

    TFB
    16 Nov 2009 | 6:34 am
    I mentioned in a previous post Short-Term Fixed Income: CDs vs Bond Funds that I would buy CDs as short-term fixed income investment for my solo 401(k) account. Because Fidelity administers my solo 401(k) plan, I can buy only what's available through Fidelity. I looked at new-issue brokered CDs. The yields are lower than the best rates available from other banks and credit unions. Then I looked at secondary CDs. Secondary CDs are like "pre-owned" cars. They are being sold by bond dealers. The dealers bought the CDs from the previous owners, who for one reason or another decided…

  • It's Not 529's (Or 401k's) Fault

    TFB
    12 Nov 2009 | 6:39 am
    Ever since I switched from reading Financial Times to Wall Street Journal (FT subscription ran out; no option to use airline miles), I started encountering more and more sob stories. If this continues, I'll be like Frank at Bad Money Advice. On Tuesday I mentioned the story about laid-off employees burning through their severance and turning down job offers. On Wednesday I read this article about people stopping using 529 plans because of market losses: More Parents Are Becoming 529 Dropouts [Link goes to Google. WSJ will display full article if you come from a link through Google.]…

  • Burning Through Severance, Turning Down Job Offers

    TFB
    10 Nov 2009 | 10:04 am
    While on the commute train this morning, I read this article on Wall Street Journal: Life on Severance: Comfort, Then Crisis * Link goes to Google. WSJ will display full article if you come from a link through Google. It tells us stories about how some people coped with unemployment while on severance pay. The subjects in the article spent just like before, burning through their severance. They also turned down job offers because they didn't like the job description. Let me know what you think. ---Software picked, likely related articles at The Finance Buff:It's Not 529's (Or…

  • Marriage Tax Penalty and Unit of Taxation

    TFB
    9 Nov 2009 | 6:33 am
    The marriage tax penalty refers to the fact when two people marry, they pay more taxes than they do when they are single. This happens when the two persons have roughly the same income. The mirror image of the marriage tax penalty is the marriage tax bonus, that is when two spouses have disparate income or one spouse decides to stay at home, they pay less tax than they do if they don't marry. I touched on the topic of marriage tax penalty in two previous posts: Tax Proposals in Obama's 2010 Budget Outline 2009 AMT Tax Brackets It turns out that marriage tax penalty and marriage tax…

  • It's a Stock Picker's Market

    TFB
    2 Nov 2009 | 5:22 am
    If you read or watch financial commentary, I'm sure you've encountered this piece of insight: "It's a stock picker's market." I heard a guest say this in a recent episode of WealthTrack. Is it true? Absolutely. If someone picks the right stocks, they will have a better performance than the market. There's no doubt about it. It's a tautology. In any market, whether it's going up, down, or flat line, there will always be stocks that do better than others and stocks that do worse. There will be stocks that do much better than the market and there will…
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    Amateur Asset Allocator

  • Start A Roth IRA With $50 At T Rowe Price

    Kyle
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    One of the most common reasons people cite for why they’ve yet to start a Roth IRA is high initial mutual fund minimums.  Vanguard is a great mutual fund company, but most Vanguard funds require an initial investment of at least $3,000 (except the STAR fund, of course), which is beyond the reach of many investors, particularly those just starting out.  Furthermore, current Roth IRA contribution limits make constructing a diversified slice n’ dice portfolio virtually impossible.  With only $5,000 per year to play with, savers are able to buy at most 1 or 2 funds per year.  If…

  • Eliminating Credit Card Debt For Dummies

    Kyle
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    There are many different types of debt, some good, most bad.  Credit card debt is decidedly in the “bad debt” territory, just behind payday loans and title loans.  Approximately 73% of all American households possess a credit card, with the average credit card debt of households with at least one credit card at the end of 2008 reaching $10,679.  What’s more, credit card balances are rising, not declining, and our collective debt levels pose a serious threat to the economy. Why Eliminating Credit Card Debt Should Be A Priority The rule of thumb is that if you can’t…

  • The Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Should Be Repealed

    Kyle
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    I will no doubt be crucified for this one.  Americans love their tax deductions and there’s one deduction they like more than all the rest combined:  the mortgage interest tax deduction.  People love it because they think it saves them money, but in reality it does no such thing.  Here’s why. Why The Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction Is A Bad Idea The mortgage tax deduction was ostensibly enacted by congress in order to make home-ownership more affordable for the average American.  Perhaps the deduction did serve that purpose originally.  The day the mortgage interest tax…

  • How Many Hours Per Week Do You Work?

    Kyle
    17 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    It is commonly accepted that “full time” employment equals 40 hours per week, but that doesn’t seem to be the reality in the modern American workplace.  I can’t tell you how many coworkers I have (or have had in the past) who routinely work 50 or even 60 hours per week.  Has 50 become the new 40?  Is there even an advantage to working so much overtime?  Or are American’s simply workaholics? What Exactly Does “Full Time” Mean? When you’re an hourly workers, the distinction is easy:  by law, 40 hours is considered full-time employment and…

  • 2010 Roth IRA Conversion Loophole

    Kyle
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Current Roth IRA rules restrict high-income savers from participating, phasing out eligibility from $105,000 to $120,000 for single filers and $166,000 to $176,000 for married couples filing jointly.  Currently, Roth IRA conversion rules follow similar guidelines.  Only taxpayers earning less than $100,000 annually (and not married filing separately) are eligible for a Roth IRA conversion under current law. The 2010 Roth IRA Conversion Loophole All that is about to change, starting in 2010.  While the Roth IRA contribution limits will remain, the Roth IRA conversion income limits will…
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    Tip'd / Published News

  • Stocks Decline In Early Trading As Dollar Rises

    healthylivinggal
    21 Nov 2009 | 5:11 am
    Stocks are falling in the early moments of trading as the dollar strengthens further, and after a week of mixed economic reports. 8 Tips (http://kiplinger.com)

  • Home Buying: Things to Know Before You Buy - The Quizzle Blog

    Quizzle
    21 Nov 2009 | 12:16 am
    If you are buiying a house in the near future, here's a few things that you will want to know about before buying.7 Tips (http://blog.quizzle.com)

  • The Peak Age of Financial Reason

    healthylivinggal
    20 Nov 2009 | 9:46 pm
    When it comes to handling your money, do you get smarter every year? Do you get smarter for a while and then level off? Or do you get smarter for a while, hit your peak, and then get less smart every year after that?8 Tips (http://www.smartmoney.com)

  • A Few Frugal Ideas for Holiday Entertaining

    arohan
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:45 pm
    You can have a festive holiday party without spending a great deal. Here are some frugal ideas for holiday entertaining that won't break the bank.11 Tips (http://personaldividends.com)

  • Cash is king this holiday season

    healthylivinggal
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:16 pm
    About 71.5% of consumers will use cash, checks or debit cards this holiday season versus 28.3% who plan to use credit cards, which is about a 10% decrease from last year and a clear sign that consumers are weaning themselves away from credit cards. 10 Tips (http://www.walletpop.com)
 
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    Dan Magstadt's Mortgage Blog

  • $8,000 Tax Credit Update

    Dan Magstadt (Meridian Financial)
    4 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am
    Probably the biggest question I get these days is "Has the $8,000 tax credit been extended??" The short answer is NO. There are bills in the Senate right now that are anticipated to be approved in the coming days, but nothing is concrete at this point. A few points about the proposed extension: The tax credit would still be $8,000 for first-time home buyers, but would allow $6,500 for move-up buyers.  The new tax credits will be available from December 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010.  The tax credit will end on April 30, 2010, but as long as you have a binding contract by that date,…

  • New FHA Appraisal Requirements

    Dan Magstadt (Meridian Financial)
    4 Nov 2009 | 7:12 am
    Many people are talking about repealing HVCC...the law stating that mortgage brokers cannot be involved in choosing the appraiser or ordering an appraisal on a conventional loan. I truly hope they do repeal this, however the real news of the day is that FHA is now following in Fannie & Freddie's footsteps - As of Jan 1 2010 all FHA appraisals are required to be ordered through an independent third party with no loan officer involvement. A couple notable points: FHA is saying that AMC's must pay appraisers normal market rates for their appraisals, which is good for appraisers, however the…

  • Lake City, Florida's top plumber is Plumbing Now!!

    Dan Magstadt (Meridian Financial)
    3 Aug 2009 | 8:24 am
    Lake City, Florida's top plumber is Plumbing Now!! I recently needed a plumber to handle a plumbing emergency in the Lake City, FL area, and called Plumbing Now - I was thouroughly impressed with the experience. The name Plumbing Now describes their service perfectly. Their friendly office manager was a delight to work with & answered all my inital questions while scheduling the service call. They lived up to their name, Plumbing NOW, & sent a plumber out within minutes, not days. The plumber that came out, Jake was…

  • Gainesville, Florida's top plumber is Plumbing Now!!

    Dan Magstadt (Meridian Financial)
    31 Jul 2009 | 3:05 pm
    Gainesville, Florida's top plumber is Plumbing Now!! I recently needed a plumber to handle a plumbing emergency in the Gainesville, FL area, and called Plumbing Now - I was thouroughly impressed with the experience. The name Plumbing Now describes their service perfectly. Their friendly office manager was a delight to work with & answered all my inital questions while scheduling the service call. They lived up to their name, Plumbing NOW, & sent a plumber out within minutes, not days. The plumber that came out, Jake was extremely knowledgable, and fixed numerous other issues while he…

  • THIS IMPACT'S YOU!!! In-Depth information on the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act of 2008 - MDIA

    Dan Magstadt (Meridian Financial)
    30 Jul 2009 | 10:03 am
    In-Depth information on the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act of 2008 - MDIA  This is a lot of reading, but it's all important information!! Well, the government's done it again! They're trying to streamline & improve mortgage disclosure for borrower's and in the process they've made life a lot more difficult for everyone (Think HVCC). The federal government has recently issued final guidelines & enacted MDIA which regulates how & when mortgage brokers & lender disclose the APR on a loan. In theory, it is a good thing to require brokers to properly and accurately…
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    No More Spending

  • All is not lost

    no more spending
    14 Nov 2009 | 12:04 am
    In my last post I told you how I forgot to budget for November, well budgeting is like dieting, if you fall off the wagon, you just need to start afresh the next day! You mustn't let one bad day/week take you off track.I simply took the balance of my checking account, took off everything still left to pay until the next payday and then sent all the other money to my debt. The good news is that I haven't overspent this month and I was able to send £227.21 to my loan.Debt balance now £3,150 and sub £2k coming by the end of November.Get updates by email or RSS feed here

  • Budget, What Budget?

    no more spending
    11 Nov 2009 | 10:38 pm
    Confession: I haven't done a personal budget in November! Having flu and then playing catch up at work, means I never got around to it.I can't remember the last time I didn't budget. It would of been sometime in the past, before 2005, when I was a spending monster! Anyway, tonight I'm going to sit down and work out my money for the next two weeks, then it's payday again and I can more even closer to debt freedom.

  • Checking Balances Online

    no more spending
    6 Nov 2009 | 12:22 am
    I've not been able to check my online banking account since last Saturday as I locked myself out, (having the flu made me forget my pin!) and it's driving me nuts. My whole daily routine is wrong. The simple act of knowing all was well in my account seemed to bring me peace of mind for the day, and now I don't have it. - The bank are sending me a new number, and it can't come soon enough.I know that all will be well, everything is set up like clockwork, but I need the physical evidence of that. I could also get a mini statement from an ATM, but it's not the same!Are you like me, do you check…

  • Quick 'getting over the flu' Update

    no more spending
    3 Nov 2009 | 11:23 pm
    Oops no posting for a few days; the flu took hold! Budgeting and planning for November are a little behind, but I've not been spending, so it shouldn't make any difference.I've made a couple of Amazon sales, so this has started the ball rolling on making a little extra money, and this weekend I'm starting an inventory of items to sell on eBay. I've already sold so much on eBay, and I'm not expecting any big ticket items, but in the New Year I want to finally rid the house of our surplus 'stuff'. Where does it all come from?

  • Debt Update: October 2009

    no more spending
    27 Oct 2009 | 10:51 pm
    It's payday today and I've quickly sent a £1,000 snowball; November budget to follow, but my debt now stands at £3,377, 92.4% of the way there. So close I can actually believe it's going to happen!Get updates by email or RSS feed here
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    ThinkMoney.com

  • Do I need a solicitor for a remortgage?

    20 Nov 2009 | 8:11 am
    If you`re coming to the end of an existing mortgage deal - or if you think it may be worth changing your existing terms - it may be time to consider a remortgage.Full article: Do I need a solicitor for a remortgage?Visit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • Can I buy a car while I`m on a debt management plan?

    20 Nov 2009 | 7:40 am
    A debt management plan can really help people who are struggling with unmanageable debt. By reducing your monthly debt repayments to a manageable level, it can help you to ensure all your outgoings are covered.Full article: Can I buy a car while I`m on a debt management plan?Visit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • Remortgaging: How to get a valuation

    13 Nov 2009 | 8:50 am
    A remortgage is not a simple process. There are a number of stages involved, and it pays to know how things work before you start.Full article: Remortgaging: How to get a valuationVisit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • Single IVA

    12 Nov 2009 | 5:46 am
    All IVAs tend to work in the same way on a basic level, but the way they are arranged can vary, depending on things like how many people are involved.Full article: Single IVAVisit: www.thinkmoney.com

  • Do IVAs freeze interest on my debt?

    11 Nov 2009 | 1:37 am
    An IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) can be an effective debt solution for people struggling with unmanageable debt.Full article: Do IVAs freeze interest on my debt?Visit: www.thinkmoney.com
 
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    Capital Stories

  • Part II – Dealers…Too big to Fail

    patrickmullins
    5 Nov 2009 | 6:31 am
    A review of the US monetary System – Suppliers, Dealers and Users As Children, we should all be taught to aspire to own a commercial bank (dealer). Dealers have a very interesting and sustainable business model. Essentially, they lend money they don’t have, which creates money in the hands of the borrower. This “miracle of capitalism” is created by the fractional reserve system of the Federal Reserve. The interest paid on these loans is earnings for the commercial bank. The leverage to assets is big; the Fed requires a 10 percent reserve so that a commercial bank can loan up to…

  • A review of the US monetary System – Suppliers, Dealers and Users Part 1 – Suppliers

    patrickmullins
    5 Oct 2009 | 11:41 am
    Forgive me; it has been six months since my last confession…oops I mean posting. Since April all major investment markets have rallied. This is true of both stock and bond markets. Much of the rally is due to the coordinated policies of central bankers, especially the US Federal Reserve. Toxic assets (TARP, TALF) were purchased from commercial banks and insurance companies dramatically reducing risks, visible and hidden, of commercial bank asset bases. The twin policies of de-risking and improving disclosure provided the needed incentive for those investors looking for a reason to buy.  A…

  • Good Month – Day 537

    patrickmullins
    1 Apr 2009 | 12:01 pm
    US stocks represented by S&P500 were up 8.44% for the month of March. The Canadian S&P TSX60 grew by 7.99%. Morgan Stanley’s EAFE was 3.74% higher. While we are still 49% lower than the high in November of 2007, we have rallied 8% off the low point earlier in March. While most of the worries and economic turmoil persists, there has been some measure of relief to the stock markets. We are at a point of growing divergence between wall street and main street. More evidence is expected of shrinking economies in North America and overseas yet these backward looking measures were not…

  • Return to Risk – Day 529

    patrickmullins
    24 Mar 2009 | 9:41 am
    We are learning more about the US Feds efforts to improve securitized mortgage markets. Specifically, the legacy loans program and the legacy securities program are designed to entice private investment involvement in turning around the credit crises. There is a good review of the Toxic-asset proposal in today’s Wall Street Journal. The incentives have to be generous enough so as to attract private investors but not so generous that a risk free return is funded by tax dollars to the benefit of private interests. So what is a reasonable return for assuming this risk? How will these…

  • Day 525 – confusion reigns

    patrickmullins
    18 Mar 2009 | 1:56 pm
    S&P 500 Decline 9-Nov-07 1565 9-Mar-09 676 57% 18-Mar-09 778 50% Well as the above math indicates, the markets have improved so now they are  fully half of what they once were. There are so many opinions/recipes/predictions for fixing the financial system: Do Mark to Market assets on company balance sheets to improve visibility and certainty about earnings; or Don’t mark to market assets as these add to volatility in earnings and in the end are estimates only Buy equities, the recession is ending in 2009; or Do nothing, the recession is deeper than expected and mid 2010 is the…
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    Maximizing Money

  • OptionsHouse Brokerage Referral Bonus $50 Cash or 10 Free Trades

    MaximizingMoney.com
    20 Nov 2009 | 9:03 am
    OptionsHouse online brokerage services offer a $50 cash referral bonus or 10 free trades when current customers refer new customers to OptionsHouse online trading. If you are a current OptionsHouse customer or sign up for a new OptionsHouse account, you can earn $50 or 10 free trades when you recommend OptionsHouse.com to your friends. The OptionsHouse Referral Program is a great way to earn some extra cash or get free trades when you trade online with OptionsHouse brokerage services. There is no limit to the number of referral bonuses you can receive, so take advantage of the OptionsHouse…

  • BankAmericard Cash Rewards $75 Credit Card Bonus through Add It Up Program

    MaximizingMoney.com
    19 Nov 2009 | 7:02 pm
    The BankAmericard Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card is currently offering a $75 credit card bonus when you make qualifying purchases through the Add It Up program. The BankAmericard Cash Rewards card has no annual fee, plus you’ll earn cash rebates on all of your purchases, in addition to the $75 cash bonus. Check out the BankAmericard $75 Bonus Offer to apply for this credit card bonus offer from Bank of America. To qualify for the $75 statement credit offer, your new BankAmericard Cash Rewards account must be used to make purchases totaling at least $50 on the Add It Up website within…

  • LiliDeals Cash Rebate Shopping Network $5 Sign-Up Bonus and $5 Referral Bonuses

    MaximizingMoney.com
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:58 pm
    LiliDeals is a free cash rebate shopping network that offers a $5 sign-up bonus and a $5 referral bonus for each new member you refer to shop at LiliDeals.com. LiliDeals is free to join, and you’ll earn cash rebates for shopping online at a huge variety of brand-name stores and online merchants. Sign up for LiliDeals in just seconds, and you’ll instantly earn a $5 cash bonus. Once you are a member, you can earn a $5 referral bonus for each new member you refer, plus your referrals will also earn a $5 bonus when they join LiliDeals, so everybody wins. However, you’ll need to…

  • 10 Bonus Credit Card Cash Offers for Credit Card Applicants

    MaximizingMoney.com
    18 Nov 2009 | 8:47 pm
    Bonus cash credit cards are a great way to earn extra cash rewards when you open new credit card accounts. Many credit card issuers offer cash bonuses when you apply for new credit cards, so you can earn some extra money when you open a new line of credit. You’ll have to meet certain requirements to qualify for the cash reward, which is then provided to you as a cash bonus, account credit, or gift card reward. Take advantage of these bonus credit card offers to earn some extra cash when you open a new credit card account. Check out this list of the best cash bonus cards for earning cash…

  • Ebates $10 Holiday Bonus Offer Plus $5 Sign-Up Promotion

    MaximizingMoney.com
    18 Nov 2009 | 11:04 am
    Ebates is providing current customers with a $10 holiday bonus offer, plus new Ebates customers can get a $5 sign-up bonus when you join Ebates.com today. Ebates offers cash rebates when you shop online from many popular stores. It’s free to join Ebates and earn cash rebates from Sears, Best Buy, Toys R Us, and lots of other brand-name merchants and service providers. You simply click through the store link of your choice on the Ebates.com website to earn your cash rebates without any hassles. If you are not an Ebates customers, sign up now through this Ebates $5 Bonus Link and make a…
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    Freedom from Creditors

  • What is the Uniform Commercial Code In The United States?

    Allan H.
    3 Nov 2009 | 12:59 pm
    The Uniform Commercial Code is a set of uniform laws written by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws governing commercial transactions. It took over ten years to originally draft the UCC, and a further fourteen years for the UCC to be implemented across the United States. The creation of the UCC began in 1940 in an effort to “attack major commercial problems with comprehensive legal solutions.” The Code became effective at midnight on June 30, 1966 , and applies to transactions entered into and events occurring after that…

  • Judgment Liens

    Allan H.
    27 Oct 2009 | 11:14 am
    A judgment lien is a court ordered lien that is placed against the home or property when the homeowner simply fails to pay a debt. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when the homeowner has a judgment lien against his or her home and wants to sell it, the judgment lien has to be paid in full before the home or property can be sold. Judgment liens can be placed against the property for a variety of reasons such as unpaid credit card bills, utility bills, department store bills, landscaping or home improvement bills, and just about any bill that the homeowner has failed to pay in a…

  • Banks are getting hamered with loan losses

    Allan H.
    16 Oct 2009 | 9:59 am
    Its no big surprise that banks are trying to collect from the hoards of debtors who have defaulted on loans recently. As you can see from this article Bank of America has lost 36 Billion dollars. Dont feel bad if your among theses borrowers the government is bailing the bank out. Also, as you can tell by the numbers your not alone when it comes to debt problems the banks have more problems then you do.

  • Is It Immoral To Simply Write Off Your Debts?

    Allan H.
    13 Oct 2009 | 11:14 am
    You may be uneasy about the morals of trying to get something for nothing – I certainly was until I had a close look at the industry. The banks, credit card companies and collection agents all play on your guilt and fear. It’s not OK to owe money you can’t pay back. It seems shameful to be in that position, but take heart and open your eyes to the real picture. If you borrow money from a friend, naturally you want to pay it back, otherwise he will be worse off and you will have gained at his expense. This is not nice and you would feel justifiably shameful. On the other hand, if your…

  • Debt Validation Is Expensive for Debt Collectors

    Allan H.
    12 Oct 2009 | 10:52 am
    A collection agency must spend a lot of time and money to validate a debt. It’s a labor intensive, difficult to automate, and simply unprofitable. Debt collectors make the most money through volume, by quickly liquidating accounts and scaring people into paying them immediately. It isn’t profitable to properly document the debt and review for accuracy. When a collector receives a file, they receive a name, amount, social security number (sometimes), phone number, and address. That is it. To properly respond to a dispute requires them circle back with original creditor, ask for proof, hope…
 
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    The Cure For Money Madness

  • A Little Goes a Long Way

    admin
    3 Nov 2009 | 9:55 am
    Are you driving less? Shopping less? Scaling back on entertainment and travel? This is normal and often prudent behavior during a recession. But we must be mindful (lest we be penny-wise and pound foolish) that we shouldn’t cut back on good food, or exercise. We must prioritize our health and well-being as one of our most important investments. Similarly, when times are hard, it’s easy to contract around financial decisions. This is unfortunate because it is in times of crisis that the opportunities exist to make the most money from investments, have the greatest impact on a…

  • The Pain of the Recession…

    admin
    25 Jun 2009 | 11:35 am
    We are all feeling the pain of the recession.  And many people are comparing it with 1929.  Even though no serious economist is saying that they ARE comparable, let’s assume that things will get as bad as they were in the Great Depression.  What actually happened to investments during that time? Let’s assume that you were unlucky enough to invest $100,000 in the S&P 500 on Sep. 3, 1929, the height of the market and the worst date to invest.  By July 1932, that $100,000 had shrunk to $11,000.  By 1950, that $11,000 rebounded to $100,000!  By the end of 1959, that $100,000 had…

  • Q & A : How can a successful approach be so simple?

    admin
    10 Jun 2009 | 3:34 pm
    Q : Spencer, If the successful approach (e.g. Rainbow Portfolio ) is so simple, why isn’t it exploited by all the funds out there? (Also, what is the expectation for the fund and upcoming (two year) market? ~H A : Dear H, Most funds are set-up to be actively managed funds.  I think that most investors like the possibility of making a killing and the Rainbow Portfolio doesn’t offer that.  So, even though over 90% of professional fund managers underperform the index funds, they keep at it because it’s so exciting to people to pick a fund that is smarter than the rest. Over such a…

  • Q & A : Hamster In a Wheel

    admin
    1 Jun 2009 | 12:48 pm
    Q : Dear Spencer, I feel like a hamster in a wheel.  I am a money saver.  I have ever shifting goals (forever higher) for my bank balances.  I am constantly plotting how much I will have in the future which takes all the joy out of today.  I become anxious if I cannot save the projected amount I had planned.  How can I free myself with this saving fixation?  It is making me and my family miserable. ~R A : R - Recall a time in childhood when you learned to just save and save. Realize that all your saving habits originate in childhood. Do the Actual Net Worth statement on my website and…

  • Invest In Equities

    admin
    27 May 2009 | 12:30 pm
    In the last few weeks the pundits are questioning the viability of investing in equities.  As a result of the financial crisis, equities and real estate are down 30-50%, while US government bonds (Treasuries) have had strong positive returns.    Furthermore, the pundits say that over the last 10 years the performance for equities is now below that of bonds.  (Keep in mind that when they speak about equities, they are speaking about the S&P 500, which is only one investment category.)  They ask:  Why take  on the additional risks of equities when you…
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    Darwin's Finance

  • Energy Saving Tips from the Dept of Energy – Pretty Darn Good!

    Darwin
    19 Nov 2009 | 5:55 am
    When I was contemplating the steps we’re taking this year to save money on our energy bills, I thought this would be a quick post on top energy savings tips with high ROI.  However, in checking out some other sources, I came across a wealth of information that I couldn’t help but share as well.  For instance, I didn’t even know about this comprehensive manual the US Dept. of Energy puts out, but it’s full of useful stats and energy conservation tips.  It’s probably the most useful thing I’ve seen out of our government in ages.  They’re trying…

  • Cash for Caulkers – I’m Not Kidding. Latest Gov’t Giveaway Program

    Darwin
    18 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm
    Cash for Caulkers. That’s Right. Following the much maligned and fraud-ridden new home buyer tax credits, cash for clunkers and the impending cash for appliances programs, the administration is now eyeballing a home weatherization stimulus package, likely to be dubbed “cash for caulkers“. According to CNBC, the proposal is being seriously considered by the administration and would include provisions such as incentives of up to $2,000 to $4,000 with the homebuyer paying 50% of the cost (and you and I as taxpayers paying the other 50%). The program is envisioned to cost $23…

  • 787 ETFs Listed – Every Exchange Traded Fund Known to Man

    Darwin
    15 Nov 2009 | 3:34 pm
    ETF List of over over 700 Exchange Traded Funds covering all sectors and strategies from emerging markets and commodities to leveraged and short ETFs.  This ETF ticker symbol list is updated routinely so be sure to bookmark and utilize as a permanent reference. Symbol    Name CGW    Claymore S&P Global Water Index ETF UBD    Claymore U.S. Capital Markets Bond ETF ULQ    Claymore U.S. Capital Markets Micro-Term Fixed Income ETF UEM    Claymore U.S.-1-The Capital Markets Index ETF TAO    Claymore/AlphaShares China Real Estate ETF HAO    Claymore/AlphaShares China Small…

  • Weekend Reading – “Gold: OK, We’ve Reached Ludicrous Speed” Edition

    Darwin
    13 Nov 2009 | 8:31 pm
    Any time I can sprinkle in a Spaceballs reference, I take full advantage of the opportunity.  With gold continuing its ascent to record levels (in terms of US Dollar mind you), gold bugs are basking in their glory while others scratch their heads and wonder why this relatively useless material continues to appreciate in value. A few of my favorite reads from the prior week: Personal Finance Get Rich Slowly: Anti Stuff Holiday Gift Guide - I’m a big believer in spending money on life experiences rather than the acquisition of material things.  We don’t necessarily live that way…

  • Abysmal Survey Results: Americans Don’t Understand Basic Financial Concepts

    Darwin
    13 Nov 2009 | 3:43 am
    A recent financial literacy survey conducted by Financial Finesse, a finance eduction outfit, revealed some pretty alarming results – downright abysmal in fact.  It revealed what most of us probably suspected, but with specific numbers tied to it, the prospects don’t look good with regard to the financial literacy of everyday Americans.  According to the survey which was conducted as a 10 year study of US employees across companies in which they service (here): 86% of employees indicated that they have no idea whether or not they are on track to retire comfortably. 53% admit…
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    Get Out Of Debt With Scott

  • Great video about Banking industry issues

    Scott
    4 Nov 2009 | 9:56 am
    Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

  • Bank of America Really Cares- Or so it appears at first glance

    Scott
    6 Oct 2009 | 8:00 pm
    As I read this story today, about BofA pledging to halt rate hikes before the CARD Act goes into effect early next year. However, the important footnote that should have been included would have read “We already repriced everyone that we wanted to anyways”. So what does this mean for all the customers that have already been ravaged by having their interest rate hiked to nearly 30%? Well, too bad so sad for you is what the underlying message would be. If you Bank of America Credit Card has been repriced recently, you can attempt to have your repricing rolled back, however you must…

  • Watch your Credit Card Minimum payments- They are going UP UP UP

    Scott
    6 Oct 2009 | 1:13 pm
    This is a very scary change in the Card Business Embedded video from CNN Video

  • New Factors That May Be Used To Cut Your Credit Line In The Information Age

    Scott
    23 Sep 2009 | 1:02 am
    Guest post by Mike from Faslip.com Credit Cards may be watching more than your credit score and payment history: Some may be looking at what you purchase and where. We live in an information age. One major concern for people who have at least a basic understanding of how technology works is their privacy. Identity theft is a huge problem, as well as the general collection of our personal information. Therefore, it is bad enough that companies are collecting our personal information but many sell it to third parties. When you sign up for a service such as cable, you give them information. Now…

  • Elizabeth Warren on Dateline- Awesome 3 minute video

    Scott
    6 Sep 2009 | 6:41 pm
    I have always been a huge fan of Elizabeth Warren. Check out her 3 minutes on Debt on Dateline Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
 
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    Do You Dave Ramsey

  • Manatory Healthcare Reform – Part 2

    Dave Ozment
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    In my last article I elaborated on the four led forces at work in our modern day healthcare system – Physicians, Pharmaceuticals, Payers, and Patients.  I also strongly recommended a two-part podcast series presented by This American Life, which explores and explains the inter-workings of these forces with great color and high entertainment value.  If you have not yet taken the time to give listen, then I encourage you to do so. More Is Less Someone Else’s Money But today we change course, I want to demonstrate a tactic I learned early in my career as a management consultant – do…

  • Manatory Healthcare Reform – Part 1

    Dave Ozment
    17 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Healthcare reform is perhaps as complex an issue as we are facing in our society today – and the recent bill passed in Congress promises to further murky the waters.  On one hand, the diversity of the intertwined issues that constitute the fabric of our system may simply be too impossible to unravel.  But on the other hand, solving this dilemma may well hold the key to preserving life as we know it today. For an introduction, I figure that’s pretty dramatic and intentionally so because I think the shoe fits.  The issues are circular and I honestly can’t imagine a more significant…

  • Link Round-up – Thanks In Advance edition

    Dave Ozment
    13 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Hello everyone, today I want to take pause and share with you some good stuff from other sites I’ve been keeping an eye on.  I hope you’ll check out the efforts from these talented and insightful folks. I also want to call your attention to a 2 part series I am launching next week on the issue of Healthcare Reform.  The timing of last weekend’s vote and my article is ironic as I’ve been pondering the idea for just such an article for most of the last 5 months and recently I’ve finally put my thoughts into action.  The outcome… a 2 part series further…

  • Crap On A Bun Is Still A Bad Sandwich

    Dave Ozment
    10 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    A couple months ago I wrote an article asking if your money likes you.  In a transitive way, I was really asking if you like your money.  Of course you may think that you like your money, but your actions are often the final arbiter. I’ll let you have the morsel for free, because today I want to spend some time talking about a group that I know who does love your money – Retailers. Of course the most obvious – and scientific – example of retailers plotting ways to separate you from your dollar is the product placement in the grocery store.  Loss leaders, aisle caps, eye level,…

  • Too Smart For Their Own Good

    Dave Ozment
    6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    I was listening to a Dave Ramsey show podcast and just had to offer up a brief rant about one of the callers.  It seems that this couple was calling under the guise of wanting to buy a larger home and did not know if they were ready.  That is not such an unusual question and Ramsey certainly has a sound theory on the characteristics that indicate when someone is ‘ready’. However, as he started to ask questions and the caller started to spin her yarn, the situation – while not necessary bad – was ludicrous. It turns out the husband had previously moved, or essentially refinanced,…
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    MainStreet.com

  • A Gourmet Thanksgiving Meal for $70

    Emily McKenna
    21 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    It’s easy to spend hundreds preparing complicated recipes for the holidays. Here, a simple, delicious menu for less than $70.

  • Great Thanksgiving Wines, $10 or Less

    Emily McKenna
    21 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am
    The mishmash of Thanksgiving flavors — buttery, creamy, tart, roasted and savory — can make choosing wine a pain. Here are some frugal picks.

  • Geithner: Saint or Sinner?

    David Seaman
    20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm
    Some are calling for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to resign—fair request, or no?

  • Holiday Gimmicks to Lure Shoppers

    The Associated Press
    20 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am
    As you rush into the holiday shopping season, you may catch a whiff of cookies baking at the mall or find a note from a roving elf on your iPhone.

  • 5 Dumbest Things on Wall Street: Nov. 20

    Gregg Greenberg
    20 Nov 2009 | 10:43 am
    Here are the not-so-smooth moves you missed this week on Wall Street.
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    Financial Reflections

  • Who’s Hiring in Iowa?

    admin
    26 Oct 2009 | 8:29 am
    Iowa is an amazing state.  Yes, there’s corn.  But there’s also a wide variety of industries from insurance, to agriculture to green energy.  It’s made quite a transformation in the past quarter century and agriculture, while certainly present, only make up a small percentage of the state.  With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few employers around the state: Who’s Hiring in Iowa? Clipper Windpower -  Iowa is fairly flat, with only some 1,200 feet between it’s highest and lowest points.  It’s also got lots of open fields.  That gives the…

  • Who’s Hiring in Indiana?

    admin
    22 Oct 2009 | 8:59 am
    Sitting between Michigan’s industry and Illinois’ thriving metropolis of Chicago, Indiana is known as the crossroads of America.  It’s also a diverse state with Indianapolis, home of the Indy 500, prestigious universities like Purdue and Notre Dame and lots of agriculture.  That makes it a place with a diverse set of employers who are hiring the best they can find.  Let’s take a look around the state: Who’s Hiring In Indiana? Eli Lilly -  This Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company is the tenth largest in the world and over 130 years old.  They make…

  • Who’s Hiring in Illinois?

    admin
    20 Oct 2009 | 9:29 am
    Illinois is a rather diverse state, with Chicago as third largest city in the United States serving as an anchor for many industries and rural areas that thrive on agriculture.  As part of the “Who’s Hiring” series, Financial Reflections has looked across the state to find a few choice employers and has given you the opportunity to look for many more with a simple search.  Ready to get hired?  Read on! Who’s Hiring in Illinois? Harpo — What’s Harpo?  It’s not just what you get when you spell Oprah backwards, it’s the general name for Oprah…

  • Who’s Hiring in Idaho?

    admin
    19 Oct 2009 | 9:29 am
    There’s a lot more than potatoes in Idaho.  The Gem State offers everything from skiing to technology to an upscale clothing marketer.  Well, there are potatoes, but all those tubers mean jobs for those who qualify.  Well, check out what we’ve found and search for more jobs in the form at the bottom. Who’s Hiring in Idaho? Micron — When one thinks of “Idaho chips” the first thing that comes to mind is potato, not silicon.  But Micron has been producing computer memory chips for a while now and needs talented employees to keep things going.  A quick…

  • Who’s Hiring in Hawaii?

    admin
    16 Oct 2009 | 9:19 am
    There’s really no need to sell people on why Hawaii is a great place to live. Over a million people live on this island state and work in or support the tourism and agriculture that keeps the state’s economy going.  If you’re thinking of moving there or live there and are looking for work, here’s a few employers you might want to look at. Who’s Hiring in Hawaii? Bank of Hawaii — Known as the nickname “Bankoh”, this institution started over 100 years ago and has remained stable in spite of the recession, being named the top performing bank among…
 
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    theBKBlog

  • Will a Personal Bankruptcy Affect my Small Business if I am Self Employed?

    Jonathan
    24 Oct 2009 | 12:29 pm
    With a sluggish economy, I have met with an increasing number of small business owners who are considering personal bankruptcy to deal with credit card debt and personal loans, but who want to keep their business assets and credits separate.  Is this possible. First, it does make a difference whether the small business is incorporated.  If your small business is a proprietorship (i.e. "Tom Smith d/b/a Tom's Lawncare") then there is no way to separate personal assets and debts from business assets and debts.  In this situation, all debts are "personal" because the…

  • FDCPA Does Not Give Debt Collector the Right to Leave Messages on Your Phone Answering Machine

    Jonathan
    18 Oct 2009 | 9:01 am
    As you may know, there are both federal and state laws that offer a variety of protections to individuals who are in debt and who are being dunned by debt collectors.  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act offers a variety of protections in cases involving collection agencies (as opposed to the actual creditor).  In other words, a credit card company can do and say certain things and remain legal, but if a collection agency does or says the exact same things, those actions would be a violation of the FDCPA and make the collection agency subject to a claim for damages. Two of the…

  • Median Income Numbers for Georgia Go DOWN!

    Jonathan
    13 Oct 2009 | 9:37 am
    For the first time since means testing was instituted in 2005, the median income number in Georgia have gone down.   This means that potential Chapter 7 debtors will have a more difficult time avoiding a "presumption of abuse" and the extra cost and hassle of means test calculations. Here is a comparison table Current Median Income Numbers            Median Income numbers after November 1, 2009 Family size 1                               …

  • Should I File Chapter 13 While I am Receiving Workers' Compensation?

    Jonathan
    9 Oct 2009 | 12:25 pm
    If you have been hurt on the job in Georgia and rely on weekly wage benefits from workers'  compensation you know that temporary total disability benefits payable per Georgia law will require you to downsize your standard of living.   Sometimes the financial strain caused by your loss of a regular paycheck may lead you to consider Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.   What are the implications of pursuing bankruptcy while you are receiving workers' compensation benefits? My wife and law partner, Jodi Ginsberg, was recently questioned about this subject by a man who she is…

  • FBI Warns Against Bankruptcy Fraud

    Jonathan
    8 Oct 2009 | 6:42 pm
    My Bankruptcy Law Network colleague Rachel Foley from Kansas City has written a useful article on the Bankruptcy Law Network blog that brings to light a problem that many debtors (and perhaps many debtors' attorneys) don't think about too much – bankruptcy fraud. In my practice I observe that when they come to meet with me many prospective bankruptcy filers are angry – angry at harassing creditors, angry at their employer for cutting hours or jobs, and angry at some of the rules that apply when one files bankruptcy.   Despite what some in Congress may say, no one wants…
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    WalletPop News

  • Best cheapest restaurants in NYC?

    5 Nov 2009 | 9:38 am
    Sure, you can grab a hot dog or slice of pizza in New York for cheap, but a balanced meal for $10 or less? In Manhattan? That's the idea behind the new site CheapEatery.com. But does the food pass the test? Our panel of judges--former staffers of the recently closed, Gourmet magazine, let you know.

  • Rumor: Apple to Offer $30 Unlimited TV Package

    4 Nov 2009 | 10:13 am
    Rumor has it that Apple wants to revolutionize the way we get our television delivered by offering all you can watch TV for $30. If true, Apple would be attempting to capture the attention and eyes of 100 million iTunes account holders with a plan that puts streaming TV on any device with iTunes.

  • You Can Afford Trip on New, Biggest Cruise Liner

    4 Nov 2009 | 10:12 am
    Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas will be taking its maiden voyage later this month. It will be the largest cruise ship on the planet, towering 20 stories over the waves. On board, there's space for 6,300 paying guests, 2,000 crew members, a 1,300-seat theater, some duplex cabins, an ice rink, an indoor/outdoor park, and a cocktail bar that travels from deck to deck via an elevator system. Normally, when flashy new ships are launched, it becomes the hottest ticket in the market, and prices reflect the tight demand. But not this time ...

  • "Hot" Products to Avoid Online

    4 Nov 2009 | 10:10 am
    Retail theft is on the rise, but not from hard pressed consumers looking to make ends meet. Rather, organized groups or gangs are hitting stores, stealing large quantities and reselling the goods, often online. The National Retail Federation issued a detailed list of products, including many popular brand names, of products for shoppers to steer clear of on auction sites. See which products to avoid.

  • Ad Rant: Chris Farley's Brother Responds

    4 Nov 2009 | 10:01 am
    Chris Farley's brother Tom has weighed in on the controversial TV ad that uses Chris to help sell subscriptions to DirecTV. "Bottom line," Tom writes in response to WalletPop's original Ad Rant post on the topic, is the line Spade says when he turns to the camera at the end: "It never gets old." Here's what he said.
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    AOL: Recession News

  • Best cheapest restaurants in NYC?

    5 Nov 2009 | 9:38 am
    Sure, you can grab a hot dog or slice of pizza in New York for cheap, but a balanced meal for $10 or less? In Manhattan? That's the idea behind the new site CheapEatery.com. But does the food pass the test? Our panel of judges--former staffers of the recently closed, Gourmet magazine, let you know.

  • The Yes Men Fix the World

    16 Oct 2009 | 9:27 am
    If we can't count on the government to keep us safe from the the Madoffs, coal ash spills that swallow up entire houses, arsenic in our tap water, or E. coli in our hamburger meat, then it's nice to have American D.I.Y.-ness to hold big business accountable. Meet The Yes Men, two wacky guys who pose as regular corporate executives and say in public the things they wish corporations would.

  • "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Carpenter Paul DiMeo

    16 Oct 2009 | 9:14 am
    Paul DiMeo is the staff carpenter on ABC's long-running tearjerker real estate hit Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and he knows a little something about building cool stuff in a crunch.

  • 'History Detective' Elyse Luray on Value in Your Attic

    7 Oct 2009 | 2:51 pm
    Elyse Luray, a professional appraiser and host of PBS's History Detectives, determines if seemingly worthless objects hold treasure, either financially or in terms of the story they have to tell. What can she tell you about your old junk?

  • AmEx Dumps Gift-Card Fees

    6 Oct 2009 | 8:03 am
    Although the credit-card regulations passed by Congress earlier this year don't go into effect until 2010, one major issuer is eliminating a monthly fee on its gift cards right now.
 
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    AOL: Retirement News

  • Retirement: What not to do

    20 Nov 2009 | 9:24 am
    Do you have a solid retirement plan? Maybe not. According to Wells Fargo's fifth annual retirement survey, most people make three major mistakes when it comes to planning for their golden years.

  • Retirement: What not to do

    13 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am

  • Social Security Payments to Stay Flat

    15 Oct 2009 | 3:55 am
    The Social Security Administration has some tough news for seniors. In 2010, there will be no cost of living increase for Social Security recipients, the first year without one since automatic adjustments were adopted in 1975.

  • The Right Way to Unretire

    23 Sep 2009 | 11:43 am
    Has a portfolio swoon put a crimp in your comfortable lifestyle? Maybe it's time to get a job. Try these techniques to help you land one that works for you.

  • 6 Ways to Ease Retirement Plan Costs

    11 Sep 2009 | 12:40 pm
    MANY SMALL-BUSINESS owners are making considerable sacrifices to keep their doors open, including working a second job and forgoing their own paychecks. So cutting retirement benefits may seem like a relatively simple and direct way to eke out extra cost savings , but there are palpable consequences to that move, which could be felt long after the downturn.
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    Bible Money Matters

  • Black Friday Shopping Tips: How To Get The Best Deals On The Things On Your List

    Peter Anderson
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:12 am
    If you’re anything like thousands of other people out there, you’ve been saving up your hard earned cash for months now in anticipation of finding a great deal on that special item on the biggest shopping day of they year, Black Friday.   Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the day that traditionally retailers books will go into the black for the year, and when they start making a profit.   If the day turns out anything like years past, it will be a day of deep discounts, mobs of people trying not to be trampled and quite a few disappointed people who just barely…

  • Start Saving Up For Infrequent Expenses And Christmas Savings Goals Using Automatic Accounts Like Smarty Pig

    Peter Anderson
    19 Nov 2009 | 10:05 am
    We’re quickly coming upon one of the busiest spending times of the year, the Christmas season. For too many years I would come up to Christmas and suddenly realize that I had woefully under-prepared for the coming holiday. I never saved up enough money to pay for gifts for my immediate family, friends and relatives. This is a snafu that I easily could have avoided by setting up a specific savings goal for Christmas spending, and then saving for the expense throughout the year. Automating Savings Goals Means Never Coming Up Short One thing I’ve learned in the past couple of years…

  • EverBank Bank Review: High Yield Savings Account

    Peter Anderson
    19 Nov 2009 | 9:09 am
    A few weeks back now I wrote about how I had opened a high yield savings account with ING Direct because I really liked all of the budgeting features that the account had, it’s increased security and the fact that it had a competitive rate. I am using ING Direct as a budgeting account to save for short term savings goals like yearly insurance bills, saving up for our next car and vacation savings. Beyond saving for short term savings goals, I also want to find a bank for our 8 month emergency fund where the money will grow at a decent rate of interest, maybe slightly higher than what…

  • Overcoming Money Issues In Marriage

    Jason Price
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:01 am
    Recently, my pastor gave a message about the leading causes of money issues in marriage.  He referred to them as “money minefields” that if not dealt with (or defused) lead to problems in marriage and much of the time divorce. After listening to the message the second time this past weekend, I think it is one of the most profound messages about money and marriage I’ve heard.  It gets to the root of money problems and identifies the one true solution.   I hope you’ll enjoy what I learned.  You can listen to the actual message here. The 5 Minefields:  We Need To Defuse Them 1.

  • 4 Ways To Develop A Thankful Heart Before Thanksgiving

    Craig Ford
    17 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    In just a few days the American government will require you to be thankful (at least they will give you one more reason to be thankful – a day off). What Is Necessary To Be A Truly Thankful Person? Thankful people focus on what they have, not what they do not have. At times I reflect on the situation in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve had everything they needed except for access to one small tree.  It seems as though resisting that tree would be easy – there must have been thousands of other eligible trees.  But, Adam and Eve begin to think about The One Tree (with the help of that…
 
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    Frugal Upstate

  • What Would You Do-Adding to the Holidays?

    Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:59 am
    Well last week I asked you what one thing you would eliminate from your holiday schedule.  There was lots of great answers & discussion in the comments.  Now it’s time to flip that one on it’s ear and ask: “If you could add just one event or tradition into the holiday season-what would it be?” For me?  Hard to say. We already do a LOT of holiday traditions. . . Christmas is just one of my favorite times! We already have a fairly full schedule of traditions: advent calendars, advent wreath lighting, reading the advent story bit by bit each night, decorating the…

  • Recipe: Give a Gift Cappuccinno Mix

    Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
    19 Nov 2009 | 4:26 am
    This recipe is actually from my sweet Mother-in-Law, who loves to make this tasty coffee mix up and give it away as holiday gifts.  Very tasty! Dress it up as a gift by using a cute container, covering a coffee can, or placing in a jar and making a pretty topper (you can take off the strawberry & use something else). Give a Gift Cappucinno* Mix 1C Powdered Fat-free Non-dairy Creamer 1C Instant Hot Chocolate Drink Mix 1/2C Sugar 2/3C Instant Coffee 1/2 tsp Cinnamon 1/4 tsp Nutmeg Mix all ingredients together & store in an airtight container. To use: add 3TBS of Give a Gift Cappuccinno…

  • Review and Giveaway: Merry Madagascar Movie & Gift Pack

    Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
    18 Nov 2009 | 9:08 am
    If you have kids in your house, I’m sure you’ve already heard of the “Madagascar” movie franchise.  Zoo animals~voiced by folks like Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith and Andy Richter~are lost in the wilds of Madagascar. Madcap adventures ensue that are equally entertaining for children and adults. Well folks, there is a new Christmas movie out, “Merry Madagascar”!  I was sent a review copy of the show-unfortunately it arrived while I was away on my cruise/conference and so I only got to watch it this morning. It was an interesting experience,…

  • $3 Meals Cookbook Winner

    Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
    18 Nov 2009 | 8:40 am
    Congratulations to Christine (CWaltz) for winning the $3 Meals cookbook by Ellen Brown! Keep your eyes peeled for future giveaways. I have a movie giftpack, a winter coat and the $3 Low Calorie Meals cookbook coming up soon. Related Posts:Review & Giveaway: $3 Meals by Ellen BrownE.L.F Large Studio Makeup Kit Winner!Rubbermaid Contest Winner!Twilight Giveaway Winner!!!Congratuations GroGood Winner! Share this article!

  • Menu Plan 11/16

    Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
    16 Nov 2009 | 4:43 am
    Not an exciting menu plan-but hey, sometimes that is just the way life goes.  At least with all the chaos I still attempt to have a plan Monday: Ok, I lied. No plan-arriving home from travel after dinner. Yankee Bill will take care of feeding the kiddos. Tuesday: Venison Steaks, Sauteed Onions, Gravy, Rice & Greenbeans I better use up a bit more of that Venison in the freezer before Yankee Bill heads out on Saturday to try to bag us another one!  Yes, it’s deer camp time again soon.  The gravy is totally cheating-the type in the little packages. Wednesday: All Day Crockpot…
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    Christian Personal Finance

  • Upgrade to Windows 7 | Giveaway

    Bob
    20 Nov 2009 | 7:25 am
    As mentioned Free Stuff Friday changed to a monthly giveaway (on the first of each month) but due to the chaotic nature of my November, I am just getting around to it now. I am also a fairly recent Mac convert, so it might seem odd that I am giving away an upgrade to Windows 7, but I am well aware that many people still use (and some even love) Windows, so therefore I thought it’d be nice to give away the new upgrade. Details about the giveaway In order for the Windows 7 upgrade to work for your machine you need to be running either Windows XP or Vista. To see if your machine is…

  • ABCs of Personal Finance: 26 Elementary Money Lessons

    Craig
    19 Nov 2009 | 7:48 am
    Always ask for a discount – Just ask “Can you do any better than that?” or “Is that the best you can do?” This simple question could potentially save you a lot of money. Be prepared for the unexpected.  You never know when the heater might break or the car transmission might go out. An emergency fund with 3-6 months of your living expenses ought to be adequate. Curb (or cancel) credit card spending.  Since people spend more money with credit cards, you need to decide if you are in a position to be able to afford the convenience charge. Determine to become debt-free. Take practical…

  • Buying life insurance for your parents: Is it wise? Is it wrong?

    Bob
    18 Nov 2009 | 7:53 am
    I recently received an email from a reader that I thought would be perfect for discussion, because my hunch is that there are others who are dealing with or have dealt with a situation like this. I promised that I would try to get some opinions from the CPF audience, so if you have any thoughts or opinions, please share them in the comments. Here are the important parts from the email I received… I have a question that I’m wrestling with, which I’m hoping you can help me with. Recently my siblings have been talking to my mother and I about taking a life insurance out for…

  • Delayed gratification – Is it worth it?

    Guest
    17 Nov 2009 | 7:48 am
    The following guest post was written by CPF reader Amy Sullivan. We live in a country resounding “Instant Gratification!” as its lifestyle cadence call. But despite the fact debt has become a badge of the American dream, some folks are going back to saving money and paying for big-ticket items with cash. With this new concept, there is no debt, there is no minimum payment due…but there is a lingering question – is it worth it? Put debt into perspective My husband and I decided to sell our home and severely live below our means to save 75% of our six-figure household income. In less…

  • Being owed money & striving to pass the test

    Bob
    16 Nov 2009 | 8:38 am
    I once heard someone say, “challenges are just wonderfully disguised opportunities for growth.” I really do believe it to be true. Just like a strong physical body requires exercises that push it beyond what is comfortable, so a strong character requires challenges that aren’t comfortable. My newest challenge is that an advertiser owes me a lot of money. The first time someone owed me money I remember as a teen selling my guitar to an acquaintance from church and after months of reminders and little to no payments I realized that I wasn’t likely to ever receive full…
 
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    Give Me Back My Credit

  • National Advocates and Attorneys to meet with Consumers at Free Expo in South Florida

    Denise Richardson
    20 Nov 2009 | 5:28 am
    This weekend, South Florida is the place to be! Whether you have questions about fair lending practices, loan modifications, mortgage servicing issues, abusive debt collection practices, bankruptcy, foreclosure defenses, or want to know what's being done about abusive credit card interest rates, need advice about how to deal with identity theft, or abusive credit reporting practices, this event is for you! National Consumer Advocates, consumer attorneys and non-profit groups are meeting in South Florida to respond to the needs of the public on an array of financial issues many families are…

  • Think Fixing Flawed Credit Reports Leads to Lower Interest Rates? Think Again!

    Denise Richardson
    17 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am
    This scenario reads like a fairy tale, only without the happy ending. Once upon a time, consumers could correct flawed credit reports by challenging incorrect information, thereby ensuring themselves better interest rates when obtaining new credit or a quickly approved loan. Unfortunately, this is no longer true and disputing flawed information is not a guarantee that the consumer's credit history comes through squeaky clean the next time he applies for credit. Originally designed to protect consumers and their credit scores and allow them to obtain the best interest rates possible for their…

  • Website Difficulties lead way to a New and Improved Website Launch!

    Denise Richardson
    16 Nov 2009 | 6:12 am
    Regrettably, the recent downtime of my website has been frustrating and disappointing for myself and my readers who have all come to rely on this website. My hosting provider experienced difficulties that spilled over and led to serious downtime. Relying on others is something that we do every day without even realizing it. We expect the morning newspaper to appear on the front doorstep or online each morning without even wondering where it originates or how it consistently appears on a daily basis. In fact, almost everything we do depends on someone else doing their part - trains and buses…

  • Is Identity Theft Alive and Well? And who really cares?

    Denise Richardson
    7 Nov 2009 | 1:35 pm
    Forget about who is minding the store. The more important question here is who is protecting the identities of consumers? Which businesses care about protecting our data? Are there any financial institutions taking this crime seriously? If not, why aren't they?If financial companies, creditors, and other establishments that utilize important personal data obtained from their customers, clients, and patients are protecting consumers from identity theft, then why is so much of it occurring? Why is information still being stolen for the sole intention of using someone else's identity or data to…

  • Memo to Wall Street: It's simple, put pregnant women and children first.

    Denise Richardson
    6 Nov 2009 | 8:01 am
    While pregnant woman, children and those with weak immune systems wait in long, long lines to get a dose of the H1N1 vaccine, we learn that Wall Street's wants -once again comes before Main Street's needs. They not only get to move to the front of the line -they don't have a line at all.    As the below investigative report shows, while hospitals scramble to get enough vaccines for their high risk patients -and families across this country wait in massive lines to secure a flu vaccine, it seems a number of powerful firms on Wall Street already have access to the vaccine. In a…
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    Prime Time Money

  • The Long Road to Getting Life Insurance

    PT
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Do you need life insurance? Ever wonder what it’s like to go through the process of researching and selecting a life insurance policy? I highly recommend you get life insurance, but I don’t necessarily wish the buying process upon you. It can be tough to navigate. That’s why today I’m going to share the steps you need to complete while searching for and buying life insurance. I’ll share my experience with buying my own term policy as well. This includes getting the life insurance quote, selecting the insurance company, taking medical exams, filling out…

  • A Thanksgiving Stuffed with Savings

    Guest
    16 Nov 2009 | 10:43 am
    Hazy summer days are behind us and now we usher in autumn’s beauty and holiday madness. With Thanksgiving preparations in full swing, here are some tips for saving money for your Thanksgiving celebration without taking away any of the joy. One of the most important steps is to predetermine a head count for who’s eating, prepare a basic menu, and maybe plan some inexpensive activities for the kids to do while the adults cook, clean up, and chat after the meal. Knowing what you need in advance saves you from a very costly emergency trip to the corner convenience store. Before you begin…

  • Upromise Review: A Little Extra Savings for College

    PT
    11 Nov 2009 | 9:03 pm
    I joined Upromise a couple of weeks ago to start saving money for little Miss PT’s college education. I had heard of Upromise before, but didn’t bother signing up…because I’m a dork. I’m going to give you the full review below. But if you want to make better use of your time, just sign up with Upromise and get started. This is really one of those things you and I both should have started a long time ago. Upromise is a free, set-it-once-and-forget-it type program that will earn you free money towards a college education. The savings aren’t lucrative. But…

  • Love Them or Hate Them, Make the Most of Gift Cards this Holiday Season

    PT
    9 Nov 2009 | 8:16 am
    The holiday shopping season is upon us. Many consumers will be heading out stores soon to find the best deals on stuff they want or stuff they want to give others. “Stuff” has it’s place in this gift-giving season, but gift cards are actually one of my favorites items to give and to receive for most situations. I like gift cards because they’re a consumable gift and they take some of the hassle out of shopping. Gift cards aren’t without their downside though. Some people aren’t a fan of them, calling them restrictive and impersonal. Whether you love them…

  • QuickHits: The 5 Easy Ways to Get Free Personal Finance Updates from PT Money

    PT
    7 Nov 2009 | 10:41 pm
    You may have noticed I made some changes to the way I’m presenting information here at PT Money. I thought I might take a second to revisit all the ways you can get more out of this website. There’s more to it than simply bookmarking it, or trying to remember to come back each day. You can have the content automatically delivered to you. There are main 5 ways to get my free content delivered to you. None of these 5 ways will ever cost you a dime. They’re all easy to sign up with. And you can unsubscribe from each one instantly, whenever you like. Okay, here’s a…
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    RetirementRevised

  • COBRA subsidy tool calculates when your benefit expires

    Mark Miller
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:02 am
    eHealthinsurarnce.com has posted a handy tool that can help people figure out when their federal COBRA health insurance subsidy will end. The tool also lets you see how long your subsidy will stretch if the House bill proposing an extension of the COBRA subsidy becomes law.  Lawmakers indicated this week that they hope to take [...] Related posts:COBRA health insurance subsidy may be extendedBill to extend COBRA health subsidy introducedHouse health care bill delivers on COBRA extension

  • Senior singers point to the legacy of Dr. Gene Cohen

    Mark Miller
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:36 pm
    The profession of geriatrics suffered a huge loss earlier this month when Dr. Gene Cohen died. Cohen, who died from metastatic prostate cancer at age 65, was a pioneer in geriatric psychiatry, and he played an enormous role in revolutionizing our thinking about aging. Cohen was especially well known for his research on the effects that [...] Related posts:Cooperative villages taking hold for senior livingPositive Aging Conference coming to a location near youWebinar will offer basics on encore careers

  • How to get the most from your Social Security benefits

    Steve Vernon
    17 Nov 2009 | 12:54 pm
    One of the biggest fears most older Americans face is running out of money in their retirement years. And yet these same Americans don’t take full advantage of one of the best resources to address this fear–Social Security benefits, which provide a lifetime income that ranges from 25 percent to 45 percent of their [...] Related posts:Social Security: The compelling case against filing for early benefitsNew calculator shows how delaying Social Security boosts benefitsReader Q&A: Social Security spousal benefits

  • Marc Freedman: Moving beyond the DIY transition

    Mark Miller
    13 Nov 2009 | 2:58 pm
    Marc Freedman of Civic Ventures writes in Business Week that we need a series of new systems and approaches to facilitate midlife transitions to encore careers. Among the needed changes: adapting educational programs, new financing, and public policy innovations. Writes Marc: “Today an unprecedented number of Americans are coursing through their 50s, bound for a dramatically different [...] Related posts:Marc Freedman wants to abolish retirement as you know itWebinar will offer basics on encore careersBoomers moving to Service Nation; are candidates following?

  • Pensions expert: health reform will allow earlier retirement

    Mark Miller
    13 Nov 2009 | 12:02 pm
    Robust health care legislation would enable far more Americans to retire at younger ages, according to one of the nation’s top experts on pensions and employee benefits. Dallas Salisbury, chief executive officer of the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) predicted during a media briefing earlier this week that “if we get health reform enacted that assures [...] Related posts:Why health insurance reform will be good for Medicare recipientsHealth Savings Accounts have a limited role in funding retirement health, study saysHealth reform would cut Medicare prescription drug…
 
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    Your Money Relationship

  • What Is a Lipper Average?

    Adam
    18 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    I’m sure you’ve heard the commercials from T Rowe Price that talk about lipper averages. They typically go like this: Our disciplined, long-term investment approach has proven successful in a variety of market conditions. In fact, for each 3-, 5-, and 10-year period ended 9/30/09, 80% of our funds beat their Lipper average. Put the expertise of T. Rowe Price to work for you. So, What Is a Lipper Average? Lipper is a Thomson Reuters company that supplies mutual fund information, analytical tools, and commentary. Basically, they take the results of active mutual funds (ones run by…

  • Friday Feed Frenzy – Veteran’s Day Video Edition

    Adam
    13 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am
    I know that Veteran’s day was on Wednesday. However, we shouldn’t have to wait for a national holiday to salute our men and women in uniform. I encourage you to tell every service member that you see that you appreciate what they do for us on a daily basis. The things that they do cannot compare to what we do here at home. Watch this video as a tribute and share your appreciation when you see a soldier. Great Reads Debt Free Adventure shares with you his hybrid debt snowball fight. Sometimes you just need to alter your plan to do what makes sense. If you know you can still…

  • 31 Medical Home Remedies You Should Know

    Adam
    12 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    Everyone gets hurt or sick sometime in their life. Some people rush straight to the doctor while some people find clever home remedies to cure their ailments and save a few bucks. Medical home remedies have been around for centuries and provide decent results compared to more conventional pharmaceuticals. However, these are not for everyone. If you have more serious problems, it’s definitely time to head to your local friendly doctor. Burns Surely, we have all be burned sometime in our life. Whether you grabbed a hot pan or decided to put out that candle with your fingertips, it…

  • Redbox Tests $2 Per Night Rentals: Will You Still Rent?

    Adam
    11 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am
    I was checking out at the grocery store today when I saw something that surprised me. Redbox has begun increasing their prices! The sign clearly stated, “First Night $2, $1 Per Night After That“. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera phone with me but I will try and get a picture as soon as possible. Here is a picture of the machine with the new price: Click on the image for a larger view. Redbox has been a big hit between my wife and me. Previously, at just $1 per night, it made for an inexpensive entertainment night. We would go to the grocery store, pick out a newly…

  • How Is Your Relationship With Money?

    Adam
    10 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am
    When I was coming up with a name for this blog, I kept thinking about how money is an integral part of everyone’s life (duh, right?). It’s used for almost everything that you can think of. My name searching led me the question of, “What is my relationship with money and how can I fix it?” Obviously, we all view money in different ways. Some people see it as groceries while others see it as the next Roth IRA contribution. Either way you look at it, we think about money every hour of the day. So, I want to know how you view your relationship with your money. Check out…
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    MoneyMinding.com

  • Will You Be the Next Victim of Fraud?

    sue
    17 Nov 2009 | 10:01 pm
    Sometimes what you don’t know can hurt you! In fact, blind faith and lack of knowledge make you more vulnerable to becoming a victim. A lack of financial understanding is no excuse, yet is the reason why millions of people suffer from financial anxiety and thousands end up getting fleeced. You may think you’re doing all the right things by asking professionals about financial transactions, but this is no guarantee that you won’t be ripped off or make an inappropriate investment. Getting your education from a financial professional who has a vested interest in selling you a product…

  • 3rd Party Says Improving Financial Literacy Needs Behavior Understanding Too – Exactly What MoneyMinding Delivers!

    sue
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:44 pm
    Gary Rabbior, president of Canadian Foundation for Economic Education says, “The recent calls for more Canadians to know more about their finances is a great opportunity for change…” and outlines all the benefits of the MoneyMinding system and training in his recent article called 10 Tips to Improve Canada’s Financial Literacy published on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/investor-education/10-tips-to-improve-canadas-financial-literacy/article1361343/ He also says, “It takes incentives and more than education to change our…

  • Would You Like a $500 Christmas Gift?

    sue
    12 Nov 2009 | 11:59 am
    Ask Better Money Questions, Get Better Results… this is what Minute Money Managers want. These are established, inquisitive people who want answers to their money questions from a reliable and trusted source. This group values their time and looks for quality products and services to help them achieve financial success… they look to The MoneyMinding Minute Manager Service as their ultimate financial decision-making resource. The MoneyMinding Minute Manager Service is just that, a unique service offered by MoneyMinding Inc. that provides its subscribers the ultimate financial…

  • I am so happy you are doing the calls again!

    sue
    21 Oct 2009 | 2:28 pm
    “I am so happy you are doing the calls again. They keep me focused. I realize how my mind makes choices it sees are best, but there could be better ways to use my money. While others worry about the economy, I just worked and invested in business coaching and marketing techniques. If I put fear aside me and go for it and make calls, and get sales to move forward, I will move into a growth period. My CPA taught me to work on getting the numbers for Schedule C and she can then help me put the numbers in the return. Then she said we can build a plan and graph and show business growth and apply…

  • A Proud Mom…

    ccacovic
    18 Oct 2009 | 10:13 pm
    A proud mom…one of our members shared a great story about the residual effects of MoneyMinding that’s worth sharing with everyone. “My daughter has started to work and now has some freedom to go shopping and spend her money the way she wants.We started the MoneyMinding allocation of earnings a few years ago and she is very good about putting her money in different compartments:spending, giving, saving and investing.She is always writing down the things she sees that she likes at the mall, then comes home and decides if she really wants that item or if she’d rather put her money…
 
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    Rate Nerd

  • Get 3.50% on Checking Account up to $50K – Daily Deal

    Rate Nerd
    19 Nov 2009 | 6:59 am
    This is one of the best checking account offers we’ve seen, paying a high interest rate on up to $50,000. Get 3.50% APY on a free, high-interest checking account from The Bank of Fayetteville with no minimum deposit. This free high-interest checking account offers you a premium interest rate with no fees or restrictions, and even refunds service fees when you use non-network ATMs.  The Bank of Fayetteville Smart Checking account offers: 3.50% APY on checking account balances up to $50,000 0.40% APY* on checking account balance over $50,000 $100 deposit to open a new checking account…

  • Budgeting During Tough Times

    Rate Nerd
    16 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am
    Budgeting is back in style. “Good budgeting requires the concurrent use of some type of financial tracking system,” says Steve Martin, president of Martin Wealth Management and a financial planner based in Ft. Collins, CO.  That’s because budgeting is all about comparing what’s coming in with what’s going out, and how closely that tracks to your projected income and expenses. Discover Bank recently shared its top tips for budgeting with their customers.  Here are a few of the highlights: Get personally involved with your money. It’s hard to earn,…

  • Repaying Student Loans

    Rate Nerd
    13 Nov 2009 | 1:31 pm
    You mean I have to repay my student loan?  Can I get a bailout? Sorry, no bailout for you!  Student loans cannot be discharged even with bankruptcy. Continued default can mean damaged credit, additional collection fees of up to 25%, loss of tax refund, 10% loss of pay check, and even law suits filed against you. Sounds pretty bleak, doesn’t it?  But according to legal eagles, Nolo Press:  ”There is much you can do to take control of your own loan situation if you have the right information, a little perseverance and a large amount of patience…. Ignoring your loans will…

  • Earn 3.25% on Prosperity Checking Account at Bank Texas – Daily Deal

    Rate Nerd
    12 Nov 2009 | 7:19 am
    Bank Texas pays 3.25% APY on their Prosperity checking account on balances up to $25,000 with just $50 to open the checking account. With Prosperity Checking, a free, high-interest checking account from Bank Texas (based in Quitman, Texas near Dallas, Texas), you earn the a high interest rate from a friendly, local Texas bank. Bank Texas Checking account details: 3.25% APY paid on balances below $25,000 0.50% APY paid on balances above $25,000 Reimburses up to $25.00 in ATM fees and up to $5.00 per ATM use nationwide per month No Minimum checking account balance Free Debit card Free Online…

  • 3.00% Checking Account up to $35,000 – Daily Deal

    Rate Nerd
    9 Nov 2009 | 7:48 am
    Malvern Federal Savings Bank is paying up to 3.00% APY on its reward checking account on balances as high as $35,000. The Malvern checking account is available for residents of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia. Malvern will also pay you $10 when you turn in your old debit card or checks from your old checking account. Here’s what you get with the Malvern Checking Account: 3.00% APY paid on the portion of the balance below $35,000 0.51% APY paid on the portion of the balance above $35,000 Reimburses up to $25.00 in ATM fees nationwide per…
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    Investoralist

  • It’s not always what it seems

    Dana
    14 Nov 2009 | 11:15 am
    My friends have stopped asking me about what it’s like to live in the Netherlands now. Those that have never set foot in the country have images of a land of hedonism, where prostitutes seduce their customers from behind glass windows in the Red Light District, coffee shops with herbal goodies and space cakes [...]If you like this post, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed to get more from the Investoralist. It’s not always what it seems

  • The sum of its parts is greater than the whole – making more out of our online presence

    Dana
    25 Oct 2009 | 1:52 pm
    When we think about our web presence and connectivity, many of us have a number of overlapping networks roughly sectioned-off – public versus private, personal versus professional, all-encompassing versus interest-based. This is all too obvious for a large group of professionals that leverage LinkedIn to network, generate sales leads, recruit, and get hired for jobs.  [...]If you like this post, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed to get more from the Investoralist. The sum of its parts is greater than the whole – making more out of our online presence

  • Imagination please, when it comes to business plans

    Dana
    15 Oct 2009 | 2:43 am
    Why the content delivery business is a hard business, if subscription and advertising’s all you got. For something truly disruptive to occur, the current system has to be broken beyond repair, and the incoming “disruption” has to be powerful enough (momentum driven by adoption), and sustainable enough (financially feasible, as far as business models are [...]If you like this post, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed to get more from the Investoralist. Imagination please, when it comes to business plans

  • My first blog post on our corporate blog

    Dana
    11 Oct 2009 | 12:37 pm
    Blog post at my company’s corporate blog, making a case of what I’ve been up to for the past half year.  Click here to read it! If you like this post, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed to get more from the Investoralist. My first blog post on our corporate blog If you like this post, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed to get more from the Investoralist. My first blog post on our corporate blog

  • Analyzing my own online reading habits

    Dana
    4 Oct 2009 | 2:22 pm
    While talking to someone today, I realized how far we had come in terms of the way we consume information online. We used to be destination driven.  Which is say, we used to visit sites directly, bookmarking sites that we visited frequently or going straight to the url.  RSS changed all that by pushing news [...]If you like this post, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed to get more from the Investoralist. Analyzing my own online reading habits
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    The Financial Blogger

  • Note to Myself: Key Points to Investing During a Bear Market Part2: Remember Small Caps

    The Financial Blogger
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    Yesterday, I had talked about High Yield Bonds ETFs and other products available (like mutual funds) in order to benefit from this asset class. During a bear market, high yield bonds are one of the first asset classes to get pummelled like a 16 year old boy being initiated during football training camp. The second asset class to get its butt kicked is Small Caps. Small cap companies have the smallest size on the stock market. They usually show very important growth rates during bull markets as it is easier to grow when you are small as opposed to when you are big and established (just think…

  • Note to Myself: Key Points to Investing During a Bear Market Part1: Remember High Yield Bonds

    The Financial Blogger
    19 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    I have made a major point of honour to take note of what life teaches me. We sometimes go through tough periods and we don’t really know why it is happening to us. We get hit as hard as being creamed by a train and we are standing in the middle of nowhere asking the very same question over and over again: “Why Me?”. I actually found the answer to this question a long time ago: “Why You? Because sometimes life is a b&?%”. In fact, it’s nothing personal about you; it is only how life works. Once you have understood this simple (but tough to accept) concept, you can learn from…

  • CFA or MBA: Which One Should I Get?

    The Financial Blogger
    18 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    I recently received an email from Pete (name has been changed, duh!). He has been a loyal reader of The Financial Blogger and he is seeking advice looking at his future career options. Here’s the email he sent me: Hi There I just wanted to know what your advice would be. I would like to make a decision between completing the MBA or CFA .(Is there something else?) I currently work full time in a large insurance company on the infrastructure ops and development side and am married with 2 kids and another one on the way. I have an undergrad in accounting, a few diplomas and a CFP…

  • More Thoughts on Primerica IPO

    The Financial Blogger
    17 Nov 2009 | 2:31 am
    A little bit more than a week ago, Citigroup announced that they would sell 100M$ worth of shares during the first Primerica IPO. Last year, they tried to sell the company and were unsuccessful, since then they have decided to “pull a few bucks” out of their cash cow. Over last weekend, I spoke with my friend who still works for Primerica and I asked him if he was nervous about the concerns I outlined in my post about Primerica going public. He told me that he wasn’t nervous at all.  Actually, the news was not introduced to the agents with the same information. While the Primerica IPO…

  • Festival of Stocks: My Thoughts on Investment Products

    The Financial Blogger
    16 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am
    Welcome to this new edition of the Festival of Stocks! For this festival, I have decided to share my thoughts on a few investment products you may have or consider to include in your portfolio. If you are new to The Financial Blogger, I may suggest you read those investment related posts: - 10 Trading Lessons for Free - Top 10 Dividend Stocks in Canada - 9 Free Investing Resources - 4 best stocks in 2009 #1 ETF’s (Exchange Traded Fund) For someone who knows a little bit about stock markets and economy, building a portfolio with ETF’s may be the best solution. ETF’s can track anything…
 
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    Intelligent Speculator

  • The Next Google… Facebook? Twitter? Linkedin?

    IS
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Do you remember a few years ago, in 2004 when a young little known company named Google decided to become public through an IPO. It generated a lot of interest with users racing to buy shares. The shares were offered at an auction and the final IPO price was 85$USD. To many, it seemed like a major bargain. But to others, the 85$USD was silly for a company that showed little ability to generate income. The first day the stock actually traded, August 19th 2004, it actually jumped about 20% and finished over 100$. After that, it never looked back. Sure Google did not always rise and did have…

  • Yahoo…buy or sell?

    IS
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    As you know, I do trades mainly in the technology field and I do have a screen that helps me follow the action for 20-25 companies that I trade on. Over the past few years, Yahoo has been one of the more interesting names to trade for a few reasons: -It is in the very dynamic search industry -It competes with tech companies such as Google, Microsoft and IAC Interactive. -It is fairly easy to get indications of market share for Yahoo as well as get a good idea what kind of revenues the company is pulling in -There was also a lot of speculation about the stock and the discussions Microsoft had…

  • New Trade: Long Priceline(PCLN) vs Short Travelzoo(TZOO)

    IS
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Over the weekend, I had more time to go over some numbers while looking for the next (hopefully) winning trade. Just a few days ago, I closed out a trade that involved a play on travel, Ctrip vs Expedia. There are two other names that I follow closely and I am now picking them for my next trade. It is rather ironic for me to go short on Travelzoo given the fact that I have used the service considerably and still like to visit their website. But the fact is that Travelzoo has gained 174% in the past year and looks overvalued in my opinion, especially compared to what most consider to be the…

  • Financial Ramblings

    IS
    15 Nov 2009 | 8:37 am
    I hope you are all enjoying a good weekend! Here are some of the better readings that I enjoyed this week:) -Congrats to TFB for hitting 100K in income at age 28! -Limiting beliefs about money @ MillionDollarJourney -Are you as leveraged as Goldman Sachs @ GatherLittlebyLittle -Wealth and happiness @ RedeemingRiches -Find some H1N1 flu stocks @ BuyMyStockPicks -Should the government bail out pension plans? @ FourPillars -How Oil speculation affects oil prices @ ZeroHedge

  • What makes an ETF “successful” ?

    IS
    13 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Are there too many ETF’s? No, there are not … I hear it all the time, investors complaining about the overwhelming number of ETF’s that are available on the markets. Yes, I admit, there are many, and it can become confusing as for one index, there can be 5 or 6 ETF’s, and sometimes many more. I would say that it is still fairly easy to decide which ETF you should invest in. Simply follow the 6 rules of how to choose an ETF. But the more important issue here is that investors should be happy about having so many companies competing for their money. This has a major impact…
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    The Credit Toolbox

  • IN THE SHORT TERM - GETTING A PAYDAY LOAN

    CTB
    18 Nov 2009 | 8:50 am
    I’ve been telling everyone this lately but I’m not sure if I mentioned this to you.I probably did but regardless, I just got a new job.I was flown out to Calgary for training, put up at some moderately reasonable hotel and I have been learning the ropes ever since.The one thing that hasn’t happened yet with this new job is that I still have yet to get paid.My not having had an income for the last few months makes this somewhat problematic. The truth of it is, I am going to get paid next Thursday.When that happens, I will try my hardest not to hit the shops but that’s not the point…

  • CONSUMER’S ANONYMOUS

    CTB
    28 Oct 2009 | 7:33 am
    This week was a big one for me.I got a job.After three or four months of applying, interviewing, not hearing back, getting rejections and getting discouraged, it finally happened.I got the news on Thursday and I am flying out to Calgary later today for training.I will be working for a major bank and my official title is Transactional Sales Manager.This means I can officially stay in Toronto after moving here from Montreal a few weeks back so I believe we should all take a brief moment and celebrate, well, me. Now that we are done celebrating, let me ask you this.What do you think was the…

  • CREDIT CANADA : SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP

    CTB
    24 Oct 2009 | 2:00 am
    I seem to be catching the same commercials over and over again these days.I should probably change the channel on my television every once in a while or, better yet, maybe watch less television altogether.As I have been making that resolution every new year for as long as I can remember, I will just continue to judge everything I see on the box harshly in the meantime. There is one particular commercial that keeps catching me off guard as of late.This lady is out and she’s shopping up a storm.She’s got so many designer bags in her arms, she can hardly carry them all up to her…

  • Take that Call

    CTB
    21 Oct 2009 | 6:33 am
    Whenever I see a number I don’t recognize on my telephone, I tend not to pick up.For reasons beyond my understanding, I broke that rule the other day.“Yes, can I please speak with Mr. Joseph Belanger?” Oh geez, great.I broke my rule and now I was stuck on the phone with a customer service representative from one of my credit card companies.Was I late on my payment?Was that why they were calling?Or did they want to try to sell me insurance for the hundredth time?Oh, why did I pick up?Why?!? (I ask as I wave my fist in the air.) As it turns out, the phone call was nowhere near as…

  • All Rolled into One

    CTB
    15 Oct 2009 | 2:00 am
    Last time we spoke, or I wrote and you read to be more specific, we discussed missing payments on credit cards and other debts and how that has a direct impact on your credit rating.The recommendation was to keep a calendar of when your debts are due but there is only so much room on a calendar, you know.And if you’re anything like me and the millions of other people out there who have debt in a lot more different places than they should, you’re going to want think about simplifying your debt management.You’re going to want to think about consolidation. Banks don’t love consolidating…
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    Save Few Bucks

  • How to Save Money on Cosmetics

    15 Nov 2009 | 2:43 pm
    Cosmetics one thing which all girls of all ages love. But cosmetics can cost a lot, specially if you are buying the high priced name brands. But the good thing is that you don't always have to buy cosmetics at full price. Often discounts are offered on these lovely products which we love so much. Let's consider some ideas for saving on cosmetics. First of all Shop when seasons change - new season, new colors - when products have gotten old, and when things are on sale. Keep an eye on those pharmacy and department store circulars. You can find great deals if you're a smart shopper. Local…

  • Introduction to Online Poker Bonuses

    17 Sep 2009 | 9:52 pm
    Why are online poker bonuses important? They are only important if money is important to you. If you play poker, it probably is, if for no other reason than that it gives you more ammunition to play poker with. If you haven’t taken advantage of online poker bonuses yet, here are the basics of what you need to know to get started. Online Poker Bonus: The Bonus Code You can’t collect an online poker bonus without a bonus code, for example a Titan Poker bonus code. A bonus code is a combination of letters or numbers that you will put into your online poker site’s deposit screen when making…

  • Get a FREE Gillette Fusion Razor

    18 Apr 2009 | 9:17 am
    Friends – I recently came across this fantastic offer. Gillette is giving 500 Gillette Fusion Razors Free every day till May 16, 2009. Here are the offer conditions: 500 Gillette Fusion Razors are available each day for 31 days. Beginning at 12:00 noon ET each day starting on 4/16/09 and ending on 4/16/09, use the link below, and login with your email address and password. If you are one of the first 500 people to register on that day, you will be eligible to receive a Free Gillette Fusion Razor. I recommend to create an account before hand, so you do not have to waste time in registering…

  • FREE Music Archive: Totally Free Legal MP3 Downloads

    18 Apr 2009 | 7:09 am
    I love music (how silly, everyone does!). And today I came across a recently launched website, Free Music Archive, that offers totally FREE Legal MP3 Downloads. Free Music Archive is a social music website built around a curated library of free, legal  audio. The Free Music Archive offers free downloads under Creative Commons and other licenses. I explored their library. It is nicely organized by Genre, which includes, Country, Electronic, Rock, Jazz, Pop. Hip-Hop, and many more. So, something for everyone. This is still very new, so the library is still building up. But I love this…

  • $5 OFF Kohl’s Coupon FREE

    17 Apr 2009 | 7:46 pm
    Friends, I recently found this link on Kohl’s website to get $5 off coupon. You have to just give your email address, and they send the coupon in your email. So, you need to give correct email address. Normally, the coupon arrives in email within 1-2 weeks of submitting your email address. And you can get one coupon for each email address. Isn’t that cool ! The coupon can be used for any shopping purchase of $5 or above. So, if you find something really cheap in Clearance section of Kohl’s, you can get it for dirt cheap price after taking this $5 off. You can also use that coupon for…
 
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    Kingdom Calling Advisors

  • This Blog: Moving Forward

    Wes Bridel
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    As I mentioned in a post a few days ago, we’re moving!  We’re changing our web address from  kingdomcalling.com. We are making this switch on November 23rd. Important: if you are an RSS Feed Reader, your feed may be interrupted on November 23rd.  To continue receiving this blog feed, you may need to go sign up again at http://kingdomcalling.com/feed/ on Monday or afterward. It may be a small inconvenience, but we plan to make it worth the effort. Moving forward, we’ll get deeper into topics such as stewardship, your calling, and The Coming Storm, along with new areas of…

  • What Other Bombs are Set to Explode on the US Economy?

    Wes Bridel
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Yesterday, we looked at the possibility of rising energy prices or residential mortgage defaults derailing our economy and destroying the value of the dollar and all of your wealth along with it.  Today we’ll look at a few more bombs set to go off in the near future. Commercial Loan defaults. Commercial loans are usually more short term than residential mortgages.  The government does not subsidize them, so bankers must make more prudent decisions about how and to whom they lend money for these buildings.  Over $2,000,000,000,000 (2 trillion) worth of commercial mortgages will mature…

  • The Coming Storm – Audience Reviews

    Wes Bridel
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    On November 5th, Kingdom Calling gave our first presentation of ‘The Coming Storm,’ detailing the spiritual and financial turmoil that we believe is on the way.  Here is just some of the feedback we received from members of the audience: What was your impression of the material presented tonight? “Good stuff! First of all thanks! This was most beneficial. The recklessness of the US Government with the money is much worse than I feared. I would agree that we have thumbed our nose at God and become prideful (i.e. Nebuchadnezzar).” “I Should be concerned about US…

  • More That Could Trigger the Storm

    Wes Bridel
    17 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    The past two days, we looked at a variety of factors which could  derail our economy and destroy the value of the dollar, along with all of your wealth.  Today we’ll look at a few more bombs set to go off in the near future. What factors could destroy the value of our dollar? 1)    Tax Increases. President Bush and the Congress of that time put in place tax cuts during their terms.  These tax cuts are scheduled to expire January 1, 2011.  If they are allowed to expire, they will constitute the largest tax cut in history on the American people.  President Obama came into office…

  • This Blog: An Update

    Wes Bridel
    16 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    ...is coming We are excited to let you know about an upcoming change to our website. We originally wanted the web address kingdomcalling.com -  but it was not available, so we went with kingdomcallingadvisors.com. In the meantime, kingdomcalling.com has become available, so we bought it and are now moving there.  We are making this switch on November 23rd. We hope you’ll join us. One important thing to note: if you are an RSS Feed Reader, your feed will be interrupted on November 23rd.  To continue receiving this blog feed, you should sign up again at http://kingdomcalling.com/feed/…
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    Satori Alliance

  • The Parade of Administrivia

    Dan Noble
    17 Nov 2009 | 9:29 am
    Even as I’m working on finding prospects who will be passionate about acquiring distressed property, I’m knee-deep in administrative activities to ensure the success of the project. Here’s a progress report of what’s been happening. I’ve sent lists of our properties to a couple of different wholesalers - one in Florida and one in North Carolina - who will post them on their Web site and add their fee to the purchase price. This effort has made me realize that we need to have photographs - not just listings - of all our 33 properties posted on a Web site. But…

  • A Different Kind of Due Diligence

    Dan Noble
    10 Nov 2009 | 9:41 pm
    It’s clear from my work on our DBNR project - buying and reselling distressed properties - that the recent meltdown has changed the rules of real estate considerably. If nothing else, the people we’re encountering and the work we’re doing across the country differ greatly from what I’m accustomed to here in the Bay Area. Further, I’m finding that our project requires a different kind of due diligence - one that incorporates judging both qualitative and quantitative qualifications. Take, for example, our property in St. Louis, Missouri. Generally, before any kind…

  • Treasures and Troubles

    Dan Noble
    4 Nov 2009 | 6:33 am
    DBNR investment group’s current project - buying and flipping distressed properties - always had a bit of a grab-bag aspect to it. The idea was always to gather up properties (33 of them in 14 states), extract them from the balance sheets of overwhelmed lenders, and sell them to interested and committed buyers. We never had any control of the what and the where, which has yielded some interesting treasures and potential troubles. Cleveland, Ohio We have an old, gabled house sitting on a 6,000 square-foot lot on Church Street in Cleveland. The house is white with vinyl siding, the kind…

  • Tripping On The Cords

    Dan Noble
    27 Oct 2009 | 11:07 am
    If that’s true, I think I’m well on my way. Anyone who’s ever started a business will empathize. Entrepreneurs, after all, have to keep their eyes on a goal that’s far out on the horizon. They have to hold a strategic vision for where their company will end up. My goal is to be able to create a real-estate operation for distressed properties and ultimately be able to franchise it. This requires establishing easily replicable systems and processes. I’m finding that Fitzgerald’s opposing idea is a bit more prosaic. That’s a requirement of being an…

  • A Beehive Of Activity

    Dan Noble
    20 Oct 2009 | 5:06 pm
    After work being so slow for so long, it is both gratifying and exhausting to have so much going on with DBNR. There have been updates and hiring and even some detective work going on. Every week I compile and send an update to our investors. The first set of financials on our project to buy and re-sell distressed properties is due this week, and it looks like we’re already keeping our costs lower than expected. We were involved in detective work on multiple fronts. The company through which we’ll be ordering credit reports vetted us to make sure we were a real and viable…
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    Prudent Investing

  • Is The Recession Over?

    19 Nov 2009 | 10:50 am
    Several leading economic indicators are showing signs that the economy is on the road to recovery. Click the image below for a nice visualization from Mint…Mint.com Personal Finance Software

  • How to Invest With Deflation – Part 2 of 2

    7 Nov 2009 | 8:50 am
    Today, we look at investment themes during periods of deflation. In deflation, debt is the enemy Risk is to be avoided Cash should be raised Seek high-quality bonds. By default these are US Treasuries, with the longest dated Treasury bond being 30-year maturities. While it is a little burdensome for an individual to buy single bonds which have a face value of $10,000, they can easily do so via the Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund (NYSE: TLT). The Fund rose from $88.59 last June to a high of $123.15 in December and now trades in the $93 range. Dividend yield is around 3%. One could also…

  • How to Invest With Deflation – Part 1 of 2

    6 Nov 2009 | 8:49 am
    We saw last time that the ingredients to deflation are present, this time, we look at how one can invest during these times.Deflation, by definition, is a general decline in prices. It can be caused by reduction in the supply of money (not the case currently), reduction in supply of credit (yep), or decrease in personal or investment spending (yep). Deflation has the side effect of increased unemployment since there is lower levels of demand in the economy.Declining demands leads to declining prices and if they persist, generally creates a vicious spiral of negatives such as falling profits,…

  • 10 Keys To Investing For Retirement In Your 20s and 30s

    5 Nov 2009 | 12:01 pm
    The Courier recently interviewed me for an article on young adults in there 20s and 30s investing for retirement. Sara Arthurs did a nice job writing this article and accurately quoted what I had to say. Here are the key takeaways:Start investing now!Newlyweds should make saving for retirement a priority.Saving for your retirement is your responsibility, not your employer’s.Don’t depend on Social Security for your retirement.Invest in the stock market.Get help from an investment professional.Take full advantage of matching contributions your employer might offer to your company’s…

  • 3 Year-End Tax Planning Ideas

    28 Oct 2009 | 5:00 am
    November and December are key months for individuals to focus on minimizing their income and capital gain tax liabilities. While we don't hold ourselves out as tax advisors, one of our goals is to maximize the after-tax investment returns for our clients, so we thought it would be helpful to share some tax planning techniques to consider. Since each person's tax situation is different, we recommend that you consult with your tax advisor before taking any action. Charitable Donor-Advised FundsConsider maximizing the tax benefit of your charitable gifts through the use of a Charitable…
 
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    Don't Quit Your Day Job

  • The Truly Free Credit Report

    PKamp3
    19 Nov 2009 | 11:02 pm
    There’s no such thing as a free lunch.  Maybe you can think of an exception, but the only free lunches I’ve been on were for interviews or retirement seminars.  How about free credit reports? Surprisingly, yes, there is a way to get a free credit report.  You can get a free credit report from each credit agency every year, to boot.  How to do it?  For starters, you don’t go to the site with the singing pirates. Annual Credit Report The pirates sing a catchy tune, but their pitch comes with a catch.  Freecreditreport.com comes with credit monitoring.  The service they…

  • The Outperformance of the Big

    PKamp3
    17 Nov 2009 | 8:35 am
    Yesterday saw a 1.45% rise in the value of the S&P 500 Index and a 1.33% rise in the Dow.  The closely followed indexes have been strong in November, rising 5.53% and 5.09% respectively.  However, they are being boosted by a weird trend – the outperformance of large cap stocks. The Nifty Fifty As many articles have pointed out, the rise in the value of large cap stocks is generally covering up the weaker performance of the smaller companies.  For some background, the ‘Nifty Fifty” refers to a group of 50 stocks on the NYSE which reached fad status in the 60s and…

  • Lending to Friends

    PKamp3
    12 Nov 2009 | 8:37 am
    Yesterday there was an interesting topic on CNN Money, one which gets touched on at most major personal finance sites: should you loan money to friends?  The answer most often given, is no.  There are some caveats, however: this specific article mentioned securing the loan in some way.  What’s the best way to structure such a loan, assuming you decide to go through with it? The ‘Gift’ Loans to friends don’t have the same urgency as bank loans.  Since they are generally more informal, it’s easier to have a friendly loan walked away from than other loans, such…

  • Carnivals and Links, Week of November 9

    PKamp3
    11 Nov 2009 | 8:36 am
    Posts We Liked! What are you waiting for? “A Nightmare on Wall Street” – ready for the Financial Services Oversight Council? “The Teen Job Scene in October 2009” – teenagers make up a disproportionate amount of the new unemployed in the current recession. Political Calculations breaks down the numbers and shows the depressing trends. “Why Dollar Cost Averaging Makes Sense and Works for Investors” – as you know, I come down in the lump sum investing category, but here’s an article about the other side. “Credit Card Rewards-…

  • So, The Stock Market Is Up?

    PKamp3
    10 Nov 2009 | 8:17 am
    Or is it?  The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 2.03% yesterday, on the surface a nice gain for the index.  Rises such as that give confidence to investors that the worst is over and it’s time to work back into stocks.  Let me briefly present the other side of that argument. Dollar vs. S&P 500 One sign of trouble is the S&P 500 has recently very closely tracked the dollar – inversely.  When the dollar sneezes, the stock market jumps.  When the stock market sneezes, you know it caught the flu from a surging dollar.  Many places have detailed this correlation,…
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    Money Saving Tips: All - billeater.com

  • Car Buying: The Secrets to Negotiating

    billeater
    19 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pm
    J. Paul Getty, an oil man whom in 1958 Fortune magazine named the richest man in America, once said “You must never try to make all the money that’s in a deal. Let the other fellow make some money too.” And therein lies the key to negotiating a good price on a car. And perhaps, most things in life. Frank Costa concurs. A 15-year veteran car salesman in Virginia, Costa observed, “If you walk into a showroom and demand that the salesperson give you his ‘best price’, you’re probably not going to get it. The key is to create a win-win situation for both…

  • Know Your Food Plan Levels and Save

    debbiedragon
    19 Nov 2009 | 10:27 am
    It’s one of our basic needs and biggest budget busters…food. The US Department of Agriculture reports 4 different weekly spending levels for an average family of 4 with children ages 9-11 years old: Thrifty food plan level spends $133 Low cost food plan level spends $173 Moderate food plan level spends $216.60 Liberal food plan level spends $263.40  Read the rest...

  • Tips For Managing Your Money After Debt

    debbiedragon
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:10 pm
    The journey to debt free living is both long and difficult but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After successfully eliminating your debt you can begin to enjoy the freedom of living a life without the constant fear and frustration that comes hand-in-hand with debt. Without the burden of debt you can begin working toward other financial goals that were unattainable when all of your income was tied up with debt payments. Consumers who are "used" to being in debt often do not know what to do with their money once the debt is finally eliminated from their lives. Here are a few…

  • Cheaper haircuts, barber and salon visits

    Tyra
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:07 am
    Our hygiene and appearance says a lot about who we are and what we do. Ladies may choose to style their hair in trendy, and fashionable styles to reflect their personalities, whereas business men and women may require a clean-cut, professional look to give their clients and coworkers the best impression. No matter who you are, or what kind of style you are looking for we have some money saving tips for your barber and salon visits.  Read the rest...

  • 11 ways to save money on your winter wardrobe

    Tyra
    17 Nov 2009 | 4:02 am
    Winter, being the extreme season, means that it requires a different wardrobe...full of warmer clothes to keep up with the weather. Even in the warm south, they have their sub-freezing days. Logic says that warmer clothes use more material of a thicker, more durable (and pricier) fabric.  And, if you have kids, last year's winter clothes won't fit, unless you have a good "hand me down" matchup.  Keep cozy while keeping your wallet fuller by shopping smart for winter clothing. Heres a few ideas: Read the rest...
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    Blonch

  • Spending Money Wisely

    pigo
    4 Nov 2009 | 9:18 pm
    Just finished watching the Yankees win the World Series, and it got me thinking about spending. Not just any spending, though- smart spending.

  • Tweet and Re-tweet were posting on a blog

    PecosJack
    1 Oct 2009 | 1:59 pm
    Tweet and re-tweet were posting on a blog. Tweet logged off. Who was left?

  • Affordable Health Insurance Available

    PecosJack
    16 Sep 2009 | 5:52 am
    Previously I explained that health care is available to everyone – there is no health care crisis in this country. Now let’s show why there is no health insurance crisis either, which I can most effectively do by showing that health insurance is affordable to everyone. In terms of a health insurance crisis, can we agree that folks who currently have coverage aren’t in a crisis? They may think their premium is too high, but it isn’t a crisis, OK? So, let’s look at the uninsured as the crisis. In 2008 The Los Angeles Times reported the number of people without insurance declined from…

  • There Is No Health Care Crisis

    PecosJack
    14 Sep 2009 | 9:35 am
    I know this is political heresy, but I disagree with either of the two premises of the health care reform debate. Understand the difference between health care and health insurance. The reform debate seems to have blurred those lines, but either way: * First, there is no health care crisis in this country * Second, there is no health insurance crisis either These contradict the widely accepted premises behind what you are told by the media, politicians and even AARP, so I understand skepticism. Today, let’s examine the “health care crisis.” Health care is available – even to the…

  • Health Care Reform Debate

    PecosJack
    11 Sep 2009 | 8:26 am
    During the last 20 years I have been involved in health insurance, there have been many changes – some have proven to be good, but others have not. Let's start by clearing up some misunderstandings: There is no health care crisis in this country! Let me defend this heretical position.
 
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    Manisha Thakor

  • Celebrity Money Meltdowns

    mthakor
    4 Nov 2009 | 6:13 pm
    Tough economic times have tested the vast majority of Americans – and that includes celebrities.  Lately there have been several high profile individuals from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and the arts who have seen their financial woes hit the front pages. A money meltdown is right up there with death and divorce as one of life’s most stressful experiences. So let me say straight up that my intent in highlighting these experiences is not to poke fun or make light of their situations.  Rather it is to help others by highlighting common financial pitfall that all of us…

  • 5 Ways the Credit Card Act of 2009 will Affect You

    mthakor
    12 Oct 2009 | 8:17 pm
    In these recessionary times, millions of Americans have found themselves drowning in one of the most expensive types of debt out there – credit card debt. Thanks to the Credit Card Act of 2009, however, relief is on its way. Come February 22, 2010 (and potentially as soon as December 1, 2009) there will be new consumer protections put in place. This legislation has something for everyone… 1. ARE YOU UNDER 21? This regulation will help you save yourself from yourself, by restricting your access to credit cards. Gone are the days of free tee-shirts and pizzas in exchange for signing…

  • What’s Your Money Personality?

    mthakor
    3 Oct 2009 | 5:06 pm
    If there’s one thing we’ve all learned the hard way over the past two years, it’s the degree to which money affects every one of us on a daily basis. I recently had the chance to speak with Dr. Kathleen Gurney, Ph.D., the CEO of Financial Psychology Corporation, author of the book Your Money Personality and creator of the Moneymax® Profile.  Dr. Gurney has been researching the way Americans think and feel about their money for over 25 years.  Through her research, she has identified 9 broad “money personalities,” amongst which people tend to be evenly…

  • 5 Items Will Consume >50% of Your Lifetime Income

    mthakor
    12 Sep 2009 | 9:30 pm
    In these recessionary times, financial tips are flowing fast and furious about how to save money and stick to a budget. Facing a sea of information many people are asking, “Where do I start?”   For most of us, five areas of spending will consume over 50% of the money we earn during our lifetime, so that’s the best place to begin.  The five areas are:  Home, Car, Kids, Education, and Retirement.  Here’s what you need to know about each: Don’t bite off more HOME than you can chew. How much house can you comfortably afford?For most people the answer is a house…

  • Are You On Financial Track?

    mthakor
    24 Aug 2009 | 5:40 pm
    It appears (knock on wood) this brutal recession may finally be coming to an end.  As we let out a collective sigh of relief, many people are starting to poke their heads up and ask, “Am I on Financial Track?”  Here are some rough rules of thumb that you can use to benchmark your progress as you move through life’s decades. IN YOUR 20s: Your key challenge is to learn to live within your means. Steps to take include:  Avoid credit card debt like the plague. Make at least the minimum monthly payments on your students loans, on time, every month. Build a starter emergency…
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    FiLife.com - Family Finance

  • Is Your Bond Fund at Risk? Rising Interest Rates Could Wreak Havoc

    20 Nov 2009 | 11:22 am
    It’s been difficult to miss the stock market’s spectacular rally from the lows of last March. But did you know many sectors of the bond market have also staged impressive returns in 2009?According to research firm Morningstar, mutual funds that invest in high yield bonds are up 41% year-to-date through November 9. Emerging markets bond funds have soared 31%. As with stocks this year, the riskiest types of bonds have logged the biggest gains.If you’re tempted to jump on the bond market bandwagon, however, now may be a particularly risky time to commit new money to bond funds.

  • Help! I'm Only Earning 1% on My Savings

    18 Nov 2009 | 12:35 pm
    Like the rest of the world, you've watched the diving and stagnant interest rates on your savings and money market cash reserves over the last year with horror.It wasn't long ago your funds earned about 3% in 2008 and cruised along in 2007 at 5.5%.Everything else being equal, we all would love to be earning a safe and steady 5.5% in today's economic climate. But it is because everything else is not equal that your cash returns won’t end up much better, or worse, than the glory years of 2007. Or many other years, for that matter.Read Full Story »

  • How to Be a Debt-Free Santa

    17 Nov 2009 | 12:42 pm
    We have all been affected by the economic downturn in America. We are checking our kid’s "Dear Santa" list, scratching our heads and wondering, "How am I going to afford the mortgage, let alone little Johnny's wish list?" I have been implementing several family traditions over the last five years and have found that theses tips will help take the emphasis off the money, and place it where it belongs, in the holiday spirit of Christmas and the holidays. Here are five practical and fun suggestions that any family can utilize for quality holiday time with family, without a quantity of bills…

  • Unemployment: How High Will It Go?

    17 Nov 2009 | 10:22 am
    The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that unemployment passed 10% for the first time since 1983. Historically, it’s been worse. Unemployment topped 25% in 1932 at the peak of the Great Depression. In that light, today's statistics might not seem as bad.However, if the number passes the 1983 peak of 10.8%, then we will have to look back to the Great Depression for a higher unemployment rate. The more disturbing thought is that this is just a continuation of a trend that has been going on for many months. Topping the 1983 peak looks likely.How high will unemployment go? To take a guess we…

  • Home Buyer Tax Credits Extended Through June 2010

    17 Nov 2009 | 8:54 am
    The recent extension of the home buyer tax credit added a major incentive for any prospective home owner. The government extended the $8,000 first time home buyer credit and introduced a $6,500 credit for current homeowners through the middle of 2010. Beverly Hills, Calif.-based certified public accountant and personal financial specialist Robert S. Seltzer helped FiLife review the criteria and major advantages of this tax credit extension. First-time Home BuyersRead Full Story »
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    Money Matters

  • New advanced features give you absolute control in analyzing your cash flow

    strandslucia
    18 Nov 2009 | 5:29 pm
    Today we’re pleased to announce a new set of advanced features on our free personal finance management application. Here’s a run down of what we added based on what you most requested: 1. Split Transactions Sometimes when we shop, we buy items that fall into various categories of our spending. In order to accurately get a picture of where you are spending your money, you need to be able to categorize every purchase appropriately. This is why we’ve added the ability to split your transactions! How it works: I went to Safeway and spent $73.48. About $50 was actually spent on grocery…

  • MoneyStrands $250 Thanksgiving Giveaway Winner

    strandslucia
    18 Nov 2009 | 9:20 am
    To say thanks to our 100,000 registered users, two weeks ago we decided to give everyone a chance to win some extra holiday spending cash by entering our $250 Thanksgiving Giveaway. Today we are pleased to announce that Caitlin Riley is our official winner! A BIG thanks goes out to all who entered and provided their thoughtful responses. We received an overwhelming number of entries and some really great feedback! As you all know we’re consistently adding new features to moneyStrands and we always love to hear new ideas from our users. If have any feedback you’d like to share, please let…

  • Personal Finance Roundup- Holiday Shopping Edition

    strandslucia
    6 Nov 2009 | 12:07 pm
    Happy Friday everyone. This week we’ve put together a great reading list to help prepare you for the holiday shopping season. If you like to start your shopping early, these articles will help you save a bit of money, find the best deals and know what and what not to buy! Before you start your shopping, you can try to make a little extra spending money by selling your own stuff online. Check out this post from Man Vs. Debt by guest blogger Jenny Newcomer on How I paid off $15,000 in 9 months by selling my ‘Stuff’ on Ebay If your out and about driving to all the shops, check out Smart…

  • Add transactions via your iPhone!

    strandslucia
    26 Oct 2009 | 11:29 pm
    Last week we released an updated version of our iPhone app that now lets you add transactions to any of your manual accounts. This means, anywhere you go, you can record your expenses and track your latest balance right from the palm of your hand! Check out this tutorial of our iPhone app to see how the new add transaction feature works. You can also see our new and improved budgeting view. If you haven’t downloaded the iPhone app yet, the video will give you a full tutorial of what you’re missing. [For optimal viewing, select full-screen mode]

  • Embracing your inner thriftiness

    strandslucia
    16 Oct 2009 | 11:25 am
    When I was growing up my father would take me to three different grocery stores with him just to get what was on sale. He bought only meat that was on clearance, used coupons for everything he bought and our family NEVER ate at restaurants. I thought he was cheap. That was, until I heard about Lauren Weber’s father. Lauren’s father kept the thermostat at 50 degrees during the winter. When driving, he used hand signals to indicate he was turning to avoid burning out the headlight bulbs. He washed dishes in cold water to keep the hot water bill down. Perhaps I’m too young to understand…
 
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    Sound Money Matters

  • Fables about iPods at the Carnivals

    Aryn
    20 Nov 2009 | 1:33 pm
    Just two carnivals to share this week, but they’re both awesome because they both included my posts as editor’s picks! First, M is for Money hosted Carnival of Personal Finance #231. In addition to my post about my emergency fund saving us from a paycheck error, I also recommend Engaged Marriage’s post about the best way to avoid money fights. Second, Cheap Healthy Good hosted Festival of Frugality #204. In addition to my post about questions to ask before getting engaged, I also recommend The One’s tips for saving $10,000 on your honeymoon.

  • Money Saving Travel Tips (Guest Post)

    Aryn
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Today’s guest post comes from Mr. Credit Card. If you like this, subscribe to his feed for more great stuff. Hi, I’m Mr Credit Card and I write and review credit cards at my site www.askmrcreditcard.com. I started this site because while I was looking for a credit card a few years ago, I could not find any site that really reviews credit cards in depth. If you are looking for a new card, please check out my best credit cards recommended list. Like Aryn, I have been an avid user of credit cards and taking advantage of rewards. I have not taken advantage of any 0% APR offers or even…

  • Top Tips for the Thanksgiving Drive

    Aryn
    19 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Most years, my husband and I leap into the car at about 1:30PM on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving with our snacks and saddle up for the epic sojourn 400 miles to my family’s house. Unlike the usual trip which logs in at 5.5 to 6 hours, depending on the wait time at McDonald’s and the frequency of my pee breaks, our day-before-Thanksgiving trip is a minimum of 7 hours, and has topped out at 8 hours. That was a special case, though. The City of LA decided it would be a good idea to close a major street near a freeway for an afternoon concert. That idiot moved resulted in a…

  • Top Frugal Thanksgiving Tips

    Aryn
    18 Nov 2009 | 3:02 am
    We’re at the one-week countdown to Thanksgiving. This is a family holiday, so no need to go all out and spend a fortune on your tablescape and whatnot. Keep it simple and it should be pretty frugal, too. Here are my top 10 tips for a frugal Thanksgiving. Use Your Coupons Wisely Next week is the big week for food shopping. Most grocery store circulars come out today, so check them for super deals. If you see a great deal and can combine it with coupons, consider buying enough non-perishables to get you through Christmas and beyond. Last year I had a great canned pumpkin deal, and…

  • Creative Couponing for Food Drive Donations

    Aryn
    17 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Yesterday I did some creative couponing that netted me four brand new, brand-name boxes of cereal for a dollar. We don’t actually eat cereal, but we have house guests coming who do, so I wanted one box for them. My choice was to spend $2.50 for one box, or $1 for four. So, thanks to the joys of grocery store math, I decided to buy four boxes and donate the excess three to a food drive. How the Deal Went Down This was a spectacular deal, but you do see things like this at the grocery store a few times a year. It’s a great opportunity to stock up on food drive donations so you can…
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    Blonch Personal Finance

  • Spending Money Wisely

    pigo
    4 Nov 2009 | 9:18 pm
    Just finished watching the Yankees win the World Series, and it got me thinking about spending. Not just any spending, though- smart spending.

  • Tweet and Re-tweet were posting on a blog

    PecosJack
    1 Oct 2009 | 1:59 pm
    Tweet and re-tweet were posting on a blog. Tweet logged off. Who was left?

  • Affordable Health Insurance Available

    PecosJack
    16 Sep 2009 | 5:52 am
    Previously I explained that health care is available to everyone – there is no health care crisis in this country. Now let’s show why there is no health insurance crisis either, which I can most effectively do by showing that health insurance is affordable to everyone. In terms of a health insurance crisis, can we agree that folks who currently have coverage aren’t in a crisis? They may think their premium is too high, but it isn’t a crisis, OK? So, let’s look at the uninsured as the crisis. In 2008 The Los Angeles Times reported the number of people without insurance declined from…

  • There Is No Health Care Crisis

    PecosJack
    14 Sep 2009 | 9:35 am
    I know this is political heresy, but I disagree with either of the two premises of the health care reform debate. Understand the difference between health care and health insurance. The reform debate seems to have blurred those lines, but either way: * First, there is no health care crisis in this country * Second, there is no health insurance crisis either These contradict the widely accepted premises behind what you are told by the media, politicians and even AARP, so I understand skepticism. Today, let’s examine the “health care crisis.” Health care is available – even to the…

  • Health Care Reform Debate

    PecosJack
    11 Sep 2009 | 8:26 am
    During the last 20 years I have been involved in health insurance, there have been many changes – some have proven to be good, but others have not. Let's start by clearing up some misunderstandings: There is no health care crisis in this country! Let me defend this heretical position.
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    Quizzle Blog - Home, Money and Credit

  • Home Buying: Things to Know Before You Buy

    Angela Burkhart
    20 Nov 2009 | 11:21 am
    If you’re in the market for a new home, now is the perfect time to buy.  Not only did the government extend the tax credit until April 30, 2009, but they also opened it up to current home owners who are looking to purchase a new house. Home prices are low and buyers have thousands of [...]

  • Does Peer Pressure and Saving Money Mix?

    Kristina Hall
    19 Nov 2009 | 1:05 pm
    No matter what your money situation, it’s easy to spend like your money will never run out, especially when the company you keep tends to spend like mad. One of the perks I had during my recent college experience was living within walking distance of all my friends, which meant rarely needing to spend a lot [...]

  • Free Stuff from Uncle Sam

    Angela Burkhart
    18 Nov 2009 | 9:03 am
    Just like free food always tastes better, free stuff from the government is more savory too. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best freebies from Uncle Sam to help you with everything from smart shopping and educating your children, to damaged bills and unclaimed money from the IRS: Become a Smart Shopper To help you become [...]

  • 7 Tips to Protect Your Credit during the Holidays

    Ann-Marie Murphy
    16 Nov 2009 | 12:47 pm
    With the holidays just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to get smart about your credit. Give yourself the gift of good credit by making intelligent decisions this holiday season. After all, good credit is the gift that keeps on giving. 1. Check Your Credit Before the Holidays A single error on your credit [...]

  • Best of Credit, Home & Money – Week of Nov. 8

    Ann-Marie Murphy
    13 Nov 2009 | 11:12 am
    Happy Friday! Your Weekly Quizzler is here, chock-full of the week’s best stories about your credit, home and money links straight from the Quizzle Twitter feed: Home & Money Saving Tips Digitize Your Coupon Clipping (Suburban Dollar) With the influx of coupon websites, you can now enjoy the savings of coupons without getting newspaper ink on your hand. [...]
 
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    How to Get Out of Debt - Free Help

  • http://twitpic.com/qd3ix Maybe this is not what you should wear to shop at Target.

    Steve Rhode
    21 Nov 2009 | 6:44 am
    getoutofdebtguy: Maybe this is not what you should wear to shop at Target. This is a picture sent from me through TwitPic. Click Here to see the bigger picture. You can follow me on Twitter to get all my picture updates. Other Related Articles to Readhttp://twitpic.com/qahpt Getting a mango smoothie bubble tea. Oh so good.http://twitpic.com/q94i1 Sweetwater in DC. Such a fun place to eat and the food is yum.http://twitpic.com/q04gi Would you not assume this place serves Mexican food? Well they don’t.http://twitpic.com/pwyvt A funny DVR pause for iron chef fans.http://twitpic.com/pruwp…

  • Is There a Way to Get Out of Debt for Free? – Steve

    Mike Killian
    21 Nov 2009 | 5:27 am
    “Dear Steve, I was unemployed for 7 months in 2007 and moved to Texas for employment, The company shut down the project in Novemeber of 2007 then fired 35 people in January of 08. During this time My wife lived in New Jersey and never came to Houston and filed for divorce. I never thought that New Jersey would award her alimony in the amount of 3k a month when I was unemployed. I soon gained employment and bring home 3K a month after alimony and taxes. The problem is that while with my first company in Texas I had to buy a new car,had expenses that were never paid by the first company…

  • http://twitpic.com/qahpt Getting a mango smoothie bubble tea. Oh so good.

    Steve Rhode
    20 Nov 2009 | 4:13 pm
    getoutofdebtguy: Getting a mango smoothie bubble tea. Oh so good. This is a picture sent from me through TwitPic. Click Here to see the bigger picture. You can follow me on Twitter to get all my picture updates. Other Related Articles to Readhttp://twitpic.com/qd3ix Maybe this is not what you should wear to shop at Target.http://twitpic.com/q94i1 Sweetwater in DC. Such a fun place to eat and the food is yum.http://twitpic.com/q04gi Would you not assume this place serves Mexican food? Well they don’t.http://twitpic.com/pwyvt A funny DVR pause for iron chef fans.http://twitpic.com/pruwp…

  • http://twitpic.com/q94i1 Sweetwater in DC. Such a fun place to eat and the food is yum.

    Steve Rhode
    20 Nov 2009 | 10:41 am
    getoutofdebtguy: Sweetwater in DC. Such a fun place to eat and the food is yum. This is a picture sent from me through TwitPic. Click Here to see the bigger picture. You can follow me on Twitter to get all my picture updates. Other Related Articles to Readhttp://twitpic.com/pqv87 Interesting place to put huge hot water heater, in cafe bathroom. Causeway Cafe, NChttp://twitpic.com/npqso Something you don’t see every day. Blue hair boy holding owl in front of pizza place.http://twitpic.com/qd3ix Maybe this is not what you should wear to shop at Target.ABH Correction – Athens…

  • Hawk Completes Issuance of Shares to Service Providers – BayStreet.ca

    News Hound
    20 Nov 2009 | 8:03 am
    Debt Settlement News Alert Toronto, November 20, 2009 – Hawk Uranium Inc. (TSX-V:HUI, FRANKFURT:HPM) (“Hawk”) announces that following TSX Venture Exchange (“Exchange”) approval of a shares-for-debt settlement with service providers (see Hawk’s press release of … Visit source for full article: Hawk Completes Issuance of Shares to Service Providers – BayStreet.ca Other Related Articles to ReadNo Related Post
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    The Cost of Living

  • Best Languages For Business

    Jim
    8 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pm
    Photo: Oberazzi As the business world becomes more global, the likelihood of interacting with someone whose primary language is not English becomes much greater. At the same time, it seems English is quickly becoming the universal language of not only business, but also diplomacy, education and the sciences. As a future MBA and a native English-speaker, is there any real business benefit for me to learn a second language? I’d like to think yes. Even if many people around the world have a basic understanding of English, they may feel very uncomfortable when talking to a native English…

  • Kiva Update

    Jim
    24 Oct 2009 | 7:01 pm
    Photo: Christolakis Reading through Grace Boyle’s recent article on microfinance over at Small Hands, Big Ideas reminded me that I should post a quick update on my experiences with kiva.org. I’m happy to report that my original loan, to a woman starting a small bakery in Peru, in now 83% repaid. I’ve since used those repayments to make loans to three additional entrepreneurs: A cafe-owner in Ukraine to purchase new equipment; A woman in Ghana to expand her grocery business; and A group in the Dominican Republic selling fruit and vegetables. Each loan’s repayment status…

  • Beef And Black Bean Chili

    Jim
    11 Oct 2009 | 2:56 pm
    Beef And Black Bean Chili When the weather starts to get colder, one of my favorite things to do is make a batch of spicy, homemade chili. It’s delicious, the ingredients aren’t very expensive, and I can throw everything into one pot and forget about it until it’s ready. That’s especially handy during football season: start a batch in the morning and it’ll be perfect by halftime. I tend to play around with the recipe quite a bit based on what I have on hand, or what’s on sale. This version uses both beef and black beans, but you could leave out the meat and…

  • Starbucks VIA Taste Challenge

    Jim
    1 Oct 2009 | 6:36 pm
    Photo: (rae)sin Starbucks rolled out its VIA Ready Brew instant coffee nationwide this week after limited testing in select markets. When I initially heard that Starbucks was moving into the instant category, I had serious concerns about the damage it might do to its reputation for offering affordable luxury to consumers. With a retail price of less than $1.00 per serving, VIA seems to simultaneously risk appearing both expensive, when compared to other instant coffees, and cheap, when compared to Starbucks’ own in-store java. A tough place to be, from a branding perspective.

  • Social Media Revolution

    Jim
    16 Sep 2009 | 7:56 pm
    Video from Erik Qualman, author of Socialnomics: How social media transforms the way we live and do business. Some truly mind-boggling statistics. Still think social media is just a fad?
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    Broke as a Spoke

  • Oprah’s O List – Custom Gift Cards

    Corrin
    19 Nov 2009 | 9:56 am
    When there’s someone that’s difficult to shop for on my list, I always default to gift cards. I like that they can then go out and buy themselves something that they normally wouldn’t or have a nice evening out on the town, but I always feel a bit guilty because they aren’t as personal as a gift. This year, I won’t feel so bad with custom photo gift cards from GiftCardLab, especially since they are on Oprah’s “O” list this year! You can select a design from their library or upload your own photo, select your dollar amount, and *viola* a…

  • November 18

    Corrin
    18 Nov 2009 | 7:04 am
    $39 Staples $31 Costco $34 Sprint – husband’s cell $25 Best Buy $38 Old Navy $86 DSW $21 Hobby Lobby I convinced my husband to do a ton of running around with me last night – I prefer to have company, and someone to carry everything in. He got new shoes and socks out of the deal and I got groceries and supplies for the Christmas gift baskets I’m planning. We also recycled some ink cartridges and picked up some office supplies – woohoo.

  • An Introduction to Sponsored Tweets

    Corrin
    17 Nov 2009 | 1:28 pm
    This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Sponsored Tweets. All opinions are 100% mine. It seems to be a taboo topic, but every month I share how much money I’ve made blogging and what companies I’ve partnered with to make money, so I thought it might be interesting to take a closer look at one of the newest companies I work with – Sponsored Tweets. Sponsored Tweets is part of the Izea family (PayPerPost, SocialSpark…) which connects Twitter users looking to monetize their stream with advertisers. Here’s how to get started… 1. sign up for…

  • November 13 thru 17

    Corrin
    17 Nov 2009 | 8:30 am
    Oh lovely, payday is here again! $50 ING $167 Sallie Mae $490 car payment – Prius $700 Chase $249 State Farm – Prius insurance There’s actually money leftover this payday, so we’ll be making a big ING deposit early next week!

  • Best Places to Work

    Corrin
    14 Nov 2009 | 2:12 pm
    I love where I work, and I think anyone would agree that I get some pretty great perks – casual work environment, 7 hour work days, and a chef on staff. So many people spend their days in terrible work environments, that I love hearing about other companies treat their employees with dignity and respect. Cydcor is one of those companies. Ranked among the Best Places to Work by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal for the second year in a row, Cydcor has an open-door policy and a company culture of two-way communication, community involvement, and wellness. Kudos to Cydcor! This is a…
 
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    Personal Finance Firewall

  • Black Friday: Tips, Tricks and Cautions

    Jesse Michelsen
    6 Nov 2009 | 2:12 pm
    Black Friday is just around the corner. Secret Black Friday sites are starting to crop up again and are already getting hold of some unofficial ads. I thought this would be the perfect time to give some tips about Black Friday so that everyone can have an enjoyable and safe shopping experience during the mad rush that is The Day After Thanksgiving Shopping, better know as Black Friday. Tips Prepare for the trip ahead of time. Black Friday is a madhouse. You won’t be able to just browse through the different isles and find what you are looking for. The best thing to do is create a list…

  • Price or Quality: How Do You Decide?

    Jesse Michelsen
    4 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm
    I have been living the frugal lifestyle, in some ways, my entire life. Only as of 2009 did I realize this was a lifestyle Recently, I have been thinking about value vs cost and in some areas of my life I have always taken the cheap road such as with clothing, some services I don’t value, etc. I have a friend that has always paid the extra amount for the higher quality products. He intrigues me because he will pay $100 for a pair of sunglasses, or far more for high quality sporting equipment. At first I thought this was just him being pulled into the trap of the brand name game, or the…

  • How Mistakes Help Us Grow

    Jesse Michelsen
    2 Nov 2009 | 10:52 am
    I am a pretty new writer. I have always loved to write and now I do so more often than I ever have in the past. I am still just an infant though, and I read all sorts of “improve your writing” articles and websites because I know I am not as good a writer as some that have been in the writing game for years. I am still on my first year. Something I have a real problem with is self editing. When I first started writing this blog, it would take me close to five hours to finish an article. My articles were a bit longer than they are now, and I only posted a few times a week but even…

  • Halloween and Missed Opportunities

    Jesse Michelsen
    30 Oct 2009 | 1:07 pm
    Tomorrow is Halloween and traditionally the Friday before Halloween, everyone dresses up into their Halloween costumes and go to work in them. When I was in school, it was the same deal. In Junior High or Elementary School, everyone would dress up and parade around the halls of the school to show off the costumes. For me, this kind of ended when I was in High School and I never really participated in the work Halloween parties. I don’t know if it was my lack of self confidence and that I really didn’t want the attention or if it was because I felt it was too much of a bother.

  • 5 Awesome Personal Finance Apps for Android

    Jesse Michelsen
    28 Oct 2009 | 11:27 am
    I mentioned earlier this month that I got a new phone for work. This is not just any phone, but the Android powered Hero from Sprint. The phone itself is sleek and just plain awesome; everything the iPhone has become, without any of the ATT/Apple strings attached. The iPhone app store equivalent, the Android Market has about 10,000 apps and because the Android OS is open source, the majority of these apps are free. I thought I would demo as many as I could handle this past few weeks in relation to personal finance and here are five of my favorite Personal Finance related Android apps, with…
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    Freedom From Creditors Blog

  • What is the Uniform Commercial Code In The United States?

    Allan H.
    3 Nov 2009 | 12:59 pm
    The Uniform Commercial Code is a set of uniform laws written by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws governing commercial transactions. It took over ten years to originally draft the UCC, and a further fourteen years for the UCC to be implemented across the United States. The creation of the UCC began in 1940 in an effort to “attack major commercial problems with comprehensive legal solutions.” The Code became effective at midnight on June 30, 1966 , and applies to transactions entered into and events occurring after that…

  • Judgment Liens

    Allan H.
    27 Oct 2009 | 11:14 am
    A judgment lien is a court ordered lien that is placed against the home or property when the homeowner simply fails to pay a debt. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when the homeowner has a judgment lien against his or her home and wants to sell it, the judgment lien has to be paid in full before the home or property can be sold. Judgment liens can be placed against the property for a variety of reasons such as unpaid credit card bills, utility bills, department store bills, landscaping or home improvement bills, and just about any bill that the homeowner has failed to pay in a…

  • Banks are getting hamered with loan losses

    Allan H.
    16 Oct 2009 | 9:59 am
    Its no big surprise that banks are trying to collect from the hoards of debtors who have defaulted on loans recently. As you can see from this article Bank of America has lost 36 Billion dollars. Dont feel bad if your among theses borrowers the government is bailing the bank out. Also, as you can tell by the numbers your not alone when it comes to debt problems the banks have more problems then you do.

  • Is It Immoral To Simply Write Off Your Debts?

    Allan H.
    13 Oct 2009 | 11:14 am
    You may be uneasy about the morals of trying to get something for nothing – I certainly was until I had a close look at the industry. The banks, credit card companies and collection agents all play on your guilt and fear. It’s not OK to owe money you can’t pay back. It seems shameful to be in that position, but take heart and open your eyes to the real picture. If you borrow money from a friend, naturally you want to pay it back, otherwise he will be worse off and you will have gained at his expense. This is not nice and you would feel justifiably shameful. On the other hand, if your…

  • Debt Validation Is Expensive for Debt Collectors

    Allan H.
    12 Oct 2009 | 10:52 am
    A collection agency must spend a lot of time and money to validate a debt. It’s a labor intensive, difficult to automate, and simply unprofitable. Debt collectors make the most money through volume, by quickly liquidating accounts and scaring people into paying them immediately. It isn’t profitable to properly document the debt and review for accuracy. When a collector receives a file, they receive a name, amount, social security number (sometimes), phone number, and address. That is it. To properly respond to a dispute requires them circle back with original creditor, ask for proof, hope…
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    NLP - Your Pathway to Wealth Health and Success

  • BOOK REVIEW: How Successful People Think by John C Maxwell

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:39 am
    By Bob MasonDo successful people think differently than unsuccessful people? John C. Maxwell thinks so and has written another book, based on the premise that successful people have one thing in common - how they think - and that anyone can learn that skill.Maxwell identifies 11 different skills of thinking. As he says in the introduction, he isn't trying to tell the reader what to think, but rather help the reader learn how to think. Many of us know people who claim to think carefully about a decision, but in reality are just reviewing their own narrow thoughts, fears, and prejudices.That…

  • Keys to Building Wealth

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:35 am
    By Bryan AppletonIf you are among the many that find it hard to attract wealth into your life, you may be wondering if it is even possible. I mean, for many people who seem to struggle with money, can it really happen? Or are you destined to remain where you are financially?To answer these questions, you really have to ask yourself, are you willing to learn how to create wealth and to possess the mindset that will make you rich? If your answer is YES, then you do have what it takes to create an abundance of wealth in YOUR life.Here are a few keys to building wealth that you MUST know:1.

  • You Need the Right Mindset to Be a Millionaire - What is Your Success Blueprint?

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:34 am
    By Scott RuawrdHave you ever thought about what it would be like to be a millionaire? Do you question your life and wonder if you could do a lot better than you are right now? In order to become a millionaire it is imperative that you think like a millionaire.What many people do not tell you is that it's not the business opportunities that make you a lot of money but a mindset behind these business opportunities as well as a successful plan that leads you to success. Both of which come from thinking like a millionaire.For example, if you're trying to make $100,000 online or trying to start a…

  • 3 Wealth Building Tips

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:31 am
    By Bryan AppletonBeing able to build and create wealth does not have to be a dream or a fantasy for you. There are real ways that you can use to attract and build wealth without having to fall for the hype and false hope that many succumb to. To be able to do this properly, there are some important tips that you should know.Here are 3 wealth building tips that you can use to get started right away:1. Declare a specific amount that you want to attract into your life. The reason for this is simple. When your mind has a quantified goal, then it finds a solution much quicker. When your goal is…

  • What is the Definition of Financial Freedom?

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:29 am
    By Duane HatfieldFor many people the definition of financial freedom is the position in life where they think all their money problems are over. Is that truly when financial freedom is achieved? As we have all seen with those who win the lottery or receive a large inheritance, they usually return to the monetary place they were before their windfall.So as we have noted from the actions of others it's not the amount of money that gives freedom but something more. Something that causes whatever amount we have achieved, when we achieve it, to satisfy the little voice in our heads that tells us…
 
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    Alternative Investment Guide to Freedom

  • UK Employment Figures Stronger Than Expected - Property Prices to Hold Up

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 3:12 am
    By Neil Lewis-Vahl UK Employment dropped just 0.1% over the summer to end at 72.5. The unemployment rate increased just 30,000 to reach 2.46m. So everything is fine in the UK economy? Perhaps not. There are two issues here. Firstly, the number of people working part-time has increased to nearly 1m. This is the highest figure since records began in 1992. Secondly, as the stock markets and house prices are being held up by government stimuli, so it appears that jobs will be too. The question is this - what will happen when that stimuli is withdrawn? And what will happen to the 1m part-timers?

  • Difference Between Recession and Depression

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:57 am
    By Aamar Ali There is an old joke among economists that describes that a recession occurs when your neighbor loses their job and depression occurs when you lose your job. It is quite difficult to draw a line between recession and depression because there is not a definition upon which all economists agree. If you were to ask 100 different economists to define the terms recession and depression, there is a probability that you would get at least 100 different answers. In this article, I will try to summarize both terms and explain the basic differences between them in a way that would make all…

  • How a Foreigner Can Open a Bank Account in the Philippines

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:52 am
    By Will Irwin Setting up a bank account in the Philippines as a foreigner has become quite an onerous task. It used to be one simply walked in, provided some identification, some money and opened an account. Now, after the world seems to have been taken over by terrorism, tax cheats, and international drug cartels, banks around the world are becoming more careful about due diligence when it comes to a foreigner wanting to open an account. Requirements are basically the same at any bank, however if you have been introduced previously to the manager or one of his or her assistants, things tend…

  • Government Tax Revenue Slightly Up As Recession Ends

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:48 am
    By Lance Winslow Some government agencies are finally starting to see increased tax revenues coming in, and they are glad to see the hemorrhaging has stopped for now. Many stock market analysts believe that we are due for a pull-back, perhaps after the first of the year, some say sooner, and much could depend on retail profit earnings projections and actual numbers after the Christmas shopping season. Of course, right now this is all speculation, and that's about it. Should the city, county, and state governments really have cause to celebrate? Well, no, and yes, in a way they should. But…

  • Industries Worst Hit by the Sub-Prime Crisis

    Dr Robert Muller
    20 Nov 2009 | 2:46 am
    By Roland Poitevin The economic slowdown that has triggered panic across all economies of the world has led to widespread lay offs and bankruptcy. Although economists throughout the world opine that the signs of a financial crisis had emerged several months previous, Americans failed to see the damage that they were causing to themselves by resorting to credit. As a result, adverse effects of the economic meltdown were seen as sudden and unexpected. Following the sub prime crisis that seems to have had the most profound impact on the American economy, there are some industries that are no…
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