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September 2007

MoneyBlogNetwork Inducts Two New Members

by Luke Landes

The MoneyBlogNetwork was formed in January 2006 to bring together some of the top blogs in the personal finance niche, and today the network is happy to report some additions. No Credit Needed and Get Rich Slowly are joining the six prior members of the network. I respect NCN, J.D., and their blogs immensely and ... Continue reading this article…

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A Winning Night With Poker

by Luke Landes

Once in a while, my friends get together to play Texas Hold ‘Em. It’s not the typical poker situation that you might see in movies. There are no smoke-filled rooms, not a lot of alcohol, and the buy-in for tournament-style play is only $5. Due to some luck, because I certainly don’t have the fine-honed ... Continue reading this article…

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5 Romantic Outdoor Day Date Ideas Under $30

by Sasha

Related: Men Paying for Dinner: Is It More Romantic?. School’s back in session, work’s ramping up again, and it’s almost time to let go of summer and fully embrace fall. But that shouldn’t mean your romantic life falls by the wayside. From what I’m seeing in the weather reports, it’s supposed to be a nice ... Continue reading this article…

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Weekly Blog Roundup, Dr. Zoidberg Edition

by Luke Landes

Dr. Zoidberg on investing: “Once again, the conservative, sandwich-heavy portfolio pays off for the hungry investor.” Here are some articles from around the blogosphere I enjoyed this past week. Dylan Ross, a guest at Five Cent Nickel, writes about the importance of risk in investing. Free Money Finance warns us not to quit our day ... Continue reading this article…

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10 Tips for Buying a Residential Rental Property, Part 5: Simplicity, Accessibility, Replaceability

by Sasha

So you’ve found a property at the right price, in the right neighborhood, and in compliance with local rental and parking regulations. But what about the structure of the building itself, its surrounding property? My next tip addresses just that. 5. Look for simple construction, with systems accessible and materials simple to replace. That Victorian ... Continue reading this article…

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Apple Reduces Price of iPhone: Anyone Buying?

by Luke Landes

Apple announced they’re reducing their price on the iPhone. Even at the lower price, I’m still not interested. I’m satisfied with my phone and my Verizon Wireless service. If I wanted to use the iPhone, I would have to switch carriers. While I’m no longer in contract and wouldn’t be subject to a termination fee, ... Continue reading this article…

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Opening a Business Checking Account

by Luke Landes

A few weeks ago, I had some free time on a Saturday and decided to take care of a chore I’ve been procrastinating for several months. I’m slowly in the process of formalizing the blogging that I do as an official business. Every few months or so, I take another step that brings me closer ... Continue reading this article…

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Guide to American Express Business Credit Cards

by Luke Landes

American Express originally issued only “charge cards,” which required users to pay back their entire balance every month. This is my preferred method — in fact, my only method — of dealing with revolving credit with an interest rate. These days, American Express also offers typical credit cards, complete with annual fees, interest on carried-over ... Continue reading this article…

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Toys for Lunch

by Sasha

I have a confession to make. My name is Sasha, and I’ve spent the last five years completely opposed to bringing my lunch to work. Diametrically opposed, in fact. I’d shudder when my favorite frugal bloggers brought it up, shifting to the next topic as quickly as I could. “Yes,” I’d think to myself, “I ... Continue reading this article…

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Ben Stein’s Tips for New College Students

by Luke Landes

College classes have already begun around the country, and it’s not too late to start listening to Ben Stein. He has some great advice for those matriculating. His son is just starting college, so I would imagine Ben has been giving this topic a lot of thought lately. Make friends with your teachers. While seeing ... Continue reading this article…

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Accidental Landlords

by Sasha

As you might have noticed from my rental articles to date, I believe that landlording is a serious responsibility, not to be undertaken lightly. You can realize serious benefits from a rental property, but also serious repercussions. Because of this, I read today’s CNN Money article on so-called “accidental landlords” with great interest. In the ... Continue reading this article…

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Who is More Likely to Become a CEO

by Luke Landes

There have been various studies as scientists and other curious individuals try to determine what aspects of a human make he or she more likely to become the chief executive of a company. There is a wide range of companies in the world, with CEOs to match. When you look at these studies — scientific ... Continue reading this article…

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The Carnival is Up and Looking for Hosts!

by Luke Landes

Advanced Personal Finance has posted the latest Carnival of Personal Finance today. Here are some of the interesting articles this week: * Is it Cheaper to Be a Nudist? * One of the Best Things I Ever Did: Quitting My Job * 4 Ways to Win By Quitting The Carnival of Personal Finance is looking ... Continue reading this article…

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When to Sell Your Car

by Luke Landes

Yesterday, I mentioned you can save $31,000 over 10 years by keeping your car rather than selling it with your eyes on the “new hotness.” But there are certain times you just shouldn’t hang on to “old and busted.” Consumer Reports has some suggestions for when you should say goodbye. It needs repairs costing more ... Continue reading this article…

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10 Tips for Buying a Residential Rental Property, Part 4: Ensure Proper Parking is Available

by Sasha

In my last entry in this series, I discussed local rental regulations, “invisible” factors which can have a huge impact on your rental experience. One type of regulation which can particularly impactful concerns parking. 4. Ensure proper parking is available. In one local township, parking requirements for rental and residential real estate differ substantially. While ... Continue reading this article…

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Save $31,000 Over 10 Years

by Luke Landes

Consumer Reports says if you keep your car for ten years after the first five years, rather than buying a new car like most car owners, you will save $31,000. There are a few assumptions in the report to create this calculation. The car in question is a Honda Civic EX, and it is assumed ... Continue reading this article…

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Personal Income Statement, August 2007 (Net Income: $5,868)

by Luke Landes

This is the second article in my monthly financial reporting; in order to get a full picture of how I fared in August, take a look at my balance sheet posted last night in addition to this article. A vacation, a living room upgrade, and a new bedroom furniture set provided a negative force on ... Continue reading this article…

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Personal Balance Sheet, August 2007 ($107,488, +6.3%)

by Luke Landes

As regular readers know, at the beginning of every month, I check in with some financial reporting. This helps keep me focused on making better decisions throughout the month concerning use and abuse of my money. Keeping track of my finances was what originally started me on the path not necessarily to getting “rich,” but ... Continue reading this article…

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Weekly Blog Round-Up, High Definition Edition

by Luke Landes

If you’re bored on this long Labor Day weekend, why not read some interesting money-related articles? Here are some items of interest from the past week around the blogosphere, including the members of the MoneyBlogNetwork. Mighty Bargain Hunter hosted the Carnival of Debt Reduction, highlighting another collection of recent articles. Free Money Finance looks for ... Continue reading this article…

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Monthly Reminder: Susbscribe to Consumerism Commentary

by Luke Landes

By subscribing to our RSS feed, you’ll always be aware of new content here. If you use Google Reader for reading news and blogs like I do, you can easily subscribe using this special link. Another option is to get the latest blog entries in your email inbox. It’s all about convenience. The RSS feeds ... Continue reading this article…

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