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Best Interest Rates on Cash – May 2018

Interest rates are rising. Rate-chasing is becoming more worthwhile again. Here is my monthly roundup of the best safe rates available, roughly sorted from shortest to longest maturities. Check out my Ultimate Rate-Chaser Calculator to get an idea … [Read the rest]

Savings I Bonds May 2018 Interest Rate: 2.22% Inflation Rate, 0.30% Fixed Rate

Update 5/1/18. The fixed rate will be 0.30% for I bonds issued from May 1, 2018 through October 31, 2018. The variable inflation-indexed rate for this 6-month period will be 2.22% (as was predicted). The total rate on any specific bond is the sum … [Read the rest]

Tipping Chart: Low vs. Average vs. High Tipper Survey

Tipping. Everyone's got an opinion. The thing I hate most about tipping is the feeling of "I'm not doing this right". To better understand it, I read a book about tipping by a veteran waiter. There are now several "tipping guides", but I like … [Read the rest]

Amazon Price Hike: Gift of Prime Membership Still $99

Amazon Prime has announced the following price increases to $119 per year: Starting May 11, 2018, new members will be charged $119/year for an annual Prime membership and $59/year for an annual Prime Student membership. Starting June 16, 2018, … [Read the rest]

Betterment Review: Customized Asset Allocation, Human Financial Advisors

Updated April 2018 with custom ETF allocations. Betterment is an independent hybrid digital/human advisor that will manage a diversified mix of low-cost index funds and help you decide how much you'll need to save for retirement. (By independent, … [Read the rest]

Audible Returning Trial Members: 2 Free AudioBooks + $10 Amazon Gift Card (Targeted)

If you've already done a free trial of Audible.com and gotten some free audiobooks... Amazon might like to offer you another trial with two more free audiobooks plus a $10 Amazon gift card! This offer may be targeted and appears to be open to … [Read the rest]

Reader Question: Tracking Asset Allocation Across Multiple Investment Accounts

Here's a reader question regarding my most recent portfolio asset allocation update. It has been edited for clarity and to remove personal details by request: Thank you for posting the quarterly finance updates. I would like to do something … [Read the rest]

Amazon Prime: Buy Sample Box, Get Equal Credit Towards Similar Products

Updated with new Snack and other sample boxes. Amazon Prime members can buy sample boxes that come with a credit towards a future purchase in that specific product category. Right now, you can buy a snack sample box for $9.99 and then you'll get an … [Read the rest]

Georgia Tech Online Master’s Degree Update: Computer Science $7,000, Data Analytics $10,000

Maybe I'm foolish, but I remain hopeful about the potential of software leading to more affordable, accessible education. In 2014, Georgia Tech launched an Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) with the goal of offering an accredited, … [Read the rest]

1.1.1.1: Free DNS Server for Faster Internet, Better Privacy

Every time you visit a domain like mymoneyblog.com, you use a DNS server to find its "address", specifically IP address. However, your internet service provider (ISP) may be logging every single request then selling this data to other advertisers. … [Read the rest]

Target Car Seat Trade-In Program: 20% Off Car Seats and Strollers

In the market for a new car seat or stroller? Target is running their Car Seat Trade-in Event from Sunday, April 22 through Saturday, May 5, 2018. Simply bring in an old car seat or car seat base into a Target store and they will give you a 20% … [Read the rest]

LendingTree Chart: Mortgage Rates vs. Credit Score 2018

Mortgage rates are rising. Home prices are still at recent highs. Yet, mortgage applications are also up, which suggests that people are worried about not being able to afford a house if they wait. Online mortgage comparison site LendingTree … [Read the rest]