Good Ideas For Your Average 401K

Here is an article I found helpful on what to do with an average to poor 401K plan. This first point is that you make sure to use it if your are getting an employer match. The cardinal sin of a 401K plan is to no participate and lose out on a match. This article does a good job of pointing out easy strategies for directing your money in a weak 401K. (Don't Panic If Your 401(k) Plan Stinks)

New Retirement Income Rule

This article talks about the old retirement rule of needing 80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement. It should be a pretty simple concept that this is just a general rule and depending on what you do in retirement that percentage could be off by quite a bit. If you are going to travel the world in your retirement that is going to cost you more that you are currently spending on bills and the grocery store. If you plan to live in the room over your child's garage and play with the grand kids all day then you could possibly need a lot less than that. This article just points out that you need to plan out what your expenses will be in retirement to know what percentage of pre-retirement income you will need. (Ask the Mole: Retirement - How Much You'll Really Need)

Investing To Beat Inflation

Here is an interesting article that monitored several areas of stocks through years of inflation to find out the places that perform the best. This article takes a different view on how to beat inflation. (Investing to Beat Inflation)

Cyber Monday

Here is a good quick article on some tips to score good deals today on Cyber Monday. (Beat the mobs on 'Cyber Monday')

Protecting your home's value

Here is a quick article about how to protect your homes value amid this foreclosure frenzy. Just a few good tips for anyone looking to keep a little extra value in their neighborhood. (Protecting your home's value)

Holiday Shopping Tips

Here is a good quick read article with some good advice on how to save around the holidays. The reason I put up this article is because I think it has a couple different ideas. (Ten Ways to Fatten Your Wallet on Black Friday)

Costs of Raising Children

Here is a depressing article that reminds me that it is going to be very costly to have kids. This article claims that the cost to raise a kid are way above what they should be and economically speaking it doesn't make much sense to have children. This is a good read, but keep in mind most people don't make the decision to have children based on economics. On the other hand several people do chose not to have children based on finances. Just keep in mind when planning for children that there are great impacts on your finances. (Is Raising Kids a Fool's Game?)

No-Match 401K

(A no-match 401(k): Still worth it) This is a good question a person or two is probably wondering. This article gives the answer to one man's questions about where to invest when you company 401K plan does not provide a match. The answer is that it can still be worth it to invest in a 401K with no match as opposed to a taxable account. In this article the man is already maxing out a Roth IRA. I would be interested to confirm my guess that it would be advisable to put money in a Roth IRA before putting money in a 401K plan that had no match.

Pet Ownership Costs

This is a fresh look at the cost of owning a dog. The author brings up the fact that there is more to money than just want it buys you. When you buy a dog you don't just get shots and food with the money you put out. You get a friend which you can't measure the benefits of. (A Not So Shaggy Dog Story)

Rent vs. Buy

The debate rages on with the currently falling real estate values. Does the subprime effect change which side wins? This author has a few good examples of places where renters are winning in this market. I tend to like the idea of buying for more non-financial related reasons. I want the feeling of owning what I live in. I don't want to have to worry about what the rent will go up this year. Or for any half way decent reason being asked to leave or not being able to resign a lease when my term is up. I see the argument financially that you could save money by renting and the money invested properly could be worth a lot more if it is put in the stock market. Just remember if you are going to use this as your excuse for renting to actual put that "saved" money in the stock market. Too many times we use the idea that we can save money by doing something, but they we throw the money away in another wasteful place. Then at the end of the month we are in the same boat of wondering where all our money went. Read this article for a little light on how current events are shaping the rent vs. buy debate. (Now That Housing Has Soured, Renters Are Glad They Didn't Buy)