Articles on Personal Finance

The Dichotomy of Media Messages

When I had an occasion to watch some television recently, I was absolutely horrified with what I saw. Read on for the details...

Gas Is High Enough….

Watching my local newscast a few nights ago, I was disturbed by the assumption that the anchor made regarding rising gas prices and consumer reaction.

Book review: Work Less, Live More

Early retirement is a topic I've always been interested in.  The particular version of it that this book deals with--living well on less money, as a means to getting by wit

Sittin' on Dubs: The Andrew Jackson Proposal

Twenty dollars isn't what it used to be and for that matter, given recent events, neither is $100, $1,000 or $10,000. With consumer confidence waning, why not get your swagger

Get Paid for your Psychic Skills at Predictify

My ex-coworker told me that he is applying to a new startup called Predictify. He showed me their website and I was intrigued. Basically, the company lets people predict events t

The Same Actions Will Produce The Same Results (Ten Tenets for Arranging Your Rich: Part 2)

A while back I posted the first of what I promised would be "Ten Tenets to Arranging Your Rich". And wouldn't you know it, right after posting Tenet #1, things got

Why You Should Donate a Blood Sucking Timeshare

My parents always told me that buying a timeshare is a bad idea because of the inflated upfront cost and perpetual maintenance and exchange fees the timeshare companies pile on.

Getting Around the Guidebook: Techniques for Researching your Trip Without Spending a Fortune

If you are planning a big trip with multiple countries on the itinerary, purchasing a

Save More Gas by Safely Following Trucks

I have been trying to drive at 55 miles per hour to save gas, and I am doing it by driving behind big trucks in the slow lane so that I do not get honked at or pulled over by the h

Laddering for higher, more stable returns

When investing in things that pay an interest rate--things like CDs and bonds--it's tempting to try to get the maximum interest rate, and then to try to lock up that rate for a

There is no Tomorrow.

Are you waiting for tomorrow for things to be different? To make changes, or refocus? I've got news for you...

Why the Boycott Isn’t Working

I hear it all the time. Some disgruntled consumer, employee, patron or the like decides that a boycott is in order. In theory, a

What if foreigners quit lending the US so much money?

One of the bugaboos of the financial doom-and-gloom crowd is the worry that foreigners (China in particular, but also oil exporting countries in the Middle-East, and others) might

What will you do when gas hits $4 per gallon?

The image you're looking at is a classic VW ad from 1979, a response to the gas crisis at that time. I just filled up my tank, and 16 gallons of Plus Unleaded cost me over $52

The Bailbondsman Approach: Why Some Of Us Stay Broke

The government is letting people think that it's okay to make bad choices. The Treasury is rewarding bad behavior and the consumer is learning nothing except to keep up the

Savers suffering as rates fall--what to do

Interest rates for ordinary savers held up pretty well after the first Fed rate cut in July last year.  There was a simple reason--banks needed the money.  With the cr

Road To Becoming A Rich Idiot

Ever met a rich idiot? I’ve known at least two. Not counting my telephone conversation with self-proclaimed Rich Idiot and multimillionaire Robert Shemin (author of “How come TH

Eight Natural Ways to Make Water More Flavorful

The main reason that people don't drink water is that it is tasteless and not very "fun" to drink. On the other hand, water is considered more healthy than sodas so

Could a Divorce Improve Your Finances?

When I was single, I thought that getting married would reduce my expenses greatly, and after I got married I realized that in some instances

The weird logic of economic growth

Ever notice that we have names for a period when the economy isn't growing (recession or depression), but there's no name for when it is growing?  If they call it anything,