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Weekending Financial Scorecard

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each week I post the weekending scorecard of data for 8 financial markets and 10 economic indicators. As of 4/26/2013: The week stocks, crude oil futures, and gold came up a little, while interest rates slid [...]

The Insanity of Long-Term Car Loans

It has been reported that 7 and 8 year car loans are becoming the norm. This isn’t surprising, when you consider that the cost for a new mid-size family car, mini-van, hybrid, or small SUV can easily be $25,000, and it is not uncommon that if nice features are added they can easily cost $30,000 – [...]

Weekly Financial Data Report

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each week I post the weekending scorecard of data for 8 financial markets and 10 economic indicators. As of 4/19/2013: The week was bumpy in stocks, crude oil futures came down quite a bit, as did gold and [...]

Weekending Financial Scorecard, 4/12/13

I took a few days off, so I am late in posting last Friday’s weekending results. Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each Friday I post the weekending scorecard of data for 8 financial markets and 10 economic indicators. As of [...]

Weekending Financial Scorecard, 4/5/13

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each Friday I post the weekending scorecard of data for 8 financial markets and 10 economic indicators. As of 4/5/2013: FINANCIALS: We are seeing some settling down in stocks, crude oil and interest [...]

Weekending Financial Scorecard, 3/29/13

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each Friday I post the weekending scorecard of data for 8 financial markets and 10 economic indicators. As of 3/29/2013: FINANCIALS: The US stock market continues to do well, while other indicators show early [...]

How to Save on Razor Blades

Men’s razor blades can be very expensive, easily costing $15 to $35 for a package of replacement cartridge blades- however I may have found a couple of cheaper solutions: one is an online service called Dollar Shave Club (DSC). I cringe every time a single item at the grocery store costs $15 or [...]

Weekending Financial Scorecard, 3/22/13

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each Friday evening I post the weekending scorecard of data for 8 financial markets and 10 economic indicators. As of 3/22/2013: FINANCIALS: The US stock market continues to do well, while other indicators [...]

Weekend Financial Scorecard 3/15/13

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each Friday evening I post the weekending scorecard of data for 8 financial markets and 10 economic indicators. As of 3/15/2013: FINANCIALS: The US stock market continues to do well, while other indicators [...]

Extended Warrantees and Buyer Protection Plans

Is buying extended warranties a good idea? Sometimes they are called buyer protection plans too. The general consensus from almost all financial planners, writers and personal finance personalities like Dave Ramsey and Susan Orman is that they are a rip-off. Most products come with some sort of [...]

Hedonic Adaptation

Hedonism isn’t a word we use very often. If loosely defined it means happiness achieved through feeling pleasure. Many psychologists say that one of the greatest barriers to happiness is ‘hedonic adaptation.’ When you are getting ready to buy something, you anticipate the pleasure it will bring. [...]

Weekending Financial Scorecard 3/8/13

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each Friday evening I post the weekending scorecard of data for 8 financial markets and 10 economic indicators. As of 3/8/2013: FINANCIALS: The Dow finished another week above 14,000, hitting new record [...]

The Whys and Hows of Budgeting

In this article I will answer these important cash flow planning questions: Why don’t people budget? Why should people want to budget? What will happen if they do? How to get started easily? Why don’t people budget? It is because you (don’t fear, we have tips below to help you overcome your [...]

How To Opt Out of Credit Card Offers

Does your mail box fill up with offers from credit card companies? Sometimes they will mail you checks and pre-approved credit cards. It is annoying, and its also a waste of time to go through them. You must also shred them to be sure no one steals your identity. Those of you with an ecology [...]

March Money Madness, Who Wins?

And you thought March Madness was only about basketball! March is a mad month for money, particularly this March, because the month is full of extra money but also of extra challenges–more than most months. Jon White tweeted last week about #2 below and it got me thinking. Thank you, Jon, [...]

Gullible Consumers Buying Bad Products

Have you ever bought a product but later discovered it was a piece of junk? Trevor Moore is a comedian that demonstrates how gullible some consumers are. He hocks awful products that he creates that don’t work. His brand Winnovations comes up with all kinds of ridiculous products that people [...]

Have a Great Idea for New Product? Check Out Quirky.com

While watching the Tonight Show the other evening, Jay Leno had a guest on from Quirky.com, a new really cool social invention website to help bring ideas for inventions to fruition. They highlighted some great products that people recently invented. There are all sorts of ways to make additional [...]

Weekending Financial Scorecard, 2/22/13

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each Friday evening I post the data of 8 financial market’s, and 10 economic indicator’s weekending scorecard. As of 2/22/2013: FINANCIALS: The Dow finished the week above 14,000, S&P stayed above 1500 but it [...]

How to Pick a College Major

Are you a youth and planning to go to college? Maybe you are an adult and want to go in a totally different direction in your career. Then there are those that want to stay in the same industry but specialize in a particular area of study. Whichever group you are in, you need to go back to school, [...]

Year End Benchmark Investment Returns

A couple of times per year I publish this benchmark return report for investment portfolios. This is useful for those who use a buy and hold approach to holding their investments, in various common investment allocations of stocks and bonds. I provide this so that you can compare your investment [...]

What To Do If Facing a Possible Foreclosure

The recession officially started December 2007 and ended June of 2009, however many homeowners struggled to stay current on their mortgage before that time, and still do now. Those in the financial industry have been learning how to help people either avoid or survive foreclosure of their home, [...]

Work Tax Deductions, Job Search Deductions and Job Search Help

You are eligible get a tax deduction for some unreimbursed expenses from work, and for those that had expenses looking for work or relocating. While on the latter subject, first I wanted to provide some ideas for those looking for work. If you are unemployed or underemployed and are looking for [...]

Most Popular MoneyEducate Personal Finance Articles of 2012

2012 was the first full year I have been consistently blogging at MoneyEducate, and the following articles were the some of the most popular ones of last year. This is a pretty good mix of articles about saving money and general financial planning topics. Hyundai and Kia overstated gas [...]

Weekending Financial Scorecard 1/18/13

Here’s the most important financial data that you need to know to be fairly well informed. Each Friday evening I post the data of 8 financial market’s, and 10 economic indicator’s weekending scorecard. As of 1/18/2013: FINANCIALS: The stock market increased a bit, home mortgage interest rates [...]

Car Power Plants Reviewed: Electric, Hybrid, Gasoline and Others

Have you thought about buying an all-electric vehicle, or hybrid with the costs of gasoline being so high. Maybe you are ecologically minded, and think electric power is better for the environment. Before you run out and buy an alternative fuel car, I thought it would be good to cover the [...]

Unemployment Numbers Update, December

Unemployment, New Jobs, and Jobless Claims Statistics:* Monthly change in non-farm payrolls – Flat: 155,000 new jobs were added in December, compared to 146,000 added in November, and 171,000 in October. Unemployment – Flat: December’s rate of 7.8 matched the revised November rate of 7.8% [...]

The Fiscal Cliff Deal, Winners and Losers & What It Means To Your Personal Finances

The showdown in Washington over Federal taxes and spending ended with an agreement signed into law this week. Here are the losers and winners that we can see at this point. Further analysis is forthcoming of H.R.8 – American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, and will be reported to you later this [...]