Tuesday was a big day at the bureau of labor statistics; they released the news that we’ve all been waiting for. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers(CPI-U) increased 0.6 %! Ok I have no idea what that actually means(ok maybe I do, no one should care though), but I do know how it […]
Archives for 2012
Save Money on Your Flu Shot This Winter
Ever since I started working in a cubicle environment, I feel like I get sick much more frequently than I used to. Although we have unlimited sick days at work, I don’t like to use them unless I’m truly sick and can’t get out of bed. For all the minor coughs and colds, I’ll still […]
Reader Question: Investing in Real Estate Without a Down Payment, What is an REIT?
Here’s a question from a reader named Bilbo Baggins, not sure if this his real name or not 🙂 “I’m fully convinced its a great time to buy property. However, I am not ready to make that kind of commitment and am looking for investments that will reap the same kind of passive income. Something […]
Upgrading Your Smartphone: My Switch From the iPhone 4 to the Samsung Galaxy S3
I’ve had an iPhone for the past four years, but the other day I finally decided to switch to the Android OS and get a Galaxy S3. I was pretty disappointed with the iPhone 5 release, essentially the same phone as the iPhone 4, but slightly taller and skinnier. So far, I really love my […]
Amazon is Now Collecting Sales Tax in California
If you’ve been following this blog, you know how much I love a good deal. So when I finally decided to upgrade my iPhone 4 to a Samsung Galaxy S3, I remembered a tip that Amazon wireless has no sales tax on smart phones. If you’ve ever bought one of these suckers, you know how […]
Investing in I Bonds: An Intro to I Bonds for Young Investors
For an update on I bonds rates as of(10/18/12), please see: November 2012 I bonds rates are announced: 1.76%. Believe it or not, the money in your savings and checking accounts is actually losing money. It doesn’t even matter what bank you have. Whether you bank online, or brick and mortar; they’re all losing […]
Guest Post: Intelligent Deductions, Why is the US Government Giving Tax Breaks to People Who Don’t Need Them?
The following article is a guest post by Justin Gordon. If interested in submitting a guest post, please ready my guest posting policy and then contact me.. Justin is a recent graduate of Temple University School of Law and majored in Political Science at USC. The United States’ federal income tax policy is a beast; it’s no wonder […]
September 2012 Favorite Posts
Even though it’s the middle of September, the weather has been great here in Southern California. It’s actually been almost too hot, with temperatures close to 100 degrees last week. When I played golf the other day it was 95 degrees out, way too hot; plus I don’t like to sweat when I’m playing golf. […]
How to Really Save Money at Chipotle
This post was inspired by an article I read the other day entitled: 15 Ways to Save Money at Chipotle. Now I don’t want to throw another blog under the bus, but man were their ideas lame(google the article title to find it). I’ve actually been obsessed with Chipotle for a while now and I […]
Part 3: How To Rebalance Your Retirement Accounts
[This is the third article in a three part series about re-balancing, the first article covered why to rebalance and the second covered when to rebalance your retirement accounts] Even though asset allocation will determine over 90% of your returns, it’s important to periodically rebalance your retirement accounts. I’ve shown why rebalancing will reduce your […]
Part 2: When to Rebalance Your Retirement Accounts
[This is the second article in a three part series about re-balancing, the first article covered why to rebalance and the last article will cover how to rebalance your retirement accounts] A year in the life of the stock market can be brutal. Daily swings up and down are unpredictable at best, but we’ve seen […]
Part 1: Why Rebalance Your Retirement Accounts
[This is the first article in a three part series about re-balancing, the next two articles will cover when to rebalance and how to rebalance your retirement accounts] A crucial part to a successful investment portfolio requires that you occasionally rebalance your portfolio. Due to the volatility of the market, the asset allocation you select might change […]
AMEX Twitter Sync Promotion: How I Turned $180 at Best Buy Into $200 in Amazon Gift Certificates
After two years of churning credit cards for sign-up bonuses, I’ve amassed quite a collection of cards. I’m almost embarrassed by how many I now have, but one great benefit of having so many cards is the ongoing promotions. With some companies you might save a couple dollars here, or get a discount there, but […]
Asset Allocation Guide: Why to Invest in International Index Funds
If you followed the market from 2000-2009, you’ll know that US stocks got hammered. Investing in international stocks wouldn’t have saved you from a period like that, but it could have helped. International stocks provide some much needed diversification and tend to reduce your portfolio’s overall volatility. In fact, since international funds make up 60% […]
A Review of My No Cost Refinance With Amerisave
A year ago I refinanced to a 3.75% 7/1 ARM with Quicken Loans and my experience with them was fantastic. I bought my property almost three years ago and that refinance lowered my payment by $200 a month. I was definitely content, but as I watched rates drop further, I started to think about doing […]
Take Advantage of Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses
I got my first credit card when I was in college and I used it for most of my entertainment(see alcohol) and dining out purchases. Although I was approved for a high limit, fortunately I never carried a balance. After four years, I realized I had accumulated a ton of points. I quickly spent these […]
I’ve Joined the Yakezie Challenge
I know summer is coming to an end for most of the country, but here in San Diego, my favorite month of the year is coming up. September brings some great weather and the ocean water is usually at it’s warmest. I’ve tried to post twice a week since the beginning of summer and I’ve […]
Why Borrowing From Your 401k is a Bad Idea
A reader writes in: “Can you talk about when to take a loan from your 401k? I took one a while back and I think it would be a good topic for discussion.” There aren’t many loans out there that allow you to borrow without a credit check and pay yourself interest, but that’s what […]
A Guide to Buying on Craigslist
I’ve been looking for a refrigerator on craigslist for a couple months now and I finally found one. My current refrigerator was in good working condition, but it was pretty old and I wanted to get a nice stainless steel one for when I rent out my condo in a year or two. Renters and […]
Get Rich Investing in Human Capital
Instead of talking about stock or real estate investments today, I’ll be diving into an often forgotten investment. Human capital is the knowledge, skills or health that you have acquired in your lifetime. Most people think of capital as a CD account, retirement savings or property. But tangible forms of capital aren’t the only kinds […]