Thu 31 Jan 2008
Just in case you missed them the first time around…
Didn’t Spend All Your ‘07 FSA? There May Be Hope Yet!
Tue 15 Jan 2008
Why I Pay A CPA To Prepare My Taxes
Thu 17 Jan 2008
The 3 “T’s” of Successful Economic Stimulus
Fri 25 Jan 2008
R-Word Index: In Case Of Recession, Blame The Media?
Fri 18 Jan 2008
Funny Money Quotes
Sun 13 Jan 2008
Wed 30 Jan 2008
The Consumerist, using data culled from A Report Card on the Nation: Survey of the States by the National Council on Economic Education, has created a handy map showing high school personal finance graduation requirements by state.
The graphic provides an at-a-glance evaluation of American personal finance graduation high school requirements and boy does it look grim. The states that require a personal finance class in order to graduate are heavily out-numbered. Glad to see my home state requires it and I’m also glad to see the state I’m moving to this year requires it.
Don’t like what you see for your state? Look up your state’s governor’s e-mail address and e-mail the map to him or her. While you’re at it, send it to your state rep and state senator as well!
WELL DONE, CONSUMERIST!
Tue 29 Jan 2008
Interview from the Today show where they go over web sites that can help you find things like free books, furniture, samples, and more:
I love free stuff!
Tue 29 Jan 2008
Fortune magazine’s 2008 100 Best Companies to Work For has all the details on America’s top 100 employers.
Here’s a sample:
Best Compensation
1. Bingham McCutchen, Average annual pay $211,017
2. Arnold & Porter, Average annual pay $194,575
3. Alston & Bird, Average annual pay $190,135
4. Shared Technologies, Average annual pay $187,137
5. Nixon Peabody, Average annual pay $178,016
Best Health Care Benefits
* Qualcomm
* Boston Consulting Group
* Nugget Markets
* Umpqua Banks
* Whole Foods Market
Best Work-Life Balance
1. Edward Jones
2. Recreational Equipment
3. Shared Technologies
4. Johnson Financial Group
5. David Weekley Homes
Make sure you check out the unusual perks some companies are offering employees!
Tue 29 Jan 2008
Has your bank’s 5.15% interest rate suddenly dropped to 4.4% and you’re thinking of moving it to a bank that’s advetising a higher rate?
%?%?%?%?%?%?%?%?
Banks, especially online banks, have gotten very competitve with interest rates on savings and money market accounts. The recent rate cuts by the Fed will most likely further fuel the flucuating rates banks are offering. But is it worth it for you to move your account? Will chasing the rate pay-off? You need to try this:
THE ULTIMATE INTEREST RATE CHASER CALCULATOR
It”ll help you easily assess the advantage of moving your account. While you’re there, you might also want to check out their APY to APR calculator.
Fri 25 Jan 2008
According to the Tax Policy Center there are three factors needed in order for an attempt at fiscal stimulus to succeed. These are known as the “3 T’s”:
TIMELY
“Any stimulus should take effect near the time when the economy weakens. Stimulus that becomes effective much later may have little benefit and can be counterproductive.”
A huge weakness for the President’s rebate plan. The IRS couldn’t even begin processing it til late April and checks might not start going out until July. By July, we will likely either be in a recession, on our way out of a recession, or we will have averted a recession. In all three scenarios, the stimulus will be too late.
TARGETED
“To have the greatest likelihood of success, a fiscal stimulus should go principally to those who will boost the economy most quickly and strongly. At the same time, it should also be targeted to people affected most adversely by the downturn. Money delivered into the hands of low-income workers who have lost jobs, for example, will go to those both most in need and most likely to spend it.”
While the plan does do a little better on this front, the reality is households pulling in more than $100k will end up saving their rebate, not spending it.
TEMPORARY
“In addition to a prompt start, any stimulus should have a scheduled termination.”
The only “T” the President’s plan nails %100. The rebate is a one off deal.
While a it seems the President and Congress have struck a deal on an economic stimulus package, to the tune of $150 billion, it ain’t a done deal until the legislation gets signed. And as we all know, a lot can change between now and then.
While I admittedly hate taxes and love the idea of getting some of my money back, I can’t help but question the logic of $150 billion in deficit spending to rescue the economy of a nation already drowning in debt, especially when that stimulus effort doesn’t even meet the basic criteria needed for success .
Thu 24 Jan 2008
Most Americans are incredibly ignorant about our cousins to the North.
Its not that we don’t care about Canada, its just that they’re so quiet and well-behaved, so sometimes we forget that they’re there.
This video about the history of Canadian money cracked me up because it pokes fun at the Canadians and at our ignorance about Canada.