As featured in The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, and more!

August 2006

Four Mental Mistakes in Investing

by Luke Landes

Jonathan Clements from the Wall Street Journal decided to don his psychologist hat and evaluate the muddled minds of investors. He discovered four mindsets that hinder people from investing intelligently. Let’s face it, amassing a decent-size nest egg isn’t exactly rocket science. All we have to do is save regularly, buy a few low-cost mutual ... Continue reading this article…

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Five Tips for Starting a Career or New Position

by Luke Landes

Jeanne Sahadi has a few tips for getting ahead in the first few years of your career. It’s also appropriate for starting a new position anywhere, new career or not. Here are the take-aways. Ask for help, then take charge. Ask for questions when necessary, but not much more. Show initiative and independence in solving ... Continue reading this article…

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Here is the Winner of The Big Money by Fred Kobrick

by Luke Landes

Earlier this week, I participated in JLP’s Question of the Day Marathon by asking about readers’ childhood experiences with money. The question received a number of great responses. To spice up the event, I added a giveaway. One lucky random commenter will receive a free copy of The Big Money: Seven Steps to Picking Great ... Continue reading this article…

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Ford Needs Gimmicks to Sell Their Cars

by Luke Landes

Ford is now offering 0 percent financing to those with bad credit. In the past 0 percent has only been available to applicants with great credit histories, but between today and September 5, Ford wants to get more people inside the dealership doors. Due to low demand for their vehicles, the company has yet another gimmick to ... Continue reading this article…

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Links for Wednesday, August 23

by Luke Landes

* How to Handle a Boss Who Takes Credit for Your Work [ComputerWorld] * Google Can Make or Break Your Company [FSB Magazine] * Your Car, the Black Box and Big Brother [CNN Money] * Savvy Negotiations for Your Future [BusinessWeek]

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Spending Philosophies: Five Tips for a Better Relationship

by Luke Landes

Money Magazine is profiling Michael and Brittany Abbate. Here is their situation. The couple used to have a total annual income of $135,000 to support them as well as their daughter, but thanks to a move from Chicago to Phoenix and a pregnancy, they now make less than half that amount. Due to the pay ... Continue reading this article…

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Even Renting is Expensive

by Luke Landes

Melinda Fulmer from MSN Real Estate is reporting on the most expensive cities for renters, based on “average rent.” Unsurprisingly, New York is at the top of the chart, followed by San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, the OC, Boston, Oakland, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Fort Lauderdale. With prices high — the average in ... Continue reading this article…

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Verizon Charging DSL Customers Unnecessary Fee

by Luke Landes

Through August 14, Verizon DSL had been charging many of its customers a fee of $1.25 or $2.83, a contribution to a fund benefiting service in lower-income and rural areas. The government charged this required fee to Verizon, and Verizon passed along the cost to the customers. After August 14, the government stopped charging Verizon ... Continue reading this article…

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Links for Tuesday, August 22

by Luke Landes

Here’s what I am reading today or saving for later: * What it Takes to Be Rich [Money Magazine] * When Homeowners are Desparate to Sell [MSN Money] * Robert Kiyosaki says the poor are wicked and cites a biblical passage. [Yahoo Finance]

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Selling My Books on eBay: Probably Not Worth It

by Luke Landes

Last night, I was considering starting an eBay campaign. I have about 100 books (or “novelizations” as they’re called) of the classic Doctor Who television program. I purchased them with allowance money more than 15 years ago over the period of a few years, and the box that contains them has followed me from apartment ... Continue reading this article…

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My Third ShareBuilder Account Gets Funded Today

by Luke Landes

For the second time, I’m taking advantage of the techniques I mentioned to invest with free money with ShareBuilder. The company does not seem to mind having multiple accounts per individual, as long as it’s within reason. From what I understand, they have sent warnings to those who have a incredible amount of accounts (thirteen ... Continue reading this article…

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Celebrities Must Pay Taxes, Too

by Luke Landes

When you finally make it big and you receive an invitation to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards (the Oscars), pay attention to the gift bags you receive. The Academy will give your name to the IRS to let them know that you’ll owe taxes on the gift [MSN Money]. Responsibility for ... Continue reading this article…

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Welcome BusinessWeek and Yahoo Finance Readers!

by Luke Landes

(Note: This post will stay at the top of the index for a while. Scroll down for recent blog entries.) I’d like to welcome any new readers coming from Karyn McCormack’s nice article in BusinessWeek Online, Best Blogs for the Young and Broke (which has been republished on Yahoo Finance). Karyn does an excellent job ... Continue reading this article…

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Links for Monday, August 21

by Luke Landes

Here are some articles I’ve found interesting or I’d like to read at some point. * The Best Retirement Plan… is Simple [CNN Money] * Trade in Your Old Savings Account [Morningstar] * Thinking Twice About Variable Universal Life [CNN Money] * Details on Amazon’s Download Video Service [Business 2.0] * Face It, the Housing ... Continue reading this article…

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More Carnivals and Free Stuff

by Luke Landes

In addition to the Carnival of Personal Finance which was posted early this morning, Blueprint for Financial Prosperity is hosting the Carnival of Investing and the Carnival of Debt Reduction, while the Carnival of Business is up at MyMoneyForest. Don’t forget to answer today’s Question of the Day and enter for the chance of winning ... Continue reading this article…

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Tracking My Cash Spending

by Luke Landes

Somehow, I haven’t been diligent enough in tracking my cash spending. According to my Quicken software, my cash account balance is about $550. That means I should have $550 in my wallet and coin jar. That is obviously not the case. My lowest cash balance was $50 in May 2005. Since then, the recorded balance ... Continue reading this article…

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Question of the Day #15

by Luke Landes

I am participating in JLP’s Question of the Day Marathon, and today, it’s my turn to ask the question. Also, I have a free copy of The Big Money by Fred Kobrick to give away to one random commenter if at least 50 unique individuals (not including trackbacks) post their responses to this question below: ... Continue reading this article…

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The Carnival of Personal Finance is Up!

by Luke Landes

The Carnival of Personal Finance has been posted at the MoneyBlogNetwork Headquarters. Let’s just say someone’s creative juices were flowing… in a peculiar AABB pattern. Do not be alarmed. That sound isn’t thunder, These posts were compiled by our Bargain Hunter. A lot of hard work went into the Carney, Please visit the bloggers without ... Continue reading this article…

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CitiBank Discontinuing Dividend Platinum Select Cash Back Rewards Credit Card

by Luke Landes

Editor’s Note:  These limited-time offers have expired.  This rumor has been making the rounds: CitiBank is discontinuing your favorite cash-back rewards credit card and mine, the Citi Dividend Platinum Select. Hopefully, I’ll max out the year’s $300 limit before switching to a new cash-back rewards card. The replacement program will include 2 percent cash back on ... Continue reading this article…

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Gardening in New Jersey: Invasion of the Bunnies

by Luke Landes

If you plant a vegetable garden and you live in New Jersey, this news may concern you. Conditions are apparently perfect (a mild winter and enough spring rain to encourage a lot of vegetable growth) for an increased number of baby bunnies (link free for next 14 days only) this season. There are an average ... Continue reading this article…

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