Update 11/3/13: The new rates for November 2013-April 2014 are 0.20% fixed and 1.18% variable. See details here. … [Read the rest]
Savings I-Bonds September/October 2013 Rate Speculation
October 31, 2013 By 19 Comments
Last updated: November 3, 2013
Lessons from a Man Living on $5,000 a Year
October 28, 2013 By 30 Comments
Can a person live in the US on only $5,000 a year? According to this NBC News article and this Youtube video, Dan Price has been doing it for 20 years. I enjoy these kinds of interviews as they reinforce the fact that we all make choices every … [Read the rest]
Last updated: February 25, 2015
Ally Bank CD Early Withdrawal Penalty Change: Details & Analysis
October 27, 2013 By 7 Comments
Ally Bank just announced that they will be changing the early withdrawal policy on their CDs starting on December 7, 2013. Found via Ken Tumin's DepositAccounts post, the details are now officially outlined in the fees tab of their certificates of … [Read the rest]
Last updated: January 5, 2015
Quick Reference: Membership Rewards vs. Starwood Points vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards
October 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Due to birth of our first child, we haven't been traveling much the last 24 months. However, I've still been racking up the miles (via credit card bonuses, credit card rewards, dining rewards, and shopping portals) and have built up a sizable pile … [Read the rest]
Last updated: October 24, 2013
American Express Membership Rewards Transfer Bonuses – British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Choice Hotels
October 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
American Express occasionally runs limited-time promotions that increase the transfer rate from their Membership Rewards points. To see these bonuses, visit MembershipRewards.com. Currently promotions: British Airways 20% Bonus. That makes … [Read the rest]
Last updated: October 24, 2013
Lessons from the First Jobs of Financial Gurus
October 24, 2013 By 5 Comments
Chris Taylor of Reuters has been writing some mini-interviews about the first jobs of well-known finance gurus like Warren Buffett and Jack Bogle. They include newspaper delivery boys, retail stockboy, gofer, shoeshine boy, USPS mail sorter, … [Read the rest]
Last updated: October 24, 2013
Amazon Free Super Saver Shipping: Higher $35 Minimum, Officially Slower
October 23, 2013 By 26 Comments
Amazon.com recently announced changes to their Free Super Saver Shipping program. First, the minimum order size for "free shipping" has increased to $35 from $25. Second, it is officially getting slower: With free shipping, your order will be … [Read the rest]
Last updated: April 29, 2014
International Bonds Now Largest Asset Class in World Market
October 21, 2013 By 9 Comments
This Vanguard article included an infographic (see below) that shows the growth of international bonds as an asset class. If you were to consider the world's investable market as split between bonds and equities, internationally-issued bonds are … [Read the rest]
Last updated: October 21, 2013
Fidelity 529 College Savings Plan Index Portfolios & Fee Reducton
October 17, 2013 By 2 Comments
Fidelity Investments recently made a 40% reduction on the management fees for their direct-sold 529 Index Portfolios, with total expense ratios now ranging from 0.19-0.29%, down from 0.25-0.35%. Fidelity runs 529 plans based in New Hampshire, … [Read the rest]
Last updated: October 17, 2013
Free Online Finance and Retirement Planning Course from Stanford
October 15, 2013 By 5 Comments
Stanford University is offering a free open online course "Finance of Retirement & Pensions" taught by Joshua Rauh, Professor of Finance, running 10/14-12/13. Here's the course description and a video: In this eight-week course, you will learn … [Read the rest]
Last updated: October 15, 2013
Uncrustables and the Many Degrees of Frugality
October 14, 2013 By 7 Comments
At the recommendation of reader from one of my Cost of Convenience posts, I have been reading the book Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese. In it, Reese does many similar cooking experiments where she decides whether it is better to … [Read the rest]
Last updated: April 25, 2019
How Simple or Complex Are Your Finances?
October 10, 2013 By 10 Comments
Dan Kadlec of Time magazine offers up 9 Ways to Simplify Your Finances. I always swing back and forth, wanting a nice simple financial life one day, and the next day itching to try out all the cool new financial tools out there. I tend to split … [Read the rest]
Last updated: May 14, 2014
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