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Evaluating My Progress Against 2010 Goals

by Luke Landes

There isn’t a lot of time left in 2010. As I get older, time seems to move faster. Perhaps now that I am not spending eight or more hours dedicated to a day job, I will be able to slow down the passage of time. With more time, 2011 may be better for me in ... Continue reading this article…

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First Credit Card, Getting Fired, and Presumptuous Gifts

by Luke Landes

Saying goodbye to my salary and employer-sponsored benefits should mean that I should be looking to cut back my expenses for a little while as I work on making up for that loss through increased income. This weekend I had my last hurrah, spending money for a new professional-grade digital camera. I had been saving ... Continue reading this article…

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When Doing the Right Thing Hurts (Your Credit)

by Luke Landes

It’s been many years since I’ve paid interest on a credit card balance. I don’t think I’ve missed a payment, either, thanks to automatically scheduled transfers from my checking accounts. I know that many regular Consumerism Commentary readers are like me, as well, and rarely pay a fee that’s unnecessary. (Keep in mind I recently ... Continue reading this article…

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My $10 Mistake and Articles of Interest

by Luke Landes

I overdrew my checking account about two weeks ago. It was a stupid mistake. I recently set up an automatic investment for my SEP IRA, $1,750 at the end of each month, transferred from my checking account at Wachovia to Vanguard, invested in VTSMX. On November 30, I checked my Vanguard account, and I didn’t ... Continue reading this article…

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The Motley Fool Now Offering Mutual Funds

by Luke Landes

Don’t forget Consumerism Commentary is matching charitable contributions. Consumerism Commentary readers have donated $2,100 as of this morning, resulting in a total of $4,200 designated for charity including our matching contribution. Sign up and get your donation matched before December 11! About a decade ago, I first learned about no-load index mutual funds and, after ... Continue reading this article…

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Frugality is Bad For the Economy

by Luke Landes
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The concept of frugality has permeated mainstream personal finance in the past few years. That’s understandable, given the state of the economy. For many who have been personally affected, following the loss of income or a job, this frugality is a forced approach. People are looking for ways to save money because they have less ... Continue reading this article…

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Resignation Complete and Weekend Reading

by Luke Landes

Don’t forget Consumerism Commentary is matching charitable contributions. It’s official. Earlier this week, I offered my resignation to the large corporation where I’ve been employed for just under a decade. I have less than two weeks to wrap up my projects and transition work to the rest of my team. It won’t be long before ... Continue reading this article…

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Personal Balance Sheet, November 2010 ($494,715, +6.1%)

by Luke Landes

If you’ve been following Consumerism Commentary for some time, you may know that I post my balance sheet at the beginning of each month. I take this time to review my finances and determine whether I’m moving forward. In addition to my balance sheet, I review my expenses and income. I’ve been posting these monthly ... Continue reading this article…

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