Several weeks ago, I mentioned I would be seeking a staff writer to add to the Consumerism Commentary team, to add one additional article each week. After a good number of applications, I narrowed the field to six finalists. Over the next two weeks, each of these finalists will be presenting two guest articles for Consumerism Commentary readers.

At the end of the process, I will welcome feedback from readers about the writers. The decision will not be based on your votes, but I will take any feedback to heart. The goal is to find a writer to add a fresh voice to Consumerism Commentary in addition, and as a complement, to the articles by myself and by Smithee.

Winners of Quicken Deluxe 2010

Last month, I reviewed Quicken Home & Business 2010 and offered a copy of Quicken Deluxe 2010 to two lucky readers. The two commenters chosen randomly to win, Javier and Jeremiah, were contacted earlier. I should have more giveaways to offer fairly soon.

Best of Consumerism Commentary, October 2009

• Seven Zen Principles to Guide Your Money and Your Life
• Net Neutrality Simplified
• Investor Psychology: Why We Fail to make Good Financial Decisions
• New Graduates Facing Unemployment May Never Reach Income Potential
• How to Create Your Own Extended Warranty
• Always Try Bargaining: Here’s How it Worked for Me
• Fulfilling a Dream for $8 an Hour
• Overkill at the United States Mint With New Coin Designs
• How to Prepare for the Demise of the Dollar
• The Pareto Principle: When to Apply, When to Ignore
• Is it Possible to Save Too Much Money?

We also had a number of great guests on the Consumerism Commentary Podcast. In October, we discussed unconventional paths to becoming a millionaire with the Millionaire Mommy Next Door, financial advisers with Neal Frankle, doing-it-yourself, beekeeping, and the Credit.com Credit Report Card with Mark Frauenfelder, and frugal travel and the war against debt with Adam Baker.

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The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

New Staff Writer, Quicken 2010 Winners, and Best of October

Last Thursday, Jeff offered his final article for Consumerism Commentary, Learning and Saving. Jeff was a solid contributor, and I’m sorry to report that Jeff won’t be contributing regularly due to his other obligations. I am now looking to add an additional author to the Consumerism Commentary team which currently includes myself, Smithee, and Tom.

One thing I like about having a small group of regular contributors to Consumerism Commentary is that they bring different perspectives, opinions, and interpretations of personal finance to the readers. I have already solicited a number of writers interested in contributing a weekly article to Consumerism Commentary, but I am opening the invitation to everyone.

This is an opportunity for a writer to reach 10,000 or so subscribers and several hundred thousand visitors each month and earn some cash at the same time. I am currently in the process of collecting names of those people who are interested, and within a few days I will send emails to all explaining in detail my vision.

If you are interested, contact me and introduce yourself!

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Seeking Staff Writer for Consumerism Commentary

Thank you for reading Consumerism Commentary. This website continues to be a success, thanks to visitors who participate in discussions, ask questions, and share stories.

Join the community

• Subscribe to the RSS feed
• Add Consumerism Commentary to Google’s home page or Google Reader
• Free daily digest of new Consumerism Commentary articles via email
• Free somewhat-weekly newsletter with exclusive content and giveaways
• Follow Consumerism Commentary on Twitter by following @flexo and @ConsumerismComm
• Become a fan of Consumerism Commentary on Facebook

Best of Consumerism Commentary, September 2009

• The Little Things and the Big Things: Which are More Important?
• People Will Judge You Based on Your Name
• A Report Card for Financial Rules of Thumb
• Overdraft Fees: Some Banks Let You Opt Out (by Smithee)
• Earning What You Have: The Mindset I Hope I Never Lose (by Smithee)
• Ten Things I Will Teach My Children About Money
• Credit Report Cards: Credit.com Vs. Credit Karma

We also had a number of excellent guests on the Consumerism Commentary Podcast in September. We discussed budgeting with the creators of You Need a Budget and PocketSmith, learned how to survive on a teacher’s salary, discovered the details about Mint.com’s acquisition by Intuit including one surprise that was not mentioned in the media earlier, and discussed negotiating and bargaining with presidential adviser Herb Cohen.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Best of Consumerism Commentary, September 2009

As I find time, I write articles for websites other than Consumerism Commentary. This will always be my home for writing about money, but I’ll take whatever opportunity I can to share my thoughts online with more readers.

Here are a few of the recent articles I’ve published around the internet. Please read these and participate by commenting if you are so inclined.

Combining Money With Your Honey. Can a couple where both participants have different attitudes towards money and different incomes survive in a relationship with combined finances? The title of this article doesn’t sound like me — I think my original title was, “How People With Differing Attitudes can Combine Finances.” I’m pretty sure the new title is an improvement.

Be the Big Saver on Campus. This article is a guide for first-year college students, known vernacularly as freshmen or frosh. I don’t remember thinking about money at all when I first entered college, but if I had I probably would have been in a better situation when I graduated.

Is the Frugal Life Here to Stay? I keep hearing about the “New Frugality” in the media, and I often receive questions about whether those growing up post-Great Recession will have adopted an entirely new lifestyle that will last until they die, like those who grew up in the Great Depression. I certainly have an answer for that question.

These are only the most recent articles. You can look forward to more of these in the future.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Money With Your Honey, Tips for Freshmen, and the Frugal Life

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All content on Consumerism Commentary is free. One of the best methods of reading this free content and staying up-to-date with the latest articles and posts is through RSS subscription. By subscribing to the Consumerism Commentary RSS feed with feed-reading software such as Google Reader or aggregators such as My Yahoo, you’ll always be aware of new content here.

If you prefer to have daily updates emailed directly to you, simply enter your address below.

Your email address will be used for nothing other than updates generated by Consumerism Commentary. I won’t sell your email address to any third party and I won’t send you any junk mail.

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Receive the exclusive Consumerism Commentary newsletter for free via email each week or two with behind-the-scenes information about Consumerism Commentary, exclusive giveaways, and additional content. The newsletter is free and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Best of Consumerism Commentary, August 2009

Here are some of the most popular articles, based on total visitors, published on Consumerism Commentary in August. If you missed them this past month, take a look.

1. Receiving the First Time Homebuyer Credit Takes About Six Weeks
2. My Grandmothers and the Cost of a Funeral
3. Earn $500 By Referring Friends and Readers to ING Direct
4. What’s Important to You in Healthcare Reform? (by Smithee)
5. Personal Balance Sheet, Net Worth, Income, and Expenses, July 2009
6. Using Debit Cards as Credit Cards
7. Roth IRA Conversion
8. Good News for Mac Users: Quicken for Mac 2010 Coming Soon
9. Is Buying a Foreclosed Property Realistic? (by Jeff)
10. Cash for Clunkers: The Revenge (by Smithee)

Social media

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on Twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Best of Consumerism Commentary, August 2009

Tune into the Personal Finance Hour radio show, tonight at 6:00 PM ET (3:00 PM PT) for a chance to hear me speak with Jim Wang from Bargaineering and J.D. Roth from Get Rich Slowly. We plan to discuss the trials and tribulations of shifting from an employee to an entrepreneur. Please listen in, and if you have questions, you can call into the show.

You can listen by calling 347-327-9144 at the beginning of the interview. You can also listen by visiting the Personal Finance Hour on Blog Talk Radio and chat online with other listeners.

If you miss the broadcast, you will be able to listen to the show in its entirety — but without the option of calling in to ask questions and the live real-time chat. The Blog Talk Radio website will host the archived interview and I will include a widget here.

Update: If you missed the live show, you can now listen to the interview using the widget below.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Interview for Today’s Personal Finance Hour Radio Show

At 6:00 PM ET (3:00 PM PT) today, Tuesday, September 1, I will be talking with Neal Frankle from Wealth Pilgrim and the Wealth Pilgrim Radio Show. We’ll be talking about the experiences that led me to discover personal finance and the motivation behind Consumerism Commentary. It will be a live discussion, and I’d like to invite Consumerism Commentary readers to listen in.

You can listen in by calling 347-637-2262 at the beginning of the interview. For a richer multimedia experience, you can listen to the show through Wealth Pilgrim Radio on Blog Talk Radio while participating in the show’s online chat at the same time.

If you miss the live broadcast, a recording of the show will be available on demand as well.

In addition to this evening’s interview, I’ll also be appearing on the Personal Finance Hour with Jim and J.D. next Monday, Labor Day, so stay tuned to Consumerism Commentary for more details as that interview approaches.

Update: For those who missed the live show, you can now listen to the interview in full using the widget below through next Tuesday.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Interview for Today’s Wealth Pilgrim Radio Show

Congratulations to Consumerism Commentary readers Aliotsy A. and Scott O.! Aliotsy and Scott were selected randomly among those who responded correctly to the scavenger hunt held last month to celebrate Consumerism Commentary’s sixth anniversary. Both winners chose to receive the Apple iPod Touch. The iPods are now on the way!

More giveaways will be offered soon to readers who have joined our free email newsletter. I haven’t been using the email newsletter much lately, but you can expect to receive an email every one or two weeks with behind-the-scenes information from Consumerism Commentary, special deals on money-related products, exclusive tips and thoughts, and chances to win stuff.

To join the newsletter, enter your information below. Your information will be kept private and you will not receive any spam.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Sixth Anniversary iPod Giveaway: Winners Announced!

This coming Thursday, August 27, I will be hosting an online chat session. Please feel free to join me on Money Quantum, a social network for people whose lives involve money, to chat about personal finance, investing, blogging or anything else we feeling like chatting about. I will share more information about Money Quantum later.

In order to join Money Quantum while the site is in “private beta” mode, request an invitation by emailing beta (at) moneyquantum (dot) com. Or, leave a comment on this post to let me know you would like an invitation, and I will email your invite personally. You must be a member of Money Quantum to participate in the chat, but it’s free, and once the site grows, I can assure you it will be fun. Joining now gets you in on the ground floor.

The chat will begin at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Once you have created your account on Money Quantum, just click on the “Chat” link in the navigation bar at the top of the page, or use the pop-up chat widget by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Join Me for a Live Online Chat Thursday Night

Monthly subscription reminder

One of the best methods of reading Consumerism Commentary and staying up-to-date with the latest articles and posts is through RSS subscription. By subscribing to the Consumerism Commentary RSS feed with feed-reading software such as Google Reader or aggregators such as My Yahoo, you’ll always be aware of new content here.

If you prefer to have daily updates emailed directly to you, simply enter your address below.

Your email address will be used for nothing other than updates generated by Consumerism Commentary. I won’t sell your email address to any third party and I won’t send you any junk mail.

Email newsletter

Subscribe to the Consumerism Commentary email newsletter to receive one email each week or two with behind-the-scenes information about Consumerism Commentary, exclusive giveaways, and additional content. The newsletter is free and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Best of Consumerism Commentary, July 2009

Here are some of the most popular articles, based on total visitors, published on Consumerism Commentary in July. If you missed them this past month, take a look.

1. How to File an Amended Income Tax Return (Form 1040X)
2. 10 Purchases That Can Harm Your Credit
3. 10 Things Your Parents Didn’t Teach You About Money
4. Podcast 12: Stupid Financial Advice and 5 Myths of Personal Finance
5. 50 Actions You Can Take Right Now to Pay Off Debt
6. EverBank Money Market Account Review
7. Kiplinger’s Best 529 College Savings Plans
8. Personal Balance Sheet, Net Worth, Income, and Expenses, June 2009
9. Is it Ever Okay to Steal Entertainment? (by Smithee)
10. Variable Rate Loophole in the Credit CARD Act (by Smithee)

Social media

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on Twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Best of Consumerism Commentary, July 2009

Today is the sixth anniversary of Consumerism Commentary! Long-time readers know that this blog was one of the first of its kind to focus on personal finance and money-related topics. Thanks to the readers, we are still going strong. I have learned much about money, especially from visitors and commenters, throughout the past few years. Although I started Consumerism Commentary as a public way to hold myself accountable for my own financial decisions and share articles of interest from around the internet, the website has grown significantly and has a life of its own.

To celebrate Consumerism Commentary’s sixth anniversary (have you read our first posts from July 2003 or browsed the archives?) we are giving away two iPods: one iPod Touch and one iPod Classic. There will be two winners, and each winner has a choice of either model. In order to be considered, we will have an electronic scavenger hunt.

Starting within the next few days, four clues will be hidden around Consumerism Commentary. In order to find the clues, you will need to experience a variety of media related to Consumerism Commentary. Once you find all four clues, email your answer to fourclues at this domain name (consumerismcommentary.com). In order to win you must live in the United States and in a state where such contests are not prohibited. Not everyone who finds all clues will win, however. The names of the two winners will be randomly selected among all the correct entries. Please only submit one entry per person, and if you find any clues, don’t share them.

I imagine that if you play your chances of winning are pretty good, but that ultimately depends on how many entries we receive.

The contest will end on July 31, 2009, but all clues will be available by Sunday, July 19.

I’ll start you off with a hint towards one clue: Fourth sentence, third word, second letter through fifth letter. Good luck! If you want to win, I suggest subscribing to Consumerism Commentary in as many forms possible and listening closely.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Anniversary Giveaway: Enter to Win Free iPod If You Find All Four Clues

Monthly subscription reminder

One of the best methods of reading Consumerism Commentary and staying up-to-date with the latest articles and posts is through RSS subscription. By subscribing to the Consumerism Commentary RSS feed with feed-reading software such as Google Reader or aggregators such as My Yahoo, you’ll always be aware of new content here.

If you prefer to have daily updates emailed directly to you, simply enter your address below.

Your email address will be used for nothing other than updates generated by Consumerism Commentary. I won’t sell your email address to any third party and I won’t send you any junk mail.

Email newsletter

Subscribe to the Consumerism Commentary email newsletter to receive one email each week with behind-the-scenes information about Consumerism Commentary, exclusive giveaways, and additional content. The newsletter is free and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Best of Consumerism Commentary, June 2009

Here are some of the most popular articles, based on total visitors, published on Consumerism Commentary in June. If you missed them this past month, take a look.

1. Comparing the Visa Black Card With American Express Platinum and Centurion Cards
2. Extending the $8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Credit to $15,000
3. Savings Mistakes That Cost More in the Long Run
4. Microsoft Money Will Be Discontinued
5. What General Motors’ Bankruptcy Means For You
6. Consumer Reports Exposes Cool Surge’s Misleading Claims
7. Changes to Student Loans Coming July 1
8. The Cash for Clunkers Program
9. Savings and Checking Account Interest Rate Updates
10. Citigroup Employees to Receive 50% Pay Raise

Social media

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Best of Consumerism Commentary, June 2009

Consumerism Commentary Podcast

At the end of April, I began working with Tom Dziubek to create the Consumerism Commentary Podcast. During the month of May, we produced five episodes of the podcast, including interviews with Dr. Bonnie Eaker-Weil, Liz Pulliam Weston, Matt Wallaert, J.D. Roth, Kerry Taylor, and several others. The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is now available on iTunes. To subscribe, use the Podcast RSS feed or visit the iTunes link.

Best of Consumerism Commentary, May 2009

Here are some of the most popular articles, based on total visitors, published on Consumerism Commentary in May. If you missed them this past month, take a look.

1. What Percentage of Income Should Be Saved to Be Financially Responsible?
2. GMAC Bank is Now Ally Bank
3. Verify Funds on That Check Before You Cash It (by Smithee)
4. 2009 Federal Income Tax Brackets and Marginal Rates
5. Ally Bank Savings Account Review
6. Five Jobs for People Who Like Money and Five Jobs for People Who Don’t
7. Your House is Not a Good Investment
8. Schwab Brokerage Lowers Expense Ratios, Beat Vanguard
9. Congress Passes Credit CARD Act of 2009, Now What?
10. HUD Wants to Let First Time Home Buyers Use $8,000 Credit for Downpayment

Email newsletter

Subscribe to the Consumerism Commentary email newsletter to receive one email each week with behind-the-scenes information about Consumerism Commentary, exclusive giveaways, and additional content. The newsletter is free and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Social media

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Best of Consumerism Commentary, May 2009

I’m happy to announce the formation of the new Money Tips Network, a conglomeration of a number of the best blogs focusing on personal finance and money. Consumerism Commentary has joined forces with these great blogs, and this group’s mission is to provide readers (and listeners) with with honest and helpful money tips. Why did I decide to partner with this particular group? I am a fan of all other blogs included as well as of this network’s philosophy: “We know a preachy, one-size fits all philosophy doesn’t work in the real world. It’s your wallet, your life. We want you to read our advice, throw in your thoughts and comments, and then apply it based on your own family’s needs.”

Some of the partners you may know from the Money Blog Network, which is extant in the form of the Money Blog Network Forums, and the Money Scribes, a less formal partnership. Here are the members of the Money Tips Network besides Consumerism Commentary:

Bargaineering. Written by Jim Wang, Bargaineering chronicles his personal finance life. Jim is co-host of the Personal Finance Hour podcast with J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly.

The Digerati Life. You can always count on Silicon Valley Blogger (SVB) to churn out practical, comprehensive, and helpful advice about personal finance and small business.

Five Cent Nickel. Written by a man who has been meticulously recording his finances since 1997 (stored in Quicken), Five Cent Nickel is one of the oldest and most respected blogs around.

Free Money Finance. This site is about one simple thing: growing your net worth. Business Week says Free Money Finance “offers an inspiring mix of timeless investing wisdom and money-making ideas.”

The Frugal Duchess. Miami Herald columnist Sharon Harvey Rosenberg offers a fun, frugal and fashionable way to save money & live well.

Generation X Finance. Jeremy Vohwinkle is the blogger behind Gen X Finance, a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, and the editor of About.com’s Financial Planning section.

Get Rich Slowly. Get Rich Slowly, recently named “most inspiring money blog” by Money magazine, is devoted to sensible personal finance. J.D. Roth is the other half of the Personal Finance Hour podcast. Tom and I interviewed J.D. last night for an upcoming edition of the Consumerism Commentary Podcast.

No Credit Needed. NCN started this blog in 2005 to track his debt reduction efforts, and has since been inspiring others in their debt reduction efforts. In addition to the blog, check out the No Credit Needed Network and the No Credit Needed Podcast.

The Simple Dollar.Trent Hamm is one of the most respected personal finance bloggers today. His recently published book, 365 Ways to Live Cheap: Your Everyday Guide to Saving Money, helps you save money every day of the year.

Squawkfox. Making frugal living sexy, delicious, and fun. “Fox” has a new book coming out in 3 weeks! 397 Ways to Save Money will help you spend smarter and live well on less.

Stop Buying Crap. Despite the title, Cap doesn’t preach being cheap. Stop Buying Crap is about understanding your unlimited wants and how you may fulfill it with your limited resources.

Wise Bread. A community dedicated to helping each other live large on a small budget.

So if you want more from The Money Tips Network, check the network home page for frequent updates from all member websites or subscribe to the aggregated RSS feed.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

The Money Tips Network

Consumerism Commentary Podcast. During April, with the help of Tom Dziubek, a former podcaster from the Wall Street Journal, we launched the Consumerism Commentary Podcast. Tom and I will work to bring listeners interesting stories and interviews with people who matter in the world of personal finance. Last week, the first edition of the podcast featured an interview with Peter Pham, CEO of Billshrink.com, fitting in with that day’s theme of financially surviving a recession.

The second edition of the Consumerism Commentary Podcast will be published tomorrow afternoon, and it will feature interviews with Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil and Aaron Patzer from Mint. You can download the full second episode early if you sign up for the Consumerism Commentary weekly email newsletter:

The email address you enter will not be shared with anyone else, and I will not use it for any other purpose than sending you the newsletters. I won’t send you any junk mail or sell your information to another entity.

Social media. Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

Best of Consumerism Commentary, April 2009. Here are some of the most popular articles published on Consumerism Commentary in April. If you missed them this past month, take a look.

1. Watch Out for the Making Work Pay Credit (2009 Economic Stimulus)
2. Number One Frugality Tip: Don’t Be a Woman
3. The Money Basics series: Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, APR and APY, and Budgets
4. Resume Dos and Don’ts (Plus Resume Makeovers) (by Ginger)
5. Suze Orman Says Stop Paying Off Debt
6. Basics of 2009 Energy Efficient Tax Credits (by Smithee)
7. Are You a High-Yield Interest Rate Chaser?
8. The Recession Finally Hits My House (by Smithee)
9. Why Be Wealthy? Focus on Real Goals, Not Net Worth
10. Basics of the Fair Tax (by Smithee)

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Best of Consumerism Commentary, April 2009

While I am on vacation this upcoming week, several guest authors will appear on Consumerism Commentary. Smithee and I will be joined by Matt Wallaert from Thrive, Jeff Rose from Good Financial Cents, Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil, the author of Financial Fidelity, The Weakonomist from Weakonomics.com, and Ginger from Girls Just Wanna Have Funds.

Please check back throughout the week to read the contributions offered by these guests to Consumerism Commentary.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Guest Authors Will Be Featured This Week

In a few weeks, I will be bringing a number of enhancements to Consumerism Commentary. I am not sure yet whether to roll out all new features at once or to gradually introduce the changes; I plan to see how inspiration strikes over the next week or two. As I have previously announced, I have begun a weekly email newsletter, within which I plan to offer a number of exclusive features, articles, and tips, as well as some insight behind the scenes here. Subscribers will also have a chance to participate in exclusive contests and giveaways, and as you’ll see below, subscribers will receive the first premium this weekend.

For the past several months, I have been gearing up to introduce a podcast to Consumerism Commentary. I have enjoyed radio shows for quite a long time, and I’ve been waiting to realize some of that audio inspiration. I will admit that I still need much more practice as a radio broadcaster, but I’ve thankfully teamed up with a professional. Tom Dziubek, formerly of the Wall Street Journal Tech News Briefing E-Report podcast, will be handling most of the major lifting involved with running the podcast. I will be deeply involved with the shows we release; if not on the microphone every podcast, I’ll be involved with the planning and programming.

Tom and I recorded the “pilot episode” of the Consumerism Commentary podcast earlier this week, touching upon tips for living through a recession and details about my personal background. This recording was good practice for us, and it may not make it to the official website once the podcast is fully integrated. We have decided, however, to offer this preview podcast to readers who have decided to participate in the new email newsletter.

The two of us are currently planning future podcasts and lining up interviews with interesting people.

Subscribe to the email newsletter

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The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Several Changes Coming to Consumerism Commentary

First, if you haven’t yet this week, check out the latest Carnival of Personal Finance, hosted by Wide Open Wallet. There are some excellent articles this week including the host’s “Editor’s Picks,” Why Lending Club Isn’t for Most People, and Is Buying a Repossession Capitalizing on Someone Else’s Misfortune?

Now to the monthly administrative businesses.

Over the next few weeks there will be a number of changes coming to Consumerism Commentary. This is an exciting time right now, but it’s too early to share all but one of the details. I hope to have announcements when I return from vacation later this month. Until then, ensure that you are subscribed to Consumerism Commentary in order to be informed of recent articles and other development. You can subscribe to the blog to receive articles through the RSS feed. There are many ways you can use the RSS feed, such as personal readers like Google Reader or aggregators like My Yahoo.

The first expansion of Consumerism Commentary I would like to share is the new newsletter. By signing up, you will receive daily article updates, similar to the previous newsletter, but there will be more. In the email newsletter, I will share weekly extras such as exclusive giveaways, free downloads, tips, and articles not found elsewhere on Consumerism Commentary. Be one of the first to sign up for the new newsletter by entering your information below.

Note: If you signed up before 9:00 AM EDT this morning, you may have received a influx of messages. It appears I had the list misconfigured. I have fixed the problem and it should not happen again. I apologize if your inbox was full of messages from Consumerism Commentary.

The email address you enter will not be shared with anyone else, and I will not use it for any other purpose than sending you the newsletters. I won’t send you any junk mail or sell your information to another entity.

Social media. Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

Top March articles

Here are the most popular articles published on Consumerism Commentary in March. If you missed them this past month, take a look.

1. Your Recession Budget (by Smithee)
2. Do I Qualify for a Loan Modification? (by Smithee)
3. Eight Tips for Living Through a Recession
4. 8 or More Ways to Benefit From the ARRA (by Smithee)
5. Maytag Refrigerator Recall
6. IRS Accepting Returns With $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Credit March 30
7. Traditions vs. Roth IRA: An Introduction and Comparison
8. Savings Account Interest Rate Roundup
9. Quicken Home and Business 2009: Review and Giveaway
10. Personal Balance Sheet and Net Worth: February 2009

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Most Popular on Consumerism Commentary, March 2009

Earlier this year, I conducted a short survey of Consumerism Commentary readers. I do this once in a while to try to develop a picture of who you are. A few people have expressed interest in seeing the results of this survey, so here are some of the statistics.

58% of Consumerism Commentary readers are male. A different 58% of Consumerism Commentary readers are married (or equivalent). Three quarters of readers who answered the survey are between the ages of 23 and 40. Here is a detailed breakdown of ages:

• 1% are 18 years old or younger
• 6.4% are between 19 and 22 years old, roughly college aged
• 41.8% are between 23 and 30 years old
• 32.3% are between 31 and 40 years old
• 9.4% are between 41 and 50 years old
• 6.3% are between 51 and 60 years old
• 2.8% are 61 years old or older

About 80% of Consumerism Commentary readers who responded to the survey report they have at least a bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, about one third of readers have at least a master’s degree.

How does your annual active income stack up against other Consumerism Commentary readers? The definition of “active income” was left to interpretation by each respondent. Click on the thumbnail to view a larger chart.

Likewise, here is how Consumerism Commentary readers responded to a question about net worth. The definition of net worth wasn’t defined in the survey, so readers were free to calculate their net worth in whatever method made sense to them.

In the survey, I asked readers to leave comments about what they like and didn’t like about Consumerism Commentary. Here are the things readers liked:

I like Flexo’s approach to things. He isn’t preoccupied with debt, and takes a long-range view. He’s organized and pragmatic. I wish I had his kind of head and I try to emulate it.

Even though I don’t think pleasing design and navigability are that important to a successful finance blog, I do think it is a very clean and visually pleasing site. I think it tries be very professional and intelligent and is a real resource for advanced personal finance geeks like me.

I enjoy that it’s easy to read, easy to follow. Long enough to be interesting & educational without making my eyes glaze over.

Consumerism Commentary isn’t free from criticism, of course. Here are some of the comments that refer to improvements that readers would like to see. There are a number of great suggestions here.

I would like to see more media such as videos, podcasts, etc.

Make it more about the people who run it. Ditch the guest bloggers, unless their articles pertain to topics being discussed by the site owners, OR you can’t find those articles anywhere else. Get rid of the headline/subhead template that I see all over personal finance blogs. Most bloggers don’t use that style, and it makes your articles look like they were “premanufactured”, instead of being unique.

Explain stuff to the average guy in simple ways. I may be broke now, but I won’t always be.

Remember that some of us read via email and therefore are more behind realtime readers – in terms of requested responses from readers, contests, waiting lists, etc. I’d also like to see more frequent postings, just because I DO enjoy this blog and would like to see more of it.

A number of comments referred to the design of the website, mainly pertaining to the idea that the website looks cluttered. I do have some plans to revamp the layout of the website, and I plan on timing this with the release of several new features. Look for a new, less cluttered design in the coming months.

Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey! I’ll be contacting the winner of the $50 gift card shortly.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Reader Survey: Who are Consumerism Commentary Readers?

Monthly subscription reminder

One of the best methods of reading Consumerism Commentary and staying up-to-date with the latest articles and posts is through RSS subscription. By subscribing to the Consumerism Commentary RSS feed with feed-reading software such as Google Reader or aggregators such as My Yahoo, you’ll always be aware of new content here.

If you prefer to have daily updates emailed directly to you, simply enter your address below.

Your email address will be used for nothing other than daily updates generated by Consumerism Commentary. I won’t sell your email address to any third party and I won’t send you any junk mail.

Social media

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

Top February articles

Here are the most popular articles published on Consumerism Commentary in February. If you missed them this past month, take a look.

1. First-Time Home Buyer Credit
2. $15,000 Tax Credit for Homebuyers
3. 4% Fixed-Rate Mortgage
4. Read the Complete Stimulus Bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009)
5. Understand the Recovery Rebate Credit
6. Moratorium on Foreclosures
7. It’s Not Just About the $400 Tax Credit (by Smithee)
8. How to Claim the $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit of 2009
9. Cash 4 Gold: Scam! Real Tips for Selling Your Gold Jewelry
10. The Paradox of The Paradox of Thrift

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Most Popular on Consumerism Commentary, February 2009

Monthly subscription reminder

One of the best methods of reading Consumerism Commentary and staying up-to-date with the latest articles and posts is through RSS subscription. By subscribing to the Consumerism Commentary RSS feed with feed-reading software such as Google Reader or aggregators such as My Yahoo, you’ll always be aware of new content here.

If you prefer to have daily updates emailed directly to you, simply enter your address below.

Your email address will be used for nothing other than daily updates generated by Consumerism Commentary. I won’t sell your email address to any third party and I won’t send you any junk mail.

Social media

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

Top January articles

Here are the most popular articles published on Consumerism Commentary in January. If you missed them this past month, take a look.

1. Filing Your 2008 Taxes With the Economic Stimulus (Recovery Rebate Credit)
2. Traditional and Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2009
3. Barack Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan
4. How Barack Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus Will Affect You
5. 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2009
6. New Chase $100 Bonus Coupon for Checking Accounts
7. Free Download: Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound
8. Visa Black Card: 1% Cash Back, 0% APR Balance Transfers, Concierge, and Luxury Gifts
9. New Interest Rates at ING Direct, $25 Bonuses Still Available and Going Relatively Quickly
10. Personal Balance Sheet, December 2008

Thank you to everyone who answered the Consumerism Commentary reader survey in January. The results are interesting and I intend to share them, and announce the winner of the $50 Amazon.com gift card, early in February.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Most Popular on Consumerism Commentary: January 2009

I’ve posted a new batch of $25 bonus links for new ING Direct customers. When you open a new account with one of these links, the Consumerism Commentary reader who provided the link will also receive a $10 bonus. So far, Consumerism Commentary readers and visitors have earned about $9,000 from these links. Keep in mind that anyone opening a new account at ING Direct must deposit at least $250 to qualify for this bonus. Without $250 to deposit right away, open the account through the traditional application.

There are a few days left to take the Consumerism Commentary reader survey to enter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon.com gift card. I will most likely close the survey next Tuesday. Please take a moment to fill out the survey so I can learn a little more about readers here. I will read every comment offered through the survey and consider all suggestions for improvements to Consumerism Commentary. The survey can be as anonymous as you like, but an email address is required to enter the drawing.

On Monday, The Writer’s Coin hosted the latest edition of the Carnival of Personal Finance. Next week’s Carnival will be hosted by Pecuniarities. Bloggers are free to submit their best post from this week for consideration. More information about the Carnival of Personal Finance can be found here.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Consumerism Commentary Readers Have Earned $9,000

I’ve designed a short survey to help me understand more about Consumerism Commentary readers. No matter how often you read this website, I would like to hear from you. The survey asks a few questions about demographics, reading habits, and preferences.

There are about 20 questions, and it should take no longer than 3 minutes. You are not required to answer all questions, so you can remain completely anonymous if you prefer. And, because no survey is complete without a bribe, if you complete the survey and provide your email address in the appropriate location, I will enter you in a drawing to win a $50 gift card for Amazon.com.

Follow this link to begin the survey. Please answer truthfully, and thank you!

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Take This Reader Survey, Win a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card

One of the best methods of reading Consumerism Commentary and staying up-to-date with the latest articles and posts is through RSS subscription. By subscribing to the Consumerism Commentary RSS feed with feed-reading software such as Google Reader or aggregators such as My Yahoo, you’ll always be aware of new content here.

If you prefer to have daily updates emailed directly to you, simply enter your address below.

Your email address will be used for nothing other than daily updates generated by Consumerism Commentary. I won’t sell your email address to any third party and I won’t send you any junk mail.

Social media

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

Top December articles

Here are the most popular articles written in December:

1. 9 Tips for Choosing and Achieving a Purpose in Life
2. I am Debt Free as of Today!
3. The Best Online Savings Accounts
4. ING Direct Electric Orange Interest Rate Drops to 0.5% APY!
5. Personal Income Statement, November 2008
6. Personal Balance Sheet, November 2008
7. The Schwab Bank Invest First Visa Signature Credit Card (by Smithee)
8. FNBO Direct Drops Interest Rate to 2.8% APY
9. The Federal Reserve Cut is Irrelevant
10. Coworkers Excited About Investing

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Most Popular on Consumerism Commentary: December 2008

One of the best methods of reading Consumerism Commentary and staying up-to-date with the latest articles and posts is through RSS subscription. By subscribing to the Consumerism Commentary RSS feed with feed-reading software such as Google Reader or aggregators such as My Yahoo, you’ll always be aware of new content here.

If you prefer to have daily updates emailed directly to you, simply enter your address below.

Your email address will be used for nothing other than daily updates generated by Consumerism Commentary. I won’t sell your email address to any third party and I won’t send you any junk mail.

Social media

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter, a social media services based on short personal updates. My updates tend to be somewhat random non sequiturs but occasionally I might write about something pertaining to personal finance. I don’t simply duplicate my RSS feed.

If you do, however, prefer to receive notifications of new Consumerism Commentary articles on twitter, follow ConsumerismComm as well.

If you’re a member of Facebook, visit the page for Consumerism Commentary and become a “fan.” Also, feel free to view my own profile and add me as a “friend.”

Top November articles

Here are the most popular articles written in November:

1. Citigroup Credit Card Rates Going Up: A Mystery (by Smithee)
2. Personal Income Statement: October 2008 (Net Income: $9,074)
3. President-Elect Obama’s Approach to the Economy
4. Lessons Learned From Losing a Quarter Million Dollars (by Debtkid)
5. Changed My Verizon Wireless Plan: Same Features for $30 Less
6. GM Wants You to Fear its Collapse
7. Personal Balance Sheet, October 2008 ($164,209, -6.1%)
8. FNBO Direct Rated Best Online Savings Account by Kiplinger
9. Banks You May Not Know About Offer High-Yield Savings Accounts
10. November Cash Experiment

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Most Popular on Consumerism Commentary: November 2008