Archive for May, 2008

China: 2008

Posted by Sun on May 12, 2008 (3) Comment

2008 was supposed to be a good year for China while the Olympics coming to Beijing for the first time. Instead, the country was hit by disasters, natural and man-made, one after another:

In late January, early February, half of the country was frozen after the worst winter snowstorm in 50 years, stranding millions travelers;
In March, [...]

Categories : China Tags:

Best Cash Back Credit Cards

Posted by Sun on May 12, 2008 (24) Comment

I am a credit card person. Wherever possible, I use credit cards to pay for my purchases. To me, credit cards are my friend, not foe. The reasons for me to favor credit cards over debit cards or cash are twofold:

I know exactly where my money went,
I can get cash back for the money I [...]

Categories : Credit card, Personal finance Tags:

Weekend Linkage – May 11, 2007

Posted by Sun on May 11, 2008 (1) Comment

Personal Finance Across Borders I – Retirement Accounts Million Dollar Journey compared retirement saving accounts offered in the U.S. and Canada. No much difference I have to say.
7 Tips to Simplify Today Brip Blap offers some ideas to live a simple life. The one I like the most is “Stop trading, start Investing.”
Money Tips for [...]

Categories : PF blogoshpere Tags:

Best Online Savings & Checking Accounts Interest Rates

Posted by Sun on May 9, 2008 (55) Comment

It has been more than four months since I last updated my little interest rates table. During this four-month period, the rate picture of online banks has changed a lot, going down 5% something to mostly in the neighborhood of 3% APY, as the Fed cut interest rates every time they met. However, the latest [...]

Categories : Banking, Personal finance Tags:

Save Money on Gas Tips from Consumer Reports

Posted by Sun on May 7, 2008 (14) Comment

In the June issue of Consumer Reports, the magazine gives its readers some ideas to save money at the pump. In addition to tips that we have already knew, such as avoiding rapid acceleration/stop, there are also tips that I didn’t know before or haven’t paid any attention, such as the rolling resistance of tiers. [...]

Categories : Oil and gas Tags:

E*Trade Raise Rates on Complete Savings Account: Interest Rates Bottomed?

Posted by Sun on May 6, 2008 (8) Comment

In a sign that interest rates may stop falling and start rising, E*Trade Financial sent me an email this afternoon with a surprising update: Start May 8, they will increase the interest rate of their Complete Savings Account from the current 3.01% APY to 3.15% APY, though the Fed has cut interest rates by another [...]

Categories : Banking, Personal finance Tags:

First-Class Postage Going Up Again, Soon

Posted by Sun on May 6, 2008 (6) Comment

Back in February, the U.S. Postal Service announced that the postage for one-ounce first-class mail will go up by 1 cent to 42 cents next Monday, May 12th, so does the price for a Forever stamp.
When the stamp was first introduced in 2007, I didn’t buy any extra other than the booklet of 20 when [...]

Categories : Personal finance Tags:

Chinese ADRs Monthly Update – April 2008

Posted by Sun on May 5, 2008 (2) Comment

April has turned out to be a pretty good month for equity investors. After all three major indices dropped to 52-week low in early March, stocks rebounded last month after financial firms indicated that the worst part of the current crisis may be over. The Dow ended April with a gain of 4.54%, the S&P [...]

Categories : China Tags:

Weekend Linkage – May 4, 2008

Posted by Sun on May 4, 2008 (0) Comment

Health Insurance for New College Graduates – Shopping Around for Affordable Coverage Money Smart Life provided tips for newly grads can get health insurance.
Finovate Demos Lazy Man and Money blogged live from Finovate Startup last week. Lots of new names in the business of personal finance.
Is it Smart to Buy Disability Insurance? Generation X Finance [...]

Categories : PF blogoshpere Tags:

Free 6-Pack Yoplait Yogurt for Kids

Posted by Sun on May 3, 2008 (0) Comment

Yoplait is giving away coupons for a free 6-pack yogurt for kids. The coupon, however, is not available for residents of California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey , North Dakota, and Tennessee. If you are living outside these states, you can use this link to provide your contact information. The coupon will then [...]

Categories : Free stuff Tags:
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