My Money Blog

Will Replacing 401(k) Plans With Portable Pensions Fix Retirement Planning?

Posted on October 19, 2009 // 19 Comments

Traditional Three Legged Stool of Retirement (post, image via Michigan.gov) Over the weekend, I finally got around to reading this Time magazine article about Why It's Time to Retire the 401(k) which has been getting some buzz. The author … [Read the rest]

Thoughts About Bailouts and Bonuses

Posted on October 18, 2009 // 31 Comments

There seems to be a lot of noise about previously struggling financial companies who were begging for bailouts but now are paying out billions of dollars in bonuses to employees. I'm not trying to be political here at all, just thinking out loud. … [Read the rest]

Chase Freedom Credit Card

Posted on October 16, 2009 // 48 Comments

… [Read the rest]

Savings I-Bonds Update: September 2009 CPU-I Data Announced

Posted on October 15, 2009 // 5 Comments

New inflation numbers are out, so it's time for another semi-annual update: New Inflation Rate March 2009 CPI-U was 212.709. September 2009 CPI-U was 215.969, for a semi-annual increase of 1.53%. Using this official formula, the variable … [Read the rest]

PineCone Research Application Link (Paid Online Surveys)

Posted on October 15, 2009 // 9 Comments

Here is an updated application link at Pinecone Research, which is again accepting new members. (May expire at any time, so apply now if you're interested!) Looks open to all, but certain demographics will get more surveys. Only one person per … [Read the rest]

Existing Sprint SERO Plan Upgrade Tips & Tricks

Posted on October 14, 2009 // 263 Comments

This post is targeted for those who have the grandfathered cell phone plan called the Sprint Employee Referral Offer (SERO) plan. This plan is no longer available to the general public, but for $30 a month it gave us 500 minutes per month, … [Read the rest]

Free Experian PLUS Credit Score From American Express

Posted on October 14, 2009 // 20 Comments

Just a reminder that American Express cardholders can get a free look at their Experian PLUS credit score and credit report once every 12 months. This is Experian's own proprietary ("FAKO") credit score, but is the best you can get from Experian … [Read the rest]

MMB Incorrectly Labeled As Spam Site on WOT

Posted on October 13, 2009 // 30 Comments

There is a new web browser plugin called WebofTrust which is a "free Internet security addon for your browser. It will keep you safe from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. WOT warns you before you … [Read the rest]

Strong 2009 Market Returns So Far: Time To Rebalance?

Posted on October 12, 2009 // 20 Comments

If you haven't noticed already through your portfolio statements - the stock markets are doing well in 2009. The broad US stock market and the broad developed international markets are up 22% and 29%, respectively. Some funds are doing especially … [Read the rest]

P2P Lending Update: LendingClub Loan Performance (+$25 Bonus)

Posted on October 10, 2009 // 19 Comments

Here's an update for my person-to-person (P2P) lending activity at LendingClub, which are unsecured loans between U.S. residents. It could be to help people pay off credit card debt, home improvements, business financing, or even buying a house. … [Read the rest]

Finding The Right Cables To Connect Laptop to TV

Posted on October 9, 2009 // 34 Comments

Like many others, I am thinking of ditching cable TV and the $500 to $1,000+ annual bill. You can find a lot of good online content now at sites like Hulu, FanCast, and OVGuide. Here is a quick guide to finding the right cables to connect your … [Read the rest]

1 Year’s Supply Of Food For $800 From Costco

Posted on October 9, 2009 // 22 Comments

Costco is selling an entire year's supply of food for $800. That's only $67 a month. Made by a company called Shelf Reliance, it's all freeze-dried or dehydrated and is primarily marketed as emergency food (10-20 year shelf life). However, it … [Read the rest]