My Money Blog

Exploring Condo Living: How Do I Find A Good Homeowners Association?

Posted on July 31, 2007 // 53 Comments

Where we live, most first-time homebuyers purchase condominiums or townhouses. (I haven't seen any co-ops?) Besides simply finding a unit that you like, I've been worried about having to deal with homeowners associations, or HOAs. There are plenty … [Read the rest]

Unconventional Success: Investing in Core and Non-Core Asset Classes

Posted on July 30, 2007 // 27 Comments

One of the books I am currently reading is Unconventional Success: A Fundamental Approach to Personal Investment by David Swensen. He is a very successful institutional money manager, having guided the Yale University Endowment to over 16% … [Read the rest]

Bank Bonuses: $100 at Bank of America, $50 at Wachovia

Posted on July 29, 2007 // 22 Comments

Could you use a new checking account at one of the big banks? Reader Susie provides some incentives for two accounts with no minimum balance or direct deposit requirements: $100 Bonus from Bank of America for opening a MyAccess Checking account. … [Read the rest]

Costco Food: How We Pre-Plan A Month Of Fast And Easy Meals In Just One Trip

Posted on July 29, 2007 // 17 Comments

The last several weeks have been very hectic, and we just managed to visit our "new" Costco after moving. It may be a horror for some to hear, but sometimes a corporate chain can really give you a nice feeling of familiarity. While pushing the … [Read the rest]

3 Ways I Live Frugally Without Feeling Deprived

Posted on July 28, 2007 // 48 Comments

Fellow blogger Mapgirl recently shared a list of what she does to live frugally. What I liked about it was that the list was done in a very positive light. Too often when you read about living frugally it feels like you are depriving yourself of … [Read the rest]

Did I Refer You To Sprint SERO or Scottrade?

Posted on July 27, 2007 // 9 Comments

Whenever I participate in a referral program, although it also benefits me, I am always thankful for the readers who let me refer them. So when I run out of referrals, I try to "spread the love" by directing future requests to those that allowed me … [Read the rest]

$50 Signup Bonus For TradeKing Brokerage With Referral

Posted on July 27, 2007 // 12 Comments

TradeKing.com has a new $50 sign-up bonus expired! for new accounts as part of celebrating National Friendship Day. If you get a referral from an existing account holder, fund it with at least $1,000, and make a trade before August 30, both people … [Read the rest]

Tip Jars Are Everywhere! Should We Fight Back Or Give In?

Posted on July 26, 2007 // 136 Comments

I was buying some snacks from a local convenience store today, and lo and behold, a tip jar! You want me to tip you for... what, taking my money and giving me change exceptionally well? Coincidentally, I just ran across this Christian Science … [Read the rest]

Vanguard Group Found To Be Leader In Client Loyalty

Posted on July 26, 2007 // 7 Comments

I know I haven't finished my 401k rollover series yet, but whenever a family friend asks where they should put their old retirement plan assets, I always say Vanguard. They certainly aren't the only good company out there, but they do have a lot of … [Read the rest]

Reader Question: Pay Off Credit Cards vs. Invest Your Money?

Posted on July 25, 2007 // 49 Comments

I've gotten a few variations of this question recently: I've only got about $5,000 in savings and about $4,000 in credit card debt. I'm not sure if I should pay off my cards first before I decide to invest or what. I'm just looking for a way to … [Read the rest]

Parental 401(k) Check-up: Do You Know All The Fees You’re Getting Hit With, Mom?

Posted on July 24, 2007 // 14 Comments

It's time to examine my mom's 401(k) plan. The first thing that I wanted to do was to get an idea of what kind of fees she was paying. There are three basic types of fees, according to the Dept. of Labor: Plan Administration Fees - Like the … [Read the rest]

Open Houses From A Buyer’s Perspective

Posted on July 23, 2007 // 29 Comments

We did an Sunday Open House run yesterday, checking out some of the the different neighborhoods available to us. Some observations: Beware of the sign-in sheets. Address? Phone number? E-mail? No way. I've since realized that Open Houses … [Read the rest]