The Sun’s Financial Diary The Sun’s Financial Diary My personal experience of saving, investing, and living frugally. Articles
401(k) Loan/Debit Card: A Bad Idea in General. But What if as Last Resort?
2008-03-13 15:23:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Everybody agrees in general that a 401(k) loan or a 401(k) debit card is a bad, bad idea. For those of us who don’t have a guaranteed pension plan and can’t rely on social security, 401(K), as well as other individual retirement savings accounts, is one major tool to ... More About: Personal Finance , Card , General , Loan , Idea
Google Transit Now Includes NJ Transit Train Service
2008-03-13 04:33:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary NJ Transit train raiders now have one more tool to help plan their trips: Google Transit. Starting today, commuters in New Jersey can use Google Transit to check train schedule and plan trips statewide. According to a BusinessWeek article, the service now covers 164 rail stations and 60 light rail ... More About: Service , Train
Around the PF Blogosphere: March 13, 2008
2008-03-13 03:22:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Here are some articles that I found interesting today: AllFinancialMatters built a all-ETF retirement portfolio model with equal allocation to six sectors plus cash. I am not surprised by the portfolio’s calculated return so far this year given how much commodities have gained. It also emphasizes the importance of having ... More About: Blogosphere , March , 2008 , March 13
Stocks Gained Most in Five Years!
2008-03-12 03:07:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Haven’t seen rally like this for quite a while. Actually, the last time it happened was more than five years ago. US stocks surged Tuesday after the Fed, in a coordinated action with other central banks, said it will pump $200 billion into the financial market to ease credit fears. ... More About: Stocks , Stock , Years
Apparently, Your Tap Water isn?t as Clean as You Think
2008-03-11 14:54:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary One big story over the weekend is that an Associated Press investigation found that more than 41 million Americans are drinking water contaminated by antibiotic, anti-depression medicine, and sex hormones for areas from Southern California to Northern New Jersey. It really sounds scary when thinking of all the stuff coming ... More About: Clean , Water
Jonathan Clements? Rules of ?Getting Going?
2008-03-11 03:44:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Jonathan Clements, who writes the Getting Going column on The Wall Street Journal, recently celebrated his 1000th column. In his milestone piece, Mr. Clements reflected his journey of the past 1o years for writing the Getting Going and summarized what he has observed from the developments in the financial ... More About: Rules
Weekend Linkage - March 9, 2008
2008-03-09 19:42:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Do you file your tax return yourself? Or you get a pro to do the job for you? Ben at Money Smart Life wondered whether the cost of expert tax advice worth it. If they can lower my tax bill, then Yes. How do you like the idea that IRS ... More About: Weekend , Linkage , March , 2008
RevolutionMoneyExchange Review Plus $25+$5 Bonus
2008-03-08 03:45:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary When I wrote about the Revolution Card back in last September, I didn’t pay much attention to the other product, RevolutionMoney Exchange , from the same company. The reason for me not feel excited by the new product was 1) I didn’t use a lot person-to-person fund transfer and 2) I already ... More About: Review , Banking
From Rich Dad?s Increase Your Financial IQ: What?s your Financial IQ?
2008-03-06 16:36:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Over the weekend, I received a copy of Robert T. Kiyosaki’s new book,Rich Dad’s Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money from Jeffery Anderson, a publicist from FSB Associate. Kiyosaki is no stranger to many people. He is the author of the popular book, Rich Dad, Poor ...
Platinum is Surging, but Why no Platinum ETF?
2008-03-06 04:31:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Gold isn’t the only hot precious metal in town these days. Spot silver surpassed the psychological $20 an ounce today to its highest level since October 17, 1980. Currently, silver is traded at $20.80/ounce (Kitco.com). So far this year, silver has gained more than 39%. Then, there’s platinum which is also ... More About: Investing , Platinum
Random News: Promotions & Bonus Money at Chase Freedom Card, Revolution Car
2008-03-05 04:10:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Chase Freedom card is offering $10 bonus for every $150 spend commuting in New York City till March 31, 2008. Eligible purchases include MatroCard fees and NYC Yellow cab fares. To participate, you have to register your Freedom card at Chase Commuter Cash. According to the promotion, rewards ... More About: News , Money , Random
Chinese ADRs Monthly Update - February
2008-03-04 16:39:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Chinese stocks listed on US stock exchanges had another rough month in February . Of the 84 Chinese ADRs I track, winners and losers are virtually evenly split: 43 had a losing month while another 41 gained. Biggest losers again were alternative energy stocks, with Suntech Power (STP) leading the ... More About: China , Update
February 2008 Score Card ? Part I: Net Worth
2008-03-04 03:30:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary The harsh reality that the Dow lost more than 430 points in the last two trading days of February didn’t help when it comes the time to count our nest eggs. In fact, the benchmark held a little gain when the market closed on February 27th. But all three ... More About: Card , Net worth , Worth , Part , Score
Weekend Linkage - March 2, 2008
2008-03-03 05:12:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Want to read some good books on personal finance? Jeremy at Generation X Finance listed 20 books that will change your life and how you think about retirement. A lot of catchup for me at least because I, sadly, didn’t read any of them Ben at Money ... More About: Weekend , Linkage , March , 2008
NJ Drivers, Time to Put down Your Cell Phone While Driving
2008-03-01 21:18:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Starting today, March 1, 2008, New Jersey’s new cell phone law becomes effective. The law makes talking or texting with a hand-held phone while driving a primary offense, which means cops can pull over the drive simply because he/she is using a hand-held phone, whether there’s any other violation ... More About: Drivers , Phone , Cell Phone , Driving , Time
Free Schick Quattro Shaver
2008-02-29 05:29:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Got this from an email from Schick yesterday when they announced their Get Experimental Video Contest. However, you don’t have to enter the contest to receive the free shaver. Use this link to claim your free shaver. When finishing the form, make sure you check the first and third options. ... More About: Free , Quattro
Yes! Car Loan Paid off by Free Money from Credit Card!!
2008-02-28 16:36:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Early last week, I contacted Citibank to request a balance transfer check from the 0% balance transfer offer from the Citi Driver’s Edge card. I want to use the free money (yes, free. 0% APR and $0 fee) to payoff our car loan which is at 4.90% APR and ... More About: Card , Credit , Money , Free , Loan
Random News: Visa IPO, Euro/Dollar and Good, all the Records
2008-02-28 04:54:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary In case you didn’t hear the news, Visa Inc., the largest credit card network, is preparing to go public next month. According to terms filed with SEC, Visa plans to sell 406 million common shares in its IPO, plus additional 40.6 million shares that will be available for underwriters, ... More About: News , Euro , Dollar , Random , Stock
Finally, I Set up a 401(k) Account
2008-02-26 16:45:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary I know, setting up a 401(k) account should be one of the first things to do after changing employer, but I waited for more than half a year to finally get it done When I started my current job last July, I didn’t have the chance of making ... More About: Retirement , Personal Finance , Finally , Account
State Street Launched S&P International Dividend ETF (DWX)
2008-02-25 16:55:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary The family of dividend-paying ETFs just got a little larger. State Street Global Advisors on February 12th launched a new dividend-oriented exchange-traded fund, S&P International Dividend ETF (DWX). The new fund tracks the S&P International Dividend Opportunities Index, which was introduced a month ago on January 25, 2008. According to ... More About: Launched
February Referral Bonuses Paid
2008-02-25 04:50:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary I want to thank those who used my referrals to sign up their brokerage and bank accounts in January! Tonight, I sent out several $20 Amazon.com gift cards to readers who responded to the referral invitations and opened and funded their Zecco and TradeKing accounts. The account opening process has ... More About: Paid , Referral , Bonus , February
Tax Software Sale at Staples.com
2008-02-24 16:53:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Staples .com is currently having a tax preparation software sale. H & R Block TaxCut Premium + State 2007: Sale price at $34.99. Buy this product and Microsoft Money Deluxe 2008 (price $40.00) and receive a $40 mail-in rebate. Note that this version of TaxCut doesn’t include e-file. TurboTax Deluxe w/State 2007: ... More About: Software
Ebates.com Referral Bonus
2008-02-23 17:50:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Do you a lot of shopping online? If you do, do you use any portal to earn rebates? I do and one of the portals I use quite often is Ebates.com. So far I have earned a total of $60.46 rebates. Not a lot, but still good. A couple of ... More About: Referral , Bonus
Friday Deals: TRENDnet 108Mbps Wireless Router for $12.99
2008-02-22 17:32:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Buy.com has TRENDnet 108Mbps 802.11GWireless Router for $12.99 after $30 mail-in rebate with free shipping. Rebate offer expires on February 29, 2008. The same product is selling at $22.99 on Amazon.com. Do you a power toothbrush? If you do, then Amazon.com has Oral B Triumph 9900 Toothbrush with Smart Guide ... More About: Friday
Savings on Autopilot: Increasing the Auto-Transfer Amount
2008-02-22 16:38:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary I have been automatically transferring a certain amount of money from our checking account to savings account on payday for quite a while. At first, $300 was moved every two weeks from our checking account at Bank of America to savings account at Emigrant Direct as part of our ... More About: Autopilot , Auto , Banking , Transfer , Savings
Yes, I Can Sue My 401(k) Administrator
2008-02-22 03:31:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary According to a NY Times article (registration required) yesterday, the US Supreme Court has ruled on February 20th that workplace retirement plan participants can sue the plan administrator to recover their losses under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The case, LaRue vs. DeWolff 06-856, is filed by ... More About: Personal Finance , Administrator
Twist & Turn with Citi Driver?s Edge Card
2008-02-21 16:35:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Before I applied for a Citi Driver ’s Edge card back in December, I thought I could take advantage of the no-fee 0% balance transfer offer for 12 months and use the money to payoff our car loan which has an interest rate of 4.90%. Since I have been a ... More About: Credit Cards , Card
Record Gold Price, Again
2008-02-21 05:28:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary US stocks reversed course Wednesday, making a 240+ points swing from down 154 points to close the session up 90 points. As stocks turned around, gold also got a boost to reach a new record of $945.80 an ounce. The precious metal rallied after a government report showed that inflation ... More About: Gold , Alternative , Price , Record
Random News: New Fund from Dodge & Cox and the End of Hi-Def DVD War
2008-02-20 04:12:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Dodge & Cox, the respected mutual fund company based in San Francisco, CA, is about to launch its fifth fund in its nearly 80 years of history. According to a story on Morningstar.com, Dodge & Cox has submitted paper to SEC for approval of a Global Stock Fund , which ... More About: News , Random
Opportunistic Rebalancing: A Portfolio Rebalancing Strategy That Times the
More articles from this author:2008-02-19 16:26:00 Original post on The Sun’s Financial Diary Do you rebalance your portfolio? If you do, how often do you rebalance? Once a year? Semi-annually? Or every quarter? Or maybe you do it whenever you think is necessary. Why rebalance? The main reason for rebalancing is to maintain a portfolio’s target asset allocation. As time goes by and market moves, ... More About: Portfolio , Strategy , Times 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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