My Money Blog

WT Direct Promotion Code, Up To $150 Opening Bonus

Posted on July 8, 2009 // 8 Comments

The online division of Wilmington Trust Bank, WT Direct, is running another promotion for new customers. You can get up to $150 cash bonus on top of the standard interest rate (currently 1.76% APY) if you open a new account and maintain a certain … [Read the rest]

Zecco Forex Promotion Code: Up to $200 Bonus

Posted on July 8, 2009 // 25 Comments

Zecco Trading, best known for their free stock trade offers, recently started a Forex platform where you can trade foreign currencies. Since Forex appears to be a zero-sum game (negative if you account for inflation and spread costs), I wasn't really … [Read the rest]

What Is Your Motivational Burrito Currency?

Posted on July 8, 2009 // 34 Comments

(image credit: chipotlebreakfast.com) Sometimes people wonder why a guy who makes a six figure salary will still bother to fill out a form for a free razor, or sign up for a credit card for the $100+ bonus. Well, for one thing it's a habit … [Read the rest]

American Express Card Statement Shows Restaurant Tips

Posted on July 8, 2009 // 12 Comments

If you're like me, you keep receipts to reconcile with your credit card transactions online. If you dine somewhere you leave a tip, you might be wary that the waitperson might alter your tips, either by accident or on purpose. If you just see the … [Read the rest]

Monthly Net Worth Update – July 2009

Posted on July 7, 2009 // 27 Comments

Credit Card Debt I have taken money from credit cards at 0% APR and placed it into online savings accounts, bank CDs, or savings bonds that earn 4-5% interest (much less recently), and keeping the difference as profit. I even put together a series … [Read the rest]

Chase Sapphire Preferred 40,000 Point Sign-up Bonus

Posted on July 6, 2009 // 34 Comments

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is offer 40,000 points after you make $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. There is a $95 annual fee, but it is waived for the first year. Thanks to the readers who sent this in. (There is also a regular Chase … [Read the rest]

Citi Forward Card Bonus & Rewards Follow-up: 5x Rewards at Restaurants and Amazon.com

Posted on July 3, 2009 // 37 Comments

I promised to follow-up on the features of the Citi Forward® Card after getting mine, and am finally getting around to it. Read on to see how you can get a $100 gift card and also 3.45% cash back with this card at restaurants, Amazon.com, and … [Read the rest]

My Dog’s Favorite Chew Toy Is Now Free

Posted on July 3, 2009 // 14 Comments

This might be completely obvious to others, and I'm probably opening myself to ridicule, but I only recently discovered it and find it awesome. If you have dog that like to chew things, many of those fancy plush squeak toys last about a day. But … [Read the rest]

Creating Your Own Three Legged Stool of Retirement

Posted on July 2, 2009 // 10 Comments

You may have heard the term "three-legged stool", taken from the idea that a stool needs three legs to maintain balance. (Photographers use tripods, no duopods or quadrapods. Even a four-legged chair will likely wobble.) Old Three-Legged Stool … [Read the rest]

Your Take: Rent Control Based On Tenant’s Income?

Posted on July 1, 2009 // 43 Comments

I saw this LA Times article San Francisco beefs up renter protections over at SavingFreak, and it nagged at me all day as both a recent renter and possible future landlord. Here's the quick summary. City Supervisor Chris Daly introduced … [Read the rest]

Assorted Links and the Tuesday 10

Posted on June 30, 2009 // 8 Comments

The Accidental Slumlord A writer whose lives in Massachusetts buys a two-unit rental property in Pocatello, Idaho for $62,750 during the housing boom. Read what happens when he actually visits his house and deals with his tenants. OptionsHouse … [Read the rest]

myFICO Promotional Codes

Posted on June 29, 2009 // 10 Comments

I am not a big fan of purchasing credit scores. I can understand why a lender would pay to get a calculation of your likelihood of defaulting on your loan, but if it's based on our data, why do we have to pay just to see it? Even if I am declined for … [Read the rest]