tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-123543662011-12-14T21:43:59.802-05:00Personal finance, wealth building, debt relief, goal setting, money management, investing, and anything else I find interesting....ante_upnoreply@blogger.comBlogger601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118671538672682772005-06-13T12:23:00.000-04:002005-06-13T13:20:00.336-04:00

I just discovered Ric Edelman has a web site. Edelman is the author of several well-known finance books, including The Truth About Money(I highly recommend it for a good overall view of personal finance) and Ordinary People, Extraordinary wealth, among other works.Edelman's web site is pretty informative, with links to information on most of the big life changing money events in our lives, such

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118259612807306052005-06-13T12:06:00.000-04:002005-06-13T12:25:38.710-04:00

Starting over. Great, you’re out of debt. You haven’t used your credit cards in a while, and you’ve just made that last payment to the balance. Now what?It’s a level playing field. It’s as if you’re a ML baseball player and there are no more steroids in baseball. The fans are still there though, clamoring for longer home runs more than ever before. If you can’t beat the record, you’ll never be

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118667473090989832005-06-13T07:02:00.000-04:002005-06-13T08:57:53.096-04:00

Great article by Andrea Rock of Money Magazine today with tips on how to cut the high costs of buying drugs. I can relate. My HMO has a prescription drug program for $20/drug, but I learned to my surprise a couple of weeks ago that not all drugs are covered. Although I normally shop at a local drug store because the service is so spectacular (extremely helpful pharmacists, free local delivery), I

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118664969243231792005-06-13T06:54:00.000-04:002005-06-13T08:32:22.153-04:00

I've spent most of the weekend writing for a couple of other non PF blogs (which are not yet on-line), so I didn't get anything posted here. I did spend money though!I saw Mr./Mrs. Smith which was surprisingly entertaining ($5.50 matinee). I also ordered a book for my brother's birthday present, Hell or High Water : Surviving Tibet's Tsangpo River. He's an avid kayaker and I think he'll like it.

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118409239165410382005-06-10T06:54:00.000-04:002005-06-10T09:31:55.816-04:00

want no e-garbage. What do you do with your ‘old’ technology? I know that in the office, our old tech is getting newer. We used to have lags of more than 5 years to get a new computer, or copy machine, or fax. Now they are replaced every couple of years. We just had a lot of PCs replaced that had nothing wrong with them. They had plenty of speed and memory, no problems, and were used primarily

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116441063442808042005-06-09T16:12:00.000-04:002005-06-09T16:20:54.556-04:00

I couldn’t resist. When I saw the link over on Slashdot about the New York Daily News article on a geek dating service, I just had to write about it. You no longer have to hang out at geek fests like Gnomedex or Star Wars conventions for a hot date. Instead, there's a an online personals service just for you. After all, your best investment is really yourself. Who you end up with will change

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118329419184230022005-06-09T13:06:00.000-04:002005-06-09T13:20:34.850-04:00

Time magazine's recent Web Guide: Real Estate reminded me of a topic a friend and I discuss frequently. She’s quite a bit older than me, and is currently renting from a relative, but is saving to build a small house. I, on the other hand, have no interest in new construction. I love the lines of older homes, woodwork embellishment, craftsman details, tudor-style brickwork, and natural materials.

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118323195354649092005-06-09T06:48:00.000-04:002005-06-09T09:23:01.340-04:00

Design your state quarter -As part of the 50 State Quarters Program, some states are inviting you to submit ideas for your state quarter. A couple of current submission sites are for the Washington State Quarter and the Wyoming State Quarter.You can see designs for existing and upcoming quarter releases at the site of the 50 State Quarters Program.The U.S MintContact your state governor’s office

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118244124473570762005-06-08T12:15:00.000-04:002005-06-08T12:16:37.916-04:00

just about everything. One of the most common excuses for: not taking public transportation, shopping at expensive 'convenience' stores, frequenting 'fast food' places, not exercising, impulse buying, buying pre-packaged meals, expensive gas, expensive airline tickets, you name it, is "I don't have time."Make time. How many times have you ran a red light? How many times, in a more relaxed mood,

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116710498155457902005-06-08T07:24:00.000-04:002005-06-08T11:52:23.416-04:00

Are you ready for a pet? First, you need think about all of the issues concerning having a pet in your household. Too many parents act on impulse and give a pet for Easter (bunnies are extremely popular), or a puppy for Christmas, etc. You need to make sure your child is ready for a pet. It's not fair to the animal or child when you give the child a responsibility they are not ready for.Pets are

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118233266095571412005-06-08T05:53:00.000-04:002005-06-08T08:23:09.270-04:00

There's a nifty little site I found through a link on MSN Money called Sperling's Best Places. Their most recent study is about the most expensive cities to drive in. Funnily enough its the Southeast that is pointed to as the most expensive, even though it has the lowest gas prices. Least expensive, Brownsville, TX. Most expensive, Atlanta, GA. The article explained that "the places experiencing

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118156466807659752005-06-07T12:10:00.000-04:002005-06-15T09:42:02.636-04:00

In "Quit Smoking, Get Rich" the Motley Fool examines the personal price of smoking. Consider the actual costs of tobacco products to the consumer,"Multiply $4.50 by 365 days, and you're looking at an annual cost of $1,642... If you invested $1,642 in the market each year for 30 years, you'd end up with more than $250,000." (10%).BankRate's article takes the case against even further, citing the

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118147217328635382005-06-07T06:48:00.000-04:002005-06-07T08:28:35.666-04:00

Seth has a great article over on Seth Godin's Blog called "Small is the new big" that shows a great perspective on goals and other aspects of business and life.In business, Seth points to comparisons between such entities as Amercan Airlines vs. Jet Blue, Boing, Boing vs. the New Yorker, etc. Smaller companies aim for success by filling a particular niche, their end goal is success, not world

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118080042759045812005-06-06T13:42:00.000-04:002005-06-06T13:49:15.053-04:00

"NEW YORK(CNN/Money)- Citigroup said Monday that personal information on 3.9 million consumer lending customers was lost by UPS while in transit to a credit bureau - the biggest breach of customer or employee data reported so far. "Jeesh, is somebody having a 'how can we screw our customers' contest? The winner so far- Citigroup just beat out Wachovia.

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118062198577249512005-06-06T06:31:00.000-04:002005-06-06T08:51:44.023-04:00

Yahoo news has an interesting article this morning, "Web Sites, Blogs Can Boost Your Career." The article makes a distinction between the advantages of web site portfolios, which may include a resume or vitae, and a blog, which is ongoing and current (or should be, if you are referring prospective employers to it).If you have an on-line resume, make sure it is accurate and current. You should

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1118000635650433232005-06-05T15:43:00.000-04:002005-06-05T17:05:43.720-04:00

ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is stupid. I was watching a rerun of TLC’s Moving up show, in which a woman named Rebecca was buying a house. The real horror of the woman’s ordeal was not simply erasing all traces of the “hobbitesque” decoration, nor was it the dead squirrels in the ceiling, the termites, the maggots in the light fixture, the electrical that wasn’t up to code, the mice in the

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117983304323696642005-06-05T09:33:00.000-04:002005-06-05T12:20:57.740-04:00

A friend of mine asked me about Skype the other day at work, his teenage son uses it and he wanted to know what the deal was. I went to the company site and saw that Skype downloads surpassed 100 million on Friday. Skype is a free telephony service you can use to call people who also have skype on their computers or their phones. You can use expanded services to call people with regular

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117821713211594562005-06-03T12:55:00.000-04:002005-06-03T14:03:11.910-04:00

An article about auctioneering today reminded me of what fun an auction can be. You can also get amazing deals. During a professional auction a couple of months ago, I basically sat in my chair wide-eyed for 6 hours, shocked at the incredible deals on antiques and furnishings.Here's how an auction works:Many of them are free. Some charge admission. Held at auction houses, they may have auctions

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117806161937242202005-06-03T06:25:00.000-04:002005-06-03T09:49:28.770-04:00

Sharp's new 65-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) television is purportedly the biggest in the world, although this CNN article admits most consumers won't pay $15,000 for a tv. Still, I bet there are quite a few who will. $15,000. To me, that's a house downpayment. Here are a few other things I could spend $15,000 on: a car my IRA- this year and the next, and pay off my student loan a year of

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117730164393493022005-06-02T12:28:00.000-04:002005-06-02T12:39:30.323-04:00

Washington Post staff writer Shankar Vedantam explained in "Hormone Spray Is Found To Bolster Trust in Others." about a recent experiment using oxytocin. In testing, subjects administered the nasal spray were much more likely to entrust others with their money than subjects not administered the spray. Said one scientist, "I am more alarmed about the manipulations of marketing than the

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117724966891043032005-06-02T12:05:00.000-04:002005-06-02T12:09:46.626-04:00

I'm looking for a new host to post some blogs I've been working on for a while so I can have my own domain name. There are so many companies out there it's hard to pick one. Anybody think their host is especially good? Price matters. I'll probably be using WordPress too. Please give me your recommendations.Thanks!

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117717978643800702005-06-02T06:49:00.000-04:002005-06-02T09:36:53.616-04:00

The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the U of Pennsylvania's report Open to Exploitation, written Joseph Turow, Lauren Feldman, and Kim Meltzer, consists of a survey and results of adult consumers on their internet usage. The Policy Center’s web site says that,” Sixty-four percent of American adults do not know that it is legal for online stores to charge different people different prices at the

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117662991696089862005-06-01T17:41:00.000-04:002005-06-01T17:56:31.700-04:00

Wow. Never thought I'd see this. Nathan Dugan of ShareSaveSpend recommends giving credit cards as gradauation gifts. But you know what? It really makes sense. Wouldn't it be better for you to help select the right credit card offer, and go through the process with your teen step-by-step, rather than have them accept the first free t-shirt-with-application offer on campus? And the second, and the

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117649116423757612005-06-01T12:49:00.000-04:002005-06-01T14:05:16.426-04:00

Liz Pulliam Weston has a great article over on MSNMoney on cutting the cost of teen driving insurance. Tips such as:Find out how your insurer assigns drivers to carsKeep those grades up Take driver’s edJack up your deductibles Take your college student off the policyDon’t buy new cars Consider not reporting fender-bendersand other cost-cutting, life-saving tips are mentioned. A great related link

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117627353962570242005-06-01T05:38:00.000-04:002005-06-01T14:08:37.570-04:00

In "Old friends: One rich, one not" Jeanne Sahadi explores the depths of envy and friendship. While Sahadi focuses primarily on the first post college years, most of us have come across this issue at one time or another. Differences tend to break friendships apart. I believe its not the earnings that makes the differences, its the spending. If a friend wants to party all night, shop all day, and

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117584467126354632005-05-31T19:28:00.000-04:002005-05-31T20:18:06.673-04:00

Problogger has a post on building relationships today, in reference to blogging, that reminds me of a book I read recently. Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi, Tahl Raz is about business relationships, networking, mentoring, and making contacts in a more meaningful way. Suze Orman's recent 'YF&B' show highlighted a couple of credit- indebted social net workers who incurred much of their debt

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117476330041928042005-05-30T14:01:00.000-04:002005-05-30T14:05:30.046-04:00

In relation to the earlier Wal-Mart post, I just saw this listing, if anyone is interested:"The Age of Wal-Mart: Inside America's Most Powerful Company"CNBC 35 May 30 04:00pm [EST] Special/Other, 120 Mins. The history and future plans of the retail giant. Original Airdate: November 10, 2004.

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1115740107547061482005-05-30T08:48:00.000-04:002005-05-30T10:15:06.456-04:00

So I spent Saturday morning watching the new Star Wars flick, Episode III, 'light-years' ahead of episodes I, II in terms of story, dialogue and acting. Then on to my favorite bookstore for a few hours with some herb tea ($1.39) and a stack of books and magazines. I ending up buying 1 book, a fantasy paperback The Isle of Battle (The Swans' War, Book 2) by Sean Russell ($7.99). I read the 1st of

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117394187413543952005-05-29T07:57:00.000-04:002005-05-29T15:16:27.416-04:00

Make Memorial Day more than just a picnic this weekend. It won't cost you a cent to give this holiday a little meaning. Celebrate the holiday and remind your family of the significance of the day. Discuss the history of Memorial Day and its relation to war in the news today and your own family history. Listen to a vet reminisce on their own experience. Ever been to the Veteran's Memorial or take

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117290036548923722005-05-28T09:50:00.000-04:002005-05-28T10:20:36.553-04:00

Hey, we discuss this topic at work all the time. I shop at Wal-Mart. I buy a lot of my groceries there. Personal economics constrain me. It's much cheaper than the other big super stores around here. I also shop at a local organic store for some things, which is quite expensive.Some of the things commonly discussed around our coffee room are:1- Wal-Mart stores keep moving and leaving empty

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117122514799459442005-05-26T11:31:00.000-04:002005-05-26T11:48:34.803-04:00

Have some fun and get a free financial makeover. Make over your business or your budget:The Turnaround business makeover.The Detroit News free money makeover. Send your name, address and daytime phone number to MoneyMakeover@detnews.com . Include a brief description of your money questions and goals.Dave Ramsey's Daily Money Makeover.Boston Globe Money Makeover.

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1117117773921507862005-05-26T09:53:00.000-04:002005-05-26T10:29:33.930-04:00

In "A Web path to cheapest gas" CNN reports today on AAA's new Fuel Price Finder. While I found a lot of other gas price finders on the web, this one uses actual credit card purchase records to track real prices, instead of the input from volunteers. This service is open to AAA members, but if you do a lot of traveling by car, AAA can be a great deal. My parents, who make a lot of long distance

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116868555107896692005-05-23T13:06:00.000-04:002005-05-23T13:15:55.123-04:00

Are you a teen with your own money blog? The Motley Fool is having a cool contest for teens. Send this article to any teen you know- if they have a good finance tip they could win $1000. It beats babysitting... "Local Teen Wins $1,000." You can enter the contest by sending an email with your advice to contest@fool.com. "The financial advice or ideas you submit might be about:

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116855544465191582005-05-23T09:21:00.000-04:002005-05-23T09:55:39.923-04:00

From CNNMoney: Did bank employees sell account info?Report: More than 100K clients at BofA, Wachovia, other banks hit by ring that sold stolen data."The customers so far believed to be affected are in New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania."Every time I see one of these articles I cringe and appreciate the fact that it wasn't my information that

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116850739985591252005-05-23T08:10:00.000-04:002005-05-23T08:28:04.623-04:00

I discovered this great little slide show, "How to Make a Million Dollars," on Marshall Brain's site WebKEW. Brain is the founder of HowStuffWorks, a site he first started as a hobby. How Stuff Works is a good example of how doing what you love can be the best choice. I think it's easier to make money with something you can put your heart and soul into, rather then working with money as your only

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116440086824073842005-05-21T16:30:00.000-04:002005-05-21T16:47:33.716-04:00

1. Consumer Reports magazine: buy and keep all year.2. TIVO: if you watch tv, it's definitely worth it. It actually cuts down on my tv viewing time because I only watch the shows I want, when I want.3. high speed internet access: for work, for blogging.4. unlisted telephone number: I can't imagine it differently. I rarely get calls I don't want.5. digital camera: much more versatile than our

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116597024117549492005-05-20T09:36:00.000-04:002005-05-20T09:52:25.193-04:00

Most of us know that its much easier to stay on track financially if we're organized. I know that when all my 'tools' are in place I'm more inclined to want to sit down with my laptop and update my personal financial spreedsheet or budget, file any necessary papers, etc. Here are a few things that I consider essential to an adequate office environment:1. Clean space with desk and a comfortable

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116518639333298422005-05-20T06:53:00.000-04:002005-05-20T09:29:34.073-04:00

How come there's so much action in selling body parts lately? Sounds like an IPO we need to get in on. That damn finger has really gotten around. If a finger is worth $50, a hand is worth $250? An hour or two of mowing lawns could have paid off that debt. (Or maybe that's how he lost his finger.)"Custard Customer Won't Return Finger." Maybe they could buy the one used in the scam on Wendy's."Tip

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116517024215809042005-05-19T11:33:00.000-04:002005-05-19T11:37:04.220-04:00

My two cents on "The 'wave' of the future: J.P. Morgan Chase set to issue new 'contactless' credit card that you wave instead of swipe." The article says they are looking for "new, younger customers. " How the hell young? They have been targeting college kids for years now, so who are they going after-- grade schoolers?

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116507670728143612005-05-19T08:13:00.000-04:002005-05-19T13:12:18.673-04:00

I am a big Star Wars movie fan, I really am. I am also really, really, glad that the new episode is too intense for the younger viewer. It's hard enough trying to fend off the inevitable "I want..." syndrome without the popular children's movies adding emphasis to enticement. I know they can't miss seeing all those Star Wars themed t-shirts, plastic figurines, and other toys the stores are

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116439346765524522005-05-19T07:48:00.000-04:002005-05-19T10:00:49.086-04:00

Here's an interesting site- Balance Transfers Cafe. You can find some of the same offers at places like Bank Rate, but this looks like a simple, well-designed web site that lays everything out for you. It has some of the best BT offers I see here and there on-line.WSJ online: "'Life of the Balance' Card DealsCome With Steep Fees, Penalties:"

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116509407108380592005-05-19T07:30:00.000-04:002005-05-19T09:32:37.153-04:00

So how do you TIVO EBay? CNNMoney had an interesting article this morning, "Bid on This: EBay on Cable TV." I use EBay quite a lot for my holiday shopping but I don't know if I could handle it on tv, the home shopping networks never had much attraction for me. "An enhanced television experience" is how one executive described it. Gee, I just call it SHOPPING.More interested in selling than

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116436156137006032005-05-18T13:02:00.000-04:002005-05-18T13:09:16.140-04:00

In Texas a woman's car was repossessed as she ran inside her fitness club to make a payment. Unfortunately, the tow truck driver didn't notice the baby inside the car. Read the full article here. How the heck do people prioritize these things? What's more important-- a car or a fitness membership? Can you think of any reason why you would rather keep your fitness membership current rather than

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1116431601787298782005-05-18T10:41:00.000-04:002005-05-18T11:53:21.793-04:00

I used to pay for quite a few things that I now get for free, or I use an alternative. Here are some of them:Newspapers - I view CNN on-line and check out some cable news stations nightly, plus read the NY Times for free at work. SavingsMagazines - I read a lot of them for free at the local bookstores, but I don't really save money because I also spend a lot on books I'm tempted to buy. No

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1115740054015398662005-05-17T08:02:00.000-04:002005-05-17T08:23:52.486-04:00

I went to a yard sale recently and bought: a large container of beads for my nephew ($1.50), a glass cake plate cover ($3), an insulated (new) lunchbag (1.00), and my friend bought a newish lawnmower ($30). Good deals. In the past I have boughten at a yard sale- an antique bed ($15)which I still use, other furniture, and a myriad of other things that I needed but were no longer useful to someone

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1115993557601758592005-05-13T10:10:00.000-04:002005-05-13T11:50:49.590-04:00

I want Lasik eye surgery- I think. I'll have to wait and see if I'm a good candidate. Later this year I'll have an eye exam to see if I'm eligible, and if so I'll increase my Medflex withdrawals by a lot for next year. I know the cost varys widely so I'll have to do some research. Here are a few tips if you are considering LASIK surgery:There are several types of laser eye surgery, some better

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1115212833044841262005-05-10T12:19:00.000-04:002005-05-13T10:52:45.250-04:00

1. Get a 2nd job2nd jobs I have had- working for a large marketing company for inbound calls (taking credit card applications); working in customer service evenings for a company I used to work for full-time days; working holiday periods for companies that friends/family referred me to (filling out contracts for seasonal laborers, working in a bakery). Use your contacts and ask around.2. Employ

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114177797372981192005-05-04T08:40:00.000-04:002005-05-13T11:42:02.686-04:00

Planning for your child’s financial future includes many variables. Your goals, your values, and your income all play a part. Assuming college education is a goal, should you start a 529 plan? Why do so many financial advisors say to save for your own retirement and let your children finance college themselves? What about estate planning? How much should I tell my kids about our family finances?

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114429846078058222005-05-02T07:49:00.000-04:002005-05-01T15:32:48.593-04:00

Here's one of the best links you'll ever find. The Direct Marketing Association can you help to stop the masses of junk mail and credit card offers stuffing your mail and email.http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.htmlHere's one that should be obvious- write to the company sending you mail, and they have to stop! They are required to do so by law. If you receive tons of credit cards

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114692297528464482005-04-28T08:23:00.000-04:002005-04-29T10:53:08.090-04:00

It's graduation time, and I want to buy a gift for my niece's HS graduation. If I just give her cash now she'll probably spend it on trendy clothes, so I will probably give a card now and the actual gift when she leaves for college, because I'd like to gift her something she'll need but will appreciate not having to pay for.Teenagers can be difficult to find gifts for. A few members of my family

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114182267350542842005-04-27T10:45:00.000-04:002005-05-23T13:40:21.443-04:00

TVDr. Phil- Recent show highlighting people who owe a lot of money. http://www.drphil.com/show/show.jhtml?contentId=3146_moneydilemmas.xmlSuze Orman (CNBC, Saturdays) - you love her, you hate her. Either way, she does have some good advice. http://suzeorman.com/MoneyTrack (PBS) new show on public television coming soon, check it out. http://www.moneytrack.orgAffluenza(PBS)- http://www.pbs.org/

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114180169705184092005-04-26T07:48:00.000-04:002005-05-23T13:55:30.853-04:00

My father is the millionaire next door. I know that a couple of people at work are, too. I'm going to be a millionaire, for sure. You would never know that a lot of people are worth 1 million+. They mostly don't drive new cars, don't have large screen tvs, and don't live in humungous new houses. Millionaires I know took advantage of all employer stock option and retirement plans, spent less than

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114189803203645022005-04-20T13:02:00.000-04:002005-04-25T16:02:39.483-04:00

You know, from time to time I see funny articles where someone's dog has been sent a credit card offer, or a baby, or someone who has been deceased for years. I see a lot of postings on the credit boards and money boards from people who have damaged their credit and can't get cards. Get this-- a cousin of mine with great credit, really, applied for a credit card the other day. He makes $65,000+,

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114179666472357872005-04-13T10:17:00.000-04:002005-04-23T10:39:42.566-04:00

Do I have to budget? I think so. A common theme for many in financial distress centers on "I make a good salary, but my money is all gone before the end of the month and I don't know where." We know that to get ahead we have to pay ourselves first, and we can't do that if we don't know how much we have. Track where everything goes for a month or two. If you've been using credit cards for

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114176186334298872005-03-22T11:13:00.000-05:002005-05-04T09:22:33.873-04:00

How did your taxes come out recently? I am one of those who continually 'lends' money to the government each year. I know I can adjust my W-4, but this is one way I have of saving a small lump some- I may be losing interest, but at least I'm not spending it, and I can put it in my Roth IRA. I got back a little over $700 this year, but expect to get back more next as I start my 403(B) and fully

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114178275105078682005-03-14T09:51:00.000-05:002005-04-27T12:57:52.776-04:00

The hard way:2nd jobs such as telemarketing and inbound call services, pizza delivery, tutoring, babysitting, driving and delivery, editing/writing, yard work.A time-tested way:Savings accounts, brokerage accounts, IRAs, any way in wich you get ahead, inceasing your assets.Sell your stuff: at garage sales, yard sales, flea markets, and ebay.The Dollar Stretcher has a lot of info on selling your

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114199237380586862005-03-08T15:46:00.000-05:002005-04-25T16:00:32.636-04:00

I used to spend all my change, I used to have to spend all my change because I had so little money. The old piggy bank is a great way to pay off your credit debt a little faster, or add a little to your IRA. Having trouble starting a savings fund? I cashed in my money jar last week to the tune of $68 and change, and the jar was only half full! That's plenty big enough of a sum to throw in to

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114177526432129892005-03-02T11:23:00.000-05:002005-04-26T13:18:36.850-04:00

I'm organizing my files with articles on tax credits and deductions to make sure I take advantage of everything possible next year. Items that are going to help me tax wise for my 2005 taxes are-Roth IRA403(B)Student Loan interestRetirement savings tax creditMed-flex spending accountMedical deductionsRoth: I hope to fully fund this for the first time. Advantages- I can use the $ if needed for

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114179428442718612005-02-22T14:50:00.000-05:002005-04-27T07:41:21.570-04:00

Get rid of your credit card debt! Stop using your cards - Mine are in the freezer in a block of ice. Freeze them, give them to your mom, your husband, cut them up (if you are in deep debt and the freezer method isn't working).Pay more than the minimum or you will never see the end. Pay everything you possibly can. Cancel your cell phone, or cancel your landline if your cell phone has a better

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12354366.post-1114174249597278512005-02-08T13:48:00.000-05:002005-04-23T10:02:05.590-04:00

My goal is to use this blog as a personal motivation tool to keep myself on financial track for now and for the future. It would be great if others find my comments and meanderings useful. I find it helpful to keep the links for other sites I visit frequently all together at this blog.If you know of other great, related sites please include them in your comments. I like reading about personal

ante_upnoreply@blogger.com2