The Sun's Financial Diary

Reuters reported today that a small number of Apple’s iPods shipped last month may carry computer virus:
since September 12, less than 1 percent of Video iPods — pocket-sized devices that can play music files and video clips – left its contract manufacturer carrying the virus RavMonE.exe, which affects computers running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows operating system.

For [...]

Reuters reported today that a small number of Apple's iPods shipped last month may carry computer virus:
since September 12, less than 1 percent of Video iPods — pocket-sized devices that can play music files and video clips – left its contract manufacturer carrying the virus RavMonE.exe, which affects computers running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system.

For [...]

This is definitely the first time I ever checked the total passive income generated in the middle of the year. I usually crunch the numbers once a year when I fill the tax returns. Out of curiosity, I spent nearly an hour last night and summarized the money that are generated by money for 2006 [...]

The recent decline of oil prices may make us breath a little easier when we turn on the heat this winter. However, if you are among the 32% households in the Northeast that depend on heating oil, you can expect to pay 7% more this winter to heat your house. According to the U.S. Energy [...]

The renewal bill for my AAA membership arrived last night. The annual due is $60, which isn’t at a level that I can’t afford. But I am thinking about whether or not I really want to keep the membership.
I joined AAA in 1998 and the last time I used it was in 2004 when my [...]

US population reached 300 million this morning according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census projection. It took 40 years for the population to go from 200 million (reached in 1967) to 300 million. An article from Reuters early this month showed the impact of US population growth on resources and environment:

Each American occupies [...]

I usually don’t check my 401(k) account until the time to update the net worth and even at that time, I didn’t look at the return because, first, I simply forgot to check and, second, I won’t make any change before the year end, no matter how good or bad the return is. But tonight, [...]

A study report released today by National Association of Realtors found that a majority of the 78 million baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, face uncertainties when it comes how to retire. The study was to find what kind of homes baby boomers will buy when they approach retirement. However, it also shows [...]

After the phone call, I felt very bad. I really shouldn’t have been cheap.
Here’s what happened.
Early this month, I filled the paper work to move part of my Roth IRA assets from Scottrade to Vanguard. At the same time, my wife also submitted her application for transferring two Vanguard funds as well. Both applications [...]

This is the second night in a row that the temperature dropped to near the freezing mark, more than ten degrees below normal for October. Inside the house, it's 65 degrees right now.
This morning, there was frost on the car. 
The heat is not on yet as we can still handle the early cold, but we [...]