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Personal Balance Sheet, Net Worth, Income, and Expenses, July 2009

by Flexo

This year is passing by too quickly. It is time again for my monthly financial reports, originally designed to keep myself accountable for my financial (usually, spending) decisions. This was a technique that has worked well for about nine years, the last six of which have included this monthly public review. July was a strong ... Continue reading this article…

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Cash For Clunkers Suspended

by Flexo

Editor’s Note: This program is back on again and should be available through Labor Day, 2009 All good things must come to an end, and in some cases, prematurely. The “Cash for Clunkers” Program, or more formally, the Car Allowance Rebate System, has allocated almost all of its budget to rebates after only four days. ... Continue reading this article…

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Podcast 14: ING Direct’s “We, the Savers” and the AICPA’s Feed the Pig Campaign

by Flexo

Episode 14 of the Consumerism Commentary Podcast includes interviews with representatives from ING Direct and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Our discussion with Jim Kelly, the chief operating officer of ING Direct, focuses on the bank’s “We, the Savers” campaign and we also discuss ING Direct’s beginnings in the United States and ... Continue reading this article…

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Posts of the Week

by Flexo

Here are a few articles from around the web I recommend reading. A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step. A few days ago, Tom, the producer of the Consumerism Commentary Podcast, and I spoke with Matt Jabs and recorded most of that conversation for an upcoming episode. Part of the discussion ... Continue reading this article…

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50 Actions You Can Take Right Now to Pay Off Debt

by Flexo

There are many differing opinions about whether you can assign a quality like “good” or “bad” to debt. In general, I tend to believe that if debt is providing access to a necessary asset, like an education, a car, or a house, debt is at the least understandable. With debt, there is always a risk, ... Continue reading this article…

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Safeguarding Your Income

by Jeff

When it comes to financial success, your most important tool is your income. Without an income you can’t pay the bills, reduce your debt, or even buy the simple things you need to survive. With a properly maintained income, however, nothing is impossible. No matter what your personal financial philosophy, an income is one thing ... Continue reading this article…

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Podcast 12: Stupid Financial Advice and 5 Myths of Personal Finance

by Flexo

The twelfth episode of the Consumerism Commentary Podcast features an interview with Ramit Sethi, author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, the book, and I Will Teach You to Be Rich, the blog. Ramit, Tom Dziubek, and I discuss some of the stupid financial advice we have found online as well as the ... Continue reading this article…

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10 Purchases That Can Harm Your Credit

by Flexo

Do you live your life as if everything you do could be made public? I once heard a suggestion that you should judge every decision you make based on whether you would like to see this decision on the front page of the New York Times. That is a good theory, but I can’t say ... Continue reading this article…

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