For those that don’t know about Hulu.com yet, here is the inside scoop. Hulu offers TV shows, movies, and clips direct through the internet to your computer screen for free. It was founded by NBC but is managed independently and the content is kept free through tactful advertising. Content: Hulu brings together a large selection of videos from more than 100 content providers, including FOX, NBC Universal, MGM, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros. and more. Users can choose from more than 900 current primetime TV hits such as The Simpsons, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Office the [...]
Read MoreDecember 2008
What’s Your Why? The Importance Of Finding Meaning In Your Life – @ Get Rich Slowly via Her Every Penny Counts – I couldn’t agree more. Passion and meaning are the things that carry us, motivate us, and bring true success. Here is a related THR post on goals vs. passion from a while back. The Mythical Thin Wallet @ Blueprint for Financial Prosperity – I can be a messy walleter, but I carry it in the ‘man bag’. I do like the thought of giving stuff a good home outside of your wallet and planning rather than trying to [...]
Read MoreFröhliche Weihnachten Joyeux Noel Feliz Navidad Mele Kalikimaka These are the ways I know how to say Merry Christmas (My wife threw in the French one). But lets not forget: Happy Hanukkah Happy Kwanzaa Happy Boxing Day Happy Holidays! Whatever you are celebrating this time of year, I hope you can make it special. In my last post I mentioned that I’m not looking forward to the BIG Christmas Dinner with my extended family. Well, I need to get over myself. This past weekend was spent with my wife’s parents. They originally were only going to make it a day trip, but [...]
Read MoreDid you have a merry Christmas? What, it’s not Christmas yet? Whoops my bad. You see we’ve already been given so much that I got confused for a moment. In the course of a week we received a new couch ( a hand me down) and some insulated curtains. The curtains were an early Christmas present from my wife’s parents and I have to say they are one of the best gifts we’ve ever received. Not only are they somewhat stylish (dark purple) but they do an excellent job of keeping the drafts to a minimum. Since we’ve put them [...]
Read MoreSerenity Prayer For Finances @ Frugal Dad Going from Debt to Wealth- A Closer Look at Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps Plan @ Thing Your Way To Wealth Why Investing in Stocks This Year Was Not a Financial Mistake @ Money Ning Save More Money: 10 Ways To Fill Your Emergency Fund Fast @ Stumble Forward Is it wrong to nickel and dime? @ Living Almost Large Giveaways Christmas giveaways! Two iPods and more! @ ChristianPF 2 Years of Million Dollar Journey(Camera, $100 gift cards, and more) @ Million Dollar Journey $50 Dollar Gift Card Giveaway Bonanza @ Bible Money [...]
Read MoreHarsh? I don’t think so. An estimated $97 billion dollars were spent on gift cards in 2007 and companies were able to keep almost $8 billion dollars in breakage, fees or unused money. It is one of the first things they teach you when opening a business, sell gift cards. Any unused money is pure profit and even if they use it they are forced to use you service or store. Brilliant business, but not good personal finance. The real brilliance in the gift card business came when they were able to convince us that the gift of cash was [...]
Read MoreJust as I was praising ING for my great financial system, they go and drop the interest rate on the checking account on December 17 2008. Here is the official information : $0-49,999.99 earns a 0.50% APY $50,000.00-$99,999.99 earns a 2.85% APY $100,000.00 or more earns a 3.05% APY Rates are variable and effective 12/17/08 The savings rate has remain at 2.75% for now. The sad part is that when I joined the rate was well over 2%. I don’t think it was a teaser rate, but my guess is that all the features of the account are costing more [...]
Read MoreHere are a 5 ways that I have saved money over the last few Christmas seasons : Skip the Gifts – Don’t try and buy significance and meaning, it doesn’t come from gifts. Talk to family and friends and see who is open to cutting back on gifts amounts or even take the plunge and see if they are willing to skip gifts altogether. I would recommend trying to replace the gifts with something significant that deepens your relationships: a heartfelt card, special dinner or get together, a family day. Here is my Christmas gift journey from the last few [...]
Read MoreI’m sure by now a lot of you have heard about the couple who for a month ate on only $1 a day. If you haven’t, check out their blog. I guess they have some new projects in the works for 2009 and a book will follow. Talk about a strict budget. I say good for them. As you long time readers know, I too am trying to shrink down my family’s food budget. Nothing as extreme as $1/day, but when you break down the numbers, we’re not too far off. Our current budget is $4.25/day. [$425 grocery + $75 dinning [...]
Read MoreHow old are you financially? @ Almost Frugal – I would put my financial age in my mid to late 30′s on that scale. Dispensing Money Advice (or not) to “Help Resistant” Family and Friends @ Tough Money Love Credit Card Companies Care Where You Make Purchases @ Christian PF – This doesn’t surprise me in the least with the history of the credit industry. It would be interesting to see all of the correlation data that they have found on which types of purchases signal a credit risk. Household Uses For Vinegar, The Ultimate Frugal Solution @ Frugal Dad [...]
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