The GrumpstumpThe GrumpstumpPersonal Finance, Entreprenuership, Alternative Income, Money in the News, New Business Ideas, Money and Science, and More Articles
What happens when you bring a bike to a gun fight?
2008-06-03 05:07:00 ???????? This probably makes me a terrible person…. wait I’m not driving wasted and asleep into a group of bicyclists… okay I feel better now. Random More About: Bike , Fight
Specific Risk vs. Timing Risk in Stock Portfolios
2008-05-28 13:44:00 Disclaimer: Yes, I just make this stuff up based on my own experiences, what I have read, and conclusions I have drawn. If you think I’m wrong, please please please leave a comment and tell me how very wrong I am. If you think I’m right, don’t go build your investment portfolio around this or ... More About: Investment , Stock , Risk , Specific , Portfolios
Mint.com Investment Private Beta Invites
2008-05-16 00:49:00 I just got an e-mail from Mint today about how they are adding some new investment features. From the e-mail: Mint?s approach to Investment s is all about helping you make better decisions more easily. So, you?ll find quick and timely answers to key questions like: What?s the big picture? Mint pulls together all your 401(k), IRA, brokerage, and ... More About: Personal Finance , Beta , Private
Alternative Income Neglect
2008-04-30 13:33:00 Over the past month or so, I’ve been working on some new projects outside of the Grumpstump. Combined with the wedding (if any of the groomsmen are reading this I need your tux measurements!) I have been a very busy boy. This of course, has left little time to think up snide remarks for people who ... More About: Site News , Alternative , Income , Neglect , Capitalism
The Tax Man Cometh
2008-04-09 13:37:00 Heard back about my taxes from last year from the good ole accountant. Looks like I’m going to owe good ole Uncle Sam about $1600. Ouch. I think I figured out what happened. Last year, I ended up getting a much bigger refund than I would have liked (over $2,000). Obviously, the ideal tax return is $0. ...
Can Fear Really Overcome Greed? Stories of Banking this Week
2008-03-20 12:37:00 I walked into my bank on Monday (Chase) to get some statements I needed for my taxes (I KNOW! It’s later than I’d like) and since I was able to talk them out of charging me a $6 per statement fee, I was feeling generous and sat down to talk with their mortgage guy. I am ... More About: Economy , Money , Stories , Investment , Banking
Economic Stimulus Check Instructions
2008-03-18 12:21:00 This economic stimulus package just kills me. Not only are they basically giving away $600 to everyone with a pulse who makes less than $75,000 a year, the package includes some wonderful other instructions: Social Security Benefits count towards the $3,000 AGI limit to receive the check. Sooooo, the government sends you money based on how much ... More About: Check , Economic
Subprime Mortgage Cartoon
2008-03-06 13:29:00 I follow Greg Mankiw’s econ blog among others. This is mainly because: 1) He knows more than me about Economics, one of my favorite subjects. 2) He’s funny and often self-deprecating (which is funny) 3) Every once in a while he will post something exceptionally funny yet educational like this presentation on the subprime mess. (Note: Some of ... More About: Cartoon , Home , Random , Mortgage , Capitalism
The Best Personal Finance Websites
2008-02-25 13:34:00 I got ambitious this weekend and made a list of all the best web 2.0 finance sites. I’ve held off including blogs for now and I know that there are probably a bazillion more sites out there that I have neglected to add. If I’ve missed one, drop me a line in the comments or ... More About: Personal , Tools , Personal Finance , Finance , Websites
The Stimulus Package Counteracts the Fed Rate Cuts
2008-02-21 13:30:00 When the Federal Reserve cuts Interest Rate s, it has the effect of lowering the cost for short-term borrowing for banks immediately. In the long term, lower interest rates lead to lower bond rates. Bond rates are what determine the bulk of the pricing for mortgage interest rates. I think we can all agree that the Fed ... More About: Economy , Mortgage , Capitalism , Package
Zecco Share First Impressions
2008-02-18 13:32:00 I’ve been getting e-mails from Zecco lately talking up their investor Social Network called ZeccoShare . It sounded similar to the fantasy stock service that I use called the UpDown , so I had been dismissing it. However, I took a look at it this morning and was reasonably impressed. I’ve been intentionally ignoring my brokerage accounts, not because ... More About: First Impressions , Impressions
Living with an Allowance
2008-02-13 13:45:00 Ever since we began budgeting hard-core in September to maximize destruction of our Debt Monster, we’ve had an ‘allowance’ every week to control spending. It may sound a little childish, but I have been very surprised with the results. We set up separate bank accounts entirely from our primary spending account and each week we ... More About: Living , Personal Finance , Tips and Tricks , Allowance
Money, Debt, and Mayhem
2008-02-08 13:52:00 Life has been pulling me kicking and screaming from the Grump lately, but I have vowed to power my way back to a semblance of regular posting. Here is some news and quick life updates from the world of Grumpstump. Earned about $650 last month in alternative income. SogoInvest has renamed itself to SogoTrade to ‘better reflect their ... More About: Business , Reviews , Personal Finance , Money , Squidoo
How to Set Performance Goals
2008-01-28 13:45:00 My office is asking me to explore a new line of business for them. However, we don’t really have any kind of formalized goal or incentive structure in place. It’s always been a ‘you’ve done a good job’ or ‘bad Joe!’ system of evaluation. While I like the more informal environment this tends to lead ... More About: Business , Performance , Productivity , Goals
5 steps to January Tax Filing
2008-01-21 13:56:00 Things to do in January for your upcoming taxes. Get them done, or things like mardi gras will sneak up on you and then you will be scrambling (like the rest of the country) in April to get everything done. Put all of your 1099, w-2, and other tax related forms in a stack where they ... More About: Taxes , Steps
Barnes And Noble Promo Code 1-27-8
2008-01-17 13:16:00 Barnes and Noble Promo Code : 25% off anything D8H8E4H First Come First Serve Fine Print From the e-mail: *Offer Details: This coupon can be redeemed once at any Barnes & Noble retail store and once online at bn.com per customer. This coupon is not valid at Barnes & Noble College Bookstores. In Barnes & Noble retail stores, the 25% ... More About: Freebies , Barnes
Why the Media Insists on Giving us a Recession
2008-01-15 14:02:00 Here’s an example of something that pisses me off not only about mainstream media, but about bloggers, twitterers, whoever.. This was on the front page of propeller this morning: Closely followed by: Notice a pattern here? People are scaring themselves into a frenzy. Time Bombs? Inflation Running Wild? Saturated markets? Am I watching a movie trailer or are ... More About: Business , Economy , Media , The Media , Money
Zecco Announce Multiple Free Account Option
2008-01-14 13:24:00 A letter from Zecco dropped in my Inbox the other day, announcing that you can now open multiple accounts with free trades with Zecco. The multiple accounts cover mainly IRAs and do have a small annual fee, so you have to decide if they’re right for you. Here are some excerpts from the letter: Get more ... More About: News , Reviews , Investment , Free , Account
Keeping Good Books - Resolved for 2008
2008-01-02 13:43:00 Last year was the first year I had a side business or hobby that I needed to keep the books for. I failed miserably. While I have improved my personal spending and expense tracking significantly using Mvelopes, 2008 is going to need to be the year I learn to keep business books as well. Since the ... More About: Books , Income , Good
Stop with the Recession Stuff already - Sheesh..
2007-12-31 13:33:00 I’m getting really tired of opening the paper (well… online news ) and seeing Blah,Blah,Blah RECESSION plastered all over the business section. Is the economy slowing down? Sure, I’ll buy that. Is there trouble in the housing market due to some lending issues and liquidity concerns? You bet. Is housing going to bounce back in 2008? I ... More About: News , Business , Economy , Money , Investment
Time to Set some Goals..
2007-12-28 13:54:00 A new year is almost upon us. It’s time to set some goals. I’m getting married next year along with about 4 or 5 of my friends (not all at once, separate weddings ) and obviously have some financial goals associated with that. As I refine those over the weekend, I’ll be sure and let ... More About: Site News , Personal Finance , Time , Goals
One Credit Card Assassinated - Amex Eliminated
2007-12-20 13:56:00 I’m very happy to announce that I wiped out one of those evil Credit Card s yesterday. I sent off almost 5 grand to the lovely old American Express. I’m already feeling a little extra bounce today and it’s awesome! How’d we get that much CC debt in the first place? A variety of ways, none of ... More About: Personal Finance , Net worth , Debt
Yorkies aren?t for Girls but Sponsor ZZ Top
2007-12-19 13:55:00 huh? I just learned today about Yorkie Candy Bars. I get the ‘It’s Not for Girls ’ thing but why would a girl want to eat a biscuit and raisin flavored candy bar anyway? Apparently Yorkie is also the sponsor of the ZZ Top Game, which of course has nothing to do with ZZ Top. Marketing , Random , Yorkie More About: Sponsor
25% off Barnes and Noble Coupon - Merry Christmas
2007-12-17 13:57:00 Some coupon codes I’ve been receiving in my inbox the past few days. First come, first serve! Barnes & Noble : 25% off any one online item Code: L8A7K8v Last Week was bonus week More on how that works later…. Freebies More About: Christmas , Coupon , Merry Christmas
Giving Up is Boring
2007-12-11 13:29:00 I decided last night that Giving up is a very boring thing to do. Think about how many people you know that give up on things shortly after they start them.. probably at least a few. Can you name the last successful venture they had? There is a difference between Giving up and changing tactics or ... More About: Personal Finance , Tips and Tricks , Young Money , Boring
Zecco Adds Historical Performance and Tax Analysis
2007-12-10 14:00:00 Zecco, the discount online broker, has recently added even more features to the fold. After limiting free trades to those with balances over $2,500 a few months ago, Zecco has been adding features like mad. The first feature they added was ZeccoShare, an online community to share stock picks and advice. Since I’m already active over ... More About: Reviews , Performance , Investment , Analysis , Historical
Get Paid to Park your Car
2007-12-09 20:22:00 As the world of alternative energy is developing at an explosive rate right now, interesting articles are leading to whole new business ideas. I ran across a group from the University of Delaware that is developing a hybrid electrical car. Hybrid cars are obviously nothing new, as some of you driving Hybrid Civics and Toyotas around ... More About: Paid , Get Paid To , Park
3 Critical Parts to a Business Plan
2007-12-03 13:45:00 I was cruising this Web 2.0 Directory today (which has some really cool new sites) and it got me to thinking about business models. The internet has certainly brought about some ways to creatively monetize your work and/or the work of others. However, the basics of a business plan still haven’t changed. I see that there ... More About: Business , Business Plan , Parts , Plan , Critical
Are Rich People too Cheap with their money?
2007-11-28 13:42:00 I came across an article on ABC and I almost fell out of my chair this morning. ‘I’ve got Billions but I don’t like to spend it‘ The story discusses frugal habits of various billionaires from cutting their own hair to Buffet’s famous $31,500 Omaha house he still lives in today. What struck me was the tone ... More About: People , Money , Rich , Cheap
3 Ways to Pay your Employees
More articles from this author:2007-11-26 13:33:00 I’ve been thinking a lot about compensation lately and the different ways to define it. I think I’ve got it down into 3 basic categories. In the basest sense your compensation is the reward you receive for the economic value you contribute to your community. In a perfectly efficient market, everyone’s economic contribution could be measured ... More About: Business , Personal Finance , Employees , Work 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
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