I’d like to know what topics that you’d like to read about here. Got a burning question in mind? Simply leave a comment below. Keep in mind, the more specific the better.
As usual, I can’t make any promises, but I will take each suggestion into consideration. Thanks!
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First of all, thanks! You’ve got a great blog. I made $175 this month in random offers since starting to read this.
I do a have a couple of things that might make interesting entries.
1) Student loan changes. New legislation is making it difficult for the student loan companies to offer incentive (ie .25% off in interest if you set up automatic debit). I’ve been getting a fabulous run around with Sallie Mae thanks to this. Might make for some nice investigative reporting.
2) High yield savings. I’ve basically figured out that I can make more with high yield savings than with Vanguard’s prime money market account, if you figure in the fee. I’m not 100% certain of my calculations. It would be nice to see a post on comparing those two options. Also, I’m wondering how secure some of the internet banks are. I use the bankrate.com ratings, and I wonder how secure a place like EverBank, with 3 stars, actually is.
Hope those get the wheels rolling.
I think you’ve mentioned that you were in grad school but left to start working. Maybe an interesting post would be comparing salaries of students at different levels of education, or the benefits of continuing on with school.
It’s way out there, but I’d like to know why the federal reserves actions to jump start an economy work. As I understand, when the fed perceives a recession/slowdown they loosen the money supply (i.e. issue more credit = make more fiat currency).
If you make more currency it just becomes worth less. Why does this change anything? Why should repricing everything (the ultimate result) make everyone better off? Or does it just make the “important” individuals better off at the expense of the “unimportant” individuals, and that makes the more visible people happier?
I would like to know more about the realistic expectations from savings – what to do when your earning and spending are not in sync due life events. As is the case in most people’s life, there are events that burn a financial hole even when you have ample emergency savings say of about 6 months. In that case people are always left with difficult choice to enter survival mode but more importantly they still need to keep the big picture into perspective. How does one do that? Especially transitioning from grad school to job market, your future pay is uncertain. In this case a miscalculation can lead to a deep hole or a too conservative estimate can lead to giving yourself a short shrift. Where is the balance? What to watch out for?
Your blog is very good.
It would be good if you can post information on ways to get good return from very low risk bonds (may be government or canadian or any low risk bonds) that give decent returns like 7% to 13%.
It would also be good if you can post any excellent deals/coupons once in a while. The Sprint Sero was an awesome deal. Something like a decent very good laptop for say $329. Only occasionally, I know you don’t want to make your site like a deals site.
Goodluck
A post on T ROWE PRICE, The next big depression coming up on 2012 (that’s what I hear), a post on discover cash back rewards. A post on all the credit accounts you have and how you manage all your user names and passwords.
Would love to read more about travelling affordably by use of frequent flier miles, credit cards, etc. It’s my new goal to take a trip every year, as travelling makes me happy.
Could you please review “Credit Monitoring Services” ? Are they worth the extra $12 bucks each month ? Do they really prevent identity theft ?
Plain and simple: As a novice investor, how do I obtain more knowledge?
I graduated college within the last 2 years, and I do have a degree in business. However it’s a degree in management (more specifically HR), and not in finance. I understand some of the basic principles of finance, however personal finance is not a required course in most business schools unless you are a finance major. So Now that I have a steady job, debt, and bills to pay as well as personal and financial goals, I think it should be a recommended (or even required) course for all college students regardless of major.
I’m constantly gaining more and more of an understanding on various topics just from reading your blog. You make most topics easy to follow. Anything I’m not sure of, I typically research on my own. I plan on starting to read some of the finance books you suggest, however I don’t know if I’m getting myself in too deep without enough basic knowledge to really understand everything I read. From the comments I’ve read, most of your readers are pretty, if not very, well versed in the world of finance. Some of the comments left are even Greek to me. Maybe you have a population of readers out there in my boat who just aren’t as vocal because of fear of the “stupid question.”
With my current method of reading various articles and sources and researching what I don’t understand, I feel like I’m still not getting everything I can out of what I read. I still don’t understand as much as I feel I should because it seems there is so much to know. What do you suggest in order to establish a better base for knowledge with regards to personal finance?
With a better general understanding of personal finance and all it encompasses I can read your blogs and really see if the information you provide would be beneficial to my specific situation. Afterall I believe that is the one of the main goals of your blog.
My apologies for the length of the post.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
At some point in September, need to discuss where to move money from 6% FNBO to where?
What is an upfront mortgage broker? How to read a wholesale rate sheet. And how to negotiate the upfront broker fee.
Compare online stock portfolio trackers.
Adjusting your W4 to owe 5-10% tax at end of the year.
I just wanted to say ditto on the deals. I ge a lot of info on deals from this site, it’s one of the reasons I check it.
I check this site every weekday. I’m so glad you have the time and energy to keep it up! I was a deadbeat volunteer after I started working full time.
I would like to see:
1. How to invest in things not based on the US dollar. It seems you can’t really buy foreign currency without a minimum $10,000 USD investment.
2. Coverage of the book Your Money or Your Life. A classic and timeless for those wanting to life their values, save money, and keep things in perspective. Not all of us care to make managing our money a part time job.
3. Self-arranged sabbaticals. I don’t want to wait until retirement to ‘enjoy life’. I’ve lived abroad several times and these were times I grew and really enjoyed my job, but saved zero for retirement. Is there a way to do it with less financial setback?
4. Proxy voting. Does it matter? I feel like such a small fish.
5. Calculating return on investments. My entire portfolio is spread over several accounts. I know how I’m doing in some of them, because is is calculated for me. But where do I start figuring out how I’m doing overall? Is my quarterly net worth a fair measurement?
6. Living within your means. Why is this concept so foreign to Americans? So much stress could be alleviated.
I like SharpT’s FNBO and W4 suggestions.
I’d like to read about how to effect change in a bad 401(k) plan (fund offerings are not the most competitive expense ratios in the industry); better yet, how to negotiate such changes when seeking a new job. e.g. “Your job offer is fair, but I’d like to negotiate an exception to the 401(k) plan. Since the plan’s fund offerings have high management fees, I’d like written authorization to disenroll/rollover my balance each year, and then immediately re-enroll in the plan for the following year, and still be eligible for the company matching contribution.”
1. Just like LACAG say ?Credit Monitoring Services?
2. I also wanted to have a section where we can ask questions..It may not relate to any of the new topics you posted but still related to Finance.. And other person can reply too…
That way we can ask any specific questions even if the topic was disscussed few months back…
I Would like to say at the end that You doing a great job.. Keep it up and keep helping ppl like me…
thanks
i third the W4 suggestion. i’d also like to know how to max out my tsp/401k to 15.5k or whatever by the end of the year in the easiest way.
I like the ideas on your website for a frugal living.
I would like you to touch upon ways to convert or save your change (quarters, dimes and nickels) when you don’t use credit cards and have to use cash at several places. usually, I accumulate this loose change and get it converted to few hundred dollar bills at the end of the year, but then you have to pay a small fees at coinstar and other m/c at safeway or your local store. you could exchange this for cash at the local bank but have to spend some time packaging it and seperating it out.
I heard that BOA has a account facility wherein what you spend using the credit or debit card gets rounded to higher dollar amount during your transaction and the amount is difference (loose change) is credited to your savings account……are there other frugal ways to save this loose change which typically amounts to a over a hundred dollars at the end of the year if you collect the change…
Love your blog.
1) Mortgage types, best mortgage provides and
berest rates (given that i have good credit and nice down payment).
2) Low risk – high yeild bonds, how and where to buy bonds .
3) Saving for college for kids.
how about a blog on using business expenses to cut your tax liability.
I love reading about real estate, even when it’s overpriced. I’d like to hear about great neighborhoods vs. good ones (or bad ones). Lot sizes, lot shapes, desirable, undesirable, perfect feng shui, bad feng shui. What’s the best room in the house. Would you rather have a bigger house or a basement? Would you rather have a garage or more living space? Do you think corner properties are nice or what position on a block would you like to be? Do you like kitchens in front of the house, the side, or the back? Gas heat or Oil heat? Are solar panels worth the bother? What’s your favorite style — ranch, split, colonial , etc.. I just love hearing all about what people like most in a house. Big kitchen — big bathrooms — or big decks and swimming pools. What kind of wiring are you putting in — any special stuff like fiber optic? Any home automation stuff? I love all this stuff.
great blog! Great work 🙂
1/ I love to read about stocks, and investment in stocks.
2/ How to max out the benefits of funds (stocks, high yield bonds, T bonds, etc), in order to min. the taxes.
3/ How to look for houses (either fore-closures or pre-forclosures) to buy and make $$ on it as an investment.
Thx.
Enjoy reading your blog as well as so many intelligent comments for long time.
Given very high rate in foreclosure, did you ever think about buying a foreclosure house? Or invest on several under-priced foreclose houses and rent out then? This year and next year might be a good time to take this opportunity.
thanks,
Jonathan, your blog is great. Please keep up with the good work.
I would like to hear more about problem solving type issues in PF. For instance, I can ask for help on some of my own personal financial problems and I expect to hear some sound advice or solutions to my financial troubles from you as well as from readers of this blog.
I would also like to see more interaction between you and the readers in responding to a specific issue, topic, or discussion. Basically, your money blog may be expanded into a social network in personal financing among all the readers. In addition, you may want to make video presentations on your blog. It will add a new dimension to the readability of your blog.
Love your blog! I would like to know any alternatives to your current bank setup of Wamu Checking -> Wamu Online Savings
Are there other banks which give similar benefits, and have a physical branch presence? I’ve been trying to open a Wamu Online savings account for weeks now, and every time after the security questions, I’m booted out for a week! 🙂
Hi Jonathan,
I read quite a few finance blogs and haven’t seen anyone write about life insurance. I’m getting ready to shop around for some term insurance and would like to know your take and whether you have any advice.
Topics and commentary on higher-income issues. Frugal living and deals is interesting, but so few PF sites cover issues relating to higher income / net worth individuals. I’d like to see a bit more sophistication and less LCD stuff.
Kudos on this blog, Jonathan!
Would love to hear more about decisions people have made re: their careers, education and small businesses that made a big difference (hopefully increase?) for them financially. What was their thinking behind the decision, and how did that effect their bottom line over time.
Thanks!
Hi hc
Can’t agree with you more, this is the good time for investing on several under-priced foreclose houses and then rent out later on.
thx.
One more thing, I’m interested in life ins., esp. on whole life ins. (cash value)
I was wondering if you knew of any ways to raise your credit score. I am also looking to buy a house in the near future, and I was wondering if there was any way to boost my score in order to get a better mortgage rate. Would taking out a loan and then paying it back help? What about the 0% loans you get off of the credit cards? Will they raise your credit score once you pay them off?
Joe: less sophistication is always preferred to more, especially in the case of wealthy/high income individuals. Frugality does not discriminate! 😉
I’ve been lurking on your site for a while. I’m interested in business insurace. David Bach had a post about how your personal insurance does not cover home office equipment, so how do you find a good business insurace provider?
Thanks!
I’d like the FNBO and W4 suggestion as well. thank you. very good blog
So I have this question. Or a couple of them. I am hoping you might be able to make it a topic or even make a survey out of it.
1) What percentage of people actually budget? and stick with it?
2) Why is it that I keep trying to start a budget only to ignore it?
Some details about me, I am doing pretty well financially but my default budgeting is just to base everything on a “do I need it basis.” I think what really hurts me (not really, but the one “wasteful” area) is my being generous with friends and strangers. I think maybe it is some small high that I get. Or the realization that what may not seem like a lot to me means a lot to someone else. I don’t think that I can stop being generous, but that part is the part that always messes with my budget! I am not a crazy clothes buying or latte drinking, or bar hopping sort of guy that can blow hundreds at a pop, but I have been known to buy meals for random strangers.
I know you are really busy, but your thoughts would be appreciated.
This may be more a strict question than topic, but one on which I’m interested to hear your opinion:
I’m looking towards next year’s Roth IRA Contribution and have already put aside my 5k contribution. I plan on making a lump sum payment for the entire year in early January, but when I mentioned this to a friend he thought that it might be wiser to spread out the payments over the course of the year in case when I dump the lump sum into the market I hit an unfavorable day/week/etc. I told him this sounded like a ‘timing the market’ issue of which I’m fervently against, but he mentioned that it’s not all that different from diversifying a portfolio. I still don’t see his point, but as I have a few months to mull the decision, thought I’d look for another perspective. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Jim – Look up “Dollar Cost Averaging”. This is what your friend is talking about.
Thnaks for the fantastic blog, Jonathan! I learn so much from it, and I find it extremely valuable and helpful.
I agree with KM’s second point at the very top of the comments regarding online savings accounts vs. Vanguard Prime Money Market. It seems to me that putting shorter term savings (like for a house down payment) into online savings accounts results in a higher yield than short term bond or money market funds. Are there reasons NOT to do this?
Term vs whole life insurance
Piggybacking on some previous comments, tips on how someone in their early 20’s can get ahead?
I have no real financial obligations to speak of-student loans paid back, no car loans, no mortgage, and only spending money thriftely on bare essentials (rent, elec, car insurance, gas, food) and matching my employer’s roth IRA… how could I “best” invest my money? I’m in the chemical engineering field, so I have a pretty comfortable amount of income coming in, but not really sure what to do with it.
I’ve been looking at high yield interest savings accounts at ~5%; any other options? My goal at this point is to invest/save to buy a house in the future.
Thanks for the great website — I too have profited from it. I like the simple stuff and don’t comprehend too much info on the stock market. I have benefited from the credit card deals and from opening online bank accounts with good rates. ThaNKS AGAIN.
Most of your topics are things that interest me already.
I know you’ve spent a lot of time preparing to buy a home (I don’t recall whether you have already done so or not) and I am in the same boat but in earlier stages so I’d like to see a Guide for First Time Homebuyers
How much of a down payment (%)
How to search listings efficiently (online tools)
What loan types to consider
Strategies (timing, submitting an offer)
What the realtor (and other parties) won’t tell you
Pitfalls to avoid
paris hilton
I would like to know tips on purchasing a house (i.e. how to shop for better mortgage, inspection, property insurance, etc.) and how to buy foreclosure or tax sale property.
“It?s way out there, but I?d like to know why the federal reserves actions to jump start an economy work. As I understand, when the fed perceives a recession/slowdown they loosen the money supply (i.e. issue more credit = make more fiat currency).
If you make more currency it just becomes worth less. Why does this change anything? Why should repricing everything (the ultimate result) make everyone better off? Or does it just make the ?important? individuals better off at the expense of the ?unimportant? individuals, and that makes the more visible people happier?”
Don, the answer to your questions are at http://www.mises.org. You might also check the editorials at http://www.lewrockwell.com, especially articles by Gary North.
Two books, or long essays really to read by Murray Rothbard: “The Case Against the Fed” and “What Has the Government Done to Our Money”. These are in PDF for free at Mises.org site.
Actually, the Federal Reserve and central banks are why we have business cycles and why the currency loses purchasing power every year. How does Ben know what the price of money should be as opposed to a free market in money?
You might also check articles at http://www.financialsense.com.
Congressman Ron Paul also explains in laymens terms why the illegal (un-Constitutional) Federal Reserve is the problem. The Constitution, while it does not explicity say it, requires gold and silver as money.
Does anyone know if KeyBank (key.com) is a member of the FDIC because I checked http://www.key.com and I couldn’t find their FDIC trademark. I went to http://www.fdic.gov and it says they are a member. But some branches are inactive, what does that mean?
I’m sure KeyBank is FDIC insured. They are huge in the NW with many branches and actually have their name on the Seattle Supersonics basketball stadium – Key Arena.
I would like to hear more about your personal spending decisions and why you decided to purchase X. That always fascinates me about people, especially pf bloggers when they’ve also shared their net worth.
Also- how to purchase a home and sell a home at the same time. I wonder about that.
Is there any way to figure out how your portfolio is weighted in the international stocks! Morningstar does a good job of identifying domestic stocks classification and domestic bonds but there is no such thing as identifying the foreign stocks classification that I know if. Any ideas?
Thank you for all your great ideas. I look forward to your emails!
I need HELP in getting my husband on board with cutting down on spending. I work hard to keep thing tight, and he spends out from under me. He’s a keeper – but he’s a spender too!
I enjoy reading your blog everyday and thank you for the time you spend on it. My only current interests are deals, bonuses, and anyway to get free money. Also, if you have knowledge about getting out of major debt, while currently living paycheck to paycheck and needing every penny coming in, that would be great ! Thanks for the option to give input.
Love this blog and all the reader comments! I would like see thoughts on:
1. Negotiating a Raise
2. When dating, is it important to know if someone’s finances are under control (not necessarily overflowing), before you fall in love so as to avoid a conflict of goals in the future?
3. If the housing market keeps going down, but I haven’t reached my down payment savings goal, should I buy what I can afford rather than waiting to buy what I want? Should I look at a home as purely an investment, or a dream sanctuary?
4. Condo or House? From a lifestyle standpoint, a Condo is better for me (I don’t like mowing the grass or shoveling snow). But what is the long-term financial difference?
5. How much can I dip into my emergency fund for that down-payment?
Thanks to everyone!
Hello Jonathan,
I read you blog daily, keep up the good work.
Would like to see more articles on investing in Treasury instruments and muncipal bonds, to eliminate state tax.
Here’s some information for MinnesotaSaver regarding investing in foreign currency without having a minimum of $10K.
Nowadays many ETFs have been launched which let folks participate in various countries currency and also there are bullish dollar/bearish dollar etf like Powershares UUP or UDN, or a basket of 10 currencies DBV.
There are Rydex ETFs which let you invest in individual currency like FXA (Australian dollar), FXB(British pound), FXC(Canadian dollar), FXE(Euro), FXY(Japanese yen), FXM(Mexican peso), FXS(swedish krona), FXF(Swish franc).
Thanks.
I LOVE ALL THE THINGS YOU TALK ABOUT-BUT KEEP THE BANK BONUSES AND CREDIT CARD BONUSES COMING !!!!! ALSO YOU NEED MORE CASH BONUSES OF ANY KIND- COMING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BYE………..
Would like to know more about which company to use for consulting student loans. My wife just finished graduate school and has had offers for conolidating her recent loans with her college loans through Sallie Mae. I have loans out from my graduate school experience through a company called ACS. Can I combine those with my wife? How do I know wherther I am really saving money with the consolidation? I am also concerned with all the news recently that these studetn loan companies are corrupt and are recommended by universities after paying them off!
Jonathan,
I’d like to know more about how to invest in depth and suggestions on what’s good to invest in whether it’s a retirement account or taxable account. Also, you should expand your “career” category to “majors & career” or something similar to that because I think it would bring in a lot of people (students) to your blog since they can get some ideas in their mind on how it works and it would help students greatly on how to choose a major & career.
P.S. you should check out http://www.prosper.com and maybe write something about that. I think it’s a good investment and it looks like it’s a little safer than than stock market.
I would like to read about the following stuff:
1. Tax Strategies
2. Products I can buy that actually save me money
3. Student Loans
4. Rent vs. Buy a House
Jonathan – Great blog! I’ve got a burning topic: I do my father’s finances. He’s retired and in a couple years will be required to take mandatory withdrawals from his very significant nest egg. Thing is, his lifestyle is so frugal that he lives on Social Security, and probably will never need to draw down on his tax-advantaged accounts.
What’s the best way to invest his Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)? Someone advised me that he really should be converting his funds to a Roth IRA, before he has to do RMD, so the money can continue to grow tax-free. What’s the best way to do this? What other strategies are there for a retiree who doesn’t have to spend his tax-advanged accounts?
I’m in my mid-20s, after taxes my income is around $20000/year, which after you take out rent, car, insurance, etc., really doesn’t leave much for investing. I have a new job, and at this point, I’m not eligible for health insurance or 401k investment, but I’m not sure I’ll even have enough to cover those. I live pretty frugally, but still worry about how I’m going to come up with the money for those important things.
Any suggestions on saving more when you don’t make to much to begin with?
Hi Jonathan, My fiance and I are in the final stages of purchasing a home and have the option of chosing a 75/25 (15 yr HELOC)mortgage. We lack the 20% downpayment of a “traditional” mortgage and can lower our monthly payments by $100 by going the 75/25 route. My thought is take the extra $100 and apply it to the Home Equity loan and apply it towards our principle instead of using it to pay mortgage insurance. What is your opinion on this? Thank you in advance for your comments, your blog is great!
I think you should keep with what you are doing. I truly believe that your blog is the best of the best. I read your blog daily!
If you are just fishing for new material… I personally think it would be interesting to hear about world currencies. Especially the Chinese currency and what would happen if theirs does become unpeg from the U.S. currency
Keep up the great work!
I agree with moneyreason. Since this is a money blog (from the name: mymoneyblog.com) you should have a topic on how to make money, whether doing what you’re already doing/things you do everyday or good or easy ways to make some extra money.
Thanks for the blog.
I’m interested in finding a professional financial planner. I’m a young professional in the outdoor industry with a small amount of income to invest and no retirement options from my employer. I have a Roth IRA, recently own my own home, have an internet bank savings account with a good rate, paid off my student loans, and have a couple reward credit cards. I pay attention to my finances, like paying bills on time and spending within a budget but just don’t have the time to research the best options available for investing $100 to $200 a month. How would I find someone, preferably with face to face meetings, that will work for me and what should I expect from them? Is this possible and what kind of fees are involved and what are red flag bad ideas?
Paypal Money Market review – how easy/difficult/different it is compared to the online banks
How about cost of living vs Salaries in todays world?
Are we worse off than our parents?
Have saleries kept up with cost of living a “modern” lifestyle
You know you gotta have them …. multiple TV’s, satalite radio, Cable TV, Cellphones, MP3 players, housing costs, computers, CD player, DVD players,digital cameras, etc, etc.
Just seems like our parents would have had a lot more spare cash, unless salaries were lower in comparison?
I’ve heard some people say that when all the baby boomers retire, the stock market will suffer as they all start drawing down their retirement accounts. How likely is this in reality?
A while back you wrote about FNBO’s 6% savings on new money – but the deal is only valid until the end of September and unfortunately, I didn’t get in early enough. Do you think they’ll renew the same offer ? Any heads-up on safe (FDIC insured), high interest savings banks just in case FNBO pulls the plug ?
I am thinking about buying a motel. I am interested in the type of business insurance coverage that I should buy….amount, cost, where to get it, liability issues, etc.
Thus, my question is related to business insurance coverage.
I am also interested in currency ETFs and would be interested you take on them and readers comments. I am a young investor and since traveling to Europe I became more interested in currency investments especially when it was apparent to me the dollar was in for hard times. What emerging currencies are good for short term? How about long term? What would a good currency ETF be to hedge against a major fall in the dollar?
First of all, great blog, America needs more information about how to manage their money than about who bought the latest Bentley on MTV.
Now the topic I would love to see is about tax strategies and/or tips for a landlord who only owns 2 or less properties with current tenants.
I am asking because I own a condo that I have been renting out and would like some tips for strategies on how to save money on taxes from rent income.
Thank you!
Hi Jonathan,
As always, a fervent fan of your blog.
As many commentators, I’m also interested in your thoughts on where to park liquid money post FNBO’s 6% deal at the end of this month.
Also, what are your thoughts on opening a high-yielding CD account with such struggling financial institutions as Countrywide or Fremont? If one were to deposit less than 100k at say, Countrywide for 1 year (currently at 5.75% APY here in California), how risky is this move given Countrywide’s apparent volatility and given its FDIC-insured status?
Many thanks for your outstanding and insightful work!
I would like to read about self-employment, i.e. how to set up your own corp or llc in the cheapest, easiest way possible, how to avoid getting hit with self-employment taxes, good deductions, the ins and outs of self-employment retirement accounts, etc. Great blog.
Ok, I’m note sure if my post is going to get read all the way down here 😉
But, I’d like information on long-term investments… like what to do with idle cash. I know you can put it in a 5% savings account, but if you’re not planning to withdraw it for several years, a CD might be a better option. Or, a mutual fund. Or maybe even peer-to-peer lending (like prosper.com)
How do you decide how to maximize profits on long-term savings? How do you choose between a CD (safest) and a mutual fund (more risk/reward)? How do you even choose which mutual fund to invest in?
Finally, I’m interested/curious about prosper.com (I am NOT endorsing them… I have no idea about how much risk/reward is involved). Since you seem to have a knack for sniffing out good deals, I’d like to find out what your thoughts are on the idea of peer-to-peer lending.
I would like to know about roth IRA conversions from a rollover IRA.
Please write about inheritance—tax issues, money management, currency issues, foreign assets-keep/convert to US dollars- if you are inheriting from someone in foreign country..
Thankyou
don, before listening to everything that don_m has suggested I would also suggest a quick google on the debate over fiat money. There are good arguments to be made against fiat money as don_m has outlined, but there are just as good if not better arguments to made for the system we have in place.
With a gold standard there is no reasonable way to tie the size of the money supply to the actual economy. The price of gold like any commodity can be arbitrary. I do believe there are some good points to be made for a metal standard, but it shouldn’t be carried away. Hopefully the gold bugs don’t descend upon here….
Can’t say I’m a gold bug as I don’t own any (do have a bit of silver), but I think metals are good doomsday insurance, and should therefore never be more than 5% of one’s portfolio unless one is a metals speculator.
Here’s a little gold-related graph that I peek at from time to time:
http://home.earthlink.net/~intelligentbear/com-dow-au.htm
i want a blog story about taxes. or about how you and your wife got screwed on purchases or bills. or how your planning and all the steps of your home buying process (and, how about consider apartments too, to see how rents would be compared to your proposed plan of buying home or condo.) i want a blog about your mortgage shopping and all the costs, fees, options, loans, etc. i want to see updates (to your bonuses, bank deals, and balance transfer free offers). already, it’s getting to be more difficult to find those numerous 0%apy for 1year, and with no balance transfer fees. i want to see your blogs represent you and your wife! keep it up dude, and, why not blog on your income from blogging.
IRT SharpT’s W-4 request:
http://www.speedanddetail.com/?p=59
Tax Loopholes For The Average Guy – I would appreciate articles and a tutorial in the same format as the ?How to Make Money From 0% APR Balance Transfers?
By the way I owe you big time, for the 0% APR Balance transfer tutorial.
Keep up the good work!!
i’d like to know what kind of (financial) incentives there are to having kids. i know you are a dink, as am i, however, once we do have kids in 1-2 yrs, we will then be si1k. i believe there is a tax credit of some type? anything else?
As I mentioned in an email I sent you earlier, I would be grateful if you could discuss saving in foreign exchange checking/savings accounts or CDs denominated in foreign exchange. I understand it might be a risky proposition, but we live in turbulent times where the risk of extreme dollar depreciation is not an academic exercise.
The American Dollar is overvalued, America is sinking under debt of all kind and Asian nations have trillions of reserves, most of it invested in US Treasuries, but with no guarantee they will stay invested in the dollar over the long-haul. Most of these Asian nations, oil-producing countries and several sovereign wealth-funds are looking to diversify out of the dollar. China has even threatened to dump billions of dollars in the open-market.
Savers across the world have the capability of opening foreign-exchange denominated checking/savings accounts, mostly due to economic/political instability in their own country, but principally to mantain the value of their savings when their currency depreciates. Yes, the Dollar is still the safe-heaven currency of choice, but the Euro is becoming an attractive alternative.
Hence, as a savvy saver, I would like to ask you to investigate (and I can help out if you wish) the options American savers have if they wish to open a savings/checking account in Euros or Yen.
Thanks for your time,
Federico
I have been getting credit card offers with 3.9 % APR or 1.9% APR with a 3% fee. It seems profitable with (3%fee + 1% APR). can you write about this.
I love your blog. Great ideas for personal finance. As foreigner living in the US, I would like to know more about how to boost my FICO score.
Also, I would like to know about 801K. Have you heard about that?
Keep the great job.
Hello
Thanks for a very useful site. How about a review of Zions Deseret Savings Acct ?
http://www.zionsbank.com/deseret_jump.html?cid=91
First off I love your blog!
How about information on refinancing your house? How to get the best rate with no closing costs. How to get the best deal.
Thanks.
I’d like to see a post about how much car insurance liability you have and do you have umbrella insurance? If so, how much, and how much do people need (based on their net worth?)
Long term care insurance
Just saw an ad for a Charles Schwab checking account with 4.25% APY. They refund any ATM fees and offer free checks. See their homepage http://www.schwab.com/ for details. It sounds good to me – are there any pitfalls?
Btw, I just opened a Zecco account and had no trouble whatsoever, despite being a resident alien whose visa is about to run out (I can extend it, but they didn’t know that). The ACH verification was done in two days, and my subsequent money transfer too. I’m very pleased so far, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts
I love your blog!!!!! I would like info on disability insurance and what sites to go to. I have been told I can not double dip because I have insurance through work which pays 62%.
Get paid to drive, bike or run!
Im using this software on my PDA called Navizon and get paid to do it. Basically, you map all the Wifi and Cell towers around you so people that dont have GPS can navigate without it. A cool peer-to-peer concept. Anyone can map to receive credit as long as they have a GPS phone or a phone with Bluetooth that can connect to GPS. You can potentially make $100 a week and all you have to do is make sure its on while you are driving or walking around.
Check it out at http://www.navizon.com/navizon_rewards.htm
how about disability insurance. any thoughts on what to purchase depending on one’s occupation. there are lots of companies out there.
I’d like to see a post on the validity of claims that people spend more when paying with a credit card than when using cash. I just watched a clip where Dave Ramsey claimed people spend over 10% more when using plastic – which makes getting even 5% back from a credit card an unwise choice – but I feel like I would make the same purchasing decisions regardless of my method of payment. What do you think?
I am wondering what is your view on investing in precious metal like gold or silver as part of ones portfolio? And should we take physical deliverable or pay someone to safe keep for us?
On Sam’s Club Discover cash back,On
Which Credit card is going to actually give you more money back,rather it is in products miles or cash,where to find audio books.
Thanks for your reviews
Will you review the money management and web 2.0 darling MINT?
http://www.mint.com/
They say they can even save you money… love to see your take on it.
Recommendations of where to get re-orders or personal checks. Remember those things we used before free on-line bill-pay? Any suggestions of places where I can order blank checks for joint checking accounts besides through the bank or Deluxe. Thanks!
In response to my post. I found the cheapest ones through a link on bankrate at:
http://www.promisechecks.com
only $4 for a personal checkbook
i’d like to potentially see a post or discussion about how people break up their savings (and ultimately investments) percentage wise between retirement and non-retirement (ie if you’re saving 20% of your income, how much goes to each?).