Personal Financial Oasis

The Changing Stores

2009-02-09T17:11:00.003-06:00

(15 Companies That Might Not Survive 2009) I think this will be something that is very interesting to watch in the next few months. What companies will go down with this economy. It will also be interesting to watch what company types come back when this thing turns around and what type of store are gone forever. I'm also interested in seeing how liquidation sales affect the other retailers. How is Best Buy doing when you can go to the closing Circuit City and get 10 to 20 percent off the same TVs.

Grant Money For College

2009-02-08T16:44:00.002-06:00

(WHO GETS WHAT: Billions to colleges and students) This is something to keep your eye on the government has all allowed a large amount of money for students to continue their education with the stimulus package. If you are a student or have some interest in going back to school this could be an interesting way to do it. If you get laid off an are looking to move your career in a certain direction this might be a perfect chance. Stay tuned to the exact words that are made law to possibly take advantage of the government stimulus.

Living on Cash

2008-11-10T16:26:00.004-06:00

(3 steps back to the sanity of cash) Here is an idea I wonder about all the time. If I didn't have credit where would I be. Could I just live on cash alone. I find the cushion of a credit card very nice. It is nice to have something there in case you have a problem, but I do agree with the author that far too often people use it as a quick way out and don't think about the long term. We see what we get now and forget that for the next 6 months we have less to live on cause the credit card payment is more. Do you think you would be OK without credit?

Obama and McCain Tax Plans

2008-06-19T13:58:00.004-05:00

(Your Tax Bill: How McCain, Obama Differ) I think everyone should get a look at this article to understand how the different presidential candidates might effect your personal finances. It looks to me like the average middle income person doesn't seem to get much difference by either candidate. It is very interesting to me to see how dramatic the difference is for the very high earners. If the difference to me where half a million dollars in taxes I would have my mind made up on whom to vote for. I'm always curious why all us average earners don't band together and out vote the very high earners and have them pay more taxes and us less. Why doesn't this happen. We should have a majority. Is it the fact that we all hope some day to be in the top tax bracket and know that if we were in that situation we would not like that idea of the government taking an unfair portion of our money? Why don't we tax the crap out of the rich to make our government run better? Any ideas out there? It would seem that they have the most extra money to spare. Would inflation just negate any less tax the average person would pay, because the costs of all good would go up to cover the difference? What would happen?

Negotiation Techniques

2008-06-19T09:28:00.003-05:00

(When It Comes to Negotiating, Ask and You Shall Receive) Here is a good article on how to negotiate. The tip to be persistent is a good lesson for us all. I usually give up after one no from the first person I talk to on the phone. The first person on the phone is no one special trained to answer the 50 basic questions asked most often. Move yourself beyond the first person and find something that can deal with your more advanced requests. If we could all negotiate a little better we all could be better off. All the little amounts add up quick and make for some money to put away and save.

Start Saving Late Here is Some Advice

2008-06-18T15:12:00.002-05:00

(A Really Late Start on a Nest Egg) Here is a good article to look at if you are looking to start late in the game to save for retirement. I like this article because it gives simple advice. Not everyone can start saving young, but when you do start late you need to do it will.

Goverment Funding Retirement

2008-06-17T13:51:00.004-05:00

(Uncle Sam can fund retirement - Obama) Here is an article detailing the plans for Obama to help lower and middle income families save for retirement. Can someone please explain to me why we are giving money away to people for retirement when our current government assistance for retirement (Social Security) is floundering. If we can come up with the extra money to hand out why can't we look into fixing the situation government already started? How in the world do you prevent people from dipping into that IRA match? People can't save, but they sure can look like they are saving if you are going to throw $500 a year at them. There is nothing in this plan to keep the money in the IRA. Everyone has been paying into Social Security and unless fixed it will have funding problems. Why do the low and middle earners get extra government assistance to save for retirement while we all still dump money into a program with a problem. Why can't we be fair and look at fixing a program that was already started?

A Quick Read to Help Your 401K

2008-06-17T08:21:00.001-05:00

(5 Ways to Whip Your 401(k) Into Shape) Here is a nice simple quick read article for this morning. It is simple it is quick and to the 5 points it makes.

Prosper Peer-to-Peer Lending

2008-06-16T08:48:00.005-05:00

(Navigating the Risks of Peer-to-Peer Lending) Here is one of the better articles that I have found about peer to peer lending that is not on one of the peer to peer lending sites. I like that she points out the risks of lending this way. I hate that she does not talk a bit about the innovation behind this type of system and how it is different from the traditional system. I love the idea of these sites and how they function. I just wish there was more that could be done to reduce defaults. The hardest part to me about these sites is that I don't have a real name or address of the person I'm lending to. The lending site is the person that has all the personal information to track down any one with a problem and I don't understand what their motivation would be to go after the people that default. Why would they hire a decent collection company. As soon as the loan is funded they get all the money they are going to get on the loan. They don't care what happens after that point. I wish they had some interest in what happened to the loans once they were funded being they are the people that would hire a collection company and possible push to collect something from people who default. I understand that the best collection company in the world can't fix the problem of people defaulting on loans, but I would feel better if the site would lose something if a loan defaulted.

Here's Some Motivation for Retirement

2008-06-04T16:18:00.003-05:00

(How to retire on $12,000 a year) Here is an article I just read that says the best way to live on roughly what social security hands out is to room with as many people as possible. As the number of people living together and sharing things increases it become more and more possible to live off this small amount. I can't think of a better reason to save money then to purely avoid having to move in with 4 strange people in my golden years in order to make ends meet. I want a nice place all my own to enjoy the quiet and to spend time with the people I choose. There is going to be nothing there to bail you our in your golden years, so save while you are young and able.

How The Credit Mess Squeezes You

2008-03-12T07:06:00.004-06:00

Here is a great article that puts the credit crisis at a level the typical person can understand. It shows the small places that it could effect the average person's financial life. Student loans and credit card rates are going up due to a lack of available money to loan out. (How the Credit Mess Squeezes You)

Sane Savings Tips

2008-02-21T10:59:00.001-06:00

Here is a good quick read article with some tips on savings. These tips seem simple and easy enough. Give this article a look. (Seven Steps to Saner Savings)

Avoiding Bank Fees

2008-02-20T11:30:00.002-06:00

Here is a good quick article about how to fight bank fees. This article looks at what to do to challenge them and where to go to avoid them. (Avoiding bank-fee surprises)

The Fed's stagflation fear

2008-01-30T11:48:00.000-06:00

Here is an article explaining the negative of reducing rates to help the economy. There is only so much a rate cut can do. What can happen is that inflation can take over and the economy won't recover. The average person is stuck in a place where things cost more and the economy is poor, so no new money will reach them. How can the economy recover if the average consumer is spending more money on gas, groceries and other essentials. The average person is left with little or no money to buy consumer goods. When the fed doesn't care about inflation and it is a real thing then the economy has no chance to recover because all of the limited spending in an economic slowdown goes to essentials. (The Fed's stagflation fear)

Fed Cut: What It Means for Your Mortgage

2008-01-22T15:12:00.000-06:00

(Fed Cut: What It Means for Your Mortgage) Here is a quick read article about what someone thinks will happen to typical mortgage.

Myths of Leasing Cars

2008-01-21T15:45:00.000-06:00

Here is the best article I have seen about leasing a car. I like how it tells you want each part of your lease is and that every bit of it should be negotiable. I also like that it explains that the common thoughts about leasing might be true, but that there are terms you can change to make it work better for certain situations. (Five top car-leasing myths)

Skip the 20% Down Payment

2007-12-19T09:20:00.000-06:00

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

2007-12-17T08:16:00.000-06:00

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?

2007-12-13T14:00:00.000-06:00

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?

2007-12-10T12:53:00.000-06:00

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

2007-12-06T10:47:00.000-06:00

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

2007-12-05T13:34:00.000-06:00

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

2007-12-04T14:02:00.000-06:00

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

2007-12-03T15:20:00.000-06:00

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)

Good Ideas For Your Average 401K

2007-11-28T09:54:00.001-06:00

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

2007-11-27T09:05:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-26T13:18:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-26T08:50:00.001-06:00

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

2007-11-20T08:53:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-19T08:26:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-16T08:43:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-14T11:02:00.000-06:00

(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

2007-11-02T08:15:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-01T09:30:00.000-06:00

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)

Employer or Company Paid Insurance Pros and Cons

2007-10-30T11:35:00.000-06:00

This article does a great job of explaining all the things that need to be considered when looking into buying life insurance and you have the option of buy additional amounts from your employer. This is the first article I saw that explained that you have to pay taxes on coverage your employer pays for that is above a certain amount. This complicates things a little, but if you think through it you will be fine. The basic idea is that if you are in good health you should find a better deal outside your employer and along with the cheaper rate you get to keep the coverage if you ever leave the company. (Pros, Cons Of Company-Paid Insurance)

10 Financial Planning Steps You Shouldn't Put Off

2007-10-29T07:22:00.000-06:00

This article starts off by telling you that 25% of people report themselves as chronic procrastinators. The article then proceeds to give ten places where you can't afford to wait in your financial planning. Procrastination is a financial plan killer. Not starting to save is your biggest mistake when you are in your 20's. So along with a lot of the classic items such as starting to save. This article brings up a few less typical items. Take a second to read this and then get to work on your financial planning. Taking the time today, not waiting is always worth something. (10 Financial Steps You Can't Afford to Put Off)

Before Baby Set Up Costs

2007-10-26T15:18:00.000-05:00

The following has the costs of individual items required before bringing a baby home. The ranges are varied for simple reasons. You can go all out on every little thing or can get reasonable pieces that work.

Nursery Setup: $2,000

Crib with a mattress ($160 and $750)
Bedding set ($35-$270)
Crib blankets and sheets ($8-$20 each)
Mattress cover ($10-$20).
Changing table ($70 and $600) then add $40 for a changing pad and cover.
Dresser ($90 and $650)
Rocking chair ($90-$500).

Ways to save: Do your nursery furniture research and prioritize. You may want to spend more on the rocking chair to use for future generations, and less on the crib and dresser.

Items for outside the nursery: $1,500

Stroller ($30-$300)
Car seat ($35-$280)
Playpen or portable crib ($60-$180)
Baby carrier or sling ($20- $140)

For at home:
Swing ($45-$130)
Play center ($50-$125)
Bouncer seat ($30-$90).
Monitor (about $80)
High chair ($45-$240)
Diaper bag (about $35)
Baby gate ($35-$250).

Ways to save: Buy double-duty gear. Some strollers convert to high chairs for an easy switch at the restaurant; and many diaper bags can take you from newborn to toddler in function and style.

Retire Early: Here's Some Advice

2007-10-26T08:29:00.000-05:00

(Cash Out Early) This article explains what a few people are doing to obtain their dream of retiring early. I like this article because it gives both examples of actual people and what exactly they are doing, but it also give a generic example of a 35 year person and how much more they would have to save to retire 10 years earlier. Everyone would love to retire early, but as the article points out it takes a lot more savings to retire 10 years earlier.

Retiring early also presents problems with health insurance. Most people wh0 retire don't get health benefits from their previous employer. The cost of health insurance can be a huge hurtle to overcome when retiring early. Medicare won't cover you till you turn 65 and that is the current requirement. The age could raise as the program digs its self deeper and deeper into a hole. Looking for part-time work that provides benefits could be the perfect situation. But if you truly want to quit working, you are going to need to do a lot of planning and saving.

Retire Rich: Beat the Market by Doing Nothing

2007-10-25T08:22:00.001-05:00

(Retire Rich: Beat the Market by Doing Nothing) Here is a good article for our now volatile market. It is the first article in a while that I have read that talks about dollar cost averaging. This is a good concept to keep in mind as the market turns down and you have a long horizon for your retirement earnings to work themselves out.

College Credit Card Debt

2007-10-24T22:05:00.000-05:00

(Buy Now, Pay Forever) This is a great article for young people to think about before getting into credit card debt. It is something that is very hard to get out of. This article talks about some developments with college students and credit card debt.

Two New 401K Options

2007-10-24T08:33:00.000-05:00

(Harvest a Rich 401(k)) This article talks about two new options for 401K's. The first is a Roth 401K which lets you take tax free withdraws in retirement, but there is no tax advantage up front. The second options is a 401K annuity. This is a product you buy through your 401K that gives you guaranteed income for the rest of your life once you retire. The article does a good job of explaining where each of these could make sense in your retirement planning. They also do a good job of giving you numbers for how much a good amount to stick in the 401K annuity would be. This article gives a good amount of advice along with producing the facts on these products.

Your 5-minute guide to money in your 20s

2007-10-23T13:09:00.000-05:00

(Your 5-minute guide to money in your 20s) Good quick read article. Article name explains it all.

10 Little Expenses That Add Up

2007-10-22T08:09:00.000-05:00

Coffee: According to the National Coffee Association, the average price for a cup of brewed coffee is $1.38. There are roughly 260 weekdays per year, so buying one coffee every weekday morning costs almost $360 per year.

Cigarettes: The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that the average price for a pack of cigarettes in the United States is $4.54. Pack-a-day smokers fork out $1,650 a year. Weekend smoker? Buying a pack once a week adds up, too: $236.

Alcohol: Drink prices vary based on the location. But assuming an average of $5 per beer including tip, buying two beers per day adds up to $3,650 per year. Figure twice that for two mixed drinks a day at the local bar. That's not chump change.

Bottled water from convenience stores: A 20-ounce bottle of Aquafina bottled water costs about $1. One bottle of water per day costs $365 per year. It costs the environment plenty, too.

Manicures: The Day Spa Magazine Price Survey of 2004 found that the average cost of a manicure is $20.53. A weekly manicure sets you back about $1,068 per year.

Car washes: The average cost for a basic auto detailing package is $58, according to Costhelper.com. The tab for getting your car detailed every two months: $348 per year.

Weekday lunches out: $9 will generally cover a decent lunch most workdays. If you buy, rather than pack, a lunch five days a week for one year, you shell out about $2,340 a year.

Vending-machines snacks: The average vending machine snack costs $1. Buy a pack of cookies every afternoon at work and pay $260 per year.

Interest charges on credit card bills: According to a survey released at the end of May, the median amount of credit card debt carried by Americans is $6,600. The average interest rate on a standard card is about 13%. Making the minimum payment each month, it will take 250 months (almost 21 years) to pay off the debt and cost $4,868 in interest. Ouch!

Unused gym memberships: Costhelper.com reports that the monthly service fee at gyms averages between $35 and $40. At $40 per month, an unused gym membership runs $480 per year.

Happy Halloween, Savings Tips

2007-10-18T08:16:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick read article about how to save a few dollars when decorating and throwing a party at Halloween. (Throwing a Halloween party)

The Subprime Mess

2007-10-17T14:02:00.000-05:00

(The United States of Subprime Loans) Here is an interesting article with lots of good facts on the subprime mortgage problems that currently plague the nation. I think we have all heard too much about this topic, but this article is the first I have read that claims the "rich" are suffering form this mess too. I like the hard numbers this article brings to the table. Give it a read if you are bored or are looking for more numbers about the subprime mess.

Make Your Money Last as Long as You Do

2007-10-16T08:05:00.000-05:00

(Make Your Money Last as Long as You Do) Here is an article that describes some new products that are aimed at getting you a monthly check for the rest of your life after you retire. This is just something to keep your eye on. It appears that companies are moving past the annuities to funds that provide income for life. These new funds are at their beginning stages and seem to have some things that need smoothed out. This is just a good article with some information about a new choice when you retire.

Mistakes in Retirement Planning

2007-10-15T07:57:00.000-05:00

(Nine Dumbest Retirement Moves) This article has a good list of common mistakes that take place on the way to retiring. It brings out some good points about what people do and what people think about retirement that can change how they exist in retirement. It also mentions several times that miss planning for retirement can turn your dream into a nightmare. When you don't save and plan adequately your dream of life in the beach house can turn in to a place of struggling to make your payments and looking for help from your family. Even when you are young simple things like cashing out of a 401K plan when leaving your job can create a financial hole when you retire. When you are young you should consider how your descisions are going to affect the long term.
The key to this advice is to learn from the problems that are being found commonly in those that have already retired. People struggling from payment to payment due to inflation is a lot more common then you might think.

Holiday Shopping Tips

2007-10-12T11:42:00.000-05:00

(5 tips for smarter holiday shopping) Here is a quick read article with some very good tips to keep in mind when holiday shopping. Good fugal tips in this article for those of you looking for those.

Dress for Success on a Budget

2007-10-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

(Dress for Success -- for Less) This article give great tips on how to start your collection of professional attire. She gives both strategies and places to go to start your collection.

Make Your Advice Column Change Me.

2007-10-10T08:17:00.000-05:00

(Is Carrie Bradshaw a Crock?) More interesting than the article this time are the comments about the article. The article talks about gender pay gaps and how women should prepare themselves for financial success. It has some great points that should motivate women to start savings now and look beyond some of the typical reasons they aren't saving. The article should be taken at face value the author is giving good information to women in their 20's. I'm not sure the article takes the best approach. She seems to forget that you can't just point out the problems without providing a solution. Everyone in a America can see and knows that Social Security is in trouble, but no one can seems to set out a plan to fix it. If you are going to write an advice column I want more than what the problems are I want to know how to fix them. Her article seems to tell you to ignore every feeling you might have against starting savings today and there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of why I should do that. The whole idea of an advice article to show me how to move past all my worries and stumbling blocks.

The Declining Dollar

2007-10-09T12:17:00.000-05:00

(What the falling dollar means for you) I keep hearing about the declining dollar and no one will stop to take the time to explain what it means to the average person. This article gives a short list of how this affects the average person.

Saving When Your in Your 20s

2007-10-09T08:17:00.001-05:00

(Financial Tips for 20-Somethings) Here is a quick read article talking to a guy with some good insight into personal finance in your 20s.

Retirement is More Than a 401K Plan

2007-10-08T08:10:00.000-05:00

(The Five Stages of Retirement) When your saving all your life for your retirement keep in mind what you are going to do for the potentially 35 years after you retire. This article talk about what to expect through retirement. It breaks retirement up into pieces and explains how the people surveyed felt in each of these stages. The article also shows how the average person needs to remember that there is a lot of time in retirement and TV will not produce a happy and healthy person. You need to consider how you will keep your body and maybe even more importantly your mind in good condition.

Hanging with the money crowd

2007-10-06T18:47:00.000-05:00

(Hanging with the money crowd) Your mother's advice of making good friends could go beyond keeping you out of trouble as a teen. This article shows a studies that found out that when the people around you do something you are more likely to do that same things. The article discusses how this works with finances. This is a good read and something to think about when trying to make good financial habits. You friend could be part of the reason you aren't savings as much as you want to.

Tips for Saving

2007-10-05T15:45:00.000-05:00

(How to save $200,000 in 6 months) Here is an article with few personal example stories and some simple advice for savings. The 2nd page has the tips if you would like to skip the personal stories.

Subprime: Bailout backlash

2007-10-04T08:39:00.001-05:00

(Subprime: Bailout backlash) I'll never understand why people who took bad loans deserve anything. They took loans. They were presented with the same information I was presented with when I signed my loan. Every term in black and white. The right to have an attorney review the contract. The right to refuse the contract. I don't care what irresponsible bad intentioned mortgage broker told them. They had all the right tools to prevent themselves from getting in this mess. No one forced anyone to take out a loan. Why can't we let the market runs its course? Why do investors in mortgages deserve a bailout? When you take risk and get burned we don't give you a refund. When is the government going to start backing every investment on the market against lose? Why should I lose money in a mutual fund? It will hurt the American public when I can't afford my own retirement. Sign me up for a government backed no loss portfolio.

New Rules of Credit Crunch

2007-10-03T08:45:00.000-05:00

(The new rules of the credit crunch) Here is a quick read article about how the credit crunch is affecting the average consumer so far.

The Cost of Student Loans

2007-10-03T08:22:00.000-05:00

(High-Priced Student Loans Spell Trouble) This article bring up how common and severe students loan problems are becoming. With the cost of college sky rocketing and the rate of savings for the nation shrinking it seems to be a place where people are coming up short in funds. The story brings up examples of what people's payments are for student loans. It is a lot harder to live when you are paying 15% of your take home pay to a student loan. The article goes on to discuss how if the economy were to go downward that it could be expected that student loan defaults are going to rise dramatically.

401K Information

2007-10-02T08:21:00.000-05:00

(Five Things You Should Know About Your 401(k)) Here is a quick read with some good information that you should think about for your 401K plan.

Wedding or a Million Dollars?

2007-10-01T08:11:00.000-05:00

(Want $1 Million? Elope) When you are looking at the front end of getting married you should remember the aftermath of your decisions. Your wedding day is only one day of your life. The debt you accumulate can literally affect the rest of your life. This is an article that points out that if the average amount spent on a wedding was invested, that by the time the couple retires they could easily have a million dollars. The article points out that the typical wedding involves debt to cover the costs. This debts pulls the opposite effect of the investing your wedding fund money and ends up costing you even more and impacting your life for even longer. The article then gives some tips on how to manage your spending for your wedding day, because not having to tell your mother your eloped last weekend can easily be worth the cost of your wedding.

Pinching Pennies

2007-09-28T08:26:00.000-05:00

(Some Thoughts for Your Pennies) Here is an article about how pennies add up. She has a few good tips for savings money and an interesting idea about keeping in mind the little things.

Don't Fly Blind When Investing for Retirement

2007-09-27T10:32:00.000-05:00

(Don't Fly Blind When Investing for Retirement) Here is a quick article on options you should consider when your retirement plan is managed through funds that are not publicly traded. When your 401K doesn't have mutual funds here are somethings to consider to figure out where to put your money.

Staying Frugal in the Age of the iPhone

2007-09-26T14:19:00.000-05:00

(Staying Frugal in the Age of the iPhone) This is a great article for anyone that is 20 somethings and looking to get a grip on their finances. She brings out some simple places where typical 20 somethings lose the most of their extra money that they always say they want to be saving.

The Biggest Threat to Your Money

2007-09-24T09:41:00.000-05:00

(Wealth Defense: The Biggest Threat to Your Money) Not managing your money is the biggest mistake you can make in personal finance. Here is yet another article that brings up places where it could really hurt you.

A Green Revolution for Your Budget

2007-09-21T11:15:00.000-05:00

(A Green Revolution for Your Budget) This is an article that focuses on the hot topic of green and it looks at the idea of a green budget. It makes you wonder how long and where the green revolution will go.

Higher Returns for Savings

2007-09-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

(Silver Lining in Mortgage Mess: Higher Returns for Savings) This story is some quick information about higher savings returns. A little about why the rates are going up, a little about where to find good rates, and a little about when to get in.

401K Screw-up

2007-09-04T14:56:00.000-05:00

(Three great ways to mess up your 401(k)) Here is a good quick read with some easy knowledge everyone should know. This article brings up some of the most common and easily avoidable mistakes people make with their 401K's.

Costs Beyond the Mortgage

2007-06-29T12:39:00.000-05:00

(The true cost of owning a home) Here is an article that explains the costs beyond the mortgage that you will incur when buying a home. I like the article because it actually gives the numbers encounter by the author. It isn't just a list with rough numbers and/or percents.

Mortgage Rates Rising

2007-06-14T20:26:00.000-05:00

(Rate woes: The latest hit to home values) This article is about what will happen as the rise in mortgage rates takes affect in the next few months. It has a great numerical example that shows how much the same mortgage payment will buy as rates rise. It is interesting to see that just a little change in interest rates makes a persons buying power so much smaller.

Workplace Myths

2007-06-12T06:56:00.000-05:00

(The Five Biggest Workplace Myths) Here is a quick read article about the new work place and how some different attitudes exist in our modern day.

The 80% Rule Could Be Wrong For Most

2007-06-05T12:43:00.000-05:00

(Why your retirement won't be so bad) This article contains information on why you probably won't need the rule of thumb of 80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement. It has some good points, but you have to keep in mind that every one's situation is different. If you want to sail in your golden years you might need more that 100% of your pre-retirement income, but if you plan to just spend time with your grand children while living with your child, 10% of your pre-retirment income could cover you.

What To Do With an IRA

2007-06-04T19:43:00.000-05:00

(Rev Up Your IRA). This article has some great ideas of what to do with your IRA. It also stresses the fact that a person should start saving young for retirement with the typical mathematical models. The reason I posted this article is that it has a great list of ways to diversify your IRA and it goes beyond more than just having more that one stock to tell you how to easily invest in things beyond stocks and bonds. This article is definitely worth reading if you need ideas for your IRA.

Start Saving in Your 20's

2007-05-25T10:46:00.000-05:00

(To get rich, start saving in your 20s) This article goes over some good knowledge for a person in their 20's to hear about financial planning at your currently age. The basic idea is to start early and invest aggressively. It also covers the reasons for an emergency fund. It also covers the advantages of easy investments like mutual finds and target date funds.

Save Money By Not Wasting It On Your Car

2007-05-22T10:39:00.000-05:00

(20 ways you waste money on your car) Here is a quick read article about saving some money. This article has some pretty basic ideas of how not to waste your money on your car, but good pointers about maintenance that should not be ignored.

Career Advice

2007-05-17T09:16:00.000-05:00

The Worst Career Advice Parents Can Offer. Here is an article with some interesting advice, but as the comments show it does seem to good to be true. It would be nice to follow all her advice and take time off to find yourself, move back in with your parents, so that money doesn't matter. I think reality might be a little closer to the first article I posted today about student loans being too high not to be serious right from the start.

College Costs and the Market

2007-05-17T08:57:00.000-05:00

How College Costs Could Lead to a Market Crash Here is an article with some reasoning about how student loan debt limits what a college graduate can do. It also goes on to say the solutions to the problem do not look good for graduates. The basic idea is that jobs are being outsourced and incomes are dropping for college graduates to compete against outsourcing.

Interesting Way to Make Money ~ Be Hated

2007-05-16T10:38:00.000-05:00

(Casey Serin: The world's most hated blogger?) Here is an article with an interesting twist. It explains how a blogger who is being used as an example across many financial blogs is using this attention to build quite a well followed blog that keeps explaining his misfortunes and opinions. Maybe I just need to be abrasive and make bad choices to get a successful blog.

Try Cash For A Week

2007-05-14T12:52:00.000-05:00

Overspending? Try a 7-day money challenge. Here is a Quick Read article about trying to use cash for a week. The idea is to see actual material depleting rather then an idea of your balance going down from your debit card.

No Emergency Funds?

2007-05-11T08:46:00.000-05:00

Middle class living on the edge? This article shows how few middle class Americans have appropriate savings to over come job loss or a medical emergency. It is startling how few families have the amount need for a common length of three months of unemployment.

401K Rules

2007-05-11T08:42:00.000-05:00

(10 golden rules for your 401(k)). A great article that covers the entire spectrum of 401K investing from starting young to taking your money out in retirement. It seems to have all the points that keep reoccurring in smaller articles all together in one place.

Survey About Retirement

2007-05-10T11:23:00.000-05:00

(One of five people plan to work till they die) A great article analyzing a survey by bankrate.com. This is the first article in my recent memory that says that younger workers are doing a decent job of saving. It also bring some numbers to how people feel about their retirement savings lasting. A significant amount of people feel that their retirement will be worse off then their pre-retirement life. Interesting facts in this article with numbers behind it to make a few decent points.

Should you buy a house?

2007-05-08T08:38:00.000-05:00

(Should newlyweds buy a house?) This article explains some good and bad points of buying a home right after you get married. I like some of the time table references in the article.

Money Rules

2007-05-07T08:16:00.000-05:00

(9 money rules to live by) This article has some good basic advice. It has some easily forgotten basic econ lessons briefly outlined which make it worth reading.

Saving Money By Lowering Insurance Costs

2007-05-04T10:24:00.000-05:00

(The 10 costliest cars to insure). A great way to save money is to pay less for insurance, so next time you are looking to buy a car keep these reasons for higher insurance rates in mind. This article does a great job of explaining some of less apparent, but logical reasons for insurance rates.

IQ Does Not Give You Higher Net Worth

2007-05-04T08:40:00.000-05:00

Why Smart People Make Bad Financial Moves This article looks at a study that concludes that IQ does not necessarily give you financial sense.

Mortgage Considerations

2007-05-03T08:56:00.000-05:00

(Six Ways to Avoid a Mortgage Mess) This article has six well explained points about what you should be considering when thinking about mortgages.

Getting a Roommate for Extra Spensing Money

2007-05-03T08:35:00.000-05:00

(Let someone else pay half your bills) This is some good advice about getting a roommate in your younger years, so that your money can stretch further for whatever your desires might be for extra cash. The part that I like in the article is the author's list of ways to cover yourself, so you don't end up getting burned by a roommate.

Young Adults Don't Use Retirement Vehicles

2007-05-03T08:29:00.000-05:00

(Young adults all but ignore 401(k)s, IRAs). This article explains nothing that we have not heard before about people not saving enough, but it does share some good tips about how to get started and keep escalating savings for retirement.

Rent vs. Buy

2007-05-02T09:14:00.000-05:00

(Why rent? To get richer) Here is an article that made me think. Do we put too much emotion into out investments? Should we only be looking at making the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time? Should investment have warm fuzzy feelings? I loving owning a home. Aren't the intangibles worth something? This article takes a numerical look at home ownership vs. renting. I think the author has some good points, but I think the author might be missing some intangibles.

Notes About Buying Your Employer's Life Insurance

2007-05-01T09:11:00.000-05:00

Here is another article on insurance (Evaluating Life Insurance Offered at Work). It explains a few things to think about when considering how to deal with life insurance offered by your employer.

Term Life Insurance Rates Going Down

2007-04-30T08:35:00.000-05:00

(Suddenly, life insurance is cheap) This is great news for anyone with people that depend on them for their financial well being. The article discusses how term life insurance rates have dramatically declined in recent years. The main reason being that selling these policies is no longer lucrative for insurance agents. An agent would rather sell you a more advanced insurance product that they get higher commissions on. Something to think about if you visit a financial planner and they gloss over a term policy and move on to other options.

Go a Little Bit Greener By Using Less Energy

2007-04-29T22:35:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick read about saving some ways to save energy (Easy ways to cut your energy bill).

Pay Down Mortgage vs. Invest for Retirement

2007-04-27T08:52:00.000-05:00

This article covers a question I have always wondered (The Cost of Peace of Mind). The idea centers around the prospect that you end up with more money in the end investing in a retirement plan then sending in extra mortgage payments. The author makes a clear argument that there is a good chance you will come out on top investing for retirement, but most people find the piece of mind of paying more on a mortgage better for them.

An Interesting Look at Procrastination

2007-04-26T08:31:00.000-05:00

I found this article useful (Breaking the Perfection Habit). The idea is that perfection gets in the way of starting and accomplishing tasks. The worry someone has about getting something exactly right prevents them from starting tasks. This could be something that can be applied to retirement savings. The questions I seem to read are people asking where and why they should put money in a certain place. Maybe if we were a little less worried about getting our savings in the perfect place to get the best possible return, we might see that just having savings in some vessel might be better than waiting until we feel we have the perfect vessel to put our money in.

No More Pure Handouts From Parents

2007-04-25T13:04:00.000-05:00

Here is an article worth reading (Meet the Parents-Backed Mortgage). I always hate hearing stories about parents giving their children huge gifts. This creates a situation where the parent gets something in return. I like the idea of this type of arrangement instead of a gift.

Solar Panels that Look Like Shingles

2007-04-23T08:50:00.000-05:00

This article caught my attention and turned out to be informative (Solar Power Without Solar Panels). It explains how it is possible to get roof shingles and other common building materials that can collect solar energy. I am eager for all this green push to become more affordable to the average person.

Fiancial Urban Legends

2007-04-23T08:33:00.000-05:00

Just a quick article with some short and interesting facts (10 Financial Urban Legends).

Subprime Bailout

2007-04-20T08:57:00.000-05:00

I agree with the author of this article (Footing the Bill for the Subprime Fiasco). Toward the end of the article she briefly bring up the point that a Subprime Bailout sets up a precedence that could be hard to keep up with. I have never understood why the government protects the few in so many situation. There are several of us out there paying our bills, taxes and all other expenses on time. Why should we be the one's footing the bill through our taxes for the few who are not responsible and make financial mistakes? I believe her example about Baby Boomer's not being financial responsible for retirement is the perfect point for the next great "Governmental Debate." Why should the government give handout to those who can not prepare for themselves?

Educating Children About Finances

2007-04-19T15:56:00.000-05:00

Here is an article about what some states are trying to do to prepare young people for financial responsibility (Teaching Life Lessons in Dollars and Cents). Is this the right way to prevent the government from having to bailout people in the future? I'm not 100% sure responsibility is something that can be taught in a school in a semester. I believe that responsibility is achieved through someone removing the safety nets and letting people learn the consequences of not being responsible. Personally the fear of what happens when you are not responsible keeps me in line.

Is Financial Worrying Bad?

2007-04-19T11:19:00.000-05:00

I often wonder if all this worrying about money while I'm young is depriving me or if all this worry and work will pay off in the end. In this article (Does Money Make You Mean?) the author reports about some studies and how having money on the mind affected a person's behavior. Are all of us here that are reading this obsessing over money and missing out on what life is really about? Or are we just delaying gratification?