Update(4/21/14): ElfCU now charges a $24 wire transfer fee for transferring your money from ElfCU to TDA. Update(5/28/14): ElfCU now charges a $3 monthly account fee if you don’t hold at least $2,500 in the savings account. Still the best option in my opinion though. Last year I wrote an article about how to rollover […]
Archives for March 2014
What can landlords do to make rental properties more attractive?
Making properties available for rent in this day and age can be pretty lucrative in both the United States and United Kingdom, but why is it the case? In both countries, this can be attributed to rising property prices, which are forcing many house-hunters to look to rental properties instead. In the UK, the property […]
Why the Average CPA Isn’t Worth the Money
Every year around tax time, I inevitably see lots of articles about maximizing deductions and figuring out ways to get more money back. There are lots of gray areas when it comes to taxes and that opens up lots of possibilities for aggressive filers. But even within the CPA community, there is a lot of […]
Prioritizing Your Cash Allocations When You’re Paying Off Debt
If you have student loan debt, credit card debt, or a balance on a personal loan, the smart thing to do is pay those debts off as quickly as possible. But as anyone who is currently dealing with debt knows, just because you that obligation to repay doesn’t mean you don’t have other financial priorities. […]
Factors Affecting the Value of a Painting
Paintings are some of the most impressive works of art. Some people however have difficulties on how to rate the value of a painting. Currently, there are numerous types of paintings in the market covering different art eras and movements such as Impressionist, Surrealism, and Art Nouveau among others. Among the most popular types of […]
6 Things To Consider When Setting Up a Home Office
The following article is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. Setting up a business is no easy task especially when you are in a shoestring budget because there are major expenses that you have to pay attention to such as rental fees. There […]
Using a Credit Card to Buy Fee Free Stocks with Loyal3
Update(5/11/2014): Loyal3 now limits credit card purchases of stocks to $50. So you can still use it to MS but it isn’t a viable option if you’re looking to do more than $1-2k. It’s easier than ever to invest your money in stocks these days. Not only are companies battling it out when it comes […]
Santander Bank Extra20 Checking: $20/Month for Free
I love free money. You probably hear that from a lot of people but I don’t think any of them mean it as much as I do. I really love free money. So when an opportunity like this comes up for a recurring $20 a month for about 15-30 minutes of work, I’m all in(hat […]
Give your Home a Facelift with an Equity Home Improvement Loan
The following article is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. No matter what type of siding you have on your home, there will come a time when it needs to be refinished or replaced. Perhaps the sun and weather have caused paint to peel, […]
Taking a Loan vs Saving to Start Up a Business
Starting your own business is the dream of entrepreneurs all across the world. Many people have probably considered starting their own business but few have the actual guts to go out and do it. We know that there is a high failure rate for small businesses but there are also many that succeed. Think about […]
High Cost of Living vs. Low Cost of Living Areas
It’s amazing how much the prices of items and commodities can vary depending on the region in which you live. The cost of groceries, gasoline, and rent and utilities is highly dependent on geographical location, even within the same country. Knowing that living expenses exist on a scale of least expensive to most expensive begs […]
Buying vs. Building a Home: What Makes Sense for You?
The following article is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. The decision to buy or build a house is complex, encompassing not only personal finances, but also market forces, the immediate needs of your family and your long-term plans. Before you start sketching out […]
Is Volvo the Safest Car Around?
Today’s main concern for motorists is safety. When it comes to choosing a car that best fits the safety needs of your person, having the idea all cars are safe is not a good way to look at buying one of the safest cars on the market. Volvo is a company, who takes safety very […]
Using an SUV When You Travel
When planning a trip with the family, having the special vehicle to help with luggage and comfort is a huge must. Currently, driving outweighs flying in the holiday spectrum, which means having the universal suv is a must. Sometimes when a compact is just too small the option to get into a bigger better vehicle […]
Selecting Your Car Insurance Step by Step
The following article is a contribution from an invited blogger. In order to get the best car insurance you should be a smart shopper who is educated about the types and amounts of coverage that you need. If your budget is under stress due to the difficult economy, you’ll need to chisel down some […]
The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Your 401(k)
When I started this site back in 2011, it was only a hobby. I didn’t ever expect to gain the following that I now have or turn it into a viable business but that’s what it’s become. Over the years, I’ve picked up a ton of knowledge about topics ranging from investments and credit cards […]
The Carnival of Retirement
This week I’m hosting the Carnival of Retirement. I like hosting these carnivals because it gives all of my readers a chance to check out some other PF blogs and find new ones that they like. I’ve included my favorites at the top but feel free to check out as many as you can handle! […]
Making an Offer: An Important Part of the Homebuying Process
The following article is a guest post. If interested in submitting a guest post, please read my guest posting policy and then contact me. You want that home you saw yesterday, but you can’t just take it. You have to put in an offer for it. And, then, it has to be accepted by the seller. If the […]
100,000 American Airline Miles for One Credit Card Sign-Up
Since I’ll be using nearly half a million points this summer on various hotels and flights for my honeymoon I’ve been on the lookout for a big score when it comes to credit card sign-up bonuses. I still currently have a few hundred thousand points left but my accounts have taken a huge hit during […]
Financial Checklist: 25 Things to Take Care of Before You Turn 25
It’s never too soon to start thinking about money, and more importantly, your own personal finances. But the financial world is huge, and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To make it a little easier, we’ve compiled a checklist that every twenty-something should be able to use. There are some money matters […]