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

Saving

Money Magazine: 7 Shortcuts for Major Money Hassles

by Flexo

Money Magazine is running an extended feature targeting 7 of the most annoying money problems, and proving some easy solutions. Here is a shortcut to the seven shortcuts: 1. Ace your retirement. Buy a target-retirement fund in your 401(k). If you believe you’ll be retiring in 2030, you can buy a fund that targets that ... Continue reading this article…

6 comments Read the full article →

10 Examples of How You Can Be Penny Wise, Pound Foolish

by Flexo

Everyone loves saving money, cutting back, and reducing expenses. However, sometimes there is a tendency to focus on the wrong things. While you’re busy feeling good about reducing little costs here and there, every once in a while you neglect the larger picture. Here are some examples: 1. Saving money by not going to the ... Continue reading this article…

36 comments Read the full article →

Not Everyone is Perfect, Including Financial Columnists

by Flexo

MP Dunleavey, a columnist for MSN Money, recently came to the realization that her family’s finances were not in order. Wait a minute! Dunleavey has been writing about personal finance for years, and has covered the very issues she is facing. This cognitive disconnect is common in the world, so I can excuse her. Her ... Continue reading this article…

9 comments Read the full article →

What Should I Do With My Side Business Income?

by Flexo

I do a little random work on the side in order to bring in a few extra dollars in addition to my day job. Luckily, most of this “extra” income is over and above my expenses for the month. I generally use the income to pay for business-related expenses, but even afterwards I have some ... Continue reading this article…

7 comments Read the full article →

Savings Interest Rate Update: UFB Direct Up to 5.27%

by Flexo

The money market savings account at UFB Direct now offers the highest no-minimum interest rate (APY) at 5.27 percent. There are more interest rates here for comparison. I do not have an account at UFB Direct.

3 comments Read the full article →

Passed an Orange Milestone

by Flexo

Last month, I passed a small milestone. I’ve collected more than $1,000 (before taxes) in interest in my ING Direct savings account. While I no longer keep all of my savings there, with banks like Emigrant Direct and HSBC Direct offering better rates, it has been nice to see this particular number growing month after ... Continue reading this article…

6 comments Read the full article →

ING Direct’s Subaccounts: Here’s How

by Flexo

Today, I received this question from Lindsey, a reader: Hello! I have been reading through the archives that you have on your blog, and I see that when you had your ING Direct savings account you were able to set up subaccounts so that you personally could keep your money organized. I was wondering how ... Continue reading this article…

10 comments Read the full article →

New Nest Egg Index: How Well Are We Saving?

by Flexo

Last year, A.G. Edwards developed the 2005 Nest Egg Index, measuring how well people in the United States are saving money. They have updated the survey for 2006 and released the results today. Here are more details:

4 comments Read the full article →

Automate Your Emergency Savings

by Flexo

David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaire, offers suggestions for making your emergency savings automatic. Before we get to the tips, most people agree that building an emergency stash of cash that can last long enough to cover three to six months should be one of the first financial priorities, even for those in debt. ... Continue reading this article…

4 comments Read the full article →

Increased My 401(k) Contributions

by Flexo

Since my side income seems to be growing more than I expected this year, I’ve decided to increase my 401(k) contributions to reduce taxable income. In February, I increased my income deferral rate from 4 percent — the minimum contribution necessary to maximize the company’s match rate — to 6 percent. I was already maxing out my ... Continue reading this article…

6 comments Read the full article →

Spending Philosophies: Five Tips for a Better Relationship

by Flexo

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…

2 comments Read the full article →

Savings Interest Rates May Go Down Soon

by Flexo

It’s the biggest cliffhanger since Colin Baker literally hung off a cliff to end a truly bad episode of Doctor Who. On August 8, the Fed will meet and decide whether to raise interest rates. Traders think there’s a 76 percent chance the fed will pause the rate hikes, for at least the time being. I ... Continue reading this article…

12 comments Read the full article →

Living Through a Heat Wave: Cooling Your House

by Flexo

As the temperature has been upwards of 305 kelvin lately, I’ve been sweating in my apartment even while the air conditioner pumps and while wearing less clothing than what is socially acceptable in public. Hence, my electricity bill has shot up from the $40s to the $70s, with the next bill expected to be $90. ... Continue reading this article…

2 comments Read the full article →

Finding Extra Money

by Flexo

Money Magazine has a feature this month about finding extra money or “hidden assets” as they call it. I’m not going to do a whole series on these suggestions, but I will simply summarize and add a few thoughts. 1. Cash in old savings bonds. If they’ve matured, you have money that’s not earning any ... Continue reading this article…

2 comments Read the full article →

The 5.0% APY Threshold: The New Hotness

by Flexo

If your savings account isn’t providing you 5.0 percent or more at this point, you can consider it old and busted. A few banks have raised their interest rates on “online” savings accounts lately, so take a look at the latest chart. Emigrant Direct moved to 5.15 percent today, but you may have problems accessing their new ... Continue reading this article…

10 comments Read the full article →

Mail Check: Some “Goodies” Arrived for Me

by Flexo

I’ve been away from my apartment for almost a week, so I had a few goodies waiting for me upon my arrival home yesterday. I received a letter from Emigrant Direct with my activation code for their new website to be launched next Monday. Also, they included a notice that they will be raising their ... Continue reading this article…

4 comments Read the full article →

Update: Moving Savings From ING Direct to HSBC Direct

by Flexo

After our discussion yesterday, I took the plunge and signed up for an account with HSBC Direct, taking advantage of their $25 Best Buy Gift Card Promotion. (I would have preferred cash, but I can make the gift card work for me.) Thanks to Dus10 for letting me know about the promo. HSBC verifies ownership ... Continue reading this article…

30 comments Read the full article →

Thinking About Moving Savings From ING Direct to HSBC Direct?

by Flexo

ING Direct has served me well for a long time. For a few years, their interest rates were the highest available, and their sign-up and referral bonuses simply added to the gains. I used all available referral bonuses in 2005, so I no longer have these to distribute. Also, their interest rates have been sagging ... Continue reading this article…

24 comments Read the full article →

My Nest Egg Score

by Flexo

I broke down and took the A.G. Edwards Nest Egg Score estimation thing. I’m doing better than average for my age group (18-35), so I’m satisfied. The mini-quiz asked a few questions about my living status and my investing and savings habits, and presented these suggestions: * Continue to manage debt. * Maximize your retirement ... Continue reading this article…

10 comments Read the full article →

ING Direct Moves Up From Last to Still Last

by Flexo

ING Direct raised the interest rate the bank offers on its savings accounts, resulting in a 4.35 percent APY. This is good news, hot on the heels of the Fed’s raising of interest rates yesterday. Millions of people will benefit from ING Direct’s move, as this particular bank is one of the most popular for “online ... Continue reading this article…

3 comments Read the full article →
Page 4 of 9« First···23456···Last »