I’ve recently decided that I should take a hard look into getting a home refinance loan. Home interest rates are the lowest they have ever been in history and I need to take advantage of this opportunity before it is too late. However, the road may not be easy given how much I still owe on my house and what I think it is worth. I feel a lot of people are probably in this situation and curious about what options they may have. With that said, hopefully you find this series of posts useful towards your own efforts. … [Read more...] about Adventures in Refinancing, Chapter 1
Farewell Steve Jobs
This week the world lost Steve Jobs, one of the most influential figures in the technology and business world. Although Apple didn’t invent mp3’s or cell phones, they certainly created a phenomenal market for these items with their outstanding and must-have products such as the iPod and iPhone. Steve’s vision for these products and ability to get his company to innovate these creations is what took Apple from an ordinary computer maker to one of the strongest and most powerful companies in the world to date. One of my favorite stories about Steve Jobs is when he was first brought back to Apple in the late 90’s a few years after he was forced to leave. The company was heading towards bankruptcy and needed a change. At the time, Apple had … [Read more...] about Farewell Steve Jobs
Book Reivew: “Stop Acting Rich: …And Start Living Like a Real Millionaire” by Dr. Thomas J. Stanley
Think all rich people drink fancy wine and drive luxury cars? How about the inverse – that everyone who lives in an expensive home or wears a Swiss watch is a millionaire? You’d be very surprised to learn that most “true millionaires” are nothing like this. In his latest book “The Millionaire Next Door” and … [Read more...] about Book Reivew: “Stop Acting Rich: …And Start Living Like a Real Millionaire” by Dr. Thomas J. Stanley
Bank of America and the Slippery Slope of Banking Fees
It’s no surprise that Bank of America (BofA) started charging a $5 fee for using their debit card. After all, they must really be hurting for money after only receiving a $5 billion dollar investment last August from Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet’s company! ... Right! Seriously, this event is just another data point along a long trend of obnoxious fees that rolls us further and further down the slippery slope of expenses that are eroding away our daily finances. Unfortunately, it’s not just the banks, but airlines, energy companies, cell phones, and many others. … [Read more...] about Bank of America and the Slippery Slope of Banking Fees
My Money Design Update – Top Money Book Recommendations
Recently, I have changed the “Top Recommendations” section under the “Books” tab to a page that will contain a collection of my favorite money books. Please feel free to visit this new page and review my recommendations. These are all books I have read and I believe you could learn a great deal of knowledge from them. I will be updating the list periodically as I continue my quest for more great books. Please also feel free to make your own recommendations under the “Comments”. … [Read more...] about My Money Design Update – Top Money Book Recommendations
Does Extreme Couponing = A Good Use of Your Time?
My wife has an interesting theory about the people on the show Extreme Couponing: They are really just organized hoarders! How can you not come to such a conclusion? As seen on the show, they turn their entire garage into store-like aisles full of goodies they got for “free”. They have rows upon rows of frivolous items such as +800 toothbrushes or +500 sticks of deodorant. How about the sacred 6-inch thick binder that is packed full of coupons but is still somehow categorized? My personal favorite: When they go dumpster diving looking for newspaper circulars! Heck, in one episode I saw, they even bring along their kids and friends! Yes, people do some pretty crazy things to save a buck. Before I upset any couponers, I want you to … [Read more...] about Does Extreme Couponing = A Good Use of Your Time?
Book Review: “Higher Returns from Safe Investments” by Marvin Appel
This isn’t another book of “buy a bunch of stocks, hold them for 30 years, and hope for the best” type of investment advice. “Higher Returns from Safe Investments: Using Bonds, Stocks, and Options to Generate Lifetime Income” by Marvin Appel delivers an alternative perspective on the risks and returns from other types of investments; namely bonds. However, he doesn’t just stop there. The book also covers a broad range of other under-appreciated investments such as high-dividend stocks, preferred stocks, and covered call options. I’ll be the first to admit: There is nothing sexy about reading a book about bonds. But after experiencing the evaporation of money during the Great Recession of 2008, I think a book with this sort of title … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Higher Returns from Safe Investments” by Marvin Appel
Book Review: “Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future” by Robert B. Reich
No, this isn’t a mistake. I didn’t just publish the same post twice. This summer, I read two separate books titled “Aftershock”. Each one was about our economy and fortunately they were both outstanding! For my review of the other “Aftershock” book by Wiedemer, Wiedemer, and Spitzer, click here. “Aftershock” by Robert Reich was a liberal perspective towards understanding our economic mess, what it could turn into, and how we can solve it. The theme of this book is simple: • Without change, the middle class will not be able to sustain our economy. … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future” by Robert B. Reich
