The Sun's Financial Diary » PF blogoshpere

Quicken Giveaway Winners

Sun — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Thanks everyone for participating the 2010 Quicken Deluxe giveaway I ran last week. The contest received a total of 61 entries. Now the winners are selected by random number generator at random.org and they are:

Drew at 21 and Heather S at 38. Congrats to the two lucky winners! The Quicken software you won will be mailed to you shortly.

Weekend Readings

And some interesting reads from The Money Writers and beyond:

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Quicken Giveaway Winners

Weekend Linkage – October 4, 2009

Sun — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:25:30 +0000

We were quite happy with the apartment we rent until last week when the neighbor upstairs started to make this huge noise, some time it didn’t stop until 1:00 in the morning. Last Wednesday, when I worked from home, the pounding noise every few minutes almost drove me crazy. So I went upstairs to see what the tenant above us was going. It turned out that it was nothing but the lady living upstairs walking in the kitchen. I complained to the management because it was really disturbing, but was told that there isn’t anything they can do if she just walks, except making some suggestions to the tenant.

I know things like this happen when living in an apartment building, but still it’s just hard for me to imagine how hard a person can walk. Seriously, every time she walks, it feels like the house is shaking. Any good ideas on how we can make her walk a little quieter?

Weekend readings

Carnivals

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Weekend Linkage – October 4, 2009

Weekend Linkage – September 13, 2009

Sun — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:41:04 +0000

This is the first full weekend for us in our new home in northern Virginia. Last weekend was all about packing, moving, and unpacking. This weekend, as we finally settled down, we took advantage of the gorgeous September weather to explore the area a little bit more. As it turned out, we are actually located quite conveniently to some retail stores that we used a lot before, Costco, Wegmans, and Target, all within 10 miles from where we live. We also find a GrandMart grocery store about 8 miles away, where we can get almost everything we need for less. I am glad that Giant isn’t the only choice for grocery shopping.

Weekend Readings

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Weekend Linkage – September 13, 2009

Weekend Linkage – July 26, 2009

Sun — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:19:41 +0000

I spent most of the time last night and another two hours this morning shredding our documents as we are getting closer to moving to Virginia. Believe me, it isn’t any easy job because we have accumulate more then ten years of bank statements, credit card bills, investment records, and pay stubs. Even though we have moved a couple of times in the past decades, those documents were never discarded. They have been kept in two original boxes when we first packed them and stayed in the deepest corner in our basement for more than five years. Since we haven’t touched any those documents for years, I think the time has finally come to get rid of them.

To do a better job in destroying our financial information, I even bought a Fellowes PowerShred cross-cut shredder for $80 at Costco. The shredder I have for years is a straight-cut shredder that can only cut 2 sheets at a time. The new shredder is a little expensive, but it gets the job done, well done.

Well, I didn’t destroy every piece of paper in the boxes. I managed to find my first pay stub when I worked as a research assistant in the school where I got my degree, and the first pay stub of every job I had after graduation, as well as my wife’s first pay statements that I decide to keep.

After the hard work, I feel it’s better to destroy those records right away when I receive them, instead of waiting a few years to shred them all together. The papers I am getting these are much less now than before because I get most statements and bills online, except a few mutual find companies which keep sending a confirmation every time I make a purchase.

Weekend Readings

Carnivals

photo credit: SurfGuard

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Weekend Linkage – July 26, 2009

Weekend Linkage – July 11, 2009

Sun — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:52:01 +0000

Do you know exactly one year ago on this day, July 11, 2008, crude oil price climbed to its all-time high of $147 a barrel? Today you can buy a barrel of oil at less than $60, 60% lower than its peak. Oil price dropped like a rock since reaching the peak last year, bottoming around $30 at the end of 2008. But since March, oil rebounded strongly amid investor enthusiasm about a quick recovery of the economy. Only a few weeks ago, oil price broke the $72/barrel mark. However, recent economic data (June unemployment report, for example) showed that a full economic recovery is “a ways off”.

Weekend Readings

Carnivals

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Weekend Linkage – July 11, 2009

Weekend Linkage – July 5, 2009

Sun — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:26:47 +0000

We spent more than 5 hours at Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ (it’s not a place you want to live though) last Friday, even though it was the third time we have been there in 10 years. In fact, things haven’t changed a lot at the Aquarium since our first visit in 2000. Back then, there were only two of us, now it’s a family of four. This is the first time for our younger daughter, but the second trip for our 4-year old.

And yes, the kids enjoyed it very much.

Weekend Readings

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Weekend Linkage – July 5, 2009

Weekend Linkage – May 31, 2009

Sun — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:36:18 +0000

It was a rare, gorgeous day yesterday, so we took the kids to a nearby farm to pick our own strawberry, the first time ever for us. Too bad that we didn’t know the hours of the farm before leaving home in the afternoon. When we arrived, we were told that we only had less than an hour. The kids were very excited when they were out on the field, though our older one doesn’t really like strawberry. When the farm was closed at 5:00 pm, the kids each had a small basket of strawberries that are still half red, half green. But they were happy

Weekend Readings

Static @ Brip Blap
Jim Cramer’s Stock Picks and Tips: Thoughts From A Follower @ The Digerati Life
How to Say “No” When Your Child Wants Something @ Frugal Dad
My Employer Stopped Matching My 401k – Should I Still Contribute? @ Generation X Finance
Emptying the Recycle Bin of My Mind @ Lazy Man and Money
Finding Your Passion @ Million Dollar Journey
What Would You Do If You Lost Your Job? @ Money Smart Life
Help a Reader: Keep the House or Save for Retirement? @ My Dollar Plan
Bargain Shopping 101 @ Wise Bread
ATM Fees: How to Avoid Them and Save Cash @ My Life ROI
How I Saved 15% On My Wedding Ring In 15 Seconds & 45% Overall @ Weakonomics
Save On Your Car Insurance With Proper Emergency Savings @ Free From Broke
A Journey Like No Other: Following the Wealth Pilgrim From Adversity to Personal Transformation and Financial Freedom @ Money Energy

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Weekend Linkage – May 31, 2009

Weekend Linkage – May 10, 2009

Sun — Mon, 11 May 2009 05:03:19 +0000

Market Recap

U.S. stocks registered another weekly gain last week, despite a gloomy employment report from the government Friday which showed that the nation’s unemployment rate jumped to 8.9% in April. While the jobless rate is the highest in 25 years, the pace of job cut seemed slowed last month, fueling the speculation that the worst has passed. Even though the government said that 10 of 19 largest commercial banks face about $75 billion shortfall, bank stocks kept charging higher. For the week, the Dow rallied 4.41% to 8,574.65, the Nasdaq added 1.15% to 1,739.00, and the S&P 500 surged 5.89% to 929.23. Stocks have erased 2009 losses with the S&P 500 showing a 2.9% YTD gain. Crude oil climbed 10.21% to close the week at $58.63 a barrel, while precious metals also recorded strong gains with silver up 11.60% to $13.95/ounce and gold up 3.12% to $914.65/ounce.

Weekend Readings

Carnivals

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Weekend Linkage – May 10, 2009

I-Bond Rate for May 2009 – November 2009 Is 0%

Sun — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:09:04 +0000

I hope you have bought some I-bonds before May 1, so you can still enjoy a little bit the 5.64% yield I-bond rate that was good till April 30. If you missed the deadline and bought some bonds yesterday, May 1st, then too bad because the rate for Series I Savings Bonds issued between May and October will earn you nothing. That’s right, the total rate for I-bonds purchased for the next 6-month period is 0%, the Treasury Department announced yesterday.

The earnings rate for Series I Savings Bonds is a combination of a fixed rate, which applies for the life of the bond, and the semiannual inflation rate. The 0.00% earnings rate for I bonds bought from May through October 2009 will apply for their first six months after issue. The earnings rate combines a 0.10% fixed rate of return with the -5.56% annualized rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U). When the inflation rate is less than zero, a bond’s earnings rate is less than its fixed rate (but the earnings rate is never less than zero). The fixed rate applies for the 30-year life of I bonds purchased during this six-month period. The CPI-U decreased from 218.783 to 212.709 from September 2008 through March 2009, a six-month change of -2.78%.

The total rate of I-bonds is determined by a fixed rate plus a variable rate indexed to inflation. Even though the fixed rate is still positive at 0.10%, the -5.56% annualized variable rate brings the total rate down to zero (no negative rate though). This means that if you purchase any I-bonds in the next 6 months, you only buy the safety for your investments.

Well, it seems that one *good* thing the recession did for us so far is lower the inflation risk, but that’s not a good news for I-bond investors. Hopefully, the rate will go up when the next adjustment comes in November (I-bond rate is adjusted twice a year in May and November). If that’s case, then it also means the economic stimulus plan worked.

*Picture from WSJ

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I-Bond Rate for May 2009 – November 2009 Is 0%

Weekend Linkage – April 19, 2009

Sun — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:12:25 +0000

It finally feels like spring.

We took the kids to Branch Brook Park near Newark yesterday for the Cherry Blossom Festival, the first time in more than seven years. In the past, we usually took our children to DC in early April to see the cherry flowers, but this year we decided to stay close to home.

It was a gorgeous day yesterday and the flowers are at their peak, but you can hardly tell that the site has the second most cherry trees in the nation, as it claims. Nonetheless, the kids had a pretty good time.

Market Recap

U.S. stock market stretched its weekly gain to sixth last week, fueled by unexpected profit reports from major banks such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.59% to 8,131.33, the S&P 500 gained 1.52% to 869.60, and the Nasdaq added 1.24% to 1,673.07. Since reaching 12-year low on March 9, the S&P 500 has surged more than 29% in the past 6 weeks, the steepest gain since 1938. Crude oil ended the week 3.66% lower to $50.33 a barrel. Gold dropped 1.67% to $866.80/ounce while silver plunged 3.90% to $11.83 an ounce.

Weekend Readings

How to Pay Less Income Tax @ Brip Blap
Do You Haggle? How To Negotiate A Price @ The Digerati Life
Financial Literacy Month Continues and Thoughts on Emergency Savings @ Generation X Finance
The Three Most Influential Lessons My Parents Taught Me @ Frugal Dad
My Tenant: “I’ve Lost My Job and I Can’t Pay You…” @ Lazy Man and Money
Is it Time to Switch to a Fixed Rate Mortgage? Million Dollar Journey
Baby Tips on Life @ Money Smart Life
Did You Miss the Stock Market Rally? @ My Dollar Plan
Discovering Your Financial Priorities @ Man Vs. Debt
12 Things Every Teenager Needs To Know About Money (And How To Teach Them) @ Free From Broke

Carnivals

Carnival of Pecuniary Delights No. 3 – The Money Box Edition @ Miss Thrifty
Money Hacks Carnival #60: The File Your Tax Return Edition @ Consumer Boomer
Festival of Frugality – Last Minute Edition @ Stretchy Dollar
Carnival of Personal Finance #200 – Edition of Mini Accomplishments @ Money Ning

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Weekend Linkage – April 19, 2009

Weekend Linkage – April 12, 2009

Sun — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:16:22 +0000

Market Recap

U.S. stock market ended the holiday shortened trading week with gains of more than 3% for all three major indices last Thursday after Wells Fargo said it earned a record $3 billion in the first quarter. Optimism in the banking sector carried the stock market to its fifth straight weekly gain. After reaching 12-year lows a month ago on March 9, the S&P 5000 has surged 27%, the steepest gain in the one-month period since the great depression. For the week, the Dow added 0.82% to 8083.38, the S&P 500 rose 1.67% to 856.56, and the NASDAQ added 1.89% to 1,652.54. Crude oil was down 0.51% to $52.24 for the week, while gold lost 1.63% to $881.50 an ounce and silver tumbled 3.45% to $12.31/ounce.

Weekend Readings

Health and Taxes @ Brip Blap
Your Home Office: Ideas To Set Up Your Place of Work @ The Digerati Life
How To Make A Survival Key Chain @ Frugal Dad
March 2009 Was a Perfect Example of Why You Shouldn’t Try to Time the Market @ Generation X Finance
Spring Cleaning of My Financial Mind @ Lazy Man and Money
Is Organic Food Worth it? @ Million Dollar Journey
Eight Ways to Beat Bad Customer Service @ Money Smart Life
Frugal Entertainment Rule: You Must Try Redbox @ My Dollar Plan
Should You Borrow To Refinance Your Home Loan? @ Moolanomy
Protecting Yourself from Medical Billing Mistakes @ Wise Bread
Market Returns 5 Years After Historical Market Declines @ The Dividend Guy
Three Simple Ways to Make Your Healthcare Dollar Go Farther @ Free Money Finance
Benjamin Graham and the Wisdom of Index Funds @ Five Cent Nickel

Carnivals

The Money Hacks Carnival #59 – The Duct Tape Edition @ Greener Pastures
Money Saving Tips Carnival – April 5, 2009 @ Save Few Bucks
Spring Has Sprung – Carnival of Personal Finance #199 @ ABCs of Investing
Carnival of Pecuniary Delights No. 1: The Madoline Hatter Pecuniary Art Edition @ Pecuniarities
« Tax Carnival #51: No Fooling Around @ Don’t Mess with Taxes
The Festival of Frugality – Famously Frugal Edition @ Ask Mr. Credit Card

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Weekend Linkage – April 12, 2009

Weekend Linkage – March 22, 2009

Sun — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:48:47 +0000

We took our daughters 65 miles east today to visit The New York Botanical Garden, where there’s a Orchid Show going on right now. It’s the first time we have ever been there (though we lived on the other side of the city for years) and the kids really enjoyed the trip.

With the kids running around non-stop, I only managed to take some pictures of the flowers without even knowing their names, but they are sure pretty.

Market Recap

U.S. stocks posted its first two-week winning streak of 2009 last week, even though the market traded down in the last two sessions of the week. The gain was fueled by the Fed’s plan to buy up to $1 trillion dollar worth of Treasury bonds, announced at the end of the two-day meeting. The move aimed to boost the sagging housing market while preventing the economy from slipping further into recession.

For the week, the Dow added 0.75% to 7,278.38, the S&P gained 1.58% to 768.54, and the Nasdaq increased 1.80% to 1,457.27. Crude oil surged 10.40% as traders rushed to commodities amid inflation fears. Oil closed the week at $51.06 a barrel, gold climbed 2.69% to $954.65/ounce, and silver rose 4.47% to $13.78/ounce.

Weekend Readings

Reducing Salaries in Hard Times @ Brip Blap
The Buy and Hold Strategy And Your Long Term Investment Horizon @ The Digerati Life
The “But Everyone Has A” Mentality @ Frugal Dad
Build an Emergency Fund, Pay Off Debt, or Save for Retirement? Three Competing Goals That All Need Your Attention Today @ Generation X Finance
Giving a Lasting Gift to a Baby (But Not the Parents)? @ Lazy Man and Money
Wealth Strategy: Track Your Net Worth @ Million Dollar Journey
Tax Deductions and Personal Exemptions for 2008 @ Money Smart Life
How to Manage Money in Your Marriage @ My Dollar Plan
Books About the Ultra Rich @ Free Money Finance
Why I Can’t Afford A 529 College Savings Plan @ The Corner Office Blog
I’m not participating in the Recession @ Money Monk

Carnivals

Carnival of Personal Finance#196: Music Edition @ Green Panda Tree House
Carnival of Debt Reduction #183 – Women’s History Month @ Greener Pastures
Festival of Frugality #169: St. Patrick’s Day Edition @ Remodeling This Life

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Weekend Linkage – March 22, 2009

Weekend Linkage – March 15, 2009

Sun — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:43:51 +0000

Market Recap

It has been quite a long time since we had a rally in the stock market like the one we had last week as investors were encouraged by comments made by Citigroup and Bank of America chiefs that the nations largest banks were profitable in the first two months of this year. The rally also snapped a 4-week losing streak of U.S. stocks. Citigroup, BofA, and JP Morgan Chase all surged nearly 50%. For the week, the Dow Jones gained 9.01% to 7223.98, the S&P soured 10.71% to 756.55, and the Nasdaq gained 10.64% to 1431.50. Oil also rose along with the stocks, adding 1.60% to $46.25 a barrel. Precious metals, however, went to the opposite direction. Gold ended the week losing 1.30% to $929.60 an ounce and silver dropped 1.12% to $13.19/ounce.

Weekend Readings

How to Stick to a Decision @ Brip Blap
Preparing My Income Tax Return: How I Organize My Tax Documents @ The Digerati Life
Renting Rims For Cars – Now I’ve Heard It All @ Frugal Dad
FTC Creates Video PSA Spoofs of FreeCreditReport.com Commercials @ Generation X Finance
Giving a Lasting Gift to a Baby (But Not the Parents)? @ Lazy Man and Money
How to Invest with Small Amounts per Month @ Million Dollar Journey
Save Money by Not Flushing the Toilet? @ Money Smart Life
What Worries You Most About the Economy? @ My Dollar Plan
How We Have Reduced Our Expenses @ 2 Million
Retirement Plans – 2009 will be a year of financial adjustments @ My Wealth Builder
Life Insurance – Whole versus Term and choosing the right option @ Saving to Invest
Do Precious Metals Belong in My Portfolio @ The Dividend Guy
Walking Out On My Mortgage? My View @ My Money Blog

Carnivals

Money Hacks Carnival #55 – Thank You Edition @ Money Ning
Carnival of Personal Finance 195th Edition @ Stock Trading To Go
Carnival of Debt Reduction: Spring Forward edition @ Mighty Bargain Hunter
Festival of Frugality @ Funny About Money

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Weekend Linkage – March 15, 2009

Weekend Linkage – March 1, 2009

Sun — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:33:33 +0000

Market Recap

As I mentioned yesterday, February turned out to be a very bad month for stocks. In the last week of the month, stocks retreated to below the November 2008 lows. For the week, the Dow dropped 4.11% to 7062.93, the S&P 500 tumbled 4.54% to 735.09, and the Nasdaq declined 4.40% to 1377.84. Precious metals also posted a losing week after reaching one-year high the week before. Gold ended the week with a 5.76% decline to $941.60 an ounce while sliver plunged 9.37% to $13.11/ounce. Crude oil, on the other hand, surged 14.95% to $44.76 a barrel.

Weekend Readings

The Pursuit of Wealth for the Sake of Others @ Brip Blap
Find Investment Opportunities In Any Business Market Environment! Ride The Economic Recovery @ The Digerati Life
Recession-Proof Your Debt Snowball @ Frugal Dad
Three Investing Lessons Learned the Hard Way @ Lazy Man and Money
The Frugal Dog – The Cost of Dog Ownership @ Million Dollar Journey
Job Search: Find a Job With a New Degree, Certification, Or License @ Money Smart Life
Get Out of Emotional Debt @ My Dollar Plan
Busting Cashback Tiers with Mint’s $1 Coin Direct Ship Program @ Bargaineering
Five Ways to Downsize Your Lifestyle @ Free Money Finance
Get-rich-quick schemes are great! @ Mighty Bargain Hunter
At Least 25 Lazy Portfolios You Can Use @ The Dividend Guy
Using Google Calendar To Pay Bills On Time @ Free From Broke

Carnivals

The Carnival of Debt Reduction – Quotable Quotes Edition @ Hey, Mister, Can You Spare A Dime?
Festival of Frugality #166 – The Winter Is Almost Over Edition @ Student Scrooge
129th Edition of the Festival of Stocks @ Fat Pitch Financials
Carnival of Personal Finance #193: YouTube Edition @ Broke Grad Student
Money Hacks Carnival: Bailout Edition @ Personal Finance Ology
Money Hackers Carnival #52 @ OMB! @ One Million Bucks

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Weekend Linkage – March 1, 2009

Weekend Linkage – February 7, 2009

Sun — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:20:52 +0000

Market recap

It’s rare to see the stock market and the unemployment rate go hand in hand, but it did happen last Friday when the Labor Department reported that 598K workers lost their jobs in January, pushing the unemployment rate to 7.6%. At the same, the stock market also rallied more than 2%. The reason? The highest unemployment rate in nearly 17 years stirred up speculations among investors that the Congress will speed up the passage of the stimulus plan proposed by the President. For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.5% to 8280.59, the S&P climbed 5.17% to 868.60, and the Nasdaq surged 7.81% to 1591.71. Crude oil declined 3.62% to $40.17 a barrel and Gold dropped 1.50% to $912.30/ounce while Silver posted a 4.21% gain to close the week at $13.125/ounce.

Weekend readings

how I made a courageous decision to become an entrepreneur @ Brip Blap

To Get A Stimulus Check, A Company Needs To Cap Executive Pay @ The Digerati Life

Preparing For A Layoff – Pay Debt or Save Money? @ Frugal Dad

What Republican Leaders Deem Wasteful in the Proposed Stimulus Plan – Do You Agree? @ Generation X Finance

Financial Football Teaches Students about Personal Finance @ Lazy Man and Money

Can You Invest Solely in ETF’s? @ Million Dollar Journey

7 Things Your Insurance Company or Agent Won’t Tell You @ Money Smart Life

How Much Money Do You Have to Make to File Taxes? @ My Dollar Plan

Job Hunting Costs Are Tax Deductible @ Bargaineering

Investment Strategies Based Your Time Horizon @ Personal Finance Reviews

Some great sources for free audiobooks @ Mighty Bargain Hunter

Free Tax Filing Software Options: IRS, TurboTax, TaxCut, TaxAct @ My Money Blog

Junk Mail Revenge @ Saving to Invest

Carnivals

Carnival of Finance, Investment and Trading, 2nd Edition @ Fulfilled Dreams

Carnival of Net Worth #12 @ Llama Money

176th Carnival of Debt Reduction @ rocket finance

Carnival of Personal Finance 190: Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime? @ Funny about Money

Fesitval of Frugality #163rd Edition @ My Journey to Millions

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Weekend Linkage – February 7, 2009

Carnival of Money Stories No. 94

Sun — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:20:14 +0000

Hello and welcome to the 94th edition of the carnival of Money Stories. The theme of this carnival is Chinese New Year, which starts yesterday. Hope the new year, the Year of the Ox, brings everybody prosperity and luck. Enjoy!

Credit

Adam presents The Age of No Negotiation: Credit Card Edition posted at Your Money Relationship.

Jim presents Synthetic Identity Theft posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Darwin presents Toll 3.99% Mortgages – What’s the Catch? posted at Darwin’s Finance.

Surfer Sam presents Credit Card Debt. Get Out of Debt and Take Back Your Power $$$$ posted at Surfer Sam and Friends.

David presents Why Balance Transfer Offers and Cash Rewards Don’t Mix posted at Credit Card Offers IQ.

Rob presents New Credit Card Laws Will Give Consumers a Break posted at Peak Personal Finance.

The Smarter Wallet presents Reviewing Credit Cards, Cash and Gift Cards: Show Me The Money Cards! posted at The Smarter Wallet.

Investing

Smart Investor presents When Not To Invest In Stocks | The Stock Investor – Stock Advice And Tips posted at The Stock Investor.

Jed Norwood presents Important Points about Trading Systems posted at Forex Strategy.

One Family presents Dry Bulk Shipping Companies & Baltic Dry Index (BDI) – Comparative Stock Analysis posted at One Family’s Blog.

PatrickCML presents Zecco Discount Brokerage review posted at Cash Money Life.

Debt

Len Penzo presents Using a HELOC as an Alternative to Refinancing posted at Len Penzo.Com.

Debt Management Expert presents British consumers have New Year resolution to save more money! posted at Debt Management Expert.

Andy presents Funding the Bailouts by Printing Money and Issuing Debt posted at Saving to Invest.

Mr Credit Card presents Can You Get A Bank Account If You Owe Your Bank Money? posted at Ask Mr Credit Card’s Blog.

Patrick MFN presents Should you pay off debt, save or invest? posted at Military Finance Network.

Personal Finance presents Most Common Types Of Mortgage Loans posted at Personal Finance Ology.

PT presents What to Do When You Pay Off the Car posted at Prime Time Money.

Retirement

LAL presents Why are you saving for retirement? posted at LivingAlmostLarge.

Finance Tips 101 presents Credit Card Debt It Is Not Always Your Fault posted at Finance Tips 101.

Business

Praveen presents “See, Santa Also Likes Coke!” posted at My Simple Trading System.

HIB presents Interview: So You Want to Own a Franchise? posted at Happiness is Better.

General

Personal Finance Reviews presents Capital One Rewards Checking Account posted at Personal Finance Reviews.

Tyler Metzger presents Master Ginger Peter: I need your debit card posted at Taking Charge.

Save Money presents Save $1000 in 30 Days: My Take posted at How I Save Money.

The Happy Rock presents Health Insurance: Can’t Afford It, Can’t Live Without It. posted at The Happy Rock.

CreditCardAssist.com presents Don’t Treat Your Credit Card Limit as Income posted at CreditCardAssist.com.

Destroy Debt presents It’s No Secret Keeping Money Secrets From Your Partner is Not the Ideal Way to maintain a Relationship posted at Destroy Debt.

Chris presents Renters? expenses posted at Home I Own.

Christine presents Limited to 20 Euro ATM Withdraws in France from US Bank, Why? posted at Me, My Kid and Life.

Joe Manausa presents Real Estate Sales Success | Tallahassee Real Estate Blog posted at Tallahassee Real Estate Blog.

Ryan Suenaga presents Cutting Costs Using Twitter posted at Uncommon Cents.

Todd presents The Cost of Independent Health Insurance posted at HarvestingDollars.

David R. Lampsen presents In Search of the Perfect Pizza Hut Coupon posted at Personal Finance Analyst.

Others

Laura presents The Great Blog Experiment! posted at laurabeaudin.com.

Dave presents Extra Income Ideas II – Vox posted at Cheapo Groovo.

FMF presents Good and Bad Company Experiences in 2008 posted at Free Money Finance.

Chris presents The Millionaires I Know posted at Financial Reflections.

Shana presents Potential Help for Unemployed Freelancers posted at Smart Easy Money.

The Financial Blogger presents The MBA Cycle Part2 – The Darker Side of the MBA posted at The Financial Blogger.

VH presents Legislators propose to shoot us all in the foot posted at Funny about Money.

Studenomist presents Taking The Semester Off From College | Financial Independence in Your 20s posted at Financial Independence in Your 20s.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Millionaire Secrets of the Super Rich: The Big Problems They Keep posted at The Digerati Life.

Joshua Seth presents How To Make More Money This Year posted at Joshua Seth Blog.

Savings Toolbox presents 5 Tips for Starting Your Savings posted at Savings Toolbox.

Debt Kid presents Repairing My Credit Won’t Be Easy posted at Debt Kid.

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Carnival of Money Stories No. 94

Weekend Linkage – January 25, 2009

Sun — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:51:06 +0000

Check out these articles of the week:

Credit Cards Calling The Shots @ Frugal Dad
Did I Meet My 2008 Financial Goals? @ Brip Blap
How to File Your Taxes for Free – Free Tax Software and E-File @ Generation X Finance
No Economic Stimulus Check? How Obama’s Stimulus Plan Affects The Middle Class @ The Digerati Life
Dispelling Common College PF Myths @ Lazy Man and Money
Important Dividend Dates – Ex and Cum Dividend @ Million Dollar Journey
6 Free E-File Options @ My Dollar Plan
Lending Club as a Debt Consolidation Option @ Money Smart Life
Do You Expect to Get Fair Market Value Out of Gift Cards You Receive? @ Free Money Finance
If You Don’t Need It, It’s Not A Bargain At All. @ My Two Dollars
Why 2008 Was An Awesome Year for Dividend Investors @ The Dividend Guy

And this week’s carnivals:

Money Hacks Carnival – Presidential Edition! @ Pimp Your Finances
Carnival of Debt Reduction #175 – Historic Moment Edition @ No Debt Plan
Carnival of Personal Finance No. 188: The Jane Austen Edition @ Pecuniarities
Carnival of Money Stories #93 – BCS Edition @ Your Money Relationship

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Weekend Linkage – January 25, 2009

Weekend Linkage – January 11, 2009

Sun — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:31:14 +0000

Market Recap

Stock markets lost momentum in the first full trading week of 2009, after reaching 5-month high last week, overshadowed by worsening economy reports and corporate earning outlooks. On Friday, the government reported that U.S. employers cut 524,000 positions in the last month of 2008, pushing the unemployment rate to a 16-year high of 7.2%. In 2008 alone, 2.589 million jobs were lost. On the earning front, industrial giant Alcoa and tech bellwether Intel fell hard following job cut announcement and lowered than expected sales.

For the week, the Dow dropped 4.82% to 8,599.18, the Nasdaq lost 3.71% to 1,571.59 and the S&P 500 slipped 4.45% to 890.35. For stocks, the losses last week were the most since November. Crude oil, after last week’s 23% rally, tumbled 11.62% to $40.83 a barrel, while gold gave up 2.71% to $853.70/ounce.

Weekend Readings

Paying for a Missing Item @ Brip Blap
Millionaire Secrets of the Super Rich: The Big Problems They Keep @ The Digerati Life
Off-Price Retailers Offer Lower Prices On Name Brand Items @ Frugal Dad
Why the Recession Will Be Good for Us as a Country @ Generation X Finance
How To Be Successful in the New Year (20 Tips Inside) @ Lazy Man and Money
My Financial Goals for 2009 – What are Yours? @ Million Dollar Journey
Tax Returns and eBay Tax Tips @ Money Smart Life
New Year’s Resolution: Organization and Execution @ My Dollar Plan
John Bogle Offers His Advices For Investors @ Personal Finance Reviews
Hedging a Dividend Portfolio @ The Dividend Guy
Barack Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan @ Consumerism Commentary
Investing in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats @ Five Cent Nickel
The formula for financial success (or any sort of success) made easy @ The Penny Saved

Carnivals

Carnival of Money Stories Edition #92 @ Gather Little By Little
Carnival of Personal Finance: Fairy Tale Edition @ Cleaver Dude

Original Post on The Sun's Financial Diary

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Weekend Linkage – January 11, 2009

Weekend Linkage – January 4, 2009

Sun — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:01:01 +0000

Market Recap

U.S. stock markets kicked off 2009 with the most gain in 5 weeks. In the holiday-shortened trading week, stocks got a boost from rising oil price and the first batch of bailout money for GM, the troubled automaker fighting for its life. On Friday, General Motor rallied 14% after receiving $4 billion from the Treasury. Meanwhile, crude oil jumped 3.6% to climb to $46.34 a barrel, lifting oil stocks such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron. Adding a piece of good news to the rally was the government’s weekly jobless claim, which dropped to 472,000 after reaching 26-year high the week before. For the week, the Dow Jones gained 6.1% to 9,034.69, the S&P 500 added 6.8% to 931.8, and the Nasdaq rose 6.7% to 1,632.21, while crude oil soared 23%.

Weekend Readings

How to Judge Compensation @ Brip Blap

Top Financial News and Business Stories That Shaped 2008 @ The Digerati Life

Would You Sell All Material Possessions For Debt Freedom? @ Frugal Dad

How to Keep Your Job While Unemployment is on the Rise @ Generation X Finance

Uncrunch America with Change.org @ Lazy Man and Money

Seven Real Estate Myths Busted Wide Open @ Million Dollar Journey

Best Ways to Save on Prescription Drug Costs @ Money Smart Life

Donating Bodily Fluids for Cash @ My Dollar Plan

Paying for a Car with a Credit Card @ Free Money Finance

My Economic Predictions for 2009 @ My Wealth Builder

The “one Big Lump” Theory of Your Money @ Wise Bread

Fidelity mySmart Cash Account @ Personal Finance Reviews

Carnival Participation

Original Post on The Sun's Financial Diary

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Weekend Linkage – January 4, 2009

Weekend Linkage – December 14, 2008

Sun — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:54:20 +0000

Market Recap

U.S. stock markets ended the week mixed after technology shares and surging commodity prices led both Nasdaq and S&P 500 higher, despite failed attempt on the Capitol Hill to rescue Detroit’s troubled automakers. Tech bellwethers such as Intel and Google surged after House Speaker Pelosi indicated that the U.S. House will act soon in January on President-elect Obama’s stimulus plan that will boost spending on technologies. At the same time, crude oil price increased more than 13% this week as traders speculated that OPEC may cut production soon to halt continuous price decline since July. As oil price recovered, so did energy stocks such as Exxon and ConocoPhillips.

For the week, the Dow Jones dropped 0.1% to 8,629.6, the S&P 500 increased 0.4% to 879.73 and the Nasdaq added 2.08% to 1540.72. Gold rallied 8.92% to end the week at $819.15 an ounce while silver also gained 8.57% to $10.20/ounce. Crude oil surged 13.4% to $46.28 a barrel.

Weekend Readings

Check out these articles from The Money Writers and beyond.

How to Take a Loss on an IRA @ My Dollar Plan

Asking for a Pay Raise – Ten Steps to a Salary Increase Next Year @ Money Smart Life

Do You Leave Cash Tips? @ Million Dollar Journey

More Bailouts… Are You Still Angry? @ Lazy Man and Money

Time is Running Out for Making 2008 Tax Deductions @ Generation X Finance

What To Do If Unable to Afford Home Heating Bills @ Frugal Dad

Debt Elimination Tips: How To Reduce Debt With These Do’s and Don’ts @ The Digerati Life

Use Your Words to Change Your Mind @ Brip Blap

The 50-50 Mutual Fund Rule @ Blueprint for Financial Prosperity

Historical Distribution of Annual US Market Returns From 1825-Present: How Bad Was 2008? @ My Money Blog

When Is The Best Time To Buy Bonds? @ Moolanomy

Carnivals

I also participated a few carnivals last week:

Carnival of Personal Finance – Don’t Go Broke Over the Holidays @ Free From Broke

42nd Money Hacks Carnival: Laid-off and Freelancing Edition @ Financial Wellness Project

Festival of Frugality #155: The Chic-Tacky Christmas Edition @ Responsible Personal Finance

Original Post on The Sun's Financial Diary

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Weekend Linkage – December 14, 2008

Weekend Linkage – December 7, 2008

Sun — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:46:07 +0000

Market Recap

You can never underestimated what one piece of good news can do to the market on a day that was supposed to be very bad.

Last Friday, the government said more than half a million people lost their jobs, the most in 34 years, and monthly unemployment rate jumped to 6.7%, the highest since 1993. However, the news failed to sink stocks. Instead, indices rallied to finish off after Hartford Financial Services (HIG), whose stock lost 92% of its value in 2008, said it has increased its profit forecast (Bloomberg). But the rally failed to save the week for stocks because there were plenty of bad news out there. For example, GM tumbled another 22% on speculation of its survival and energy shares fell hard as crude oil price dropped more than 25% in one week.

For the week, the Dow Jones lost 2.19% to 8,635.42, the S&P 500 decreased 2.25% to 876.07, and the Nasdaq declined 1.71% to 1,509.31. Crude oil closed at $40.81 a barrel, 25.02% less than a week ago and gold was down 8.34% to $752.05 an ounce and silver eased 8.87% to $9.395/ounce.

Weekend Readings

why you’ll be richer without kids @ Brip Blap

Got Laid Off? What To Do When You Lose Your Job @ The Digerati Life

LED Christmas Lights Offer Safer, Cheaper Alternative @ Frugal Dad

Prepare for an Increase in Mutual Fund Expense Ratios @ Generation X Finance

Save Big Bucks on Ebay with Microsoft Live Search @ Lazy Man and Money

Reduce your Taxes by Claiming your Capital Loss @ Million Dollar Journey

Save Money at Restaurants – Tips for Spending Less When Eating Out @ Money Smart Life

Roth IRA Q & A @ My Dollar Plan

45% Less Credit in Americans’ Wallets @ Consumerism Commentary

Schwab Bank Invest First Visa Card Now 2.0% Cashback, Sweet! @ Personal Finance Reviews

10 Steps To Escaping The Paycheck To Paycheck Cycle @ No Credit Needed

Track and Lower Expenses to Save Money @ Money Ning

Finally, Ben at Money Smart Life is hosting a hosting a small business contest which will give one lucky small business owner $200 cash plus other prizes. Check out the how to apply for the small business stimulus package. If you are a service provider, you can also offer a prize.

Original Post on The Sun's Financial Diary

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Weekend Linkage – December 7, 2008

Weekend Linkage – November 23, 2008

Sun — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:42:00 +0000

Market Recap

U.S. stocks fell for the third straight weeks this week as concerns over the fate of Citigroup and Detroit’s Big Three weighed on stocks. On Thursday, the S&P 500 index even closed at its lowest level in 11 years after a report from the Labor Department showed weekly jobless claims rose to the highest level since 1987. Even though Citi announced another 52,000 job cut last week in an effort to cut costs, the move by CEO Pandit failed to win investor confidence. The stock dropped to below $4 a share on Friday, a price not seen since 1982. The stock of General Motors, the largest U.S. automaker, once touched $1.70, the lowest since 1940. After two consecutive days of decline, stocks rallied on Friday after news reported that the president of New York Federal Reserve Bank is to be tapped as the next Treasury chief, removing one of the uncertainties.

For the week, the Dow dropped 5.3% to 8,046.42, the S&P 500 lost 8.4% to 800.03, and the NASDAQ declined 8.74% to 1,384.35. As global economy slowed down dramatically, demands for oil plunged, sending crude oil price to $49.93 a barrel, a loss of 11.63% for the week. Gold, on the other hand, went up 6.58% to close at $791.50 an ounce, while silver went to the opposite direction, downing 0.52% to $9.505/ounce.

Weekend Links

Carnivals

Rich Life Carnival #20 @ Rich Life Carnival
Money Hacks Carnival #39 @ Moolanomy
Carnival of Personal Finance #179 – Smile Edition @ Money Ning
festival of frugality #152: affected by recession edition @ Financial Fitness Project
Money Myths, Madness, and Mayhem – The 85th Edition of the Carnival of Money Stories @ Ask Mr. Credit Card

Original Post on The Sun's Financial Diary

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Weekend Linkage – November 23, 2008

Weekend Linkage – November 16, 2008

Sun — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:14:09 +0000

Market Recap

Another volatile week on the Wall Street ended with all three major indices slipping deeper in red, despite the nearly 900 points turnaround of the Dow on Thursday. On Friday, electronic retailer Best Buy cut its annual profit forecast, sending the stock 14% lower, while Goldman Sachs dropped to its lowest level since becoming a public company on concerns that the investment bank will report its first ever loss. At the same time, GM is fighting for its survival as the automaker quickly burns out its cash. Investors speculating that GM will collapse if it fails to secure a government bailout traded the stock down to $3.01 a share, the lowest in more than 60 years.

For the week, the the Dow lost 5% to 8,497.31, the S&P 500 dropped 6.2% to 873.29, and the Nasdaq tumbled 7.92% to 1,516.85. Fear of a deep global recession also pushed crude oil price to $56.50/barrel, the lowest in 2 years, losing 7.44% for the week. Spot gold gained 1.14% last week to close at $742.65 an ounce, while silver went the other direction, losing 4.26% to $9.55/ounce.

Weekend Readings

brip blap: what desperation looks like It could be even worse when you DON’T have a job.

The Digerati Life: Is Your 401k Account Safe? Yes, I believe so, though the investments are not safe (from market fluctuations).

Frugal Dad: Stop Taking The Small Things for Granted Be thankful for what we have, large or small.

Generation X Finance: Investing for College Requires a Slightly Different Approach Compared to Investing for Retirement Depending one whether it’s a shorter or longer time frame.

Lazy Man and Money: Five Thoughts To My Future Children… Lazy, it’s a fun read

Million Dollar Journey: Top 4 Tax Free Savings Account Strategies Are you taking advantage of any?

Money Smart Life: Christmas Shopping Calendar – Dates to Save You Money I have marked my calendar!

My Dollar Plan: CVS: My Frugal Dream Come True! We have a CVS, but I almost never shop there. I like Wal-mart

No Credit Needed: Do Not Wait Until January 1st To Make Your Financial Resolutions I never had one

Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge: Cost-Benefit Analysis on Flu Shots at Work I never had one (flu shot, not flu) either.

Experiments In Finance: Recommended reading: a simplified explanation of the current financial crisis Simplified, recommended, but still quite long

Carnival Participation

114th Edition of the Festival of Stocks at Fat Pitch Financials

Festival of Frugality~The Veteran’s Day Edition at On a Quest To Be Debt Free

Cavalcade of Risk #64 at My Wealth Builder

Carnival of Consumer Credit #2 at Arrive Financial

37th Carnival of Money Hacks: Wonders of the World at Credit Crunch Finance

Original Post on The Sun's Financial Diary

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Weekend Linkage – November 16, 2008

Weekend Linkage – November 9, 2008

Sun — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:48:01 +0000

Market Recap

It was another volatile week on the Wall Street. Stock markets opened the week with two strong rallies in a row prior to and on the election day. The gains for major indices on the election day were the best of all time. However, the rally couldn’t continue after Democratic candidate Barak Obama won the election as expected. After the election, investors shifted their attention back to the economy and what they received weren’t pleasant. Following the largest gain ever on an election day, worries of a deepening global recession sent stocks sharply lower for two consecutive days on Wednesday and Thursday, the biggest two-day drop since 1987. On Friday, the Labor Department reported that U.S. employers cut 240,000 non-farm jobs in October and unemployment rate climbed to 6.5 percent, the highest level in 14 years.

For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 4.1% to 8,943.81, the S&P 500 dropped 3.9% to 930.99, and the Nasdaq fell 4.3% to 1,647.4. Gold closed the week at $734.5/ounce, gaining 2.10% for the week, while silver rose 2.57% to $9.98 an ounce. Crude oil continued its downward spiral, losing 9.98% for the week to close at $61.04 a barrel.

Weekend Readings

Check out these articles from The Money Writers and beyond.

What Has Changed in Personal Finance? @ Brip Blap

Comparing Deductible, Co-Pay, and Co-insurance When Looking at Your Health Insurance Benefit Options @ Generation X Finance

Living Frugal With Other People’s Money @ Frugal Dad

10 Signs Of A Stock Market Bottom @ The Digerati Life

Your Tax Questions Answered @ My Dollar Plan

Our Early Retirement Plan @ Lazy Man and Money

Teaching Kids about Money – Oprah Again @ Million Dollar Journey

Are You Struggling With Financial Decisions? @ Money Smart Life

10 Quick Tips To Winterize Your Home @ Blueprint for Financial Prosperity

10 Ways to Prove that Frugal Living is Really Green Living in Disguise. @ Steadfast Finances

Thinking of credit repair? Think twice @ Blunt Money

Carnival Participation

Last week, I also participated in the following blog carnivals:

83rd Carnival of Money Stories – Election Day Edition! @ SimplyForties

37th Carnival of Money Hacks: Wonders of the World @ Living Almost Large

Festival of Frugality 11/4 Election Day Edition @ Bargain Briana

Festival of Stocks #113 @ Old School Value

Original Post on The Sun's Financial Diary

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Weekend Linkage – November 9, 2008

Carnival of Personal Finance No. 177

Sun — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:00:04 +0000

Welcome to the 177th edition of Carnival of Personal Finance!

There are a total of 85 submissions to this edition of CoPF, covering a wide range of topics from money management, investing to frugality, savings and budgeting to economy and career. Among them, here are my 5 picks that I want to share with everybody first:

Health Care Plans: 10 Tips on Choosing the Right Option by Andy from Saving to Invest. It’s the open enrollment time of the year. In this post, Andy explains the options you have when choosing a health care plan. Understand all these options so you can maximize your health coverage at the lowest possible cost.
Now May be a Good Time to Quit Your Job by Shadox from Money and Such. In this tough economic environment, how do you find the balance between your career and your family? Shadox uses a real example to show that while keeping your job is important, the best move you can take when you can’t retain your life goals at the same time is Move On.
How to Pick Stocks in Five Steps by Jon from The Money Mythos. Is stock picking a losing game? Some, including William J. Bernstein, may say just that, but if you still want to know what needs to be considered when selecting stocks to invest, then read Jon’s post because it outlines some very basic steps.
Being poor is a state of mind by Seb from Pinching Copper. You own a house, you drive a car, and you can put hot meals on the table. Are you poor? Are you not? Seb looks at “being poor” from a different angle and says we should all appreciate what we have. Indeed.
How To Tell An Email Is A Financial Scam by BTG from Bridging The Gaap. I believe everybody who has an email address is getting a lot of scam emails these days. I always delete them right away without even clicking it. However, if you are new to this, this post shows you can identify scan emails that want nothing but your personal information.

Before bringing up the rest of the carnival, there are something else I want to share with you. As you may know, I recently took a month-long trip to China and visited a few cities. I have posted some pictures here on this blog. Now I’d like to take this opportunity to again take you quickly to the four cities, Lanzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing, and show you what’s unique to each of them. Hope you will enjoy. Maybe some day you decide to visit China as well

Money Management

Lanzhou Calabash Carving, a unique artwork of Lanzhou

How do you tell your overindulged children that the money train has left the station? Mary from Simply Forties discusses ways Talk to Your Kids About Money.

TStrump from The Strump – Financial Blog presents Lines of Credit – Creative Ways to Use Them.

Ben from Money Smart Life knows How to Find a Doctor, Accountant, or Plumber You Can Trust in a New City.

HIB from Happiness is Better talks about 10 Ways to Become Financially Independent.

Chief Family Officer from Chief Family Officer argues why Your best financial investment may be your good health (but you should also practice sound money management).

Money Answer Guy from Money Answer Guy has An Affordable Family Entertainment Budget for Tougher Times.

Ron from The Wisdom Journal notices The Return of Layaway.

My Journey from My Journey to Millions discusses one’s personality and personal finance and concludes that To Know Thyself is the Only Way to Overcome You.

Jeff from Minding My Own Business talks about Manage Money – Outsource Your Money Handling Tasks.

Chica from One Snarky Chica With Issues goes through the Steps you can take to make sure you are not paying too much at the grocery store.

Jim from Blueprint for Financial Prosperity lists 50 Financial Skills Every Person Needs To Know.

That One Caveman from One Caveman’s Financial Journey admits I Was Wrong; Net Worth Doesn’t Matter.

Tisha Tolar from American Consumer News wants to know What’s the Deal with Repossession?

The Financial Blogger from The Financial Blogger thinks he knows The Root Of Our Financial Crisis Education. Is it financial education?

TCT from The Credit Toolbox suggests this way to Repair Bad Credit: Pay Yourself First!

Aryn from Sound Money Matters sees the Ghosts of Financial Decisions Past this Halloween.

Pfincome from Passive Family Income shares 25 Ways to Save Money on Utility Bills.

Investing

Handwrite of Qianlong Emperor, Suzhou Lion Forest Garden, one of Suzhou’s main attractions

The Dividend Guy from The Dividend Guy says “I invest according to an investing code that guides the decisions I make” and he shares his strategy in My Main Investment Objective: To Generate a Reliable, Growing Stream of Income from Stocks.

Richard Epley from Blue Jeans Millionaire explains Yield, Safety or Liquidity.

Randy from Fiscal Zen wonders Is Intel (INTC) Stock A Bargain?

R from Retired At 47 shares Making Lemonade out of a Stock Market Full of Lemons.

Clint from Accumulating Money looks at The Self-Directed 401k and its Essential Factors.

D4L from Dividends4Life asks What To Do With A Dividend Freeze?

Dan Ray from Taking Charge was surprised that Randolph and Mortimer Duke: They’re back in business.

Todd from Harvesting Dollars questions Are DFA Mutual Funds Worth it?

Ye from Value Investing and Entrepreneurship tells you about Share Buybacks – Pros and Cons.

ABC from ABCs of Investing explains Stock Market Indexes.

Is the current market drop good, bad or irrelevant? Four Pillars from Four Pillars gives his take.

Frugality

Skyscrapers around Shanghai Pudong Lujiazui, the financial district of Shanghai

Cap from StopBuyingCrap.com has 10 Simple Ways to Feel Rich Without Materialistic Means, such as a brand new sports car, a tropical vacation, or a well furnished house. Check out what they are.

Richard from Student Scrooge presents Tipping: On The Take-Out.

Phil from Phil’s Blog shares their “Scary” Dining Out Expenses, then tells you how to spend less when dining out.

Junger from Online Savings Blog offers 4 Tips for Shopping at Thrift Stores (Or How Not to Spend Like Sarah Palin).

“Cheap eats is good, free eats is better!” Marc from Good To Grow knows how to get 7 Days of Free Food.

FMF from Free Money Finance asks Can You Pay for a Costco Membership by Saving on Gas Alone? Yes, or No?

F.F. from Feminist Finance shows How To Care For Your Clothes Part 2: Handwashing.

David G. Mitchell from Saving Advice tells you why you should Give Up Your Cell Phone! Five Reasons You’ll Save Money. Will you?

Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck from Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck says you can Pay less for the same because “There’s another (lower) price for everything.”

Ironman from Political Calculations wants to know How Much Should You Pay to Save Time?

Career

Brand new Beijing subway station (tracks are sealed off by glass walls), part of the Olympic constructions

Shawna from Bumblefucked has some Money making ideas for teens.

Sara Aase from Cash on the Barrelhead reviews a book and urges Do You Want What it Takes to be a Millionaire Today: Career First.

Mary from American Small Business News presents 5 Business Travel Tips.

Tina Minchella from The Copyeditor’s Desk presents Editing…in This Economy.

Want to try a new career in your pajamas? Stacey Doyle from The Smarter Wallet will show you How To Work From Home And Start A Home Business.

Kyle from Amateur Asset Allocator has a bad news: “I Was Laid Off Yesterday.”

Economy

Lisa Spinelli from Greener Pastures has a educational series on Economic Indicators to help you understand the market.”

RC from Think Your Way To Wealth asks Do We Really Need a Second Stimulus Check or New Stimulus Package?

Madison from My Dollar Plan wants you to have Your 9 Step Economic Action Plan.

Dan from Everyday Finance thinks McCain’s an Idiot, Obama’s an Idiot…and More Idiots in the Making.

Debt

Can’t stay on track to get out of debt? Christopher Holdheide from Stumble Forward offers 5 Tips To Help You Stay Locked In Your Debt Plan.

Debt Freedom Fighter from Discover debt Freedom wonders Can a Debt Reduction Company Really Eliminate my Debt?

Grey from Frugal Fu presents What if I convince myself this is a crisis?, and says, “An article about adjusting our attitudes on debt.”

Debbie from Destroy Debt looks at the coming election from a different angle: I’m In Debt – Who Should I Vote For?

Savings

Remember the “Dollar a Day” challenge? J. Money from Budgets are Sexy has an super easy way to save some dollars.

Penelope Pince from Pecuniarities says It Saves to Be Nice Part 1: It’s Business But It’s Also Personal.

Curt from PennyJobs.com wants you to know that Saving Money Will Once Again Be Rewarded.

BloggingBanks from Blogging Banks lists Best CD ( Certificate of Deposits) Rates. Time to lock in a good rate?

Ryan Suenaga from Uncommon Cents presents Are We Finally Getting it in America?

PT from Prime Time Money conducts an Interview with Robin Nakamura, Senior VP of eBusiness at First National Bank of Omaha.

Need a new car? SGM from SingleGuyMoney has 5 Tips For Negotiating Your Next Car Purchase.

Credit

Beware the Phantom Credit Check When Opening a Bank Account Nickel from FiveCentNickel warns.

Anna from On a Quest To Be Debt Free says Pay Credit Minimum is one way to Avoid Disaster.

The Frugalisa from The Frugalista Files discusses Movement for credit card forgiveness. Really?

Beating Broke from Beating Broke tells you want to do if you Want a Better Credit Score? Pay on Time.

Real Estate

David from My Two Dollars shows why Buying A Vacation Home But Renting A Primary Home makes sense.

Smarty from Growing Money presents Philadelphia Tenant Saga – Part 3.

Budgeting

Matt from One Million and Beyond presents How I Budget.

Jennifer from Finding Financial Peace has what she calls A Surprising (But Essential) Budgeting Tool.

Finance

Ever wonder where your tax dollars and insurance premiums go? Henry Stern from InsureBlog explains it in Easy Come, Easy Go.

Silicon Valley Blogger from The Digerati Life discusses How The State of The Economy Has Affected My Financial Goals.

Other

The election isn’t here yet, but Mr. ToughMoneyLove from Tough Money Love says you can Plan Your Wealth Preservation Options in a Post-Election Economy now.

Consumer Headaches? VH from Funny about Money show 15 ways to get help.

MBHunter from Mighty Bargain Hunter notices Magazine shipping charge squeeze on eBay, though nobody wants to lose money on sales.

ls Poor the new affluence? LAL from LivingAlmostLarge wants to know.

Ashley from Wide Open Wallet presents Should you care how your parents spend their money?

Tanesha Morgan from Personal Financwe Analyst discusses McDonalds Monopoly and A Cash Windfall.

Randall from Credit Withdrawal wants to know Can They Fire Me For Being Sick?

Next week’s Carnival of Personal Fiance will be hosted at The Digerati Life. Be sure to submit your article. Again, thanks for your participation!

Original Post on The Sun's Financial Diary

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Carnival of Personal Finance No. 177