Here is another strike against credit cards. Not only do they often cause us to spend more, but they make merchants charge more to cover the credit card processing fees are usually 2-3%. The best cash back credit card that I use can end up costing merchants even more because credit companies pass an extra fees to cover the rewards which then gets passed right back on to the consumer. Americans spend an estimated $50,000,000,000(500 billion) in processing fees, almost the cost of one stimulus or bailout package. Here is the scoop from True Cost of Credit : Rewards cards [...]
Read MoreJanuary 2009
As I mentioned in my About Page, “Your Money or Your Life?” is my favorite personal finance book that I’ve read. But this post isn’t about the book. This is about a decision that my wife made today. As you long time readers know, I’m going back to school, so we’ve been depending on my wife’s wedding photography business to bring in the bacon around here for the past 6 months or so. And while we’ve had to tighten our belt to make it work, so far it has been just fine. Today I took a message for my wife [...]
Read MoreA Happy Rock reader shared this story with me and I loved the images so much and thought the readers would too. ———————————— The scene was a ‘girls night out’ were the girls of the family went out to run errands and grab a bite to eat. This exchange took place : Mom asked her daughter(11 years old) how she and her friends were getting along. The daughter said that everything was fine, but sometimes she wished she had a cell phone as a lot of her friends got one or an updated one for Christmas. Nobody in the family [...]
Read MoreFrugal People Focus Too Much On Outgo @ Frugal Dad – Both are important, but income is often overlooked since it usually takes more energy. A Good Way To Fund Mortgage Lending @ Wisebread – Very nice accountability in this system, something the US system was severely lacking with the onset of mortgage backed securities where investors carried all of the risk that lenders need to carry. Do You Ever Plan To Really Retire? @ Bible Money Matters – I don’t! How To Become A Location Independent Family @ BripBlap How To Show Love Without Buying Stuff @ Almost Frugal [...]
Read MoreI used to think “generic” was a derogatory term. It probably stems from a childhood visit from my snobbish cousin who called everything I had or liked “generic” and everything he had or liked “special.” Kids can be cruel. But that was a long time ago. I’d like to think I moved on as soon as I hit adulthood, but I didn’t. All during college I held on to my trusty name brands. Perhaps buying them was like having a little piece of home in my dorm/apartment. Or maybe I was just a sucker for the clever marketing. Who [...]
Read MoreI knew this was coming. This summer when I lost my job, my former employer gave me a severance package that included paying my family’s health insurance premiums for the rest of the year. Our current health insurance premium for our family of four is $1192.30 paid quarterly ($664.10 every month). I knew this was coming. It was due to this looming expense that I had doubts about whether or not going back to school was the best idea for me. Back then there was an opening for a city garbageman. I grabbed the application but instead of filling it [...]
Read MoreSet a good example of extravagance for all the world to see, that is what Laura Bush did as one of her final acts as First Lady. She unveiled the White House china that most 2 term first ladies are privileged to design. It cost $485,000! “The White House worried that general wear and tear had taken a toll on its fragile China collections and Perino says the Bushes took some time to decide on a new design.” I am sure that the 8 year old china the Hilary Clinton designed in 2000 that cost $250,000 must have been falling [...]
Read More20 Things That Rock About Being Debt Free @ No Credit Needed – I love reasons to get out of debt list. 10 Reasons To Be Debt Free @ Debt Free Destiny The Pointless Pursuit Of More, When Is Enough Enough? @ Simple Mom It’s Time To Get Hardcore Frugal @ Prime Time Money Jumpstart Your Emergency Fund and Debt Reduction With A Part Time Job @ Green Panda Treehouse – Some great job ideas! Preparing For Your Job Interview @ Silicon Valley Blogger This Year Resolve To Forgive @ The Saver Queen – You have to look forward not [...]
Read MoreI’ve had to shovel snow at least once a day for the past 6 days. I’m sick of it! I live on a corner lot so that means I have two long sections of sidewalk to shovel within 24 hours after it snows. I also have a longish driveway which adds to the misery. Throw in our walkways to and from the house and it takes me about an hour to get done. Longer when I have to bust up drifts after a blizzard. Did I mention this is all done in below zero temps!?!? Every time after I get [...]
Read MoreThis is a guest post from Tisha Tolar is a freelance writer providing content for CreditCardAssist.com, where she regularly writes about credit cards, rewards programs and general consumer finance issues. ****** As the economy remains rocky and the credit card industry works through the crunch, it is important for consumers to take heed and pay more attention to what they are getting in the mail. Per law, credit card companies can change the terms of their issued credit cards provided they send notice 15 days prior to alert customers of the impending changes. Due to the credit crisis, many credit [...]
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