Skip the 20% Down Payment

This article says that savings for a down payment could prevent you from doing other things that could be better for you financially. It is a good article, but keep in mind that instance gratification is most peoples largest financial problem. This article is not telling you to buy a home without a down payment. It is telling you to consider some of the other things you can be doing with your money. (Skip the 20% Down Payment)

6 Money Dilemmas

Here is a good quick article with advice on six common questions in the personal finance world.

1. Pay off a credit card OR fund your 401(k)
2. Save in a Roth 401(k) OR a regular 401(k)
3. Lease a car OR buy a car
4. Prepay your mortgage OR invest
5. Buy a home OR rent a home
6. Take Social Security early OR late

(6 money dilemmas)

Roth IRA or Not?

This is the best article I have found to date that address the debate over using Roth accounts as opposed to traditional tax differed accounts. The last section of the article is what makes the biggest statements to me. It said that an economist ran several senerios with both a Roth and regular retirement accounts. The results were more wins for one then the other, but the differences being rather insignificant. Remember in the end not stating to save to wait for the answer to this debate is your worst choice. Waiting a month, year, or decade is going to have a far worst result on your retirement savings that putting your money in a Traditional or Roth IRA. (Roth IRAs: Good for You or Not?)

No Free Ride For Subprime Borrowers?

This article attempts to explain to a reader that there is no free ride for a subprime borrower. The point the article makes is that the intro rate for an ARM for a subprime borrower is higher than what a responsible person getting a 30-year fix mortgage at prime would be. I understand this point, but by not letting the rate reset an additional 2 or 3 percent higher they are giving these borrowers something they don't deserve. You are putting hundreds of dollars a month into their pocket. They planned poorly. Why do they deserve to get money in their pocket? Their credit was poor. They earned the original rate and the reset rate. A responsible person earned their prime rate and a subprime borrower earned their higher payment after 2 or so years. Interest rates went up and the market went south. They took a gamble on paying the maximum amount they could afford for a house and it didn't pay off. They took a risk. They lost. Put that house they shouldn't be able to afford back on the market and let the market adjust and jump and fall and do its thing. I would love some feed back with another view. I can't understand why they deserve this? (No free ride for subprime borrowers)

A 401K Where The Company Invests For You

I found this article that seems to address an interesting point with retirement plans. It is a 401K plan that the employee allows the company to invest as it sees fit. This situation gives the benefit of a defined benefit plan where you don't have to worry about where to invest your savings. This seems like an interesting solution for the average person that does not have the time or desire to research investments. It lets someone that should have more information and resources invest your money for you. The idea seems great, but at the end of the day it could make a huge difference who is investing for you. If there is a well qualified team as there is com trolling pension funds, then this could turn out to be a great thing. If companies start to throw departments together with unqualified people this type of system could turn into a huge mess. Tell me what you think about this type of plan. (Redrawing the Route to Retirement)

Subprime Mess Winners and Losers for Rate Lock Solution

The number one solution for intervention is the rate lock solution for this subprime mess. The idea is that all the people with adjustable mortgages will have their initial lower interest rate locked in for the entire length of the loan. I hate that a responsible person who took on a loan they could afford and took the extra interest up front to protect themselves down the line gets screwed. That is the person that deserve help. The person that has proved they can take care of money. Why give it to people that took a risk that didn't work in their favor? They didn't plan ahead for when the worst might happen. Why do these people deserve the help? We have a market for a reason. Let it learn its lesson and figure itself out. (Proposed rate freeze to reduce foreclosures)

101 Ways To Save Around The Holidays

Here is a good list of 101 things to do to save money around the holidays. I hope you enjoy the article. (Trim Expenses While You Trim the Tree)

A Guide For Your December Spending

Here is a good little quick read article about how to keep yourself under control during the holiday season. The author start by suggesting some great things to do with your holiday bonus. Then the author goes on to give tips on how to stay on track and not over spend in December. (A December Spending Survival Guide)