Wise Bread Forums - Personal Finance

Wise Bread Forums - Personal Finance http://www.wisebread.com/forums Credit cards, investments, career, consumer affairs, retirement and general financial issues. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:21:59 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.wisebread.com/forums/images/wb-graphics/misc/rss.jpg Wise Bread Forums - Personal Finance http://www.wisebread.com/forums Looking for safe International POS for CC cash out???contact me http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/looking-safe-international-pos-cc-cash-out-contact-me-10269.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:40:45 GMT talk to me ICQ 578934980 talk to me

ICQ 578934980 ]]> Personal Finance jayjay19780214 http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/looking-safe-international-pos-cc-cash-out-contact-me-10269.html Money Lessons from the Animal Kingdom http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/money-lessons-animal-kingdom-10013.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:55:53 GMT Animals/Insects are all around us but we never take the time out to see the financial lessons we can learn from them. I would like to share the following with you:

Envision A Better Life Like A Caterpillar

I believe that it would probably be easy for the lowly caterpillar to despair as it crawls along the pathways of life. Inching along at a painfully slow pace as it tries to eke out a living, dodging the threats of extermination from humans who despise its very existence. Why should a caterpillar dare to dream of a better life?
Yet within the spirit of the caterpillar there lies the hope of a butterfly. As long as it keeps the dream alive, this insect will continue to strive until the day it becomes one of nature’s most beautiful and desirable creatures.

In these tough economic times, you may be tempted to dwell on your current money problems and think that there is no hope. When you think of the caterpillar, be inspired to hope for a brighter future, despite the challenges of your current financial situation. As author Alvin Day asserted in his motivational book, “If caterpillars can fly, so can I!”

Be like a caterpillar and don't give up!
]]> Personal Finance FinanciallySMART http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/money-lessons-animal-kingdom-10013.html The Deeply Discounted Grocery Program Worked!!! http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/deeply-discounted-grocery-program-worked-9885.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:03:08 GMT The Deeply Discounted Grocery Program Worked!!!

I want to share this amazing tip that I just received about the programs at
http://savingmorethanbefore.com I went to the supermarket with my neighbor
two weeks ago and she left with an overflowing cart of groceries and non food
items and to my shock only had to pay $ 23.36. She told me how she joined the
program at the website above. As soon as I got home I joined the program as
well. Last night I went shopping for Thanksgiving. We are having 12 people
over as we do every year. My grocery bill for this holiday has always been
in the neighborhood of $ 250.00. Thanks to this wonderful program this years
bill was only $ 31.19! I am so excited I want to share this wonderful program
with everyone I can! I have to say that their wholesale mall is equally great. I
have never seen so many name brand products at such ridiculously low prices. I
just finished my Christmas shopping and I can't help but smile thinking how
little I spent! ]]> Personal Finance helenyates http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/deeply-discounted-grocery-program-worked-9885.html The Progression of Unemployment In the U.S. http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/progression-unemployment-u-s-9857.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:50:57 GMT I just posted this which simply shows the percentage progression of unemployment in the U.S. by county since 2007. Any guess where we stop? http://thewisebuck.com/2009/11/15/the-progression-of-unemployment-in-the-u-s/ I just posted this which simply shows the percentage progression of unemployment in the U.S. by county since 2007. Any guess where we stop?

http://thewisebuck.com/2009/11/15/th...nt-in-the-u-s/ ]]> Personal Finance The Wise Buck http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/progression-unemployment-u-s-9857.html Do people with dollars need to worry about China? http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/do-people-dollars-need-worry-about-china-9854.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:50:16 GMT People holding dollars have plenty of things to worry about, but I'd put the economic relationship with China pretty far down on the list.

The China/US economic relationship is in the news a lot lately, and a lot of people get it wrong. There's talk of how China could "bring the US to its knees" by "cashing in their dollars," and that's just not true.

The US has huge assets--large amounts of capital, a skilled workforce, land, natural resources--that would make it pretty straightforward for the US to get by without trade with China (or anywhere else). We'd all have a lower standard of living--a flat-screen TV or iPod made by US workers would cost a lot more--but it would be entirely possible. (In particular, people would be more able to buy that expensive stuff because they'd all have good jobs.)

The big exception here is oil, but that's a different kind of issue. We have plenty of things to trade for oil, even if China quits lending us the money to buy cheap goods made in China. Like everything else, oil would get more expensive, but that would not be a catastrophe. (At least, I hope not, since it's going to happen anyway.)

I've written about this before, most specifically in What if foreigners quit lending the US so much money, but I just ran across a great article by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard at the Telegraph that gets this bit exactly right:

Quote:

It is fashionable to talk of America as the supplicant. That misreads the strategic balance. Washington can bring China to its knees at any time by shutting markets. There is no symmetry here. Any move by Beijing to liquidate its holdings of US Treasuries could be neutralized – in extremis – by capital controls. Well-armed sovereign states can do whatever they want.

If provoked, the US has the economic depth to retreat into near autarky (with NAFTA) and retool its industries behind tariff walls – as Britain did in the 1930s under Imperial Preference. In such circumstances, China would collapse. Mao statues would be toppled by street riots.

Here's the link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/c...d-economy.html ]]> Personal Finance Philip Brewer http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/do-people-dollars-need-worry-about-china-9854.html <![CDATA[Do 'Free Phone Calls Work']]> http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/do-free-phone-calls-work-9801.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:57:07 GMT Hey guys, in relation to this post (http://artofstinginess.com/?p=96) on a blog, I was wondering if anyone has every tried anything like this. When I first started reading it I thought they were spoofing but by the end it actually seems plausible. Has anyone had any success with this? :confused: Hey guys, in relation to this post on a blog, I was wondering if anyone has every tried anything like this.

When I first started reading it I thought they were spoofing but by the end it actually seems plausible. Has anyone had any success with this?
:confused: ]]> Personal Finance dean0088 http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/do-free-phone-calls-work-9801.html Getting Out of Dollars, But Into What? http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/getting-out-dollars-but-into-what-9743.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:52:04 GMT The U.S. Dollar continues to get beaten up pretty badly, hitting a 15 month low this week against the Euro. While we feel wonderful about the stock market being up 50% since March, the reality is our dollar keeps going down. With the current and projected trade deficits, its seems like the dollar will continue to weaken for some time. I'm not a currency trading expert but it seems like there is very little to keep the dollar strong.

So great if you want to get out of dollars but what to get into? I've invested in Energy which is one way of doing this. Gold is another but I have never particularly been a fan of an asset that has no real function. Oil, for all the environmental problems, can still propel a car down the road at 65 MPH.

Looking for ideas outside of those two that would likely shelter a portfolio from the dollars continual decline. Any currencies from governments that don't have extreme deficits like ours or are overly dependent on us buying their stuff? Other assets that are likely to increase in value as the dollar declines?

I have trading accounts, so please don't let me know where I can trade Forex. Just looking for ideas.

SoCal ]]> Personal Finance Socal104 http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/getting-out-dollars-but-into-what-9743.html CD or Savings?? http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/cd-savings-9679.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:58:05 GMT I currently have a 1 year CD with ING Direct that has $2000 in it with an interest rate of 1.9%. I also have a Savings Account with ING Direct that currently has about $3500 in it. I add $100 to this savings account every week, and this Interest rate is 1.3%. My question is, should I close my CD and put all my money into my Savings account? Im not sure what is most profitable. If anyone can help me out that would be great! Thanks so much!! I currently have a 1 year CD with ING Direct that has $2000 in it with an interest rate of 1.9%. I also have a Savings Account with ING Direct that currently has about $3500 in it. I add $100 to this savings account every week, and this Interest rate is 1.3%. My question is, should I close my CD and put all my money into my Savings account? Im not sure what is most profitable. If anyone can help me out that would be great! Thanks so much!! ]]> Personal Finance kristine22 http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/cd-savings-9679.html NEW Study Finds Credit Card Companies Con Consumers and Small Businesses http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/new-study-finds-credit-card-companies-con-consumers-small-businesses-9618.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:38:39 GMT http://thecreditcardcon.com/2009/study-finds-credit-card-companies-con-consumers-and-small-businesses/ Check it out. Join our group, and feel free to friend me on FB. We have to ban together to keep from being gouged. FB: colin rogero FB group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/The-Credit-Card-Con/172887192341?ref=ts Twitter @creditcardcon WS: www.thecreditcardcon.com http://thecreditcardcon.com/2009/stu...ll-businesses/

Check it out. Join our group, and feel free to friend me on FB. We have to ban together to keep from being gouged.

FB: colin rogero

FB group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/p...7192341?ref=ts

Twitter @creditcardcon

WS: www.thecreditcardcon.com ]]> Personal Finance Colin http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/new-study-finds-credit-card-companies-con-consumers-small-businesses-9618.html NEW Study Finds Credit Card Companies Con Consumers and Small Businesses http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/new-study-finds-credit-card-companies-con-consumers-small-businesses-9617.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:13:38 GMT http://thecreditcardcon.com/2009/study-finds-credit-card-companies-con-consumers-and-small-businesses/ Check it out. Join our group, and feel free to friend me on FB. We have to ban together to keep from being gouged. FB: colin rogero FB group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/The-Credit-Card-Con/172887192341?ref=ts Twitter @creditcardcon WS: www.thecreditcardcon.com http://thecreditcardcon.com/2009/stu...ll-businesses/

Check it out. Join our group, and feel free to friend me on FB. We have to ban together to keep from being gouged.

FB: colin rogero

FB group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/p...7192341?ref=ts

Twitter @creditcardcon

WS: www.thecreditcardcon.com ]]> Personal Finance Colin http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/new-study-finds-credit-card-companies-con-consumers-small-businesses-9617.html Credit Card Companies Increasing Transaction FEES! http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/credit-card-companies-increasing-transaction-fees-9535.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:00:04 GMT Fellow consumers, Credit Card Companies are increasing rates on small businesses yet again. YES, these are the SAME COMPANIES, that couldn't survive without tax payer money.

It's not right. We can fight back. Anyone have thoughts? ]]> Personal Finance Colin http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/credit-card-companies-increasing-transaction-fees-9535.html Appraising a House with a nice backyard- Help http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/appraising-house-nice-backyard-help-9039.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:36:14 GMT I am from the east coast but moving to Madison, WI soon for a new job and looking to buy a house for the first time! We had taken a short trip to Madison few days ago to meet with our realtors and look at about 10-20 prospective houses. Of which we liked one, it has a good floor plan, good neighborhood and good sun light (on the downside it does need a lot of updating- it has old appliances and bad bathrooms) but one of the biggest asset of the house is the backyard, it’s very private and large with a small stream flowing through it. Now after doing some marketing analysis we realized that the houses in the same neighborhood have been selling at an average of about 118-130 per sq/ft. This house however is priced at 150 per sq/ft and we thought its really over priced but our realtor has been telling us that the yard can easily add almost $100,000 to the value of the house. Is this true? I did look through several websites and did some research but I couldn’t validate this information, just wondering any one here with good real estate knowledge who could guide us with this. I will be happy to provide more details. Help is appreciated :)
I am from the east coast but moving to Madison, WI soon for a new job and looking to buy a house for the first time! We had taken a short trip to Madison few days ago to meet with our realtors and look at about 10-20 prospective houses. Of which we liked one, it has a good floor plan, good neighborhood and good sun light (on the downside it does need a lot of updating- it has old appliances and bad bathrooms) but one of the biggest asset of the house is the backyard, it’s very private and large with a small stream flowing through it.

Now after doing some marketing analysis we realized that the houses in the same neighborhood have been selling at an average of about 118-130 per sq/ft. This house however is priced at 150 per sq/ft and we thought its really over priced but our realtor has been telling us that the yard can easily add almost $100,000 to the value of the house. Is this true? I did look through several websites and did some research but I couldn’t validate this information, just wondering any one here with good real estate knowledge who could guide us with this. I will be happy to provide more details.
Help is appreciated :) ]]> Personal Finance skd8 http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/appraising-house-nice-backyard-help-9039.html Balance Transfer Vs. Paying off one credit card with another http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/balance-transfer-vs-paying-off-one-credit-card-another-8944.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:48:13 GMT Right now, I currently have two credit cards. My visa has a LOC of $1,500 and my balance is $0. My Discover has a LOC of $4,750 and my balance is $3,755.

I am trying to do all I can to pay off this bill. Prior to the summer, the interest rate was 29%. In July, upon my request, they decreased the rate to 16.5%.

Now, just last week, I received a letter from Discover, informing me that they are increasing their interest rate up to 27% in December. The letter stated that if I didn't agree to this increase, I could notify them and they would close the account, leaving me with my current balance at my current interest rate.

So, I am debating either transferring the balance to a new credit card, or simply signing up for a new credit card with 0% intro apr and paying a large chunk of the Discover bill with it.

I have never done anything like this before and I only want to open up another credit card if it will definitely help me pay off this bill. It seems like having 0% interest for 3-6 months will be a huge help in getting this debt paid off.

I would love to hear suggestions & tips from people with experience. I also want to take my credit score into consideration with opening a new account. I really just want to get this one credit card balance down and manageable.

I appreciate the help! ]]> Personal Finance tidalwave http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/balance-transfer-vs-paying-off-one-credit-card-another-8944.html To Cancel an Account or Not http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/cancel-account-not-8940.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:26:08 GMT Hello everyone, I come to the forum with a question regarding whether or not I should cancel an account I have which I have that has been carrying no balance.

I currently have 3 open credit accounts...

#1 (The one I have considered cancelling) was an account I opened to purchase a bed. It has a $5,000 LOC and I used $900 of it. I paid it off in 14 months and it has had no balance for 2 or 3 months now.

#2 is a credit card that I have had for about two years now. I used it sparingly just to maintain a credit history and carry a balance. I made some minium payments, some double minimums and equal as many payments between 50-100 to cut the balance in half. This card currently has no balance either and has not for 3-4 months. I have a LOC of $2,000 on this account.

#3 is the card I am currently using. I transfered a $200 balance from #2 to #3 to take advantage of a 0% balance transfer offer that this company had mailed to me. Since I am trying to build a credit history I figured it would be beneficial. Currently I have a $300 balance on this card. I COULD pay the card off if I wanted to but since I don't have anything else to pay for I figured I would just make small payments and small purchase and carry a small balance.

The only thing is, this account has the smallest LOC (1500) of all. But does this matter to the credit beaureas since I'm not carrying any other debts?

My main question is whether or not I should get rid of that big account. Since I really don't plan on buying furniture from the place ever again. But from the rest of the stuff I wrote any general advice is welcome.

I feel like an idiot on this forum since I graduated with a BA in Finance last November. But at my university at least you read book after book but they don't give you practicle knowledge like this. Kind of a slap in the face.

Thank you.

(Also I will add.. I have NOTHING else in my name. No cell phones, even my apartment is under my girlfriend and our her friends name (I'm third on the lease but I don't bother even having my name on the reciepts) Even my college loans are in my parents name. (Parents weren't familar with how to put them in mine.) So I really have no credit history other than all of this. Its not great, but at least I've never put myself into a bad place financially.) ]]> Personal Finance EddyDizzle http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/cancel-account-not-8940.html Help! How to Pay off Credit Card with 2 Different Interest Rates? http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/help-how-pay-off-credit-card-2-different-interest-rates-8881.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:42:25 GMT I have just one credit card with a balance, but it's just over $10,000. $5,000 of it is locked in at a promo rate of 1.99%. The other $5,000 is currently at 15.9% (increased from 5.9% about six months ago!)

It's my understanding that the credit card company applies my monthly payment toward interest and the principal on the 1.99% balance first, and won't start applying any of it to the 15.9% balance until the lower rate balance is paid off. They make more money that way.

My question for you wise 'Wisebreaders' is what is the fastest way to pay off the entire $10,000? I can swing $700 per month, maybe more.

I'd love to hear your ideas. Many, Many thanks!! ]]> Personal Finance beachy http://www.wisebread.com/forums/personal-finance/help-how-pay-off-credit-card-2-different-interest-rates-8881.html