My post on Combining Fundamental and Technical Analysis is included in the latest edition of the Money Hacks Carnival.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Mother's Day Gift Cards From Amazon.com
Posted on 13:05 by Unknown
| If you are looking for a last-minute mother's day gift, you might want to consider an Amazon.com gift card - with a mother's day design. |
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
A $50 Million FDIC Insured CD from CDARS
Posted on 22:14 by Unknown
Last year, the FDIC raised its insurance limit to $250,000. That means that, if your bank goes under, your money (up to $250,000) is guaranteed by the government.
But did you know that you can actually get an FDIC insured CD up to $50 million?
It turns out that a lot of banks belong to CDARS - the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service.
Basically, you would go to one of these banks and open up a CDARS CD. As far as you are concerned, you will have one large, FDIC insured CD - i.e. one rate and one statement.
In the background, the money will be broken up and scattered amongst all the network banks to guarantee that each portion is within the FDIC limit of $250,000.
But did you know that you can actually get an FDIC insured CD up to $50 million?
It turns out that a lot of banks belong to CDARS - the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service.
Basically, you would go to one of these banks and open up a CDARS CD. As far as you are concerned, you will have one large, FDIC insured CD - i.e. one rate and one statement.
In the background, the money will be broken up and scattered amongst all the network banks to guarantee that each portion is within the FDIC limit of $250,000.
Athletic Alley Blog Carnival
Posted on 10:33 by Unknown
My post on Business Skills of a Basketball Coach was included in the latest edition of the Athletic Alley Blog Carnival.
Monday, 4 May 2009
Downsizing to One Car
Posted on 16:09 by Unknown
Yesterday, my wife and I sold our 1990 Toyota Celica. We are now a suburban rarity: a family with only one car (a 2002 Toyota Camry).
Actually, for most of the past 20 years, I have only had one car (the Celica). I bought it in 1990, after I graduated college. I always either worked near my home or took the train downtown, so I never drove much (the Celica only had 110,000 miles when I sold it yesterday).
In 2005, we got the Camry because we were expecting my son, and needed a four-door car. Also, with an infant, my wife could not drop me off at the train station early in the morning. We bought a 2002 Camry for cash because, based on the longevity of the Celica, we learned that it is a waste of money to buy a new car (especially with a loan).
Today, we don't really need two cars. My wife doesn't work, and I now work from home - so the Celica was mostly parked on my driveway. By converting the car into cash, I figure that I have trimmed more than $50 per month in expenses (insurance, license plate fee, maintenance, gas, etc).
I put an ad on Craigslist Saturday morning, and sold it on Sunday. I listed the car for $2100 and managed to get $1550 (I disclosed the power steering leak). My wife thought we should have gotten $2000, but most of our friends thought I did well selling a 20 year old car for that much in the current market.
This experience demonstrates the depreciating nature of cars (as opposed to houses):
I bought the Celica for $18,000 in 1990 dollars. I paid more because I had a five year loan at about 13% (I paid it off in 2 years).
I sold the Celica for $1,550 in 2009 dollars.
I think I made out well because I kept the car for 20 years. But, to me, the experience reinforces my view that one should never buy a new car.
Actually, for most of the past 20 years, I have only had one car (the Celica). I bought it in 1990, after I graduated college. I always either worked near my home or took the train downtown, so I never drove much (the Celica only had 110,000 miles when I sold it yesterday).
In 2005, we got the Camry because we were expecting my son, and needed a four-door car. Also, with an infant, my wife could not drop me off at the train station early in the morning. We bought a 2002 Camry for cash because, based on the longevity of the Celica, we learned that it is a waste of money to buy a new car (especially with a loan).
Today, we don't really need two cars. My wife doesn't work, and I now work from home - so the Celica was mostly parked on my driveway. By converting the car into cash, I figure that I have trimmed more than $50 per month in expenses (insurance, license plate fee, maintenance, gas, etc).
I put an ad on Craigslist Saturday morning, and sold it on Sunday. I listed the car for $2100 and managed to get $1550 (I disclosed the power steering leak). My wife thought we should have gotten $2000, but most of our friends thought I did well selling a 20 year old car for that much in the current market.
This experience demonstrates the depreciating nature of cars (as opposed to houses):
I bought the Celica for $18,000 in 1990 dollars. I paid more because I had a five year loan at about 13% (I paid it off in 2 years).
I sold the Celica for $1,550 in 2009 dollars.
I think I made out well because I kept the car for 20 years. But, to me, the experience reinforces my view that one should never buy a new car.
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Anything Goes and General News Carnival
Posted on 20:09 by Unknown
Its 55th (and last) edition has a lot of great posts, including my post on Niche Business Focus: Astrologists Sara Freder and Larry Pesavento.
Friday, 1 May 2009
Oswego Townhouse Nightmare
Posted on 07:44 by Unknown
| In Oswego, IL, a far southern Chicago suburb, a townhouse project called "Seasons at Southbury" has been abandoned by the developer, who just disappeared. Of the 38 buildings planned, only 8 buildings have been started. They are still a mix of finished and unfinished units. Now, owners there are stuck with dirt yards, boarded-up houses next door, and dumped mounds of trash. They have to worry about animals and they do not know if they will have any association services. They still pay their monthly dues but, because most of the land still belongs to the developer, the developer is the homeowner's association. |
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