Personal Finance

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  • Book Review - How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?

    Personal Finance Buzz - Published news
    mikecollins
    16 May 2013 | 4:46 am
    If you're not sure how much money you need to save to retire, Todd Tresidder's new book might have a surprising answer.

  • Find $100, pick it up?

    Squawkfox
    Kerry
    20 Apr 2013 | 8:23 pm
    Having trouble viewing this? CLICK HERE Recipes Shopping Holidays Travel Budget Downloads New? Start Here!     Saving Find $100, pick it up? Finding a one hundred dollar bill is awesome fun. But should you keep it? Read More »   50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year Fifty (nearly) painless ways to stash some extra cash. Read More »   The real reason you're broke Are you broke? Well, stop whining about it and find out why. Read More »   Like Squawkfox Follow @squawkfox Google+ Squawkfox   The Squawkfox Frugal Living Blog is by Kerry K. Taylor…

  • Growing threat to retirement security: Helping the kids

    RetirementRevised
    Mark Miller
    10 May 2013 | 7:42 am
    A growing number of families are supporting both adult children and aging parents. As if there weren’t enough variables to consider when planning for retirement, throw this into the mix: Fifty-two percent of parents over age 45 expect to financially support their adult children, and 35 percent expect to do the same for grandchildren, according [...] Related posts: New thinking surfaces on safe withdrawal rates in retirement How you can buy an annuity from Social Security Advisors, plan sponsors falling short on Social Security advice

  • Overdraft fees soared to $32 billion in 2012

    fivecentnickel.com
    ecannon
    17 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    This post, written by Anthony Fontana, is from out partner site QuickenLoans.com. Nobody likes wasting money, do they? Actually, according to a news report from Moebs Services, banks, credit unions and thrift institutions made $32 billion on overdraft fees in 2012. That’s right, $32,000,000,000! That’s a lot of zeros. The 2012 numbers represent an increase of $400 million, or 1.3 percent from 2011. If you think last year’s number is staggering, it still falls short of the record $37 billion in fees set in 2009. However, at its current rate, Moebs predicts a new record-high…

  • Making Up For Retirement Shortfalls

    FiGuide - A Retirement Plan That Works!
    Donna Gordon
    16 May 2013 | 6:12 am
    Given the backdrop of economic uncertainty and the rise in both life expectancy and medical costs, prospects look difficult for those facing retirement shortfalls. Fortunately, a financial advisor can show you how pulling these key levers can help your retirement nest egg last. Work Longer: Working longer is one of the easier solutions for those facing retirement shortfalls, allowing you to contribute to your savings for a few more years. Reduce Spending During Accumulation Years: One of the best ways to save more is to spend less. Setting explicit goals with a financial advisor, having a…
 
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    I Will Teach You To Be Rich

  • New presentation: How to overcome critics & build a powerful support system

    Ramit Sethi
    19 May 2013 | 9:59 pm
    I got a huge response to my previous post about dealing with critics. They come in all shapes and sizes, and the most formidable critics never attack head-on. Instead, they say things like “Are you sure about that?” or “I’m just worried about you…” So I wanted to go into more depth to go beyond just “handling” critics — and go into the deeper area of building a POSITIVE support system. This week, I’m giving a live presentation on How to Overcome Critics and Build a Powerful Support System this Wednesday night. You’ll learn: The subtle ways critics cut people down…

  • The surprising myth about investing in real estate (PS – I’m hiring)

    Ramit Sethi
    17 May 2013 | 8:19 am
    One of my most popular concepts is “Invisible Scripts,” or the guiding beliefs we have that are so deeply embedded, they’re often invisible. For example: “Everyone should get a college degree” “I don’t have any money, so I can’t go to college” “Marry someone you love” “If you rent, you’re throwing money away” “Online courses are SCAMS” Here’s an overview of the Invisible Scripts concept, which many of my readers told me changed their lives more than anything else I’ve written. One of…

  • Win “Dinner for Two” for a year

    Ramit Sethi
    10 May 2013 | 8:07 pm
    Two months ago, I ran a giveaway for two plane tickets anywhere in the US. Robyn won! She’s planning to fly to her coin-collecting grandfather to Philadelphia to see how coins are made. Last month, I gave away $1,001 on Amazon. Meghan won! She’s using her prize to buy the “most luxurious, highest quality bedding she can find.” THIS IS DOPE. I think you guys are okay, but not that cool. But this is awesome. Today I’m kicking off another giveaway…and I tweaked the rules to give away even more. Win dinner out for two — for a YEAR As you know, I love Taco Bell,…

  • When should you make the jump to work for yourself?

    Ramit Sethi
    10 May 2013 | 5:40 am
    Too many weirdos think that to start a business, they have to quit their job, raise millions in venture capital, and start the next Google. Uh, that sounds pretty risky to me. Is there another way? Can you start something slowly? What if you want to quit your job and start your own thing, but you have bills and you don’t want to take on a huge risk? What do you do? I made the leap to running my own business, and then I taught a bunch of my students how to do it, too. So I wanted to share my answer to today’s “Ask Ramit” question, which comes from Jacquie in Atlanta:…

  • Case Study: How Ben quit the circus and proved he could get a “real” job (Part 2)

    Ramit Sethi
    7 May 2013 | 10:15 pm
    On Monday, I introduced you to Ben, a circus performer who used my Earn1K course to go from $0 to $60/hour in side income. Now I want to show you how he found his Dream Job — a job that offered “more money than I’d ever received” — in 3 weeks. Starving Artist Syndrome In college, Ben had an interesting experience. “A bunch of cute girls asked me if I wanted to lift them up in a circus show, a partners acrobatics act, and I said ‘sure, sounds like fun!’” After he graduated with a degree in philosophy but no job prospects, Ben moved to Seattle and started working part…
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    Get Rich Slowly - Personal Finance That Makes Sense.

  • My plans for a fun and frugal summer

    Honey Smith
    20 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    This post is by staff writer Honey Smith. Maybe it’s the years of conditioning we receive as children to think of summer as an endless stretch of time to be filled with fun and relaxation. Maybe it’s the fact that my day job is at a university, and during the summer dramatically fewer students are on campus. Whatever the case, each spring when the semester is drawing to a close, I find myself making plans. At the moment I don’t have plans to travel, but there are plenty of other fun and frugal things that I’d like to accomplish during “summer vacation.” Use…

  • Reader Stories: How I built up the courage to quit a promising career with a six-figure salary

    Ellen Cannon
    19 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    This reader story is from a longtime GRS reader Sumitha, who blogs at afineparent.com. Some reader stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success or failure. These stories feature folks with all levels of financial maturity and income. Want to submit your own reader story? Here’s how. I said goodbye to a promising career with a six-figure salary last month. I have dreamed about this moment for over two years. Still, when it was time, I spent several days wrestling with acute anxiety and insomnia. This has, by far, been one of the hardest…

  • Ask the Readers: Do you plan for the good times as well as the bad?

    Ellen Cannon
    17 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    This is a guest post from personal finance writer Gwendolyn Pearce, who has written previously on chicken coops and cooking challenges. In a recent post, staff writer Lisa Aberle provided an excellent outline of the kind of financial information and preparation you should provide for your loved ones in the event of your incapacitation or death. It’s no fun to prepare this information, which may be why so many people avoid it. But as we’ve discussed, it’s necessary to have a plan to help people navigate your finances during what is sure to be a highly emotional time. But what about…

  • Financial advice for my former self

    Holly Johnson
    16 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    This is a post from staff writer Holly Johnson. This year, our office welcomed a 24-year-old professional into our tight-knit group. Aside from making everyone else in the office feel really, really old, it’s been fun and exciting learning what the younger generation is into these days. Let’s face it — her life is much more exciting than mine. On weekend evenings when I can be found bathing my kids, making meal plans, and doing laundry, she is usually out on the town. While I spend my free time writing and slaving away at our housework, she is planning fun outings or…

  • All you need to know about saving for retirement

    Robert Brokamp
    15 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    This is a post from staff writer Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool Robert is a Certified Financial Planner and the adviser for The Motley Fool’s Rule Your Retirement service. Like many important entities – including Weird Al, the Empire State Building, and CombustionSafety.com — he’s on Twitter. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the “Tyranny of the 401(k) Industry Complex.” The post was a commentary on an episode of PBS’s “Frontline,” which argued that the current defined-contribution retirement system is failing the country;…
 
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    Personal finance news - CNNMoney.com

  • Best deals in investing

    20 May 2013 | 1:21 pm
    Money magazine's Best Deals on Everything: Your guide to the latest bargains in the investing world, from beer can makers and ETFs, to Chinese technology and more.

  • Amateur investors tap 401(k)s to buy homes

    20 May 2013 | 7:46 am
    Read full story for latest details.

  • Most outrageous tax cheats

    20 May 2013 | 3:11 am
    From a restaurant owner who hid cash receipts in "seasoned octopus" boxes to a self-proclaimed governor of Alabama who buried gold coins in his yard, here are some of the wildest tax fraud investigations the IRS has undertaken in the past year.

  • Best deals on tech

    17 May 2013 | 2:39 pm
    Money magazine's Best Deals on Everything: Your guide to the latest bargains in videocams, tablets, flat-screen TVs and more.

  • How I lived very cheaply for a day

    17 May 2013 | 9:45 am
    Read full story for latest details.
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    Consumerism Commentary

  • Anne and Matt, April 2013 Net Worth

    Luke Landes
    20 May 2013 | 7:44 am
    In the series Naked With Cash, seven Consumerism Commentary readers share their financial progress on a monthly basis. They are joined by Certified Financial Planners who provide feedback on their journey. Read this introduction to learn more about the series. Anne and Matt are twenty-seven years old, living in the Midwest, with two children. Read their bio here for background about their financial situation. Anne and Matt are on Team Neal, with Certified Financial Planner Neal Frankle. Review their January update for last month’s progress. Their goals are to strike a balance between…

  • Credit Card Basics: Everything You Should Know

    Luke Landes
    17 May 2013 | 2:08 pm
    The credit card is one of the most divisive products among all the financial tools available. Ask around and you’re sure to find people who pay all their expenses using credit cards as well as others who swear the products are the embodiment of pure evil. Opinions among financial experts and thought leaders are just as mixed. Dave Ramsey won’t even let customers pay for his products using credit cards, and his large following is adamant about the destructive powers of credit and the virtues of debt abstinence. A credit card is nothing but a tool. Whether its effects are helpful or…

  • Elimination of the Payroll Tax Cut Reduced Consumer Spending

    Luke Landes
    16 May 2013 | 9:18 am
    In 2010, Congress passed the Tax Hike Prevention Act, which among other things reduced the payroll tax from 6.2% to 4.2% starting in 2011. For two years, workers saw higher take-home income than they would have had the law never existed, and consumers responded favorably by using the extra money throughout the two years to save, invest, pay off debt, and spend. Of course, short of burning bills in a bonfire, that’s all there is to do with money, if you consider charity to be spending. The payroll tax holiday ended at the beginning of this year, and as a result, that treat in the form of…

  • Banks Borrow Money at Low Rates, Why Can’t Students?

    Luke Landes
    14 May 2013 | 7:44 am
    Senator Elizabeth Warren, the architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, introduced a bill in Congress to give student borrowers a break. The premise is that students, whose education is important to the economic growth of the United States, should receive some of the same advantages as banks, who receive preferential treatment in the form of low-interest loans from the Federal Reserve. Since the midst of the recession, the Federal Reserve has kept its overnight lending rate low, below 1 percent, so banks could kick-start the economy by being able to afford to borrow. Overall,…

  • The Great Gatsby Backlash

    Luke Landes
    13 May 2013 | 8:34 am
    I’m looking forward to seeing Baz Luhrmann’s new film treatment of The Great Gatsby. The book, of course, is a seminal piece of American literature, and the new movie is yet another in a long line of interpretations. I like the director’s previous works, and I expect I’ll enjoy the new film. I read The Great Gatsby only once, and it was a long time ago. The book was likely on my essential reading list in high school. It’s probably worth another look before I see the movie. I remember the concept — the book is an indictment of materialistic culture. The…
 
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    Forbes - Personal Finance

  • Bank Cannot Issue 1099-C And Subsequently Try To Collect

    Peter J Reilly
    20 May 2013 | 5:26 pm
    Seal of the United States Internal Revenue Service. The design is the same as the Treasury seal with an IRS inscription. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Banks are required to notify taxpayers and the IRS about debt discharges by filing Form 1099-C.  It is less than crystal clear as to exactly when the banks

  • New York Toys With Out Of State Partner

    Peter J Reilly
    20 May 2013 | 5:16 pm
    Out of state investors in real estate partnerships in high tax states sometimes get nasty surprises, particularly if partnership management is not sensitive to their concerns.  That appears to be what happened to Craig Olsheim based on a recent decision in the State of New York Division of Tax Appeals.  Mr. Olsheim inherited an interest in Fifth Avenue Building Associates, LLC in 2004.  In 2005, Fifth Avenue sold its only asset and dissolved.

  • Basquiat, Pollock, Lichtenstein: Are Trophy Art Works Good Investments?

    Kathryn Tully
    20 May 2013 | 1:45 pm
    Over $1 billion of post-war and contemporary art changed hands at auction in New York last week, generating masses of headlines about record-breaking sales and record-breaking art. Larry Gagosian said that last week's evening sale of contemporary art at Christie's demonstrated "how broad the market is - as in deep pockets".

  • Early IRA Withdrawal Creates Big Risks

    Mitch Tuchman
    20 May 2013 | 12:49 pm
    You probably won't be surprised to hear that early IRA withdrawal is a major trend in retirement investing.

  • The Hidden Announcement At Google I/O (That Everyone Will Be Using By Next Year)

    Raj Sabhlok
    20 May 2013 | 12:18 pm
    Paying back that 20 dollars your buddy spotted you last night will soon be as easy as sending an email. With very little fanfare last week at Google I/O, a very useful new technology was introduced. You might have missed it among the flurry of other announcements. Google announced that Gmail users will be able to make peer-to-peer (P2P) payments with similar ease to adding an email attachment within a Gmail message.
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    The Simple Dollar

  • What Is Fuel Efficiency Really Worth?

    Trent
    20 May 2013 | 1:00 pm
    A few days ago, I posted an article on saving money on fuel during your commute. While all of those tips were useful, one in particular can really reduce your fuel costs when commuting – buying a more fuel-efficient car. But what does that really mean in terms of dollars and cents? Before you even begin talking about how much you’re saving in terms of increased fuel efficiency, you have to determine some of the numbers you’re working with. First off, how much does a gallon of gas cost? Right now, the gas station nearest to my home charges $3.999 for a non-premium gallon. So,…

  • Reader Mailbag: Graduation Season

    Trent
    20 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to five word summaries. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question. 1. Difficulty estimating freelance income 2. Graduation gift 3. Never wanting retirement 4. Why buy a premium car? 5. Prenupital agreement 6. Road trip dining 7. Low interest and minimum payments 8. Does college choice matter? 9. Interest rate first? 10. Student loan question For us, May often means graduations, which means going to a ceremony and watching young people celebrate the end of one chapter in their life…

  • The Buying Decision

    Trent
    19 May 2013 | 1:00 pm
    One of my favorite places to visit is Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City, Iowa. It’s an independent bookstore with a wonderful atmosphere and I truly love the opportunities I get to browse through the books there. The problem is that when I go into a retailer without a specific purchase in mind but with an intent to buy something, I’ll usually end up buying something on the spur of the moment – or two or three things. The last time I was in that store, for example, I wound up buying three books. When I walked in there, I didn’t actually have a title in mind that I…

  • How Does Frugality Translate Into Wealth?

    Trent
    19 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    Success in personal finance is really a matter of the mind. It’s about having the awareness to see all of the choices you’re making and having the fortitude to consistently make good choices in terms of your money. One of the big challenges, particularly for people first starting out, is to see the connection between frugality and wealth. Frugality as a sustained and natural habit leads directly to wealth, but that path is sometimes hard to see. So, let’s walk through this, step by step. Let’s look at three pretty typical frugal changes a person might make. First, you…

  • The House That Is Too Small

    Trent
    18 May 2013 | 1:00 pm
    Once upon a time, Sarah and I lived in a two bedroom apartment. The two bedrooms were pretty small. When we had our first child, we made the second bedroom into a nursery and, eventually, into a little boy’s room. When our second child was about to arrive, we decided that the apartment was just too small for us. Like many people in that situation, we went out and bought a larger home – a four bedroom affair. It gave us a lot more room for our family to grow – at least in theory. What’s actually happened? Our three children enjoy sharing a single bedroom. One of the…
 
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    Wise Bread

  • Fun and Frugal Ways to Observe Memorial Day

    Myscha Theriault
    20 May 2013 | 3:36 am
    Memorial Day is the official American kick-off event for summer, and a time when we stop to remember lost loved ones and the sacrifices made by members of the armed service over our nation's many years of history. Here's how to save on everything from food and fun to more formal remembrance activities. (See also: Don't Buy Memories, Make Them) Food Most of us can’t imagine observing Memorial Day without some sort of feast. While hosting an event like this does require an outlay of cash, the fact that these gatherings are expected to be extremely casual provides you with a fair bit of…

  • 5 Questions You Should Ask at Every Job Interview

    Tisha Tolar
    20 May 2013 | 3:24 am
    When you go into a job interview, you likely have rehearsed what you're going to stay to the interviewer about your skills and experience. But then comes the part of the interview when your potential employer offers you the opportunity to ask questions. Many in the hot seat will often reply that they don't have any, even though their brain is rapid-firing plenty of unanswered questions. The presented opportunity to learn more about a company hiring new employees is one that should not be wasted. You want to be sure you are pursuing vacancies that are actually worth going after. If a job or…

  • Best Money Tips: Money Lessons From Star Trek

    Ashley Jacobs
    20 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on money lessons from the new Star Trek, budget travel 101, and sending your child to preschool for less. Top 5 Articles 12 money lessons from the new Star Trek — Learn a couple lessons from Star Trek by staying in shape and remembering that sometimes intuition should rule. [MSN Money] See More for Less: Budget Travel 101 — You can see more for less when traveling if you take advantage of free walking tours. [Money Talks News] 5 Tips to Lower the Cost of Sending Your Child to Preschool —…

  • Should Your Next Car Be Electric?

    Kelly Kehoe
    20 May 2013 | 2:48 am
    With the national average cost of a gallon of gasoline currently hovering around $3.58 (or even $4+ in some areas), filling up your car may seem like a nightmare. Car fuel is one of the most volatile categories under most families' budgets, because prices fluctuate due to a variety of factors, from Middle East tensions to oil spills or refinery fires. (See also: 5 Simple Ways to Cut Your Car Expenses) Luckily, there is an increasingly popular alternative to driving environmentally unfriendly, gas-powered cars — electric cars. Forbes reports that at least 47,500 electric cars were…

  • Ally Bank Review: Flexibility and Decent Yields

    Miranda Marquit
    17 May 2013 | 3:36 am
    Ally Bank is one of the most prominent banks in the online space. While it seems that Ally is a new player in the banking game, the reality is that the bank’s roots actually date back to 1919 when the company now known as Ally Financial was founded as the General Motors Acceptance Corporation. Ally Bank is a subsidiary of Ally Financial, and is known for its competitive yields on cash products, as well as its customer-friendly attitude. A Brief History of Ally Bank Ally Financial was started in 1919 as the General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), and was originally meant to help…
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    Bargaineering

  • How to Get Away with Insider Trading

    Jim
    20 May 2013 | 4:06 am
    Insider trading has been going on ever since the stock market existed. Everyone is looking for an edge and no one is willing to play fair. Martha Stewart did it and was treated to several months in one of our nation’s fine institutions. Raj Rajaratnam did it and was sentenced to 11 years in prison and penalties of over $150 million. Heck, someone you know has probably done it. Some are brazen about it, others are a little more secretive. I first realized how prevalent it was when I read Trading with the Enemy, an anecdotal book written by Nicholas Maier as he worked at Jim…

  • Your Take: Ever Research Your Zip Code?

    Jim
    17 May 2013 | 4:10 am
    Yesterday, Miranda wrote a post that talked about how marketers are using zip codes to reach new customers. It made me think about the research we’ve done when looking at real estate investments (we dabble a little here and there). One interesting tool I wanted to share with you is ZipSkinny. You give it a zip code and it gives you a ton of demographic data including race, age, gender, but it also includes social and economic indicators. It’s all taken from the 2000 Census, so it’s a little dated but still works quite well I think. This is probably a light version of what…

  • What Does Your ZIP Code Say about You?

    Miranda
    16 May 2013 | 9:10 am
    Every few months, I receive coupons for baby formula in my mailbox — despite the fact that my only child is now 10 years old. I also receive the random copy of America Baby. And, until recently, I had no idea why Family Circle started showing up at my house monthly. Now, though, after reading stories on CNN Money and NBC News, I suspect that these are attempts at marketing based on my ZIP code. You probably already know that information in your credit report is used to market items to you. Credit card issuers, personal lenders, and insurance companies all use information garnered from…

  • Stock Market Soaring, Many Americans Missing the Boat

    Jim
    16 May 2013 | 4:21 am
    Statistics are tricky whenever people try to guess their underlying cause but it doesn’t make it less fun. A recent Gallup poll results showed stock market investment by U.S. adults is at its lowest percentage since Gallup has started asking (1998). It’s been on a steady decline since 2007 (65%) and this year it stands at 52%. I personally know plenty of people who withdrew all or most of their investments when the stock market started going crazy in 2008. 2008 was insane. Of the top twenty largest gains by the Dow, ten were in 2008. Of the top twenty daily point losses, eleven…

  • Unemployed? Your Benefits May Be Smaller than You Think

    Miranda
    15 May 2013 | 9:03 am
    One of the most frustrating things in life is being unemployed. This is especially true if you want to work, but you are unable to find a job. Even though the unemployment rate is falling, many people still find it difficult to land a job. Many states administer unemployment benefits to help support those who can’t find work. If you don’t have a job, it might be worth it to see if you qualify for unemployment benefits. Do You Qualify for Unemployment Benefits? First of all, you need to determine if you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits. If you quit your job for a…
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    fivecentnickel.com

  • More money, more happiness: Do you think money can buy happiness?

    Suba Iyer
    20 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    This post is from staff writer Suba Iyer. Money and its effect on happiness is one of those topics that has been discussed over and over again. Yet, the topic fascinates the academic community and the research continues — with contradicting results every few months. The latest finding in this genre of research comes from two economists at the University of Michigan, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers. Their new study, published in the May edition of American Economic Review, argues that more money does buy more happiness. The study looked at “satiation” with respect to…

  • Overdraft fees soared to $32 billion in 2012

    ecannon
    17 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    This post, written by Anthony Fontana, is from out partner site QuickenLoans.com. Nobody likes wasting money, do they? Actually, according to a news report from Moebs Services, banks, credit unions and thrift institutions made $32 billion on overdraft fees in 2012. That’s right, $32,000,000,000! That’s a lot of zeros. The 2012 numbers represent an increase of $400 million, or 1.3 percent from 2011. If you think last year’s number is staggering, it still falls short of the record $37 billion in fees set in 2009. However, at its current rate, Moebs predicts a new record-high…

  • How do you combat prom inflation?

    ecannon
    15 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    This post is from new staff writer William Cowie. Prom inflation? There’s such a thing now? Seriously? Yep. Visa evidently thinks prom spending is significant enough that they’re spending money doing an annual survey about how much people are going to spend on proms. The 2013 report just came out a few weeks ago. What did it say? New records Recession, schmecession, prom spending is expected to set new records this year. Check out the chart below: If 40 percent over two years is not inflation, what is? The prudent ones among us, who routinely budget for planned expenses, would…

  • How should you choose a bank? Look in the mirror.

    Richard Barrington
    13 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    This post is from staff writer Richard Barrington. I was recently interviewed on the subject of online banking, and the reporter asked a very direct question: is online banking better than traditional branch-based banking? It’s a fair question given the information we were discussing. This included surveys from MoneyRates.com that show online banks consistently having higher money market and savings account rates than traditional banks, as well as lower checking account fees. There was also a recent MoneyRates poll that found bank customers who use online services were a little more…

  • The cost of clean water

    ecannon
    10 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    This post, written by Aaron Brandt, comes to us from our partner site QuickenLoans.com. In order to survive, we need water. However, the water we drink could actually harm us. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tap water can contain contamination from natural chemicals and minerals, viruses, bacteria, parasites, pesticides and even sewage overflow. That sure doesn’t sound like something you’d want to pour into a tall glass to quench your thirst. The popular alternative to tap water is bottled water, but this might not be the best option. According to…
 
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    AARP - Health, Travel Deals, Baby Boomers, Election News, Over 50, Online Games, Retirement Plan

  • Trying to Find the Joy

    18 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    My dog Garvin and I just returned from a short vacation. We don't get away very often so this trip was special: we were going to see my grandchildren. High expectations, mediocre results, but good memories. The driving part can be boring especially with a partner who doesn't talk much and spends most of his time sacked out behind the passenger seat on the floor. The weather was good which makes for easier driving, but the trip is just long enough to require two days on the road going and returning. We weren't invited to stay with my grandchildren, so the place I had rented to stay in turned…

  • (*(Watch)*) Belfort vs Rockhold live stream

    18 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    Latest UFC on FX 8 fight card and rumors for Belfort vs Rockhold Ultimate Fighting Championship on May 18 in Brazil Watch Belfort vs Rockhold Live Streaming Online MMA Battling has the UFC on FX 8 Battle cards for the Belfort vs. Rockhold occasion at the Field Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, South america on May 18, 2013. undefined Event: UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold Date: Sat., May 18, 2013 on FX, FUEL TV and Facebook Location: Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Signed, sealed and soon-to-be delivered! Check out the recently-finalized fight card and television line up for the UFC on FX…

  • Friends Jump-Start Fitness (and Hotness) Together

    17 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    Caregiver joins friends to exercise and rediscover the hotness within them.

  • AARP

    17 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    AARP is a membership organization leading positive social change and delivering value to people age 50 and over through information, advocacy and service.

  • Webinars

    17 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    AARP Home » About AARP » Our Events »Webinars Get help on your health and Medicare questions. read Join AARP experts for the latest information on money management and Social Security. read Make the most out of your home and community. read Learn tips from AARP experts on caregiving and family issues. read Health & MedicareWork & Retirement Home & Community Family & Caregiving Get up-to-date information and connect with experts on Health & Medicare, Social Security, Work & Retirement, Home & Community, and Family & Caregiving. Each free, 60-minute webinar…
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    AllFinancialMatters

  • AFM Inflation Project

    JLP
    20 May 2013 | 11:55 am
    Tell me, what do you guys think about starting an inflation project? Here’s what I have in mind: Readers from different parts of the country (North East, East, South East, North Central, Central, South Central, North West, West, and South West) track a small number of goods (mostly grocery items) and report the numbers to me and I’ll put them in a spreadsheet for everyone to see. Why would we do this? Because I think the government’s numbers are fiction. So, what do you think? Interested?

  • Today’s Quote of the Day: Counsel

    JLP
    20 May 2013 | 8:02 am
    “Seek the counsel of those who will tell you the truth about yourself, even if it hurts you to hear it. Mere commendation will not bring the improvement you need.” - Napoleon Hill Food for thought as you start this week.

  • Morals and Business

    JLP
    16 May 2013 | 12:41 pm
    Watch this when you get a chance: “Character can be taught.” Of course it can, but most leaders and employees don’t think that way.

  • It’s Okay to Let Your Kids Experience Hardships

    JLP
    10 May 2013 | 11:01 am
    When our oldest reached driving age, we handed down our 2002 Buick Rendezvous for him to drive. It’s not his car. It’s Mom and Dad’s car that he gets to drive until he gets his own car. No, it’s not a kid’s dream car but beggars can’t be choosers. It’s big, safe, and perfect for a kid to learn on. My wife and I agreed to pay half (our half is capped at $4,000) on our boys’ second vehicles. Our oldest son has been scrimping and saving for about a year now. His goal: the Jeep my Dad drove when he was alive. Our son passed his goal of $4,000 a…

  • Spoiled Kids!

    JLP
    10 May 2013 | 7:49 am
    The Mansion section of today’s WSJ featured Luxury Kids’ Rooms. A DJ mixing station in the sleepover room. Secret passageways inspired by “Harry Potter.” A fully tricked-out videogame arcade. You’ve entered the teen wing of the house. As parents look for creative ways to keep older kids hanging out at home, some are turning to an unexpected source: architects and designers. The result is a new category of spaces now showing up in family homes: teen lounges, hangout areas, sleepover spaces and “offices” for doing homework. Want to hear something funny…
 
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    Personal Finance Advice

  • You Can Never Do It All, So Don’t Waste Money Trying

    Jennifer Derrick
    20 May 2013 | 6:45 am
    I have a friend who is into Star Wars. I mean really into Star Wars. He has every release of the movies going back to VHS. He has the trading cards, all of the books, the toys going back to the 1970′s when he was a child, the collectible glasses given away by fast food [...]

  • 90,000 Mile Car Service Shock: Day 135

    Jeffrey Strain
    18 May 2013 | 11:00 pm
    I knew that there would be hiccups from time to time in the minimum wage challenge. It would be wonderful if spending was something that could always be prepared for and anticipated, but the reality is that unexpected costs will present themselves from time to time, and a decision what to do will have to [...]

  • Causing a Blood Test Commotion: Day 134

    Jeffrey Strain
    17 May 2013 | 2:42 pm
    It was a pretty uneventful day in regard to spending since most of the day was spent catching up on the things I had put off while on the three day trip. When it comes to the minimum wage challenge, uneventful spending days are days to be celebrated. It wasn’t a no spend day, however, [...]

  • 35 Things to Do on a Rainy Day

    Jennifer Derrick
    17 May 2013 | 8:20 am
    Sometimes, when the weather isn’t pretty, it’s tempting to go out and do something that’s going to cost you money. The movies, a restaurant, a bar, a trip to the mall or the bookstore. All of these offer some relief from being trapped inside your house. But if you’re trying to save money, you need [...]

  • Finding Those Special Spots at Fern Canyon: Days 131 – 133

    Jeffrey Strain
    16 May 2013 | 3:36 pm
    After the recent house sitting gig and the amount of money I saved during that time, I decided that a short trip was in order even while on the minimum wage challenge. I opted to head to Redwood National Park to visit one of those places that is so special that I put it on [...]
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    FreelanceSwitch

  • Microlancer: Recruiting Graphic Design Freelancers Now!

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    20 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Here at FreelanceSwitch, we’re really excited to let you know about our new sister site Microlancer. If you have graphic design skills and are looking for freelance work, there is an incredible opportunity to get your foot in the door and start earning a real income by selling creative services on Microlancer. Interested? Read on! Microlancer is a digital marketplace where you connect with freelancers who offer services to help you get your creative projects off the ground. We put you in touch with those who can provide logo design, app icon design, branding elements, UI features, web…

  • How to Build an Online Business From the Ground Up

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    20 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    When I first decided that I wanted to quit my job and create my own successful online business back in May 2011, I was driven more by blind determination than belief. In fact, for many months thereafter I couldn’t shake a little voice in my head that kept telling me how fruitless my efforts were. What I failed to realize was that launching your own successful online business doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. It isn’t an unattainable goal that will forever live only in your mind. In reality, becoming a relatively successful online business owner requires a few more skills than…

  • Freelance Freedom 311: Different Worlds

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    20 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Once a week, we feature a fantastic freelance-themed comic from the talented N.C. Winters. Why not also take a look at our comic archive?

  • What You Need to Know to Improve Your Public Speaking

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    16 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Public speaking is hard: we’ve all heard that it’s the most common fear, above and beyond death. Everybody in the room is staring at you, which is enough to make most of us want to run. There are some lucky people who seem to not experience that particular sensation or who even seem to be natural speakers, but for the majority of us, there are always steps to take that will make us steadier on stage. Choose a Target Audience Early and Get to Know Them You can’t be all things to all people, even if you can see a benefit to doing so. As you’re working to improve your…

  • How to Install Google Analytics on WordPress

    FreelanceSwitch.com
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Have you heard about all the powerful insights Google Analytics can churn out for your business? (Here are just 3 Google Analytics insights you can learn about your business.) If you haven’t heard about Google Analytics, it’s an amazing, free tool you can use to track everything related to your website visitor data – from how many, to where they’re coming from, to what they’re doing on your website (and what’s making them leave!). If you have heard of Google Analytics and its powerful insights, you know that installing it on your site is a must do item. If you’re a…
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    Mighty Bargain Hunter

  • How to get more rides at Disney for less?

    John Wedding
    15 May 2013 | 11:58 pm
    Amusement parks can be a great vacation, especially if you like rides that test your ability to hold your lunch. The more popular amusement parks, like the Disney family of parks, are busy much of the year.  And busy can mean long wait times on the rides. Since time is far more valuable than money, it would make sense that there would be a way to buy less time in line for those who value their time with their family highly enough.  And indeed there is:  the Disney VIP Tour Services.  For between $300 and $400 per hour, a Disney VIP Tour Guide will give your family five-star treatment,…

  • Price-check guarantees are a great bargain … for businesses?

    John Wedding
    27 Apr 2013 | 12:21 am
    I was chatting with a coworker a few days ago, and the topic of price-check guarantees came up. A price-check guarantee at a grocery store says something like this: “If an item rings up for more than the price on the shelf, we’ll knock $3 off of the lower price. If the item is less than $3, you get it free.” I’ve caught errors like this before, and I’ve been more than happy to get the mis-priced items for next to nothing. My line of reasoning was that this was a whip to keep their prices accurate, and to provide a good customer experience if they didn’t.

  • Extremely low-tech greywater toilet flushing system

    John Wedding
    30 Mar 2013 | 10:41 pm
    Utilities make up a dependable expense in a family’s budget. Along with grocery expenses, it’s also a place that usually has a bit of slop that can be removed if things get tight. And if cleanliness is next to godliness, certainly we all take regular showers or baths. The extent to which we do this directly affects our utility bills. A typical shower or bath consumes on the order of 30 to 40 gallons of water. It’s easy to estimate this: Start filling the tub. Note the time. Grab a pitcher — we used a gallon pitcher — and measure how long it takes to fill the…

  • Five ways to use loyalty cards effectively

    John Wedding
    23 Mar 2013 | 11:36 pm
    Many stores offer loyalty cards.  These plastic cards often come in pairs: one for your wallet, and a smaller one with a hole in it for your keychain.  Presenting the loyalty card at checkout entitles you to special prices on particular products, as well as other periodic perks like announcements of special sales, follow-on coupons, etc. Stores don’t provide loyalty programs out of the goodness of their hearts.  Providing the customer loyalty program costs them money, and they want to profit by it.  They get their money back either by targeted advertising that others pay for, or by…

  • Don’t believe the “replace toner cartridge” warning

    John Wedding
    20 Mar 2013 | 6:47 am
    Printers have sure come a long way.  I fondly remember by Commodore MPS-801 dot matrix printer with 42 pixels — total — for each letter.  It used continuous fanfold paper and only printed in one direction. Fast forward thirty years.  (Yikes!)  Now our current printer does full color, two-sided, in pretty much any font I want.  The Brother HL-4070CDW printer cost us about the same, in current dollars, as my MPS-801 did back in the mid 1980s. I still think the cost of ownership for our Brother printer is less, but the toner cartridges are expensive.  A full set of…
 
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    Generation X Finance

  • Cash Strapped? How to Start a Business With No Money

    KC Beavers
    20 May 2013 | 8:32 am
        Ever wondered how to start a business, or better yet, ever wondered how to start a business with no money? In today’s competitive marketplace, it pays to be creative. Many times with no money in there pocket, businesses and savvy entrepreneurs are born.  If you think you have the characteristics of an entrepreneur, but you are money poor and rich with ideas, read on.  There are plenty of ways for the cash strapped to start and promote their businesses. cash strapped? Here are five tips for savvy entrepreneurs: Make it your mission to spend as little money as possible on the…

  • Credit Karma Review

    KC Beavers
    18 May 2013 | 11:33 am
    I have had a number of people ask me about Credit Karma. I have used it a number of times to check my credit score and like it, so I figured I would go ahead and write a Credit Karma Review for all of you. When people start to repair bad credit, they oftentimes land at Credit Karma. While most people enjoy the idea of the service, many are not sure it is legitimate. In reality, Credit Karma is a great service that a savvy consumer must use. Of course, many vigilant consumers will still have their doubts about the business. Here is a quick guide for a consumer who wants to learn more about…

  • How to Make Money Online Selling Your T-Shirt Designs

    Charissa
    13 May 2013 | 2:24 am
        Are you a creative soul whose cup runneth over with ideas?  If you are, you’ll be pleased to learn that you can make money online selling your design ideas for t-shirts, and even more items, online.  There are a number of different websites you can go through to make extra money with your designes. There are even some designers making a living off there designers. Threadless, Café Press, and redbubble are just a few of the options available for you to sell your designs online.   Here’s how you can get started making side income off of your creativity: Create your…

  • Students, Get Ahead by Getting a Job This Summer

    Jeremy Vohwinkle
    10 May 2013 | 5:34 am
    When it’s time for summer vacation, smart students know that it isn’t a time to lay around and waste a few months, but rather the time to find a job. At least a job to help you make it through the summer or maybe help cover some college bills. Sure, being a high school or college student means you spend most of the year studying and having fun while you can all summer would be great, there’s something to be said for those who go out there and work instead. Obviously, the main benefit to working all summer is making money. Maybe it’s just spending money, or if you’re serious about…

  • Try Before You Buy

    Charissa
    6 May 2013 | 2:36 am
        How You Can Try Products Without Buying Them First Oh, the joy of getting something for free. Ever wondered how to get free stuff to sample.  The allure of samples is hard to resist especially when you want to try new products but don’t have the means or courage to spend your money on an item that you may or may not like.  So, how do you adopt a try-before-you-buy mentality when it comes new items?  The following list will show you how you can try products without paying full price for them first. Here are a few for you to consider: Product Samples.  Acquire them in the…
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    My Open Wallet

  • Spring Update

    Madame X
    30 Apr 2013 | 10:12 am
    What a busy few months it has been... for the first time in years, my job has been stressful enough that I started to question whether it was worth the money I make. Sweetie has been feeling the same way, and we often fantasize about ways we could escape the office grind and make a living in some other way... like winning the lottery! We are definitely prisoners of our lifestyle-- we enjoy having certain luxuries, but they have to be paid for, and it's not that easy to find jobs that would make us enough money to continue as we are. We know we could cut out some of those luxuries and still be…

  • Wealth by Age

    Madame X
    15 Mar 2013 | 6:27 am
    I found this chart fascinating-- so much so that I had to take a shaky pic of it on the subway with my phone! Why did older people's wealth skyrocket then while others were stagnant?

  • 2012 Income and Expenses

    Madame X
    28 Jan 2013 | 6:00 am
    2012 was a great year in terms of income-- I hit another new high: Salary $106,244 Bonus $18,239 Employer contributions to my 401K $8,119 Dividends $15,977 Realized Gain (from a fund change made in 401k) $11,347 Blogging income $4,402 Gifts received $100 Interest $208 Tax refunds $2,516 Total Income $167,152 Almost all the dividends and realized gains were reinvested, and sometimes I don't really even consider these "real" income. But I love seeing my money work for me-- that is over $35,000 worth of income made not from labor but from my own savings and 401K participation. The other income I…

  • A 1968 Children's Book About Money

    Madame X
    21 Jan 2013 | 6:00 am
    If you're not familiar with it, check out Brain Pickings, a source for lots of interesting tidbits, including this one: In 1968, at the peak of “the century of the self” and the consumerism of the Mad Men era, while Alan Watts was busy bringing Eastern philosophy to the West and trying to convince Americans to seek purpose beyond money, a primary school supplement titled How People Earn and Use Money (UK; public library) — from the same Social Studies Program series that gave us How People Live in the Suburbs and How We Use Maps and Globes — set out to explain to children the basics…

  • Food: Local, Organic and Unsustainable?

    Madame X
    14 Jan 2013 | 6:00 am
    As I've detailed my spending on this site over the years, I've sometimes gotten a little flak from people about my food expenses. For quite a few years, the amount hovered in the vicinity of $8,000 a year, covering all my food and drinking, groceries cooked at home and meals bought at restaurants. That works out to around $150 a week, which is about $21 a day. To most people, that would seem like a lot. If you're careful, you could easily feed a family of 4 on that amount, so it may seem crazy and indulgent that one woman can spend that much on herself. If I wanted to, I could easily spend…
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    7million7years

  • A quick real-estate buck!

    Adrian
    14 May 2013 | 1:28 am
    Beware those who love stocks. Beware those who love bonds. Beware those who love gold, oil, futures, and so on. Most of all, beware those who love real-estate! OK, so I invest in real-estate … … but, I’m not in love with it. Take a look at the above infographic [click to enlarge]; a picture (with numbers) tells a thousand words: This person claims that they (or a client) bought a single-family home for only $35,000 and now clear (fees, insurance, and property taxes) $680 a month in rent. Since they put in $7k in closing costs and rehab when they bought it, they are really…

  • Help a reader out …

    Adrian
    10 May 2013 | 11:13 pm
    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. What should this reader do? Read his story, make a selection, and leave a comment: We are renting the commercial condo that our business is in for $1,800 per month, we can buy it for $160,000 should we? We like the building, the location is a bit hard to find, and with a 20% down it will really cut down on the monthly expense but I will eat up $32,000 that we could use to expand the business. I don’t have $32k but I have a friend who offered to lend me half of it, I do have half.

  • The ideal portfolio for successful investors …

    Adrian
    7 May 2013 | 5:07 am
    I came across this excellent infographic that talks about real-estate and its place in your investment portfolio: It (rightly) questions the typical “Wall Street” view that (a) asset allocation is important, and (b) that a 60/35/5 stocks/bonds/cash mix is the only way to secure your financial future. Of course, a ride through 2008 fixed that view for a lot of folk … So, I was quite impressed that a site that provides financial / portfolio allocation advice actually considers real-estate to be a viable investment option, and an equally important part of your portfolio. The…

  • What’s an eco-friendly standard of living?

    Adrian
    30 Apr 2013 | 12:51 am
    Fellow blogger, Jonathan Ping, was kind enough to include a chart from one of my earlier posts in one of his recent posts, so I thought that I should repay the favor by including one of his charts, here: I recommend that you read his original post, but the chart itself is pretty self-explanatory; it shows the problem in personal finance … and that’s: As your income grows so do your expenses. It’s called ‘lifestyle creep’ and is one of the key reasons why the actual wealth of high-income earners (as indicated by the grey shading between the green income line and…

  • But, I’m not smart enough to be rich!

    Adrian
    23 Apr 2013 | 5:48 pm
    Firstly, let me warn you: this post will have absolutely no bearing on how wealthy you will become! Now, do you need to be smart to become wealthy? Is “but, I’m not very smart” a valid excuse for not even trying? It turns out that the answer to both questions is NO. You see, your IQ (more correct: your cognitive ability – i.e. your ‘smarts’) has very little to do with how wealthy you will become … … studies have shown that 97.5% of the factors that can explain wealth have nothing to do with how smart you are: Zagorsky found a correlation…
 
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    Lazy Man and Money

  • How to Speed Up Your Computer

    Lazy Man
    20 May 2013 | 9:38 am
    A couple of years ago, set out to end cable box fees forever. That journey lead me to buy an HDHomeRun PRIME and hook it up a small computer running Windows Media Center. For a technology system consisting of a few parts it's has actually worked out fairly well. There is an occasional hiccup where I have to restart the computer, but it has only been about 5 times... and fortunately, I didn't miss anything important like a Patriots game. However, over the last four months, I noticed that the video would slur a bit... about every 30 seconds it would do it for a second. It's not a great…

  • Saving Money At The Store

    Kosmo
    17 May 2013 | 8:05 am
    Politicians say the economy is recovering, but a lot of people are still living paycheck to paycheck. Can we save money without sacrificing quality of life? Sure – and here are some tips. Don’t Overpay for Convenience This is tricky one. At some level, nearly everyone pays for convenience. We don’t go down to the creek for our water – we get it piped into our homes. Electricity gives us light at the flick of a switch. We’re spoiled. However, there is such a thing as overkill. I recently became aware of the fact that you can buy toast in a sealed package. I couldn’t imagine someone…

  • Should I Look Into Baby Modeling?

    Lazy Man
    14 May 2013 | 11:27 am
    That was a bit of a misleading title, huh? Any chance I had at being a baby model went by the boards around 36 years ago. However, 7-month old Little Man is just the right age. The idea to get Little Man into baby modeling occurred to me after watching this commercial for Kay Jewelers: I'm going to put this as nice as I can as it is a delicate subject, but I don't think Vivian Brady is threaten by the competition from this baby. I think Little Man could compete with that baby model. Not only that, but he can model for the 4-5 months as he's a little tiny and still hasn't gotten any teeth yet.

  • Dehydrating Fruit for Fun… and Profit?

    Lazy Man
    10 May 2013 | 9:10 am
    For someone who doesn't spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I have an slightly unhealthy affection for kitchen gadgets. Given that I've written about getting rich by thinking small, you'd think I'd be wise to it and avoid them all together. Alas, the heart wants what it wants. Sometimes I can avoid gadgets. When my automatic can opener broke, I replaced it with this awesome hand-powered OXO Steel Can Opener. (It's fun to open up cans now.) However, most of the time I end up with the gadget that you plug-in. Fortunately, when I've seen a few hundred Amazon reviews with a cumulative rating of…

  • Finding the Best Printer

    Lazy Man
    6 May 2013 | 6:50 am
    If that title sucked you in, great, that was my plan. However, I'll come clean right from the start that I don't think you can pin down what is the best printer. It's a little like finding the perfect mate. There are a lot qualities, some good and bad, and there's some compromise to make. Nonetheless, there's nothing wrong with looking for the Gisele Bundchen of printers, right? Most people have it easy when it comes to printers. They buy them and they work. If I have one super-power it's that I can destroy a printer's ability to print in a single use. This clip (caution adult language) from…
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    No Credit Needed

  • Mortgage Payoff Progress End of April 2013

    NCN
    9 May 2013 | 9:06 pm
    My wife an I are working hard to achieve our goal of paying off our mortgage early. As of May 2013, my wife and I will have lived in our home for 3 years and 2 months. We have a conventional, fixed-rate, 15-year mortgage. Our goal is to pay off our mortgage in less than ten total years. As of May 1, 2013, we will have made 38 regular, monthly mortgage payments. We have also made several additional principal-only payments, too. We make our monthly mortgage payment by the first day of the month. Additional principal-only payments are made throughout each month, as we earn additional income and…

  • A Day For Organizing

    NCN
    7 May 2013 | 7:14 am
    It had to be done. Yesterday, I spent several hours organizing paperwork, responding to emails, paying bills, cleaning out my desk, and filing documents. It was boring, headache-educing, and, as my youngest would say, “none fun”. Normally, I’m a pretty organized person.  I have several systems in place for managing bills, paperwork, etc.  However, the past two months were filled with much activity – tons of fun stuff with family and encouraging progress at work. So, yesterday, I sat down with a huge stack of paperwork, a large cup of coffee, and started digging. I…

  • Mortgage Payoff Progress End Of March 2013 With Chart

    NCN
    14 Apr 2013 | 6:55 am
    My wife an I are working hard to achieve our goal of paying off our mortgage early. As of April  2013, my wife and I will have lived in our home for 3 years and 1 month. We have a conventional, fixed-rate, 15-year mortgage. Our goal is to pay off our mortgage in less than ten total years. As of April 1, 2013, we will have made 37 regular, monthly mortgage payments. We have also made several additional principal-only payments, too. We make our monthly mortgage payment by the first day of the month. Additional principal-only payments are made throughout each month, as we earn additional income…

  • Get Out of Debt – Get Focused and Get Free

    NCN
    27 Mar 2013 | 1:15 pm
    Several years ago, my wife and I decided to get out of debt.  That decision changed our lives.  We focused our time, effort, and energy – and paid off all of our consumer debt.  We paid off our cars and our credit cards – we were free. Some time later, we made a down-payment on a new home and I changed jobs.  We were able to take both of these “life steps” because we were free from the burden of consumer debt.  Without automobile payments and credit card debt, we were able to save up for a down-payment.  Without monthly payments to creditors, I was able to go…

  • DIY Videos – Preparing To Build New Cabinets And Greenhouse

    NCN
    26 Mar 2013 | 4:27 pm
    I am a big fan of DIY projects.  Over the past few months, I have built a picnic table, replaced our garbage disposal unit, and repaired our clothes dryer.  I tackled all of these projects using two sources of information – my Dad, who is an awesome handyman – and youtube. I have a couple of projects planned for the coming months, so I thought I would share the videos I’ve bookmarked for both information and inspiration.  You can click on the links to view the individual videos or stream them from this site. I plan to build a cabinet / desk unit for my son’s…
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    Free From Broke

  • Second Marriage? Have a Financial Date Before You Tie the Knot

    Melissa
    20 May 2013 | 2:33 am
    With a divorce rate that is commonly quoted as being 50%, second marriages are common.  However, according to the Wall Street Journal, many experts cite the divorce rate of second marriages to be 40%. Second marriages come with more baggage — ex-spouses, stepchildren who may or may not like the new step parent, and, of course, financial complications including spousal support and first family obligations, just to name a few. It’s no secret that money disagreements can be one of the top causes of divorce. According to a study conducted by Jeff Dew of Utah State University,…

  • Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Credit Card from American Express Review

    Glen Craig
    16 May 2013 | 3:33 am
    Are you looking for an incredible travel rewards credit card that allows you to earn free nights at high-end hotels and resorts AND can be used towards airline miles programs? How about a card that, besides rewards, comes with additional travel benefits, purchase protections, and more? Then look no further than the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express. Here are some of the benefits of the Starwood Preferred Guest card at a glance: Starpoints® bonus: earn up to 25,000 bonus points: 10,000 after your first purchase and another 15,000 after you spend $5,000 within the…

  • Credit Score – What Does It Mean?

    Glen Craig
    14 May 2013 | 9:18 am
    What Is A Credit Score? You’ve heard that a credit score is important, haven’t you?  You may have even heard how you should protect your credit score.  But a lot of people are still unsure of what a credit score actually is. Let’s take a look at credit scores and what they mean.  This way you know once and for all what they are and how they are used. A credit score is a calculation based on information from a credit report which gives a representation of how credit-worthy a person is or how likely a person is to default on their loan. Let’s take a quick step back,…

  • Is it Better to Rent Or Buy Stuff? – Renting Items To Save Money

    Melissa
    13 May 2013 | 2:38 am
    My friend’s parents were recently locked in a marital battle. They wanted to travel from Michigan to Florida for a wedding, and she wanted to fly for free using frequent flier miles they had accrued.  The transportation cost for the trip would be limited to the car they would rent for three days when in Florida. He, on the other hand, thought it was silly to rent a car when theirs worked perfectly fine.  He wanted to make the 24 hour drive down to Florida for their three day trip.  He was sure this was the cheaper way to travel, even though they would have to pay for gas and put wear…

  • Happy Mother’s Day 2013 and Links

    Kevin Mulligan
    12 May 2013 | 2:08 am
    Today we tip our hats to Moms everywhere. As Jim Gaffigan says in one of his hilarious standup routines: “Women are amazing. A woman can grow a baby inside their body. Then somehow a woman can deliver the baby through their body. And then by some miracle a woman can feed a baby with their body.” Your mother did that for you.  And then she kissed your boo boos, got you to school on time, and supported you in every wacky endeavor you took on. Even better if Mom showed you how to budget for a family, get the best value at the grocery store, and the value of time spent with family.
 
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    Blogging Away Debt

  • On The Road…And In The Air Again!

    Claire
    16 May 2013 | 11:19 am
    Work travel has been completely insane over the last three weeks.  So many little hearings that I thought would cancel and in-person meetings that I thought would not be needed have indeed gone forward.  I’ve been all over the map this go around.  From SA to Corpus to South Texas back to SA to Austin back to Corpus with stops in tiny towns along the way.  Due to scheduling issues some of that has been by car and other parts with my good friend Southwest Airlines. On a financial note, these weeks are very good for my budget.  My expenses are on the company’s dime.  Any…

  • Snack Attack

    Claire
    11 May 2013 | 6:11 pm
    I was in charge of snacks today for DD’s volleyball game.  Thanks to my Community Supported Agriculture pack I got yesterday I had some strawberries to share!  I’ll have to post on the CSA again soon but short update is, I love it! As you might recall, I switched the kids and I to “real food” almost one year ago and I am finding it is these group events that are the most challenging.  I portioned out strawberries and grapes for the nine girls on the team.  I was pretty darn proud of myself b/c it would have been SO much easier to grab a box of cookies or candy like…

  • A Sobering Observation

    Claire
    8 May 2013 | 5:33 pm
    I found out at noon yesterday that I had to appear in person for a hearing in Brownsville, Texas at 9 am this morning.  A repeat of last week’s trip!  I flew out last night at 6:25, went to Houston, then arrived Harlingen at 9:50.  I just returned after leaving on a noon flight, again going to Houston and landing San Antonio at 6 pm.  I’m not whining really because I know how fortunate I am to have a very good job but I share that because travel in Texas is pretty unique.  Other people in my company cannot get their brain around that much flying and staying in one state. I…

  • Parents

    Claire
    6 May 2013 | 6:45 pm
    I went off the grid for too long but with good reason.  My mother had a health scare with an emergency surgery for a femeral hernia.  There was a scary point that they thought it was a strangulated hernia which can be extremely dangerous and even fatal if not caught quickly.  She is home now and recovering well.  As strange as it is to say this, our family needed this jolt right now.  Ever since my aunt’s death in May of 2012, there has been tension.  I think that situation made all five of us think about what we face with our aging parents.  We are lucky in that our parents have…

  • New Numbers

    Claire
    1 May 2013 | 3:59 pm
    I have updated my debt numbers and could do a backflip over that BofA being gone!!!!  But alas I am in an airport and don’t want to cause a scene!  I’m returning from a work trip to South Texas and had a layover in Houston. A long layover. The flight schedule to South Texas from SA is terrible and often takes longer than a car ride would BUT I do not like to make that drive alone. It is a long, desolate route and I don’t trust myself to stay awake so I almost always fly. The flight was overbooked and so I jumped up to volunteer to go home on a later flight and I got $500…
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    Clever Dude Personal Finance & Money

  • Joining a Gym is OK. Really.

    Brock
    20 May 2013 | 7:31 am
    Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Over the weekend I committed a cardinal sin for personal finance bloggers. I joined a gym. I know, personal finance bloggers are supposed to write about dumping gym memberships because they aren’t worth it. I’m supposed to list ways to work out at home for pennies. Oh, but wait, it’s even worse than you think. You see, the wife and I already belonged to a gym. We quit our old gym and joined a more expensive one. And we’re totally OK with it. The Old Gym Chain fitness facility without many amenities or options. It did have…

  • Clever Posts Of The Week – May 17th 2013

    Brock
    17 May 2013 | 5:01 am
    I was excited to mow my lawn yesterday for the first time this Spring.  I love the smell of freshly cut grass, and I love the look of a newly mowed lawn.  It’s also the only place a man can truly be alone.  I think the rest of my family is afraid that if they interrupt me, I’ll have them take over. I am definitely NOT left alone when I am sitting at the kitchen table with my laptop reading blog posts. Sometimes I unplug and go sit alone in the basement so I can read them uninterrupted.  Check out my favorites of the week below, and don’t forget to give the Clever Dude…

  • Three Steps to Estimating The Cost Of a Trip To The Doctor

    Brock
    15 May 2013 | 3:50 am
    Image courtesy of renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Have you ever went to the doctor and asked yourself, “I wonder how much this is going to cost me?” Or have you opened a bill from your medical provider only to suffer from a case of sticker shock? In October of each year I select my medical coverage through my employer for the next year. With health care costs continuously rising, the offerings usually change each and every year. Our health care enrollment package used to come with very specific information for each plan choice regarding what common services would cost the…

  • The costs of losing weight

    Clever Dude
    14 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    I can’t believe it’s already been 2.5 years since I left my university IT job to move into sales. Time seriously flies whether you’re having fun or not. But that move also marked the beginning of something big in my life: losing 30 pounds. During 2011, I went from about 225 down to 195, give or take on both the start and end weights, and for the next 1.5 years, I’ve stayed in the 190′s. It’s no Biggest Loser number, but it’s a major accomplishment for me because: I haven’t been under 200 since high school (20 years?), and I can’t even…

  • What’s Your Shopping Personality?

    Brock
    13 May 2013 | 4:47 am
    Image courtesy of Master isolated images/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net I once got an afternoon phone call at work from my wife telling me she was at a car dealership. She had picked out a new van and requested that I come immediately to check it out and sign the papers. We had been having problems with our current van shredding it’s serpentine belt and I had promised that if it happened again, we could dump it and get a new van. Well, it had happened again, and apparently she was cashing in on that promise. When we were first married, my wife and I rented a townhouse. Whenever the topic of…
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    Don't Mess With Taxes

  • House and Senate committee hearings on IRS screening of Tea Party tax-exempt applications set for May 21 & 22

    skbell1
    20 May 2013 | 10:49 am
    Clear your calendars tax wonks and scandal mongers. Two more Congressional hearings are scheduled this week to make political points look into how the Internal Revenue Service dealt with Tea Party groups' applications for tax-exempt status. Representatives got the first formal whack at the IRS on Friday, May 17, when the full House Ways and Means panel grilled outgoing (aka fired) Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller. The tax-writing panelists also had a few questions for J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. At issue is whether the IRS improperly…

  • Enjoy the song stylings of Steve Miller, the singer, not tax guy

    skbell1
    19 May 2013 | 4:35 pm
    Admit it. For the last week or so, the song "Take the Money and Run" has been playing continuously in your head. That musical inclination is natural if you grew up listening to tunes on the radio in the '70s, are a Texan, or both (guilty!) because the recently sacked acting Internal Revenue Service commissioner shares the same name as a popular Lone Star State band. But I've had friends from elsewhere in the country mention that the same thing has been happening to them. Steve Miller in the news: This actually started back in November 2012. That's when a career IRS…

  • All IRS all the time, at least last week at my other tax blog

    skbell1
    19 May 2013 | 2:10 pm
    I write and blog about taxes, so it's no big surprise that some of those pieces focus on the Internal Revenue Service. And given all that's going on right now in connection with the IRS, it's also no big surprise that the federal tax agency was the topic of three posts last week at my other tax blog. That's right, instead of the ususal Tuesday and Thursday items, I took a look on last Monday at the fallout from the IRS focus on Tea Party groups that applied for tax-exempt status. The next day was a reminder that IRS furloughs start on Friday, May 24. And then I closed out…

  • There's a new Powerball multimillionaire. Winner, IRS rejoice

    skbell1
    19 May 2013 | 11:17 am
    One Powerball ticket for last night's $590.5 million lottery jackpot was sold at a grocery story in Zephyrhills, Fla. The winning numbers were 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 and the Powerball 11. Yes, that's a little less than earlier estimates of the ultimate payout. But the final tally is still enough to make last night's jackpot the largest in Powerball history. The game's previous largest jackpot was $587.5 million won Nov. 28, 2012. The lottery multimillionaire now must decide whether to take his or her new fortune in 30 year payouts or in one lump sum of almost $371 million. If…

  • Another big betting day as Powerball and Preakness converge … and don't forget, winners, about the taxes!

    skbell1
    18 May 2013 | 10:56 am
    Here we are again. Eight weeks after gamblers were having a field day putting money on a big Powerball jackpot and March Madness college basketball games, we're back at another gambling convergence. Today we have another huge Powerball amount up for grabs -- at $600 million as I type and growing -- and the Preakness. The possible Powerball winnings could pass the all-time U.S. jackpot amount of $656 million that was paid out as a Mega Millions prize, split three ways, in March. If there is a Powerball winner tonight, the current jackpot's lump sum would be $376.9 million. As the…
 
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    Money Smart Life

  • Free Resume Tools for the Unemployed

    Miranda
    20 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    When you lose your job, the first thing you need to do is update your resume. While it’s better if you update your resume periodically, even during your employment, sometimes a job loss catches you by surprise and you aren’t ready. If you are trying to figure out how to best update your resume, you’ll want to do what you can to take advantage of free tools that can help you create a resume that is more likely to help you get a job: Workforce Services Find out where your state’s workforce services office is in your town. Most states have some sort of organization with a…

  • Job Application Tools to Help Manage Your Job Search

    Miranda
    13 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    As you participate in the job hunt, it is easy to lose track of what you’ve done. Pretty soon, all of the places you’ve applied to start to run together and you end up trying to remember who has your resume, and what appointments you might have. In order to keep it all organized, it makes sense to use apps to help you manage your job search. Here are a few tools that can help keep you on top of your job search: Google Apps As you might expect, Google provides a number of tools that can help you keep track of your job search. Add your resume and cover letter to Google Drive, and…

  • When You Should Refinance Your Mortgage Loan

    Kevin Mercadante
    10 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    There are different times when you should refinance your mortgage loan, but contrary to popular belief lower interest rates are not the only reason. Sure, when interest rates hit new lows millions of homeowners flock to refinance their homes. But there are also times when you should refinance when rate is not the driving force. When should you refinance your mortgage loan? 1. When mortgage rates are at least 2% below your current rate. This rule was more important when interest rates were higher. But it served two useful purposes. First, it set a standard as to when you should be looking to…

  • How to Estimate Your Social Security Benefits

    Kevin Mercadante
    9 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    An often overlooked component of retirement planning is Social Security. It’s not that no one knows it’s there – but more that getting reliable estimates of your benefits is something of mystery. In addition, many people believe that Social Security will become “bankrupt,” so they try not to rely too heavily on it as a source of future income. Maybe this is just my thought on the bankruptcy issue, but it will be virtually impossible for Social Security to go bankrupt in a vacuum. If Social Security becomes bankrupt, then so is the entire U.S. government. If that is the case, the…

  • How Does a Loan Affect Your Credit Score?

    Kevin Mercadante
    8 May 2013 | 9:15 am
    You just completed the paperwork on a new loan. Because of your excellent credit score, you got an outstanding rate on the loan. But 30 days later you pull your credit report and find out that your credit score dropped by 40 points. Everything else on your report is consistent with what has been there before, the only difference is the new loan. Did that cause your credit score to drop? And if so, why? Unproven Payment History If you are not fully familiar with the credit universe it can be a shock to find that a new loan will cause your credit score to drop. That is actually more common than…
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    BeingFrugal.net

  • 5 Ways to Green Your Home and Save Money

    Miranda Marquit
    20 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Many of us are looking for ways to save money, as well as be greener in our habits. Luckily, more sustainable living and saving money often go hand in hand. Indeed, many of the things that [...]Recommended For You:Kill Energy Vampires and Reduce Standby Power UsageIs It Worth It to Build a Green Home?How to Decide Whether to Repair or Replace75 Frugal Hacks for Your HomeYou Tell Me: Is a Freezer Worth the Money? Read the rest of 5 Ways to Green Your Home and Save Money at BeingFrugal.net.

  • 4 Easy Lifestyle Habits That Lead to Financial Freedom

    Miranda Marquit
    16 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Sometimes when we think about saving money and financial freedom, we think about getting good deals on what we buy and making wise investments. However, saving money and building wealth isn’t just about the bargains we [...]Recommended For You:4 Ways to Get More Education and Advance Your CareerMake Better Financial Decisions: Take Care of Yourself5 Basic Principles for Growing WealthHow Secure Is Your Retirement?3 Ideas to Help Young Adults Improve Their Finances Read the rest of 4 Easy Lifestyle Habits That Lead to Financial Freedom at BeingFrugal.net.

  • How to Talk to Your Partner About Money

    Miranda Marquit
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    We all hate the money talk. Whether you are working out the details of your financial lives before you commit, or whether you have been in a committed relationship for years, talking about money always seems [...]Recommended For You:Talking Openly With Your Spouse About MoneyDo You Hide Money from Your Spouse?Would You Put Off Marriage for Financial Reasons?Do You Need Help with Your Financial Plan?Do You Share Financial Information with Your Family? Read the rest of How to Talk to Your Partner About Money at BeingFrugal.net.

  • How to Find a Job When You’re Unemployed

    Miranda Marquit
    14 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    One of the biggest challenges to finding a job when you are unemployed is the length of time you have been without a job. The unfortunate reality is this: the longer you have been out of [...]Recommended For You:Get Paid to Write Articles from HomeAre You Passing Up Chances for More Money?5 Ways to Ensure Your Resume Goes Straight to the Waste…What to do After College if You Can’t Find a Job4 Ways to Get More Education and Advance Your Career Read the rest of How to Find a Job When You’re Unemployed at BeingFrugal.net.

  • How to Raise Your Credit Score with a Credit Card

    Tisha Tolar
    13 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    You are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Your last debts have been paid off a few months back and your bank account is steadily growing for a change. You aren’t stressing [...]Recommended For You:The Pros and Cons of Credit Union Credit CardsIs It Worth Doing 0% Credit Card Balance Transfer?How to Get Free Credit Score from Credit SesameUsing Secured Credit Cards to Rebuild Credit after Debt…5 Steps to Paying off Credit Cards Read the rest of How to Raise Your Credit Score with a Credit Card at BeingFrugal.net.
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    I've Paid For This Twice Already...

  • How to Avoid Making these Early Retirement Mistakes

    paidtwice
    1 May 2013 | 2:44 pm
    For many people retiring early is a dream that they regularly dream of. Early retirement gives you the opportunity to travel to new places when you’re still young, meet new people, experience new cultures etc. Retiring by 40 is something that everyone wants, but only a few achieve this goal. The reasons for failure in this area are many. But if you really want to retire early then you need to avoid making a few mistakes that we will be discussing in the following article. Not only the mistakes, but we’ll also talk about how you can avoid these pitfalls… Mistake #1: Depending on…

  • Sink or Swim: The Psychological Battle and Real-World Solutions to Overcome Debt

    paidtwice
    25 Apr 2013 | 4:59 pm
    Debt not only attacks your ability to live a sustainable, comfortable existence but hits home on a psychological level that can do immense damage to your commitment to free yourself from the sinking ship that is living under the thumb of another. Debt is a very real problem for many individuals that may have stepped outside of their means but more often than not it’s the result of instability caused by outside forces – - either of the two can dead to financial ruin but there is a glimmering of light at the end of the tunnel. Seeking a Hand to Lift You from Sinking Debt, when managed,…

  • 4 Smart Ways to Spend Extra Cash

    paidtwice
    19 Apr 2013 | 1:35 pm
    So you finally went ahead with the decision of putting yourself on the budget and you see that extra cash trickling in each month. Now depending on what type of financial goals you have in your budget, there are many, many options. Each of these options could be good or bad to you in their own way. So what do you do? How do you avoid the confusion? Let’s look into a few constructive ways to use that extra money effectively… #1: Pay Down Your Credit Card Principle You know how it’s super-annoying to keep paying on a monthly basis and still not see your credit card debt disappear? So…

  • Don’t Go Broke on Bail

    paidtwice
    4 Apr 2013 | 10:36 am
    The overall cost of “legal fees” can be overwhelming for many. Besides hiring a good bail bond agent through a Bail Bond Network (you can learn more about Expert Bail online, which is a reputed Bail Bond Network), there are simple yet effective things that can be done to help you save on legal fees. Things like selecting the right attorney, and doing your homework before hand. Taking the right steps at the right time also ensures that your working relationship with the attorney is stable, which will in turn, help you you get better results. Here are a few useful and effective ways to…

  • Your Home, Your Investment

    paidtwice
    2 Apr 2013 | 8:33 am
    You know that installing a security system will help you reduce your home insurance premiums. But how extensive do you really need that system to be? If you’re a tech or research junkie you’ve undoubtedly spent some time looking all of the different ADT options at http://www.securitychoice.com/. It’s good that you want your home to be as technologically advanced and protected as possible. At the same time, you don’t want a system that has the potential to rebel when the robot uprising happens. So how do you figure out what you need? How do you get the best system possible for what…
 
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    Queercents

  • New App Lets You Boycott Koch Brothers And Buycott LGBTQ Rights By Scanning Barcodes

    DJ
    14 May 2013 | 10:15 pm
    This is a must have APP for shopping smart when it comes to just about anything we stand for as LTGBTQ people. This app helps us with detecting which barcodes belong to HRC rated friendly companies and those who stand for marriage equality. This APP also servers another purpose of helping us find out which [...]

  • Free (Red) Sticker

    DJ
    10 May 2013 | 9:10 am
    Get your free (RED) swag at www.joinred.com/stickers to join the fight for AIDS FREE GENERATION.

  • Free I

    DJ
    9 May 2013 | 12:20 pm
    The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is offering a free ‘i <3 equality’ sticker. To get yours, just head over to their website and fill out the form with your name and address. A donation is NOT required.  Feel free to donate or get the sticker for your car as a freebie. You should receive your [...]

  • Free Ready for President Hillary Clinton Bumper Sticker!

    DJ
    8 May 2013 | 4:39 pm
    The first Ready for Hillary bumper stickers are here! And we want you to be one of the first to receive one.  While President Bill Clinton said just the other day it is a bit too early to start talking Presidential politics for 2016 we don’t see too much harm in motivating Hillary Clinton to [...]

  • Free Viagra Samples and 30% Off Second Order!

    DJ
    6 May 2013 | 11:43 pm
    Yes, we know this looks like one of those 20 emails you get a day that lead you to some hacked site or something that is not the real Viagra. This is the real deal and it is only on Viagra.com the official website of the blue pill that will get you ready for a [...]
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    MoneyNing

  • Keep Summer Exciting for the Kids – Without Expensive Camps and Vacations

    Vincent King
    20 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    “I’m BOOOOORED!” “Mom! What can we do?” “Can we go to Disney World?” If you’ve got kids at home, you’ve likely heard that once or twice during the summer. But you don’t have to pay for expensive summer camps or vacations to keep them entertained. Welcome summer and all of its glories with your own summer camp. This won’t be easy — banish that thought from your mind. But, the kids will LOVE you for it. And you’ll re-form those family bonds that were stretched so thin during the long school season. What you’ll need for your successful summer camp: 1. A…

  • How Do You Pick Mutual Fund for Your Portfolio?

    MoneyNing
    19 May 2013 | 5:48 am
    It may seem shocking after just a few short years from the greatest market panic of our lifetime but major stock market indices are hitting new highs almost on a daily basis these days. Are you thinking of adding to your investment portfolio? Are mutual funds part of your strategy? FutureAdvisor helped me put together this simple infographic listing a few key points you’ll want to remember about mutual fund selection by digging deep into their 401k database. Take a look below: It’s hard to argue with the data when low fees correlate so strongly with high returns across so many…

  • Should U.S. Bondholders Get Paid First?

    Jessica Sommerfield
    17 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Last week, the House passed a bill that would require bondholders and Social Security beneficiaries to be paid first in case of a failure to raise the ceiling on the national debt later this summer. While the bill passed, there’s doubt it will get past the Democratic majority in the Senate; the White House has already promised to veto it. Even if this legislation doesn’t make it farther than the House of Representatives, it is stimulating debate about the real issue behind it — the national debt crisis. The U.S. has already maxed out its $16.4 trillion debt limit, but thanks to…

  • 4 Tips to Help You Vacation for Less

    Jamie Simmerman
    16 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    During a recent trip, I had the pleasure of talking with a retired couple who are spending their golden years touring the world. Italy, China, Mexico, Hawaii — they’ve seen it all, and some places more than once. While I didn’t want to ask personal questions about how they could afford such luxurious trips, I was amazed that this seemingly-average couple was able to achieve travel goals that most can only dream of. They had some great tips for budget travel that I eagerly soaked up. After all, I’d like to see more than the foothills of Appalachia before my time on…

  • What to Look for When Comparing Medicare Part D Costs

    MoneyNing
    15 May 2013 | 2:40 pm
    One of the timeless ways to save money is to comparison shop, and switching to a Medicare Part D plan that costs the least amount of money would be a great way to save. But yet, only about seven percent of seniors who enroll in Medicare Part D changes plans each year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. And it’s not due to the lack of need either. Walgreens conducted a survey and found that 37 percent of the participants worry about their prescription drug costs and one in five had to delay filling a prescription or skip doses just to manage medication costs.
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    Money Blue Book

  • 5 money lessons I learned after graduation

    16 May 2013 | 4:56 pm
    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 1.7 million students will graduate from college this year. Graduation season is one of my favorite times of year. It reminds me of a time when the future was full of possibility. However, there are some things about life and money [...]    

  • Summer jobs for college students

    8 May 2013 | 5:28 pm
    This story comes from our partner, Zing! by Quicken Loans As a college student, this time of year was bittersweet. On one hand, the semester was winding down and summer vacation was just a few sleepless nights spent cramming for exams away. On the other hand, the end of the semester also meant it wa [...]    

  • What is a chip-and-PIN credit card?

    7 May 2013 | 2:44 pm
    At first glance, your U.S. credit card may seem ideal for traveling abroad. You can just bring your foreign-fee-free card on your next overseas trip and cross borders without having to worry about losing spending power to unfavorable exchange rates, right? As many world travelers have found, it isn' [...]    

  • Should you switch to an online-only bank?

    26 Apr 2013 | 1:37 pm
    Many of us bank online today without a second thought. I use online bill pay to handle the electric bill each month, and regularly check my accounts and transfer funds without leaving my house. And while I haven't accessed my bank account from my mobile phone, according to a recent study from the Fe [...]    

  • Should optimists avoid credit cards?

    26 Apr 2013 | 1:37 pm
    I like optimists. Who doesn't? Optimism is one of America's defining national characteristics, and was an essential part of this country's rise to greatness. But some academic studies suggest that people with too rosy an outlook can get themselves into trouble, especially financially, and can-do can [...]    
 
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    The Dough Roller

  • Using a Gift as Part of Your Down Payment

    Abby Hayes
    20 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Photo: ejorpin Saving a down payment is one of the hardest parts of buying your first home. In fact, about 25 percent of first-time homebuyers get help with a gift from a relative as part of their down payment. There’s nothing wrong with this, but there are some regulations you need to consider as you plan for the big purchase. Can You Use a Gift as Part of Your Down Payment? First, you need to know if your lender and type of mortgage will allow you to use a gift as part of your down payment. With many loan programs, a down payment gift isn’t an issue, but with some mortgages, you…

  • Can You Really Make Money Taking Online Surveys?

    Abby Hayes
    17 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    Photo: MuseScore One of the easiest ways to make money online is to take surveys. There’s little more to it than signing up, filling out a profile, and giving your opinion on ads, products, services and more. The big question is just how much money can you make and how much work is involved. While you probably can’t make a full-time living taking online surveys, they can leverage your spare time to earn a bit of cash. Or, you might use surveys to get other perks, like free products. Why Companies Pay for Surveys You might think that getting paid to take a survey seems ridiculous.

  • Why and How to Freeze Your Credit

    Abby Hayes
    16 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Photo: Paalia With identity theft on the rise, more people are looking at ways to protect their identities. Options like identity theft protection and simple credit monitoring can certainly help. But what if you want to take more drastic measures? One drastic measure you can take is to freeze your credit. Basically, a credit freeze places a hold on your credit file with any of the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Once your credit file is frozen, inquiries into your file will be denied. Because potential lenders need to pull your credit file to see if you…

  • 25 Tips and Resources for New Grads on LinkedIn

    Michael Gabriel Sumastre
    15 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    LinkedIn, which was founded in 2002 and launched in 2003, reported an increase in users last year. As of January 2013, the social networking site for professionals had 200 million registered users. It may not be in the league of social media giants Facebook and Twitter, but there’s nothing quite like LinkedIn, which is considered the best professional social network we have today. Individuals who sign up with LinkedIn can connect with business colleagues, classmates and people who share the same professional background. Job-seekers and employers make up a good number of the site’s users.

  • 15 Stupid Questions Not to Ask During a Job Interview

    Abby Hayes
    13 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Photo: Pulpolux!!! It’s easy to commit a faux pas at a job interview. You’re nervous and tense, so you make mistakes. But the more prepared you are when you go in, the less likely you are to do something stupid – like ask a question that will shoot down your chances of being hired. Wondering what questions you should avoid? Here are 15 questions best asked, if at all, after you get the offer: 1. Do you run drug tests? Obviously, you shouldn’t be asking about drug tests. You should be clean so you don’t have to worry about this possibility. 2. Will you check my credit report? Many…
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    Moolanomy Personal Finance

  • What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House?

    Miranda Marquit
    17 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    For many, buying a home is still considered an important part of the American Dream. Even following the real estate crash, many still want to purchase homes. The idea of “owning” a residence still exerts a [...]Recommended For You:Why a Good Credit Rating is Important Even if You…Different Types of Credit Scores: FICO, FAKO, and Enhanced3 Reasons to Improve Your Credit RatingNew FHA Loan Refinancing And Home Loan Guidelines For 2010Why Borrowers with Bad Credit Pay a Higher Interest Rates Read the rest of What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a House? at Moolanomy.com.

  • 50+ Mini-Tasks to Improve Your Finances One Step at a Time

    Pinyo
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Every new year, we set up big audacious goals that we want to accomplish in the new year. Some how, we are magically more likely to succeed because a digit changed on the calendar. Personally, I [...]Recommended For You:How to Improve Personal Cash Flow15 Steps Financial Success Plan9 Year-End Money MovesHow Much Is 1% Really?20 Important Financial Tasks To Do Each Year Read the rest of 50+ Mini-Tasks to Improve Your Finances One Step at a Time at Moolanomy.com.

  • Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments Due Dates for 2013

    Pinyo
    13 May 2013 | 6:00 pm
    For all the freelancers, small business owners and self-employed individuals out there, staying on top of when the estimated tax payments are due is important to help you stay within the IRS tax payment guideline and [...]Recommended For You:Self-Employment Tax and IRS Estimated Tax PaymentDo You Need to Pay Quarterly Estimated Taxes?Late Payment Penalty for Quarterly Estimated TaxesImportant Tax and Filing Dates for Individuals and Small…Tips For Paying Self Employment Taxes Read the rest of Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments Due Dates for 2013 at Moolanomy.com.

  • How to Eliminate Credit Card Debt in 7 Steps

    Pinyo
    12 May 2013 | 8:00 pm
    Being in debt is not fun. Unfortunately, many people do find themselves in debt and carry balances on multiple credit cards. This article will show you how to eliminate credit card debt on your own without [...]Recommended For You:The Pros and Cons of Making a Credit Card Balance TransferCan a Balance Transfer Lower Your Credit Score?Reduce Your Debt: Debt Snowball vs. Highest Interest MethodShould You Transfer Your Credit Card Balance?When to Choose a Low Interest Credit Card Over a Reward Card Read the rest of How to Eliminate Credit Card Debt in 7 Steps at Moolanomy.com.

  • Credit Rating: What is a Good Credit Score Number?

    Pinyo
    9 May 2013 | 6:00 pm
    What number is considered a good credit score rating? On a scale that usually goes from 300 to 850, the short answer is anything above 720. And why does it matter to have a good score? Simply [...]Recommended For You:How to Get Free Credit Score from TransUnionHow to Increase Your Credit Score and Fix Bad CreditmyFICO Score and Free Credit Score EstimatorHow to Get Free Credit Score (No Credit Card Needed)Different Types of Credit Scores: FICO, FAKO, and Enhanced Read the rest of Credit Rating: What is a Good Credit Score Number? at Moolanomy.com.
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    Art Of Money

  • Are You a Lawyer Wishing You Had More Business?

    John E Van Bockern
    9 May 2013 | 2:22 pm
    If you are a law firm looking to increase the amount of business walking through your doors, there is a large chance that you have heard a few things about SEO. I am betting that you have heard a range of comments, and not all of them are good. At Lawyer SEO Marketing, we are changing the way that people look at SEO. We specialize in the tactics that lead to a long term successful online marketing strategy. The black-eye of SEO comes from neglecting this priority, and we do not cut the corners that lead to search engine penalties, and, in turn, the negative affects to your bottom line. By…

  • Injured in an Auto Accident? This is How We Bring Value

    John E Van Bockern
    9 May 2013 | 1:31 pm
    Being hurt in an auto accident is not enjoyable. There is no way around that fact. As a Personal Injury Law firm, however, it is our job is to soothe that situation as much as possible. If you do not have the correct representation, it makes it extremely likely that not only are you going to remain injured, but you will see an incredible financial burden from the missed work and medical bills, not to mention the times that you missed out on in your personal life (arguably more important than anything else . Our goal is to help the victims of accidents recoup the damages from their unfortunate…

  • Hello Again World

    admin
    24 Nov 2012 | 8:11 pm
    Yes, I’m still alive and I’ve decided to start posting again as I am trying to keep myself accountable with a big hairy assed goal. But I’ll be posting on my new blog since I finally snagged my name as my domain name. Follow me over if you didn’t die from the shock of having something from me pop up in your RSS reader for the first time in 4 years 120 Days to Consistently Profitable Trading Thanks, Jon The post Hello Again World appeared first on Real Value Gets Money.

  • Time Management Tips by Randy Pausch

    admin
    6 May 2009 | 6:52 pm
    Here’s an excellent talk about time management from a Randy Pausch. Randy gained fame for his “Last Lecture” but here he shares time management tips from the perspective of someone with less than 3 months left to live. Below you’ll find the notes that I made while watching the video. And here are the powerpoint and pdfs of the slides from the lecture. Click here to view the embedded video. Why Am I doing this? Does it help me get to my goal? Is it fun? If there isn’t a good reason, then just cross it off of your to-do list. Goal setting: it is much more important…

  • Ask Peter Schiff – Reality Can be a Tough Sell

    admin
    19 Nov 2008 | 3:53 pm
    This guy who I haven’t heard of before today, was on all the top economic TV shows, stating EXACTLY what was wrong with the economy and what the results would be. The experts mocked him and laughed at him. Click here to view the embedded video. And if you’re like me, after you watch that, you’ll be thinking, “so what’s he saying now?” Politicians and people in general all go for solutions that try and minimize pain, but feeling pain is an inevitable part of the healing process, and without feeling it, you don’t see the critical mistakes, and you…
 
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    Hustler Money Blog

  • Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard Review 2013: $400 Statement Credit + 2X Cash Back Rewards

    Hu$tler
    19 May 2013 | 9:37 am
    The Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard is offering 40,000 bonus miles($400 off your next trip) after $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days from account opening. It’s a new premium travel rewards card with 2.2% cash back towards travel. This 40,000 bonus miles is redeemable towards $400 in cash credit towards any travel purchase, plus 4,000 miles rebated back. You could also redeem 40,000 miles for $400 off your next trip. The $89 annual fee is waived for the first year. Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard Review Start Earning Rewards Earn 2X miles on all purchases with no caps…

  • KeyBank $150 Key Express Checking Bonus

    Hu$tler
    18 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    KeyBank is offering another $150 checking promotion with offer code ONVM0413 scheduled to last until June 14, 2013. With the Key Express Checking, you’ll get no monthly Maintenance Service charge when you deposit at least $500 or initiate seven account transactions. Account holders have  no monthly debit card fees along with free access with Online Banking, mobile apps and text banking. You’ll earn points with our KeyBank Relationship Rewards program. How To Receive KeyBank $150 Bonus: Open a qualifying KeyBank checking account online and enter offer code ONVM0413 by June 14,…

  • Fandango Buy One Get One Free Movie Ticket for Visa Signature Cardholders

    Hu$tler
    17 May 2013 | 12:05 pm
    Fandango offers 2 For 1 Movie Tickets for All Visa Signature Card Holders for every Friday which sells movie tickets for AMC Theatres, Carmike Cinemas, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Regal Cinemas and United Artists Theatres, as well as American Cinematheque, Brenden Theatres, and many more. The offer is good for every Friday until August 2, 2013. If you can’t go out on Friday, then make sure to get the $5 off $25 in Fandango Bucks gift cards for the rest of the week. Fandango Visa Signature Buy One Get One Free: Click here to see the promotion Enter the your…

  • Upromise World MasterCard Review: $50 Cash Back Bonus

    Hu$tler
    17 May 2013 | 11:57 am
    Barclaycard’s Upromise World MasterCard® is offering $50 cash back with your first purchase along with 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months from account opening. With eligible online purchases through Upromise online shopping portal, you can earn 5% or more cash back as well as an additional 5% when you use your Upromise World MasterCard. You’ll earn 4% back at thousands of participating Upromise dining restaurants, 3% cash back on eligible gas purchases at Exxon or Mobile locations, 2% cash back at eligible movie theaters, and 1% cash…

  • Ebates Online Shopping Referral Bonuses

    Hu$tler
    17 May 2013 | 11:16 am
    Ebates, an online shopping cash back network, is offering $5 cash bonus for every new member you refer to Ebates. Refer 3 new friends and they’ll add a $30 bonus in your Ebates account!  That’s $45 in total! Ebates is a great website to shopping portal for all the major retailers to maximizing cash back in addition to rewards credit cards. When you shop through Ebates’ portal, the company places tracking information on your computer to see how much cash back you should receive. With an Ebates account, you earn cash back at more than 1,200 stores that is completely free to…
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    American Consumer News

  • ***Update*** Adroit Oil and Gas has completed funding of the Palo Pinto JV

    ACN Staff
    20 May 2013 | 2:21 pm
    ***Update*** Adroit Oil and Gas, LLC is pleased to announce the operations for the first phase of the Palo Pinto Joint Venture have begun.  The drilling contractor began deepening the Carter #4 well on Friday, May 17th, 2013.  This was several weeks ahead of schedule and results are now anticipated by the end of this month.  The Carter “A” new drilling location is still scheduled to begin operations by the middle on June 2013. -Original Story- HOUSTON, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — Houston-based Adroit Oil and Gas, LLC has completed funding of the Palo Pinto Joint…

  • Flipbook Software from 3DPageFlip.com Now Allows Unlimited Conversions

    ACN Staff
    17 May 2013 | 10:17 am
    Press Release (05/17/2013) - Flipbook creating software lets users convert PDF, Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, and images into realistic, page flipping e-books. The flipbook creator, including 3D PageFlip Professional, now allows users to convert an unlimited number of files. In addition to being cost efficient, a single purchase includes lifetime upgrades and the ability to convert as many files into flipbooks as desired. There other similar software titles which put a limit on the number of conversions before addition purchases need to be made. This, the company feels, is uneconomical and…

  • The Salt Grotto Wellness Center and Spa Celebrates Grand Ope

    ACN Staff
    16 May 2013 | 9:07 am
    First Salt Therapy Inhalation Clinic opens in Tampa Bay, FL Area Valrico, Fl – The Salt Grotto health spa announces the opening of the first salt room health spa and inhalation clinic in the Tampa Bay, FL area. Located at 4329 Lynx Paw Drive, Valrico, Fl in the Riverhills Plaza on Lithia Pinecrest Blvd. The Salt Grotto brings together the healing powers of ancient salt therapy with state of the art technological advances in modern medicine to help promote better breathing and skin treatments and relaxation. A quiet and serene Himalayan style salt cave environment offers relaxation while…

  • Digitalisation of Education will Result in Fifteen fold Growth for e-Learning Market over the next decade

    ACN Staff
    16 May 2013 | 9:07 am
    Industry research unveils vast potential; forms basis for event to foster investment and consolidation in Europe London, 16th May 2013: Industry research into the parallels between the education and media industries conducted by specialist media investment and advisory firm IBIS Capital and Edxus Group, an education technology company established to develop and acquire e-learning businesses, has revealed enormous potential for the future of the e-learning market. While education as a whole is triple the size of the media and entertainment industry at $4.2 trillion, digital education is…

  • Block Hackers with Stealth Login Scripts and Strong Passwords

    ACN Staff
    15 May 2013 | 11:08 pm
    After being hacked 28,000,000 times in one day, Dr. Peter Achutha has developed impossible to hack php login scripts which he is giving away freely. His hope is such scripts will make the internet a safer place. His sites were hacked over a period of several months and as a result experienced very high CPU usage for both his shared hosting websites. As a result, Dr. Peter Achutha has developed several techniques to defeat hackers. Most of these techniques are methods to deceive hackers into hacking the wrong scripts and thereby saving your original website scripts from being attacked.
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    Cash Money Life | Personal Finance, Investing, & Career

  • 4 Creative Ways to Be Frugal

    Miranda Marquit
    20 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    This article was originally published on Cash Money Life | Personal Finance, Investing, & Career at 4 Creative Ways to Be Frugal.I’m not really into frugal living. However, there are times when I want to save a little money – or at least get the best value for my dollar. While I don’t really consider myself overly frugal, I am careful not to spend money on things that aren’t important to me. If I think it’s important, or interesting, or enjoyable, I’m willing to spend. But, in order to have the money to spend on the things I want, it sometimes means…

  • CIT Bank Review – Online Savings Account and CDs

    Ryan Guina
    17 May 2013 | 12:57 pm
    This article was originally published on Cash Money Life | Personal Finance, Investing, & Career at CIT Bank Review – Online Savings Account and CDs.In today’s era of online banking and competitive interest rates, online banking has almost become a commodity. There are only a few things that separate banks from each other: brand recognition & trust, technology and features, high interest rates, and low or no fees. CIT Bank is a leader in several of these aspects. If you are looking for a new online savings account, then take a look at CIT Bank. They offer excellent…

  • Using Rapportive to Screen Emails and Control How Others See You

    Ryan Guina
    15 May 2013 | 7:02 am
    This article was originally published on Cash Money Life | Personal Finance, Investing, & Career at Using Rapportive to Screen Emails and Control How Others See You.GMail is the most useful email program I have come across. I use a single GMail account to manage about a dozen different email accounts for my business. Handling everything in one place makes for easier management and helps me keep my sanity! Aside from being able to manage multiple email accounts through one login, GMail also plays nicely with others, and allows companies to develop useful extensions users can add to their…

  • How to Deal with Furloughs During Sequestration

    Miranda Marquit
    13 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    This article was originally published on Cash Money Life | Personal Finance, Investing, & Career at How to Deal with Furloughs During Sequestration.Many government employees are facing the challenges associated with the budget sequester. One of those challenges are furloughs. Should you vacation on a furlough, or do something else? A furlough is an effort to save money by cutting back on employment. Employees might be forced to take time off without pay in cycles, for weeks at a time, or they might have their days cut back by between one and three days a week – with a corresponding…

  • 15 Inexpensive Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

    Ryan Guina
    9 May 2013 | 3:38 am
    This article was originally published on Cash Money Life | Personal Finance, Investing, & Career at 15 Inexpensive Mother’s Day Gift Ideas.Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and if you haven’t thought of a gift to give your mother, mother-in-law, or mother of your children, now is a great time to start thinking about what you will give that special lady in your life! These gift ideas are creative and inexpensive ways young children can show Mom they love her. Frugal Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day A hand-made card. Hand-made Mother’s Day cards are a classic…
 
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    Grad Money Matters

  • How To Supplement Your New Grad Income

    Sam Baker
    17 May 2013 | 11:51 am
    I graduated from college last year with a job, which is a rare occurrence for today’s grad, so I felt very lucky. As you could imagine, it was an entry level job…with entry level pay, but when you come straight from school you think anything is pretty good pay. However, within the first few months you start to realize that with rent, utilities, car payments, and food, it starts to run out very quickly. Keep in mind that I am an accounting major, so I tend to budget pretty tightly. Nevertheless, it was apparent that I needed to pick up some extra cash. It didn’t matter how, I just needed…

  • Process of Filing a Lien Form

    Sam Baker
    16 May 2013 | 1:07 pm
    When a contractor does not pay subcontractors, workers, suppliers and other payments, these individuals will go to the property owner to demand payment. This is regardless if the owner had paid the contractor in full with the expectation that the contractor would take care of all the subsequent payments needed for construction or renovation. The conditions for payment are different for projects that build a new structure and for projects that only added on improvements and renovations. But by law, both types are subject to legal claims called construction liens. Material suppliers and…

  • Cash for Gold is Good Insurance

    Sam Baker
    16 May 2013 | 1:05 pm
    With the economy being as volatile as it currently is, gold is perhaps the only means of investment that has managed to retain a stable price. That is why when you find it in excess among your belongings and you are in need of some quick cash, you can trade it in for the monetary assistance. There are several online outfits that will give you a good price for your gold. Similarly, there are brick and mortar companies that will offer you the same services. If you are looking to trade in your gold for some cash, then it would be a good idea to know how to go about it correctly. First thing…

  • 5 Tips for Generating Money with Your Mobile Phone

    Sam Baker
    15 May 2013 | 7:40 am
    Making money online has long been a popular way of generating an additional income. However with the explosion of the smart phone and tablet market you can now make money with your mobile, making it easier to run a business on the go and generate extra money from just about anywhere. So before you set up yet another e-commerce site, read these tips on how to make money using your mobile device. 1. Participate in surveys Mobile surveys or product reviews are a great way to earn some extra money from just about anywhere. You can complete a survey whilst standing in the queue at the grocery…

  • 3 Warning Signs That Your Credit Card is a Ticking Time Bomb

    Sam Baker
    4 Apr 2013 | 7:45 am
    Do you use a credit card often? Do you just love it? Well, you may want to be careful, because useful as a credit card might be, if you are not cautious, it could blow up on you at the most inopportune moment. When used properly, a credit card can be a great tool for earning rewards and saving yourself the trouble of having to go to the ATM often to withdraw cash. But when not used properly, it is just like a ticking time bomb that will destroy your credit worthiness, and you in the process. Here are 3 warning signs that your credit card might go ballistic on you - 1. You use balance transfer…
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    brip blap

  • Take control of your finances

    Guest Writer
    29 Apr 2013 | 10:48 am
    The following is a guest post. Following the 2013 Budget, you might be considering reevaluating your own monetary matters. It’s a new financial year, and what better way to celebrate than by taking control of your personal income and expenditure. We all say that we’d like to be more frugal; to try and set some money aside for a rainy day. But how many of us actually put these words into action? Very few. Well, if you’re guilty of secret spending and would like to make these bad habits a thing of the past, now’s the time to start putting some plans in place to take control of your…

  • 9 characteristics of a great job

    Steve
    11 Dec 2012 | 6:54 pm
    Q: Did you always dream of drawing and writing, or were you about to happily settle for a so-called normal job? Was it the misery of “humiliating and low-paying jobs,” or the joy of drawing and writing, that pushed you this way? A: I pursued a normal job so I wouldn’t starve to death while figuring out how to have an extraordinary job. I just didn’t know how it would play out. –Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert (link) How can you find an extraordinary job? What’s the secret to a fulfilling career? The perfect job. Who doesn’t dream of finding that perfect job? Flexible…

  • 5 ways to get free money

    Steve
    30 Oct 2012 | 4:25 am
    Everyone likes free money. It’s my favorite kind, personally. I’m talking about the $20 bill lying on the ground. The birthday check from Great Aunt Winifred for $5. The extra 30 minutes someone overpaid on the parking meter that you get to use when you park there. It’s all good. So why would you pass up free money? The problem is, there are plenty of opportunities, even in this day and age, to get money for nothing. Of course there is a price – you may have to fill out a form, or walk to a bank, or call an 800 number. But in practical terms, we’re talking about…

  • Private Mortgage Insurance: What You Need to Know

    Steve
    10 Oct 2012 | 9:01 am
    Unfortunately, if you don’t have at least 20% to put down on your mortgage when buying a home, you’ll have to buy private mortgage insurance. Also known as PMI, this insurance protects the lender when and if you fall behind on your mortgage payments. The insurance is almost always automatically cancelled when 20% of your mortgage is paid. If the lender doesn’t cancel it, be sure to contact them in writing. There are certain circumstances when the lender may not cancel your private mortgage insurance. If your home has gone down in value, they may not cancel the insurance. If…

  • lacrosse and Russian

    Steve
    9 Oct 2012 | 5:22 pm
        I didn’t get that much out of college, other than friends, knowledge, life experiences, and the ability to blow up an opponent in lacrosse.  I majored in math, and now I’m a finance and systems consultant.  Related, fine.  But they are two different disciplines.  I studied linguistics, and while I’m able to speak several languages, I don’t really pay much attention to language, per se.  I minored in Russian, though, and that deeply, thoroughly, and massively affected my life – the choices I made, the places I lived, even all the way through to…
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    The Wisdom Journal

  • 10 Car Insurance Cost Cutters

    Ron
    14 May 2013 | 11:13 pm
    Car insurance rates have risen dramatically in the past few decades and there are several reasons why: Society is “sue happy” and insurers feel the brunt of it People are ditching their car insurance for financial reasons (a scary trend) Cars are more expensive to repair and replace Insurers have experienced high levels of losses in recent years The reasons your car insurance is higher really don’t matter. What DOES matter is learning ways to reduce your car insurance premiums. Here’s how to do that: 1. Don’t drive That’s right, one of the best ways to reduce your auto insurance…

  • How To Build Your Financial Bug-Out Bag

    Ron
    12 May 2013 | 11:00 pm
    Bug-out bags have long been the rage among the “what-if crowd” and they’re quickly becoming more popular in mainstream circles too. These bags are designed to be grabbed quickly in case “something” happens. They can contain anything from several days worth of meals, to survival gear, to weapons, to water purifiers, to several day’s worth of clothing. I suppose it always makes sense to be prepared – after all, you never know when you’ll need to escape into the strip of woods between Elm Street and Highland Drive when civilization collapses. What…

  • Overlooked Secrets to Do Away With Debt

    Ron
    6 May 2013 | 4:24 am
    To eliminate debt, you have to be both patient and persistent. There is no overnight solution to owing lots of money, but there are ways to minimize the obligations over time. Some of the most common techniques are reducing spending, making larger credit card payments and getting a second job. These strategies will definitely help you obtain relief from a financial burden and get you on the road to debt recovery. However, you may be missing other steps that will not only help you get out of debt but speed up the process. Here are secrets you shouldn’t overlook: Eliminate of the…

  • How I Paid Over $120,000 in Debt in 52 Months

    Ron
    5 May 2013 | 4:03 am
    Getting out of debt is a lot like baking a cake. Mix in the right ingredients, in the right proportions, and pop it in the oven. Then the waiting begins. You can smell it baking, the sweet aromas of vanilla, butter, eggs, and flour. You can see it baking as the once gooey batter transforms into a golden dome of goodness. Then you carefully bring it out of the warm oven to a cooling rack … and you wait some more as your taste buds scream for cake! No matter how you slice it though, TIME is one of the most important aspects of baking. Time is a key component when it comes to getting out of…

  • The Clock Keeps Ticking

    Ron
    25 Apr 2013 | 6:36 am
    Truly effective time management isn’t something you can do once and then forget. The clock keeps ticking, and your efforts to stay on top of everything must keep up. The good news is that you don’t have to start from scratch every day. Establishing good time-management habits and routines will give you a strong foundation and help make managing your time come naturallly. Prioritize The first habit you must develop is prioritizing, or actively ranking the relative importance of the things you want and need to do. Try these prioritizing tips: Acknowledge life’s fluctuations: Your…
 
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    Everybody Loves Your Money

  • Financial Milestones

    Hazzard
    10 May 2013 | 8:41 am
    I’ve recently found myself surpassing some financial milestones that I never thought I’d see.  Our retirement accounts are at levels that I used to just dream about when I was first starting out.  Never underestimate the power of consistent contributions and compound interest, that’s for sure. As I was sitting here looking over the numbers I started to wonder why I’d always thought these milestones were somewhat impossible to reach.  I think a lot of it is because I grew up in an environment where these numbers were unattainable, both due to income levels of my parents…

  • Will the Latest Lottery Winner Lose it All?

    Hazzard
    28 Mar 2013 | 7:18 pm
    There was another huge lottery winner.  This time Pedro Quezada won $338 million.  That’s a lot of coin.  He opted for the lump sum and walked away with $152 million after taxes.  Yeah, that’s still a lot of coin.  If you just took a conservative 3% annually, you’d still be living on $4.5 million before taxes.  Any way you slice it, you could live FAT with that kind of money. Something tells me that Pedro won’t take the conservative approach.  Why do I say that?  Well, it turns out that if you win more than $600 in New Jersey, they check to make sure you…

  • Making A Living, One Day at a Time

    Hazzard
    15 Mar 2013 | 8:25 pm
    I was reading an article today and saw that the CEO of my company made a hefty chunk of change last year.  It turns out that our company did pretty well, so the compensation that our CEO received was significantly higher than the year before.  I’m pretty happy with how our company did last year.  We increased revenues and profit margins and paid decent returns for our shareholders. I faired pretty good for the year as well.  Between my salary, benefits and annual bonus, I made the most money I’ve ever made in my career.  I’m incredibly satisfied with my earnings and if…

  • Don’t Make These Costly Retirement Mistakes

    Me
    6 Mar 2013 | 12:26 pm
    (Guest post by Toi W.) When planning for retirement, it is important to avoid the costly mistakes that could disrupt your retirement in the future.  Saving for retirement is an important part of your financial future, but the payoff for all of the hard work involved takes so long that many people put other priorities first.  It will take oversight and a large amount of common sense to get saving for your retirement right.  Here are some of the most expensive mistakes that can be made when retirement planning. Opting Out Of An Employer Sponsored Plan Option out of a retirement plan…

  • Tiny Houses–Tiny Costs

    Hazzard
    7 Feb 2013 | 3:00 pm
    Lately I’ve been somewhat obsessed with the idea of tiny houses.  I stumbled on to a Youtube channel that shows lots of different examples of people living in a smaller footprint.  In this day and age, we are living in much larger houses than ever.  During the economic downturn, I started to read about how builders were starting to build smaller houses to keep costs down, but I’m still seeing lots of new neighborhoods being built with roughly the same sizes that everyone has become accustomed to over the last couple decades.  If people are living in smaller houses, it…
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    CreditCards.com

  • Beware, financial optimists: Smile and the world takes your money

    Fred Williams
    20 May 2013 | 8:02 am
    It's hard to take a stand against optimism. Without it, plus a cup of coffee, many of us wouldn't have the will to rise in the morning. Football coaches would stand silently in the locker room at halftime. At commencement, new graduates would toss their caps down on the ground. A positive outlook helps you get through the day, but too much of it can really land you in trouble when it comes to your finances. In fact, a skeptic would say that lenders, some of them anyway, have built profitable business models on our excess optimism. Take the example of deferred interest cards for big purchases.

  • Square launches faster card swipe machine

    Kelly Dilworth
    17 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Several months ago, my favorite coffee shop in Austin switched from using a traditional credit card reader to the free Square device that attaches to an iPhone. I groaned when I saw it. I understand why it switched. Square's credit card swipe fees are simpler and significantly less expensive than other, more traditional options for merchants, making it an increasingly popular choice for smaller mom and pops. But every time I swipe my card through a Square reader, the whole transaction feels slower and more cumbersome and often takes a few tries to get right. This week, Square introduced a new…

  • For booking private jets, try the Gatsby app

    Jay MacDonald
    15 May 2013 | 5:29 am
    "In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since," wrote F. Scott Fitzgerald. "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." Now that I'm older, these poignant opening lines from Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" remain my avuncular North Star, guiding my social intercourse with those consigned by cruel fate to the steerage of middle class. In truth, when suddenly confronted with those of lesser means, I'm wont to…

  • Even U.S. senators struggle with errors on their credit reports

    Kelly Dilworth
    10 May 2013 | 5:03 am
    When it comes to hard-to-fix credit report errors, not even U.S. senators are immune. At a Senate hearing held Tuesday to discuss the country's controversial credit reporting system, three Democratic senators sitting on the panel, Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, confessed that they, too, had found errors on their credit reports.In all three cases, the errors were caused by other consumers' credit information getting mixed up with theirs. In Nelson's case, the error held up two separate mortgages, and it took him at least two…

  • Thanks, Mom, for teaching me how NOT to manage money

    Julie Sherrier
    9 May 2013 | 8:11 am
    In loving tribute to my mother this upcoming Mother's Day, I'd like to thank my mom for teaching me how NOT to manage money. Don't worry, she won't be offended. She'll be the first to admit that she has never managed money well and has made numerous financial blunders during her lifetime. My mother was raised in the "Mad Men" era when the men managed the household finances and the women managed the kids, shopping and cleaning. She never knew how much my father made. She got a weekly allowance that she tried her best to budget around. If an emergency expense came up, she had to ask for more.
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    One Frugal Girl

  • How I Bought a Car Below the Invoice Price

    One Frugal Girl
    12 May 2013 | 7:51 pm
    This weekend my husband and I purchased our first new car in over thirteen years. We bought a brand new 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited. I spent a lot of time researching the best ways to ensure a good price, so I thought I’d share my experience in case it helps anyone else looking to buy a new car. We weren’t sure if we should buy a new car or focus on a slightly used one, preferably one that was only a year or two old. One sunny Sunday afternoon my husband and I visited CarMax where we wandered through the lot looking at various SUVs and Crossovers. It was there that we narrowed…

  • Buying a New Car in the Morning?

    One Frugal Girl
    10 May 2013 | 7:42 pm
    The last time I bought a new car the year was 1999. All of our current cars were built over a decade ago and it feels strange to think we might buy something new, rather than buying unwanted cars from old family members and friends. That’s the way we received our last three vehicles. Rather than taking the old fashioned route of going into a dealership and haggling I found the lowest price all from the comfort of my living room. I emailed the four main Toyota dealerships in our area and priced the exact same make and model with the majority of features I wanted. I have a feeling…

  • Manage Your Packages with FedEx Delivery Manager

    One Frugal Girl
    9 May 2013 | 10:53 am
    Sign-up for the free FedEx Delivery Manager membership by clicking the image above and you’ll receive delivery notifications and be able to change delivery times for your impending packages. If you don’t already have a FedEx account you’ll need to create one. You can choose to receive delivery alerts whenever a package is addressed to you or whenever a package has been delivered. I recently signed up for a similar service through UPS and it has made my life so much easier. I travel out of town quite frequently and I love knowing when packages are on their way. There is also…

  • Price Changes and Crappy Return Policies

    One Frugal Girl
    8 May 2013 | 11:21 am
    We have been blessed by box after box of hand-me-downs from friends and family. It’s been a true blessing because my son seems to outgrow his clothes ridiculously quickly. At the current time he’s an odd fit. He has a very long torso, but he’s skinny and has relatively short legs. At least it seems that way because his shirts are always showing his belly, his pants are always slipping off his waist and his shorts somehow look like pants even though he’s taller than 99% of other children (according to his medical charts). While I’ve received a lot of pants and…

  • Discovering Whether or Not You Have Enough

    One Frugal Girl
    5 May 2013 | 4:45 am
    I received an interesting email in response to my post Do You Have Enough?. A reader asked a very simple question. How do you know if and when you have enough? This question is not about having enough money. That’s a topic for a different day. The question is whether your quest for money and/or your lack of focus is actually getting in the way of enjoying your life. Here’s a simple way to address the question for yourself. Find a quiet room, sit down and create a list of items you feel you can’t live without. Don’t think about the basics like food and shelter. Instead…
 
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    My Dollar Plan

  • Are You Interested in Mystery Shopping?

    Amanda
    20 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    My friend Helen introduced me to Mystery Shopping about two years ago. I had heard about it, and was very curious (if not a little skeptical) about its potential in my money-saving toolbox. She mentioned in a conversation that she had not paid for an oil change in over three years. Boy did that pique my interest! After conducting two oil change shops and being fully reimbursed for the oil changes that I needed for my car, I was convinced that I had uncovered a small goldmine. Reasons to Consider Mystery Shopping I took a break from mystery shopping after completing these two assignments. That…

  • Upromise MasterCard $50 Sign Up Bonus

    Kate
    17 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    This week’s Free Money Friday offer is a good one for anyone who is saving for college because Upromise is offering a $50 sign-up bonus on their Upromise World MasterCard! Even if you don’t need to save for college, you can still get in on this bonus! How to Get Your $50 Open a Upromise World MasterCard. Make your first purchase within 90 days. Earn $50 cash back on your statement! Terms and Conditions No annual fee. No limit to cash back earnings. You must sign up for Upromise rewards before you can earn cash back using this credit card. More on Upromise Earning Cash Back. You…

  • Have You Ever Been a Victim of Identity Theft?

    Nick
    16 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    You look at your credit card statement. There’s a charge for about $700 from a merchant you’re not familiar with. “Honey, did you buy something from so and so for $700 last month?” “Why no, dear, I would never spend that much without talking it over with you first.” “Hmmm; I wonder where that charge came from, then?” “I know! You can call the phone number listed for the merchant on the statement!” “That’s a great idea!” The merchant confirms that the charge was made. It was a telephone order, and the merchant confirmed the ZIP code and security code on the back of…

  • Financial Moves to Make as Newlyweds

    Amanda
    15 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    On account of our three year anniversary, I thought it would be a great idea to discuss the finances of a newlywed couple since it’s so fresh on my mind. Based upon the decisions that you made in the first article in this series, 6 Financial Topics to Discuss Before Marriage, there are several things you will need to do for a smooth financial transition after the honeymoon. Word of warning: Try to hold onto that wedded bliss and smile throughout this process, as you are bound to run into some situations, issues, or get frustrated at the amount of time and paperwork all of this can take. I…

  • 6 Financial Topics to Discuss Before Marriage

    Amanda
    14 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    You’re engaged! Congratulations! I mean that from the bottom of my heart, as it was only three and a half short years ago that I was in your position. Announcing to everyone that we were engaged was such a fun time, and it was so nice to receive everyone’s genuine well wishes and excitement for us. Financial Topics to Discuss Before Marriage It’s time to get serious about your life with your partner, and this includes having several financial discussions to help shape your future course together. You may be uncomfortable bringing some of these topics up, but having these conversations…
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    My Financial Journey

  • Retirement Nestegg Report – April 2013

    MFJ
    1 May 2013 | 11:29 am
    Well another very good month for my retirement and a great month for my investments as they all soundly beat the market and my nestegg is getting closer to the $300k milestone. Was less than a year ago that I crossed $200k – compounding is fun to watch. Traditional Rollover IRA – $18,752.86 (+3.32%) My Roth IRA – $71,411.42 (+5.79%) Wife Roth IRA – $40,983.62 (+6.11%) Traditional 401k – $145,610.04 (+2.51%) Roth/Traditional % = 40.61% (tax free) Total Retirement Nest Egg $276,757.94 (+3.92%) Monthly Contributions $1,114.08 (401k) SPY Performance +1.81% My Monthly Investment…

  • Retirement Nestegg Report – March 2013

    MFJ
    30 Mar 2013 | 5:37 am
    Well another new record for my nestegg. The stock market sure is on a roll lately and my nestegg reflects that. Unfortunately I lose to the SP500 this month, but I have beat it in three of the last four months and short term fluctuations like that don’t bother me. I also had quite a few contributions this month which may have skewed my performance metrics as I got a large chunk of matching 401k since my company paid out our annual bonuses this month and I finished maxxing out my wife’s Roth IRA for 2012. In other exciting news I will be putting an offer in on some land to build a…

  • Retirement Nestegg Report – February 2013

    MFJ
    1 Mar 2013 | 7:24 am
    Well another month another all-time high and another milestone reached. My retirement nestegg is now worth over a quarter of a million dollars. It’s great to see the power of compound interest and the increased frequency of hitting new milestones. I remember starting out and seeing fellow financial bloggers having nesteggs well into the 6 figures and thinking man I can’t imagine how long it would take to save up that much money or build a nestegg that large and now I have reached that level and now those people are approaching or surpassing 7 figures. Once you get the snowball…

  • Retirement Nestegg Report – January 2013

    MFJ
    1 Feb 2013 | 6:42 am
    Well 2013 is off with a bang. The SP 500 gained over 5% this month alone and my investments actually did a little bit better than that (thank you Netflix). My retirement nestegg also hit an all-time high and I’m starting to creep up on the 1/4 million dollar mark which is exciting. I also maxed out my Roth IRA this month for 2012 and today will be making a contribution to max out my wife’s Roth IRA for 2012 so things are good on the contribution front again after lapsing for a stretch while saving for land/house I have yet to buy. No real big changes expected going forward but I…

  • My best and worst stocks in 2012

    MFJ
    4 Jan 2013 | 4:45 am
    Here are my top 10 stocks for 2012 IPG Photonics (IPGP) +96.78% 3D Systems (DDD) +90.40% (bought in April) Lululemon Athletica (LULU) +63.37% Stratasys (SSYS) +62.94% (bought in April) Amazon (AMZN) +44.93% Middleby (MIDD) +36.34% Under Armour (UA) +35.18% Brookfield Assett Management (BAM) +33.73% Netflix (NFLX) +33.63% Apple (AAPL) +31.40% Well certainly an interesting list for 2012 and not a large trend like there are some years. Came pretty close to having IPGP become a 2 bagger for me in a year and my #2 and #4 best stocks this year I only purchased at the end of April. I guess its nice…
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    MoneyCrush

  • Memorial Day Sale

    Jackie Beck
    20 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Some of you may know that I’m truly passionate about helping folks get out of debt — and so I have a debt snowball app as one of my side hustles. With that said, it’s time for a Memorial Day Sale — one that starts NOW and lasts until Memorial Day ends. This sale could truly help you save money long term — because when you get out of debt, you spend less by not paying a premium for everything you buy. Isn’t it time to stamp your debt paid? Get it quick My newly updated Pay Off Debt app is now just $1.99 — that’s 33% off its regular price. And…

  • Start a Side Business in Your Sleep (Or Not)

    Jackie Beck
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    For many people who want to start a side business, the goal is to do something quick and easy that’s going to bring in money without then having to expend too much effort. And who wouldn’t want that? I’d like to have money magically roll in too But let’s talk reality The thing is, that’s not realistic — at least not at first, and sometimes not ever (depending on what type of business you start.) This means that while there are all kinds of claims out there when it comes to starting a side business that might make you think otherwise, real rewards follow…

  • Buying Real Estate: House vs. Condo

    Jackie Beck
    13 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    If you were going to buy real estate as an investment property, would you buy a house or a condo? Here’s the deal: I’m looking to spend about $75K max on real estate, so that puts me squarely in the range of condo or major foreclosure deal. Condo pros & cons The number one pro for a condo in the Phoenix area, of course, is that I might even be able to afford two of them. If I went the condo route, I could rent them out and generate a monthly income from them. That income (less expenses) would then be considered earnings for my self-directed real estate IRA, so that’s a…

  • The Biggest Mistake Many People Make After Buying a House

    Jackie Beck
    8 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    While there are plenty of mistakes that can be made during the process of buying a home, there’s one big mistake that many people make — often without even realizing it — after the purchase is complete. First-time homebuyers are especially prone to this mistake, but experienced homebuyers aren’t off the hook either. What is it? It’s deceptively simple: going overboard on related purchases, while forgetting to take total costs and available funds into account. You see, when you buy a house, your existing furniture may not fill it up, or even fit. You may need or…

  • Stop Sabotaging Yourself

    Jackie Beck
    6 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Are you sabotaging yourself? Maybe there’s something you really want to accomplish, but you’re constantly struggling with it. You don’t have enough time, or something always comes up that you need to spend money on instead, or you just can’t seem to get it done. If any of that sounds familiar, chances are you’ve fallen into a pattern that sabotages your efforts. Here’s an example Suppose your goal is to curb impulse purchases. You do really well for a few weeks by only buying the things that are on your list. But then one day you need to pick up something…
 
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    Million Dollar Journey

  • Dating & Money, Sustainable Landscaping, Tablet or Laptop, and More!

    FrugalTrader
    17 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    Dating & Money @ Canadian Money Forum The Beginner’s Guide On How NOT To Start Investing @ Boomer and Echo Choosing the Right Index for Comparison @ Michael James on Money Is Coca-Cola the perfect dividend paying stock? @ My Own Advisor Six steps to avoid being a money moron @ Retire Happy Blog Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early? @ Balance Junkie 5 Tips for Sustainable Landscaping @ Sustainable Personal Finance How Do I Retire at 35? @ Canadian Personal Finance Blog Negotiating A Cell Phone Plan – Still Alive and Kicking @ Young and Thrifty Tablet Vs. Laptop: What to Consider…

  • New Horizons for Seniors Program

    Clark
    15 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    In 2011, the number of seniors (people aged 65 and over) totaled 14.8% of the Canadian population. With the first baby boomers reaching the conventional retirement age of 65 in 2011, the retired pool of the population is expected to increase in the coming years. As more people retire, there is a good chance that many of them would want to remain active and still contribute to society in some new form by utilizing their well-developed skill sets. One of the possible beneficiaries of this retirement boom may be the not-for-profit sector of Canada. The Canadian government has recognized this…

  • 6 Ways to Save Money on your Disney World Vacation

    FrugalTrader
    13 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    Being a parent usually means that a Disney World vacation is in the cards sooner or later. While Disney World is a lot of fun for adults and kids alike, it can also cost a lot of money. With the flight being the largest cost (at least from Newfoundland), the ideal situation is to use a travel rewards credit card, and fly down on points. But besides (or in addition to) using points, here are some effective ways to reduce your Disney World vacation costs. Six Ways to Save Money at Disney World 1. Time your Trip – Go During Low Season Perhaps one of the biggest ways to reduce the cost of a…

  • How to File Your Rental Income Taxes

    Sean Cooper
    8 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    If you’re a landlord, it’s important to understand how to file your rental income come tax time. Whether you’re renting out a basement apartment or an investment property, you’ll need to report your rental income. This is done by completing Form T776, Statement of Real Estate Rentals. If you’re filing your own income tax, you’ll need to fully understand the form to properly file your taxes; the last thing you want to do is get audited by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Tax Treatment of Rental Income Similar to income earned from self-employment, you’ll need to report rental income…

  • 7 Smart Ways to Spend your Tax Refund

    FrugalTrader
    6 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    This is a re-post but highly relevant.  Enjoy! As most people filed their tax return before the income tax deadline, it’s now a matter of waiting for that juicy tax return.  Most consider tax refunds to be ”free money” that was unaccounted for.  And it’s true, you can do whatever you want with the money.  However, in my opinion, tax returns should be used wisely as it’s basically money that you overpaid to the government during the year. Although they may seem like common sense, here are my some ideas on how to use that tax refund: Pay Down High Interest…
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    Canadian Personal Finance Blog

  • Happy Victoria Day

    bigcajunman
    20 May 2013 | 3:52 am
    Yes it is a holiday finally, and I get to enjoy the first long weekend since Easter (which seems a long way away). No stores are open around me, but Ottawa has some benefits that other Ontario cities don’t have because we have the Rideau Center, which is deemed a “Tourist Area” so all of it’s stores will be open and we are across the river from Gatineau/Hull and there all stores are open today. Will I go shopping? I might run to Tim Horton’s to have a Pro-Monarchist Coffee and Donut, but that is about it. Happy Victoria Day Queen Victoria, no doubt wondering…

  • Best of: Rule of 72

    bigcajunman
    18 May 2013 | 3:26 am
    A quiet day so here is one of my favorite postings from this year. Einstein Rule of 72 This is a rewording of a earlier posting on July 21st 2005. OK, so maybe I will concede that Einstein may have stated that this was important, but I am still not convinced he “invented” it, but be that as it may. If you click on the graph on the right you will find a gif that will show you a graph to show you the rule of 72 at work. Assuming your saving a set amount of money with only 1 compounding period per year, this graph is fairly accurate. The other thing to remember is this is a DOUBLING…

  • From Tragedy to a Shining Beacon

    bigcajunman
    17 May 2013 | 3:32 am
    This past week Rowan Stringer who played rugby with my daughter died in a tragic incident during a high school rugby game. The incident left Rowan with brain trauma, which could not be controlled and she died this past weekend. Rowan Stringer This tragedy has touched my family deeply, as my wife was Rowan’s Rugby manager and my daughter played club rugby with Rowan last season . It has also left me with many questions and, as usual, not many answers. It is never easy to really understand how a healthy, happy and beautiful teenager can simply be gone so suddenly. Rowan was a leader in…

  • Sometimes Never is Better than Late

    bigcajunman
    16 May 2013 | 4:19 am
    I lifted that title from Bro Tips, but it is not just applicable for parties, it can be used for your finances as well. Now I am most certainly not talking about paying off debt, LATE is better than NEVER, however, being on time is the right answer. Time Waits For No One But Sometimes NOT Doing it is Better! In investing being “late to the show” sometimes it is better to just ignore it, and try to find something else. If you bought into the Tech Boom in 1999, you most likely lost your shirt, if you didn’t bail out quick enough, however some folks who were in at the ground…

  • Is That Really A Solution to the Problem?

    bigcajunman
    15 May 2013 | 4:02 am
    This past week we purchased yet another replacement Bar B Q at the Big Cajun Chateau (we get a new one every 4 years or so (if anyone can give me a method to make them last longer, feel free to leave a comment)) and this new one is working quite nicely, however there is a problem that I have had with every propane Bar B Q that I have owned, and that is I never can figure out when my tank is empty and needs to be refilled (I find out when the bar b q goes out). When Your Bar B Q is Full of Insulation from a Squirrel, Time To Get a New One I have noticed that the tank seems to always run out…
 
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    2million's Personal Finance Blog

  • April 2013 Net Worth Update (+$13,409)

    2million
    6 May 2013 | 6:54 pm
    Highlights for AprilWe like to take advantage of 0% APR balance transfers and other credit card offers for free money. We earned a $500 bonus on our last offer on new Capital One Spark credit card.Our properties are listed on our balance sheet based on their cost basis, not current market value. We did this while the real estate market was riding high and we continue to do it now during the slide. I believe real estate is too illiquid to list based on recent sale transactions. For those interested, our April Zillow property estimates are: $193,593; $121,465; $296,140 (which recently appraised…

  • Reflections on Our Financial Freedom Journey

    2million
    9 Apr 2013 | 6:09 pm
    I took a couple days off this week just to catch my breadth and spend a little time with the family. Today I took my 3yr old daughter to the local science museum and had a lovely day enjoying the warm weather and learning a few things alongside my child. While I was sitting at an outside park bench at the museum I started to bask in how wonderful it was to let things slow down and enjoy things like the outdoors with my family. Why can't I do this all the time? Working hard sucks. It reminded me of everything I miss out on when I'm working most of the time. I can remember in college when…

  • March 2013 Net Worth Update (+$28,259)

    2million
    7 Apr 2013 | 7:15 pm
    Highlights for MarchWe like to take advantage of 0% APR balance transfers and other credit card offers for free money. In January we earned a $500 bonus on a new Capital One Spark credit card.Our properties are listed on our balance sheet based on their cost basis, not current market value. We did this while the real estate market was riding high and we continue to do it now during the slide. I believe real estate is too illiquid to list based on recent sale transactions. For those interested, our March Zillow property estimates are: $193,369; $120,123; $292,803 (which recently appraised for…

  • Free Weekend Car Rental

    2million
    26 Mar 2013 | 7:30 pm
    Here is an offer that sounds great if your looking for something exciting to do for an upcoming weekend. Why not grab a free rental car for the weekend and get out of dodge? Mr. Pickles has documented a recent free card rental by making a weekend car rental reservation @ avis.com and using coupon code "TUEA002". He was able to rent a 2013 Chrysler 300 for free for a weekend. I did a quick search on avis.com and was able to make a car reservation using the coupon code for

  • Typical Child Rearing Expenses @ 3yr Old

    2million
    22 Mar 2013 | 8:00 pm
    Each year I am learning a bit more about the costs for raising a child. It is clear my initial thoughts on the expenses of raising a child were naively simple when we had our first child. I wanted to capture a snapshot of our current child rearing expenses as I think this could be useful for future financial planning for families. Major Financial Cost Drivers for Our Family with a 3yr old: Preschool - Our child's preschool currently costs $210/mo. I've heard that is very inexpensive compared to many other preschools, but haven't done the research myself.Food -- Our food bill is higher, but…
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    Wealth Creation and Saving Strategies | OnMoneyMaking

  • How to Buy a Car for Less

    admin
    13 May 2013 | 3:38 pm
    With the economy still struggling to recover, motorists all over the world  will no doubt have been feeling the pinch when it comes to fuelling their vehicles and keeping them on the road. While the purchase prices for cars have remained equally as high, the slump in global finance has not been enough to deter sales from continuing to grow year on year. The simple fact is; there are now more ways than ever to get your hands on a good quality car for an even better price. Never rush into a sale Car salesmen know all the tricks of the trade and entering into negotiations can at times feel…

  • Lying on Your Life Insurance Application: What is a Lie?

    admin
    8 May 2013 | 8:52 pm
    Unfortunately, in some cases, those who are looking into making a life insurance purchase are doing so with a bit of reluctance. They understand its necessity and benefits, but the idea of factoring it into their budget brings on migraines; especially, if they have any kind of significant medical history, or ongoing medical struggles.  You can click here to visit Suncorp directly. This is where scribbling a few little white lies down on their life insurance application becomes a temptation—after all, when one little lie can possibly save you a few hundred bucks a month, what’s the harm?

  • Benefits of Not Paying Off Your Mortgage Early

    admin
    6 May 2013 | 4:32 pm
    You’ve probably heard a lot of advice saying to pay off debts as soon as possible. Yes, a mortgage is debt and it often comprises a large portion of a homeowner’s monthly expenses. While paying it off early definitely has some advantages, it also comes with significant drawbacks. First, mortgage interest rates are currently at or near their lowest levels on record. If you recently borrowed money to buy a home, you probably got a much lower rate than somebody who bought their home five or ten years ago. The interest savings from making extra payments won’t be as significant. If you…

  • Save Money on Storage Spaces

    admin
    6 May 2013 | 4:24 pm
    There are several reasons that someone could be between residences. A new job in a distant city that requires an immediate move; a foreclosure that requires you to vacate a home; or, simply deciding to downsize, and the lease for the old place ending before you have found another place. In most cases you can find a place to stay, be it with a friend, with family, or at a hotel, but you can’t say the same for all of your stuff. This is where self-storage comes in handy. Self-storage units give you the ability to keep your items in a safe environment until you are able to retrieve them. But…

  • Nissan: Cheaper Cars for Every Market

    admin
    28 Apr 2013 | 10:03 pm
    We all approach buying a car from a different angle, with everyone coming from different circumstances, with greatly differing budgets and requirements for our new vehicle to adhere to. No matter our primary concern when buying a car however, we would all like to think that there was a manufacturer that offered a cheaper solution than other mainstream alternatives. Recent times have suggested that Nissan may well be emerging as that very company; with vehicles tailored towards greatly different segments of the car market, yet all offered at competitive prices when compared to their rivals.
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    FIRE Finance

  • Top Traffic Referrers for FIRE Finance - Apr 2013

    16 May 2013 | 12:21 am
    May 16, 2013: April was a fantastic month of blogging. We thank our loyal readers for lending their attention and support to what we write. Visitors to our site have been steadily on the rise :). We express our gratitude to fellow publishers who have sent traffic our way and linked to our articles. Our top traffic referrers for April are: Jonathan via My Money Blog Equifax via their Blog cEngage Click on the post title to continue reading .....

  • Happy Mother's Day

    12 May 2013 | 10:10 pm
    May 12, 2013: We wish you a warm and happy Mother's Day. It's a fantastic day to acknowledge the celebration of motherhood and selfless contributions of mothers to our birth, growth and development. We all know that our moms do a thankless job. So let us seize this opportunity to thank them wholeheartedly. We also express gratitude to Anna Marie Jarvis (1864-1948), who, following the death of Click on the post title to continue reading .....

  • Early Retirement Case Study - Sandy Aldridge and Dale Lugenbehl

    9 May 2013 | 10:52 pm
    May 09, 2013: At times the fast pace of our city lives appear stifling, making us long for a slower pace of life with more exposure to clean air and green vegetation. Our souls yearn for a simple life which is in greater harmony with Mother Nature. Of late, our work related health problems have been making us yearn, almost every morning, for a more relaxed life with greater freedom. So we were Click on the post title to continue reading .....

  • Frugal Tip - Having Hair Cuts at Home Saves a Tidy Sum

    7 May 2013 | 11:11 pm
    May 07, 2013: When we lived in Bay Area (California), we noticed that one of our friends trimmed his hair at home. We asked him how he did it. He said that he had gone to Costco and purchased a semi-professional hair trimming kit for $20. Henceforth, he used to give himself a haircut at home once a month which saved him a tidy sum of $20 each month. This is a neat way of saving money. In a year Click on the post title to continue reading .....

  • FREE MP3 Music Downloads via Amazon

    3 May 2013 | 12:21 pm
    May 03, 2013: Amazon is offering FREE mp3 downloads for over 800 songs. You can sort the songs by criteria like Best Selling, Song Title, Artist, Album, Time, Price, Release Date & Avg. Customer Reviews. Check it out and you may find some really nice music for FREE. Free MP3 Music Downloads Amazon.com Widgets Amazon.com Widgets Click on the post title to continue reading .....
 
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    Ranjan Varma

  • Business Sutra: Connecting Beliefs to Behavior and Business

    Ranjan
    6 May 2013 | 10:20 pm
    “Business Sutra: A very Indian approach to Management” is a book by Devdutt Pattanaik that I have fallen in love while reading it again and again. I was already a big fan of Devdutt’s blog and I jumped at the opportunity of reviewing the book for BlogAdda. The Author Let me begin with the man who has written this book. Devdutt Pattanaik is presently the Chief Belief Officer at the Future group of Kishore Biyani. His job at the Future group is not to judge or manipulate beliefs, but to expand the minds of the managers who blindly followed western management practices and…

  • PPFAS Long term Value Fund

    Ranjan
    12 Apr 2013 | 9:59 pm
    PPFAS is launching a mutual fund scheme titled ’PPFAS Long Term Value Fund’ shortly. It will be a diversified equity scheme. While 65% of the corpus will be invested in Indian equities, it has the freedom to invest in debt instruments and international equities too. Here’s a preview of the new scheme Share/Save Most Commented PostsJune 7, 2010 -- What Is The 88% Solution? (45)October 1, 2009 -- RupeeManager in Private Beta Now (43)September 25, 2009 -- Open Letter to Kamesh Goyal, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance CEO (30)October 16, 2009 -- Workshops (30)July 1, 2010 -- Become…

  • Why be wary of personal finance experts

    Ranjan
    11 Apr 2013 | 8:17 pm
    Dear Reader, Congratulations, you have started making informed choices about your personal finance journey by reading up on blogs/websites/media. Now, that’s something to be ecstatic about. But it’s something to worry about, as well, and I don’t mind telling you that I am damn worried for you! I am worried that you might end up getting more confused after reading up the articles that ostensibly “simplify” or “demystify” personal finance. I am worried that you will drown in the information overload and suffer from decision paralysis by reading up on so many websites on personal…

  • DIY Financial Planner at Rupeemanager

    Ranjan
    10 Apr 2013 | 11:34 pm
    A few days back, Pattu shared my DIY Planner on Facebook with the comment : Want to make your own financial plan? Use the elegant online tool designed by Ranjan Varma http://rupeemanager.com/planner/# I realized that I have never shared that planner tool on my blog! Today, on Gudi Padwa/Ugadi/Hindu New Year day, I request you to try out the planner. After you take out the planner on a spin, let me know your questions, feedback and suggestions. Share/Save Most Commented PostsJune 7, 2010 -- What Is The 88% Solution? (45)October 1, 2009 -- RupeeManager in Private Beta Now (43)September 25, 2009…

  • Industry Reviews on Housing & Infrastructure

    Ranjan
    29 Mar 2013 | 5:24 am
    Here’s some reviews of the real estate, infrastructure and housing finance industry posted on our revamped information portal on personal finance. Your feedback is always welcome. Real Estate & Infrastructure Industry Review Here’s a look at the supply demand ratio, barriers of entry and the bargaining power of suppliers & customers of the Real Estate/Infrastructure sector. Overview of Housing Finance Industry Housing finance disbursements are estimated to have grown by around 16.1% in Fiscal 2012 to Rs 2,044 billion (as compared with Rs 1,760 billion in Fiscal 2011). Read…
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    How I Save Money.net

  • Summer Tuition Is Coming Up!!

    Lulu
    19 May 2013 | 11:50 pm
    I will be taking two classes in summer session one and in session two as well. This means I will soon have to pay tuition and although the money is in a separate account where it does not count as part of my monthly budget, it is still a chunk of cash out of my account. I know this is an investment in my future but it is also a bit depressing to see my money just being reduced all the time and I still have a LONG way before graduation and a job. I have my eye on the prize and I just need to keep carefully managing what little money I do have now and try to find alternate sources of funding.

  • Weekly Financial Check Up: May Week 3

    Lulu
    17 May 2013 | 8:42 am
    Every Friday I post on my weekly income and expenses in an effort to keep on track of my budget for the month. By breaking down my transactions on a weekly basis I can see where my money is going and see if I am going to be able to stay under my total budget for the month. I bought more food this week and I am now over the food budget by $9.25. Since I am working with a rolling budget I will see if that amount can come from the remainder of the gas budget since I have been under the gas budget for the last few months. As long as I am under the total budget for the month I will be ok even…

  • (Working on) Reorganizing My Things And My Life

    Lulu
    14 May 2013 | 11:24 pm
    I recently had a very bad wake up call and it has been weighing heavily on my mind. I have been feeling overwhelmed with a few things lately and this one major event has pushed me further into a negative head space. I need to make a few changes in my life in order to be able to get back into the positive mindset that I was in previously. During the last part of the semester I have had books and papers piled everywhere and my desk is a mess. I decided to begin cleaning out papers and things that I don’t need and then realized that I need not only a physical clearing out but also a mental…

  • 5 Small Ways To Save Big

    Lulu
    12 May 2013 | 11:02 pm
    Every day we think about ways to save money and think that it is just too hard sometimes. It often seems that the more you try to save the more the unexpected expenses keep piling up.  Pretty soon you are so caught up in the day to day drudge of paying bills and buying food that you even forget that you need to save. Here are a few simple ways that you can save without having to think about it all the time. You don’t have to worry about actually taking the time to save because by simply making the following a part of your daily life you will eliminate the ‘I have to save’…

  • Finally Bought Gas

    Lulu
    8 May 2013 | 3:12 pm
    I have been averaging only having to buy gas about every two months. This is because I live close to school and take the campus shuttle most days. It is included in my tuition and fees and student parking is not only horrendous but you still have to take a shuttle from the parking lot anyway. I have been very fortunate (or cursed, depending on how you view it) to not have to travel much to hang out with friends. Usually we will be on campus and decide to walk to a place that is nearby to eat. In other cases someone will just swing by my apartment to pick me up and I don’t even have to…
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    Funny about Money

  • Funny, the German Shepherd, and the Dog Behavioralist

    funny
    20 May 2013 | 3:08 pm
    Jestjack’s comment on last Saturday’s post, about the vet who opined that the wide-ranging pisser of a cat had “anger issues” (heeee!), reminded me of Anna the German Shepherd, a dog for whom “trainability” was an alien term. Actually, Anna was highly trainable. But she was a working dog with a capital W and a capital D, and she had so much drive that she really needed a full-time doggy job to run off her bottomless reserves of energy. This was an animal that needed to herd sheep. Or cattle. Or camels. She was so strong that for many months I faced quite…

  • The “End of the Month & We’re Broke” Pot-luck Pasta Salad

    funny
    19 May 2013 | 9:23 am
    So last Wednesday at choir rehearsal I was reminded that, today being the end of our season, we have our annual choir send-off party and pot-luck. This was a bit of an embarrassment, since I’ve pretty much spent the grocery budget and, if Cassie and I are to survive until the end of the month without going in the hole, I can’t make a run on Costco or Safeway to buy a bunch of stuff to make a fancy pot-luck dish. We’re already cleaning out the freezer one bite at a time. I scribbled down “some kind of pasta” on the sign-up list and ran away. Hot dishes are…

  • Wounded Dog Dodges Bankruptcy

    funny
    17 May 2013 | 4:53 pm
    The other day Cassie flew into the air, chasing Ball up the driveway, and came down wrong on a hind leg. She yelped once, licked her foot, and then went on about her frenetic business. She seemed OK. Maybe a little sore but not enough to slow her down. She’s still racing around like a rocket, lobbying for doggy walks, and throwing stuffed teddy bears, stuffed vultures, stuffed Angry Birds, and tennis balls at the human in an unceasing campaign to get all of the above airborne. And yet…and  yet, she’s been off her game a bit. Instead of harrying the human every waking…

  • Medicare Supplement: QUALIFIED!

    funny
    16 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Thank goodness! The agent I stumbled across while trying to navigate the Medigap labyrinth after Mutual of Omaha decided to up its Medicare supplement premium by $433 a year called to say Government Personnel Mutual’s underwriters have approved me for a Plan G policy. That will be a difference of almost $700 off the two grand that Mutual of Omaha proposed to jab me with. A few months ago, I’d heard from another insurance salesperson that Mutual of Omaha (which is part of United of Omaha) is notorious for luring new Medicare recipients into a Medicare supplement policy by offering…

  • Cleaning FRENZY!

    funny
    15 May 2013 | 11:23 am
    So yesterday I went completely off the deep end. Damn near kilt myself with overwork. Monday is vacuuming day. Check. Tuesday is steam-mop day. Well, it’s been quite some time since I steam-mopped the 1680 square feet of tile in this house. As a stop-gap, I’ve been wet-mopping the dirtiest floors, which usually are the kitchen, the hall, the dining room, and the living room. Wet-mopping doesn’t really get the floor clean; it just pushes the dirt around. Steam-mopping lifts the dirt off the floor…within limits. Yesterday, it became clear that the limit had been reached…
 
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    Lending Club Blog

  • More Information About Our “Verified Income” Filter

    Lending Club
    17 May 2013 | 7:45 am
    Recently we’ve been hearing from investors who tell us they’re finding it difficult to find income verified loans on our platform. This has led some to wonder whether loan originations have slowed at Lending Club or whether we’ve changed our standards for income verification. In fact, neither is the case. Loan issuances are at historic highs: in April 2013 $140,118,275 in loans were facilitated through the Lending Club platform, up nearly 10% from March 2013 and our highest monthly loan issuance ever. In addition we haven’t changed our standards for verifying income; we continue to…

  • A Note on Our Recent Loan Volume

    Lending Club
    19 Apr 2013 | 5:20 pm
    You may have noticed that the number of Notes listed on our Web site has recently been lower than usual.  This is not due to any slowdown in Lending Club's growth -- April will be our largest month yet, with roughly $140 million in loans issued, a 10% increase over March and more than triple our volume in March of last year.  More loans than ever are hitting the platform. The decrease in visible loans is due to recent record inflow of investors and capital over the past two months (we signed up 2-3 times more new investors last month than average).  This capital is causing loans to be…

  • Additional Data in Issued Loans CSV Download File

    Lending Club
    8 Apr 2013 | 9:17 am
    Over the past year, Lending Club has made additional credit attributes available for loans listed on our platform. Many investors have requested that these same attributes be made available for historical analysis. These attributes are currently available in the download of all issued loans on our Statistics page. In addition to the over 40 new credit attributes, we’ve added some other relevant data fields – such as the Last Payment Date and Amount, Next Payment Date, date and range of the last Credit Score pull, a breakdown of Principal, Interest, and Late Fees received, as well as…
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    MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

  • 6 Summer Job Ideas for College Students

    QuickenLoans
    20 May 2013 | 1:19 pm
    As a college student, this time of year was bittersweet. On one hand, the semester was winding down and summer vacation was just a few sleepless nights spent cramming for exams away. On the other hand, the end of the semester also meant it was time for a summer job. A good summer job can make for a memorable summer. However, a bad summer job can make the summer seem like it’s dragging on forever. Below is a list of jobs for you to consider this summer if you want to make some money and have fun at the same time. Server If you’re looking to make some quick cash, work at a restaurant or bar…

  • Say Yes to Paying Less for a Wedding Dress

    MoneyTalksNews
    20 May 2013 | 11:47 am
    First comes love, then comes marriage. Then comes the mountain of wedding debt you’ll now have to pay. Last year, couples spent an average of $28,427 on weddings and nuptial-related events, according to TheKnot.com. While the venues, the engagement ring and even the entertainment can cost thousands of dollars, the wardrobe isn’t far down the list. The average cost of the dress: more than $1,200! Here are some tips to saying yes to paying less for a wedding dress: Online Dozens of websites offer new wedding dresses tailored to your taste and your budget. Some examples: TheKnot.com.

  • The “Anti-Housewife” Credit Rule Gets Axed By the CFPB

    John Ulzheimer
    20 May 2013 | 10:57 am
    Imagine this scenario at your local home improvement retail chain; you walk in and fill out an application for a credit card to take advantage of a great introductory interest rate or perhaps an interest free or payment period. Your FICO scores are at or near 800 so you know the processing is just a formality and you expect to be instantly approved. You are surprised when the customer service agent tells you that you’ve been denied a store credit card not because of your credit risk but rather because YOU don’t have a job. You calmly explain that you’re a non-working spouse and that…

  • How Fast Should You Pay Off Your Debt?

    Credit.com
    17 May 2013 | 1:02 pm
    Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to eliminate debt. Not only does it take patience, time and diligence, but also a clear understanding of why we get ourselves into debt in the first place. Was it that our wants were greater than our means? Was it thinking we could pay down our debt, only to realize after our bills, we had nothing left over? Determining how fast we can and should eliminate debt starts with a few simple steps. Write it down. Get a visual handle on where you are with your mortgage, home equity, auto, medical, student loan and credit card debt. List on each line the lender,…

  • 9 Things Your Homeowner’s Insurance Might Not Cover

    BrightNest
    17 May 2013 | 11:33 am
    BrightNest is a free site that provides tools and tips to homeowners to help them save money, get organized and keep their homes in great shape. Sign up for a free BrightNest account today! With homeowners insurance (or any insurance for that matter), you’re really paying for peace of mind – comfort in knowing that life’s curveballs won’t become insurmountable problems. However, those curveballs come in many shapes and sizes, and sometime they can exceed the limits of a standard homeowners policy. Here are nine things that a standard policy may not cover. If you’re worried about…
 
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    Free Money Finance

  • College and Cost

    NA
    20 May 2013 | 1:29 am
    When it rains, it pours. Here's yet another piece on the value of college and the costs associated with it.But this one is absurd for the title alone: In Applying to College, Is Cost a Factor? Really? We have a writer for the Wall Street Journal asking if cost is even a factor when picking a college. Is that what it's come to? Unbelievable. As you read farther into the article, you'll see the struggle this writer/parent is having: Their daughter is sorting through colleges based on "fit". The parents are wondering if they should add "cost" into the decision process. They have some money…

  • Help a Reader: 401k vs. Roth

    NA
    17 May 2013 | 1:29 am
    Here's an email I recently received from a reader: My company just announced a series of changes they are making to our benefits, including our 401(k) plan. Currently, they match $0.50 on the dollar up to 3% of your annual salary (so, if you contribute 6%, they kick in 3%), and they do this with every paycheck. They are now changing this from contributing every paycheck to only contributing once in a lump sum at the end of the year. The amount stays the same, but the timing changes, so I feel like I will be losing out on any gains I may make during the year. (In addition, if you leave the…

  • Target Investment Mix at Age 50

    NA
    16 May 2013 | 1:29 am
    I'm approaching 50 years old. I remember when my mom became 50 and I thought "Man, she's old." :) Anyway, CNN Money ran a series on "Best Moves if You're _____ Years Old." This one is the piece for those 45 to 54 years old and contains a target investment mix at age 50 as follows: 39% U.S. Stocks 40% Bonds 21% Foreign Stocks I get the U.S. and foreign stocks, but does anyone else think the bond amount is too high of a percentage? I do, for two reasons: If you're 50, you still have 30 years or so left to live. Having 40% invested in bonds seems way too conservative. Does anyone else think…

  • Average Tax Refunds

    NA
    15 May 2013 | 1:29 am
    The Wall Street Journal lists the average tax refund as follows: Income: $25k-50k; Average Refund: $2,774 Income: $50k-75k; Average Refund: $3,051 Income: $75k-100k; Average Refund: $3,657 Income: $100k-200k; Average Refund: $4,704 I'm wondering if these are too high or not. On one hand, it seems like a lot of money that's "loaned" to the federal government each year. The people making $25k a year are shelling out too much -- to the tune of 10% of their income (unless their refunds are based on earned income credits and the like which they don't have to pay for). On the other hand, if you…

  • Help a Reader: Anniversary Challenge

    NA
    14 May 2013 | 1:29 am
    Here's an email I recently received from a reader: I am writing you with a simple example of a goal but also a challenge for suggestions. As a long time reader of FMF I now believe in setting a goal. (Thank you, FMF) This goal is to do something for our 25th wedding anniversary. In June we will celebrate our 23 wedding anniversary. Friend's of ours will be celebrating their 25th this year. They are doing nothing because they will have two in college and you can guess the rest. Money is tight for them. Blah. Blah. Blah. I do not want this to happen to me. I want to do something for our 25th…
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    Money Crashers

  • How to Sue Your Landlord – Is It Worth It?

    Angela Colley
    20 May 2013 | 11:40 am
    When you sign a lease, you have certain, reasonable expectations: Your home will be clean, safe, and your landlord will be available to perform (or hire someone to perform) repairs. When you move out, you expect to have your security deposit returned, so long as you leave the place clean and undamaged. Most of the [...]How to Sue Your Landlord – Is It Worth It? is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.       

  • 5 Tips to Lower the Cost of Sending Your Child to Preschool

    Jacqueline Curtis
    17 May 2013 | 5:11 am
    Preschool is definitely a luxury, but I’m not the only one who believes in the power of a few hours of school for little kids. In his 2013 State of the Union address, President Obama called for an expansion of preschool programs across the United States, proposing government programs that would subsidize the cost of [...]5 Tips to Lower the Cost of Sending Your Child to Preschool is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.       

  • Is Buying a House With a Friend a Good Idea? – Pros & Cons

    Valencia Higuera
    16 May 2013 | 9:35 am
    Renting a house or apartment with a friend is a great way to save money, and it allows you to enjoy the company of another person while doing it. While it’s common for friends to rent a place together after high school or college, it’s often a short-term arrangement until one marries or can afford [...]Is Buying a House With a Friend a Good Idea? – Pros & Cons is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.       

  • 6 Things to Avoid With Your Realtor When Buying a House

    Valencia Higuera
    15 May 2013 | 8:30 am
    Even if it’s not your first time, buying a home can be frustrating and stressful, as it can take weeks or months to locate the right house. Plus, with each bid, there’s a chance that the property owner will reject your offer and go with another buyer. Good real estate agents understand this frustration, and [...]6 Things to Avoid With Your Realtor When Buying a House is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.       

  • What to Do If You Can’t Find a Job After College Graduation – 10 Tips

    Casey Slide
    14 May 2013 | 10:45 am
    When I graduated from the University of Florida, living at home with my parents was not where I expected to find myself. With my degree in industrial engineering, I had envisioned starting a career immediately. But instead, I found myself job-less, stressed out, and mailing lots of resumes. In fact, being jobless and frantically sending out [...]What to Do If You Can’t Find a Job After College Graduation – 10 Tips is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.       
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    Mighty Bargain Hunter

  • How to get more rides at Disney for less?

    John Wedding
    15 May 2013 | 11:58 pm
    Amusement parks can be a great vacation, especially if you like rides that test your ability to hold your lunch. The more popular amusement parks, like the Disney family of parks, are busy much of the year.  And busy can mean long wait times on the rides. Since time is far more valuable than money, it would make sense that there would be a way to buy less time in line for those who value their time with their family highly enough.  And indeed there is:  the Disney VIP Tour Services.  For between $300 and $400 per hour, a Disney VIP Tour Guide will give your family five-star treatment,…

  • Price-check guarantees are a great bargain … for businesses?

    John Wedding
    27 Apr 2013 | 12:21 am
    I was chatting with a coworker a few days ago, and the topic of price-check guarantees came up. A price-check guarantee at a grocery store says something like this: “If an item rings up for more than the price on the shelf, we’ll knock $3 off of the lower price. If the item is less than $3, you get it free.” I’ve caught errors like this before, and I’ve been more than happy to get the mis-priced items for next to nothing. My line of reasoning was that this was a whip to keep their prices accurate, and to provide a good customer experience if they didn’t.

  • Extremely low-tech greywater toilet flushing system

    John Wedding
    30 Mar 2013 | 10:41 pm
    Utilities make up a dependable expense in a family’s budget. Along with grocery expenses, it’s also a place that usually has a bit of slop that can be removed if things get tight. And if cleanliness is next to godliness, certainly we all take regular showers or baths. The extent to which we do this directly affects our utility bills. A typical shower or bath consumes on the order of 30 to 40 gallons of water. It’s easy to estimate this: Start filling the tub. Note the time. Grab a pitcher — we used a gallon pitcher — and measure how long it takes to fill the…

  • Five ways to use loyalty cards effectively

    John Wedding
    23 Mar 2013 | 11:36 pm
    Many stores offer loyalty cards.  These plastic cards often come in pairs: one for your wallet, and a smaller one with a hole in it for your keychain.  Presenting the loyalty card at checkout entitles you to special prices on particular products, as well as other periodic perks like announcements of special sales, follow-on coupons, etc. Stores don’t provide loyalty programs out of the goodness of their hearts.  Providing the customer loyalty program costs them money, and they want to profit by it.  They get their money back either by targeted advertising that others pay for, or by…

  • Don’t believe the “replace toner cartridge” warning

    John Wedding
    20 Mar 2013 | 6:47 am
    Printers have sure come a long way.  I fondly remember by Commodore MPS-801 dot matrix printer with 42 pixels — total — for each letter.  It used continuous fanfold paper and only printed in one direction. Fast forward thirty years.  (Yikes!)  Now our current printer does full color, two-sided, in pretty much any font I want.  The Brother HL-4070CDW printer cost us about the same, in current dollars, as my MPS-801 did back in the mid 1980s. I still think the cost of ownership for our Brother printer is less, but the toner cartridges are expensive.  A full set of…
 
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    Rich Credit Debt Loan

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

    Rich Leverage
    19 May 2013 | 11:29 am
    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…

  • 7 Crazy Tax Deduction the IRS Actually Approved!

    Rich Leverage
    19 May 2013 | 4:15 am
    With tax season over, we are already starting to think about next year’s taxes. Tax deductions are one of the best ways to maximize a tax refund or minimize a tax bill. However, due to a fear of taking certain deductions and sloppy recordkeeping, many taxpayers are overpaying. The following tax deductions may convince you that it’s time to start collecting receipts for everything imaginable! Below are seven bizarre, but true tax deductions that recently stood the test of IRS audits: Pet Moving Expenses: This deduction is actually very helpful to pet owners. Let’s say that you are moving…

  • Smart Shopping During the Holidays

    Rich Leverage
    18 May 2013 | 11:19 pm
    When the holiday season rolls around, many of us naturally turn to our credit cards and treat them as a viable way to plump up our budgets for gift giving. Sure, credit cards can be a real life saver when cash is tight, but the secret to using our credit cards intelligently for purchases over the holidays is to stick to the rules, stick to the plan and do not overdo anything. Rules? Yes, of course there are rules. Before you buy anything for the holiday season, you absolutely must be willing to sit down and commit to some basic rules for how your credit cards will be used. Furthermore, you…

  • The Truth about Credit Cards and Debt pt 1

    Rich Leverage
    18 May 2013 | 11:08 am
    This is part one in a two part series about credit card debt and where we actually stand as a nation when you consider the pure numbers. You have probably heard figures like "The average American carries more than $8,000 in credit card debt on average." But what does this figure mean, exactly? This is a figure that is frequently cited by journalists, politicians and pundits in attempt to warn us of the impending economic collapse. These individuals are going to argue that we have to stop spending like drunken sailors because we are already struggling under a massive debt burden that will only…

  • What Determines a Credit Score pt 2

    Rich Leverage
    17 May 2013 | 10:55 pm
    Continued from part 1. Here is some basic information on what you need to know about credit scores and what goes into determining your credit score. Here is a word of caution for you to consider: If you pay off all of your collection accounts, especially those that are older, you may actually cause your credit score to drop on a short term basis. If you are trying to apply for a mortgage, then you are going to want to consult a mortgage professional to make sure that paying off these old collection accounts is going to benefit you rather than hurting you, at least in the short term. The…
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    Spilling Buckets

  • What to Consider When Selling Gold

    Ryan
    1 May 2013 | 10:38 am
    So I’ve got a few items to sell. Gold items to be specific. Gold I tell ya. Nothing tremendous like coins or some heirloom piece  just a watch and some used jewellery and a few trinkets I found metal detecting. Scams abound so where can I even begin right? I’ve just completed a little research on how to proceed so here goes: Beware of fly by night operations: They race into town, pop up a tent, then speed away, all while you were eating tacos at Qudoba. Check with the Better Business Bureau and please shop around before considering one of these guys, the bottom line is they…

  • What Are the Benefits of Trading and Investing Online?

    Ryan
    29 Apr 2013 | 1:33 pm
    Investment is something that a great many of us would like to be involved in. After all, what better use is there for spare money than turning it into even more money? The problem is that lots of people think that investment means either having a large sum of money to give to an investment company, or having money in the bank that accrues a tiny amount of interest. In actual fact, there are now ways to invest your money online. You don’t need a fortune and you’re your own boss.   What we’re talking about are the financial markets, and in particular, forex or FX. This is the global…

  • The State of the Financial Markets

    Ryan
    29 Apr 2013 | 1:28 pm
    How are conflicting opinions restraining financial markets? The global economy is currently in a very interesting state of affairs, though it is certainly in a better position than it has been recently. What many people are asking is whether or not it’s the right time to be thinking about investment. While different financial products may have the opportunity to go short, meaning they can profit from a downward trend, the healthier markets are overall, the higher the liquidity.   The problem is that there is very little consistency across the world. Countries such as Spain and Italy…

  • Planning for Better Money Management

    Ryan
    29 Apr 2013 | 1:24 pm
    You never know what’s just around the corner, and planning for the future is sometimes easier said than done. But planning for better money management is not only easy, it’s a great way to secure your future against all possibilities. Step One: Taking Account of Your Finances Before you make any plans to save, you should always take account of your finances. By doing so you will have a much better idea of your income, outgoings, and how much spare money you have to invest. If you find that you have no spare income, you may at this point wish to investigate the possibility of reducing your…

  • How are annuities taxed?

    Ryan
    7 Mar 2013 | 9:44 am
    At some stage in our lives we have to start planning for retirement. Whether you’re in your 20s and in the best of health, or you’ve just turned 50 and start thinking about a life without having to worry about going to work every day, it’s important to think about how you want to spend your golden years and what you may or may not have to live on. Many people who have thought about what to do when they retire look at their options. In the US, they can take out a state pension, get a pension through their job or take out an annuity. These options are broadly the same in the UK, but when…
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    Girls Just Wanna Have Funds

  • 10 Vital Steps to Freeing Yourself from the Burden of Debt

    Guest Contributor
    14 May 2013 | 5:31 am
    Recent economic difficulties being experienced throughout the world have created a number of problems for hard-working people, and one of the most significant is the problem of consumer debt. Faced with stagnant wages, rising costs of living and an increased risk of unemployment, many are being forced to turn to short-term loan-providers for financial relief. However, thousands of consumers are becoming reliant on debt, and that is having a profound effect on their lives. Breaking free from debt is never easy, but taking these ten important steps will certainly help. 1. Don’t Ignore the…

  • Float Announces New Planned Spending Program to Build Interest-free Credit Line

    Guest Contributor
    6 May 2013 | 7:12 am
    Float Money (www.floatmoney.com) first appeared on this blog a while back when they were beginning to build awareness for their very unique interest-free loan service. Now, they’re back to announce the Float Planned Spending Program launch. The Planned Spending Program (or PSP) is designed to appeal to budget-conscious people trying to find a way to create a budget cushion or a “rainy day” fund via Float’s  no-interest and no-fees credit line. The PSP system automatically delivers gift cards on a schedule the user creates so they can do their local shopping. You set up your recurring…

  • Even More Tips To Save Money – Daily

    Guest Contributor
    2 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    You may be under the impression that you are surrounded with temptations and money-spending occasions. Why not take things the other way? Your daily life is packed with dozens of money saving opportunities. Grab 10 easy tips that will help you put a halt on overspending:     1. Plan in Advance And Go Grocery Shopping Only Once a Week You might not realize it just yet, but all those little extra things you buy everyday for your meals represent a whole lot of money. Not to mention that a half-empty fridge may lead you to go out to a restaurant for lunch or dinner, which is costly. So…

  • Identity Theft: Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That

    Guest Contributor
    1 May 2013 | 5:46 am
    Identity theft has exploded over the last decade with the advent of the Internet and increasingly stealthy methods to gain access to your financial information.  If gone undetected, months if illicit activity could lead to years to financial devastation.  And, because we’re all about keeping our money in check, ain’t nobody got time for that! Here are some simple, practical tips on how to prevent ID theft: Monitor your accounts daily. Make an effort to monitor your credit accounts. The reason is that a single case of identity theft could spiral into months of abuse on your…

  • Free Flights + Hotel Stays: Get Your Southwest Air Rewards Card Here!

    Ginger
    30 Apr 2013 | 5:00 am
    Southwest Air is hands down my favorite airline, second only to Jet Blue.  When I came across the Southwest Rewards card  I jumped on the deal because I have quite a few trips planned this year. And earning free airline tickets via the Rapid Rewards program can’t hurt!  If you travel a lot then you know expenses racks up quickly and anything you can do to get a few freebies and perks makes it easier on your wallet.   You’ll love Southwest Air for the following reasons: No baggage fees Great customer service Always on time (flights are rarely late in my experiences with…
 
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    The Finance Buff

  • Stable Value Fund vs Bond Fund vs CDs

    Harry Sit
    20 May 2013 | 5:29 am
    CDs are better than bond funds these days even though financial advisors rarely recommend CDs. Many 401k or 403b plans include a stable value fund. How do those compare to CDs and regular bond funds? CDs are appealing for several reasons: higher yield, principal stability, and FDIC-insurance. Stable value funds share some of the same traits with CDs but not others. There are two general categories of stable value funds. Depending on the type, a stable value fund could be a very good alternative to a bond fund offered in the plan, or it could be just so-so. Synthetic GICs: Bonds In a Wrap In…

  • Friday Reading: Pluralistic Ignorance

    Harry Sit
    17 May 2013 | 5:28 am
    Frakt on Medicaid and the Oregon Medicaid Study by Russ Roberts at EconTalk What a surprise to hear my former co-blogger Austin Frakt interviewed on the popular economics podcast EconTalk. Well done, Austin! What is Behavioral Economics? by Dan Ariely on Vimeo Duke University behavioral economics professor Dan Ariely explains pluralistic ignorance. Be ready for a good laugh. I’m listening to Professor Ariely’s book The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty on audiobook. It’s quite interesting. The returns of stocks with less risk? by Larry Swedroe at CBS MoneyWatch Investor…

  • Pay a Fee For Better Value

    Harry Sit
    13 May 2013 | 5:25 am
    The word "fee" has a negative connotation. I’m not sure why when a fee is just a price tag on a service. Brokerage firms have to advertise "no fee IRAs." Credit card companies say "no annual fee." Is a no-fee product necessarily better than a product with a fee? I see heirloom tomatoes selling for $4.99/lb at the store. I’m not that crazy about tomatoes but I don’t cry bloody murder when I see the price tag. I leave those heirloom tomatoes alone and let someone else have them. I’m sure plenty of people buy them; otherwise the store will…

  • Friday Reading: Where to Retire

    Harry Sit
    10 May 2013 | 5:25 am
    One Perspective on the Best Places to Retire by Ann Carrns at New York Times Bucks Blog I’m thinking I should just experiment with many places when I retire. Live in one place for a few months to a few years depending on how I like it. Move on to the next. Retirement Countdown: Sheila Downsizes at Squared Away Blog Downsize and/or move to a less expensive area, especially when you are no longer tied to a job. See previous post Lifestyle Design: Choose Where You Live. I Know I’m Supposed To Follow My Passion. But What If I Don’t Have A Passion? by Chana Joffe-Walt at NPR…

  • Increase Tax Withholding On ESPP Gains

    Harry Sit
    8 May 2013 | 5:35 am
    I filed my taxes in the first week of April. I received paper I Bonds on April 29, just in time to have them earn the 1.76% rate in the first six months as opposed to the lower 1.18% rate. That’s good. The bad news is for the first time in 20 years I’m paying a underpayment penalty. Not a large one, $15, but it still irks me. The IRS rules say you must pay by withholding or estimated tax payments: 90% of your tax liability for the current year; or 100% of your tax liability in the previous year (110% if income is over $150k) I always do an estimate in October to see if I’m…
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    Amateur Asset Allocator

  • 5 Fatal Investing Mistakes You Must Avoid

    Kyle Bumpus
    7 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Warren Buffett once said the key to successful investing is to avoid making major mistakes. Kinda. He actually said “don’t lose money,” but I think my paraphrase is more useful. You don’t need any big wins as long as you avoid the big, fatal losses. Which is good, since very few people have the skill to score big wins consistently. Luckily, avoiding fatal losses isn’t overly complicated. In fact, I can think of just 5 fatal mistakes. Avoid those and you’ve got an excellent chance of funding a comfortable retirement. 5 Fatal Investing Mistakes You Must Avoid…

  • If Everybody Indexed, Would It Stop Working?

    Kyle Bumpus
    29 Apr 2013 | 4:00 am
    It’s difficult to get into an “active vs passive investing” discussion on the internet without somebody throwing out the “yeah, but if everybody indexed it would stop working” argument. Yeah, that’s true. But that’s also true of just about everything, everywhere.  If everybody invested in real estate, there’d be no renters. If everybody was an electrician, there’d be no plumbing, etc. You’re not everybody and shouldn’t invest as though you are. Is there currently an advantage to preferring index funds to actively managed…

  • How To Eat Cat Food In Retirement (In 8 Easy Steps)

    Kyle Bumpus
    22 Apr 2013 | 4:00 am
    Ed: First of all, it should be noted this title is only half sarcastic. Have you seen some of the stuff rich people feed their pets? We should be so lucky. Regular readers of this blog already know the truth: investing isn’t particularly difficult or complicated. Why, then, do so many intelligent and seemingly rational individuals regularly make such idiotic mistakes with their money (I’m looking at you, doctors and lawyers!)? Why do we read headlines like “Paycheck to Paycheck on $300k per Year?” on a semi-regular basis? Other than the obvious answer that it’s…

  • Bond Prices May Drop If Rates Rise, But How Bad Could It Get?

    Kyle Bumpus
    1 Apr 2013 | 4:00 am
    Current conventional wisdom holds that interest rates are at unsustainably low levels and have nowhere to go but up. Neverminding the fact that people have been saying this for several years now, they have a point: interest rates are very low and they probably will rise in the next few years, although that’s by no means guaranteed (for instance, if the economy slips into recession again, rates will probably remain low). But so what if they do? Assume Interest Rates Rise: Then What? Let’s assume for a moment that interest rates must rise. Then what? Since bond prices covary…

  • Dave Ramsey Says Financial Advisors Help Boost Returns. Do They?

    Kyle Bumpus
    25 Mar 2013 | 4:00 am
    Last week’s post about the quality of Dave Ramsey’s investment advice got a lot of attention. Today, I’d like to focus one just one of the claims Ramsey made in the March 11, 2013 episode of his podcast (free on itunes). In it, he states that individual investors who invest with the help of a qualified financial advisor earn approximately 3% more per year on average compared to investors who don’t invest with the help of financial advisor. Here’s the exact quote at around 27:20: “On average several different studies show that the investor using an…
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    DollarVersity

  • The Brutal Truth: Why I Hate Visiting Your Site

    Eric J. Nisall
    20 May 2013 | 5:59 am
    I’ve begun to question quite a few things about my future.  One aspect in particular is what I want to do with this site because of the following. You see, lately, I’ve been getting pretty frustrated with the web in general as there seems to be so much crap being published.   It may not be what you want to hear, but sometimes the truth is necessary   I’m not saying that everything published these days is a waste, but let’s be real here, there is a LOT of crap. The half-assed sites thrown up just to make money off of advertising. The junk people pass off as…

  • Credit is Not the Enemy, You Are!

    Eric J. Nisall
    14 May 2013 | 9:04 am
    Food. Cars. Medicine. Power Tools. Information. Credit. What do they all have in common? Which one doesn’t belong with the others? Why does that one not follow the same rules as the others? Sometimes you just need to look in the mirror to see who the real cause of your problems is. They are all tools, and at first glance, it would appear that credit has nothing to do with the others. But, indirectly they all have something very important in common with credit: responsibility. Each one of those things mentioned, used responsibly can be of great benefit, but once the line is crossed…

  • Vary Your Marketing To Boost Business Survival Chances

    Eric J. Nisall
    7 May 2013 | 6:01 pm
    Starting a business is no easy feat, no matter how easy some people make it out to be. It takes tons of effort, time, and money, not to mention patience and perseverance. To keep from falling through the cracks, you need to set yourself apart from other companies. According to CNNMoney, in 2009 558,000 new businesses were started each month. The following year, that number crept up to 565,000 startups a month. The numbers have been rising consistently every year since 2006. In September of 2012, The Harvard Business School reported that Shikhar Ghosh, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business…
 
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    MaximizingMoney.com

  • SmarterBank Online Checking Account and SmarterBucks Rewards Program $10 Bonus toward Student Loans

    MaximizingMoney.com
    20 May 2013 | 6:24 am
    SmarterBank offers an online checking account with no monthly fee for active users that allows anyone to earn SmarterBucks rewards every time you use your SmarterBank Visa Debit Card to pay down your student loans faster. Plus, you can sign up for a free SmarterBucks account and get a $10 bonus once you earn your first $5 in rewards, without having to open a SmarterBank checking account. Please note that the SmarterBank checking account and SmarterBucks rewards program are separate entities, and you do not need to open a SmarterBank checking account to participate in the SmarterBucks rewards…

  • Barclaycard Arrival Credit Cards Offer up to 40,000 Bonus Miles for $400 Statement Credit

    MaximizingMoney.com
    19 May 2013 | 11:46 pm
    The Barclaycard Arrival travel rewards credit cards are offering up to 40,000 bonus miles that can be redeemed for a $400 statement credit toward travel purchases. There are 2 different Barclaycard Arrival card versions available. Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard – $89 Annual Fee Card (Waived First Year) The Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard – $89 Annual Fee Card offers 40,000 bonus miles after you make $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days, which is redeemable for $400 off your next trip, plus there is an $89 annual fee that is waived for the first year.

  • SendEarnings Offers Free Cash for Online Activities with $5 Sign-Up Bonus

    MaximizingMoney.com
    19 May 2013 | 11:45 pm
    SendEarnings is a free program that pays you to complete online activities like Internet searches, surveys, games, and other tasks, plus you get a $5 sign-up bonus just for joining. Just sign up for free and confirm your email to get the SendEarnings $5 New Account Bonus, and once the earnings in your account reach $30, you can request a check. You’ll also be credited 10% of the qualified earnings received by your referrals, so you can earn more cash when you share this opportunity with your friends. How To Reach First $30 in Rewards The free $5 sign-up bonus really means nothing, unless…

  • Overstock.com MasterCard $20 Statement Credit Bonus and up to 8% Rewards

    MaximizingMoney.com
    19 May 2013 | 4:38 am
    The Overstock.com MasterCard credit card offers a $20 statement credit after your first use of your card plus up to 8% in rewards with no annual fee. You’ll get a $20 statement credit the first time you use your card, which will be credited to your account within 6 to 8 weeks after your first card use. You’ll also earn up to 8% in Club O Dollars on Overstock.com purchases and 1% in Club O Dollars everywhere else that you use your card. Card members get free Club O Membership renewals as long as your card is active. Check out the Overstock.com MasterCard Card Promotion to apply…

  • $20 Camping World Gift Card to Test Drive RV Plus Free Night of Camping to Join Good Sam Club

    MaximizingMoney.com
    18 May 2013 | 2:45 am
    Camping World is offering a $20 Camping World Gift Card when you test drive and/or tour an RV at Camping World through May 31, 2013. You can get a $20 Camping World Merchandise Certificate for Free when you participate in an RV Analysis and Product Tour and drive. There is a limit of 1 gift card per household. This offer expires on May 31, 2013, so call or visit your local Camping World for more details. I saw this promotion being advertised in Camping World commercials on Speed during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but I couldn’t find any…
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    Darwin's Finance

  • Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer

    Darwin
    30 Apr 2013 | 1:29 pm
    There’s a recent headline making the rounds of late showing that the rich keep getting richer while the rest either tread water or fall behind.  Consider this recent report by Pew Research and I’ll share my thoughts below: During the first two years of the nation’s economic recovery, the mean net worth of households in [...]Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer is an article from Darwin's Finance No related posts.

  • How Obama Goosed the Jobs Numbers and Why It’s Much Worse Than Media Portrayals

    Darwin
    29 Mar 2013 | 2:38 pm
    As long as I can remember, people have always complained about the accuracy of government-reported statistics and claims.  For instance, every year, the government reports that the measure generally regarded as a barometer for inflation everyday Americans face, the CPI, is always much lower than people feel they’re experiencing in their everyday lives.  Sure, while [...]How Obama Goosed the Jobs Numbers and Why It’s Much Worse Than Media Portrayals is an article from Darwin's Finance Related posts: Manufacturing: What It’s Like to Work in a Factory, Why Jobs Are Leaving…

  • Yahoo’s Work From Home Controversy – Thoughts and Your Opinions

    Darwin
    26 Feb 2013 | 6:36 am
    This past week, Yahoo’s CEO Marissa Mayer announced a ban on employees working from home.  This, in a culture where many, many employees were used to doing this for years.  Here are a few thoughts on this particular announcement, implications for businesses elsewhere and then I’ll share a few thoughts on my personal experience with [...]Yahoo’s Work From Home Controversy – Thoughts and Your Opinions is an article from Darwin's Finance Related posts: Manufacturing: What It’s Like to Work in a Factory, Why Jobs Are Leaving the US, and Trends

  • Advice to a New Investor

    Darwin
    31 Jan 2013 | 5:45 pm
    Nothing gets a new investor more excited than reading glorious stories of great market picks, turning $50,000 into $1 Million and day trading in your pajamas for a living.  I don’t mean to be a downer, but a pragmatist.  Here are my learnings I felt worth sharing: Fees/Expenses Matter More Than Most Other Factors – [...]Advice to a New Investor is an article from Darwin's Finance No related posts.

  • Manufacturing: What It’s Like to Work in a Factory, Why Jobs Are Leaving the US, and Trends

    Darwin
    26 Dec 2012 | 1:44 pm
    Now that the election’s over, we can stop debating tax rates, repealing Obamacare and whether Mitt’s dog rode on the roof of his car.  Aside from  gun laws  now – which DO require serious consideration, the other key issue both Americans and politicians should be focusing on is job creation.  One of the key sectors [...]Manufacturing: What It’s Like to Work in a Factory, Why Jobs Are Leaving the US, and Trends is an article from Darwin's Finance Related posts: How Ireland is Just Like California (minus the weather)
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    Do You Dave Ramsey?Do You Dave Ramsey?

  • Summer Bucket List Ideas For Teenagers

    Dave Ozment
    7 May 2013 | 3:50 am
    Technically a bucket list is a collection of things we want to do or accomplish before we ‘kick the bucket’.  But the idea is portable.  What do we want to accomplish this month or year or as teenagers we might ask what we want to do during summer break. Hmm, a summer bucket list for teenagers… now there’s a fun topic. Here’s a list of ideas based on my experience, both as a former teenager and as someone with plenty of post teenage experience. Work, just not full time Have some responsibilities – and your own spending money – but don’t overdo it.  You have your entire life…

  • Setting Up a Prosper Peer to Peer Lending Account

    Dave Ozment
    16 Apr 2013 | 4:00 am
    In a recent article we stepped through the basics of Peer to Peer lending.  This new internet enabled is like a dating service for investors and borrowers.  Rather than borrowing from banks at 10+% while CDs pay a paltry 1.5%, borrowers can benefit from lower rates while investors can reap similar benefits on their end of the transaction. During my research for that article I became intrigued with the opportunities and committed to setting up investment accounts and reporting on my experience.  Today this series begins with a look at the process for setting up an investment account with…

  • Setting up a Lending Club Peer to Peer Lending Account

    Dave Ozment
    2 Apr 2013 | 4:31 am
    Over the last couple weeks we’ve looked into the basics of Peer to Peer lending, as well as, the process for opening an investment/savings account with Prosper.  Today we’ll look at the process for setting up an investment account with Lending Club.  So let’s jump into the process.  Here’s the step by step process for setting up an investment account with Lending Tree. Similar to before, I’ll include several images but the sign up process is quick and easy, probably easier than the process with Prosper.  It took under 10 minutes over 2 sessions (more on that later), and I was…

  • Smart Car Dealing: Buy, Sell, and Get a Free Car Upgrade

    Dave Ozment
    19 Mar 2013 | 3:40 am
    After our homes, the largest single purchase most of us make is our car.  This can be a wise and financially savvy purchase but too often that is not the case.  In fact, I’d venture that rarely is it the case. What gives me such confidence?  Well, the sheer numbers of new cars on the roadways.  Buying a new car for most people is just a bad idea.  There’s a reason behind the joke that most accidents happen on the show room floor.  That’s because most folks sign up for payments on a car whose value plummets the second it drives off the lot. So if you want to learn to take advantage…

  • Is Debt Consolidation a Good Idea?

    Dave Ozment
    5 Mar 2013 | 2:43 am
    We can probably all agree that debt sucks.  Debt is a financial pit we should escape and avoid.  But often we don’t realize this until it’s too late and we’re already ensnared by its grasp. When we find ourselves struggling with multiple high rate credit cards, car loans, and medical bills it’s easy to think that debt consolidation is the answer.  But is that really the case?   How does Debt Consolidation work? Debt Consolidation is just what it sounds like.  It’s consolidating multiple individual debts into a single combined loan.  Instead of several monthly payments to…
 
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  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
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  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
 
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  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
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  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
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  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
 
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
  • add this feed to my.Alltop

  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
 
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  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
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  • Durant, Others React to Okla. Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Durant, Others React to Okla. TornadoGetty ImagesThe massive tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City area grabbed the attention of players and coaches with ties to the area.Sports world responds to disasterCaught Our AttentionDodgers Manager Reacts to RumorsDanica Patrick Starting to Attract BoosManti Te'o Off-Limits to Media

  • Obama Declares Disaster in Oklahoma

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Obama Declares Disaster in OklahomaAPThe president makes major disaster declaration after a giant tornado killed scores and left a path of devastation on Monday.Help on the way to devastated areaRelated CoverageTwister Tracked Path of Killer StormOkla. Schools Flattened by TornadoHow to Help Okla. Tornado Victims

  • Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Trick Calms Your Fear of Flying Alamy Many of us get scared the second we board a plane, but one simple thing you can do on land will help you be fearless on your next trip. What to do before you leaveMore From Marlo Singer Used to Be a School Teacher Why You Can Skip Cardio Make New Friends at Any Age

  • Tragic End to Search for Missing Mom

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Tragic End to Search for Missing MomAPSusan Powell, a Utah mother, vanished in 2009 before her husband killed the couple's two boys and himself in a house fire.Police make dramatic announcementMore News5 Dead, 6 Hurt in Illinois Van CrashWoman Tried to Poison Her FamilyColo. Town Mandates Gun Ownership

  • More Than 50 Killed in Monster Tornado

    20 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    More Than 50 Killed in Monster TornadoAPA mile-wide twister with winds up to 200 mph ravaged an Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, flattening entire neighborhoods.Elementary school turned to rubbleRelated CoverageIncredible Photos From the TornadoHeartbreaking Videos of DestructionLive Video: Tornadoes Hit Oklahoma
 
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    Christian Personal Finance

  • How to Rent a Car Without a Credit Card

    Kevin
    20 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    There is a common misconception that in order to get a rental car you must pay with a credit card. In reality, there are at least two ways to rent a car without a credit card. One is by using a debit card – and you probably already knew this – but the other may surprise you. It’s cash! Yes, cash. On the surface it seems impossible, or at least unlikely, but at least some car rental companies will accept cash as a form of payment for your rental car. But let’s take a look at paying with a debit card and by cash. Paying with a Debit Card In most respects, paying for a rental car with a…

  • Why You Should Nurture Your Imagination

    John Frainee
    17 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    Close your eyes for a moment and remember when you were a child. How did you play? You used your imagination, of course. You pretended you were a mighty warrior – in your backyard with sticks for swords or via a character in a video game. You reclined at a table, sipping tea as if you were a princess discussing the matters of the kingdom. You dreamed. But soon, dreaming would fade into the background as a new pursuit injected itself into your life: the pursuit of knowledge. The American public education system is designed around the pursuit of knowledge. Sure, at its fringes are the…

  • Zaarly.com Review: An Online Bazaar for Products and Services

    Jason Price
    16 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    Have you ever visited a bazaar or market in your local town, or perhaps while on vacation? According to Wikipedia, bazaars can be defined as permanently enclosed merchandising areas, marketplaces, or street shops where goods and services are exchanged and sold. I love visiting bazaars because you can find a lot of local hand-crafted goods.  Not only that, but you support local communities and economies when you buy them. What if you were able to visit a bazaar online from the convenience of your computer or mobile device? Well, thanks to Zaarly.com, you can. Certainly, there is a lot of fun…

  • Does Jesus Command Us to Help the Poor?

    Chris
    14 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    At first blush, this question might seem like a no-brainer to readers. But, who are the poor? What does God’s Word say about the poor? How do we effectively help the poor? Let’s dig in! Who are the poor? Because all of us come from different backgrounds, cultures, and expectations, what we define as poor, may not actually be poor to others or even in God’s eyes. Determining who the poor really are can become a very subjective exercise. To prevent that we must first establish a common understanding of whom the poor are as presented in the Scriptures. The two primary Greek words used in…

  • Is the Economy Getting Better or Worse in 2013?

    Kevin
    13 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    That’s a question that’s on a lot of people’s minds these days. There are signs of improvement in the economy, but there are an equal number suggesting that we’re doing little better than bumping along the bottom. News reports don’t seem to be adding any clarity to the situation either. Superficially, the statistics are definitely pointing toward improvement, but secondary numbers often tell a very different story. Let’s take a quick look at the evidence and arguments for both better and worse in the economy for 2013. Signs the Economy is Getting Better It seems as if all…
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    Denise Richardson

  • What Private Information is Available Online?

    Denise Richardson
    17 May 2013 | 12:52 pm
    What do you think would happen if you tried to search public records for information about yourself? You may be surprised by what you find. There is quite a bit of information that is considered public, either through public records...

  • Fraud Alert: Beware of Tragedy Related Scams

    Denise Richardson
    30 Apr 2013 | 7:02 am
    The Boston and Texas tragedies remind us that when disaster strikes, we are not always prepared to deal with the magnitude of the chaotic wake that follows such events in our communities. Our desire to help those in need can...

  • FTC Warns Tenant Screening Sites on FCRA Duties

    Denise Richardson
    23 Apr 2013 | 6:43 am
    The Federal Trade Commission has warned six companies operating websites that share information about consumers' rental histories with landlords that they may be subject to the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).If it turns out they collect information...

  • How Can a Secured Credit Card Build Your Credit Score?

    Denise Richardson
    5 Apr 2013 | 11:37 am
    Whether you are trying to establish credit or clean up a dirty credit history, you've probably considered the option of applying for a secured credit card. A secured credit card requires you to open and maintain a savings account as...

  • Consumer Financial Complaints Database Goes Live: Track, Sort, Search, Download

    Denise Richardson
    2 Apr 2013 | 7:07 am
    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) goes live with the nation's largest public database of federal consumer financial complaints, opening up to consumers across the country information on more than 90,000 individual complaints on financial products and services."By sharing these...
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    PT Money

  • Deals of the Week

    Susan Edminson
    20 May 2013 | 8:30 am
    Keep the kids entertained and fed (and we threw in a deal or two for the parents also). It’s almost summer! If the kids aren’t out of school yet, they will be soon. There are some great deals right now that will help kick off your summer right. $10,000 Amazon Sweepstakes - If you have some textbooks from last year that you’re looking to sell, try Amazon. If you sell them by July 1st you will be entered to win $10,000. MID Funtab Children’s Tablet – While the kids are out of school and with family vacations coming up, you may be in the market for a…

  • PTM 032 – How to Use Kickstarter to Launch a Business with Max Valverde of Morninghead

    Philip Taylor
    20 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    Today’s podcast features Max Valverde, founder and inventor of Morninghead, the revolutionary cure for bed head. Max launched Morninghead on Kickstarter.com, the online crowd-funding platform and achieved his goal times six. In this episode, Max shares how he came up with the idea, how he got the product made, and how to use Kickstarter to launch a business. Listen to the Podcast Highlights from the interview: Morninghead’s Kickstarter.com page0:40 – Finally acting on an entrepreneurial “idea”, and the motivation for creating Morninghead. 3:30 – Ten second…

  • 10 People Using Vine That Are Making That Money

    Jeffrey Trull
    17 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Looking to make a quick buck or earn extra money on the side? Here are 10 Vine* videos (each 6 seconds or less) with ways you can make some extra cash. *Vine is the new wildly popular video app from the folks at Twitter. 1. Clean out the garage and invite the neighborhood to your yard sale. YARD SALE : SATURDAY vine.co/v/bEqDgmb5g7w — E-Wing @Aliciousness (@EmmaRawlings23) May 15, 2013 2. Become a dog walker. More dogs = more money! 11 dogs on a Monday afternoon. #Dogs #dogwalker #working #imgoodatmyjob vine.co/v/b0QrK56OHwh — Kyle Problem (@kyleisaproblem) May 13, 2013 3. Easy one for…

  • IRS Targeted “Folks Waving Tea Bags Around”

    Philip Taylor
    16 May 2013 | 11:25 am
    NFL Player, Evan Mathis, taking his frustrations out on an IRS sign.The IRS, a bureau of the Department of Treasury and the same agency that will be enforcing the Obamacare “tax”, is tasked with enforcing the laws that help determine what organizations can be considered non-profit and tax-exempt. Over the past week it was revealed that they targeted conservative “tea party” groups that were filing for tax-exempt status by applying heavier scrutiny to applicants with conservative, pro-American, and pro-Constitution sounding names. During that increased scrutiny of…

  • The Four Items You Really Need to Include in Your Estate Planning Checklist

    Hank Coleman
    16 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    There are four tools you need in your estate plan.Do you have a will? No? You are not alone. In fact, a RocketLawyer.com survey last year found that over 50% of Americans do not have a last will and testament.  Even more troubling is the survey found that over 40% of Baby Boomers age 55 to 64 years-old do not have a will. This is the group that probably needs it more than any other. Many people think they simply do not have enough assets to bequeath to someone, estate planning costs too much money, or they simply do not want to think about the end of their lives. This is a travesty and…
 
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    RetirementRevised

  • Retirement health care expense outlook brightens

    Mark Miller
    16 May 2013 | 8:17 am
    Healthcare costs put a big squeeze on retiree pocketbooks, but the grip may be relaxing a bit. A 65-year-old couple retiring this year will need $220,000 to pay for healthcare for the rest of their lives, an amount that is eight percent less than a year ago, according to a Fidelity Investments report issued Wednesday. [...] Related posts: Fidelity: Retiree health costs falling, and reform gets the credit Health care costs in retirement: Running the numbers Health care cost is a looming train wreck for retirement security

  • Buying Tips for Long-Term Care Insurance

    Mark Miller
    12 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    The cost of health care is a key wild card in any retirement plan. Out-of-pocket spending can vary widely, depending on longevity, health status, and income–even where you live makes a difference. But most estimates on retirement health-care costs don’t factor in an even bigger challenge: paying for long-term care. Experts estimate that 70% of [...] Related posts: Buying tips for long-term care insurance Long-term care life insurance hybrid policies gaining ground Women facing higher long-term care policy costs this year

  • Growing threat to retirement security: Helping the kids

    Mark Miller
    10 May 2013 | 7:42 am
    A growing number of families are supporting both adult children and aging parents. As if there weren’t enough variables to consider when planning for retirement, throw this into the mix: Fifty-two percent of parents over age 45 expect to financially support their adult children, and 35 percent expect to do the same for grandchildren, according [...] Related posts: New thinking surfaces on safe withdrawal rates in retirement How you can buy an annuity from Social Security Advisors, plan sponsors falling short on Social Security advice

  • Divorced? It pays to know Social Security’s spousal benefit rules

    Mark Miller
    9 May 2013 | 7:46 pm
    Robin Brewton, who advises clients on Social Security benefit strategies, has boosted retirees’ financial security with a single question: Are you divorced? It is a little-known fact: If you’re divorced, it’s possible to claim Social Security spousal and survivor benefits from your ex. It is a strategy that can dramatically boost your benefits – and [...] Related posts: Reader Q&A: Social Security spousal benefits Reader mailbag: Social Security COLAs and spousal benefits Higher Social Security retirement age would be a benefit cut for all

  • Long-term care life insurance hybrid policies gaining ground

    Mark Miller
    9 May 2013 | 5:32 am
    “What if I never need long-term care?” That’s one of the biggest buyer objections to purchasing long-term care insurance (LTCI), and it was a big topic of conversation among Morningstar readers after my last column on buying tips for long-term care insurance. It’s an understandable concern because LTCI is costly. Now, an alternative approach is [...] Related posts: Long-term care insurance market shows signs of trouble What’s next for long-term care insurance after collapse of CLASS? Buying tips for long-term care insurance
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    The Financial Blogger

  • Making Money Online is Dead

    The Financial Blogger
    20 May 2013 | 7:57 am
        I probably knew this a while ago but it just punched me in the face last night Every Monday night, I meet-up with three other guys producing websites for my Master Mind Group Meeting. Each week, a different member is in the “hot seat” where he shares a problem or project he is currently working on. It was my turn last Monday. From time to time, I have a spark in my mind and the urge for creation haunts me down until I build a new site.   These urges have created sites such as my EMT resource. They are relatively small niche sites generating roughly $30 to $50 per month.

  • Epic Link Time

    MD
    18 May 2013 | 9:42 am
    Are you guys ready for the long weekend here in Canada? Any plans? What are some articles worth checking out? What advice I would give my 23 year old self @ Retire by 40. I always love articles like this. There’s so much to be learned out there from those older than us! I’m only 25, but I sure do wish I could speak to my 23 year old self! The Quitting Lawyer and the Despondent Millionaire @ Mr. Money Mustache. Some great reader stories and responses in here. Time for the carnivals… Financial Independence Carnival #11. The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup (thanks for the…

  • Do You Get More Done in The Summer?

    MD
    16 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    I don’t how anyone can live where it’s warm out all year round. I’m totally jealous. I live in Ontario, Canada, where it’s cold for a good 6-8 months of the year. I have no idea why my parents chose to migrate here from Europe. But hey, you can’t control Mother Nature. Today I wanted to have some fun and discuss the idea of getting work done in the summer when it’s warm out. Do you get more or less work done in the summer? You feel better in the summer. There’s so much to do. Everyone is out. You can spend an evening at the park. Most of you reading…

  • The Importance of Keeping Focus

    The Financial Blogger
    15 May 2013 | 2:45 am
        I have so many projects, I don’t know where to start….   At work, with your sideline business or for life in general, I’ve observed that many people can’t manage their time well. They all have tons of things to do and work super hard over long hours. But the result is always the same; they can’t make it.   If you feel overloaded, under pressure, crumbling under your pile of work, this post is for you.   WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE YOUR TASKS?   Honestly, it’s difficult because you want it to be that way. My boss once said: You can keep…

  • How Can I Retire At 35?

    The Financial Blogger
    13 May 2013 | 6:39 am
      I have these flashes burning in my mind at times….   A few days ago, I took a day off in the middle of the week to go to the spa with my wife. We had breakfast together, spent the day relaxing and came back at 5pm to pick-up our kids and fall into our family routine. Taking days off like this is one of the most powerful things that could happen to my mind. It’s an amazing time helping to me disconnect from reality.   When I arrived at the restaurant for breakfast, I had this flash again: Why is this not my life each week? Why do I work most of the time when I could be…
 
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    Intelligent Speculator

  • New Trade: Long Priceline (PCLN) & Short AOL Inc. (AOL)

    IS
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    It’s been a little while and I’ve certainly missed it. Today, I’m starting off by closing 2 trades done earlier in the year. First off, Long Google (GOOG) & Short Valueclick (VCLK): +24,79%     Long AOL (AOL) & Short Demand Media (DMD) -26,66% Today, I am opening a new trade that involves 2 stocks trading at comparable forward P/E ratios. Yes, AOL has been a difficult name for me to trade and it has done incredibly well in the past 18 months or so. But if you look at fundamentals, I don’t think you could possibly compare these 2 stocks. Just take a look at…

  • Weekend Readings – Obama In Trouble?

    IS
    17 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Wow, the Republicans had been on the offensive for a while, and with this whole IRS scandal coming out, I can’t imagine President Obama is sleeping too well. It does look incredibly bad…!! General Readings -What does Japan mean for the rest of the world? @ Tim Duy’s Fed watch -Meet Dylan the day trader @ WashingtonPost -Advice for Dylan the daytrader @ ReformedBroker -Are hedge funds bullet proof? @ NYT Dividend/Passive Income Readings -Let’s play with Mattel @ TheDividendGuyBlog -Reality income (O) REIT analysis @ DividendMonk Tech Stock Readings -Facebook flop @…

  • Rackspace (RAX)… Buy, Sell or Hold?

    IS
    16 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Rackspace is one of those stocks that I’ve had on my radar for a long time but have struggled to get a solid opinion on. I have made comments during my Tech Stock Power Rankings (2012 and 2013) but have not been able to get enough of a sense to trade it. There are many things to like and dislike about the company: Pros: -Operates in the high growth cloud computing business -Revenues and earnings per share have climbed steadily for years Cons: -Competes with the likes of Amazon (AMZN) and Google (GOOG) -Being unable to compete on prices, it’s stuck trying to find other ways to…

  • Ultimate Sustainable Dividend Portfolio – May 2013 Update – Crushing the S&P500

    IS
    15 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    In September 2011, I did some in-depth research to find long term sustainable dividend stocks and have been doing updates on this Ultimate Sustainable dividend portfolio since then in the attempt to show how well such a portfolio can perform over the long term. I would personally say that things have been going very well and will certainly continue to evolve. I do have a few more things planned which I will discuss in the near future. The USDP is obviously a critical part of my now very public quest to replace my job income with passive income. you can see my most recent update here. The USDP…

  • Passive Income Targets – May 2013

    IS
    14 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    This was a very slow month on all fronts, not much change in terms of income, projects or even updates. I do have several ideas that I’m working on and will hopefully be able to share more on in the near future. As time goes by, my objective is to be able to live entirely off of these new income streams but also be able be diversified enough to be ok no matter what happens. In many ways, that is what’s behind my interest in dividend income. For now, I prefer to avoid using actual numbers (might change later on) so what I will do is express all of this data in %. The objective of…
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    DQYDJ.net

  • The Stacking Benjamins Podcast

    PK
    20 May 2013 | 7:30 am
    No piece today, but I heartily encourage all of you to listen to the latest podcast produced by OG and Average Joe at The Free Financial Advisor: Stacking Benjamins. Here’s the link on iTunes. As for my piece?  I’m scheduled to make my debut on the new show on Wednesday, so mark your calendars.  We’re releasing shows today, on Wednesday and Friday this week before going to a more normal schedule. So, there will be no content today… (“but on your deathbed you will receive…“) but replace reading my stuff with listening to ours, won’t you?

  • The DQYDJ Weekender, 5/18/2013

    PK
    18 May 2013 | 10:01 am
    Math! (Boring. Actually, I use OpenOffice) Yesterday, Nate Silver posted an article as a ‘pre-buttal’ to the inevitable complaints of conservatives audited in the last few years (yes, many conservatives and liberals will be randomly chosen per year).  Turns out, a number of prominent conservative donors – some prominent only because they appeared in Democratic campaign material (in one example, directly from the President’s campaign!).  Coincidentally, or not, some of those conservatives ran into some major hassles from government agencies. Let’s talk about one…

  • The Saturday Powerball Drawing: You Do Not Have a Positive Expected Value!

    PK
    17 May 2013 | 9:20 pm
    Look! A sucker! Ed: Whoops, forgot 5/5 with a missed Powerball in the subprizes.  Shows what I know about how the Powerball works, eh?  It’s still a bad idea.  Numbers Revised! Hey everyone, it’s your favorite lottery killjoy PK! I’m here to debunk a silly theory we’ve seen floating around the internet – that goes like this… The 5/18/2013 Powerball drawing will be $600,000,000, and odds to win are 1/175,000,000 – so each $2 ticket is worth $3.42! Wrong. And we’ll show you how using the somewhat simple math.  The people at Powerball are smart…

  • Predicting S&P 500 Closing Prices – May, 2013

    PK
    15 May 2013 | 10:11 pm
    If you’ve been around a while… you know all about this series. Approximately one entry per month where we look at the way puts and calls are trading on the ETF SPY (a S&P 500 ETF), and use those to divine the future based on the disparity between those prices and where the stock is trading today.  Today’s entry is based on data as of the close on 5/15/2013. Does This System Have Predictive Value? I’m going to go with… probably not.  Still, if a failed experiment about market predictions missed to the low side so often, perhaps you can use this data to your…

  • Why Everyone Should Care About the IRS Targeting Conservative Groups

    PK
    13 May 2013 | 6:49 pm
    “First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the socialists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”  -Martin Niemöller Game, set, match… right?  Brevity is the key to good communication; you made your point, here’s a reference to Godwin’s Law? Well, if it’s true that “The…
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    savingtools.com - How to Save Money

  • Kids' Birthday Parties: Big Fun on Little Money

    Jessica Bosari
    20 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    Use these tips and ideas for a fun party without spending too much. We all want to have the most elaborate parties for our children's birthdays but personal finances do not always allow for that. If you are trying to stick to a budget, or simply do not have much money at all, then you are probably wondering how you can pull it off. It’s important to make sure that these events are something to remember, not just for the birthday girl or boy, but also for you as the parent. After all, children grow up so fast.Read the rest...

  • 4 Ways to Make Sure Your Rent Payments Count towards Your Good Credit

    Jessica Bosari
    19 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    You Should Be Rewarded for Your Timely Rent Payments! Rent is the biggest bill we pay each month, and sadly, because of increasing numbers of foreclosures and an unstable real estate market, rental rates have skyrocketed. Getting the rent in on time is getting harder and harder. Fall behind too far and your account can land in the hands of a collection agency. Once that happens, the credit bureaus find out you can’t pay on time and it wrecks your credit. But for those who have been diligently paying on time, it seems there is no reward. No one knows about your diligence.Read the rest...

  • 5 Tax Deductions for Job Seekers

    Jessica Bosari
    18 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    Some Job Hunting Costs Are Tax Deductible Read the rest...

  • 5 Steps to Eliminating Credit Card Debt

    Jessica Bosari
    17 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    Credit card debt got you down? There is a way out! It happens to us all. We let a little bit of debt sit on our credit cards to get through a tough spot and before we know it, we’re up to our ears in credit card debt. Chances are, you’re not going to win the lottery or inherit a boatload of money from the Uncle Harry you never knew you had. But with a smart plan, you can get out of debt instead of struggling under its heavy weight.Read the rest...

  • 5 Ways to Save on Trash Removal

    Jessica Bosari
    16 May 2013 | 8:25 am
    These trash removal methods are saving many families money. There is no doubt about it. The cost of trash removal seems to be steadily increasing. It’s not just because of the rising cost of fuel, either. The cost of fuel has risen some, but the cost of trash removal is rising more. As more landfills reach capacity, there aren’t enough alternative methods to manage waste. You end up holding the bill, but there are some ways you can cut costs.Read the rest...
 
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    Manisha Thakor | MoneyZen Wealth Management | Female Financial Adviser | Financial Literacy Advocate

  • The Marriage of Love & Money: How to Protect Yourself From Financial Heartbreak

    Manisha Thakor
    6 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    Photo credit: Louis Leray What’s going on (financially) in the private lives of couples across America? As someone who earns a living providing financial advice for women, I’m fascinated by this question. A recent study about the money behavior of mates, conducted by Learnvest and Ameritrade, yielded the following insights: The typical couple has three primary financial concerns: Having enough money to retire, enjoy their lives, and live comfortably today. Respondents reported that they talk with their partners about money on an average of 20 times a year and fight over money at least 5…

  • 5 Ways to Protect Yourself From Overspending

    Manisha Thakor
    22 Apr 2013 | 7:00 am
    Photo credit: Louis Leray Creating a strong emergency fund is an essential step to basic financial security, yet many of us find it difficult to set aside a regular monthly amount for savings. As a financial advisor, I think one of the reasons this is such a challenge is due to the way our consumer culture is set up to encourage overspending. How can you protect your money and ensure that you are consciously applying your resources to your future dreams and goals? The first step is to understand how we are psychologically vulnerable to mindless purchases. According to Seattle Money Coach,…

  • Reveal Your Worth: Meggan Watterson on Women, Spirituality, and Money

    Manisha Thakor
    8 Apr 2013 | 7:00 am
    What can spirituality teach us women about money? In this interview with Meggan Watterson, Harvard trained theologian and author of the critically acclaimed new book REVEAL: A Sacred Manual For Getting Spiritually Naked, you’ll receive insights on the relationship between self-worth and net-worth, facing financial fear, and how to identify your true calling. As someone whose work focuses on women and money, I found Meggan’s answers fascinating! Q: Do you see a relationship between self-worth and net-worth? If so, what do you see?Meggan says: “Yes. Absolutely. I can only speak for…

  • The Beauty Of A Budget

    Manisha Thakor
    18 Mar 2013 | 7:00 am
    Photo credit: Louis Leray Many people think budgets are about deprivation. As a financial advisor, I feel they are about liberation. Here’s a simple three-step plan to create a budget that you will feel excited to follow. Step #1: Understand the real purpose of a budget.It’s not necessarily what you might think. The benefit of a budget is that it establishes boundaries. Importantly, these boundaries can set you free to focus on what is most essential. Let me explain. Because we live in a world with so many choices, people often think of budgeting as a constraining, joy-restricting…

  • If This Happens, Will You Be Protected?

    Manisha Thakor
    11 Mar 2013 | 7:00 am
    Photo credit: Louis Leray Cancer. Stroke. Broken bones. Every day, thousands of Americans find themselves on the receiving end of these diagnoses. While such health challenges are never fun to confront, the diagnosis is just the first of a “one-two” punch.  First, you have to work with your medical providers to treat your condition. Second, you must pay for it. If you have health insurance, you may think – “No sweat, I’m covered.”  But are you? The odds are high that you may have significantly less of a financial safety net than you think. That’s because health conditions…
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    The Quizzle Wire

  • Most Expensive Home in the U.S. on the Market for $190 Million

    Miranda Marquit
    20 May 2013 | 4:44 pm
    Would you pay $190 million for a home? What if that home had 13,519 square feet and came with 50 acres of land that spread out on two islands? Copper Beech Farm, an estate with views of Long Island Sound, also includes tennis court, pool, carriage house, guest cottage, and more. There’s an entire floor in this 12-bedroom home meant for staff. And all you need to enjoy this estate is the ability to qualify for a $190 million mortgage loan. Historical Property with Few Owners One of the qualities many homebuyers look for is a property that has had few owners. According to SFGate, the Copper…

  • Monday Motivation: 10 Credit Tips for College Graduates

    David Quilty
    20 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    After college, many college graduates walk into one of three realities: A good job and few bills to pay (no kids or mortgage yet), which yields quite a bit of extra cash No job or an okay job and a pile of student loans and credit card debt, or Some blend of the two Regardless of your new personal financial reality this is a pivotal moment for the future of your finances and your credit score. Here’s a very important good credit checklist that you should closely follow during this critical period. 1. Check Your Credit Score and Report Regularly Whether you have a pile or debt or…

  • Quizzle Top 5 Weekly Must-Reads – May 19, 2013

    David Quilty
    19 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    A collection of Quizzle’s Must-Read Articles for the week ending May 19, 2013: Looking to earn as many reward points as you can from your credit card? PT Money has some advice that will help you take advantage of those minimum spending requirements when you first sign up for cards. If you happen to find yourself unemployed, your benefits may be much less than you thought they could be, says Bargaineering. Partners argue about money, that much we know. Thankfully Good Financial Cents has some tips for what to do if you don’t agree with your significant other on money issues.

  • VantageScore Drops Paid Collections

    Miranda Marquit
    17 May 2013 | 11:00 am
    Recently, VantageScore announced that it is updating its scoring model. One of the changes coming is the decision to drop paid collections accounts from the credit scoring model. When an account goes to collections, it can create a negative mark on your credit report. Even after you pay off the account, it remains a dark stain your credit report. However, reports the New York Times, that is changing with VantageScore. How Do Accounts End Up in Collection? Accounts end up in collection due, in large part, to non-payment of a debt. If you don’t pay on your account, the creditor can send it to…

  • Personal Finance Blog of the Week – Ask the Money Coach

    David Quilty
    17 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    “As seen on CNN, NBC, Today, USA Today, Oprah and The Wall Street Journal” reads the headline at the top of Ask the Money Coach. Just from that introduction you know you’re going to be in for some quality personal finance discussions! Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, AKA The Money Coach, serves up a ton of useful information on her site. From posts about credit counseling to bankruptcy to taxes to student loans, her writing covers it all – and covers it well. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom and was once…
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    Get Out of Debt Guy

  • Get Out of Debt Guy Support Group First Virtual Meeting

    Steve Rhode
    20 May 2013 | 7:34 pm
    We made it through the first virtual debt support group meeting on Google Hangout. As expected, attendance was light, but the technology test went fine and the concept show a lot of promise for future meetings. Michael Bovee and I spent quite a bit of time talking about debt and religion, Jesus, spirituality, tithing, student [...] Read the full article at Get Out of Debt Guy Support Group First...

  • Mass Joinder Leader Mitchell Stein Found Guilt and Behind Bars for Years

    Steve Rhode
    20 May 2013 | 7:03 pm
    A tipster just let me know that Mitchell Stein, the California attorney who was leading the charge selling consumers access to lawsuits to sue their lenders in a mass joinder action, was taken into custody today in court when he was found guilty on 14 counts in Florida today. Here is what the tipster said, [...] Read the full article at Mass Joinder Leader Mitchell Stein Found Guilt and Behind...

  • Why is My Ex-Husband Not Responsible for This 1099-C From the Repossession?

    Steve Rhode
    20 May 2013 | 2:16 pm
    “Dear Steve, Divorced single mom of three. The IRS held my last years refund of $9000.00. I finally asked them why and they said I failed to file a 1099-C from a 2006 repossesion and the vehicle was awarded to my ex in the divorce. The amount on the 1099-c is 10,300.00. I can’t afford [...] Read the full article at Why is My Ex-Husband Not Responsible for This 1099-C From the...

  • We Have Some Items On Our Credit Report We Want Removed – Lisha

    Steve Rhode
    20 May 2013 | 2:02 pm
    “Dear Steve, We started to have troubles making payments. Did Bankruptcy. Trouble again and we re-fied our house not once or twice about 4! Took a 2nd out… Around and around sprial…. husband lost his job. Lost house. Moved out of state and did Bankruptcy AGAIN! It was bad decision after bad. And it was [...] Read the full article at We Have Some Items On Our Credit Report We...

  • FTC Catches Bogus Tech Support Scam and Then Finds a Debt Relief Company

    Steve Rhode
    20 May 2013 | 1:25 pm
    The Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement over a bogus tech support service and accidentally found a debt relief company that was violating the Telemarketing Sales Rules in the process. Mikael Marczak, doing business as Virtual PC Solutions, and Sanjay Agarwalla were among the subjects of a series of six complaints filed by the FTC [...] Read the full article at FTC Catches Bogus Tech...
 
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    About.com Financial Software

  • Check App for Financial Spring Cleaning

    14 May 2013 | 7:17 am
    Updated 5/14/2013 00:38 a.m. ET I'm not the only one who is thinking about spring cleaning finances. Netted by the Webbys has a list of 17 apps for a digital spring cleaning that includes PageOnce - which I just found out is now called Check. This app keeps track of all your bills and account balances and gives you a holler via real time alert on your mobile device if there is any unusual purchase activity in your accounts....Read Full Post

  • Zoho Books Online Accounting for Self Employed and Small Business

    10 May 2013 | 1:35 am
    Zoho online apps have been around for a very long time, and Books works with other Zoho apps, like those for invoicing and CRM (customer relations management). The $24 per month Books generates tons of reports and you can use online payment systems like Paypal, Google Checkout, Authorize.net and PayPal Payflow Pro with it....Read Full Post

  • Online Accounting for Small Biz: Wave Accounting

    9 May 2013 | 8:09 am
    Wave Accounting is part of a set of online small business finance tools that are specifically aimed at serving very small business. The apps included in the set are Invoicing, Payroll, Accounting and Receipts. All of the Wave apps are free, made possible by the small business service and product ads that are served up in the software....Read Full Post

  • Moneydance Personal Finance Software Updated Review

    8 May 2013 | 1:21 pm
    Moneydance 2012 is the latest version of this desktop financial software for Windows, Mac and Linux, even though it's currently 2013. That's because Moneydance doesn't do annual upgrades, which is perfectly fine. It's better to offer solid software less frequently instead of trying to market something new every years that hasn't been fully tested (or whatever the reason is for features that don't work).  If you're scratching your head at that comment, there is a Windows personal finance software out there that has been rather consistent with this scenario. But, that's another blog…

  • Xero Online Accounting App for Self Employed

    8 May 2013 | 7:30 am
    This month, I'm going to take a closer look at some online accounting options for self employed people like me, or for those who have just one or two employees. Let's kick this off with Xero, which has a free trial and then costs $19/month for a lot of accounting features and a dashboard that shows you an overview of recent sales, bills that are coming due and bank account balances. Xero can keep inventory, pay bills and track customer data with a CRM tool that links to Google Maps and Skype. The online collaboration feature let you  work with an accountant without going to their office,…
 
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    Ready To Be Rich

  • How To Expand Your Business: Growing Your Business Part 3

    Fitz
    19 May 2013 | 3:13 pm
    This is the last part of this series. If you missed the first two parts, then you can read it here: Part 1 and Part 2. We’ve finally come to the third and last installment of this series, which discusses the different opportunities you can take if you want to expand your business. There are [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:How To Expand Your Business: Growing Your Business Part 3Attend a FREE Money Seminar:Increase your financial literacy and attend the…

  • Overcoming Obstacles in Business Expansion: Growing Your Business Part 2

    Fitz
    16 May 2013 | 3:00 pm
    This is the second part of this series. If you missed Part 1, then please go here first: Reasons For Expanding Your Business: Growing Your Business Part 1 Now that you’ve decided that you want to grow your business, what will be the challenges ahead? From experience, entrepreneurs are often faced with three obstacles when [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:Overcoming Obstacles in Business Expansion: Growing Your Business Part 2Attend a FREE Money…

  • Reasons For Expanding Your Business: Growing Your Business Part 1

    Fitz
    14 May 2013 | 3:30 pm
    I always advise people to start small when putting up their own business for the first time. “Keep it simple so it would be easy to manage,” I’d say. Not only does this cost less, but it also gives new business owners the proper time to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset. Then after some time, usually [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:Reasons For Expanding Your Business: Growing Your Business Part 1Attend a FREE Money Seminar:Increase your…

  • Angela Lee Duckworth: The Key to Success? Grit

    Fitz
    11 May 2013 | 2:46 pm
    Richard St. John was able to discover the Eight Traits of Successful People. But if you ask Angela Lee Duckworth, she will say there’s only one key to success – and that is GRIT. What is grit? And why is it so important to have it if you want to achieve your goals? Instead of [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:Angela Lee Duckworth: The Key to Success? GritAttend a FREE Money Seminar:Increase your financial literacy and attend the Wealth Academy. Learn…

  • Legal Changes That Can Affect Your Business

    Fitz
    11 May 2013 | 2:37 pm
    I’m giving the “stage” today to a guest post from a good friend who is a patent lawyer in Australia. Louie talks about the importance of protecting the intellectual property of your business, but more importantly, making sure that yours is not violating any trademarks or IP’s of other businesses. If you’re up to date [...]Note:This preview is to inform you that there's a new post over at Ready To Be Rich. Thank you for subscribing to my blog. You may now read the full article here:Legal Changes That Can Affect Your BusinessAttend a FREE Money Seminar:Increase…
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    Cash Flow Planning for Life

  • 13: Advice When Going Through a Divorce

    Mark
    15 May 2013 | 11:50 am
    The most important part and most difficult part of going through a divorce is trying to keep the emotion and anger out of the process. You are both going to lose. The only party that wins in a nasty divorce is the attorneys. The more anger and emotion are involved, the higher the cost goes. I have been involved in cases with average, everyday people with gross incomes of less than $100,000, who end up spending $60,000 to $80,000 in professional fees. Where does that money come from? Both parties usually incur debt, or it is taken from money saved for the children. By no means am I saying this…

  • 2013 Tax Rates May Change Your Approach to Tax Planning!

    Mark
    24 Apr 2013 | 8:18 am
    The 2013 tax rates could change your current tax planning strategies. With all the changes in 2012, like the end of the Bush-era tax cuts and the beginning of Obama Care, tax planning for 2013 may be challenging. In my FREE eBook: Tax Planning for Changing Times, I shared with you the following: Tax Provisions that Were Set to Expire 2012 Investment and Tax Planning for Your Portfolio(s) Estate, Gift, and GST Tax Net Investment Income (NII) and Medicare Surtax Other Provisions and Tax Changes With these changes, it may be in your best interest for you to consult with your accountant or tax…

  • 5: Expired 2012 Tax Changes That You Should Be Aware Of

    Mark
    2 Apr 2013 | 11:30 pm
    This is the fifth installment of Tax Planning for Changing Times: 5 Things You Should Know which can also be downloaded as a free eBook. There are several other provisions or tax changes that were set to expire on December 31, 2012, that you should be aware of. These changes include the following: Medical Deductions – For individuals under age 65, there will be a 3.5% increase (from 7.5% to 10%) AGI limitation on medical deductions. Two Marriage Penalty Elimination Breaks – The standard deduction will no longer be 2 times single, and there will be a lower ceiling for those in the 15% tax…

  • 4: Net Investment Income (NII) & Medicare Surtax

    Mark
    13 Mar 2013 | 11:00 am
    This is the fourth installment of Tax Planning for Changing Times: 5 Things You Should Know which can also be downloaded as a free eBook. As of 2013, there is going to be a 3.8% Medicare surtax. Who will pay this surtax? This new 3.8% tax will apply to the lesser of net investment income (NII) or the excess modified adjusted gross income over the thresholds of $250,000 (joint flier) and $200,000 (single filer). WHAT IS NII? Net Investment Income (NII) includes the following: Interest and dividends (NOT tax-free interest [muni bonds]) Distributions from nonqualified annuities Rent and…

  • 3: Estate Tax, Gift Tax, and GST Tax

    Mark
    18 Feb 2013 | 12:56 pm
    This is the third installment of Tax Planning for Changing Times: 5 Things You Should Know which can also be downloaded as a free eBook. The 2010 Tax Relief Act reinstated the estate tax, gift tax, and GST (Generation-Skipping Transfer) tax at a 35% tax rate and $5.12 million (for 2012) exemption. In addition to the increase in the exemption amount… the Act also created a portability election for decedents dying after 2010. This election is made by filing a Form 706, even if estate is under the $5.12 million exemption amount. If the election is made the surviving spouse’s exemption…
 
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    JoeTaxpayer

  • An Overdrafted Roundup

    Joe
    19 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Let’s start this week with My Retirement Blog’s U.S Retirement System a Success. To be fair, Andy doesn’t quite agree with the title, but was referencing a paper put out by the Investment Company Institute (ICI). I’ll be reading the paper and writing my own take on it later this week. Now that she’s finished her Walk For Hunger (congrats for passing $2000 raised, and your team for $5,000+!!) Stephanie is asking herself, “Was my Traditional to Roth IRA conversion a mistake?” You see, she did fine projecting her tax bracket, but the extra income negated…

  • A Series of Unfortunate Events

    Joe
    18 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Just as one issue starts to be put behind us, it seems another comes to take its place. Unfortunate events, indeed.

  • Frugal Friday Week 40

    Joe
    17 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    In Week 37, I shared how I planned to dump my Verizon land line and move to Comcast’s Voice service. So far, that’s not happened. So this week, it’s a Dear Comcast Letter - Dear Comcast, At first it seemed simple. I called and your sales guy told me $14 would get me Comcast Voice. I agreed, and a few days after, a technician came. Nice guy, set up the VOIP modem, dial tone, but my phone number wasn’t ported from Verizon. I could dial out, but calls wouldn’t come in. He moved the wire back to the Verizon copper, spent some time with your customer service, and told…

  • Save or Pay Off Debt?

    Joe
    16 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    If you read enough different Personal Finance blogs, you find that there are a number of popular recurring themes. Ways to save on various purchases, how to plan for retirement, etc. The one that’s been haunting me lately is, as the title today says, saving vs paying off debt. There are some obvious choices to be made, such as paying down an 18% credit card or putting that money in the bank to earn .01% interest. (Uh, if it wasn’t obvious, pay the damned card!) But, then there’s the grey area where the debate really has no conclusion, no right or wrong, just what’s…

  • How To Save and Invest Money For College

    Joe
    14 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    This article was written by Gary Dek, a finance blogger who writes about making money, investing, budgeting, career and education planning, credit and debt, and real estate at Gajizmo.com. Gary previously worked for an internet company on their M&A team, as well as investment banking and private equity firms in California. He graduated USC with a degree in financial analysis, valuation and entrepreneurship. The competition for college scholarships and grants is fierce and even students with excellent grades are no longer guaranteed to receive academic and need-based financial assistance…
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    Simplified Saving

  • Creating a Chore System That Works

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    20 May 2013 | 9:26 am
    As a parent, we all have things we excel at and things we struggle with.  My most recent struggle has been finding a chore system that works for us as a family.  In the past, we’ve had systems in place that worked really well for our stage in life.  My Job Chart was a huge hit with our teenagers (and it’s even better now that they have a mobile app), but it wasn’t working for the twins at this current stage.  They needed something a little more tangible. The other issue I was having was assigning chores.  My favorite way of assigning chores was to have each of the kids…

  • 10 Point Pampers Gifts To Grow Code

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    20 May 2013 | 8:51 am
    Right now you can get 10 free points in your Pampers Gifts To Grow account when you enter code NLMAYFLOWER2013. If you’re not a member yet, you can join now and get 100 free points just for joining! Pampers Gifts to Grow is a free program, but keep in mind that it’s not just for parents. There are free codes all the times and the rewards aren’t just for baby items. You can get photo gifts, magazines, and even things like razors! Click here to sign up today!

  • Fort Wayne Fun on a Budget

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    20 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Ahhh…summer is almost here!  The kids only have 7 days left of school and then it’s time to par-tay!  While we will be doing some traveling this summer, most of our time will be spent enjoying all that Fort Wayne and the surrounding cities have to offer! With gas prices  back at around $4, driving is not quite as economical as it used to be and many people are opting to stay local instead of traveling to far off locales for vacation!  With that in mind, I’ve partnered with over 90 bloggers to bring you Staycation fun across the country! Since I live in the Fort Wayne, IN…

  • Restaurant Coupon Roundup {5/18/2013}

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    18 May 2013 | 5:39 pm
    Eating out sure can get expensive, so I’m always on the lookout for deals to make it more affordable.  Below I’ve included the top printable restaurant coupons for this week! Ben & Jerry’s Coupon – Buy 1 Get 1 Free Small or Large Cup or Cone (exp: 5/31/2013) Bob Evans Coupon – Buy 1 Get 1 Free Breakfast Entree WYB 2 Beverages (exp: 5/24/2013) Boston Market Coupon – Free Large Side WYB Family Meal (exp: 5/20/2013) Bruegger’s Coupon – $2.99 Bagel Egg Sandwich (exp: 5/23/2013) Buca di Beppo Coupon – $10 Off $20 Purchase (exp: 5/27/2013)…

  • Retail Coupon Roundup {5/18/2013}

    Lisa @ Simplified Saving
    18 May 2013 | 5:33 pm
    If you’re planning on doing a little shopping this weekend, make sure to print off these great retail coupons before you go! Aerie Coupon – 20%, 30% or 40% Off Purchase Mystery Coupon (exp: 5/19/2013) Aeropostale Coupon – 25% Off Entire Purchase (exp: 5/19/2013) American Eagle Coupon – 20%, 30% or 40% Off Purchase Mystery Coupon (exp: 5/19/2013) Big 5 Sporting Goods Coupon – $10 Off $50 Purchase (exp: 5/20/2013) Bonton/Carson’s Coupon – 25% Off Sale Price Apparel + More Coupons (exp: 5/19/2013) Carter’s Coupon – 25% Off $50 Purchase (exp:…
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    Money Is Not Important

  • newsweek: PSA: Help victims of the tornadoes in Oklahoma by donating $10 to the Red Cross. Text...

    20 May 2013 | 8:28 pm
    newsweek: PSA: Help victims of the tornadoes in Oklahoma by donating $10 to the Red Cross. Text REDCROSS to 90999, or visit redcross.org Please help if you can.  There’s so much heartache tonight in a city full of some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

  • Thoughts and prayers for my home state today.

    20 May 2013 | 4:10 pm
    Thoughts and prayers for my home state today.

  • 7 Personal Finances Lessons I Learned in My Twenties

    18 May 2013 | 8:53 pm
    I turn 30 next week [gulps audibly]. Now that I’m an old man, I thought this would be a good time for me to share some of the financial things I did right, plus a few of the things I did very wrong during my twenties. [Note: I wrote this with my 5 day old daughter sleeping on my lap. It would have been 10 things, but I could only think of 7 before she needed a diaper change.] I started saving for retirement early. You’ve heard it a million times, but I’m telling you, start saving for retirement NOW. I got my first post-collegiate job at 22, and I promptly set up my 401(k). Every time I…

  • nevver: Happiness vs. Money

    13 May 2013 | 12:22 pm
    nevver: Happiness vs. Money

  • Consider this essential.

    7 May 2013 | 1:27 pm
    Consider this essential.
 
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    Move To Portugal

  • new blinds

    Move to Portugal
    3 May 2013 | 11:57 pm
    I was feeling a little fed up with our ongoing list of house projects, but now that we’ve finally had blinds installed on the (new) downstairs windows, I feel a little painting coming on…. Still to do: Replace side door, step and frame Install solar light above back door Box in pipework Replace kitchen window Replace dining room window Clean hall tiles Tile, plaster and decorate porch Re-point brickwork (side of house) Install steps garden Remove grass and add patio/gravel to garden Replace the fence (added) Replace all guttering (added) Paint Dining room Hall Breakfast Room…

  • mortgage freedom: may 2013 report

    Move to Portugal
    30 Apr 2013 | 12:00 am
    *MAY 2013 STATS Original Mortgage: £138,485 (April 2006) Original term: 300 months (March 2031) Outstanding Balance: £79,900 Reduction from last month: £829.50 Paid off to date: £58,585 Monthly payment: £542.34 May over payment £352.85 Actual payments left: 206 Months until goal date: 55 (31st Dec 2017) Months until stretch goal date: 31 (31st Dec 2015) Mortgage debt repaid:  42.3% We’re so happy to reach another milestone (<£80k) Our 2013 goal of a £25k mortgage reduction seems to be moving further and further away right now, so we’re only thinking about the next…

  • in the garden

    Move to Portugal
    28 Apr 2013 | 3:58 am
    It’s clearly work in progress….. …….but for now, at least it’s tidier! PS. I have this vision of paving slabs and gravel……..eventually in the garden is a post from: Move to Portugal

  • Trip Round-Up: New York April 2013

    Move to Portugal
    22 Apr 2013 | 12:10 am
    A couple of weeks ago we had the absolute pleasure of spending another few days in New York. Our hotel for this trip was The Sheraton on 7th Avenue, a very busy hotel right between Times Square and Central Park*. MOMA garden Trip Info: Hotel: Sheraton Times Square Booked with: Expedia Airline: British Airways/American Airlines Day 1:  City Walking We landed at lunchtime, and after a quick bag drop, walked up to Columbus Circle for a mooch around. Then it was burritos (Chipotle) for dinner and an early night. Lake, Central Park Day 2: Central Park We made the most of the brilliant weather…

  • appreciation for a simple bedroom

    Move to Portugal
    20 Apr 2013 | 2:11 am
    Since completing our bedroom update (new paint & carpet) I’ve been fighting the urge to add more ‘stuff’. The finishing touches if you like. A picture here, a vase there, the extras that look nice, but cost money.But (thankfully) I’ve managed to stop myself. The walls are still bare, and the drawer unit is (nearly) bare, and I think that’s how I’m going to keep it. The simplicity of the room makes it very easy to maintain (and fall asleep in). And the current set up also keeps clothing clutter at bay. All our clothing easily fits into a wardrobe and a…
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    Personal Dividends - Money+Lifestyle

  • What is a Sinking Fund?

    Tom Drake
    20 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    When you buy a bond, you might find that there is a sinking fund provision. So what is a sinking fund? This is an interesting measure that allows an entity to establish a fund for the purpose of ensuring that there is a way to repay the principal when it comes due.The idea behind a sinking fund is to help the bond issuer to be able to more affordably retire its debt.How a Sinking Fund WorksNormally, the sinking fund is established as a way to build up a certain degree of capital so that debt is easier to repay. The entity issuing the bond establishes the fund, and then uses money to purchase…

  • Healthy Living: It’s More than Just Your Weight

    Miranda Marquit
    16 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    In the past, I associated losing weight with being healthier. However, just losing weight isn’t enough to make you healthier overall. While losing weight can improve your health, especially if you are very overweight, it’s not everything that matters for healthy living.NutritionIt’s possible to appear at a healthy weight, but still not get the nutrition you need. Indeed, you might be eating fewer calories than you burn, and maintaining a “healthy” weight, but what sort of nutrition are you getting?It’s possible to appear a good weight while eating processed…

  • Don’t Know Where to Start Saving? Try U.S. Savings Bonds

    Miranda Marquit
    14 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    “Everyone knows that they should save,” Jerry Kelly says. “But not many people know how to get started.”Kelly is the Campaign Director for Ready.Save.Grow., the U.S. Treasury Department’s effort to inform the public about how it’s possible to start saving easily with U.S. savings bonds.“The great thing about savings bonds, and what people don’t know, is that you don’t have to make a lot of decisions,” he continues. “Once you set it up, it can be on autopilot.”That’s right. It’s possible to automate your…

  • Where is Your Money Going Each Month? [Infographic]

    Miranda Marquit
    8 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    One of the essential ways to make sure that you are keeping your finances in check is to pay attention to where your money goes each month.According to government statistics used by CreditLoan.com to create an infographic of spending in the United States, the average household spends $2,600 a month on goods and services.If you multiply this out, you find that the average spending on goods and services is $31,200 per year. It’s easy to see how, for some, it’s hard to get ahead. If your take home pay is $32,000 or less, everything you spend likely goes to the business of living.But…

  • Want a Better Retirement? Avoid these 10 Pitfalls

    Miranda Marquit
    6 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Retirement accounts have been in the news a lot recently. Recently, Frontline on PBS took a look at some of the retirement account flaws. Additionally, a new law recently went in effect requiring 401(k) plans to disclose all of their fees. The new statements are causing quite a flurry of interest in the ways that 401(k)s might not be the best retirement savings vehicles after all.Even with the fees, though, 401(k)s can be great for your future. You just have to know how to avoid the pitfalls and make the most of your contributions to give yourself a better retirement. Craig Morningstar, Chief…
 
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    Much more than debt, IVA and personal finance from ClearDebt.

  • Debt Counsellor of the Year Finalist

    Felicity Ransom
    14 May 2013 | 6:58 am
    Debt Counsellor of the Year Finalist is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. Our Senior consultant, Sarah Longsdale, went to the Credit Today Awards 2013 as one of the Debt Counsellor of the Year finalists. Winning the Debt Advisor of the Year in 2011 with the industry Trade Body, Debt Resolution Forum, and then again in 2012 for Investor in the Community, we were over the moon to have our long standing advisor, Sarah Longsdale be named as a Finalist for the Credit Today Awards as Debt Counsellor of the Year 2013.

  • Mini Heroes April 2013

    Felicity Ransom
    26 Apr 2013 | 7:34 am
    Mini Heroes April 2013 is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. Each month the whole ClearDebt team get together to award our mini heroes of the month. All staff get the chance to nominate someone they think has gone above and beyond their job and deserves to be rewarded for all their hard work. April’s ClearDebt Mini Heroes We’re pleased to announce this month’s winners are: Nathan Steele, Bella McVennon and Lisa Hubbard. Nathan was nominated for using his own personal time to help with crucial…

  • Energy Bills: making sense of tariffs

    Felicity Ransom
    25 Apr 2013 | 1:18 am
    Energy Bills: making sense of tariffs is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. Consumer group Which? has found the new proposals from the energy regulator Ofgem will leave 3.4 million households paying more than they should because the range of tariffs on offer are not clear. Ofgem has introduced its new Tariff Comparison Rate, but this will only tell customers the representative price for a medium user of both gas and electricity. According to Which?, only a quarter of UK households actually use this level of…

  • May day in credit?

    Jacqueline Cohen
    22 Apr 2013 | 5:29 am
    May day in credit? is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. As we finally say goodbye to the frost and snow, signs of spring are on their way and for many of us – particularly with two May Bank Holidays ahead – this means spending we probably didn’t plan for. Family days out feel like a much needed break when the sun comes out and we all have a few days off work. But what if it rains or the car breaks down? Respected comparison site, Moneysupermarket has recorded as much as a 58% rise in demand for…

  • Our IVA Story

    Felicity Ransom
    16 Apr 2013 | 6:54 am
    Our IVA Story is a blog post from: ClearDebt a leading UK IVA licensed insolvency services company. ©2011, All Rights Reserved. Last week, IVA clients, Paul and Carolyn, invited us into their home to talk candidly on camera about their experiences of living within a debt solution. They openly shared the circumstances that had led to their financial difficulties and consequently their IVA, as well as describing how their daily lives had adjusted now that they are redressing their debts. Below are a series of video diaries reflecting on the different stages of living in an IVA. How we got…
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    Money Watch

  • Third Of Britons Carry PIN Reminder

    Rob Lewis
    14 May 2013 | 2:48 pm
    New research by the discount website www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk has revealed that the average Briton enters the PIN number of their main bank card at checkouts more than 1,000 times a year; despite this, 34% of Britons still carry a reminder of their PIN number on them at all times, either in their wallet, pocket, bag or on their phone. www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk polled a sample of 2,136 UK adults in a bid to discover more about their spending habits. The survey formed part of ongoing research into the financial situations of Britons and respondents of this poll were required to answer specific…

  • Card Fraud Down For Second Year In A Row

    Rob Lewis
    9 May 2013 | 3:53 pm
    Despite perceptions to the contrary, card fraud has fallen for the second year in a row, according to data released by the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). As you can see from the graph below, card fraud increased massively between 2005/06 to 2009/10, but since then has begun to drop back down: The CSEW data suggests that those most likely to be targeted by card fraud are males aged 45-54, with an annual household income of £50,000 or more. The chart below shows the percentage of card holders affected by fraud within each household income group. Via The Guardian.Card Fraud Down For…

  • Wikipedia Hits “Can Predict Stock Market Movements”

    Rob Lewis
    9 May 2013 | 3:15 pm
    A week or so a go we posted about a piece of research that suggested Google search volumes could predict stock market movements. Well, now the same team behind that study has published further research that suggests the number of views on a company’s Wikipedia page could also predict stock market changes. We present evidence in line with the intriguing suggestion that data on changes in how often financially related Wikipedia pages were viewed may have contained early signs of stock market moves. Our results suggest that online data may allow us to gain new insight into early…

  • Pageonce Renamed “Check”

    Rob Lewis
    7 May 2013 | 2:20 pm
    Account aggregator and bill payment app Pageonce has been renamed to “Check“. In a blog post on their website, CEO Guy Goldstein explained the rational behind the change: When we launched in 2008, Pageonce made sense because our focus was to give people a way to access all their online accounts (email, rewards, travel, etc.) from “one page.” Since then, we’ve evolved into a mobile app that focuses on personal finance – offering a unique way to stay on top of your bills & money while on-the-go. Given the evolution of our product, a new name was necessary. Despite the…

  • Online Banking: What To Do If It Goes Wrong

    Rob Lewis
    30 Apr 2013 | 2:55 pm
    There have been quite a few high profile cases of online banking going wrong over the last year, including the problems faced by RBS & Natwest and more recently Nationwide. In a lot of cases, losing access to your online banking accounts can be an annoyance more than anything, but there’s also a chance downtime at your bank could mean extra cost and inconvenience for you. lovemoney.com has posted a useful article on your rights when online and mobile banking goes wrong, including how to claim compensation and how to complain. They also have tips on switching your accounts to another…
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    Yes, I Am Cheap

  • Tracking the Journey of the Global Superwealthy Infographic

    Sandy Smith
    20 May 2013 | 10:35 am
    I’m the kind of person who avidly awaits the annual ranking of most wealthy individuals. I like to see how their net worth of the world’s wealthiest individuals fluctuate and just what made them so wealthy. While there are more than 29 million individuals worldwide with a net worth greater than $1M, there are 3.1 billion people with a net worth of less than $10,000. With a net worth just abut breaking even, I’m in the latter group. Today I’m sharing an infographic showcasing the wealth gap. Source: Road to Riches: Tracking the Journey of the Global Superwealthy Click…

  • Don’t Turn Old Bills Into Zombie Debt

    Sandy Smith
    15 May 2013 | 11:03 am
    The zombie apocalypse is real, and it’s eating your money. Well, it’s trying to anyway, and you might unknowingly be helping them. If you’ve every received a phone call or letter in the mail demanding payment for a debt that is years old, you might have unfortunately have zombies knocking at your door. Some debt collectors have a way of resurrecting debt that is so old that is might actually be outside of the statutes of limitations for collection. We call that zombie debt. A tactic that is often used is trying to reset the clock on an old debt. How do they do this? By…

  • Rectify Your Credit Score Through These Proactive Tips

    Sandy Smith
    9 May 2013 | 6:13 am
    One of the important things to learn about personal finance is how to avoid harmful credit. A good credit score can allow you to save more money and receive better offers on certain assets and items like homes. Bad credit can arise owing to a number of scenarios ranging from unemployment to health issues. In such a situation, repairing of credit should be your topmost priority. An initial way to start is with an authority in credit fix. In many cases, it may happen that there might be some incorrect entries or duplications. You would be amazed that this fix has worked for a number of people…

  • I Make Money Online: Blogging

    Sandy Smith
    7 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    I don’t know why I never thought abut writing this article because I do this every month, but one way that I make money online is by running this blog.  How much am I making?  On average I net about $1,000 each month but it has been higher than that as well.  I think that I made close to $3,000 during my best month.  You can make money blogging as well. First, let me be completely honest with you.  Everyone can have a blog, but not every blog can or will make you money.  That’s the truth that everyone selling you the dream of riches earned with your keyboard will not tell you. …

  • May 1 Debt Check In

    Sandy Smith
    3 May 2013 | 10:39 am
    It’s the beginning of the month and time to review my finances again.  Just a reminder, the entire reason why this blog exists is to chronicle my debt journey.  Since the very first post here, I have shared an embarrassing amount of personal financial information about myself on this blog.  It’s not because I’m a glutton for punishment, but because I believe in teaching through real examples.  I want to show that is it entirely possible to pay off a six-figure debt without filing bankruptcy, all while making a five figure wage. I’m still gloriously unemployed, but I’ve been…
 
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    Money Reasons

  • Am I Too Greedy In This Stock Market

    Money Reasons
    16 May 2013 | 7:55 pm
    We’re almost at the half way point of the year, and I have to wonder if I am too greedy in this stock market… One my goals this year was to increase my income by 50% more than I did last year.  I expected to increase my net worth with income from my online activities, but certain things haven’t panned out so instead I decided to focus my time and money on creating stock market gains. 401k Performance History I accomplished my goal, and then some.  In fact, I doubled my income from last year instead of just increasing it 50%.  That said, it would require me to sell all of…

  • Am I Focusing Too Hard On Investments?

    Money Reasons
    9 May 2013 | 9:31 am
    Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been focusing with laser-like intensity on the stock market… But I have to wonder if the extra time is worth it, or perhaps I am focusing too hard on investments!  It’s hard to draw a distinct line when it comes to making money. There is a rule called “Pareto principle” that basically states that with 20 percent of your effort, you encounter 80% of your results.  So basically the more time you put into a situation, the less results you encounter.  When you put in a more time with less results, that’s called…

  • Everything Goes Trash Night – Bizarro Christmas Year 3

    Money Reasons
    30 Apr 2013 | 6:56 pm
    Once a year, our community has a special trash night were we are allowed to get rid of everything except mattresses.  Last year, I wrote about my community’s trash night in an article called “Everything Goes Trash Night – Bizarro Christmas Year 2“  where this special day is almost like a holiday for my wife and I.  It’s a great opportunity to get rid of clutter! It’s the anti-thesis of Christmas where instead of receiving stuff, we get to toss stuff out!  Like last year, this year didn’t disappoint either!  We got rid of the following: Old, slightly…

  • Is A Millionaire Promise Wrong?

    Money Reasons
    24 Apr 2013 | 7:45 pm
    I promised to be a millionaire when I was very young!  Here is my millionaire promise story… My grandparents were in business, and in particular my grandmother was very business and finance oriented. As a young child (maybe 5 or 6 years old) I made a millionaire promise to my grandmother that someday in the future I would become a millionaire. She said surprised at my sudden “out of the blue” millionaire promise and said good and told me that she believe that I could do it if I tried hard enough. I remember her encouragement making me happy back then! rich kid My…

  • Investing Is Like A Skill Based Game

    Money Reasons
    17 Apr 2013 | 1:46 pm
    The more I think about it, the more it’s obvious that investing is like a skill-based game! Like any skill-based game, the more you think about and practice with it, the better you become (hopefully). I’m finding that in many ways investing is very similar to a game such as Risk, or even Chess.  Investing involves losing money as much as winning money. Much like skill-based games like Chess, you lose pieces, but sometimes you have great gains with one piece, and sometimes you hold onto that piece until the end of the game ends or at least for a long time. A lot of people lose…
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    WordPress.com News

  • Customizing Comet: Beau and Arrow Events

    Lauren Orsini
    20 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Who doesn’t love “Before and After” home improvement shots? It’s always amazing to see how just a couple of changes, like a coat of paint or a quick do-it-yourself project, can transform a living space dramatically. It’s no different when it comes to WordPress.com blog themes, in which a little customization can go a long way. Today let’s take a look at Beau and Arrow Events, a wedding inspiration blog run by Ellen and Kate, two San Diego-based event planners. You’d never know that this chic blogazine is running on Comet, one of our sparest themes. Here’s how the bloggers…

  • Freshly Pressed: Friday Faves

    Cheri Lucas Rowlands
    17 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    An ode to a father, a story of growing up with two mothers, a request for a cloak of visibility, and a reflection on goodbyes. Here are four Freshly Pressed standouts from this week — all quite personal pieces that have resonated with many readers. Go ahead and dive in: Why I Don’t Diet — An Ode to My Father My father spent his years fighting his size, wishing he was smaller, weaker, less of a giant. He was taught to hate his body, and he was ashamed of the amount of space he took up. But he passed his strength to me, and I won’t squander my inheritance. I will not let…

  • New Theme: Snap

    Nate Schaumburg
    16 May 2013 | 10:00 am
    Happy Theme Thursday! Sharing and managing your work online should be easy, and today I’m thrilled to announce a new theme from our friends at The Theme Foundry that helps you do just that! Snap is a responsive, lightweight, and minimalist theme that makes it easy to feature your projects. Snap’s clean grid based blog layout and configurable page templates also make it incredibly flexible. Snap: Home Page Read more about Snap in the Theme Showcase, or test drive it for yourself by going to Appearance → Themes in your Dashboard.

  • Widget Visibility and You

    Christopher Finke
    15 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    Since the dawn of time, humankind has yearned for control. While we can’t give you more control over most of your life, we can give you more control over your widgets. And today, with the new widget visibility tool, you can configure your widgets to be shown or hidden only on certain pages. Widgets are a way to add new content (like your Twitter stream, a tag cloud, or a link to your blog archives) in the sidebar, header, or footer of your site. To see the widgets you have available to you, log in to your WordPress.com dashboard and click on Appearance » Widgets. To add a widget,…

  • Websites for the Greater Good: Non-Profits on WordPress.com

    michelle w.
    14 May 2013 | 11:47 am
    All kinds of organizations make their home on WordPress.com: small businesses, municipalities, religious organizations, schools, community groups. We also provide an online HQ for quite a few non-profits, from the global to the hyperlocal. They turn to WordPress.com for an easy-to-use, low cost solution that gets them an effective web presence without diverting thousands of dollars from their missions: helping others. Here are just a few of the organizations that call WordPress.com home, and some of the ways they’ve used WordPress.com to create compelling sites that tell their stories…
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    Financial Woman

  • Finance for Women-Are You Kidding?

    Camille Gaines
    9 May 2013 | 8:56 am
    As millions of mothers in the United States celebrate Mother’s Day with their families this week, I thought it would be the perfect time to share some empowering life and money lessons from my mom who grew up at at a time when finance for women would have actually been a laughing matter . Having grown up on a remote farm in Arkansas with ten siblings during the Great Depression, she was a primary influence in me creating Financial Woman; she was a woman ahead of her time, being financially savvy and forever the queen of positive cash flow at a time when finance for women was completely…

  • Totally Fabulous Mother’s Day Gifts

    Camille Gaines
    7 May 2013 | 9:29 am
    Are you scrambling for ideas for your mother’s day gift?  Would you like to buy her a 3 carat diamond but it’s just not in your spending plan this year? Part of living rich is thinking creatively and beautifully within your long term money plans.  As a giver and a receiver of Mother’s Day gifts, I’ve learned that something that is unique and from the heart has much more value than something that is expensive. Here are 9 awesome ideas for Mother’s day gifts that are sure to be cherished! The post Totally Fabulous Mother’s Day Gifts appeared first on…

  • The Financial Woman Financial Freedom Checklist

    Camille Gaines
    4 May 2013 | 5:57 am
    For Saturday’s Savvy Rich Art, I created this Financial Freedom Checklist. What is Financial Freedom for you? Define it….then create it! The post The Financial Woman Financial Freedom Checklist appeared first on Financial Woman.

  • Ditch the The Psychology of Money

    Camille Gaines
    2 May 2013 | 10:25 am
    Why is it that money holds an emotional grip on us? It’s the psychology of money that sabotages us. I believe it’s because money affects our entire existence….where we live, how we live, what we do, what we wear, and even what we eat. Money provides our primary needs for food and shelter, so the thought of being without it hits us at our very core. How can we overcome this? Think of money as a tool. Money is made of paper and metal. Use those tools to create the life you want.  When it’s a tool, you make better money decisions. Ditch the psychology of money. And use…

  • Retirement Accounts: Shocking Truth Revealed!

    Camille Gaines
    1 May 2013 | 5:50 am
    This sounds crazy but a lot of retirement account investors don’t know how much money they have in their retirement accounts. It’s even more common to not know how their retirement account is performing. I think I know why, and I’ll share a shocking fact that may change this …. It’s funny that money is the only area where we let someone totally manage one of the very most important things in our lives but we don’t check to see if they’re doing a good job. And it sort of makes sense and here’s why… I get it; we’re all busy. And when the finances are going well and the…
 
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    Control Your Cash: Making Money Make Sense

  • Carnival Of Wealth, Turning the Corner Edition

    admin
    20 May 2013 | 4:39 am
     No, not that kind of turning the corner. (Sorry.) The incompetent submitters are dropping off, week by week. Even better, a new roster of outspoken ones continues to gradually supplant them. Who knows, within a few decades the Carnival of Wealth might be good from top to bottom. We could hit some rough spots today, but the road looks smoother than ever. Let’s begin: Newcomer Rob Aeschbach wins for most striking post title: Why You Should Be Doing Estate Planning at the DMV. And not just because you’ll have plenty of time on your hands. Rob regales us with a tale of…

  • Of Course You Should Take “No” For An Answer

    admin
    16 May 2013 | 4:14 am
    Dashing young men have all the advantages.Word association time.Self-help book. Go.68% of you said Napoleon Hill’s Think And Grow Rich, which is close enough to 100% for our purposes.It’s the classic of the genre, if not its progenitor. Even if you haven’t read it, you’ve subconsciously committed its most famous concepts to memory. Visualize your success. If you can conceive and believe, you can achieve. Don’t take no for an answer. Hill was writing bumper stickers and motivational posters before people had cars and cubicle walls to affix them to.This isn’t a book review, or at…

  • Carnival of Wealth, Findlay Toyota Are Filthy Cretins Edition

    admin
    13 May 2013 | 4:04 am
    Yes, the Antichrist makes an appearance on CYC this week. We can explain. That’s him, standing next to an felonious and unapologetic evil psychopath of a dog murderer. That’s Rich Abajian, general manager of Findlay Toyota, which is a dealership near CYC headquarters. Last week a CYC acquaintance – a septuagenarian lady – had occasion to involuntarily do business with them. This is what happened.The lady in question drives a 2002 Camry, which she keeps in impeccable condition and barely drives. Last week the check engine light came on.For those of you who…

  • The Control Your Cash Open-Book Quiz, Part I

    admin
    9 May 2013 | 4:08 am
    Today’s kids have atrocious posturePresenting the Control Your Cash Open-Book Quiz, complete with answers. For each of our next 3 posts (excluding Monday’s upcoming Carnival of Wealth), we’re going to put you in a fictional but plausible financial scenario. If you can figure out what steps you should take, then congratulations. You’ve got this stuff figured out and should be busy making deals instead of reading our site. This will make more sense once you read the 1st example: Your friend just came back from Hawai’i, and you can tell it made an impression on her because…

  • Carnival of Wealth, “Native American” Edition

    admin
    7 May 2013 | 11:41 am
    It must be that time of year again. The Washington Redskins are being criticized for their allegedly offensive nickname. “Why, we white (and to a lesser extent, other-colored) people who have appointed ourselves the arbiters of propriety find fault with this. Although it’s a literal description of pigmentation, ‘Redskin’ must change.”The arguments on either side of this issue are so entrenched that they barely need repeating, but here goes.Con: Any Indian-themed name is, by definition, offensive. I’m too stupid to draw a distinction between a college calling its teams the Hurons,…
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    Savings Scoop| Save, Make, Manage Money Better

  • Make Money Today With Ibotta

    Andrea
    6 May 2013 | 11:00 pm
        Make money today with Ibotta. Here’s how: Before shopping, choose your offers by completing tasks in the Ibotta Product Gallery. Choose your earning level for each product offer by completing as many tasks as you like such as reading a fact, answering a trivia question, watching a video, etc. Once you complete at least one task per product offer, the product offer is automatically added to your shopping list on the Ibotta app so you can earn money for purchasing the item. Choose Products  Before shopping, choose your products and complete the tasks. The more you complete,…

  • Free Sweetheart Frame, Lowes Build and Grow Clinic

    Andrea
    6 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
      Mother’s Day is right around the corner! This Sweetheart Frame makes the perfect gift!   From project basics to giving your child the opportunity to say, “I built it!” our Build and Grow kid’s clinics are a great way to help build confidence! Bring the kids into any Lowe’s store and build a FREE wooden project. Each participant also receives a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project.   Just sign up in advance for the free Lowe’s build and grow workshops, and parents must be present at the…

  • Simple Ways to Celebrate National Pet Week

    Andrea
    6 May 2013 | 4:45 pm
      •    When buying items for your pet use pet coupons it will save you money. •    Find a favorite spot in your house or yard and take pictures with your pet so you can create a scrapbook, Facebook page. •    Be sure to feed your pets food that’s good for their health •    Make sure your pet gets enough exercise. •    If you like pets but don’t have one volunteer at a local pet shelter to provide a pet in need some TLC. •    Take your pet to a local nursing home to give a little joy to the residents. •    Give your pet his/her favorite…

  • National Poetry Month 2013

    Andrea
    16 Apr 2013 | 8:45 am
        April is National Poetry Month if you are looking for something fun and free to do with the family that’s educational, and entertaining then spend a day or two learning about poetry. Poetry month started in 1996, by the Academy of American Poets; the reason we have a month that celebrates poetry is to introduce people to the pleasures of poetry, and highlight poets like Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Elizabeth Barrett Brown, and more remarkable poets. Poetry can be motivational, inspirational, and fun! It doesn’t matter how old or young you are anyone can enjoy reading or…

  • FDOS, Happy Vernal Equinox Day

    Andrea
    20 Mar 2013 | 7:00 am
      Hello Spring 2013 if you haven’t figured it out yet. Today is the vernal equinox ; meaning that it’s the first official day of spring. It’s time to open the windows, air out the house, pack up the sweaters, and break out the shorts because the days are longer, flowers are blooming, the birds chirping, and the bees are buzzing. So, roll up your sleeves and put on some gloves because it’s time to get your spring cleaning done. Go through your closets, cabinets, and anyplace that needs to be cleaned out, if you haven’t used anything in two years get rid of…
 
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    Smart Balance Transfers

  • Is A Shorter 0% APR Financing Offer Better With A Sign Up Bonus?

    Jason Steele
    20 May 2013 | 4:13 am
    When it comes to promotional balance transfer offers, applicants search for the longest terms possible. And while the CARD Act requires that these offers last a minimum of six months, the best offers currently on the market last as long as 18 months. Citi features both the Citi Simplicity® Card and Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card [...]

  • Get An Airline Credit Card That You Can Actually Use

    Jason Steele
    17 May 2013 | 4:10 am
    Nearly every airline offers a co-branded credit card that allows customers to earn frequent flier miles. But all mileage programs are not equal, and the value of their miles will vary from person to person. So how do credit card applicants choose the best card for their needs? Consider the following: 1. What airline will [...]

  • New Sapphire Preferred Benefit: Triple Points Dining Out On “First Fridays”

    Jason Steele
    15 May 2013 | 4:15 am
    Ever since it was introduced, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card has rocketed to the top of the reward credit card market. Chase Sapphire Preferred® has gained so many dedicated followers due to the strengths of the Ultimate Rewards program as well as the double points for dining and travel. But now, Chase has introduced its [...]

  • Ideas To Plan A Rewards Point Trip

    Jason Steele
    13 May 2013 | 4:10 am
    Banks offer dozens of reward credit cards, and it can be easy for cardholders to become overwhelmed when trying to plan a trip using their points or miles. In fact, how cardholders spend their rewards is nearly as important has how they earned them. Here are a few principles to consider when planing a vacation [...]

  • Should You Use Tax Returns To Pay Off Credit Cards?

    Jason Steele
    10 May 2013 | 4:15 am
    This April, millions of Americans will have received tax refund checks. But then the question remains, what is the best use of these funds? For those with credit card debt, it can be easy to simply sign the check over to the bank and eliminate some debt, but is that the best use of the [...]
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    Credit.com News + Advice

  • What You Need to Know About Being a Landlord

    Tom Anderson
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    It’s a good time to be an aspiring property baron. Mortgage rates are still hovering near record lows. And, for most parts of the country, it’s cheaper to purchase than rent, which means you can buy low and rent high. (Curious to see if your region is a hot rental market? Check out our map of the the best and worst places to be a landlord. The time is also ripe right now for would-be landlords because the recovery in the housing market is accelerating. Real estate research firm CoreLogic reports that nationwide home prices were up 10.5% year-over-year in March,…

  • How to Pick an IRA That’s Right for You

    Jane Young
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    One of the most common questions I hear from clients is whether they should invest in a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Let’s start with an understanding of the difference between the two. The biggest difference between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA is when you pay taxes.  I like to think of it as “pay me now or pay me later” and with the IRS, there is no free lunch. Generally, contributions to a traditional IRA are deductible in the year they are made, but you must pay regular income tax upon distribution.  Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible when…

  • 4 Steps to Help You Pay Off Your Student Loans

    Benjamin Feldman
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Student loan debt is a huge problem these days. The total amount of U.S. student loan debt has reached about $1 trillion and the average amount owed is $25,000. Surprisingly, the majority of student loan holders are over 30 years old — which means a lot of people (not just 20-somethings) are being limited by their student loan debt. For those reasons, many students who are graduating right now are rightly concerned about their own student loans and how they will pay them off. Does that include you? If so, don’t worry — I’m going to give you some steps you need to…

  • How to Kill Zombie Judgments on Your Credit Report

    Gerri Detweiler
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    A judgment can suck the life out of your credit scores for years and make it difficult, if not impossible, to rebuild your credit. So settling or paying off a judgment is crucial if you want to get your credit back on track. But what happens when you can’t? La Recia wrote on the Credit.com blog: Can a judgment be removed from my credit if the collection agency has gone out of business? They filed the judgment in 2008 and filed bankruptcy in 2012. They are no longer in business. Please Help!! And she’s not alone. Another reader, Jen, shared her dilemma: I have a judgment that was…

  • New Grads: Want a Job? Move!

    Credit.com
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Though many Americans are struggling financially even years after the end of the recent recession, one group that may be having particular difficulties in gaining the kind of independence they may need these days. Recent college graduates are often at a significant disadvantage when it comes to finding employment soon after they leave school, which in turn can make it far more difficult for them to achieve financial independence and even pay off the many obligations they may be carrying as a result of credit card bills, student loans and more, according to a report from the Federal…
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    Money Help For Christians

  • Announcing 2013 MH4C Writers Challenge: Get Paid to Write an Article

    Craig Ford
    16 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    As you know, I write all of the content on this blog. In 2012, I tried an experiment called the MH4C Writers Challenge.  I invited my readers to submit articles related of finances.  I took my 10 favorite articles and let you vote for your favorites.  I thought it was a lot of fun because I was able to give out $435 worth of prizes, expose you to some great writing, and I was able to take a month off writing. To be honest, sometimes I just feel the need to take break from the demands of coming up with new articles each and every week.  Since there will be a lot going on this summer, I…

  • The Crucial Difference Between Jesus’ Financial Teachings and the Rest of the New Testament

    Craig Ford
    14 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    One thing most Christians have down pat is the knowledge that the Old Testament and the New Testament are to be read and interpreted differently because they fall under different dispensations. Specifically in regards to finances, I think we may need to learn to read and interpret passages during the ministry of Jesus differently than passages during the establishment of the New Testament church. Finances and Jesus’ Ministry Jesus had a very temporary view of his ministry.  By the middle of the gospel of Mark, Jesus is clearly communicating that he has his eyes set on Jerusalem where…

  • How a Change in Your Grocery Shopping Strategy Can Save Time and Money

    Craig Ford
    9 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    For the last few months, my wife and I have been trying an experiment to see how the change would impact our bottom line with grocery shopping. Grocery Shopping Before the Strategy Change Step #1: My wife would make a menu and a grocery list. Step #2: My wife would make a weekly shopping trip to Walmart/Sam’s.  Walmart is the cheapest place for groceries because of price matching. The problem is that Wal-mart is 5 miles from our house, and Wal-mart is SO MASSIVE that it’s not a fun place to do grocery shopping. Less than a mile away from home is a Safeway grocery store.

  • The American Happiness Crisis: 6 Reasons Why We Aren’t Happy

    Craig Ford
    8 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Write a book about happiness, and you’ll find it difficult to keep those books in stock. Why? Americans want to be happy, but generally they aren’t.  As such, we seek for solutions to our lack of happiness.  We hunt for some sense of meaning.  We hope for a new invention or discovery to usher us into the state of happiness. The Declaration of Independence gives us permission to pursue happiness, but despite hundreds of years of pursuing it, too many people are coming up empty. Why? Why aren’t we happy? 1.  Happiness is a byproduct of a meaningful life. If we seek…

  • 5 Ways Combining Your Finances in Marriage Makes You Look Smarter Than Albert Einstein

    Craig Ford
    2 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    The early stages of marriages focus on leaving and cleaving. Leaving is the process whereby you put space between other bonds, relationships, commitments, and obligations.  Cleaving is the process whereby you connect to your spouse in a deeper level.  Cleaving can’t happen until the leaving has occurred. A vital part of the cleaving process is combining bank accounts after marriage.  God declares husband and wife as one entity.  Newly married couples should seek to be united in all aspects, including their finances.  If you decide not to combine your finances, there will likely be…
 
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    Centsible Life

  • May 20th Menu: 365 Day Meal Plan

    Kelly
    20 May 2013 | 7:05 am
    Well, hello! It’s been two weeks off of meal planning for our vacation, and it’s been fun to take a break from planning and cooking all our meals. Disney fed us well, and by far my favorite meals were spent eating and drinking my way around Epcot. As part of the Flower & Garden Festival there were stands set up with a variety of food and drinks at affordable prices. (Many under $5) Sadly this week is back to the real world and meal planning. Though realistically my waistline couldn’t handle much more vacation food! This weekend is a holiday weekend as well, so…

  • Gel Manicure: Worth the cost?

    Kelly
    17 May 2013 | 3:21 pm
    Gel manicures are extremely popular, and when I asked friends and readers all were eager to share the benefits of the process. Many claimed it lasted two to three weeks, and nearly everyone agree the gel or shellac finish meant that chipping was minimal. Most friends I spoke to said it wasn’t worth it all the time, but that for special events or vacations gel or shellac manicures far outlast regular manicures. To start let’s talk nail care. I don’t regularly get manicures and pedicures because the cost is prohibitive. I didn’t even have my first mani/pedi until my…

  • Disney Social Media Moms: Day One

    Kelly
    10 May 2013 | 10:57 am
    Yesterday was a truly magical day. I’ll share more about how we surprised the kids soon, but they were BEYOND thrilled that we were in the car before they knew that we were heading to DisneyWorld. After spending a night in a hotel near the airport Wednesday night the kids went down to breakfast and were shocked to find their Nana and Poppy waiting for them! We arrived early in the morning at DisneyWorld on Thursday morning, check into the hotel and the conference, took a peek at our AMAZING rooms, and then headed out to the parks. We rode some amazing rides, we ate some amazing food,…

  • A Magical Blog Break

    Kelly
    8 May 2013 | 7:31 pm
    We are in Orlando, Florida for a magical time. While I’ll be sharing some via twitter, Facebook, and Instagram –content on the blog will slow down as I take time to attend a conference and have a much-needed family vacation. I was invited to attend Disney Social Media Moms conference (you can follow the fun on twitter using #DisneySMMoms), and I am thrilled that we were not only able to bring the whole family as well as my parents, but we’re also extending our stay through next week! I can’t wait to share the magic with you, and what tips and tricks we learn on our…

  • DIY Mother’s Day Gift: Napkin Weights

    Tonya Staab
    7 May 2013 | 8:05 am
    Summer is just around the corner, and Mother’s Day is even closer. Now that the sun is shining and daylight saving has extended our daylight past dinnertime, we are spending more and more time outdoors. Which means that I’m adding fun pieces to our outdoor entertaining and picnic supplies. So Dad, are you planning on making handmade Mother’s Day cards with the kids? Well, I’m going to show you how to make a simple, practical craft project with them too that mum is sure to love. These aren’t just napkin weights though, they can be used as a paperweight, and on the…
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    The Daily Reckoning

  • The American Story… Abroad

    Chris Mayer
    20 May 2013 | 3:09 pm
    In 1881, Dakota Territory had never sold a bushel of wheat to anybody outside of Dakota. Six years later, it sold 62 million bushels. What happened? I recently read Garet Garrett’s The American Story, which came out in 1955. It is a well-written history of America — unusual because of its emphasis on the powerful economics that drove the country to great heights. Garrett tells the Dakota story in this book, which is a useful reminder about how economies grow and prosper. What happened in Dakota was that farmers invested in machinery. The riding plow, the reaper and the combine…

  • The Market That’s Ready to Go “Viral”

    Patrick Cox
    20 May 2013 | 2:49 pm
    Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin is reported to have once said, “The death of one man is a tragedy, but the death of millions is a statistic.” Human psychology being what it is, we are shocked and appalled by the unusual, but we become habituated to what’s common, even if it’s something very bad. In few places is this as true as in our reaction to disease. Something that regularly kills a great many people usually doesn’t elicit much of an emotional response. One good example is influenza. We tend to think of influenza, also known as “the flu,” as a…

  • Money Debauchery Continues

    Douglas French
    20 May 2013 | 11:04 am
    I was a small child when America’s coinage began to be debased in 1965. My dad was a coin collector who fastidiously filled blue coin books with old coins. I remember being especially intrigued by the 1943 steel penny. During World War II, my dad explained, the country was short on copper, and the Mint used steel to make pennies instead. Actually, it turns out it was zinc-coated steel. Wikipedia tells us that the steel cent is the only coinage that can be picked up with a magnet. Not exactly a requirement for a good money. It is also the only coin in circulation that didn’t contain any…

  • One Of The Best Bull Markets In The World — Mongolia Is A “Buy”

    Chris Mayer
    20 May 2013 | 10:23 am
    Find the best bull markets in the world. Get in early. Buy the best assets. Ignore the volatility. And enjoy the ride. That was the basic formula Harris Kupperman, CEO of Mongolia Growth Group (MNGGF), presented at the Value Investing Congress in Las Vegas. Below are some notes from his inspiring presentation… Harris suggested that the best places to find ideas are in assets not yet “financialized.” By this, he means assets for which there is no ready public market. No easy way to invest. An example would be farmland in 2004. In 2004, Harris saw a big opportunity in farmland. The…

  • Silver’s Next Leg Lower Starts Now

    Greg Guenthner
    20 May 2013 | 8:14 am
    For a few short minutes Sunday evening, a bit of chaos roiled the futures markets. Silver tanked at the open, dropping as much as 8% to a low of $20.25 before recovering later in the evening. Price continues to fight higher this morning. As I type, silver is off by almost 3%, while gold is only slightly in the red… Here’s a real-time look: Not a bad comeback from the overnight lows. But the damage is done (again). This move marks the beginning of silver’s next leg lower. So here we are. Silver is dropping to September 2010 lows. And its ratio to gold is the highest it has been in 33…
 
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    Canadian Finance Blog

  • The Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) Explained

    Tom Drake
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    The Universal Child Care Benefit, or UCCB, is a $100 taxable monthly payment to help with the cost of raising children under six years old. This can be a great way to receive a little extra cash each month, and since you are entitled to it, it can be worth it to take advantage. Who is Eligible for the UCCB? To be eligible for the Universal Child Care Benefit, you must be the primary care giver of a child under the age of six and a resident of Canada. If you already receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) then you are automatically set to receive the UCCB. “Primary caregiver”…

  • Friday Links

    Tom Drake
    17 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    This week the Canadian Personal Finance Blog addressed the question, How Do I Retire at 35? Financial Highway discussed in-depth how Peer to Peer Lending Worked for Me.  Could it then work for you? Feeling a little unsure about your finances?  Retire Happy shared Six Steps to Avoid Being a Money Moron. It’s nearly vacation season and thankfully Million Dollar Journey listed out 6 Ways to Save Money on Your Disney World Vacation. This week Rob Carrick of the Globe and Mail wanted to know, Would You Be Better Off Financially Renting or Buying a Home? Interested in socially responsible…

  • How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Child?

    Tom Drake
    16 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    When my wife and I first decided to have a baby, the first financial thought that came into my head was this: How much will it cost to raise a child? Looking online, I found a lot of simple answers. Some estimates even put the cost at as much as $300,000 over the course of raising them from birth to 18 years old. Many of the answers I read didn’t seem detailed enough, though. It’s one thing to claim that raising a child costs $300,000, but that number doesn’t truly reflect how it will fit your personal situation. Some of the issues not addressed in these types of estimates…

  • Do you DIY or Pay for Help?

    Alan Schram
    15 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    When you’re thinking about doing home repair, renovation, or improvements, budget is usually at the top of the list. We all have dreams of what our house could look like – someday, if only we had the money. Money, however, is often the biggest detriment to our hopes and dreams. It would be nice to add a third story to our house, or dig out the basement. Too bad it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so. Naturally, the next step we take is to find ways to cut back on our dreams. Compromise a little on the finishes, maybe, or save up for another year or two in order to…

  • How to Buy Stocks: A Beginner’s Guide to Buying Stocks

    Tom Drake
    14 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    One of the unfortunate truths is that many people make investing far more complicated than it needs to be. It’s common to treat investing as a mystery that can only be penetrated by those with special insight and knowledge. However, buying stocks doesn’t have to a complex process. Just about anyone can learn how to buy stocks with a little time and effort. Getting Started The first step is to open a brokerage account. It’s true that you need a broker in order to buy stocks. However, you don’t need to call someone on the phone, or become engaged in a complicated…
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    Credit.com News + Advice

  • What You Need to Know About Being a Landlord

    Tom Anderson
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    It’s a good time to be an aspiring property baron. Mortgage rates are still hovering near record lows. And, for most parts of the country, it’s cheaper to purchase than rent, which means you can buy low and rent high. (Curious to see if your region is a hot rental market? Check out our map of the the best and worst places to be a landlord. The time is also ripe right now for would-be landlords because the recovery in the housing market is accelerating. Real estate research firm CoreLogic reports that nationwide home prices were up 10.5% year-over-year in March,…

  • How to Pick an IRA That’s Right for You

    Jane Young
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    One of the most common questions I hear from clients is whether they should invest in a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Let’s start with an understanding of the difference between the two. The biggest difference between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA is when you pay taxes.  I like to think of it as “pay me now or pay me later” and with the IRS, there is no free lunch. Generally, contributions to a traditional IRA are deductible in the year they are made, but you must pay regular income tax upon distribution.  Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible when…

  • 4 Steps to Help You Pay Off Your Student Loans

    Benjamin Feldman
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Student loan debt is a huge problem these days. The total amount of U.S. student loan debt has reached about $1 trillion and the average amount owed is $25,000. Surprisingly, the majority of student loan holders are over 30 years old — which means a lot of people (not just 20-somethings) are being limited by their student loan debt. For those reasons, many students who are graduating right now are rightly concerned about their own student loans and how they will pay them off. Does that include you? If so, don’t worry — I’m going to give you some steps you need to…

  • How to Kill Zombie Judgments on Your Credit Report

    Gerri Detweiler
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    A judgment can suck the life out of your credit scores for years and make it difficult, if not impossible, to rebuild your credit. So settling or paying off a judgment is crucial if you want to get your credit back on track. But what happens when you can’t? La Recia wrote on the Credit.com blog: Can a judgment be removed from my credit if the collection agency has gone out of business? They filed the judgment in 2008 and filed bankruptcy in 2012. They are no longer in business. Please Help!! And she’s not alone. Another reader, Jen, shared her dilemma: I have a judgment that was…

  • New Grads: Want a Job? Move!

    Credit.com
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Though many Americans are struggling financially even years after the end of the recent recession, one group that may be having particular difficulties in gaining the kind of independence they may need these days. Recent college graduates are often at a significant disadvantage when it comes to finding employment soon after they leave school, which in turn can make it far more difficult for them to achieve financial independence and even pay off the many obligations they may be carrying as a result of credit card bills, student loans and more, according to a report from the Federal…
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    The Dividend Guy Blog

  • Can Disney’s Wonderful Realm Please Investors As Well as My Kids?

    Mike
    20 May 2013 | 5:01 am
        Following my analysis on Mattel (MAT) and Hasbro (HAS) from last week, I’m closing this toy stock series with the most famous company in the eyes of children: The Walt Disney Company (DIS).   Note: The stock is currently showing a dividend yield of 1.14%. This definitely does not fit my Dividend Growth Investing Model. But the company has recently started to increase its dividend and it makes a great comparison to Mattel and Hasbro who are pretty much alone in the toy industry paying distributions over 3%.   Disney (DIS) Business Description:   If you have been…

  • Dividend Link Time

    MD
    17 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    I hope you all have a great long weekend! Any plans? 1. Building Wealth Through Dividend Investing @ Dividend Ladder. 2. International Allocation through Conglomerates @ The Passive Income Earner. 3. Reinvesting Dividends @ DGSI. 4. Is Coca-Cola the perfect dividend paying stock? @ My Own Advisor. 5. What advice I would give my 23 year old self @ Retire by 40. 6. Rackspace (RAX)… Buy, Sell or Hold? @ IS. 7. One Year Older, One Year Closer @ Dividend Mantra. 8. T. Rowe Price Group Inc. (TROW) Dividend Stock Analysis @ DGS. 9. Time To Bust Some Financial Myths @ Financial…

  • Hasbro – Made For Fun? or Getting Tired of the Same Toys?

    Mike
    16 May 2013 | 4:21 am
        On Monday, we looked at the toy industry with Mattel (MAT). Following up on this series, we will check out another important player in the industry; Hasbro (HAS). While Mattel is part of my Best Dividend Stocks for 2013, Hasbro was part of my selection for 2012. The company has been up by 32.34% this year and was up by another 12.57% for 2012. After a gain of almost 50% in 17 months, is there any more room for profit of have you missed the train?   Hasbro (HAS) Business Description:   Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children and family entertainment. It is mostly known…

  • Let’s Play With Mattel (MAT), Are We Going to Have Fun?

    Mike
    13 May 2013 | 2:00 am
        The month of May is starting out strong on the stock market as most investors are patiently waiting for a correction. Since it’s spring time and we are all looking to spend more time  playing outside, I thought of doing a small analysis series of toys & entertainment dividend stocks. Today we start with Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT), a stock showing a year-to-date return of +23.84% as at Monday May 6th before the market opening. This stock has been selected at the beginning of the year to be part of my book of The Best 2013 Dividend Stocks.   Mattel (MAT) Business…

  • Dividend Links

    MD
    10 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    What did you miss from the past week? 1. Updating My Dividend Watchlist @ MJTM. 2. Have You Put Your Chips On The Web Ecosystems Yet? @ IS. 3. Asset Allocation – Retirement Ready Part 2 @ The Passive Income Earner. 4. Portfolio in Action: Purchased Lorillard Shares @ DGSI. 5. Dividend Income Update – April 2013 @ Dividend Mantra. 6. Pay For College With Dividend Income @ Dividend Ladder. 7. hhgregg Management Rips Off Shareholders @ Barel Karsan. 8. The Most Common Excuses For Not Launching Destroyed @ SFN. 9. Nike, Inc. (NKE) Dividend Stock Analysis @ DGS.
 
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    Steadfast Finances

  • How to Drastically Reduce Your Spending

    CJ
    8 May 2013 | 7:38 am
    In this poor economy, many people find themselves having to drastically reduce their spending in order to make ends meet. However, there are a lot of people who leave things hanging in the balance for too long. Then their only options are to have cereal for dinner and steal loo paper from the company’s bathroom. Clearly, you have decided that you’d rather not be one of these people. However, you have come to recognise that your finances are not as healthy as they once were, and the only option left to you is to cut your spending. Assuming your situation is not teetering on the edge of…

  • Making Plans for Retirement

    CJ
    28 Mar 2013 | 2:55 pm
    If you are planning to retire within the next few years, it is important that you make plans for your retirement. Having a set plan ahead of time will help you out in the long run, especially because if you do not have many saved and things prepared, you may end up struggling to keep up with the cost of living upon retiring from the workforce. There are many ways for you to begin planning for your retirement, and remember that the sooner you start to save money, the more money you will have in the future when you need it the most. Keep a Savings Account If you have not already done so, open a…

  • Six More Tips to Put You on the Road to Riches

    Dominique Brown
    4 Mar 2013 | 3:00 am
    Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s greatest minds, wrote what can be best described as America’s first book on personal finance: “The Way to Wealth.” Many argue that it is the best book ever written on personal finance, and I agree that it contains priceless wisdom on the subject. One of my favorite quotes is, “If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.” Therefore, it is with a great deal of modesty that I offer you six more tips on building wealth. 1        Get Financially Literate Not every wealthy individual has an MBA. In fact, many of the…

  • Ways to Ruin Your Finances

    CJ
    2 Mar 2013 | 1:00 pm
    No one is perfect with managing their money, but some people are worse than others. In my days, I’ve seen some pretty stupid stuff. I’m not saying that I don’t expect people to make mistakes, but there’s a difference between learning from your mistakes and not. If you are looking to improve your financial situation, one of the best ways that you can do something about it is to learn what NOT to do. The path to financial success is sometimes learning to avoid certain mistakes. Here are a number of things you should not do. Bury Yourself in Debt Regardless of whether it…

  • Top 3 Mistakes that Will Destroy Your Credit

    Dominique Brown
    25 Feb 2013 | 3:00 am
    Most people do not know the importance of credit until it is too late and their credit is destroyed. Credit is such a difficult thing to build up, but it can be destroyed in an instant. This is why it is always good to exercise caution with your spending and credit lines. If you have never learned about credit, however, you are certainly not aware of how your actions today can affect you tomorrow. You may not know anything is wrong until you go to buy a car or a home and find that you are rejected because of a low credit rating. Don’t let this happen to you. By avoiding these mistakes in…
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    Fiscal Fizzle

  • When to Pull Out of the Market

    Wojciech Kulicki
    8 May 2013 | 9:45 am
    You may have heard that the Dow, an old and reliable measure of stock market performance, recently surpassed 15,000 for the first time in history. The media is making a big deal each time we hit one of these milestones, and it’s generating a lot of water cooler talk and frenzy among the most novice of investors. As a result, I decided it was prime time for a frank discussion about getting out of the market. There are a few “truths” about the stock market, or so we’re lead to believe. Truth #1 is that the majority of people (a.k.a. “the herd”) buy stocks…

  • 4 Years of Fiscal Fizzle

    Wojciech Kulicki
    17 Apr 2013 | 7:09 am
    The first post on Fiscal Fizzle was published on February 1, 2009. In four years, the personal finance space in the blogosphere has changed considerably, expanding from a few hundred blogs to literally thousands with more starting up every day. I feel privileged to have been part of the growth of this space and see so many people get interested in personal finance and start sharing their stories and their knowledge. As Fiscal Fizzle moves into its fifth year, 2013 has thus far been a quiet year on the blog. Behind the scenes, our family was busy welcoming our second child into the world,…

  • Keeping Your Focus in Economic Recovery

    Wojciech Kulicki
    25 Mar 2013 | 8:45 am
    This post originally ran on the blog in 2009, when it seemed recovery was around the corner. Nearly 4 years later, recovery is still slow in coming, particularly in my sector of the economy, but we’re seeing positive signs everywhere, including the housing market. I wanted to revisit some of the principles that I published because they will become more and more important the faster we begin to recover out of the recession.  A lot of people are talking about recovery–you can feel the buzz in the air, and the excitement of many of us who have felt the pressure of the economy take a…

  • Seasons

    Wojciech Kulicki
    5 Mar 2013 | 9:23 am
    If you’re shooting for consistency in your financial plan, you are bound to be disappointed. Instead, I try to find a sense of balance between different seasons, seasons that can vary widely at times from incredible highs to incredible lows. For starters, there are times of flat growth or stagnation, times of accelerated growth, and times of spending. When we moved in with my in-laws more than a year ago, it was the start of a new season–an opportunity to greatly increase our resources. When we had a new baby and bought a house within the last two months, it was another season…

  • Adaptu Alternatives

    Wojciech Kulicki
    1 Feb 2013 | 11:30 am
    Over the years, I’ve heard more good things about Adaptu from readers than I did about almost any other software or tool out there. It seemed that people who used it really liked it. It was their partnership with Man vs. Debt during his RV tour around the country that initially got me turned onto them, and I could see what the buzz was about, though I never fully migrated over to the system. At its core, Adaptu was a financial aggregator–one of perhaps hundreds that exist on the Web. All perform the same core functions–pulling all of your financial accounts and data…
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    Money Problems Money Solutions

  • Who’s At Risk Of Needing Debt Relief?

    Moneyproblems Answers
    7 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    If you have more debt than you should, you’re not alone. Four in ten Canadians report they carry credit card debt and a quarter of Canadians have an outstanding balance on their line of credit. Who is at risk of having to seek professional debt relief solutions like credit counselling or bankruptcy to deal with their debt problems? The truth is that debt problems affects Canadians from all walks of life – all ages, all income brackets, married or single, working, retired or unemployed. A recent study by Hoyes, Michalos & Associates, Joe Debtor: Who Is He? Who Is At Risk? revealed…

  • How Much Debt Will Your Coffee Pay Off?

    Moneyproblems Answers
    2 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Canadians love their coffee. According to the Coffee Association of Canada the average Canadian coffee drinker consumes approximately 2.8 cups of coffee per day or almost 20 cups per week. Of that coffee, 40% is consumed outside the home. That’s a lot of coffee being purchased ‘on-the-go’. If you are carrying debt you would like to repay, what is the ‘opportunity cost’ of buying your coffee to go rather than using that same money to pay off your debt? To figure that out let’s continue with our average coffee drinker. And because this is Canada, we’ll…

  • When Line Of Credit Debt Turns Bad

    Moneyproblems Answers
    25 Apr 2013 | 5:45 am
    Personal Lines of Credit (LOC) have become increasingly popular in recent years. The financial industry has sold the allure of instant access to ‘affordable’ credit to fund large purchases, unexpected expenses, home renovations – whatever we wanted to purchase but could not afford today. The success of this product has been nothing short of amazing. Growth has outstripped credit card debt by more than 5 times over the past ten years. That’s good right? Unfortunately, no.  Like with credit card debt, consumers have all too often over-used line of credit debt, finding…

  • Credit Card Debt: Nature or Nuture

    Sharon Hoyes
    4 Apr 2013 | 5:00 am
    Let’s face it, credit card debt is almost the norm today. We are accustomed to using credit cards as part of our every day life. When used wisely, the benefits of credit cards are very appealing – they are easier to carry than cash, can help us build up our credit rating and offer rewards we desire. But the very nature of credit cards, combined with our own spending habits, can lead to serious debt problems. Causes of Credit Card Debt Sometimes the causes of debt are beyond your control. Debts due to divorce, job loss, income reduction, or illness are all too real and are…

  • Debt Mistakes. A Learning Opportunity

    Sharon Hoyes
    28 Mar 2013 | 7:53 am
    “Good judgement comes from experience, a lot of which comes from bad judgement”. We all know too much debt is not a good thing, but debt management is not necessarily a skill we all possess. It’s not like you set out with the objective of borrowing more than you could afford. Debt slowly creeps up on you while you are focused elsewhere, whether making ends meet, dealing with a marital breakdown or other family crisis. The good news is we can all learn from our past mistakes, using them as an opportunity to make changes, improve and move forward. The key is not too look at…
 
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    JoeTaxpayer

  • An Overdrafted Roundup

    Joe
    19 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Let’s start this week with My Retirement Blog’s U.S Retirement System a Success. To be fair, Andy doesn’t quite agree with the title, but was referencing a paper put out by the Investment Company Institute (ICI). I’ll be reading the paper and writing my own take on it later this week. Now that she’s finished her Walk For Hunger (congrats for passing $2000 raised, and your team for $5,000+!!) Stephanie is asking herself, “Was my Traditional to Roth IRA conversion a mistake?” You see, she did fine projecting her tax bracket, but the extra income negated…

  • A Series of Unfortunate Events

    Joe
    18 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Just as one issue starts to be put behind us, it seems another comes to take its place. Unfortunate events, indeed.

  • Frugal Friday Week 40

    Joe
    17 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    In Week 37, I shared how I planned to dump my Verizon land line and move to Comcast’s Voice service. So far, that’s not happened. So this week, it’s a Dear Comcast Letter - Dear Comcast, At first it seemed simple. I called and your sales guy told me $14 would get me Comcast Voice. I agreed, and a few days after, a technician came. Nice guy, set up the VOIP modem, dial tone, but my phone number wasn’t ported from Verizon. I could dial out, but calls wouldn’t come in. He moved the wire back to the Verizon copper, spent some time with your customer service, and told…

  • Save or Pay Off Debt?

    Joe
    16 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    If you read enough different Personal Finance blogs, you find that there are a number of popular recurring themes. Ways to save on various purchases, how to plan for retirement, etc. The one that’s been haunting me lately is, as the title today says, saving vs paying off debt. There are some obvious choices to be made, such as paying down an 18% credit card or putting that money in the bank to earn .01% interest. (Uh, if it wasn’t obvious, pay the damned card!) But, then there’s the grey area where the debate really has no conclusion, no right or wrong, just what’s…

  • How To Save and Invest Money For College

    Joe
    14 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    This article was written by Gary Dek, a finance blogger who writes about making money, investing, budgeting, career and education planning, credit and debt, and real estate at Gajizmo.com. Gary previously worked for an internet company on their M&A team, as well as investment banking and private equity firms in California. He graduated USC with a degree in financial analysis, valuation and entrepreneurship. The competition for college scholarships and grants is fierce and even students with excellent grades are no longer guaranteed to receive academic and need-based financial assistance…
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    Financial Samurai

  • Documents Needed When Renting An Apartment

    Financial Samurai
    20 May 2013 | 3:48 am
    After two years, my beloved tenant is leaving me for another man. My tenant is a single woman in her 50s who sold her house on the east coast to start a new life in San Francisco. She’s always wondered what the west coast fuss was all about so she decided to see for herself. After a year of work, she met someone and is now moving in with him. I’m so sad to see my tenant go as she’s been wonderful. Yet, I’m so happy she’s found new love! I don’t know what it is about my rental property but every single tenant ends up marrying or finding someone special. Good…

  • How To Avoid An Audit Based On Discrimination By The IRS

    Financial Samurai
    17 May 2013 | 1:48 pm
    It should come as NO surprise to long time Financial Samurai readers that the IRS admitted to targeting conservative groups since Obama became President. The government already discriminates against those who make over a certain amount by charging higher taxes even though they already pay for the majority of all taxes. Meanwhile, the deductions and credits you get for things such as education and children get eliminated if you make over an absurdly low amount. Conducting body cavity searches to shake more tax dollars out of Republicans is business as usual. Make no mistake that if a…

  • The Virtual Currency World Of Investing With Olim Dives

    Financial Samurai
    16 May 2013 | 3:38 am
    When I first began investing in college with the money I earned from odd jobs in high school, I had no idea what I was doing. Online investing was a new concept back in 1997 and I couldn’t believe I could randomly press some buttons to buy and sell stocks. I was hooked and would purposefully arrange my college classes around market hours to get in some feverish trades. What took exhaustive summers of working minimum wage jobs to save what little money I had quickly got wiped out making ill-advised trades. One time I bought a software company named Macromedia which I thought was a bank.

  • The Truly Best Jobs In The World

    Financial Samurai
    14 May 2013 | 4:18 am
    Money, sex, power, love, faith and family. What more do you need to live a happy life? I’ve read a number of very uninspiring “Best Jobs” articles by career think tanks and I’ve decided to write my own. I really don’t know what some of these publications are thinking. It’s as if the best jobs on their list are all their top advertisement clients or something. Actuary, audiologist, and dental hygienist are considered three of the best jobs according to a company called Career Path. Who? No wonder why the majority of people hate their jobs if these are…
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    Automatic Finances

  • Is There A Manufacturing Skills Gap?

    Fred Siegmund
    14 May 2013 | 2:42 pm
    President Carter’s domestic policy advisor, Stuart Eizenstat, and Robert Lerman, an Urban Institute Fellow, claim there is a skills gap in manufacturing that threatens America’s manufacturing comeback (“Bring back the apprentice”, Washington Post, May 5, 2013). Readers are asked to accept a citation from an unnamed survey that claims 600,000 jobs go unfilled because the skills gap is real and America needs an apprenticeship program. The authors worry that “[we] are at risk of squandering this historic opportunity – mainly because firms interested in investing in the United States…

  • The New Minimum Wage Proposal

    Fred Siegmund
    24 Apr 2013 | 8:15 am
    The Obama Administration recently proposed an increase in the minimum wage to $9.00 an hour. The current minimum continues at $7.25 an hour where it has been since July 24th 2009, the date of the last of three planned increases passed by Congress. The proposed increase is a little over 24 percent over the three years from 2009 to 2012, more than inflation but still hardly a self-supporting wage. At $9.00 an hour per full-time employee, the increase converts $3,640 [$1.75 x 2,080] of profit to cost per full-time minimum wage employee. To employers of low-wage jobs like ushers, lobby…

  • Flaws in the American Health Care System

    Fred Siegmund
    25 Mar 2013 | 8:50 am
    Recently, the Obama Administration announced the time has arrived to appoint health care experts to an Independent Payment Advisory Board as part of its duties under the Affordable Care Act. The legislation gives the advisory board authority to change Medicare reimbursements for doctors and determine new ways to deliver quality health care. However, the flaws in health care go much deeper than reimbursements. One of the flaws the advisory board cannot address with reimbursements comes because physician services operate as a separate component of the health care industry. Some of America’s…

  • Does Cutting Unemployment Benefits Increase the Supply of Labor?

    Fred Siegmund
    28 Feb 2013 | 1:57 pm
    A Washington Post article (“N.C. looks to cut jobless benefits“ 2/13/13) describes cuts in unemployment benefits as a drastic proposal from North Carolina lawmakers. Under the new plan, benefits would drop from 26 weeks to 20 and the maximum benefits from $535 a week to $350. The governor believes they have little choice because they have a budget crisis. But the quotations from business supporters give another reason: cuts are needed to improve the economic climate and rebuild unemployment insurance funds. Lew Ebert, the president of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, told…

  • In Virginia, the Sky is Falling

    Fred Siegmund
    20 Feb 2013 | 9:27 am
    In the Chicken Little folk tale, Chicken Little and his friends Henny Penny, Lucky Ducky and Foxey Loxey becomes hysterical when they all agree the sky is falling. In Virginia, delegate Robert G. Marshall believes the Federal Reserve Bank will bring financial hysteria with hyperinflation like Germany after WWI. He wants to protect Virginians by having a new Virginia currency. He got the Virginia legislature to allocate $17,440 to study a metallic-based currency for Virginia. He was quoted as saying, “This is a serious study about a serious topic. We’re not completely powerless.” Every…
 
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    Saving Money Today

  • 10 Ways To Cut On Energy Costs At Home

    Mike
    14 May 2013 | 5:10 am
    When it comes to reducing energy costs, little gestures can go a long way. By apply these 10 simple tricks at home, you will shrink your energy bill, all the while doing something good for the planet! 1. Fight the Phantom Load! You probably think that your TV, DVD, computer, microwave and other appliances use electricity only when you are using them. Well, it is wrong: The phantom load, or standby charge, is the amount of electricity used by appliances when they are plugged, regardless of if they are used or not. You’d be surprised by how much energy phantom loads represent. Try and unplug…

  • Saving in the City: Ways to Lower Mortgage Costs in an Urban Area

    Mike
    9 Apr 2013 | 6:08 pm
    When the economy takes a nosedive and the unemployment rate remains at all-time highs, homeowners begin to scramble to look for real ways to lower their mortgage costs. Before refinancing a home, homeowners often search for other avenues of cash to help with mortgage cost such as increasing savings, applying for loans, or pursuing a second job. These can be especially difficult for home owners who reside in large cities and other urban environments as demand for low interest loans and competition for available job vacancies are high. Mortgage holders in a city or section of a city are often…

  • Comparing Business Broadband Packages

    Mike
    24 Jan 2013 | 6:21 pm
    If you need to upgrade your broadband to a faster/better business package you might be wondering where to start looking. There are now so many telecoms companies on the market, all claiming to provide super-fast speeds and excellent value for money. Many providers like to bamboozle customers with obscure jargon and a barrage of numbers, so if you want to make an informed business broadband comparison, it’s a good idea to do your homework first. The most basic broadband packages usually offer an asymmetric digital subscriber line connection, or ADSL for short. This type of service is…

  • What is PMI?

    Mike
    18 Dec 2012 | 6:34 pm
    If you’re shopping for a house as a first time homebuyer you probably can’t afford to put down 20 percent of the sale price as a down payment.  That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to secure a mortgage or buy a home, but it does mean you’ll likely be required to pay private mortgage insurance. PMI is a type of protection for the lender in case you default on the loan and the home ends up going into foreclosure.  The charge can vary depending on how much you are borrowing and how much you are putting down, but generally PMI costs somewhere between $50 and $150 per month. Typically…

  • Should You Use a Realtor or Sell Your Home Yourself?

    Mike
    27 Nov 2012 | 7:49 pm
    When you’re selling your home you want to try and get as much money as possible.  You also want to minimize your expenses, which means you may be tempted to sell your home without the aid of a realtor and his 6 percent commission.  After all, if the house sells for $300,000 giving up $18,000 in realtor commissions can feel like a kick in the butt. Nevertheless, the decision to exclude an experienced realtor should not be taken lightly.  Personally, when we put our house on the market, we wanted to time the transaction so we could move over the summer because we didn’t want to pull the…
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    Personal Finance Blog

  • Building Up Your Savings Accounts

    Sherry Tingley
    6 May 2013 | 1:47 pm
    Save For Rainy Days Every year a survey called the Financial Literacy Survey, questions about 2,000 adults that are over 18 years of age. Results from this year indicate that building a savings account is the one area of improvement that people need to make. About two in five people say that their emergency savings account is something they are constantly worried about. The same amount of people are worried about not having enough money set aside for retirement. So how can you save more money? Give Up A Bad Habit People enjoy habits because they make life easier and require less thought. It…

  • Achieving A Financially Successful Life

    Sherry Tingley
    19 Apr 2013 | 4:36 pm
    One of the basic foundations for building and maintaining a successful financial life focuses on using regular income to provide you with a basic lifestyle and money in savings to meet emergencies. This may take years to accomplish, but proves to be the foundation of financial success. Good Cash and Credit Management Practices Managing cash and credit is a skill that can be beneficial for a lifetime. People sometimes fail to realize that credit card companies are in the business of making money off people who can’t do basic math or don’t project into the future how much their…

  • 5 Lifetime Financial Objectives

    Sherry Tingley
    2 Apr 2013 | 12:42 pm
    Financial success means something different to every person. Some want to have enough money to pay the rent, pay their mortgage and just get by, while others seek to acquire a huge estate. You may want to be a millionaire by age 30, however most people just want to have a comfortable lifestyle. Few people reach financial success without restraining their current spending. Becoming active in savings for future consumption is a habit everyone needs to get into. According to the book “Personal Finance,” by E. Thomas Garman, from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State…

  • 5 Reasons People Avoid Reading Personal Finance Articles

    Sherry Tingley
    1 Apr 2013 | 2:59 pm
    Personal finance articles are written to help people gain better information about helping themselves improve their financial condition, yet the people who need this information the most often avoid it altogether. Why? Reason #1 – Lacking Belief The mindset of a person that is struggling financially is negative. Plain and simply, they do not believe they have the power to change their lives. They then convince themselves that nothing is going to help so why look for help. Reason #2 – Firm Belief They Are Doing Everything Right Along with lacking belief, people think that there is…

  • 5 Tips for Mutual Fund Investments

    Richard Cox
    26 Jan 2013 | 4:47 am
    Many new investors fall into a common trap created during bull markets, as a percentage of your paycheck is automatically invested into the mutual funds tied to your 401(k) plan.  This automated process leads many investors to rely on the relatively easy, cheap and low-risk approach to capitalize on the long term benefits of stock ownership.  But even with this easy process, it is still possible to make costly mistakes that can diminish returns and put your wider portfolio in danger.  Coolchecks.net customers and anyone who wants to maximize their investments need to be aware of some…
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    Control Your Cash: Making Money Make Sense

  • Carnival Of Wealth, Turning the Corner Edition

    admin
    20 May 2013 | 4:39 am
     No, not that kind of turning the corner. (Sorry.) The incompetent submitters are dropping off, week by week. Even better, a new roster of outspoken ones continues to gradually supplant them. Who knows, within a few decades the Carnival of Wealth might be good from top to bottom. We could hit some rough spots today, but the road looks smoother than ever. Let’s begin: Newcomer Rob Aeschbach wins for most striking post title: Why You Should Be Doing Estate Planning at the DMV. And not just because you’ll have plenty of time on your hands. Rob regales us with a tale of…

  • Of Course You Should Take “No” For An Answer

    admin
    16 May 2013 | 4:14 am
    Dashing young men have all the advantages.Word association time.Self-help book. Go.68% of you said Napoleon Hill’s Think And Grow Rich, which is close enough to 100% for our purposes.It’s the classic of the genre, if not its progenitor. Even if you haven’t read it, you’ve subconsciously committed its most famous concepts to memory. Visualize your success. If you can conceive and believe, you can achieve. Don’t take no for an answer. Hill was writing bumper stickers and motivational posters before people had cars and cubicle walls to affix them to.This isn’t a book review, or at…

  • Carnival of Wealth, Findlay Toyota Are Filthy Cretins Edition

    admin
    13 May 2013 | 4:04 am
    Yes, the Antichrist makes an appearance on CYC this week. We can explain. That’s him, standing next to an felonious and unapologetic evil psychopath of a dog murderer. That’s Rich Abajian, general manager of Findlay Toyota, which is a dealership near CYC headquarters. Last week a CYC acquaintance – a septuagenarian lady – had occasion to involuntarily do business with them. This is what happened.The lady in question drives a 2002 Camry, which she keeps in impeccable condition and barely drives. Last week the check engine light came on.For those of you who…

  • The Control Your Cash Open-Book Quiz, Part I

    admin
    9 May 2013 | 4:08 am
    Today’s kids have atrocious posturePresenting the Control Your Cash Open-Book Quiz, complete with answers. For each of our next 3 posts (excluding Monday’s upcoming Carnival of Wealth), we’re going to put you in a fictional but plausible financial scenario. If you can figure out what steps you should take, then congratulations. You’ve got this stuff figured out and should be busy making deals instead of reading our site. This will make more sense once you read the 1st example: Your friend just came back from Hawai’i, and you can tell it made an impression on her because…

  • Carnival of Wealth, “Native American” Edition

    admin
    7 May 2013 | 11:41 am
    It must be that time of year again. The Washington Redskins are being criticized for their allegedly offensive nickname. “Why, we white (and to a lesser extent, other-colored) people who have appointed ourselves the arbiters of propriety find fault with this. Although it’s a literal description of pigmentation, ‘Redskin’ must change.”The arguments on either side of this issue are so entrenched that they barely need repeating, but here goes.Con: Any Indian-themed name is, by definition, offensive. I’m too stupid to draw a distinction between a college calling its teams the Hurons,…
 
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    FiGuide - A Retirement Plan That Works!

  • Making Up For Retirement Shortfalls

    Donna Gordon
    16 May 2013 | 6:12 am
    Given the backdrop of economic uncertainty and the rise in both life expectancy and medical costs, prospects look difficult for those facing retirement shortfalls. Fortunately, a financial advisor can show you how pulling these key levers can help your retirement nest egg last. Work Longer: Working longer is one of the easier solutions for those facing retirement shortfalls, allowing you to contribute to your savings for a few more years. Reduce Spending During Accumulation Years: One of the best ways to save more is to spend less. Setting explicit goals with a financial advisor, having a…

  • Retirement Planning: 8 Conservative Assumptions To Consider

    Roger Wohlner, CFP®
    16 May 2013 | 5:46 am
    According to the folks at PBS Frontline, retirement is a gamble at best.  One way to increase your odds of success is to use conservative assumptions.  As a financial advisor I generally use conservative assumptions in all aspects of client financial planning. If you’re concerned about running out of money during retirement, you need to be realistic and conservative with your assumptions. Here are 8 conservative assumptions for you to consider: Assume you will need 100 percent of your current income in retirement  Many rules of thumb suggest you’ll need between 70 and 100…

  • Fixing An IRA With The “Wrong” Beneficiary

    Jim Blankenship, CFP®, EA
    16 May 2013 | 5:17 am
    Quite often, for many different reasons (often known only to the deceased original owner), the original owner of an IRA designates a beneficiary that the survivors don’t necessarily agree with. It might be that only one of several children is designated, or perhaps additional beneficiaries are designated along with a spouse.  In cases like these, there are ways to make changes to the outcome of the inheritance.  In this article we specifically deal with the case where only one of four children was designated as the primary beneficiary of the IRA. To resolve the situation, let’s…

  • Bonds Away!

    James Shagawat, CFP®, ChFC®, MBA
    14 May 2013 | 2:41 pm
    Joey: “So, Ross. If you had a million dollars, what’s the first thing you’d buy?”  Ross: “I’d probably get some municipal bonds, and then put the rest of the money in the bank and live off the interest.”  Joey: “Well, we’ve heard from Dr. Fun.”  -        From Friends, Season 3 Episode 18: “The One with the Hypnosis Tape” A bond is an investment to receive the repayment of a “loan” at a certain interest rate. The way you invest in bonds matters now more than ever because of low interest rates. Bond mutual funds are…

  • State Income Tax And Retirement Income

    Jim Blankenship, CFP®, EA
    14 May 2013 | 7:55 am
    On only a few rare occasions does it make sense to defer money to your 401(k) or other employer sponsored plan instead of a Roth IRA. Those occasions include when your gross income excludes you from contributing directly to a Roth IRA (you can still convert), you are currently at a very high tax rate or the case of when you live in a state where retirement income is excluded from state taxation. Here in Illinois, the current law exempts retirement income from being taxed at the state level. What this means, is that any contributions to a 401(k), 403(b), SEP, SIMPLE and 457 avoid state income…
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    Budgets Are Sexy

  • We’ve Got Our First Millionaire In The Club!

    J. Money
    20 May 2013 | 2:22 am
    Hot dogs! Over 5 years ago we started our awesome Millionaire Club and listed everything out we needed to accomplish to get there, and today we have our first member who’s officially crossed it! Give a round of applause to BigChrisB – way to go, man! Here was his original submission from January 25, 2011 as member #62 (we now have 105 people pledging to reach a million). Do you remember what yours looked like if you’re one of the members from back then? I’ve decided to join the crowd, and make my own millionaire pledge. I’m already past $600,000, so don’t have too far…

  • We Found a Place! We Found a Place!

    J. Money
    17 May 2013 | 2:22 am
    Opah! Party time! We’re finally getting outta here!! ;) MAN I can’t tell you how excited we are… 5+ years in a row living in the same place is liable to give any A.D.D./Military folk a stomach ache. It’s time for brighter and greener pastures – woo! And we actually found a home that satisfies BOTH of our major wants, which is great. All the places we’ve been finding only had like 50% of them, or all of mine but  none of the Mrs’, etc. So we got really lucky in the end. Well, if you can call it that – we only looked at like 150 places all over…

  • Side Hustle Series: I’m a Human Guinea Pig

    J. Money
    16 May 2013 | 2:22 am
    (Guest Post by Emily as part of our Side Hustle Series) I didn’t have much of a choice about becoming a guinea pig for medical research, but maybe that was the intention of my employer? The research institute I worked at created a ready supply of healthy volunteers for its ongoing clinical trials and studies by paying us trainees less than the living wage in one of the more expensive counties in the US. Where they constantly bombarded us with opportunities to make a little cash on the side. How I Got Started My industrious peers realized early on in our fellowship that it made a lot of…

  • Box of Books Giveaway: Round II

    J. Money
    15 May 2013 | 2:28 am
    Okay, here we go – round two of giving away my finance books! Hopefully you or someone you know can use them :) If not, pick the ones out you want and then donate/sell the rest! And if you missed yesterday’s awesome shelf clearing, be sure to go back and check it out once you’re done entering this giveaway here today… Here’s what’s in Box #2: Your Money: The Missing Manual by J.D. Roth — What Amazon says: “Keeping your financial house in order is more important than ever. But how do you deal with expenses, debt, taxes, and retirement without…

  • Box of Books Giveaway: Round 1

    J. Money
    14 May 2013 | 2:16 am
    I’m getting better and better about getting rid of stuff! This whole moving thing has really sparked some fire under me, and I’m throwing away stuff left and right – even stuff I like! :) (Well, not *throwing away*, but selling stuff and donating things to nab those tax write-offs/etc…) One pile I cannot easily give up, however, is my bookshelves full of finance and business books. Half of them even by my own finance friends!  But alas I can’t take everything with me, so one of you lucky s.o.b.s will get a chance to bring them home with you today –…
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    Smart On Money

  • Would You Rather Talk About Your Wallet Or Your Weight?

    Miranda Marquit
    2 May 2013 | 10:45 am
    There are certain topics that make us uncomfortable. Weight and money are two of those subjects. So, when it comes down to it, would you rather tell people your real weight? Or discuss your income? According to the latest COUNTRY Financial Security Index survey, most Americans would rather talk about their weight. An Aversion to Talking about Income The survey points out that 68% and 58% of women would rather talk about their weight than their wallets. Even though men are clearly more comfortable talking about their weight than women are, women still really don’t want to talk about…

  • 5 Ways to Combat Rising Health Care Costs

    Miranda Marquit
    9 Apr 2013 | 8:19 am
    Yesterday, I received a pleasant surprise when I went to pick up a prescription. I’ve been paying around $100 a month for this particular prescription, since it hasn’t been covered. Ever. No matter my plan. But thanks to the PPACA, it is now covered. I had to ask the pharmacist if there was a mistake. While there are a lot of strong feelings surrounding the health care reform law, the reality is that it did lower my cost in this one area. Will my premiums go up? Probably. But they go up every year — and have been going up every year before PPACA. I haven’t noticed a…

  • Road Trip! 3 Ways to Save Money and Have Fun

    Miranda Marquit
    1 Apr 2013 | 8:18 am
    One of my favorite ways to travel is via the road trip. Depending on your situation, a road trip can be cheaper than flying. And if you really plan it right, you can have funand save money in the bargain. 1. Your Car If your car has been well-maintained, it will get better gas mileage. This can save you the longer your trip is. On top of that, you are less susceptible to breakdowns in the middle of nowhere. I once had a $435 tow bill because my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Keep your car properly maintained, and you’ll always be ready for a road trip. Also, consider taking…

  • Live Like No One Else

    Contributor
    27 Mar 2013 | 3:23 pm
    There is a saying Dave Ramsey likes to use: “Live like no one else, so later you can live like no one else.” The general idea behind this statement is tips on how to live correctly right now so that you can have the most fun later on life. While there are people who prefer the live in the moment type of thing, there are others who want a secure and successful future, and those are the people who would want to know how to effectively live like no one else so that they can ultimately live like no one else later in life. Start Saving Now You may have heard the phrase, “Work Now, Play…

  • Tax Issues to Consider During Retirement

    Miranda Marquit
    14 Mar 2013 | 7:53 am
    When most of us plan for retirement, we think ahead to how we will generate the income needed to sustain our desired lifestyle. We add up costs, and try to determine if we are saving enough each month for a nest egg that meets our needs. However, many of us forget that it’s important to consider the cost of taxes. Your tax situation can have a big impact on whether or not you ultimately reach your retirement goals. Here are some of the tax situations that can affect your tax bracket, and affect your overall wealth: Distributions = Taxable Income Unless you have a Roth account, your…
 
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    Financially Poor

  • Bankruptcy Need not be Your First Choice

    Kevin
    20 May 2013 | 5:46 pm
    Serious economic challenges can exert a high degree of psychological pressure. Especially when expenses are exceeding the available income for extended periods of time, strain levels in a household can get insufferable. During this period, many will consider bankruptcy their only available option. In itself, this need not be a problem. After all, declaring bankruptcy means all financial obligations owed to lenders will be dismissed if your filing is decided in your favor. Choosing to file, however, is a serious matter and will seriously affect your life for years to come. Ahead of declaring…

  • 4 Little-Known Benefits of Disability Insurance

    Kevin
    18 May 2013 | 5:29 pm
    Financial experts like debt guru Dave Ramsey and insurance advisor Courtney Rogers agree that only a few kinds of insurance are truly necessary. These include Term life (while you’re working) Homeowner’s (for any time you own a home) Auto (required by law) Disability (while you’re working) Of these four, statistics show that disability insurance is the one missing from most homes. It might be that this insurance gets less attention in the media. It might be that people don’t understand the risk. Whatever the reason, those who are “working without a net” in regards to this…

  • Who makes payday loans?

    Kevin
    16 May 2013 | 5:23 pm
    In the early days of cash and loans, most payday loan lenders operated out of small check cashing shops, back when the advance pay day loans industry was simply a side service of these shops. As the cash and loans business evolved over the years, payday loans lenders saw the huge potential of this market, and since then it has evolved into a national phenomenon. There was a huge flood of consumers wanting to take advantage of this product, and payday loans lenders realized they needed to change their businesses to focus mainly on these types of loans. People constantly find themselves in…

  • This is Why You’re Broke: 6 Mistakes People Make when Investing

    Kevin
    16 May 2013 | 11:26 am
    Do you feel like you are always broke? Well, it’s probably because you are. Most people today make mistakes with their money, from saving to investing and everything in between. Are you making these common money mistakes? Making Irrational, Crazy Investments Image via Flickr by San Sharma  Have you ever heard about someone making what sounded like a crazy investment, and having it pay off? Of course you have. These stories go around and around. Unfortunately, it’s in our nature to think that because it happened to someone else, it will happen for us, too. Deciding to throw most…
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    Couple Money

  • What NOT to stock up on in your stockpile!

    guest poster
    20 May 2013 | 1:13 pm
    Stockpiles can be very important for your household and are there to assist in saving you hundreds of dollars. From toilet paper and body wash to canned foods and condiments, you can stock just about anything. Finding great deals is key and with the rising costs of household items and groceries, you want to snatch any bargain out there to build that right up. But have you thought of some of the items that you should not stock up on, unless you take extra measures? You wouldn’t think that there was such a thing, but there is. Fresh fruits and vegetables are an obvious no-stock item. Why?

  • Why Parents Shouldn’t Pay For College

    Elle
    15 May 2013 | 4:37 pm
    So Monday was about some reasons parents choose to pay for their kids’ college. For some parents, they have been planning on this as soon their kids were born and they have worked hard to give this gift. Why Parents Shouldn’t Pay For College Now on the other side is the debate, there are just as caring and sincere parents who argue that having their kids pay for their own college tuition is a great opportunity that they want them to have. Some reasons I’ve heard boil down to: Self-Sufficiency: I’ve heard parents say that part of the college experience is to learn…

  • Should Parents Pay for College?

    Elle
    13 May 2013 | 9:33 am
    There are many parent debating whether or not they should pay for college for their children. For us, we’re a bit divided. My husband and I want to have a bit of money to help out with college, but we don’t want to give an unlimited line of credit. We’ve discussed this before as well. Right now we’re focusing on paying down the last student loan before we make any contributions in a college fund. I think that parents should get their own finances in order before killing themselves over a college fund. Hopefully we’ll only have a year or so before we have to sit…

  • Don’t Go Broke Fixing Your Car!

    Elle
    8 May 2013 | 4:55 am
    I mentioned that maintaining your car is financially important as car emergencies can ruin a family’s budget quite easily. For couples looking at paying down debt, investing more for their future, or saving up for a paid for vacation, it can be incredibly frustrating to see huge expenses come up with their cars. Every Car Needs Maintenance Fortunately though, many car expenses aren’t emergencies, but simply scheduled repairs that weren’t planned. While you can definitely minimize many big repairs, you still have to spend money to keep your car running, especially if you…

  • Net Worth Review: Wrapping Up the Debt Movement

    Elle
    6 May 2013 | 5:46 am
    At the beginning of the month we examine last month’s finances and see how it’s affected our net worth. The purpose of the net worth reviews is to give us a regular system to look at our accounts, see what’s changed, and analyze what went well and what we need to work on. April was a month of money moving around. We had taxes to pay for my business, our car needed to be repaired, student loans were paid down, and we opened IRA as we simplified our finances. The Debt Movement Over? So April was the end of The Debt Movement‘s 90 day challenge. If you remember Jeff had a huge goal…
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    Beating Broke

  • Earning > Saving

    B.B.
    20 May 2013 | 5:24 am
    Saving is a finite solution. You can only save so much, can only be so frugal. Your power for earning is unlimited with the right resource (you), the right tools (knowledge), and the right force (hard work).  That isn’t to discount saving.  Saving is an important part of the equation too.  But, because of it’s limited ability, it can only be so much a part of your overall wealth and financial independence equation.  Do you know what limits savings’ ability?  Your earnings. You can only save so much as you earn.  If you only earn $8 an hour, you can only save $8 an…

  • Attention Google Reader, um, Readers

    B.B.
    19 May 2013 | 7:00 pm
    Be warned. This post has absolutely nothing to do with personal finance. It does have to do with how some of you get your personal finance articles from Beating Broke, however. More specifically, with those of you who use Google Reader to read the articles here on Beating Broke.  The latest stats show that there are a couple hundred of you or so.  Last month, Google announced that they would be discontinuing the Google Reader service on July 1st, 2013.  As a result, if you use Google Reader, you will no longer get updates from this and other websites. Now is the time to make a few changes…

  • Personal Crowd Funding?

    B.B.
    15 May 2013 | 5:58 am
    We’ve all heard about the many different crowdfunding organizations out there.  Probably the most famous of them is Kickstarter.  Or maybe Indiegogo.  Adam from Man vs. Debt recently crowdfunded his documentary “I’m Fine, Thanks” through Kickstarter.  Using crowdfunding sites has become pretty popular.  It’s a great way for artists and creators to fund the products that they are creating through the fans while still giving something back to the fans. Recently, I found a site called GoFundMe.  It’s another crowdfunding site.  Except, in this case,…

  • Signs You Are Carrying Too Much Debt

    Guest Contributor
    13 May 2013 | 6:02 am
    Gary Dek is a contributor to Gajizmo.com and is always looking for ways to make and invest money. Gary previously worked for an internet company on their M&A team, as well as investment banking and private equity firms in California. Some of life’s necessities, like homes and arguably cars, cost more than most people can save in 5 or 10 years. This means they have to borrow money to be able to pay for their needs. Unfortunately, if you are like many Americans, you have probably borrowed money for things you want and cannot afford. The average American family carries more than…

  • World Diets: A Week’s Worth of Groceries

    B.B.
    10 May 2013 | 6:39 am
    Ok, so I saw this post over at FStoppers about What a Week of Groceries Looks Like Around the World, and I couldn’t help but mark it for a second look, and eventually an article here.  Click on that link and go take a look.  Look at what each picture contains and then come back and see if you come to the same conclusion that I do.  I’ll wait. Done?  Ok, first, let’s talk about some “givens” that I found to be somewhat ironic, simply because they also could be considered stereotypes.  I’ll start at the top. Mexico: OMG, you guys like Coke!   Germany:…
 
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    Denise Richardson

  • What Private Information is Available Online?

    Denise Richardson
    17 May 2013 | 12:52 pm
    What do you think would happen if you tried to search public records for information about yourself? You may be surprised by what you find. There is quite a bit of information that is considered public, either through public records...

  • Fraud Alert: Beware of Tragedy Related Scams

    Denise Richardson
    30 Apr 2013 | 7:02 am
    The Boston and Texas tragedies remind us that when disaster strikes, we are not always prepared to deal with the magnitude of the chaotic wake that follows such events in our communities. Our desire to help those in need can...

  • FTC Warns Tenant Screening Sites on FCRA Duties

    Denise Richardson
    23 Apr 2013 | 6:43 am
    The Federal Trade Commission has warned six companies operating websites that share information about consumers' rental histories with landlords that they may be subject to the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).If it turns out they collect information...

  • How Can a Secured Credit Card Build Your Credit Score?

    Denise Richardson
    5 Apr 2013 | 11:37 am
    Whether you are trying to establish credit or clean up a dirty credit history, you've probably considered the option of applying for a secured credit card. A secured credit card requires you to open and maintain a savings account as...

  • Consumer Financial Complaints Database Goes Live: Track, Sort, Search, Download

    Denise Richardson
    2 Apr 2013 | 7:07 am
    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) goes live with the nation's largest public database of federal consumer financial complaints, opening up to consumers across the country information on more than 90,000 individual complaints on financial products and services."By sharing these...
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    First Generation White Collar

  • Steve Jobs: Secret to Life

    L. Marie Joseph
    18 May 2013 | 7:59 am
    What an inspirational video of Steve Jobs. Short and to the point. Enjoy!

  • What do people want more than Sex and Money?

    L. Marie Joseph
    7 Apr 2013 | 12:30 pm
    There are two things people want more than sex and money: recognition and praise -Mary Kay Ash   If you’re an entrepreneur, better yet one with many employees, these two words are valuable. Your success will not last long if you don’t praise your employees. This keeps them motivated, energized and well loyal to you. Entrepreneurs are not successful on their own, they need help. This comes in the form of employees, interns, contractors, lawyers, accountants, etc.

  • Pound Foolish: Exposing the Dark Side of the Personal Finance Industry

    L. Marie Joseph
    9 Feb 2013 | 5:07 pm
    This seems like a book that is perfect for your financial bookshelf. Finally, someone had the balls to say that some of these financial gurus just playing a game on the middle class. “If you’re not saving x amount of dollars a year, you’re a loser” If you don’t have a $100,000 saved by the time you reach 40 years old, you’re not trying hard enough” As the author writes sh!t happens. These personal finance gurus talk as if you don’t go through life events. Perfect people don’t have life events happen to them. Saving 15% of your income your…

  • Kevin Trudeau Video on Success

    L. Marie Joseph
    5 Jan 2013 | 1:44 pm
    I’m not a big fan of Kevin Trudeau, however, I ran across this video and I completely agree with this speech. around it 6:16 becomes an eye opener for me!

  • You Must Take Intelligent Risks — Reid Hoffman

    L. Marie Joseph
    1 Jan 2013 | 1:04 pm
    Reid Hoffman (Founder of LinkedIn) describes why companies must take risks to create breakout products and innovations. He also shares the importance of holding and testing contrarian views throughout the entrepreneurial process.
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    Stack The Chips

  • Top 5 Ways To Save Using Online Coupons

    ipadedwin
    15 May 2013 | 12:28 am
    Online coupons are pretty straightforward. There is really no mystery to their use. You find stuff you want to buy online. You find an online coupon that helps you save money on the stuff you are buying. You enter the coupon code in the checkout page of your process, you get the savings. Simple enough, right? Well, not so fast. The sad truth is that people don’t take advantage of online coupons as they should. Instead, they leave millions of dollars on the table on an annual basis. What a waste. In these hard economic times, every little bit of savings counts. Follow the tips below to…

  • How To Establish A Healthy Savings Habit

    ipadedwin
    4 May 2013 | 7:19 pm
    Did you know that it only takes 21 days to establish a good habit or break a bad habit? 3 weeks. You only need to do something for 21 days straight to keep doing that thing. Conversely, you only need to keep from doing something for 21 days straight to get off the habit. Powerful, no? The good news is that this ‘rule’ can apply to many things in life not just quitting smoking or kicking a drinking habit. You can use the 21 day rule to lose weight or acquire good job habits. Most importantly, you can use it to your favor when trying to gain good financial habits. The most…

  • 3 Signs You May Have A Spending Addiction

    ipadedwin
    21 Apr 2013 | 4:49 pm
    Spending addiction is a real thing. It might just seem like a made up syndrome used to rationalize away the bad habits of the Real Housewives characters, but it’s not. People with spending addictions find the draw of the nearest shopping mall or internet retailer too much and they can’t control themselves enough to resist purchasing something. This very real condition has a psychological basis. Unfortunately, unless you are aware of your problem and willing to get help, you can’t truly overcome the addiction. Like alcohol or drug addictions, spending addictions have a chemical basis in…

  • 4 Things To Do With Your Tax Return

    ipadedwin
    10 Apr 2013 | 7:11 pm
    With tax season right around the corner, you’re probably dreaming of getting a big fat check from the IRS. While getting bonus money is always a great feeling, too many people run out and spend the check before it even deposits in their bank accounts. Rather than blowing your IRS return this year, look at 4 things you can do with your check that will actually benefit you for more than a couple hours of retail therapy. 1. Save it This seems like the most obvious choice, but it’s surprising how few people save their tax returns. Saving the money is a great way to start your emergency fund…

  • Cut Up Your Credit Cards The Right Way

    ipadedwin
    25 Mar 2013 | 1:46 am
    There’s nothing more dramatic in one’s attempts to save money than cutting up your credit cards. As dramatic as this might seem. It might be short-sighted, impulsive, and ultimately counterproductive if you do it wrong. Like with most things in life, there is a wrong way and a right way to cutting up your credit cards. Don’t act rashly. Don’t act out of impulse. It is understandable that you are stressed out about the high interest rates charged by most cards, and the fact that you are racking up more debt than raking in income. However, you have to play your cards…
 
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    Savvy Saving Bytes

  • Oh No! Here Come the Budworms Again!

    SSB
    20 May 2013 | 7:00 pm
    In passed summers I have lost countless battles with budworms as they happily gorged themselves silly on my geraniums and petunias.  As tiny, newborn worms, they stealthily bored into tender, young flower buds and ate their way out, speedily decimating every bud in flowerpots. Fatter and feistier, they then feasted on every blossom in sight. And [...]

  • Biggest Scam of All: Sham Weight-Loss Products

    SSB
    13 May 2013 | 8:35 am
    Bathing suit time is thundering up the road. After a year comfortably concealed under roomy, forgiving, cold weather duds, is your body ready? If not and you’re considering purchasing a weight-loss product that claims dramatic results in a remarkably short time, you might want to take a look at a recent survey by the Federal [...]

  • Thoreau on Simplicity, Success and Stardust

    SSB
    6 May 2013 | 4:40 pm
      Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden Pond”, a celebration of solitude, simplicity and self-sufficiency, has inspired and instructed us since it was written in 1854. Thoreau’s ideas and insights about life, formulated while living alone with nature at Walden Park for two years, resonate to this day. On defining success, he said: “If the day and the [...]

  • Are You Eating Rice Harvested in a “Cancer Village”?

    SSB
    29 Apr 2013 | 4:33 pm
    After reading an article in Marketplace.Org about toxic rice harvested in one of China’s “cancer villages” I made a disconcerting discovery.  The US imports 7% of its rice from a number of countries, one of which happens to be China.  Could there possibly be any connection here? This particular story started in the 1990s in [...]

  • Tulip Time: Mundane Matters Take a Spring Break

    SSB
    15 Apr 2013 | 8:41 am
    Marching along eastside avenues and blooming up and down side streets, spring tulips have blossomed in their radiant, annual show. When I first moved to New York years ago, I don’t remember particularly noticing the flowers. But every year since then, more and more tulips have popped on more and more streets in ever widening [...]
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    Money Fox

  • Five Ways You Know You Have the Right Bank Account

    The Financial Fox
    14 May 2013 | 11:00 am
    These days, almost everyone has at least one bank account. The days of stashing your money under the mattress are long gone. In fact, some of us rarely even see cash. We get paid directly into our accounts, bills are paid by direct debit and purchases are made using cards. So, having a bank account that works well for you is very important. However, many of us still use the same account that we’ve had for years. It’s usually the same one that we opened in our teens. If we’re honest, we’d probably admit that our circumstances have changed a bit since then. So, how do you know if…

  • Cloud Computing for Small Business: From Accounting To Backups

    The Financial Fox
    23 Apr 2013 | 4:16 am
    There’s no doubt about it – cloud computing is made for the small business owner. At a basic level, it saves you money. There’s no need for email servers, file servers or any specialist software. In addition, you can use cloud computing services through virtually any platform, from your laptop to your mobile, giving you the facility to conduct business and collaborate with your colleagues from wherever you happen to be and at any time of day or night. But it’s not simply about data storage; cloud computing is set to revolutionise the way we do business, even at ground level. Level…

  • Medical Advances Pointless Without Private Health Cover

    Guest Post
    23 Apr 2013 | 3:28 am
    Knowing that we have health cover in case something goes wrong gives us peace of mind, but it is also giving many sleepless nights, as they toss and turn and worry about how they are going to pay for it. Private health insurance is considered an indicator of preventive health levels and the higher the level of care a member has, the better their level of preventive health can be assumed to be in developed nations. But there are some diseases where medicine has not yet given us conclusive evidence as to how to deal with their development or treatment, really testing the level of family health…

  • Australians Wish They Could Save More Than They Are

    Guest Post
    20 Apr 2013 | 3:35 am
    One nugget of wisdom that has emerged in the wake of the global financial crisis is that people are now saving far more than they used to, before the crisis. That was then – this is now. Back then, we used to splurge on credit card purchases, thoughtlessly increasing our credit limits to sky-high thresholds. We shopped indiscriminately, without ‘shopping around’ for better prices first. In essence, we were callous and inconsiderate with our personal finances; yet, luckily, this is no longer the case. While the recession did leave a few dramatic effects behind it (increasing numbers of…

  • Work-at-home Solutions Prove Increasingly Efficient in Australia

    Guest Post
    18 Apr 2013 | 3:49 am
    The boom of the online workforce has been touted in the media for several years now, with the advent and increased accessibility of social networking websites. Along with them, professional platforms also grew prominence, as did recruitment and contracting portals such as Freelance.com. At the moment, some 85,000 Australian companies are hiring staff online, thus reaching a two-fold goal. Not only are they accessing the best talent in the world in next to no time at all, but they’re also doing some serious overhead management. In the words of one entrepreneur, hiring a web dev or designer…
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    Owning Gold Blog

  • Owning gold – a small downside with a huge upside.

    dhkenrick
    20 May 2013 | 4:19 pm
    When you invest money there is usually a reasonable upside and a huge downside. Just ask anyone who invested their savings in Enron or with Bernie Madoff. Yes, those are extreme examples. But there are thousands of other cases where honest people invested their savings in the hope of a reasonable growth in their savings, but instead lost it all. It was the same with real estate. People invested what they had, borrowed heavily, and hoped that their home would grow in value and cover their debts. But that didn’t happen. Instead they faced foreclosure. They lost everything. Even of you play it…

  • Why you should buy physical gold, not paper gold.

    dhkenrick
    19 Apr 2013 | 6:48 am
    The quick answer to why you should own physical gold is that you can’t trust the banks or your government. Eric Sprout, the billionaire precious metals trader, recently conducted an audit of how much gold the U.S. government has been buying and selling over the last few decades. Here is his conclusion: “We used this framework to analyze supply and demand in the US going all the way back to 1991, which is as far back as the FT900 documents go. Over the span of 22 years, the total amount of gold that the US has exported – above and beyond its supply capability – is almost 4,500 tonnes!

  • I bet you have never seen this much gold before.

    dhkenrick
    9 Dec 2012 | 11:59 am
    Here is a sight you won’t see very often. In fact, I’m not sure this gold vault has ever been made public before. This video shows you just some of the gold that is stored by the Bank of England. As you watch the video, you’ll get a sense of just how much is there, and how much it is worth. Take a look. Seeing all this gold in storage should be reassuring to all of us as owners of gold. First, it confirms the real value of gold as a reserve currency. Central banks don’t own and store gold just because it is rare and shiny. They own it because it represents real wealth, outside of the…

  • In a world where you own almost nothing, you can still own gold.

    dhkenrick
    2 Dec 2012 | 4:33 pm
    We live during a time of rampant consumerism. We buy stuff, and we think we own it. But much of the time we don’t. Your home is mortgaged and owned by the bank. It’s not yours. Your car is leased, or purchased through a bank loan. It’s not yours. You bought that flat screen TV with your credit card. Yes, you own that TV, which depreciates in value of every day. But your credit card company owns the debt, which earns them money every month. How about your job? Is it yours? A generation ago it was reasonable to assume you had a job for life. Not anymore. That job isn’t yours to keep.

  • 2 Reasons why you should store some of your gold overseas.

    dhkenrick
    26 Nov 2012 | 7:33 am
    Owning gold is all about protecting yourself and your wealth. It’s the money you keep outside of the banking system and out of reach of Wall Street. It’s about planning for the future and avoiding risk. It’s about coming out on top in the event of a catastrophic social or economic event. To achieve this end, most people store their physical goal either at home or in a bank safety deposit box. For most eventualities, that’s fine. But there are scenarios that would make it hard or even impossible to access or benefit from owning gold when it is all stored within arm’s reach, or even…
 
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    Compare Australian Credit Cards and Offers

  • Need Answers on Questions with Credit Cards and Travel?

    Isaiah
    16 May 2013 | 7:38 pm
    CreditCardFinder Q&A: Insurance excesses, rewards & travel cards – a published response to an email from Colleen. We had a user ask a couple of seriously interesting questions a few days ago and we thought’d we’d share the answers in the form of a post. A lot of people have questions similar to what’s listed [...]

  • American Express Gold Class Tickets – Exclusive Offer

    Isaiah
    15 May 2013 | 11:42 pm
    Exclusive Offer: to CreditCardFinder.com.au Receive two Gold Class double passes (4 tickets in total) for Event Cinemas* when you sign up for an sign up for the American Express Platinum Edge credit card, valued at $158. To be eligible for this offer, new customers must apply and be approved for the card before 31 May [...]

  • The American Express Card

    Isaiah
    8 May 2013 | 7:01 pm
    The American Express Green Card is back. Take advantage of having no pre-set credit limit and a range of exclusive perks with an American Express Card The American Express card gives you the freedom to take advantage of a charge card that isn’t restricted by a pre-set credit limit. You have the flexibility to spend [...]

  • NAB Traveller Card

    Matt
    7 May 2013 | 12:22 am
    Travel overseas with foreign currency without carrying cash The NAB Traveller Card is the ideal solution for anyone planning to travel overseas. You’re able to load multiple currencies onto the card, so you can withdraw cash in the local currency at your destination. When you use your card to pay for purchases or to withdraw [...]

  • American Express Global Travel Card

    Matt
    6 May 2013 | 12:18 am
    Save money and carry multiple currencies with an American Express Global Travel Card Paying for items while you’re travelling can be inconvenient if you’re using cash. It’s even more inconvenient if you use a credit card, as there is the risk of fraudulent activity on your account, along with the risk of losing your card [...]
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    MarketProSecure.com

  • SAC Capital Pulls Investigation Cooperation

    Armin Daker
    20 May 2013 | 9:04 am
    The hedge fund, SAC Capital Advisors, worth $15 billion and front and center of an insider trading investigation, just got more interesting. The government, it seems, is no longer going to receive its unconditional cooperation.The post SAC Capital Pulls Investigation Cooperation appeared first on MarketProSecure.com.

  • Ponzi Convict Madoff tells CNN “I Can’t Sleep”

    Donna McGill
    17 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Citing his son's suicide, Bernie Madoff told CNN this week that he can't sleep and that he earns just $40 a month doing manual labor behind bars. He also said that while he worked for awhile as a clerk in the prison commissary, he's now doing maintenance and upkeep on the phones and computer systems.The post Ponzi Convict Madoff tells CNN “I Can’t Sleep” appeared first on MarketProSecure.com.

  • DJI Closes Above 15,000: What Does It Mean For You?

    Kevin Mulligan
    15 May 2013 | 8:53 am
    The Dow Jones Index (DJI) closed above 15,000 for the first time in history last week. This puts the major stock indexes – Dow Jones, S&P 500, and the Nasdaq – up 15.37%, 14.55%, and 13.81% for the year. Is this a time for investors to be fearful or greedy? Should you follow the old [...]The post DJI Closes Above 15,000: What Does It Mean For You? appeared first on MarketProSecure.com.

  • 4 Moms and Money Rules

    Donna McGill
    13 May 2013 | 9:03 am
    Now that Mother's Day is now officially over, many of us were talking about how moms influence their kids and when it comes to money, there are not many whose influence outweighs moms. Moms and money - formidable pair, yes? Can you relate to any of these "Mom Talks"?The post 4 Moms and Money Rules appeared first on MarketProSecure.com.

  • Payday Loans in the Line of Fire: CFPB

    Casey B. Miller
    10 May 2013 | 9:06 am
    It promised to crack down on the expensive payday loans and the companies that provide those types of services. It now appears the Consumer Financial Protection is doing just that very thing.The post Payday Loans in the Line of Fire: CFPB appeared first on MarketProSecure.com.
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    CreditCardsCo Blog

  • Should You Be Worried About Troubled Banks?

    Scott Townsend
    16 May 2013 | 1:15 pm
    It's difficult to put your faith - or keep your faith - in your bank when it seems like every other day presents another scandal. And let's face it - 2013 is definitely shaping up to be the year of the scandals.The "Should You Be Worried About Troubled Banks?" is a post taken from: Credit Cards Blog. If you see this message please report to CreditCardsCo.com . The post Should You Be Worried About Troubled Banks? appeared first on CreditCardsCo Blog.

  • $32 Billion Overdraft Fees Paid to Banks in 2012

    Brent Thomas
    9 May 2013 | 12:20 pm
    If there's ever been a reason for consumers to consider prepaid debit cards, the $32 billion in overdraft fees that were paid to the nation's biggest banks last year is the perfect justification. Is it time for you to bail on your big bank?The "$32 Billion Overdraft Fees Paid to Banks in 2012" is a post taken from: Credit Cards Blog. If you see this message please report to CreditCardsCo.com . The post $32 Billion Overdraft Fees Paid to Banks in 2012 appeared first on CreditCardsCo Blog.

  • Prepaid Debit Cards: the Pros and Cons

    Carolyn Spiel
    2 May 2013 | 1:02 pm
    When it comes to prepaid debit cards, there are usually two schools of thought: they're the ideal alternative to a bank account or they're risky financial products with too many fees. Both are accurate, for the most part.The "Prepaid Debit Cards: the Pros and Cons" is a post taken from: Credit Cards Blog. If you see this message please report to CreditCardsCo.com . The post Prepaid Debit Cards: the Pros and Cons appeared first on CreditCardsCo Blog.

  • Why Do Fewer Americans Own Homes?

    Brian Weston
    26 Apr 2013 | 12:55 pm
    There are fewer Americans who own homes today. The recession and lax mortgage rules from the past decade play a role, but smart credit card choices can help rebuild credit.The "Why Do Fewer Americans Own Homes?" is a post taken from: Credit Cards Blog. If you see this message please report to CreditCardsCo.com . The post Why Do Fewer Americans Own Homes? appeared first on CreditCardsCo Blog.

  • CFPB Chief Touts Success, Congress Still Not Happy

    Scott Townsend
    24 Apr 2013 | 1:01 pm
    So why are some members of Congress acting like spoiled brats? Worse, why are there those in some committees who refuse to even acknowledge the works by Cordray and CFPB?The "CFPB Chief Touts Success, Congress Still Not Happy" is a post taken from: Credit Cards Blog. If you see this message please report to CreditCardsCo.com . The post CFPB Chief Touts Success, Congress Still Not Happy appeared first on CreditCardsCo Blog.
 
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    Good Financial Cents | Financial Planning and Retirement Blog

  • Home Sweet Home: What is the True Cost of Having Your Own Home?

    Jeff Rose
    20 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    Waking up in a place of your own with the birds chirping right outside your window is a great feeling. You go outside and enjoy your coffee on the back porch, simply enjoying the quiet that comes with not living in an apartment. Your neighbors are friendly, the sun is shining, and you know it is going to be another great day of owning a home. Everything is going great… until the peaceful morning is ruined by the sound of your air conditioner going out. As romanticized as owning a home has become in America, there are some significant costs associated with buying, owning, and maintaining…

  • What is Considered a Middle Class Income?

    Miranda Marquit
    17 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    Many of us identify as middle class. It provides us with an identity that is respectable, and implies that we are “normal.” After all, if you are middle class, you aren’t stuck with some of the stigmas that can come with being poor, and you are painted with the elitist brush for being rich. Middle class is a comfortable place to be for many of us. It also helps, too, that middle class identity is probably deeply ingrained in your psyche. Many of the children of Baby Boomers (I’m one) grew up in the middle class, espousing “middle class values.” My…

  • Couples Finances: What to Do if You Don’t Agree

    Shannon McNay
    16 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    If you’re married or in a serious relationship, then you’ve probably already heard all the advice about how to manage your finances together: communicate, create goals together, don’t hide information from each other. This advice all sounds easy to do – and it’s certainly easy to give! But people aren’t perfect and neither are relationships. So what do you do if you simply can’t see eye to eye with your partner on your finances? Defeat Defeatism It can be a scary moment when you and your partner first realize that you don’t see eye to eye on your finances. You might see…

  • Changes to the Child Tax Credit for 2013

    Jeff Rose
    15 May 2013 | 2:30 am
    If you’re like me, you like to get every tax credit that you can. Why not, right? It’s like buying something that you know you are going to have to buy and having a coupon for it. It would be silly not to use it. The only problem with tax credits is that it’s hard to keep track of them all. One such credit is the Child Tax Credit. Here are the rules behind the tax credit of 2013 to see if you qualify. Who Can Claim the Child Tax Credit? Families who earn under $130,000 a year and have one or more dependent children under the age of 17 may take advantage of the Child Care Tax…

  • Dollars and Cents: How to Start Saving as a Young Couple

    Jeff Rose
    14 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    It’s time for another edition of Dollar and Cents. This is where I answer one of your questions. If you have a question, either use the contact form on the blog or use my Facebook Fanpage. Today’s question comes from Allison: My fiance and I are getting married in August, we just bought a house (no furniture yet). But I am graduating from college in May and he has been working for a year. What can we do to afford all of the expenses that we have and save up money for our future. Just looking at numbers doesn’t really mean anything, but its hard to figure out how much we…
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    Wallet Blog

  • Sequestration: So Much For The Tired & The Poor

    Lynn B. Johnson
    13 May 2013 | 4:03 pm
    Posted by: Lynn B. JohnsonWhen sequestration’s automatic budget cuts went into effect on March 1 of this year, many were unclear as to how these cuts would affect daily life and social programs. We were told that although the sequester would reduce the federal budget deficit by $1.2 trillion dollars over 10 years —as required by the Budget Control Act of 2011, which was enacted in part to resolve the debt-ceiling crisis— the cuts would not go into effect immediately. Well, it’s two months later and few people seem to be talking about where these cuts are headed, so Wallet Blog did…

  • Our Wealth Disparity & What it Means For Future Generations

    Lynn B. Johnson
    1 May 2013 | 10:15 pm
    Posted by: Lynn B. JohnsonLast week, the Pew Research Center announced that between 2009 and 2011, the mean net worth of the wealthiest 7% of U.S. households increased by an estimated 28%. Meanwhile, the rest of us saw our net worth fall 4%. This makes sense, right? After all, the richest people typically invest the bulk of their wealth in the stock and bond markets (and can afford to ride out economic valleys), while the less affluent are more likely to call their homes  their primary investments. Sub-prime loans and the myriad ways that foreclosures hurt the housing market —too many…

  • Check That Charity Before Opening Your Checkbook

    Lynn B. Johnson
    25 Apr 2013 | 9:00 am
    Posted by: Lynn B. JohnsonAmericans like to help. In fact, total charitable contributions by individuals, corporations, and foundations was an estimated $298.42 billion in 2011, up 4% from 2010, according to a report from the Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Unfortunately, there are people who try to profit from tragedy. In 2009, the FTC launched the “Operation False Charity” initiative in conjunction with Attorney General offices and law-enforcement departments nationwide in order to crack down on “fraudulent telemarketers claiming to help…

  • Break Out of Your Grocery Rut (and Save in the Process!)

    Lynn B. Johnson
    18 Apr 2013 | 9:15 am
    Posted by: Lynn B. JohnsonSome people shop at the same store at the same time on the same day, week in and week out. If this sounds like you, you’re missing out on some great bargains. Here are some ways to break out of your grocery rut and save money on your food budget. Couponing? Nope. Couponing is only a good deal if you’re actually going to use the item you’ll save money on. I don’t use coupons because typically they’re only good for processed food items that I don’t typically purchase. Instead of spending time going through every coupon in the newspaper, spend your time more…

  • Home Warranties: Worth the Price?

    Lynn B. Johnson
    10 Apr 2013 | 12:14 pm
    Posted by: Lynn B. JohnsonA home warranty/home protection plan is a service contract that protects many of the appliances or systems (heating, plumbing, air conditioning) in your house in case they fail. They can serve as a security blanket of sorts to homeowners, particularly if you’re purchasing a home that is older or hasn’t had much in the way of upkeep over the past number of years.  Plans are often offered on an annual basis and can cost much less than it otherwise would to fix a home system or replace a home appliance should one of those cease to function. There are many, many…
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    One Family's Blog

  • Tracking Charles Akre's Akre Capital Management Portfolio - Q1 2013 Update

    ks
    19 May 2013 | 11:00 pm
    Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Charles Akre's Akre Capital Management US long stock portfolio as of Q1 2013. Please check out our previous update to have an idea on how the portfolio is progressing:  The portfolio vaulted almost 30% this quarter from around $1.4B to over $1.8B. There were a large number of minor stake adjustments and a small number of significant [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Tracking David Tepper's Appaloosa Management Portfolio - Q1 2013 Update

    ks
    19 May 2013 | 9:41 pm
    Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to David Tepper's Appaloosa Management's US long stock portfolio as of Q1 2013. For a look at how his portfolio has progressed, see our previous update:  Tepper increased Apple (AAPL) stake last quarter to his largest position at over 10%. This quarter saw an about-turn as the stake was reduced by almost 50% to a still large 5.07%. With [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Tracking Francis Chou's Chou Associates Portfolio - Q1 2013 Update

    ks
    18 May 2013 | 8:33 am
    Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Francis Chou's Chou Associates US long stock portfolio as of Q1 2013. For a look at how his portfolio has progressed, see our previous update: The portfolio remained steady this quarter. There were only four changes to the portfolio and they were all stake reductions: Goldman Sachs (GS) and Sprint Nextel (S) stakes were reduced [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Tracking David Winters' Wintergreen Advisors Portfolio - Q1 2013 Update

    ks
    18 May 2013 | 8:06 am
    Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to David Winters' Wintergreen Advisors US long stock portfolio as of Q1 2013. For a look at how his portfolio has progressed, see our previous update: Wintergreen's portfolio vaulted around 19% this quarter from $759M to $906M. There were several minor stake increases: Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ), Coca Cola (KO), and Franklin [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Tracking Lou Simpson's SQ Advisors Portfolio - Q1 2013 Update

    ks
    18 May 2013 | 4:17 am
    Below is a spreadsheet that highlights the changes to Lou Simpson's SQ Advisors US long stock portfolio as of Q1 2013. Please check-out our previous update to see how his portfolio has progressed:  Most of the portfolio was incrementally adjusted this quarter. Large changes include Directv (DTV), Oracle (ORCL), and Moodys Corp (MCO) which were hiked to 10.23%, 10.24%, and 6.80% [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
 
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    Cash The Checks

  • 5 Common Money Pits And How To Avoid Them

    Edwin C.
    15 May 2013 | 8:12 pm
    If your New Years resolution is to save more money this year, it’s vital that you know what the five most common money pits are and how you can avoid them. We all fall prey to wasting cash at some point or another, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Take a look at this list and see if you’ve been fooled by any of these money pits. 1. Bread So bread itself isn’t a money pit, but being tricked into believing that only same-day bakery bread is safe for eating is. Bakeries often mark down day-old bread that’s perfectly fine for eating. You can save as much as 50% of the price by just…

  • 5 Things Money Can’t Buy

    Edwin C.
    8 May 2013 | 6:59 pm
    It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of going to work, coming home, eating, sleeping and paying bills. While it may seem like money makes the world go round, there are some things money can’t buy. Take a minute to look at all the things in your life that are free and you’ll soon feel the stress of your personal finances lifting off your shoulders. Read on to discover 5 things money can’t buy and count your blessing for the things nobody can ever take away from you. 1. A sunny day Money definitely can’t buy good weather. Whether you prefer hot baking sun that’s…

  • 3 Ways To Save On Your Cell Phone Bill

    Edwin C.
    30 Apr 2013 | 6:46 pm
    In today’s economy people are looking for any way they can find to save a dollar. More people are clipping coupons than ever before and small luxuries such as coffee and take-out are on the decline. In a world where you are constantly denying yourself small pleasures, it might be worth it to find a bigger way you can save money so your morning latte doesn’t have to get the deep six. Cell phones are an item most people aren’t willing to get rid of, but there are ways you can trim the bill to make it more affordable. A large portion of your monthly budget probably goes to pay for…

  • 6 Ways You’re Wasting Money

    Edwin C.
    16 Apr 2013 | 6:26 pm
    Many people are trying to trim their budgets and save as much money as possible. Coupon use is at an all-time high and more people are surfing the net to find tips for saving money than ever before. However, you don’t need to look far to find places that you’re wasting money. Read on to discover 6 ways you’re wasting money and put an end to your wasteful ways. 1. Organic Produce Organic produce is often no more organic than regular produce. Lenient regulations make it possible for growers to label their produce as organic if it really isn’t. Instead of spending all that money on a…

  • 5 Signs You Need A New Tax Preparer

    Edwin C.
    4 Apr 2013 | 11:17 pm
    With tax season winding down, most people have already had their appointments with their tax preparers. It’s time to reflect on that experience and decide if you need to find new help for next year. Not all signs of a bad tax preparer are obvious, so don’t feel bad if you recognize one or more of these signs. Your tax specialist promises a big refund If your tax person is promising you a large return before they’ve even seen your tax documents, that’s a pretty good sign that they are up to no good. While a lot of people may be tempted to go with whomever promises the largest return,…
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    Appraisal Archive - AuctionWally - Auction Theorist and Strategist

  • How much is my Kachina doll worth?

    walt kolenda
    19 May 2013 | 2:07 pm
    Sherry asks? I don't know if this is Hopi or not, I've donated it to a local auction and want to know how much it's worth.AW says: Although you didn't send a measure,emt, it appears from the pictures and the plants in the background that your Kachina is about 4 feet tall. He's contemporary and is pretty neat. It's definitely in the Hopi style, and one would hope from the feathers in his headdress that he was made by a Native American. (they are the only ones allowed to use eagle feathers) but without a signature or attribution, I have now way of knowing for sure. I'm going to assume for the…

  • How much is my German Tea set worth?

    walt kolenda
    23 Apr 2013 | 8:49 am
    Hello from Martha Johnson.This is a very pretty little tea set - 17 pieces (including two lids), 6 cups/saucers (the cups measure 3" across), a creamer, a lidded sugar and the pot, also lidded.  There are no chips or cracks.  The bottom of each piece reads 'Bavaria, Waldershof, Germany and has a little crown.Bavaria, Waldershof, Germany tea setAW says: That is an adorable tea set, and it has several things going for it, one is that it's in an attractive floral print that will appeal to a lot of people. Second, it's a complete service, and third, it's in excellent condition. Circa…

  • How much are these jadite foo dogs worth?

    walt kolenda
    23 Apr 2013 | 8:46 am
    Martha asks:I have these jade foo dogs.  10" x 3"  As you can see, one of the dogs has a black spot under the tail, and black spots seem to have seeped under the jade. Jade foo dogsAW says: These are what is referred to as a yellow jade, with a Celedon type of color. Sometimes also called Jadite as some variations of jade are. This color is a bit more desirable and collectible than the green jade in most cases. Mainly because it's older and more rare. The black imperfection doesn't help the value, but this is a wonderful old sculpture and it doesn't completely destroy the value…

  • How much is my bronze urn worth?

    walt kolenda
    23 Apr 2013 | 8:14 am
    Barry says:I was told this urn is bronze and that it was imported from France.  It was purchased from Sandra or Susan (not sure) F. in Sandestin, FL.  Told it reailed for $5,000. The only marking on it looks like an S-- (see image 5627).  It weighs almost 16 pounds.  It stands 16 inches tall. Its base is 6 inches in diameter. Lion heads on both sides.  The lid is removable. Please let me know if you have further questions.  Thanks!Hello Barry,Your Bronze does appear to be one made by a French animalier aka an artist known for sculpting animals. It's very likely a…

  • How much is my sleeper sofa worth? Furniture appraisal

    walt kolenda
    9 Apr 2013 | 4:48 am
    Mary asks:I would like an appraisal of this hide-a-bed 1950's(I think) sofa. It has been reupholstered and the right end is loose and needs some fixing. I'm ready to get rid of this but because of its unique style wonder if it is worth anything. The mattress had a Chittenden and Eastmen label, a bedding company in Burlington IA. Would appreciate any help you can give me  Vintage Chittenden and Eastman sleeper sofa.AW says: Chittenden & Eastman began in 1866 and were one of the leading mattress companies in the US. In the 1950s & 60s they really started to emphasize their…
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    Financial Highway

  • How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search

    Kristen Kuchar
    16 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    Looking for a job can be stressful. While job search engines are great, using social media to land a job is a sometimes overlooked, but fantastic tool in finding a job. It allows you to showcase your work how you’d like, be creative, and connect with people very easily. Here’s how to use social media to find a job: LinkedIn The most important social media to use in your job search is LinkedIn, since recruiters often search the site for potential candidates and job searching is it’s primary role. Use your job title or summery to mention that you are looking for a job and describe the…

  • Peer to Peer Lending Worked for Me!

    KathrynV
    15 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    This post was originally published on August 13, 2011. This is an updated version. I don’t typically write first person stories about my own financial situation. However, I had a really positive experience with social lending. Although a lot of people have used peer-to-peer lending for both borrowing loans and investing money, there are still many people out there who don’t know if social lending is right for them. That’s why I thought I’d break from my traditional format to share my first person story about why social lending worked for me. What is Social Lending? Just in case you…

  • Tablet Vs. Laptop: What to Consider Prior to Purchase

    Myscha Theriault
    14 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    Many mobile professionals are under the impression they need to own every portable computing device and gadget on the market in order to be the best whiz kid on the block. One of the decisions many people struggle with is whether or not a tablet or laptop will meet their mobile needs. When considering the tablet versus laptop purchase, there’s more to think about than simply how often you travel. A number of issues factor into an informed choice, and I address several of the prominent ones below. (See also: Inexpensive Overhead Solutions for Starting Your Small Business) What’s Your…

  • When Do You Like to Splurge?

    Miranda
    13 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    We can’t be good all the time. Sometimes, it makes sense to splurge a little. While you don’t want to splurge constantly, it can be beneficial to you to splurge every now and then. What is a Splurge? There are many different ways to look at a splurge. In general, though, a splurge is something somewhat unexpected that you are willing to pay extra for. A splurge is something that you choose to upgrade. Whether you decide to fly first class this time, or whether you decide to buy a loved book, rather than check it out of the library. Most of the time, splurges are completely…

  • Weekly Review – ING $50, Top 4 April & More

    Ray
    10 May 2013 | 5:02 am
    We have made it through the RRSP and Tax deadlines, phew! If you have not filed and paid your taxes by now and still owe, you are in trouble! For most of us the hectic time of the year has ended, no more running around and finding receipts and T forms. If you are getting a tax returned, consider investing part of it and use the rest to splurge! Let’s look at the Top 4 articles on Financial Highway over the last few weeks. Before I get into that, here is a quick reminder that ING DIRECT Canada and CapitalOne 360 (former ING DIRECT USA) are still offering the cash reward for opening a new…
 
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    Credit.com News + Advice

  • What You Need to Know About Being a Landlord

    Tom Anderson
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    It’s a good time to be an aspiring property baron. Mortgage rates are still hovering near record lows. And, for most parts of the country, it’s cheaper to purchase than rent, which means you can buy low and rent high. (Curious to see if your region is a hot rental market? Check out our map of the the best and worst places to be a landlord. The time is also ripe right now for would-be landlords because the recovery in the housing market is accelerating. Real estate research firm CoreLogic reports that nationwide home prices were up 10.5% year-over-year in March,…

  • How to Pick an IRA That’s Right for You

    Jane Young
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    One of the most common questions I hear from clients is whether they should invest in a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Let’s start with an understanding of the difference between the two. The biggest difference between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA is when you pay taxes.  I like to think of it as “pay me now or pay me later” and with the IRS, there is no free lunch. Generally, contributions to a traditional IRA are deductible in the year they are made, but you must pay regular income tax upon distribution.  Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible when…

  • 4 Steps to Help You Pay Off Your Student Loans

    Benjamin Feldman
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Student loan debt is a huge problem these days. The total amount of U.S. student loan debt has reached about $1 trillion and the average amount owed is $25,000. Surprisingly, the majority of student loan holders are over 30 years old — which means a lot of people (not just 20-somethings) are being limited by their student loan debt. For those reasons, many students who are graduating right now are rightly concerned about their own student loans and how they will pay them off. Does that include you? If so, don’t worry — I’m going to give you some steps you need to…

  • How to Kill Zombie Judgments on Your Credit Report

    Gerri Detweiler
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    A judgment can suck the life out of your credit scores for years and make it difficult, if not impossible, to rebuild your credit. So settling or paying off a judgment is crucial if you want to get your credit back on track. But what happens when you can’t? La Recia wrote on the Credit.com blog: Can a judgment be removed from my credit if the collection agency has gone out of business? They filed the judgment in 2008 and filed bankruptcy in 2012. They are no longer in business. Please Help!! And she’s not alone. Another reader, Jen, shared her dilemma: I have a judgment that was…

  • New Grads: Want a Job? Move!

    Credit.com
    20 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Though many Americans are struggling financially even years after the end of the recent recession, one group that may be having particular difficulties in gaining the kind of independence they may need these days. Recent college graduates are often at a significant disadvantage when it comes to finding employment soon after they leave school, which in turn can make it far more difficult for them to achieve financial independence and even pay off the many obligations they may be carrying as a result of credit card bills, student loans and more, according to a report from the Federal…
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    Money Fox

  • Five Ways You Know You Have the Right Bank Account

    The Financial Fox
    14 May 2013 | 11:00 am
    These days, almost everyone has at least one bank account. The days of stashing your money under the mattress are long gone. In fact, some of us rarely even see cash. We get paid directly into our accounts, bills are paid by direct debit and purchases are made using cards. So, having a bank account that works well for you is very important. However, many of us still use the same account that we’ve had for years. It’s usually the same one that we opened in our teens. If we’re honest, we’d probably admit that our circumstances have changed a bit since then. So, how do you know if…

  • Cloud Computing for Small Business: From Accounting To Backups

    The Financial Fox
    23 Apr 2013 | 4:16 am
    There’s no doubt about it – cloud computing is made for the small business owner. At a basic level, it saves you money. There’s no need for email servers, file servers or any specialist software. In addition, you can use cloud computing services through virtually any platform, from your laptop to your mobile, giving you the facility to conduct business and collaborate with your colleagues from wherever you happen to be and at any time of day or night. But it’s not simply about data storage; cloud computing is set to revolutionise the way we do business, even at ground level. Level…

  • Medical Advances Pointless Without Private Health Cover

    Guest Post
    23 Apr 2013 | 3:28 am
    Knowing that we have health cover in case something goes wrong gives us peace of mind, but it is also giving many sleepless nights, as they toss and turn and worry about how they are going to pay for it. Private health insurance is considered an indicator of preventive health levels and the higher the level of care a member has, the better their level of preventive health can be assumed to be in developed nations. But there are some diseases where medicine has not yet given us conclusive evidence as to how to deal with their development or treatment, really testing the level of family health…

  • Australians Wish They Could Save More Than They Are

    Guest Post
    20 Apr 2013 | 3:35 am
    One nugget of wisdom that has emerged in the wake of the global financial crisis is that people are now saving far more than they used to, before the crisis. That was then – this is now. Back then, we used to splurge on credit card purchases, thoughtlessly increasing our credit limits to sky-high thresholds. We shopped indiscriminately, without ‘shopping around’ for better prices first. In essence, we were callous and inconsiderate with our personal finances; yet, luckily, this is no longer the case. While the recession did leave a few dramatic effects behind it (increasing numbers of…

  • Work-at-home Solutions Prove Increasingly Efficient in Australia

    Guest Post
    18 Apr 2013 | 3:49 am
    The boom of the online workforce has been touted in the media for several years now, with the advent and increased accessibility of social networking websites. Along with them, professional platforms also grew prominence, as did recruitment and contracting portals such as Freelance.com. At the moment, some 85,000 Australian companies are hiring staff online, thus reaching a two-fold goal. Not only are they accessing the best talent in the world in next to no time at all, but they’re also doing some serious overhead management. In the words of one entrepreneur, hiring a web dev or designer…
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    StepChange MoneyAware

  • Debt in Mind makes it to Parliament!

    StepChange Debt Charity
    17 May 2013 | 8:39 am
    Debt and mental health are linked They say from small acorns can spring mighty oaks. Well, from our acorn sprung something seriously mighty indeed! Our work alongside our friends at the Mental Health Foundation for Mental Health Awareness Week began as a simple belief that debt and mental health are intrinsically linked and that we should make more people aware of the connection between the two. But not only have thousands of people been made aware of our Debt in Mind campaign, but it’s also attracted attention from those who can make real changes to better the lives of so many. This…

  • How Samaritans can help you

    Samaritans
    16 May 2013 | 8:38 am
    Samaritans are in your corner At Samaritans, we’re aware that people are feeling under increasing pressure over money. At the start of the current financial crisis in 2008, one in 10 of our calls was about money, debt and related issues. Since then, this figure has risen to one in six. Although we know that worries about debt or the threat of losing a home can cause stress and depression, it’s important to understand that suicide is complex, and it is seldom the result of a single factor. It is likely to have several inter-related causes. For example, years of worry over money and debt…

  • Let’s get physical: Fitness and your mental health

    Suzannah
    15 May 2013 | 8:54 am
    Physical activity is good for the mind as well as the body This year for Mental Health Awareness Week, the Mental Health Foundation are focusing on the positive effects exercise has on our overall wellbeing. Many of us wish we lived a healthier lifestyle, but putting it into practice can seem easier said than done. A recent press release from the Mental Health Foundation claims that people would rather do boring housework than work out, and 28% of us exercise less than once a month. Our Wellbeing guide outlines not just the physical benefits of exercise but the emotional and mental ones too.

  • Our debt advisor awarded best in the country!

    Jess
    10 May 2013 | 8:57 am
    Hip hip hooray for our Trish! Leeds debt advisor Patricia Cassidy beat off tough competition to be crowned Debt Counsellor of the Year at the Credit Today Awards 2013.  Patricia was there in person to collect her award at last night’s ceremony held at the plush Grosvenor House Hotel in London. A panel of experts voted that she most consistently gave top notch debt advice, sympathetically dealt with difficult cases and worked to promote debt issues internally. Competition was tough in a category with seven other nominees, including advisors from Baines & Ernst, ClearDebt, Christians…

  • The stress of dealing with debt alone

    Rachel
    10 May 2013 | 3:49 am
    No one should ever have to deal with debt alone Mother Theresa was once quoted as saying “The most terrible (form of) poverty is loneliness”. Considering that in today’s society loneliness is said to be on the rise, she may well have been onto something. Problem debt and rising living costs are a burden for many people, but it seems that people living alone have it especially tough. A 2011 study by Co-operatives UK found that 51% of a single person’s income goes on essential items such as housing, food and utilities compared just 30% of income earned by people living together.
 
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    freemoneywisdom.com

  • Foreign Exchange and International Money Transfer News

    H. Abbas
    17 May 2013 | 12:42 pm
    The (Daily) Mirror tells how Chancellor George Osborne’s driver dropped him off at a roadside burger joint then, artlessly, parked the car in a disabled bay to wait for his passenger’s return.  A bystander took a picture of Mr Osborne getting back into the car and sent it to the paper, providing The Mirror with a wonderful opportunity to craft an article excoriating government policy.  It talks of the “outrage” at the Chancellor’s failure to supervise his driver and uses it to blame him for everything from welfare cuts to that funny stain on the sofa. The…

  • 5 Ways to Easily Damage Your Credit Score

    Sicorra
    14 May 2013 | 3:06 am
    Your credit score is something that you should always be aware of since it is the one important number that lenders and creditors use to assess your credit worthiness. It is vital that you take good care of your credit standing because a good credit score can help you when you apply for an account, a loan or mortgage. In this post we’re featuring five ways you can damage your credit score. Read on so you can steer clear of them. Failure To Pay On Time Or Missed Payments Late or missed payments on your credit card or your loan can shave off a lot of points from your credit score. Your…

  • Five Things that are Way More Important than Money

    Kevin
    14 May 2013 | 3:06 am
    It can often seem as if money is the measure of all things. This is especially true in the personal finance world where the answer to nearly any question seems to somehow involve money. This is a good time to step back and realize that there are a few things that are way more important than money. You can completely wipe out financially and rebound, but once lost, each of the five items below range anywhere from tough to impossible to reclaim. Your relationship with Jesus Christ In Mark 8:36 Jesus asks us: What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? He was of…

  • 7 Summer Jobs for College Students

    Kevin
    14 May 2013 | 3:02 am
    It’s springtime, and if you are a college student this is the prime time to be thinking about that summer job you’re hoping to get. There are the typical summer jobs out there  working in a grocery store, waiting tables, parking cars and cutting lawns  but there also jobs that offer both better pay and working conditions. Here are just a few Tutoring Just because you are out of school for the summer doesn’t mean everyone else is. There are high school and college students who are either taking summer school courses, or are taking advantage of the long break to strengthen…

  • 8 Ways to Spend Less on Gas

    Sicorra
    14 May 2013 | 2:54 am
    Gas prices have gone up again and it’s time to be even more careful with your expenses. Here are eight ways to spend less on gas and be more cost-efficient when it comes to commuting. Consider your transportation options first. Don’t let driving be your default mode of transportation. Consider your other options first. Can you walk or bike to your destination? Is there public transportation that can take you there? Can you carpool with other people? Try to think with cost savings in mind and you’ll find that driving your own car may not always be the best option if…
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    Help Me To Save

  • Should You Delay Taking Your State Pension?

    Karen Bryan
    17 May 2013 | 12:01 am
    In the UK, there is the option to delay taking your state pension, officially called State Pension Deferral, in order to receive either a larger pension or a lump sum payment. You can defer your State Pension regardless of whether you continue working or not. As an example, if you agree to start drawing your [...]Should You Delay Taking Your State Pension?How to save money. Copyrighted content published on Help Me To Save.

  • Watch Out For “Escape of Water” Excess on Home Insurance

    Karen Bryan
    14 May 2013 | 12:07 am
    I spent some time looking online for buildings insurance quotations for our son’s flat in Glasgow. I didn’t go for the cheapest price, but what I thought was the most comprehensive cover. I initially thought I’d found a good price which included accidental damage, home emergency and legal cover, with an excess of £100, for [...]Watch Out For “Escape of Water” Excess on Home InsuranceHow to save money. Copyrighted content published on Help Me To Save.

  • More Focused on Feathering Their Own NEST Than Providing Best Pension for Members

    Karen Bryan
    9 May 2013 | 12:12 am
    I’ve been doing a lot of research into personal pension charges, so I decided to look at charges on the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST). There’s an 0.3% annual management charge (AMC). I was surprised to learn that there’s also an 1.8% contribution charge (CC). That means for every £100 paid into your NEST pension [...]More Focused on Feathering Their Own NEST Than Providing Best Pension for MembersHow to save money. Copyrighted content published on Help Me To Save.

  • £30 of Debenhams Vouchers from Barclaycard Freedom Rewards

    Karen Bryan
    6 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    I wasn’t overly impressed by the Barclaycard Freedom Rewards Card. I thought the rewards were pretty meagre.  However, as I knew I had some large bills looming, I decided to apply for a Barclaycard Freedom Rewards Card, in order to get the £30 worth of shopping vouchers on offer to new customers who spent at [...]£30 of Debenhams Vouchers from Barclaycard Freedom RewardsHow to save money. Copyrighted content published on Help Me To Save.

  • Great Value at the Poppadom Express Indian Buffet in Woburn Place London

    Karen Bryan
    3 May 2013 | 12:07 am
    The Poppadom Express Indian Buffet in Woburn Place near Euston Station, offers quality food at the very reasonable price of £7.95 for lunch (including a soft drink, glass of wine of half pint of lager) and £12.95 for dinner. I had dinner at this restaurant on a Thursday evening in March 2013 with one of [...]Great Value at the Poppadom Express Indian Buffet in Woburn Place LondonHow to save money. Copyrighted content published on Help Me To Save.
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    NerdWallet Credit Card Blog

  • Best Cities for Women in the Workforce

    Divya
    19 May 2013 | 4:00 am
      As of 2012, women make up 49.3% of all U.S. workers, and 41.4% of mothers (including working wives as well as single mothers) are the main breadwinners of their household.  With the current economic state, many households are finding that they need two incomes to support their families.  NerdWallet took a closer look at metro areas with characteristics that support working women, including a growing economy, a small gender pay gap and robust salaries. NerdWallet calculated the best cities for women in the workforce by answering the following questions: 1.    Do women earn high…

  • Top Ten Financial Lessons From Arrested Development [GIF]

    Divya
    19 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    The final episodes of Arrested Development come out May 26, 2013.  Learn how to avoid the financial disaster plaguing the Bluths with our compilation of financial lessons learned from Arrested Development! 1. Keep an emergency fund  For the Bluths, there’s always money in the banana stand.  Hopefully you can keep yours in a more secure location that offers a decent interest rate, such as a savings account at a bank or credit union.  Check out NerdWallet’s advice on saving for a rainy day fund.   2. Make a budget and figure out how much you spend Lucille Bluth had no idea how much…

  • How to Be a Young Entrepreneur: 4 Tips for Kids

    Laura
    16 May 2013 | 5:21 pm
    Attention kids (and teens)! Do you have an amazing small business idea? Maybe it’s time to think about starting a home-based business. Contrary to what some people may tell you, anyone can be a young businessman or businesswoman. However, running your own business is a challenge at any age, and not everyone enjoys it. Owning a business is a lifestyle choice, and if you decide to do it, you need to be prepared for everything. If you’re determined and willing to work, you can do it! Grab a parent and keep reading to learn NerdWallet’s top four tips to help make your business a success. 1.

  • Q&A: What’s the Best Credit Card for a New Small Business?

    Anisha
    15 May 2013 | 12:18 pm
    NerdWallet, I just started my business and I need a credit card that will earn rewards. I will be buying supplies for the new office and will be doing some travel. What’s the best card for me? Contrary to popular belief, a new business can get the same credit cards as a more established business. You don’t need to be turning a profit, you don’t need to have employees; you can be a sole proprietorship, an LLC or a seller on Etsy and you’re still eligible for a business credit card. However, a new business has two considerations: Qualifying for the card: Without years…

  • Q&A: What Business Credit Cards Don’t Affect Your Personal Credit Score?

    Anisha
    13 May 2013 | 3:47 pm
    What cash rewards business cards don’t hold individuals personally responsible for the purchases? Is there a business card that will completely separate my business reporting from personal reporting? Unfortunately, if your business credit card is in your name (rather than just your employer’s), you are personally liable for the debts. The card also goes on your credit history. However, if you aren’t self-employed, you can ask your employer to give you a card where the company, not you, is liable. That said, even if the card’s in your name, it may not affect your FICO score as much as…
 
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    Card Hub

  • Ask The Experts: Tips for Turning Summer Break Into A Brighter Future

    John Kiernan
    16 May 2013 | 9:56 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanWhether you’re prone to believing that kids should just be kids for as long as possible or that they should get off their spoiled butts and start pulling their own weight, the financial tumult we’ve endured in recent years has made clear how important it is to start sowing the seeds of a successful financial future early. We saw a 23-year-high unemployment rate in October 2009 (10.0%), at which time 15.7 million people were out of work in the United States.  We saw more than 10% of all credit card users fall so far behind on their bills during the first half of…

  • Ask the Experts: If I Could Make One Change to the Tax Code, I Would…

    John Kiernan
    16 May 2013 | 12:34 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanIn this edition of our “Ask the Experts” series, we at Card Hub surveyed authorities on tax policy from around the country about how they would choose to alter the tax code in an ideal world. With tax season in full swing, the economy still floundering, and the federal government’s budget mess yet unresolved, it seems that no one is immune to money woes these days.  That’s not likely to change anytime soon either, what with Congress acting like kids on a cross-country road trip and the economic recovery doing its best impression of the University of Maryland…

  • Inside the New $100 Bill, Coming to a Bank Near You October 2013

    John Kiernan
    14 May 2013 | 10:57 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanIt turns out Jay-Z isn’t the only one with a new $100 bill these days, not to mention a highly-anticipated release date.  The Federal Reserve recently unveiled plans to introduce a revamped $100 note this October.  And while you obviously can’t use it to purchase the soundtrack for the new Great Gatsby movie – which was executive produced by the rap mogul and features his track “100$ Bill” – (at least not yet), the Fed believes new security features will help thwart increasingly advanced counterfeiting techniques. “The redesigned $100 note will begin…

  • The Best & Worst Cities for Summer Travel in 2013

    John Kiernan
    14 May 2013 | 6:19 pm
    Posted by: John KiernanIn order to supplement the money-saving information already available to travelers through CardHub’s Currency Conversion & Best Travel Credit Card studies, CardHub sought to determine the Best & Worst Cities for Summer Travel in 2013. More specifically, CardHub analyzed flights listed on Kayak.com from the 30 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the United States to the 10 most popular domestic and international destinations, using July 13 as the departure date and July 21 as the return date.  We compared airfare costs, flight times, and the…

  • Is Offshore Tax Evasion Costing Me, You & Uncle Sam Billions?

    John Kiernan
    10 May 2013 | 11:23 am
    Posted by: John KiernanWhile most of us have a vague idea that “offshore tax evasion” costs the government money and hurts the economy in the process, upon hearing the term we’re far more likely to think about Wesley Snipes, Al Capone, or some sort of abstract meeting between a shady looking billionaire and his Swiss banker on a boat somewhere.  But a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office revealed the IRS could be leaving billions of dollars in taxes, penalties, and interest owed by evaders on the table.  Considering all the recent angst over the sequester,…
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    Forex Research Blog | FXTechstrategy

  • EURUSD: All Eyes On The 1.2750 Level And Below.

    20 May 2013 | 2:09 am
    EURUSD: Having sold off for a second-week in a row, there is risk of further declines as we enter a new week . Support lies at the 1.2800 level and next the 1.2750/35 levels, its key support levels. Further down, support comes in at the 1.2600 level. Its weekly RSI is bearish and pointing lower supporting this view. Its weekly RSI is bearish and pointing lower supporting this view. On the upside, resistance resides at the 1.3050 level where a violation if seen will aim at the 1.3150 level. Further out, resistance resides at the 1.3242 level. A cut through here will resume its medium term…

  • USDCHF: Bullish, Sets To Extend Upside Offensive.

    17 May 2013 | 6:53 pm
    USDCHF – With further bullish offensive seen the past week, USDCHF looks to extend its strength in the new week. This development leaves the pair aiming at further strength towards the 0.9600 level. Further out, resistance resides at the 0.9800 level, its psycho level where a violation will aim at the 0.9850 level. Further out, resistance resides at the 0.9900 level with a turn above here exposing the 0.9970 level. Its weekly RSI is bullish and pointing higher suggesting further upside. On the downside, support lies at the 0.9520 level followed by the 0.9400 level where a breach will target…

  • AUDUSD: Weakens, Eyes The 0.9700 level and Below.

    17 May 2013 | 5:53 am
    AUDUSD: Having continued to weaken, the risk is for more decline to occur towards the 0.9700 level. Further downside, the 0.9600 level comes in as the next downside followed by the 0.9500 level. Its daily RSI is bearish and pointing lower supporting this view. Conversely, AUDUSD will have to return above the 1.0114 level to halt its present downside and then turn attention to the 1.0200 level. Further out, resistance comes in at the 1.0300 followed by the 1.0357/84 levels. All in all, the pair remains biased to the downside medium term. Trusted by 3,000+ Traders, FXTechstrategy Forex Research…

  • USDJPY: Bullish, Looks To Extend Further Upside

    16 May 2013 | 2:02 am
    USDJPY: Our outlook on USDJPY remains to the upside with a recapture of the 103.00 level on the cards. Further out, resistance resides at the 103.50 level followed by the 104.00 level. Its daily RSI is bullish and pointing higher supporting further upside. On the downside, initial support lies at the 101.25 level where a breach will create scope for more downside towards the 99.93 level. A reversal of roles as support is expected to occur. Below here if seen will aim at the 98.00 level followed by the 96.99 level. On the whole, USDJPY looks to extend further upside. Trusted by 3,000+ Traders,…

  • EURUSD: Violates Support To Resume Downside Pressure.

    15 May 2013 | 12:46 am
    EURUSD: With EUR taking out its support at the 1.2955 level to close lower on Tuesday and extending that weakness during early trading today, more decline is expected. Further down, support lies at the 1.2850 level followed by the 1.2750/35 levels, its key support levels. A cut through here will extend its bearishness towards the 1.6.50 level. Its daily RSI is bearish and pointing lower supporting this view. On the upside, resistance resides at the 1.3050 level where a violation if seen will aim at the 1.3150 level. Further out, resistance resides at the 1.3242 level. A cut through here will…
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    CreditDonkey

  • Study: Best Small Cities for College Grads

    20 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    Many people straight out of college want to head to New York, San Francisco, or Chicago to enjoy the big-city excitement during their 20s. But for some, a smaller, more manageable city with strong job opportunities is a better fit for their lifestyle.

  • CitiBusiness ThankYou Card Review

    17 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    Running a business is expensive. With the CitiBusiness ThankYou Card, you can earn 3 points on rotating business categories and 1 point for everything else you buy. It also offers a generous signup bonus and an anniversary bonus for cardholders that stay loyal to the program. Best of all, this card doesn’t charge an annual fee.

  • How to Save Money on Gas

    16 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    With the cost of gas constantly on the rise, filling up your tank can be painful. Fortunately, a few simple changes to your driving and gas-purchasing habits can improve your mileage per gallon and reduce the amount you have to spend on gas each week.

  • Veteran-Owned Businesses Are on Active Duty

    15 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    What do small business owners need to succeed? Among other things, they must have discipline, leadership abilities, and determination. So it’s not surprising that veterans, who’ve spent their time in the military honing those skills, are more likely than the general population to become business owners.

  • Young Adults Learn About Borrowing Concepts the Hard Way

    14 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    Most respondents to a recent CreditDonkey.com survey said they learned key finance concepts in high school. Despite all the reports about poor financial literacy buzz among adults and debates over when teens should learn money management skills, our survey of over 1,000 adults revealed that while in high school:
 
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    California Bankruptcy Blog

  • Bankruptcy’s Benefits and Limits for Stopping Child and Spousal Support Collections

    Norma Duenas
    2 May 2013 | 5:17 pm
    The rules are clear. Chapter 7 does not help much with support obligations (other than freeing up more of your money to pay it). But Chapter 13 can help tremendously. Regular, Monthly Support Payments How much you must pay each month in child and/or spousal support is determined by state family court. Bankruptcy court is [...]The post Bankruptcy’s Benefits and Limits for Stopping Child and Spousal Support Collections appeared first on California Bankruptcy Blog.

  • Stopping Collections from the IRS and FTB through Bankruptcy

    Norma Duenas
    21 Apr 2013 | 1:16 pm
    The IRS and the FTB are—for some purposes—just like any other creditor. The “automatic stay”—the bankruptcy tool that stops the collection actions of virtually all of your creditors—applies just the same against your tax creditors. Are you currently being pursued by the tax authorities and are wondering how to get relief from them? Or you’re [...]The post Stopping Collections from the IRS and FTB through Bankruptcy appeared first on California Bankruptcy Blog.

  • Two Important Sets of Changes to Bankruptcy Dollar Amounts Just Went into Effect

    Norma Duenas
    21 Apr 2013 | 10:03 am
    Coincidentally, two different sets of legal changes both became effective on April 1, 2013. One set of changes was to the state-by-state “median income” amounts. These affect whether or not you would qualify to file a Chapter 7 “straight bankruptcy” case, and also how long you would have to pay into a Chapter 13 “adjustment [...]The post Two Important Sets of Changes to Bankruptcy Dollar Amounts Just Went into Effect appeared first on California Bankruptcy Blog.

  • New Appeals Court Ruling Protects California Vehicles Used in Business

    Norma Duenas
    14 Apr 2013 | 11:36 pm
    Last month, an important court issued an opinion, applicable locally, that helps protect owners of vehicles who use their vehicle as a “tool of trade.” This opinion provides a good lesson for understanding how possessions that are important to you can be protected—in two distinct ways here—when filing bankruptcy. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals [...]The post New Appeals Court Ruling Protects California Vehicles Used in Business appeared first on California Bankruptcy Blog.

  • Can An Incompetent Person File for Bankruptcy With a Power of Attorney?

    Norma Duenas
    24 Mar 2013 | 11:45 pm
    Power of Attorney and Filing for Bankruptcy For many families and individuals, medical problems have contributed to financial issues that now require them to file for bankruptcy. A person who has Alzheimer’s, dementia, or a mental disorder, may need to file for bankruptcy, but because of their medical  or mental condition, they may not have [...]The post Can An Incompetent Person File for Bankruptcy With a Power of Attorney? appeared first on California Bankruptcy Blog.
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    The Penny Hoarder

  • Make Money While Shopping

    Jen
    20 May 2013 | 7:19 am
    If you like to shop or dine out, imagine getting paid to frequent your favorite stores, cafes and restaurants–all while scoring free perks and merchandise in the process! f you’ve ever heard of a mystery shopper or a secret shopper, then you know that these people are hired by companies to independently rate products, customer service, and overall shopping experience. In order to combat the grim statistics that 2 out of every 3 shoppers who quit shopping somewhere do so because of poor customer service, companies pay mystery shoppers so they can better evaluate their stores’…

  • Cruise Your Way to Extra $$ and a Free Vacation

    Jen
    16 May 2013 | 5:25 am
    I’m an avid traveler who is always on the hunt for the next great adventure–at a fraction of the typical cost. No stranger to pinching my pennies in order to take a trip, I’ve honed a few strategies over the years that have allowed me to travel completely free of charge or at steep discounts. Recently, I’ve been researching how to take my efforts up to the next level and get paid to travel for free. Get paid to travel for free? In short, yes, it is possible to not only vacation for free, but to also earn money while on said vacation. If you’re looking for a…

  • How to Make Money As a Professional Skier

    Kyle Taylor
    15 May 2013 | 6:45 am
    Do you know anyone that’s a professional skier? Unless you live in Denver or something, my guess is no. Initially, you might think that a professional skier is about as lucrative as a professional bowler (which, by the way, is absolutely NOT lucrative), but it couldn’t be farther from the truth for many of the good ones anyway. So how do professional skiers make money? Giving Lessons Just like in any sport, there are many people that wish to learn how to ski and will actually pay money to get some instruction. This doesn’t sound like it would offer a lot of money, but on those luxury…

  • How to Rent Your Commercial Space

    Kyle Taylor
    15 May 2013 | 6:37 am
    Do you consider yourself to be a real estate investor? Do you currently buy properties and look to make your money back over time rather than instantaneously? Are you more interested in large long term gains than small short term profits? If you can answer yes to each of these questions, then I would say yes, you are a real estate investor. Personally, I think that real estate is still one of the best investments a person can make when they’re trying to develop passive income. Many people agree with me, however, most don’t have the capital that’s necessary to begin investing, which is…

  • Make Hundreds by Creating and Selling Decorative Egg Shells

    Jen
    14 May 2013 | 10:39 pm
    An early form of art and prized by many civilizations as a symbol of fertility due to its unique shape, the egg has many more purposes aside from satisfying your hunger. Throughout the world, there are many artists who decorate (even even carve) egg shells into beautiful works of art that can be sold for hundreds of dollars each. If you’re a creative person who has a gentle touch, egg decorating could be a great way to bring in a few extra hundred dollars each month! Follow these tips and tricks to ensure your masterpieces can be created and sold quite easily. Prep the Surface Before…
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    Learn Financial Education

  • How to Create More Jobs in the Philippines

    Gily Tenorio
    14 May 2013 | 6:37 am
    Unemployment is one of the worst problems the Philippines has been facing for many years. It is definitely the one reason why many Pinoys are going abroad to work because they can’t find any job opportunities in the country. Lately, it is good to hear that the Philippines was upgraded by Fitch and Standard & Poor’s into an investment grade. This prompts investors to closely look for any investment opportunities in the country which could translate to more money and businesses going inside our country. However, these recent developments do not translate easily to more jobs for…

  • Happy Mother’s Day

    Gily Tenorio
    11 May 2013 | 4:56 pm
    I just want to greet my wife, my mothers, sisters and all those mothers out there, a very Happy Mother’s day! You are all inspiration to all of us. I cannot imagine a life without a mother, that’s why it a great blessing if you have still have a mother. Be sure to say gratitude to them and how much you love them. I have found a good video in YouTube about Mother’s day. I hope you would like it, here’s the video.       What to Read Next: Happy New Year! I Love Korea Video Contest Media

  • The 8 Traits Successful People Have in Common by Richard St. John

    Gily Tenorio
    7 May 2013 | 2:53 pm
    Are you successful in your field? Do you want to be successful in life or the career that you have? Being successful is subjective since it has different meaning depending on the person you’re asking. I want to be successful someday by following these 8 traits. I found a video about how to be successful in any field of career you may have which is very much align on what the Bible teaches about success. The video presentation is from Richard St. John, the best selling author and TED Talks presenter. He wrote a book about his interviews on more that 500 successful people in the world…

  • How Can You Prevent Phishing

    Gily Tenorio
    6 May 2013 | 1:52 pm
    If you visit most of the websites of Philippine banks, you’ll probably notice a warning on their web page about phishing. So what exactly is it all about? According to Wikipedia.com, phishing is is the act of attempting to acquire information such as user names, passwords, and credit card details (and sometimes, indirectly, money) by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is commonly done through sending email with a link to a bogus website. This bogus website is exactly the same as the true web page of the bank or any financial institution.

  • Why It Pays to be Diligent

    Gily Tenorio
    4 May 2013 | 5:46 pm
    Occasionally,  I’m posting topics related to Bible, personal finance and money. Here’s why I’m doing this. I would like to point out in this post about the Bible verse below: Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. —Proverbs 10:4 The Bible clearly teaches that lazy people cannot be and will not become rich and there’s no secret on becoming wealthy. Wealth is a byproduct of our diligent hands. Do you know any wealthy people who are not diligent in what they do, whether it is their job or business? Diligence really pays at the end so it is…
 
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    Consumer Help Central

  • How To File For Bankruptcy: An Introduction

    Jay Fleischman
    20 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    You already know you need to file for bankruptcy protection. Maybe you think that’s the hardest part of the process. In some ways, you’re right – there’s no way to overstate emotional agony involved in deciding on the right way to get out of debt. After all, once you’ve decided to go for it the process isn’t too tough. Lots of people file for bankruptcy themselves. In fact, a good chunk of the cases filed in Los Angeles are done without a lawyer involved. But there’s a difference between doing something and doing it well. It’s hard to do it…

  • Does Student Loan Forgiveness Encourage Bad Decision-Making?

    Jay Fleischman
    17 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    Peter Morici, an economist and professor at the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, claims that forgiving student loan borrowers of their debts will lead only to more bad decisions. There’s a move in Washington to do something about student loan debt. Senators propose freezing student loan interest rates. Federal agencies issue reports.  And, of course, there’s the rolling tide of bills to get private student loans rendered dischargeable in bankruptcy cases. No wonder: not only is there more than $1 trillion in student loan debt outstanding, but people have finally…

  • How To Handle Creditors Who Call You After You File For Bankruptcy

    Jay Fleischman
    16 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    The automatic stay in bankruptcy may feel like a children’s game, but the protections it offers are serious business. You file for bankruptcy with the expectation that your creditors are going to buzz off. They can’t call, write or in any way ask you to pay a pre-bankruptcy debt. There are some exceptions to the rule, but for the most part you’re persona non grata. But as with anything else, there are rules to follow when it comes to the automatic stay. Notice, Notice, Notice The law provides that the only way a creditor or collector can get in trouble for violating the…

  • Your Duties As A Debtor In A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case

    Jay Fleischman
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    In bankruptcy, you’re faced with a laundry list of duties. Ignore them at your peril. Making the decision to file for bankruptcy isn’t easy. You’re poring over options, looking to solve your problem in the best way for you. You’ve probably talked with a bunch of lawyers to find someone who knows the ropes and with whom you feel the most comfortable. Finally, you decide that Chapter 7 is the way to go. Now dig in – you’ve got things to do. Before Your Case Is Filed A bankruptcy filing consists of a full-blown inventory of everything you own, everything you…

  • How To Get Over Uncertainty And Solve Your Debt Problems

    Jay Fleischman
    14 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    When facing debt problems, dispel uncertainty to get a better solution. We love certainty in our lives. That’s why we drive the same route to work each morning, set our alarm clocks for the same time, and eat a narrow range of familiar foods. Certainty is comfortable, after all. It allows us to make decisions and know the outcome. That, in turn, allows us to focus our efforts accordingly. When we’re uncertain, we get scared. What’s going to happen if I venture into the unknown, take an unfamiliar road or let the alarm clock go tomorrow? The unknown makes us scared of not…
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    Credit Card Wisdom

  • Making The Points You Already Have More Valuable, Retroactively

    Credit Card Wisdom
    15 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Bank operated reward systems are not as complicated as the airline’s frequent flier programs, but they do have their nuances. It is a poorly understood reality that most of these programs have several different reward options, depending on which credit cards the customer holds. Some cardholders may only be able to redeem their points for [...]

  • How I Book Awards

    Credit Card Wisdom
    8 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    When people first start collecting miles, they often have a goal in mind for what they want to use them for. Once they reach that goal, they feel like they have accomplished something and are ready to book their award flight. In reality, they are perhaps only half way to their goal. In fact, the [...]

  • Credit Cards From Online Travel Agencies

    Credit Card Wisdom
    1 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    I have never been a big fan of online travel agencies. For my money, I would prefer to book my air directly with the airline, and my hotels directly from the hotel chain, and so forth. But there is no denying the convenience of using one of the major online travel agencies, especially when you [...]

  • Planning a Big Trip

    Credit Card Wisdom
    24 Apr 2013 | 3:00 am
    If I were to teach a college level class in credit card rewards and award travel planning, the final exam would be the planning of a big trip. By big, I mean more than just a long weekend to a domestic location. No, a big trip for me is two weeks or more on another [...]

  • How To Get The Most Value From Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

    Credit Card Wisdom
    17 Apr 2013 | 3:00 am
    For years, American Express dominated the field of flexible rewards points. Their Membership Rewards program as well as the points earned from their co-branded Starwood Hotels Preferred  Guest card were the best ways to earn points that could later be redeemed for frequent flier miles or travel reservations.  But recently, Chase has made strong moves [...]
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    Simple Debt-Free Finance

  • New Car Loans Set Record as Buyers Take Out Bigger Loans!

    Joe
    9 May 2013 | 10:49 am
    New car loans are setting records as Americans are going deeper in debt and for longer terms for new autos, according to the Yahoo! Finance article, Car Buyers Take Out Bigger Loans, Set New Record: American car buyers, attracted by new models and cheap financing, are taking out bigger auto loans and stretching out the terms of those loans to a new record length Americans pay more for longer with new car loans © emilio labrador Recession? What recession? In fact, everything is right back where we left off in 2008. According to Experian Automotive, the average new car loan in the fourth…

  • The Truth about Tax Cuts for the Rich (and Trickle Down Theory).

    Joe
    8 May 2013 | 9:06 am
    The modern Democrat party decries “Tax Cuts for the Rich” and claim such policies are responsible for the 2008 economic crash. Such politicians favor taxing the rich as a means to economic prosperity for all, but evidence suggests that this would be the wrong policy. Thomas Sowell explains the truth about “Tax Cuts for the Rich” (and Trickle Down Theory). Here’s a video of Thomas Sowell, author of Trickle Down Theory and Tax Cuts for the Rich, explaining the fallacy of that “Tax the Rich” mindset: In a nutshell, proponents of taxing the rich treat…

  • What a Mortgage Paydown Is, and Why You Should Consider It.

    Joe
    29 Apr 2013 | 9:33 am
    So, you’ve searched, gone to open houses, negotiated with lenders, and you’ve finally the keys to your new home in hand. Only it isn’t yours because, like most, you’ve taken out a mortgage. Now comes the issue of paying off your home mortgage loan. No worries. There are a lot of strategies out there to cut the debt on your house, but we’re going to focus on one: the paydown. First, terminology: A paydown is when you, the debtor, pays both the principal — the amount you’ve borrowed from a creditor — and the interest at the same time on any given loan.

  • Top 4 Ways To Get Financially Savvy With Your Mobile Device.

    Joe
    28 Apr 2013 | 11:58 am
      Being budget smart and tech savvy often go hand in hand and for obvious reasons. Technology has made it easy for you to accomplish almost anything—including keeping track of your finances and spending with Excel spreadsheets. With the popularity of mobile devices, it comes as no surprise that budget cautious users are starting to shift their financial spreadsheet tracking onto smartphones and tablets. If you’re starting to make use of your mobile device to stay on budget yourself, here’s some advice on how to stay smart and stay on top of your financial tracking sheets while on…

  • 4 Tips for Finding Cheap Exotic Vacation Deals Online.

    Joe
    27 Apr 2013 | 8:11 am
    If you are looking to take an inexpensive trip with your family there are plenty of things that you can do. You can go camping, fishing or even take a road trip. These are all fun vacation options that won’t break the bank. However, sometimes you want to visit an exotic island with the family and spend your vacation days in a more luxurious fashion. Many people believe that these sorts of family trips are way out of their budgets, but with the right amount of planning, everything is possible. Exotic vacations can be reasonably priced, you just need to know where, when and how to look for…
 
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    Thirty Six Months

  • Get Creative. Save Money. Win $10,000!

    Marissa
    17 May 2013 | 9:17 am
    Yeah, you read that right. ING Direct and Walk off the Earth are partnering together to give away $10,000 in the Superstar #SaverSearch! All you have to do is show them your most creative ways to save money. And because ING Direct is the best bank ever, they have not only 1, but 3 prizes. Prizing: 1st place winner – $10,000 2nd place winner – $3,000 3rd place winner – $2,000   Here are some ideas. Yeah, it really is that easy! How do you enter? To enter the contest, all you have to do is create and upload a video that showcases the most original way you save your money.

  • 5 Tips to Improve Cash Flow Problems

    Marissa
    13 May 2013 | 12:43 pm
    Cash flow problems are one of the main reasons for businesses to struggle financially. It doesn’t matter how great your profit is, if you have poor cash flow, you will not be able to pay your bills on time. If your cash problems have only just started, you can improve it by making a few changes to the way your business runs. Here at Real Business Rescue we are suggesting five tips to quickly improve your situation.  1.     Change your invoicing: instead of allowing clients to pay you upon completion, set a requirement that the balance is paid upfront. This means that the money is in…

  • On Attempting to Stay Wired In

    Marissa
    8 May 2013 | 6:26 am
    You know those days/weeks where live gets away from you, and you have no idea what day of the week it is, and have to consult the calendar on your phone to know what day it was? Yeah, that just happened to me. We’re all living our lives a bit more through technology these days, and for the most part this shift has occurred for the sake of convenience and simplicity. Businesses are able to run more smoothly, students lead easier lives, and general communication has never been simpler. However, there are also negative consequences of relying more heavily on technology, and one is that we…

  • Carnival of MoneyPros – (Step Away from your computer and go outside- Edition)

    Marissa
    4 May 2013 | 2:24 pm
    Roger Wohlner @ The Chicago Financial Planner writes Target Date Funds: 6 Considerations Before Investing – Target Date Funds are a popular option in many 401(k) plans. Here are 6 considerations to think about when deciding whether Target Date Funds are right for you. SB @ One Cent at a Time writes How Much Debt Is Too Much Debt – Most people have some kind of debt. It might be a mortgage, an auto loan, a student loan, or even a credit card balance. Having debt isn’t a bad thing as long as you are taking steps to pay it off. It’s having too much debt that can cause an…

  • On Voting with Your Wallet

    Marissa
    25 Apr 2013 | 7:00 am
    Let’s talk about smart buying for a second, shall we? You may have read my previous post about being a potential hoarder, and are aware that I can get really excited about wanting certain items. Then going out and buying 5 of the same one. It happens to the best of us. I’m happy to note that there are a lot of people like me. We just like things.  Things make us feel accomplished. Although I’m more likely to spend money on lunch or dinner with friends or go away than buy something pricey (unless its electronics). But I digress. Because of the fear of being a potential…
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    Thirty Six Months

  • Get Creative. Save Money. Win $10,000!

    Marissa
    17 May 2013 | 9:17 am
    Yeah, you read that right. ING Direct and Walk off the Earth are partnering together to give away $10,000 in the Superstar #SaverSearch! All you have to do is show them your most creative ways to save money. And because ING Direct is the best bank ever, they have not only 1, but 3 prizes. Prizing: 1st place winner – $10,000 2nd place winner – $3,000 3rd place winner – $2,000   Here are some ideas. Yeah, it really is that easy! How do you enter? To enter the contest, all you have to do is create and upload a video that showcases the most original way you save your money.

  • 5 Tips to Improve Cash Flow Problems

    Marissa
    13 May 2013 | 12:43 pm
    Cash flow problems are one of the main reasons for businesses to struggle financially. It doesn’t matter how great your profit is, if you have poor cash flow, you will not be able to pay your bills on time. If your cash problems have only just started, you can improve it by making a few changes to the way your business runs. Here at Real Business Rescue we are suggesting five tips to quickly improve your situation.  1.     Change your invoicing: instead of allowing clients to pay you upon completion, set a requirement that the balance is paid upfront. This means that the money is in…

  • On Attempting to Stay Wired In

    Marissa
    8 May 2013 | 6:26 am
    You know those days/weeks where live gets away from you, and you have no idea what day of the week it is, and have to consult the calendar on your phone to know what day it was? Yeah, that just happened to me. We’re all living our lives a bit more through technology these days, and for the most part this shift has occurred for the sake of convenience and simplicity. Businesses are able to run more smoothly, students lead easier lives, and general communication has never been simpler. However, there are also negative consequences of relying more heavily on technology, and one is that we…

  • Carnival of MoneyPros – (Step Away from your computer and go outside- Edition)

    Marissa
    4 May 2013 | 2:24 pm
    Roger Wohlner @ The Chicago Financial Planner writes Target Date Funds: 6 Considerations Before Investing – Target Date Funds are a popular option in many 401(k) plans. Here are 6 considerations to think about when deciding whether Target Date Funds are right for you. SB @ One Cent at a Time writes How Much Debt Is Too Much Debt – Most people have some kind of debt. It might be a mortgage, an auto loan, a student loan, or even a credit card balance. Having debt isn’t a bad thing as long as you are taking steps to pay it off. It’s having too much debt that can cause an…

  • On Voting with Your Wallet

    Marissa
    25 Apr 2013 | 7:00 am
    Let’s talk about smart buying for a second, shall we? You may have read my previous post about being a potential hoarder, and are aware that I can get really excited about wanting certain items. Then going out and buying 5 of the same one. It happens to the best of us. I’m happy to note that there are a lot of people like me. We just like things.  Things make us feel accomplished. Although I’m more likely to spend money on lunch or dinner with friends or go away than buy something pricey (unless its electronics). But I digress. Because of the fear of being a potential…
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    Compare Wallet: Making Sure Your Money Isn't Accepting Second Best

  • Is Debt Consolidation for You?

    Chris Mettler
    20 May 2013 | 2:23 pm
    Most American’s have debt, some more than others especially if student loans have been taken out. As of March 2013, consumer indebtedness was at $11.23 trillion. Non-housing debt is currently at $11 billion for auto loans, $20 billion for student loans and $19 billion for credit card balances. With over 30 million American’s having debt with a collection agency ($909 billion of delinquent debt), it’s important we understand how to get out of debt. One practice is debt consolidation. That’s the act of combining all debt into one payment with the goal of paying on a lower interest rate.

  • The Right Way to Pay Off Bad Credit Card Debt

    Michael Pruser
    19 May 2013 | 7:00 pm
    If you are one of the millions of Americans flooded with debt, it can often be an anxious time.  For most, they don’t know where to even begin as there is so much debt over so many different sources, it is hard to get started.  If you are one of those people, fear not.  Ridding yourself of that debt won’t be easy, and it won’t be a short road.  However with due diligence and persistent work, you’ll find yourself out of debt or at least in a more comfortable spot before you know it.  So, where do you start? In this article, we will go over the right way to pay off…

  • Credit Cards in the News: May 12 – 18, 2013

    Guest Writer
    19 May 2013 | 10:09 am
    This was a week of surprising announcements in personal finance news. We learned that Google is soon going to allow money to be sent through emails, and that Visa is thirsty for expansion in China. Meanwhile, Standard Chartered issued a new credit card through Visa that offers top-of-the-line amenities to its users. Chase launched a new app to help homebuyers get good deals, and Western Union saw unexpected growth in the first part of 2013. As each week passes, we learn more about the credit card industry than we thought possible. This week was no exception. Read on to see the surprises and…

  • How to Get a Good Deal on Your First Home

    Heaven Stubblefield
    18 May 2013 | 11:20 am
    Buying your first home can be a scary process, especially if you dive in without doing your research. There is a lot of money on the table, and getting a loan for a home is a long-term commitment. Needless to say, this is not a decision you need to rush into. Rather than buying a home without any preparation, it’s best to understand how the process works and try to act like you’ve been through it before. This way, you will avoid common mistakes with home buying while finding a house you can feel proud to own. Here is a buying guide for first time home owners to help you ensure…

  • Quick Tips for Choosing a New Credit Card

    Michael Pruser
    18 May 2013 | 5:30 am
    Many consumers want to find a better credit card, but the choices can be mind-boggling.  There are hundreds of credit cards on the market nowadays, and every one of them has something different to offer. Should you go with the cash back credit card or the points rewards card?  What kind of interest rate are you comfortable with?  All valid questions for someone in need of a new piece of plastic. In this article, we will give you a few quick tips for choosing a new credit card. You may need to learn more to officially choose the card for you, but this will get you off to a great start. Know…
 
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    Argel Tiburcio

  • Grow Your Money Like Bo Sanchez: 3 Ways to Invest

    Argel Tiburcio
    20 May 2013 | 6:54 pm
    A Quick Recap First Now that we have learned about determining your Net Worth, creating your Cash Flow Statement, preparing your Safety Account, setting your Financial Goals, having a Spending Plan and knowing all about Risks and Insurance, it is now time to grow your money by investing! Are you excited to learn how Bo [...] The post Grow Your Money Like Bo Sanchez: 3 Ways to Invest appeared first on Argel Tiburcio. You Might Also Like: The Bo Sanchez Guide to Living Rich for Less [Part... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com

  • How Safe is Your Monthly Income from Personal Disability?

    Argel Tiburcio
    13 May 2013 | 3:50 pm
    The Morbid Truth Yes, it’s another morbid topic. We’ve talked about life insurance and its different types. Now we’ll know about another type of insurance which is Disability Insurance. But before that, let’s imagine a possible scenario first. Let’s say we know an active-income-producing breadwinner guy who works from Monday to Friday. Of course, in [...] The post How Safe is Your Monthly Income from Personal Disability? appeared first on Argel Tiburcio. You Might... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com

  • The Zen of Life Insurance

    Argel Tiburcio
    6 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    What is Life Insurance? Now that we already know the types of risk, let’s focus on one risk that most people don’t even think about: the risk of losing their life. Actually, I do not want to sound morbid but losing our life is 100% guaranteed to happen. Everybody dies. What we don’t know is [...] The post The Zen of Life Insurance appeared first on Argel Tiburcio. You Might Also Like: 4 Sure-Fire Ways to Handle Life’s Risks Warning: Do Not Ignore Risk Management If... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com

  • 4 Sure-Fire Ways to Handle Life’s Risks

    Argel Tiburcio
    29 Apr 2013 | 3:53 pm
    Ways to Handle Risks In a previous post, we talked about risks and what it means to you. So know that you understand what risks are, the next question is “How do I handle risks?” Believe it or not, you are currently doing these ways to handle risks and you just don’t know it. 1. [...] The post 4 Sure-Fire Ways to Handle Life’s Risks appeared first on Argel Tiburcio. You Might Also Like: Warning: Do Not Ignore Risk Management If You Want To Become Wealthy The Bo... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com

  • Warning: Do Not Ignore Risk Management If You Want To Become Wealthy

    Argel Tiburcio
    22 Apr 2013 | 3:50 pm
    What are Risks? It’s never enjoyable to think about risks. However, if you get the big picture and you really understand risk management, you will actually feel more secure and more relieved. Do you know that almost everything you do involve risks? When you cook your breakfast, you have the risk of accidentally getting burned [...] The post Warning: Do Not Ignore Risk Management If You Want To Become Wealthy appeared first on Argel Tiburcio. You Might Also Like: How to Determine Your... ...this is just an excerpt, you can read the full article at http://www.ArgelTiburcio.com
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    Feeds : dailyworth

  • 6 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score Now

    18 May 2013 | 5:00 pm
    Improving your credit score does require some patience and perseverance -- a significant increase can take 12 months or more, according to experts. But it’s worth the effort. A jump of even 100 points can translate into thousands of dollars in interest saved on a loan or mortgage. If you applied for a 30-year mortgage loan for $200,000, for example, the difference between a FICO score of 650, which is considered good, and one of 750, which is great, could be nearly $34,000 in savings, thanks to the lower interest rate the higher score could get you. FICO scores can range up to 850,…

  • What Do Your Money Dreams Mean?

    16 May 2013 | 5:00 pm
    Before you shake your head and say that dreams have no impact on your waking life, consider this: scientists have found that they can actually affect our daytime behavior.

  • Ask An Advisor: When Should I Collect Social Security?

    15 May 2013 | 5:00 pm
    My husband and I turned 65 in 2012. We are both still working, but finding it difficult to make ends meet. At age 66, my husband would get about $800 per month in Social Security and I would get about $2,000 per month. Can we both keep working and begin collecting our benefits this year? If so, should we? -- Rebecca, Milford, NJ Social Security is one of those terms that almost every American has heard but very few fully understand. That’s kind of scary since approximately 35 percent of Americans over 65 depend on Social Security benefits as their only income source, according to the…

  • Ask an Advisor: What Is a Reverse Mortgage?

    15 May 2013 | 5:00 pm
    I am curious about reverse mortgages and am wondering if this is a good option for me. If so, how do I find a reputable mortgage rep to work with? --Jeanne, Boothwyn, PA This is a question that more and more people have been asking since 2008 when many retirement nest eggs shrunk significantly. On the surface -- and certainly in those TV commercials featuring aging actors -- reverse mortgages sound great: tax-free, easy access to cash that is safe and effective. That description is mostly true, but there are a few caveats. Here are the basics: a reverse mortgage is a special kind of loan that…

  • Top 8 Mistakes Investors Make

    15 May 2013 | 5:00 pm
    Investing in the stock market is always a gamble and it doesn’t hurt to have a little luck on your side. But the difference between a successful investor and an unsuccessful one can be as simple as doing a few things right and avoiding certain mistakes. Steer clear of these eight common missteps and you can greatly improve your chances of achieving your investing goals, whether you’re a novice or semi-pro: Not starting early enough. Yes, better late than never. But with investing, the earlier the better. As many of us in the industry like to say, “It’s not about timing…
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    Money Q&A

  • Carnival Of Retirement – 71st Edition

    Hank Coleman
    20 May 2013 | 5:56 am
    It is my great honor to host this week’s edition of the Carnival of Retirement. It is the 71st Edition of the Carnival of Retirement. There is a a ton of great personal finance and retirement specific articles this week in the Carnival of Retirement. You don’t want to miss them. Roger Wohlner @ The Chicago Financial Planner writes Stock Market Highs and Your Retirement – Over the past 13 years we have seen two market peaks followed by pronounced market drops. As someone saving for retirement what should you do at this point? Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor…

  • Ten Ways To Earn A 10% Rate Of Return On Your Investments

    Hank Coleman
    13 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Are you getting the best rate of return on your investment? The market is heating up but are your investments? Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine just discussed 45 ways to boost your investment yield in their latest issue. I have to say that I was pretty disappointed in their recommendations. I love the magazine, but I didn’t really care for a list of mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). I wanted concrete ideas on how to earn a 10% annual rate of return on my investments. US Treasuries are earning less than 1% and money market funds are not fairing much better.

  • Why Facebook And Social Media May Be Ruining Your Career

    Hank Coleman
    8 May 2013 | 8:05 am
    Some estimates say that almost half of all Facebook users age 18 to 34 check their Facebook accounts right when they wake up in the morning. Over a quarter even check their friends’ statuses before they get out of bed. Twitter addiction isn’t much better. One study says that over 20% of Twitter users use their accounts as their only means to find out the morning news. While there is a growing explosion of the use of social media and its addictive properties, there is a danger to its overuse as well. American workers and companies are feeling the wrath of overuse and unhealthy social media…

  • This Week’s Podcast with Peter Renton from Lend Academy

    Hank Coleman
    6 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    This week on Money Q&A’s podcast,  “Your Money Your Choices”, we talk to Peter Renton who is one of the subject matter experts on Peer-To-Peer Lending. He’s the publisher of Lend Academy and the author of “The Lending Club Story“. In the podcast, Peter talks about how easy it is to get started investing in peer-to-peer lending through websites like Lending Club. Episode #6: Increase Your Investment Return With Peer-To-Peer Lending Are you sick and tired of earning less than 1% on your savings accounts or money market funds? Government bonds are not offering…

  • Switching Business Gas Tariffs: It’s Easier than It Looks

    Guest Contributer
    1 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    Whether you’re a domestic or commercial customer, keeping an eye on your energy tariff is imperative if you want to pay the least you can for your energy use. Comparing suppliers is often much easier than you may expect, whether you’re comparing for home or business gas. In fact, while many people may think that switching business gas would be an arduous task that requires a lot of hoops to be jumped through, it’s actually much easier than that. If you have been doing your research and you have found that the supplier you currently receive your energy from isn’t the…
 
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    Bad Credit Blog

  • What is an underwater mortgage?

    Allison K.Watkins
    15 May 2013 | 3:49 pm
    If you’ve watched the news over the past few years since the housing crisis, you’ve probably heard the term “underwater” thrown around a bit; “underwater mortgage,” “underwater homeowner,” and “underwater home” all refer to the same situation, but do you understand what it means to be underwater? And what your options are if you find yourself in this precarious situation?   First, a definition. An underwater mortgage describes a situation known as negative equity: when the outstanding balance on a loan is greater than the value of the asset used to secure that loan.

  • What is Bankruptcy: The Basic Truth

    Allison K.Watkins
    15 May 2013 | 3:47 pm
    What is Bankruptcy: The Basic Truth   When thinking about personal finances, there’s one word that strikes fear into the hearts of most people: bankruptcy. It’s a word that has a lot of implications, and causes a lot of stress, but not everyone really understands what it is or why it’s used. Bankruptcy can be a pretty complicated process, but I’ll give the basics of two of the most common types of bankruptcy here: chapter 7 and chapter 13.   Chapter 7 bankruptcy is also known as a liquidation bankruptcy, and basically involves the sale of almost all assets that belong to a…

  • Top 5 Mortgage Companies in the US: No. 5,Amerisave

    Allison K.Watkins
    27 Apr 2013 | 10:18 am
    Another of the very large mortgage lenders, Amerisave states that their goal is to “provide low rates and excellent service to every customer.” And by offering a large number of different types of loans, they aim to cater to anyone needing a mortgage, whether it’s a regular home loan, a Federal Housing Administration loan, a VA loan, or anything else. They also offer adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) and interest-only loans, which require that you only pay the interest during an initial period. Fannie May Approved: Amerisave is an approved Fannie Mae mortgage lender, meaning that it has…

  • Top 5 Mortgage Companies in the US: No. 4, Wells Fargo (Wachovia)

    Allison K.Watkins
    19 Apr 2013 | 7:22 am
    Wells Fargo (which now covers all Wachovia home mortgages as well) is one of the largest providers of home mortgages in the United States, and has a presence in 40 states. Because of this, Wells Fargo is able to provide a wealth of resources to its customers that help them determine which loans are the best for their particular situation, as well as services that help keep customers informed of their obligations and options. Smarter Credit Center:Applying for a mortgage can be an intimidating process, and doing research is of paramount importance—fortunately, Wells Fargo provides a lot of…

  • 5 questions to ask your mortgage provider before signing the contract

    Allison K.Watkins
    19 Apr 2013 | 7:19 am
    Signing a mortgage is a big deal. In fact, it’s one of the most significant financial events that many people experience in their lives. And because of the recent mortgage crisis, it’s quite obvious that people often don’t really understand how their mortgage works. Here are five questions that you can ask your mortgage provider before signing your loan to make sure that you fully understand what you’re getting and what your responsibilities are. What’s the interest rate? This seems like an obvious one, but it is by far the most important. In order to comprehend your interest rate,…
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    Forex Weekly Technical Indicators Statistic Record

  • Forex Technical Analysis (19 May 2013) - Next Week Outlook

    Ayatollah Rock
    18 May 2013 | 7:57 pm
    MACD Settings:- First EMA = 12 | Second EMA = 26 | Signal EMA = 9 Stochastic Settings:- Period = 5 | Average Period Fast = 7 | Average Period Full =7 Bollinger Bands Settings:- Average = 20 | Standard Deviation = 2 Date: 19 May 2013 Time: 10:19 AM (+8 GMT) EUR-USD Technical Indicators 4 Hourly Daily Weekly Monthly MACD Up Down Down Up Full Stochastic Down Down Up Down Bollinger Bands N/A N/A N/A N/A Chart Formation N/A N/A Head/Shoulder Flag Market Direction Neutral Down Neutral Neutral Market Comments As discussed here (Forex Technical Analysis) Now that the Head/Shoulder formation is…

  • AUD-USD Weekly Technical Analysis (13 May 2013)

    Ayatollah Rock
    13 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    MACD Settings:- First EMA = 12 | Second EMA = 26 | Signal EMA = 9 Stochastic Settings:- Period = 5 | Average Period Fast = 7 | Average Period Full =7 Bollinger Bands Settings:- Average = 20 | Standard Deviation = 2 Date: 13 May 2013 Time: 9:48 PM (+8 GMT) AUD-USD Technical Indicators 4 Hourly Daily Weekly Monthly MACD Down Down Down Down Full Stochastic Up Down Down Down Bollinger Bands Bottom Bottom Bottom Bottom Chart Formation N/A N/A N/A N/A Market Direction Neutral Down Down Down Market Comments MACD and Stochastic both goes down in Weekly time frame supported by Daily and Monthly Time…

  • EUR - USD Technical Observation (12 May 2013)

    Ayatollah Rock
    12 May 2013 | 7:11 am
    MACD Settings:- First EMA = 12 | Second EMA = 26 | Signal EMA = 9 Stochastic Settings:- Period = 5 | Average Period Fast = 7 | Average Period Full =7 Bollinger Bands Settings:- Average = 20 | Standard Deviation = 2 Date: 12 May 2013 Time: 10:02 PM (+8 GMT) EUR-USD Technical Indicators 4 Hourly Daily Weekly Monthly MACD Down Down Down Up Full Stochastic Down Down Up Down Bollinger Bands Bottom Bottom Middle Middle Chart Formation Head/Shoulder Head/Shoulder Head/Shoulder Flag Market Direction Down Down Sideway Sideway Market Comments Sharp downfalls of the EUR-USD create flagging formation.

  • Forex Technical Analysis (09 May 2013)

    Ayatollah Rock
    9 May 2013 | 7:21 am
    MACD Settings:- First EMA = 12 | Second EMA = 26 | Signal EMA = 9 Stochastic Settings:- Period = 5 | Average Period Fast = 7 | Average Period Full =7 Bollinger Bands Settings:- Average = 20 | Standard Deviation = 2 Date: 09 May 2013 Time: 09:51 PM (+8 GMT) EUR-USD Technical Indicators 4 Hourly Daily Weekly Monthly MACD Down Up Down Up Full Stochastic Down Down Up Down Bollinger Bands Middle Middle Middle Middle Chart Formation N/A Head/Shoulder Head/Shoulder Flag Down Market Direction Down Neutral Neutral Down Market Comments Ever since the EUR-USD made its correction upward it has been…

  • Forex Technical Analysis (29 April 2013)

    Ayatollah Rock
    27 Apr 2013 | 3:31 am
    MACD Settings:- First EMA = 12 | Second EMA = 26 | Signal EMA = 9 Stochastic Settings:- Period = 5 | Average Period Fast = 7 | Average Period Full =7 Bollinger Bands Settings:- Average = 20 | Standard Deviation = 2 Date: 27 April 2013 Time: 6:32 PM (+8 GMT) EUR-USD Technical Indicators 4 Hourly Daily Weekly Monthly MACD Up Up Down Up Full Stochastic Up Down Up Up Bollinger Bands Top Middle Middle Middle Chart Formation Head/Shoulder Head/Shoulder Head/Shoulder N/A Market Direction Up N/A N/A N/A Market Comments The short and intermediate term maybe going sideways to fight support/resistance…
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    Creative Money

  • Four Steps To Getting Out Of Debt For Good

    Mindy Crary
    14 May 2013 | 5:03 am
    In my blog, I don’t talk a lot about the nuts and bolts of personal finance, but recently, I was working with an individual client who was struggling with getting out of debt. I realized that I was forgetting how hard it can be, to make a shift from thinking of yourself as a person who “always” has debt to someone who is debt free. The “Getting Out Of Debt” Mindset Components Your mindset is what you believe about the world and everything in it…it’s the paradigm and belief system you use to make all of your decisions, and 90% of the time, people aren’t totally conscious…

  • Your Financial Management Spring Cleaning Checklist

    Mindy Crary
    6 May 2013 | 5:28 pm
    Maintaining control and clarity over your financial management system can be a pain in the . . . neck.  It’s easy to get obsessed on the one or two things that you think are going to make or break your current, short-term financial life (underwater mortgage, staggering student loan debt, being 8 ½ months pregnant . . . ).  Reality is that slow, incremental consistent steps with your financial management system win out over dramatic action every time. 10 Steps for Simple Financial Management  I recently saw a list of over 30 things that a person should do to clean up their financial…

  • 5 Easy Ways to Save Money on Food

    Mindy Crary
    30 Apr 2013 | 1:56 pm
    This week’s post is a companion piece to my own post on ways to save money on food, from Sonnet Lauberth.  Sonnet is a holistic health coach, food educator, blogger, and writer on a mission to help people create fresh food that nourishes their body and tastes good! She is the voice behind For The Love of Fooda seasonal cooking blog that’s filled with recipes to help you live a healthy, sustainable life.  We’re joining together to bring you Conscious Money, Conscious Eating. What are your biggest challenges to eating healthfully?  There are a few I hear from readers and my…

  • How You Can Save Money On Food

    Mindy Crary
    22 Apr 2013 | 11:55 am
      If you’re looking to cut back on your spending, you are probably wondering how you can save money on food as a budget item; which makes sense, because it’s much easier to cut back on a variable expense like food, versus a fixed expense like rent or mortgage.  There are a lot of good websites that discuss frugality with food—Wisebread, for one—but if you’re just starting out in your quest to find ways to save money, sometimes it can be overwhelming.  How You Can Save Money On Food I admit that I wasn’t very good about figuring out how you can save money on…

  • Trying to make sense of the Boston Marathon explosion? Yeah, me too . . .

    Mindy Crary
    17 Apr 2013 | 10:56 am
    I didn’t feel right about writing about money this week.  Somehow, it seemed trivial to write about personal finance when almost 200 people are injured or dead from the explosions.  I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop as we figure out how this could happen. I’m not political.  Most of my political views are shaped by Aaron Sorkin (the writer of West Wing and The Newsroom).  However, from a political standpoint, I believe that the constant onslaught of fundraising and position emails should have stopped for more than a day, as a moment of respect and reflection for our dead…
 
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    Three Thrifty Guys

  • Side Income Stream Idea: Vacation Rental Property

    Aaron
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Charlie and I are big proponents of passive income or side income streams. In other words – creating alternative revenue sources to your current full-time gig. Over the coming months – we hope to provide you with some more side income ideas that you can chew on or possibly implement into your financial picture should they match your goals or passions. One such idea that I would love to put into action someday is vacation rental property. I’ve talked before about our owning a rental property (and the joys and pitfalls of being a landlord) – but I think there is a…

  • Why Do Gas Prices Keep Going Up (and What You Can Do to Save)

    Aaron
    17 May 2013 | 1:58 am
    Here in the Midwest, we are experiencing a higher than normal spike in gas prices. The local news stations tell us it is due to several oil refineries closing down at the same time for maintenance. Yet, this is not unusual – and over the past several years – we have grown accustomed to rising gas prices. And, I’m sure  you’ve wondered, “what causes them to go up?“.  So, to answer that, I thought I would bug a nationally known gas retailer, Speedway based out of Ohio. They were kind enough to answer my inquiry about fluctuating gas prices. The main causes…

  • Where to Turn When You Need Help With Debt

    Guest
    17 May 2013 | 1:43 am
    Being in debt can really add a lot of stress to your life. It can play havoc with your sleep patterns, affect your health and your mood, and put a strain on your relationships too. Sometimes the stress associated with debt is more damaging than the actual fact of being in debt.  So, if you feel stressed out by debt, the best thing you can do is to seek some help with debt management. The worst course of action is to ignore the fact that you have debts, as the interest that you owe will just keep increasing, and the overall amount will become even harder to pay off. Some people can ask a…

  • How Much Do Professional Caddies Make? (and Other Unique High-Paying Jobs)

    Aaron
    15 May 2013 | 2:09 am
    There are some unusual, high-paying jobs out there – and caddying can be one of them. If you are an avid viewer of golf on tv or have a passing interest in the game – you may be surprised at what some of the professional caddies can make.  Just this past weekend, Tiger Woods won The Players Championship – considered by many to be the 5th “major”. The Players has one of the highest purses in the game – at $9,500,000, with $1,710,000 going to the champion. Not bad for 4 days of work! Now, consider Tiger Woods caddy – Joe LaCava. LaCava has been around…

  • Reasons to Spend More Time Planning Your Retirement vs Programming Your DVR

    Charlie
    13 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    I love watching “The Voice” and ”Parenthood“, and my kids are huge fans of Peppa Pig, Jake and The Neverland Pirates, and Caillou. With almost all these shows we program our DVR to allow us to watch our shows when we want to. It’s a huge convenience factor for us. It takes just a few minutes to tell our DVR to always record these shows when they are on. However, while reading fellow blogger’s monthly net worth updates it dawned on me…how many people spend time planning their retirement? Do you look at your 401k at least once a week? How about your…
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    Money Infant

  • Giveaway: Samsung 50-Inch 1080p LED HDTV

    Steve Walters
    30 Apr 2013 | 11:43 pm
    I don’t really watch all that much television, but when I do watch the occasional movie it sure is great to see the action (or comedy or romance) on a quality HDTV. The problem is that a large HDTV is likely to set you back nearly $1000 and that’s just as true here in Thailand as it is anywhere else in the world. But you don’t have to spend that money. This is a first for me, I am helping to sponsor a giveaway on a Samsung 50-Inch 1080p LED HDTV. Imagine this TV in your family room The giveaway for this amazing high def television is being kindly facilitated by the folks at Quote Me A…

  • Money Mistakes You Should Avoid To Live in Financial Harmony

    Steve Walters
    28 Apr 2013 | 1:08 am
    Every financial step we make is very important and can lead to very serious consequences. That’s why it’s necessary to avoid spontaneous decisions because later we may regret about them. But making mistakes is a part of life, only through making mistakes and wrong steps we can gain some experience which is priceless. There’s a short list of mistakes you should avoid to be happy with your financial life. Not Saving Money There are so many people who live only for today and don’t really care what will happen tomorrow. Maybe sometimes it’s the right thing but only not when you manage…

  • Stacking Debts Away

    Steve Walters
    25 Apr 2013 | 6:47 am
    Getting rid of debt is often thought to be an uncomfortable and overbearing task. One for which, you will most likely need the help of a professional, of course, at a cost! The bad news is, you have debt and yes, it can get uncomfortable at times. However, there is good new. In most cases, you will not have to hire a professional! All you will need to do is buckle down and make financially wise decisions. With that said, below is a simple plan that I like to call Stacking Debts Away. Stacking Debts Away Main Objective: This plan is designed to get rid of debts of all kind at an accelerated…

  • How Much Do Americans REALLY Pay in Taxes?

    Steve Walters
    18 Apr 2013 | 8:01 am
    I don’t normally talk about tax issues because other than at this time of year I don’t think much about them. However, in the spirit of the just passed tax season I want to spend a little bit of time examining how much taxes REALLY hit your finances. April 15th is famous as tax day and most people focus on their federal income taxes, but if you look deeper you will quickly see that your federal tax burden is the least of your tax worries. In fact, for a median income earner, the effective federal tax rate is around 11 percent. And that doesn’t take into account the credits you receive…

  • Are You Buying Gold?

    Steve Walters
    17 Apr 2013 | 7:51 am
    As you may or may not know, gold saw its largest losses in over thirty years Monday. The price dropped by nearly 10 percent in a single day to levels not seen in 26 months. The nearly $135 drop was unprecedented. So, does this mark a bear market for gold or a huge buying opportunity? Across Asia, where owning physical gold is considered a very wise thing to do, buyers flooded gold shops Tuesday. In India, it was reported that shops were actually selling out of gold. Here in Thailand hundreds of buyers crowded shops all over Chinatown to buy gold. All the physical buying across Asia served to…
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    Kitces | Nerd's Eye View

  • How To Be "No Longer Awkward" When Planning For Grieving Clients

    20 May 2013 | 4:02 am
    Working with grieving clients is a difficult challenge for many planners; most people simply do not have very much experience working with others who are grieving, and the uncertainty about what to say or do - or not say or do for fear of offending - leads many to avoid such potentially awkward situations altogether. Yet the reality is that experiencing loss, and grieving for it, is a fact of life, especially when we recognize that the kinds of "loss" triggering grief can encompass a wide range of circumstances, from the death of loved ones to a loss of role or routine to an…

  • Weekend Reading for Financial Planners (May 18-19)

    17 May 2013 | 9:07 am
    Enjoy the current installment of "weekend reading for financial planners" - this week's issue starts off with an announcement by the CFP Board of a new initiative to increase the number of women entering financial planning (currently only 23% of CFP certificants), a discussion from FPA's lobbying group of the current advocacy priorities in Washington DC for 2013, and a surprising article about industry trends showing that using virtual advisors isn't just about young people as many of the new startups in this space are reporting a significant number of Baby Boomers using their…

  • MailBag: Tips And Best Practices For Financial Planners Building Media Visibility

    16 May 2013 | 4:06 am
    Many readers of this blog contact me directly with questions and comments. While often the responses are very specific to a particular circumstance, occasionally the subject matter is general enough that it might be of interest to others as well. Accordingly, I will occasionally post a new "MailBag" article, presenting the question or comment (on a strictly anonymous basis!) and my response, in the hopes that the discussion may be useful food for thought. In this week's MailBag, we look at a question about how to get started and best practices for building media visibility, getting…

  • Should Financial Planners Invest Using Bucket Strategies Or Just Report That Way?

    15 May 2013 | 4:07 am
    Financial planners have always sought to adjust their strategies and communication techniques to the realities of client needs, although the increasing volume of behavioral finance research is now beginning to document exactly how we as human beings sometimes think in very irrational ways, which in turn provides insight about how to best adapt to deliver effective advice. One common challenge area regarding investments in particular is our tendency for mental accounting - where we break up and categorize assets based on various needs and purposes, even if the underlying investments are…

  • CFP Board Considers Going Into Competition With CE Sponsors It Regulates

    13 May 2013 | 4:03 am
    Last week, leaders from the CFP Board, including CEO Kevin Keller, board of directors chair Nancy Kistner, and chair-elect Ray Ferrara, traveled to the FPA Retreat conference and NAPFA's national spring conference. The purpose of the visit was not just to participate in the conference itself or check out the latest growth of the organizations; instead, it was to gauge support from these gatherings of the experienced planner community for a potential new initiative: the CFP Board is considering whether it should begin to offer CFP Continuing Education (CE) credit to its certificants, going…
 
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    Epic Finances - Investment Blog

  • Top Tips for Investing in Silver

    Carmello
    18 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    It is a well-known fact that when  our nation’s economy weakens many start to lose trust in what would be called conventional forms of investing. During these times there is usually an accompanying spike in precious metal investing, particularly silver. Prized for millennia silver is beloved for its sheer beauty and also its physical properties that allow it to be made into a wide variety of different items. While we’re not espousing that investing in silver is the best it does offer an investor looking to diversify their portfolio the opportunity to do so at moderately low risk. With…

  • Investing Tips for the New Investor – Part 4 of 4

    Carmello
    11 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Hello and welcome back to the 4th and final part of our 4-part blog series on investing tips for the new investor. If you’re just joining us you are about to get some of the best advice that a new investor could want before beginning their stock investing career. If you’ve been with us since Part 1 then you know that the advice and tips that you are about to get today are going to be more of the same excellence that you’ve seen in parts 1 through 3. So, if you’re ready, let’s get started. Enjoy. Safety nets, anyone? If you have a time machine then it’s going to be easy for you to…

  • Investing Tips for the New Investor – Part 3 of 4

    Carmello
    4 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    Hello and welcome back for Part 3 of our 4-part blog series on investing tips for the new investor. If you are just joining us you may want to go back and take a look at the first 2 parts of this 4-part blog series before continuing. That being said, the information that you will find in this blog should be useful no matter what you’ve already read before either here on our website or on another blog. Part 3 is chock-full of more great tips, advice and excellent info that any investor can use although it’s geared towards the new investor who is just getting started. So sit back, take…

  • Investing Tips for the New Investor – Part 2 of 4

    Carmello
    28 Apr 2013 | 4:00 am
    Welcome back for part 2 of our 4-Part investing tips blog series. Hopefully you got a lot out of the 1st Part and have a little bit better idea about how you should go about getting started in the investment game. Part 2 will give you more of the same great advice, tips and information that you need in order to invest intelligently and build an excellent, diversified portfolio.  So without further ado let’s get started.  Enjoy. Anchors away?  There is a concept in behavioral finance called ‘anchoring’  which refers to the practice of clinging to a specific reference point in your…

  • Investing Tips for the New Investor – Part 1 of 4

    Carmello
    21 Apr 2013 | 5:00 am
    Many of our readers have asked for investment advice and tips over the years and indeed we have given a lot of advice back as well as great tips and other useful information. What we’ve now done is taken all of those tips and put them together in a 4-part blog that should give anyone the tools they need to start investing intelligently.  With that in mind would like to present Part 1 of our 4-Part blog series on Investing Tips for the New Investor. We hope that you not only enjoy it but that it gives you the information you need to get started investing on your own and using the stock…
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    cheapbohemian

  • What I Did All Summer

    cheapbohemian
    10 May 2013 | 7:38 am
    (...and Also All Fall, Winter, and Most of the Spring) Sorry I'm late. But read on--I have a poem for you at the end of all this. Even better: IT'S NOT MY POETRY! So, I miss you guys, and I miss being the cheeky, moxy-afflicted personality of the Cheap Bohemian. But out in the world, a lot has been happening. I keep meaning to come back here and look at all of it through my Cheap lens, and maybe even impart some money wisdom. But a lot of what has been happening has been so profound (and frankly some of it, so profoundly not funny) that words have failed me. Repeatedly. That's a good…

  • Poem Tuesday

    Lisa Schamess
    12 Mar 2013 | 10:00 am
    The Clam Mary Oliver Each one is a small life, but sometimes long, if its place in the universe is not found out. Like us, they have a heart and a stomach; they know hunger, and probably a little satisfaction, too. Do not mock them for their gentleness, they have a muscle that loves being alive. They pull away from the light. They pull down.They hold themselves together. They refuse to open. But sometimes they lose their place and are tumbled shoreward in a storm. Then they pant, they fill with sand, they have no choice but must open the smallest crack.Then the fire of the world touches…

  • Thrift Shop Boyz

    Lisa Schamess
    30 Jan 2013 | 5:48 pm
    Garrett Wesley Gibbons is a very talented individual. Those guys Macklemore & Ryan Lewis aren't too shabby, either. Also, THIS. Via Alert Reader Amina.

  • CB Redux: Virginia Woolf Is My Homegirl

    Lisa Schamess
    28 Jan 2013 | 2:30 am
    Money dignifies what is frivolous if unpaid for. --Virginia Woolf Once in a great while, I make quick surveys of the creative, political, intellectual, and philosophical forces of the known world who were also Cheap Bohemians. Where better to reboot this effort with a tribute to the woman who made the phrase "money and a room of one's own" the battle cry for generations of us? It's Virginia Woolf's birthday today, and that makes it a very good day. Go to the source and read the 1929 book based on her lectures to the dons and swans of Cambridge. You'll come away with a solid grasp on just how…

  • Poetry Thursday: Stanley Kunitz

    Lisa Schamess
    25 Oct 2012 | 6:11 am
    This, hands down, is my favorite poem toward the Thanksgiving season. Take the time to hear Stanley Kunitz speak his profound witness here. Enjoy, my tribe. Thank you for traveling with me. The Layers by Stanley Kunitz I have walked through many lives, some of them my own,  and I am not who I was,  though some principle of being abides, from which I struggle  not to stray. When I look behind,  as I am compelled to look  before I can gather strength  to proceed on my journey,  I see the milestones dwindling  toward the horizon  and the slow fires…
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    Savvy Scot

  • A Secret World – Diving Angelita and Calavera (Temple of Doom) Cenotes

    savvyscot
    20 May 2013 | 4:12 pm
    Hola Amigos! A couple of days back I took you on a diving adventure into the Mayan underworld. Together we explored the caverns of Casa and Grand Cenote and the hidden wonders within. To avoid repeating myself, I am going to assume that you all know what a cenote is and understand that Mexico has no rivers or lakes due to the limestone rock. Instead, a vast network of underground tunnels connect a series of caves; a mixture of fresh and sea water which spans the length of the country.   Cenote Angelita Before we traveled to Mexico, we had heard stories about Angelita being a ‘very…

  • Diving the Cenotes – Grand Cenote and Casa Cenote

    savvyscot
    18 May 2013 | 3:28 pm
    Have you ever tried Scuba Diving? Ever since I first put on the gear a few years back, I have been addicted. Last year, I posted about diving in Roatan – one of the bay islands in the Caribbean and then again about the amazing sensation called String of Pearls that can be seen at night underwater – My wife and I have a dream to own our very own dive center one day – in the meantime, we are exploring the world and scouting for a location (and saving a bit)! Today I am going to take you on two dives in Mexico. The Riveria Maya offers a number of special underground caves and…

  • Cutting Back On Fixed Costs – Part 2

    savvyscot
    15 May 2013 | 6:02 pm
    A couple of weeks back I wrote a post which detailed my spending and the ways in which I am working to cut back my ‘fixed’ costs. In the post I mentioned that my home insurance was due for renewal at the end of March and I have been working diligently to find the best deal. I have been with my current provider for a year and it was a product that was selected on my behalf by my financial advisor. I am well aware that he would have received a nice incentive (commission) for signing me onto this policy, but given that he is a family friends and that I didn’t have the time to arrange the…

  • You and Your Business: The Top Four Types of Insurance

    savvyscot
    13 May 2013 | 1:08 am
    Running your business successfully depends on many factors. Offering a fantastic service or a fantastic product is just one of them. But there are many other things to think about, whatever industry you are in. Successful marketing, the managing of your finances and keeping down core costs all play a part. So too does insurance. It’s imperative that you and your business are safeguarded against any problems that could affect your overall monthly profits. Here is a rundown of some of the most important types of insurance cover to think about, and how they could help.   Contents…

  • April: Things of the Month

    savvyscot
    12 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    A few of my favourite Personal Finance bloggers quite frequently do a roundup type post detailing what things have taken their interest of late. I figured that I am an interesting guy and have my fingers in a few different pies so why not try the same… That said, this feature may spectacularly fail in a few weeks, never to be repeated again.   Things I Did April started with a nice long weekend for Easter break. I went along to the Ideal Home Show and bought a new gadget to play with -A Hose Attachment. How freaking exciting right? The salesman was pretty good at demonstrating this…
 
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    I Need Money

  • Where to Cut When You Need Money

    admin
    20 May 2013 | 2:08 pm
    Many of us are currently feeling the strain when it comes to living expenses and paying the bills and when you see that even governments around the world as well as the in U.S are cutting their spending, you know that the drive to save cash is something a lot of us are having to do. Sometimes our personal finances can take a big hit with an unexpected bill or expense that we didn’t see coming and very often people make cuts in the wrong areas as a knee jerk reaction to what might be a temporary financial crisis. Take stock If you need to cut your spending urgently to free up some much…

  • Is Your Credit Score Good? 3 Reasons Why It Should Be

    admin
    12 May 2013 | 2:15 pm
    Have you ever worried about your credit score? Probably. Between the many ads advising us to get a credit report and the numerous articles found online about the importance of good credit, you probably are aware of how crucial a good credit score is. Determined by five different factors (your credit payment history, the amount of debt you have, the number of credit inquiries that were made on your account, the types of credit you have and your credit account history), your credit score can make you or break you. Why? Here are three most important reasons why a good credit score is important.

  • World Debt 101

    admin
    29 Jan 2013 | 12:01 pm
    With the global debt crisis still going strong and now immediate end or obvious solution in sight, many questions are being raised about fiscal policy around the world. As debt burdens pile up and governments seek ways to keep up with the repayments, observers and policymakers are split on how best to tackle the problem. In this infographic from IronFX.com, we investigate the current state of world debt. Which countries are struggling the most beneath huge deficits? Which have been relatively well insulated from the economic shocks and are holding out? Who owes the most abroad? How is the…

  • Australia’s Mobile Banking Users to Outnumber Desktop-Based Users by 2018

    admin
    8 Jan 2013 | 2:24 pm
    Various recent statistics informed, on the one hand, that Australians are much more likely than British and American citizens to use mobile banking apps, and, on the other, that Australia is a major market for Wi-Fi and 3G-ready smart phones, it’s no wonder that the official news has finally emerged. The news comes from Westpac, which has recently informed that, by 2018 mobile banking services users will outnumber online banking services. The announcement was made by Jason Yetton, the bank’s business banking group executive, during talks at the FST Media 7th Annual Technology &…

  • Modern cash management solutions

    admin
    6 Dec 2012 | 2:28 pm
    Looking for a cash management solution for your business? A bank is obviously the best place to start—but what should you be looking for, exactly? Complete professional cash management solutions will offer you a range of options for looking after your and your clients’ money. Here’s a discussion of the kinds of services you should be examining, and the kinds of questions you should be asking about them. Current accounts What sort of current account deals does your institution offer to allow you to organise your day-to-day commercial banking more effectively? Automated clearing…
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    Zoho Blogs

  • Customer Spotlight: Migrating from Salesforce to Z-CRM Saves Young Company Huge Money

    Arun
    17 May 2013 | 9:59 am
    “It all started with Jim Cramer.” For those of you unfamiliar with Jim Cramer, he is a popular American television personality, former hedge fund manager, and host of CNBC’s Mad Money. As Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. (ICT) founder and CEO Bob Joseph tells the story, “Years ago, I was watching Mad Money and he was pushing Sales Force’s CRM solution.  I knew we were at the point in our company growth where we needed a good CRM solution and one that could accommodate our growth.  So, from Cramer’s recommendation we began our customer relationship management with Sales…

  • Now, get up to 20 free users, when you host email with Zoho Mail

    Hari Murali
    17 May 2013 | 6:01 am
    Last month, we announced the increase in Zoho Mail Lite, our free hosted email plan, making it free up to 5 users. We were overwhelmed and humbled by the compliments showered by you, our users. We did hope that it would bring some cheer to our small business friends but it felt more like euphoria. So we have decided to spend even more money with you, instead of hiring consulting firms or on ‘ads with words’. Starting today, you can gain 15 more bonus users in your business email account, free forever.…

  • Zoho Docs 3.0 Released With New Features And Enhancements

    Kranti
    14 May 2013 | 7:02 am
    Zoho Docs upgraded to the new 3.0 version. Our focus for this version, is enhancing the file sharing and collaboration experience. We have made file sharing more tightly integrated and seamless, across all the office apps. On the collaboration front, we have diversified the workspace admin role, which will make managing a workspace much easier. Here is a summary of what’s new in Zoho Docs 3.0: Share Files As A Link Now you can share files quicker, as a link.…

  • Customer Spotlight: Using Automated Workflows in Z-CRM to Save HOURS Everyday

    Arun
    10 May 2013 | 11:01 am
    When BrightWise Marketing first opened its doors over 12 years ago, CEO Jeff Gordon knew that CRM was of utmost importance in creating a positive customer experience and helping the new company grow.  Gordon selected a popular CRM solution at the time and “made due” for several years before realizing that the current approach wasn’t working.  “We had been talking about getting a real CRM solution for 6 or 7 months because our current CRM tool was simply not cutting it.” Having used the same CRM tool for several years, Gordon was looking for a CRM solution that he could easily…

  • 5 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Vijay Brihmadesam

    Austin Ries
    8 May 2013 | 9:02 am
    These days, it doesn’t take much to call yourself an entrepreneur. You don’t need an advanced degree, a certificate proving you completed required training or even a business card to pursue a dream of starting your own company. However, having success as an innovator takes more than just a great idea. It takes dedication, hard work, sacrifice, and possibly even abandoning your comfort zone to have a chance at doing what you love. Meet Vijay Brihmadesam. Like many people across the world, Vijay had a well-paying job and comfortable lifestyle working at a private equity firm in Palo…
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    Money Estate - Personal Finance Tips Blog

  • IPhone Apps To Manage Your Money

    Aira
    20 May 2013 | 12:25 am
    The current economy has made managing money more important than it ever has been before. Smart phone technology has continued to increase rapidly to allow for the development of an application for just about anything. Anyone that owns an iPhone and is looking to manage their money is in luck. There are 5 great apps [...]

  • 10 Ways To Save Money On Tax

    Aira
    17 May 2013 | 2:35 am
    With the end of the tax year just gone, it’s important to consider how you can cut down on your liability in the future – whether you’re employed or self employed, there are ways in which you can structure your tax and set your accounts up to avoid facing a nasty shock when it comes [...]

  • Living Life Without A Salary – How To Save Money After You Retire

    Aira
    15 May 2013 | 1:38 am
    One of the biggest questions that new retirees face is, “How am I going to afford retirement?” Living without a constant stream of income forces every retiree to examine their finances, go through their expenses and determine just how much money they’ll need to pay their bills and enjoy their retirement. Being able to afford [...]

  • Tips For Raising Money Smart Children

    Aira
    13 May 2013 | 11:45 pm
    One of the most important things that you can teach your children about as a parent is how to be smart with their money. The way that your kids learn to manage their finances will be a huge factor that will affect them for the rest of their life. If they know how to budget [...]

  • The Unexpected Retirement Expenses: Have You Planned For These?

    Aira
    10 May 2013 | 2:29 am
    If you have been saving a decent percentage of your wage since your twenties and you’re looking forward to spending your generous retirement, have you considered that you might not have saved enough to cover a long retirement? It is a fact that human beings have a longer life span, but a higher risk of [...]
 
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    Wealth Creation

  • Saving on Electricity: It’s About More Than Just the Best Price

    Money Cactus
    20 May 2013 | 5:27 am
    Acquiring the best possible deal on your expenses, be they personal or business, means having the option of shopping around.  And nothing is more frustrating to the frugal business manager than having only one option when making a purchase. For years, that was the case with electricity.  The firm or cooperative that set the poles and strung the wires was also selling you the electricity. Fortunately, that is changing.  Now it’s more than just good utility management that can cut your electric bill.  Much like long distance became a free-for-all (remember 10-10-321 and all those…

  • Protecting Your Wealth by Making Sure You Have the Best Mortgage Rate

    Money Cactus
    16 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    Finding the best rate for your mortgage can be a challenge. This is true whether you are purchasing your very first home, or refinancing your existing one. In order to protect your investment, it’s important to have some basic level of understanding about how mortgages work, as well as the differences in adjustable and fixed interest rates. The best way to protect your home is by ensuring you receive the best mortgage possible for your situation and understanding the options that are available to you – comparing through a service like www.ratesupermarket.ca is ideal, but the next…

  • Why Your Income Protection Might be Letting You Down

    Money Cactus
    13 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    Income protection insurance (which is also sometimes known as PHI – permanent health insurance) is a way to ensure that you still receive an income should you become unable to work for a prolonged period of time due to illness or injury. What you may not be aware of, however, is the incapacity definition on which the plan would pay out. For example, with some income protection policies, the cover will only pay out if you are unable to do any occupation. So, you may no longer be able to carry on in your current role but you may be able to do something else – which means the policy…

  • How a Pickle Factory Got Out of a Pickle (or What to do when your company is in serious debt)

    Money Cactus
    29 Apr 2013 | 4:12 am
    You know it is really sad (and a little scary) to see so many companies struggling at the moment. It is big news where I live in Australia and some well known companies have disappeared after falling into financial trouble that they just couldn’t get out of. Recently a local company called Spring Gully Foods found themselves in this very situation. They are a fourth generation family-run business that had been trading for over 65 years selling pickles, jams and chutney and doing quite well out of it. Until one day, when sales just seemed to stop. Over a period of 6 weeks the company…

  • Don’t Make This Mistake With Your Life Insurance

    Money Cactus
    23 Apr 2013 | 6:34 am
    I hate paying for life insurance, or any insurance really. It bothers me that I’m giving away money for something that (I hope) I will likely never use, but these days the risks outweigh the rewards of foregoing this expense. That doesn’t mean I’m happy about it though. Fortunately, things that bother me usually also motiviate me in some way. In the case of life insurance, I was motivated to find ways to ensure I was covered without paying large sums of money, so I did some homework. Unfortunately I did the homework around the same time that my wife and I had our first…
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    Squawkfox

  • What I really want for Mother’s Day

    Kerry
    26 Apr 2013 | 7:41 pm
    Having trouble viewing this? CLICK HERE Recipes Shopping Holidays Travel Budget Downloads New? Start Here!     Holidays, Saving What I really want for Mother's Day The perfect Mother's Day gift doesn't have to cost anything at all. Read More »   Like Squawkfox Follow @squawkfox Google+ Squawkfox   The Squawkfox Frugal Living Blog is by Kerry K. Taylor Web: www.squawkfox.com | Facebook: facebook.com/squawkfox Copyright © 2013 Squawkfox.com. All rights reserved.

  • Find $100, pick it up?

    Kerry
    20 Apr 2013 | 8:23 pm
    Having trouble viewing this? CLICK HERE Recipes Shopping Holidays Travel Budget Downloads New? Start Here!     Saving Find $100, pick it up? Finding a one hundred dollar bill is awesome fun. But should you keep it? Read More »   50 Ways to Save $1,000 a Year Fifty (nearly) painless ways to stash some extra cash. Read More »   The real reason you're broke Are you broke? Well, stop whining about it and find out why. Read More »   Like Squawkfox Follow @squawkfox Google+ Squawkfox   The Squawkfox Frugal Living Blog is by Kerry K. Taylor…

  • 8 Ways to celebrate Easter for under $5

    Kerry
    29 Mar 2013 | 12:41 pm
    Having trouble viewing this? CLICK HERE Recipes Shopping Holidays Travel Budget Downloads New? Start Here!     Holidays 8 Ways to celebrate Easter for under $5 How to dye Easter eggs, play egg games, and crack the egging consumerism. Read More »   Make a banned Kinder Surprise Egg for 80% less Can't buy a Kinder Surprise Egg due to the border ban? Make a safer and cheaper surprise egg with this frugal project. Read More »   Like Squawkfox Follow @squawkfox Google+ Squawkfox   The Squawkfox Frugal Living Blog is by Kerry K. Taylor Web:…

  • Make a healthier McDonald’s Egg McMuffin for 65% less

    Kerry
    23 Mar 2013 | 7:52 am
    Having trouble viewing this? CLICK HERE Recipes Shopping Holidays Travel Budget Downloads New? Start Here!     Food, Saving Make a healthier McDonald's Egg McMuffin for 65% less A tasty and easy recipe for making a homemade Egg McMuffin. Yes, the photos are fun. Read More »   Like Squawkfox Follow @squawkfox Google+ Squawkfox   The Squawkfox Frugal Living Blog is by Kerry K. Taylor Web: www.squawkfox.com | Facebook: facebook.com/squawkfox Copyright © 2013 Squawkfox.com. All rights reserved.

  • Call Me Maybe: Why my $783 unlocked iPhone is a ringin’ deal

    Kerry
    2 Mar 2013 | 8:21 pm
    Having trouble viewing this? CLICK HERE Recipes Shopping Holidays Travel Budget Downloads New? Start Here!     Saving Call Me Maybe: Why my $783 unlocked iPhone is a ringin' deal Can you save money with an unlocked cell phone? I show you how! Read More »   Compare cell phone plans to save money Save money with this easy-to-use spreadsheet. Read More »   Do you really need that upgrade? Stop and think before upgrading to that new device. Read More »   Like Squawkfox Follow @squawkfox Google+ Squawkfox   The Squawkfox Frugal Living Blog…
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    Wealthy Turtle

  • Dividend Aristocrats List -The Best Dividend Paying Stocks

    Mike Collins
    20 May 2013 | 2:15 am
    If you’re looking for a list of the best dividend paying stocks to invest in, you’ve found it. The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats list is monitored closely by investors who prefer stocks that pay dividends. Each of the companies on the list has demonstrated a consistent and long term policy of dividend growth. In order to be included on the Dividend Aristocrats list, a company must be a member of the S&P 500, have a market capitalization of $3 billion, and an average trading volume of $5 million.  Most importantly, they must have increased dividends every year for at least 25…

  • Black Market Disney Guides and Link

    Mike Collins
    17 May 2013 | 7:09 am
    My wife and I are planning a family trip to Disney World later this year so naturally my ears are tuned into any sign of Disney in the news.  I was a bit surprised when I heard this story though. It seems there is a group of wealthy families that don’t like to wait on line for the rides like the rest of us.  They’ve found a little loophole that lets them skip the long lines and head right to the front of the pack. How? Simple…they hire a black-market handicapped guide and pretend they’re related.  Disney offers handicapped visitors and their families special access…

  • Book Review – How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?

    Mike Collins
    15 May 2013 | 5:16 pm
    Todd Tresidder is a well-known financial coach and founder of FinancialMentor.com and he was kind enough to send me a free kindle copy of his book How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?  Today I’m going to share some of my thoughts on Todd’s book. When most people think about retirement they imagine a specific amount of money they need to accumulate in order to throw off the shackles of their day job and live the life they always dreamed about.  They bounce around to some of the many retirement calculators available online in search of the “magic number” that will set them free.  But…

  • Earn Extra Money Picking Up Poop

    Mike Collins
    13 May 2013 | 6:39 pm
    Are you looking for a business opportunity that doesn’t require a lot of start up capital but has plenty of room for growth? Have you considered picking up dog poop? Don’t laugh…I’m serious!  Dog waste removal is a growing market that is still largely untapped.  There’s still time for you to get in on the ground floor and build a profitable business for yourself.  And all you really need to get started is a shovel and some plastic bags. According to The Humane Society of the United States, thirty-nine percent of US households own at least one dog.  That’s a lot of poop that…

  • 6 Ways to Deal with Stress as a Work at Home Parent

    Melissa Batai
    6 May 2013 | 6:36 pm
    Being a work at home parent can afford you great flexibility.  Your daughter’s class needs a parent chaperone on the field trip?  Sure, you can do it, and you don’t even have to have the boss approve your day off.  You want to take your toddler to library story hour?  No problem. However, this flexibility can often also create stress.  Sometimes you’re so busy taking care of the kids and the home that you neglect your work. If your work load is increasing and your children’s nap time is decreasing, there are ways you can manage the stress of being a work at home…
 
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    Bank On Yourself

  • Why you need Dow 32,000 today

    Pamela Yellen
    15 May 2013 | 3:10 pm
    I have an important question to ask you, and taking a moment now to answer it may rattle you… When do you think the Dow will go to 32,000?” Does that seem like a crazy or dumb question?  It’s not.  I’ll explain why in a moment, but I have another question for you first: What would you consider to be a minimum acceptable annual return on your money for taking on the nerve-wracking risk and volatility of the stock market? 5%?  7%?  Maybe even 10%? Over the past two years, we surveyed tens of thousands of people about this, and most responded that they wouldn’t…

  • How will these 3 financial surprises affect you?

    Pamela Yellen
    22 Apr 2013 | 9:48 am
    There have been three recent surprising revelations I urge you to pay close attention to, if you have any money invested in the stock market and/or you have an IRA, 401(k) or other government qualified retirement plan… 1. The ugly truth about the stock market’s new record highs Take a look at the chart below which reveals how, when measured in real purchasing-power terms, the S&P 500 Index is nowhere near its March 2000 high. In fact, the index would have to increase by another 32% today, just to get you even (in real dollars) with where you were more than 13 years ago:…

  • Retirement confidence hits record low

    Pamela Yellen
    3 Apr 2013 | 4:46 pm
    Here’s what to do… Americans’confidence in being able to retire comfortably is at a record low, despite the economy showing signs of improvement and the stock market hitting record highs. To compensate for their lack of retirement funds, more people are planning to postpone retirement. That’s according to the just-released annual study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The statistics are bleak: 57% of those surveyed report having less than $25,000 in total household savings and investments. Only 24% reported savings of $100,000 or more Only 24% are very…

  • Who Will Win the Retirement Saving Race – The Tortoise or the Hare?

    Pamela Yellen
    6 Mar 2013 | 9:01 am
    This is a race between the tortoise and the hare. The tortoise is a savings vehicle earning a steady 5% interest, year after boring year. The hare is an investment account earning a much more exciting annual rate of return of 8% every year except one. The object of the game is to help the hare cross the finish line ahead of the tortoise, 10 years from now. To play the game, click the blue box below. Type an amount of money to give the tortoise and the hare, and press ENTER. Then click the brown box. Type a year for the investment account to sustain a 30% loss, and press ENTER. Every year…

  • Why do so many people prefer THEIR facts to THE facts?

    Pamela Yellen
    22 Feb 2013 | 9:03 am
    As Mark Twain noted… Most people’s egos prefer THEIR facts to THE facts.” And I’ll bet you can think of several people who are guilty of that right off the top of your head, can’t you? One of my mentors, Dan Kennedy, also noted, “People are quick to dispense advice on any subject, regardless of their qualifications. Most people don’t even distinguish between ‘opinion’ and ‘knowledge.’ That’s why you must.” When it comes to Bank On Yourself, there’s a lot of opinion being dispensed as fact… and I thought…
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    Investment Fraud Attorneys | Hermann, Cahn & Schneider, LLP

  • Dispute Resolution Smackdown: Group Arbitrations vs. Securities Class Actions vs. Individual Arbitration – Part 3

    Jay Salamon
    10 May 2013 | 1:37 pm
    This article was originally posted on Stock Market LossWhen Attempting to Persuade Arbitrators, a Dozen Victims are Better Than One. “So okay,” you say. “Group cases sound like they’re better than class actions.  But what if I had a really big loss and have the money to afford litigation costs. Wouldn’t I be better off suing on my own than being part of a group?” Not necessarily. It’s true that when a lawyer is yours alone, he or she will advance your interests alone.  It’s also true that a group representation presents a few potential conflict situations for your…

  • Dispute Resolution Smackdown: Group Arbitrations vs. Securities Class Actions vs. Individual Proceedings – Part 2

    Jay Salamon
    9 May 2013 | 1:06 pm
    This article was originally posted on Stock Market LossWhile Class Members Surrender All Control to the Lawyers and Court, Group Arbitrations Keep Clients Involved and In Charge. As we noted in part 1, securities class actions tend to produce paltry returns for victims, while group arbitrations generally result in significant individual recoveries. There are many reasons for the disappointing results in class actions, but in our opinion, the main problem is the inherent conflict of interest between class action attorneys and their clients. Though class counsel technically have a strict duty…

  • Dispute Resolution Smackdown: Group Arbitrations vs. Securities Class Actions vs. Individual Proceedings – Part 1

    Jay Salamon
    8 May 2013 | 12:56 pm
    This article was originally posted on Stock Market LossModest Losses? In Group Arbitrations, a Lot of Little Can Be Really Big We’ve said it before, we are not a fan of class actions. In fact, except for the lawyers who handle them, no one is a fan of class actions. Class actions definitely play at least a small role in deterring bad corporate behavior, but as a remedy for victims seeking compensation, it grades out at a D-minus. Yes, you can opt out of a class actions and sue on your own. But what happens if you’re in litigation limbo, with losses big enough to really hurt but not…

  • Hermann, Cahn & Schneider’s Investor Advocates In The News

    Jay Salamon
    9 Apr 2013 | 1:31 pm
    This article was originally posted on Stock Market LossThe Cleveland Plain Dealer’s award-winning business reporter and columnist, Teresa Dixon Murray, has written a timely article prominently featuring extensive comments from one of our team members, the inimitable Hugh Berkson. The article, which links to our Stockmarketloss.com website, reminds investors to be particularly watchful for fraud and scam investments when the financial markets and many brokerage accounts are on the rise. Hugh gives some valuable tips to help you avoid becoming a victim. You can find the article here:  With…

  • FINRA Will Appeal Schwab Ruling

    Jay Salamon
    26 Feb 2013 | 2:14 pm
    This article was originally posted on Stock Market LossYesterday, we discussed an anti-investor ruling that permits Charles Schwab & Company to force its customers to waive their right to participate in class actions against Schwab. That ruling potentially could lead to such a restriction becoming an industry-wide practice. We mentioned that FINRA might choose to appeal the ruling. The word “might” no longer applies. FINRA has announced that is in the process of filing an appeal. FINRA Will Appeal Schwab Ruling
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    DINKS Finance

  • Preparing for Retirement Without A Stock Based Plan

    James
    20 May 2013 | 9:03 pm
    Folks, Sometimes Yahoo comes up with good content.  Here is a posting from their network on preparing for retirement without getting involved in the stock market.   Having been burned several times with with trading in stocks, the posting struck a bit of a nerve with me.  You might enjoy it also – so feel free to check it out here. Best, James

  • Make sure your wishes come true: Best Bequest Giveaway

    Kristina
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Good morning Dinks. We are all working hard, living on less, watching our budget and saving money – but let me ask you a question, what are you saving for? This week I discovered that one of my co-workers – who is married with three kids – does not have a Last Will and Testament.  He has a house and a family but he doesn’t have a Will in case something happens to him or his wife. As a financial planner I told him that he should have a Will to make sure that his last wishes are followed and his response was “having a Will is bad luck”. Making final plans is good financial sense I…

  • Weekly Roundup: Giveaways, Flashdrives and Sweatpants

    Kristina
    17 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Good morning Dinks and happy Friday. Well, I am back from my weekend in New York City and I have been for almost a week. I have to say that I am still a little bit sad. I love New York City so much and I always get a little bit sad every time I come home. That’s why I try to hang out in NYC as often as my schedule – and bank account – permit. Do you have a favourite city? Today is the start of a long weekend up here in Canada and I am so excited. Having an extra day off in the week makes a huge difference in my life, in my attitude, in my sleep and of course in my relationship. I love…

  • Save money and be healthy at the same time

    Kristina
    16 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Good morning Dinks. I am happy to say that the warm weather has finally arrived up here in the Northeast. With the warm weather comes the need to spend as much time as we can outside in the sunshine. When people know that bikini season is upon us they have a need to eat healthier and be more active. Just like any new hobby people are sometimes skeptical about trying new things because it may cost a lot of money to get into a new sport or adopt a new lifestyle. But I am here to tell you that eating healthy and being active doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, if you know where to look. I…

  • Insurance secrets that we should not keep

    Kristina
    15 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Good morning Dinks. So often we talk about how to save money, how to spend money wisely, how to invest our money and how to live on a budget. But today I would like to discuss insurance. When I first moved away from home I purchased my home and auto insurance with my financial institution because I didn’t know any better. I didn’t know that I should shop around and look for the best home and auto insurance rates.  I didn’t know that I could do business with a new company, or at least I didn’t try to because I didn’t want to get out of my comfort zone. When I was a child I remember…
 
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    rVoice | rplan

  • Attention Young Investors: 5 Tips You Need To Know!

    17 May 2013 | 8:55 am
    Here at rplan, we offer tools and functionality to help investors with their investment decisions, and we are always trying to find new ways to make understanding your investments as easy as possible. As a young investor myself, I can honestly say that I have both made mistakes and learned some valuable lessons from them; here are a few of the ones that stuck with me most, which I hope will help other investors avoid the same pitfalls. Don’t Put It Off I am very lucky to have had individuals explain the importance of investing to me so I was able to start in my mid-twenties.

  • Revenue and Customs Brief 04/13 - Payments of Trail Commission

    18 Apr 2013 | 10:43 am
    On 25th March 2013 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) issued a Brief (04/13) on the subject of payments of trail commission. In this brief, HMRC announced that starting in this tax year, they will in some cases consider rebate payments on investment funds to be taxable as income. This ruling came as quite a surprise to us - first, because it was so sudden (it was only announced a few days before it was due to come in force); and secondly, because in many cases investors have already paid income tax on that money (where they invested their income, only to have the consequent rebates

  • A fund is for life, not just for easter

    2 Apr 2013 | 3:59 am
    We have a week left of the so called ‘ISA season’, accompanied by the normal mad panic by marketing people to push the latest fund or investment idea and a similar rush by us investors to work out what to do before the 2012/13 ‘ISA allowance’, like Cinderella’s coach, turns into a pumpkin. So what should you do over these next few days to make best use of this valuable tax benefit? Here are five key principles you should think about when making your decision - remember, you are making an investment choices first and foremost - tax should not be the main consideration. In other

  • 7 Easy Steps to Becoming a Better Investor

    14 Mar 2013 | 9:24 am
    What does it take to become a good investor? Do you need a degree? Do you need to be wealthy to invest? Not at all. Being an investor is not a fast game of "buy buy, sell sell". It is about building wealth over time, a lot like you would in your cash savings account but you make your decisions based on investment options to help grow your wealth faster. So here are 8 easy steps to becoming a better Investor: 1. Decide on your goal amount This is important, once you know your target you can build a savings plan around this. The key is understanding what you're investing for -

  • 4 Easy Ways to Reduce Charges on Your ISA

    27 Feb 2013 | 8:30 am
    We are now in full swing of the ISA season and whether you are shopping around for a new provider or just topping up on your ISA allowance before April, it’s important to keep an eye out for those charges that can potentially have an impact on your returns. So here are 4 simple ways to reduce charges on your stocks and shares ISA. Watch out for initial charges Although it is becoming more and more frequent for providers to negotiate with fund managers to either discount or remove the initial charge completely, it is still very important to be aware that some funds can have up
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    Wallet Hub

  • Changes to the Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction

    Ross Garner
    1 May 2013 | 3:51 pm
    Posted by: Ross Garner As budget debates have consumed Washington, eyes have turned towards modifying the mortgage interest tax deduction.  Long considered untouchable, changing the way homeowners can deduct their mortgage interest has drawn support from both sides of the political spectrum, though the solutions proposed range from eliminating the deduction all together to reforming the program into a tax credit. Originally designed in 1986 as a way to increase the rates of homeownership, many now argue that this deduction goes to the wrong borrowers, disproportionally rewarding those with…

  • Looks like a Good Time to Get a Mortgage

    Ross Garner
    24 Apr 2013 | 8:25 pm
    Posted by: Ross Garner It’s pretty much a given that you’ve seen an advertisement at some point in the last few years telling you that “now is the best time to buy a house!” before quickly moving on to pictures of happy couples and new homes with “Sold!” signs in front of them. While that whole spiel has become rather cliché, it’s perhaps truer now than ever before. Not only are rates sitting at record lows, but most projections have the cost of a mortgage increasing in the near future as the economy continues its slow but steady recovery. That’s important because even a…

  • The FHA Might Need a Bailout

    Ross Garner
    17 Apr 2013 | 11:33 am
    Posted by: Ross Garner Over the last few weeks we’ve documented important changes to the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) mortgage insurance program and suggested there might be more on the horizon.  Well, it looks like the biggest one yet is about to land: the FHA will likely require a bailout from the federal government.  For all 79 years of its history, the FHA has operated without ever taking a taxpayer subsidy.  But due to extraordinary losses it is becoming increasingly likely that the agency will have to take one by September 30, when it is required by law to be solvent.

  • FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums to Rise, Again

    Ross Garner
    3 Apr 2013 | 9:23 am
    Posted by: Ross Garner In the years after the 2008 collapse, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has taken on a bigger and bigger role in the mortgage market.  Rather than pull back during the crisis years, the FHA continued to back new mortgages, allowing many borrowers to purchase homes they otherwise would not have found loans for. The effect on the FHA, though, was less positive.  For several years running, its Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund has lost money as more and more defaults and foreclosures have hit the balance sheet.  The MMI Fund is predicted to have a negative…

  • Will the Changes to FHA Reverse Mortgages Work? Probably Not.

    Ross Garner
    28 Feb 2013 | 12:00 am
    Posted by: Ross Garner Back in September, we identified a looming disaster in the reserve mortgage market and concluded that major changes might be needed to prevent the system from collapsing like the larger mortgage market did in 2008.  With a few months behind us, it’s starting to look like we hit the mark: the FHA recently announced sweeping changes to their reverse mortgage products, and hinted that more changes could be coming. Most importantly, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will suspend the fixed-rate Standard Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) on April 1.  Better…
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    Start My Salary

  • How to Be a Great Fleet Manager

    Vijayraj Reddy
    23 Apr 2013 | 10:25 pm
    As a fleet manager, you’re responsible for the vehicles your company has on the road. Even if you don’t drive, your reputation is on the road – and on the line – every time your drivers leave your facility. Asset management software can provide profiling services linked to each vehicle, trip profiling or both.  Depending on the needs of your company and your preference, an asset tracking system can be operated on your company’s servers by in house staff or maintained totally in the cloud by a service provider. Along with your training, skills and experience, the right equipment can…

  • Essential Fact About Taking Bad Credit Personal Loans?

    Vijayraj Reddy
    23 Mar 2013 | 12:24 am
    A lot of people think that people with bad credit are restricted to take a loan. The truth is that there are a lot of options for borrowers with bad credit. If you are going to search online, you will find numerous moneylenders and each of them offers enticing credit loans. Basically, moneylenders appreciate borrowers with good credit rating. What if you are a bad credit rating or a not so perfect credit score? Does this mean you are restricted from filing a credit loan? In this article, we will discuss some of the available credit options for people with bad credit and what its advantages…

  • How Businesses Deal With Mounting Pressures

    Vijayraj Reddy
    23 Mar 2013 | 12:21 am
    One of the world’s internet giants has sparked controversy over its decision not to allow employees to work from home. The decision has been met with public criticism from a well-known entrepreneur who says the move is backward in a modern era. It also goes against the plan for the Australian workforce to double the number of employees working from their homes. The federal government’s National Digital Economy Strategy wants to increase the number of “teleworkers” by 12% by 2020. The government has also launched a website about the advantages of the National Broadband Network and…

  • The Key Points of Landlord Insurance

    Vijayraj Reddy
    23 Mar 2013 | 12:18 am
    Having the right kind of insurance is a vital part of being a landlord, and it is essential that you get it right. It is also important that you get a good price; insurance can be expensive, and you want to ensure that you are maximising your return on investment. Cover There are several different aspects to landlord insurance, some of which are essential, and others optional. You need to look out for these when getting quotes for your policy, to ensure that you’re getting what you need. Buildings insurance is compulsory, and is what ensures you aren’t left significantly out of pocket in…

  • Should you use Invoice Software for your Business?

    Vijayraj Reddy
    23 Mar 2013 | 12:14 am
    The modern business must perform at the speed of light just to keep up. The entire sales process from introduction to receipt entry should be able to be performed within the mobile environment. In order to complete the process, taking advantage of free invoice software from Zoho is one of the most cost effective ways to compete. Zoho has a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable business suppliers in the industry and their receipt software is no different. The fact that it is free yet still interacts with the industry standards for all other business applications is a testament to the…
 
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    From the Desk of Robert Jacobs

  • What is a Revocable Living Trust? A Useful Estate Planning Tool

    Robert Jacobs
    20 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Follow @robertjacobs01 The Revocable Living Trust is an estate planning tool not just for billionaires. Depending on the direction of your financial plan, it may be good option for you and your loved ones. photo credit: 401(K) 2013 via photopin cc Nuts and Bolts of the Trust A trust is similar to a will. It is a vehicle that distributes your assets after your death. There are multiple types of trusts and they should be set up by an attorney. There are two types of trusts, a simple (living or revocable) and a complex (irrevocable). A simple trust is an entity that forwards income to…

  • The Credit Score Breakdown: Don’t Believe the Hype

    Robert Jacobs
    13 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Follow @robertjacobs01 Why are we obsessed in America with the credit score? Is it a sign of winning with money? You may be surprised to learn what is in the credit score breakdown, what it means, and the myth’s surrounding its use. photo credit: i am real estate photographer via photopin cc The Breakdown of the Credit Score (FICO) Most of us know what the credit or FICO score is, but very few Americans know the score is based on. Your credit score consists of the following: 35% is Payment History: How well you kept up with payments. 30% is Debt Level: How much debt you have. Too…

  • What Are Bonds? And Why to Stay Away From Them

    Robert Jacobs
    9 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Follow @robertjacobs01 Have you ever heard that bonds should be part of a “diversified” investment portfolio? You may be asking, what are bonds? Bonds are a type of investment and should be avoided in today’s economic climate. photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc What Are Bonds? A Bond is basically debt in which an investor agrees to loan money to a company or a government entity in exchange for a fixed interest rate. This interest rate is usually paid by the bond issuer twice a year. A bond consists of the following: Par Value: Initial price of the security. Usually…

  • What is Social Security? The Nuts and Bolts.

    Robert Jacobs
    6 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    You are probably familiar with the term “Social Security.” But do you know how it works? Social Security is more than just retirement income, the program consists of  various benefits and rules that most Americans are unfamiliar with. photo credit: 401(K) 2013 via photopin cc Benefits of Social Security? Primary Insurance Amount: The primary insurance amount (PIA) is used to determine the amount of each monthly benefit. Widowed benefits: If a worker covered by Social Security dies, a surviving spouse can receive survivors’ benefits. The benefit is equal to the…

  • Debt Help: Coaching You to Become Debt Free

    Robert Jacobs
    2 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Have you heard the term, “crack kills?” Let’s change the term to “debt kills.” Debt kills alright, it kills your finances, and many Americans need help solving their debt problem. photo credit: Images_of_Money via photopin cc A Way of Life Over the past sixty years, debt has become ingrained into our culture, it’s a way of life. Our society finances everything. How did it get this way? I think the main reason is that debt is way of getting things now. We have grown increasingly inpatient over the years, and want instant gratification. Why not, when debt…
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    Modest Money

  • How To Be Modest With Your Money!

    Josh
    20 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Photo: formatc1 The following is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. Hey everyone, and thank you for joining me for my second edition of Monday Money with Josh! Last week we discussed little known facts about credit scores and, I loved the feedback you all gave me on the article. With that said, I hope to keep you just as engaged today! The topic today is being modest with your money. Why? Well, as human beings, we have a natural desire to do anything but be modest with money! When we find something we like, we have…

  • Simple Ways to Spend Less on Food

    Guest
    17 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Photo: Tax Credits The following is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. I have read the same blogs you have by those thrifty people that can live on two hundred dollars of groceries a month for a family of four. I have sincerely read them and thought about what advice they offered but most of the advice I was unable to process and perform. I just have to face the fact that I and my family are either a) too spoiled, b) too lackadaisical, c) just do not want to put that much effort into it, or d) all of the above. I…

  • How You Can Start Freelancing at the End of This Article

    Guest
    16 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Photo: the UMF The following is a guest post from Martin of Studenomics, a place where he tackles financial issues and simplifies them so that you don’t have to stress about your money. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. Are you sick of your job? Do you finally want to break free and do something that you enjoy? Are you ready for a lifestyle change? All my friends tell me about how they want to get into freelancing. They all want to be self-employed and set their own schedules. They want to be in control. Yet nobody…

  • My Take on Tags, Categories and Meta Keywords

    Jeremy
    15 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Photo: extranoise Check out my new guide for starting a blog to learn how to go about properly creating your own blog. It seems that every day I’m helping some blogger friends with questions related to blogging, SEO, marketing, monetization, etc. As much as I like to help people, I only have so much time. So a lot of times I’ll base my weekly blogging tips post on a specific question that someone asks me about via e-mail. This week’s question was from a blogger friend of mine who runs The Passive Income Earner. He was curious as to my opinion of how to properly use tags,…

  • Peer to Peer Lending for Frugal Investors

    Guest
    14 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    The following is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. I had been part of the online frugality movement for a few years before I ever encountered peer to peer lending. I was one of those guys who was thrilled by blogs that taught ways to create a budget, maximize in-store coupons, and get free flights with flier miles. Interestingly, within that entire scene, there really was not a frugal approach to investing. Those same people who taught me the importance of tracking my expenses down to the penny and establishing an…
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    Take A Smart Step

  • How to Improve Your Financial Situation: Starting Today!

    Andrea
    16 May 2013 | 2:17 pm
    Recently I was asked to give out three actionable steps that anyone could walk away with to improve their financial situation.  At first I thought this would be a difficult task, but realized that it really does boil down to three steps. Three Ways to Improve Your Financial Situation: Start learning about money and at the same time take action – just because you touch money every day does not mean you should know everything about it.  Just like a language you must take the time to learn about it.  Start small with a subscription to a money magazine and work your way to books, coaching…

  • Debt Pay off or Retirement Savings: Are You on the Right Track?

    Andrea
    14 May 2013 | 11:43 am
    The hardest part of personal finance is that it is personal.  A solution that is one size fits all does not exist; each and every single one of us is different.  Add on top of that the possibility that there can be multiple right answers for each person and you can quickly see why managing your money can seem so overwhelming. Let’s take one of the most commonly argued questions and find the right answer for you. Should I pay off debt or save for retirement? First let’s look at the positives of doing each of these items right now: Pay off Debt: frees up dollars in your budget for other…

  • How to Set Goals You Actually Want to Achieve

    Andrea
    7 May 2013 | 9:39 am
    Planning a vacation without picking a location would be a pretty hard task to achieve.  You would not be able to arrange how to get there, where to stay or what to do.  When you select your vacation destination it allows you to make plans that help you get there. Setting goals is not any different than planning your vacation.  First you need to know where you want to go, and then you can make arrangements to get to that destination!  The steps you take to get you to your destination are your goals. When you know where you want to go then goal setting becomes easy.  The following three…

  • Looking for New Ways to Manage Your Money?

    Andrea
    30 Apr 2013 | 7:02 am
    If you are always looking for the new and exciting information to manage your money, I have bad news.  When it comes to the basics of money they don’t change, in fact one of the best books on money was written back in the 20’s (The Richest Man in Babylon)! You don’t build a solid foundation if you constantly spend more than you bring in, you can’t deal with life’s surprises if you don’t have an emergency fund, and you can’t create wealth without saving. So if you are tired of hearing pay off your credit cards and save for an emergency fund, yet both of these are problems…

  • Women and Retirement Planning: What You Need to do Different than Men

    Andrea
    23 Apr 2013 | 7:58 am
    Men and women are different.  I don’t think anyone would argue this, in fact many books have been written about these differences.    Since we are different should women invest differently for retirement than men?  Yes and No.  How can it be both you might wonder? The investing basics do not change.  Allocations, diversification, the use of insurances, stocks, bonds, etc will not change.  An IRA is not different for a woman, your investing 101 is gender neutral.  So what is different? The factors that a woman takes into consideration when figuring out what she needs to have going…
 
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    Personal Financial Management

  • Healthiest Cities in America

    Divya
    20 May 2013 | 5:49 pm
    Which cities have the most outdoorsy, fit, healthy residents?  NerdWallet sifted through the fifty largest metro areas to find the ones with the best indicators of health, including health scores for the residents, health insurance coverage and a high prevalence of doctors and clean air.  NerdWallet assessed the health score according to the following factors: How fit are the residents?  We assessed fitness of residents through the American Fitness Index, a composite index that includes the CDC’s Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance…

  • “Grey Charges” Can Hit Seniors Hard

    Arthur Comings
    15 May 2013 | 5:53 pm
    When’s the last time you checked your credit-card statements? Not just a quick glance to see how the total got so high, but scrutinizing even the small charges to see if any of them sound suspicious? Those small entries are where the danger lurks, you know. Like zombie memberships that you canceled once, but mysteriously come back to life, patiently extracting an unnoticeable amount from your credit card every few months. Or trivial costs that creep up slowly from $5.99 to $6.99 to $7.99 and so on, taking advantage of the long time between billing cycles, knowing that your attention is…

  • Eight Tips for Choosing a Nursing Home

    Arthur Comings
    15 May 2013 | 5:43 pm
    It’s not easy deciding which nursing home (or assisted-care facility) would best suit an aging loved one. Unfortunately, often times the person in question is no help at all. Many of us have been forced to undergo this difficult transition, however, and are willing to share their insights about weathering the process. Also, for those who find choosing a nursing home too daunting, there are professional services that can help, such as Aidin, Assisted Transition, SilverLiving, and HealthAdvocate. Here, then, are eight things you should consider when taking on this daunting experience –…

  • FINRA’s Tips for Researching Your Financial Advisor

    Amelia Granger
    14 May 2013 | 12:15 pm
    The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, is more than just a financial watchdog. The regulator also provides plenty of accessible, easy-to-use resources for individuals. I spoke to Gerri Walsh, president of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation and Senior Vice President of Investor Education of FINRA Investor Education, about the tools FINRA gives individual investors, as well as new initiatives on the horizon. Q: How should people seeking a financial advisor use FINRA’s online resources and tools? Gerri Walsh: We tell individuals that, before they start the process of…

  • What Would You Ask an Advisor?

    Amelia Granger
    14 May 2013 | 10:34 am
    Everyday, people struggle to make financial decisions that will impact their lives. For instance, imagine you received a 401k statement from a job you left two years ago. You know you should do something, but what? Should you leave the account as is? Should you consolidate with your current 401k? Or should you roll over into an IRA? There’s advice all over the internet, but it can be difficult to determine who is qualified and certified to offer financial guidance. That’s why we at NerdWallet launched Ask an Advisor, your best source for professional financial advice. Not sure if you need…
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    The Truth About Credit Cards.com

  • Do Consumers with More Credit Cards Have Higher Credit Scores?

    Colin Robertson
    20 May 2013 | 12:20 pm
    An infographic released recently by Credit Karma revealed some interesting characteristics about credit card usage and credit score. For those with so-called excellent credit scores, 750 and higher, the average Credit Karma user had $4,829 in credit card debt on 6.7 credit cards. While nearly seven credit cards may seem excessive, it was the norm

  • Square Stand Looks to Replace the Traditional Cash Register

    Colin Robertson
    16 May 2013 | 11:58 am
    If you haven’t already heard of the company “Square,” you will. They continue to revolutionize the payments industry, and their latest release looks like something straight out of Apple’s design book. The company introduced their latest product this week, the “Square Stand,” which pretty much makes traditional cash registers look like a thing of the

  • New Chase AARP Credit Card Launched: 3% Cash Back on Gas and Restaurants

    Colin Robertson
    8 May 2013 | 2:59 pm
    If you’re an AARP member, listen up. Chase has teamed up with the organization to offer a great credit card deal to members over 50. First and foremost, the new “AARP Signature Visa Card from Chase” comes with a $100 cash back opening bonus when you spend $500 within the first three months of account

  • Float Looks to Supplant Credit Cards

    Colin Robertson
    7 May 2013 | 5:10 pm
    A new company named “Float” wants to eradicate credit cards for good, though let’s be honest, there’s no chance of that happening. The company has developed a novel approach to lending, seeing that they offer interest-free loans with no penalties or fees. You may be wondering how that’s even possible. At first glance, it kind

  • Don’t Commingle Your Purchases and Balance Transfers

    Colin Robertson
    3 May 2013 | 1:24 pm
    As I always say, credit cards make for complicated business. They almost seem designed to confuse consumers, though the issuers wouldn’t agree with that statement. Thankfully, the CARD Act and other recent measures have evened the playing field somewhat over the past several years. But there are still plenty of “traps” if you don’t navigate
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    theamateurconsumer.com

  • A Liberated Consumer’s 3 Commandments for Never Going Broke Again!

    Lou Rodriguez
    14 May 2013 | 7:27 am
    Every financial Guru on the planet and in the blogosphere has methods for securing your financial future.  It usually starts with putting a $1000 dollars away for an emergency fund and then moves on to paying down debt. After that, most tell you to move on to investing and well, you get the picture.  The [...]

  • 10 things I learned from Financial Literacy Month 2013

    Lou Rodriguez
    6 May 2013 | 9:49 am
    Another year, another Financial literacy Capability month in the books. Did it mean anything to you? Did you or anyone you know learn anything or feel less financially inept than last year because of it? Here are 10 things I learned from this years farce: 1. Banks and Creditors Have no Business Leading the Financial [...]

  • How Close Are You to Being Broke? Here’s a Hint; You’re Closer Than You Think!

    Lou Rodriguez
    30 Apr 2013 | 4:24 am
    How’s your “rainy day” fund looking these days? If you just laughed at that question, you probably already know the answer to how close you are to being broke. If you read the question and asked yourself, “what the hell is he talking about – rainy day fund?”, then you’re about to get rained on! [...]

  • Do You Have to Be Financially Inept to Go Broke?

    Lou Rodriguez
    18 Apr 2013 | 5:59 am
    Why do I keep reading, especially during financial literacy month,  statements like this from respected journalist and personal finance experts all across the blogosphere; the next generation is growing up as financially inept as the last. Does anyone really believe that every person over the last 2 decades of this “so called” financial literacy movement [...]

  • Is The Financial Literacy Movement Just an Illusion?

    Lou Rodriguez
    8 Apr 2013 | 6:03 am
    Let’s start with some basic history about the financial literacy movement;  in the United States, the movement really started to pick up steam in 1995.  That’s when former Chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Credit, William E. Odom, was credited with the concept that led to the formation of the Jump$tart Coalition.  And no; that’s [...]
 
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    Moneycation

  • Using business credit cards: The do's and don'ts

    A.W. Berry
    20 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    By Jason Bushey It's just a fact that many (if not most) American businesses run on credit. Business credit cards are the small business owner's main source of readily-available cash, plus they build up a company's credit while allowing business owners to earn rewards. But just like individual consumer credit cards, there are some things you should and shouldn't do with your business rewards cards. Do consider the rewards opportunities Many business rewards cards offer bonus cash or points for purchases made in specific categories such as office supplies, Internet and phone services, and…

  • Financial news: 05/20/2013

    A.W. Berry
    20 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    • Bloomberg: Bernanke optimistic about potential to innovate • CNBC: Treasury suspended special securities sales • IRS: IRS to be closed for 5 days due to federal sequester • OQ: S&P 500 stochastics indicate buy at overbought levels" • CNN: Real estate prices a