Here are some free and useful phone numbers that I am always glad are in my cell phone. 1-800-FREE-411 - Free 411 Directory assistance. Why pay 99 cents a call? They can even text message you the phone number of the business you're looking … [Read the rest]
Better Alternatives To Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs)
Posted on April 10, 2007 // 9 Comments
Dividend Reinvestment Plans, or DRIPs, are programs that allow individuals to buy stock directly from the company, with dividends from the stock being automatically reinvested into more shares. Here are some popular companies that have DRIPs and … [Read the rest]
Are You Moving Forward?
Posted on April 10, 2007 // 16 Comments
I'm going to my very first funeral today. It's actually a very strange experience for me. I'm still too young to have much wisdom, but one thing I realize more and more is that life is a marathon and not a sprint. There is so much you can … [Read the rest]
April 2007 Investment Portfolio Snapshot
Posted on April 8, 2007 // 18 Comments
It's time for another bi-monthly update on my investment portfolio. Retirement Portfolio Fund $ % FSTMX - Fidelity Total Stock Market Index Fund $12,599 17% VIVAX - Vanguard [Large-Cap] Value … [Read the rest]
Emigrant Direct Signup Bonus Update – February Payouts
Posted on April 8, 2007 // 2 Comments
Payouts for my Emigrant Direct Referral Bonus went out over the last two weeks for those that either sent me their Form #2's or Claim Form A's in February. Please let me know if there are any questions. Emigrant Direct offers an online savings … [Read the rest]
Google Now Lets You Search Real Estate Listings
Posted on April 7, 2007 // 13 Comments
You can now use the search engine to find homes for sale, rent, or even those in foreclosure. To try it yourself, just type in "Portland real estate" or "Home for sale in Chicago" into Google. You'll see something like this: Which then leads … [Read the rest]
Six Key Principles of Saving for Retirement
Posted on April 6, 2007 // 10 Comments
Ben Stein has an good read on Yahoo Finance about what he terms the Six Key Principles of Saving for Retirement. Although I agree with all six main ideas, I question some of the specific numbers. Here are some excerpts and my comments: 1. How … [Read the rest]
Wowio iPod Shuffle Arrived Today
Posted on April 6, 2007 // 17 Comments
In case anyone was wondering if the Wowio Free iPod Shuffle promotion was legit, FedEx just delivered this to my door: Please don't ask for referrals in the comments. It's a free and useful service, bring it up tonight to your friends when … [Read the rest]
About Traditional and Roth IRAs, And Why They Rock
Posted on April 6, 2007 // 38 Comments
If you are waiting until the last second to fund your 2006 IRA, you're probably not alone. Maybe you are still confused about choosing between a Roth or a Traditional IRA. Here's an interesting fact: If you assume that your tax rates will be the … [Read the rest]
The Intangible Advantages And Disadvantages Of Owning A Home
Posted on April 4, 2007 // 63 Comments
Many times you hear people say "Owning your home is not an investment." It may not be an investment, but it does involve spending money that could be better used elsewhere. Still, I do admit that there are intangible benefits that you can't easily … [Read the rest]
Cost Comparison Tool For Comparing Vanguard ETFs and Mutual Funds
Posted on April 4, 2007 // 27 Comments
While on Vanguard's website I recently ran across a new and useful tool that help helps you calculate and compare costs for similar Vanguard ETFs and mutual funds. The tool takes into account trade commissions, the difference in expense ratio, … [Read the rest]
April 2007 Financial Status / Net Worth Update
Posted on April 3, 2007 // 15 Comments
About My Credit Card Debt Newer readers may be alarmed by my high levels of credit card debt. In short, I'm borrowing money for free and keeping it in safe investments while earning me 5-6% interest. Along with other things, this helps me earn … [Read the rest]
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