Achieving Financial Bliss

A timely return

2007-08-12T15:45:00.000-04:00

So I have been away for a while but I am back in action. For how long? I can't say. I guess it depends on my readership. The market has been on a roller coaster ride! Well I am going to get my act together and start posting great stuff!

Investing in Mutual Funds

2007-01-24T17:22:00.000-05:00

So I have been toying with the idea of actually investing a substantial amount in the stock market. After much reading and searching I decided to go the mutual funds way. I have a 401(K) at work and last year (2006) I had a YTD return of about 16% not bad! SO why not use the same strategy with some of my personal money. I opened an account with Vanguard and invested in VTSMX with the minimum investment of $3,000. I will be contributing $200 a month to this account. I am looking into investing in other funds as well.

Investing is a risky business so beware. More to follow on this topic.

Sorry Sorry Sorry

2007-01-24T17:18:00.002-05:00

I apologize for not updating my blog. I have had one heck of a month. Wow! I hopefully have a new high paying job, saving more, bought a new car. It is awesome! Granted it was a very bad decision but you know what, this is the time I have to live a little. No more extravagant expenditures. No no no!

Things left to do:
1. Negotiate a great salary/package (within the next 2 days).
*******
3. Start investing more.

Net Worth Update: Financial Snapshot Jan 1st

2007-01-02T20:37:00.000-05:00

Ouch! December was a tough month. I was a little too generous this holiday season. Oh well! I can't be Mr. Scrooge all the time. Besides $630 of my credit card debt is for the PS3 I bought for my brother's birthday which is coming soon. My goal for this year is to save a lot more and I am going to work hard to do this. By the way, if anyone knows where I can get a Wii let me know! (Not eBay... a regular store). Personal experience, Wii seeker mislead me and I waited in the cold for 16 hours only to find out Best Buy had no Wii shipment coming in. And, oh! They have the most rudest staff, that's the case in most Best Buy's here on the east coast.

AmTrust Direct CD Rates

2006-12-25T13:28:00.000-05:00

AmTrust Direct's e-money market account is currently paying 5.30% and their CD rates are not that bad either.
Minimum deposit to open and earn interest: $1,000.00
Compound frequency: Daily

CD Term	Interest Rate	APY
6 MONTH PROMO CD	5.317%	5.46%
9 MONTH PROMO CD	5.270%	5.41%
12 MONTH PROMO CD	5.270%	5.41%
18 MONTH PROMO CD	5.023%	5.15%
24-MONTH PROMO CD	4.927%	5.05%
30 MONTH PROMO CD	4.927%	5.05%
36-MONTH PROMO CD	4.880%	5.00%
60 MONTH PROMO CD	4.975%	5.10%

Indymac Bank CD Rates

2006-12-25T13:23:00.000-05:00

As CD rates drop across the board, Indymac Bank has substantially better rates than most. Here is a look at their Internet CD Rates:

Term		Interest Rate		APY

3 Month	5.31%	5.45%
5 Month	5.21%	5.35%
6 Month	5.31%	5.45%
7 Month	4.93%	5.05%
9 Month	5.07%	5.20%
1 Year	5.12%	5.25%
18 Month	4.88%	5.00%
2 Year	4.69%	4.80%
3 Year	4.69%	4.80%
4 Year	4.69%	4.80%
5 Year	4.69%	4.80%

Product Features and Requirements
·	Minimum to open is $5,000 (Internet Only).
·	Terms are from 90 days to 5 years.
·	For customized terms, other than those listed above, please call our Customer Contact Center.
·	Interest is compounded daily and paid or reinvested into the account monthly or at maturity. The interest rate depends on the term of the CD.
·	A penalty will be assessed for early withdrawal.
·	For your convenience, your CD renews automatically for the same term at the current rate at that time.

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-25T13:22:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays to all!

GMAC Bank Rate Drop

2006-12-15T04:16:00.000-05:00

GMAC Bank's online savings account rate dropped from 5.25% to 5.20%. Their CD rates dropped as well.

E-Loan Savings Account Rate Drop

2006-12-07T10:34:00.000-05:00

E-Loan Savings account rates dropped from 5.50% APY to 5.38% APY. As you might have noticed E-Loan has dramatically slashed down their rates on CD from 5.75% to 5.25% and below. Where CD rates depend on the balance. I personally am disappointed with E-Loan. They have had one too many glitches, other problems and rate drops. What's in store for E-Loan? Only time will tell. Tomorrow we shall see what the other online savings banks are going to do with their rates like GMAC who update their rates every Friday. They might be slashing down their rates very soon.

Are Gift Cards Worth It?

2006-12-04T08:37:00.000-05:00

More and more people now give out gift cards as holiday gifts. May it be that the person you are shopping for is very picky, very hard to shop for or that you are just crunched for time. But are gift cards worth it? In my opinion, not most of the time. Rather than churning up a story let me list some of the problems I see.
CONS:

Might expire and or charge monthly, yearly or dormant fees.
A person is restricted to use the card at a particular place.
If lost or stolen can be hard and or costly to replace.
People forget to use them at times.

These are just some of the cons. And guess who profits? The company you bought the card from. I for one do not feel like throwing away money like this. So what should you do instead? Now personally if you are going to give some one a gift card, give the person cash or a check. Why? It's the same amount you would have spent on the gift card or maybe cheaper given some card issuers like American Express charge a fee. Feel bad about just giving cash? Many banks have fancy holiday cash envelopes, utilize those. Be creative and get like $2 bills or something. Just saying that in my opinion it is better to give out hard cash or check in a fancy way than giving plastic.

Net Worth Update: Financial Snapshot Dec 1st

2006-12-03T09:45:00.000-05:00

This month went surprisingly well. The reason I have over $3,000 increase in my net worth is because of a bonus I got at work. But still this is huge for me! I did loose about $450 in the stock market. I cashed out a few stocks. I got checks from my mystery shops and surveys that I had done a month before that were around $200 so that was great. Now that the holiday season is here and I have a long list of friends and family to buy gifts for I am sure to make a dent in my savings. But I will try to be a little conservative on my spending. Then again, "it's the thought that counts!" Given the recent fall in CD rates I am looking desperately for a good long term CD to park some of my cash. I am also working hard towards getting another promotion at work that should give me at least a $7,000 jump in my salary. I hope! They are so stingy. I don't know whats with this companies nowadays, they make billions and can't even pay their employees appropriately. Back to saving a little more each day!

Online Savings Accounts Rates Change

2006-12-01T06:49:00.000-05:00

Today, GMAC Bank's savings rate changed from 5.30% to 5.25%. Their CD rates fell as well. ING Direct savings accounts had a little change from 4.40% o 4.50%. They are now sending invitation for their checking accounts. More details to follow tonight.

Thinking of Buying A Gift Card This Holiday Season?

2006-11-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

Many people will purchase gift cards this holiday season. Why not make a few bonus points on your credit card for that? There are certain credit cards that offer double to 5 points for purchases made at grocery stores, drugstores and gas stations. So when you go out to purchase gift cards remember to use the right card!

I personally buy gift cards whenever I have to go shop somewhere. For example, if I want to buying something from Home Depot, I buy the appropriate amount gift card from a local grocery store thus earning 5 points on my credit card rather than the 1 point I would have earned had I used the credit card for the purchase. Keep in mind, if you end up returning the item, you will be stuck with a gift card or store credit.

Citibank Credit Cards Thank You Network

2006-11-27T06:33:00.000-05:00

Citibank's Thank You Network has a special holiday pricing going on right now! From Nov 2 - Dec 28 2006 you can get certain gift cards for less points. This is a pretty cool deal! Here are the details from their website:

Gift cards can be shipped in as few as 3 business days*.


Banana Republic –	$50
Crabtree & Evelyn® –	$50	$100
Eddie Bauer® –	$50	$100
Gap –	$50	$100
Lands' End® –	$50	$100
L.L. Bean –	$50	$100
Macy’s –	$50	$100
Pier 1 Imports® –	$50	$100
Spa Finder® –		$100
The Sharper Image® –	$50	$100


Avis® –	$50	$100
Carnival Cruise Lines –		$100
Marriott® Cheque –	$50	$100	$200
Ritz-Carlton® Currency –	$50	$100	$200
Royal Caribbean® International –		$100


Bennigan's® –	$50
Legal Sea Foods –	$50	$100
Omaha Steaks® –	$50	$100

Ti's The Season To Go Broke!

2006-11-26T22:34:00.000-05:00

Ti's The Season To Go Broke!

As the holiday season approaches, many will feel the pinch in their pockets. Follow these few steps and you might come out alive this new years. Budget, budget, budget! Now is the time to make a budget for your giftivity if you will. First, make a list of the people whom you wish to give gifts this season. Categorize them and give each person a price limit. Check to see if you can get away without actually buying something expensive. Do not try to get into "showing off" or out doing the other. This will only end in disaster. It is okay to get an expensive gift and in return give a gift of nominal value. Remember its the thought that counts. Here are a few ideas:

1. Shop big sales, look for coupons and cash back.
2. DVDs are a sure bet this season.
3. Home made gifts are great. Don't feel "cheap" or try to buy something else to go with it.
4. Gift cards though an easy way out, might not be the best bet unless you are strapped for time.
5. Buy things in bulk and make your own gift packages/baskets and personalize them. (Dollar Store, Costco, etc)

Work Work Work

2006-11-26T22:04:00.000-05:00

I have not devoted as much time to this blog as I would have liked to these past few weeks. I have been a working hard! There are times when you give up hope, or just get lost in the hustle and flow of the world but there are also times like these where you learn to live again. As you know, I am working and in school, it is hard to focus on just on anything, let alone have time for yourself. As my friends start graduating, starting jobs or begin their Masters degrees, I feel left behind. Sure, this was my choice to take the slow track for my education while I work, but still it feel weird. But then again, I do feel proud of what I have accomplished. I have been working hard, been promoted, recognized and appreciated in my work place. I am currently working hard to yet again get another promotion that will officially take me into higher management. Within one short year I started at rock bottom and am on my way to greatness (I don't want to sound cheesy).
So what have I done different from my fellow coworkers?
Simple, I stood out. I have implemented my ideas and if successful I brought it to attention of the right people. I have been very proactive, positive and "helpful." You can only depend on yourself. You are the one who has to make things happen. Do not feel embarrassed or shy to bring attention to your efforts.

Budget, Save, Save, Save

2006-11-17T21:47:00.000-05:00

The holiday season is upon us and for most it will be exhausting. Joyous, fun and expensive. So what is your plan? I am cutting back on eating out (errr still spending too much there!) and trying to stop myself from impulse buying. I will not be a cheapskate when it comes to presents but I will however cut back on some of my expenses to compensate for that. Now is a good time to revisit your budget and check on it. Save some time and regrets that you might face in January when you see your credit card bills!

So What's New?

2006-11-17T21:20:00.000-05:00

I would first like to apologize for not updating my blog this week. I have been very busy with exams and work. It was an interesting week. I have been contacted by three recruiters from other companies with high salaries and better positions than I currently have. I flat out refused the first two, but the third one out of curiosity asked what they were offering. Turns out they were willing to pay me $16K more than what I am making right now. I had to decline for various reasons. First of all, I love the place I work at. Sure, it gets frustrating at times and I even think about quitting but I guess I have become comfortable there. Secondly, I do not want to make such drastic choices before I finish my degrees. But it was good to realize what I am worth in the job market.

GMAC Bank Rasies Savings Rate to 5.30% APY

2006-11-10T07:21:00.000-05:00

GMAC Bank has raised their savings and CD rates today. They raised their online savings account rates from 5.25% to 5.30% APY. GMAC offers an ATM card, check writing and ACH transfers.

Interest Rates Falling

2006-11-08T23:10:00.000-05:00

Interest rates have been falling. E-Loans great 5.75% CDs gone with lower and tired rates. World Savings has no impressive rates or terms. Citibank, Bank of America rates are disappointing. But with the trend of falling rates, try to lock in the highest rate and term that meets your needs. I think I made a mistake giving up on some 6.00% CDs thinking rates might go higher a while back.

Making minimum? You just got a raise - MSNBC Article

2006-11-08T23:04:00.000-05:00

Election day was something. I was up until 3 AM flipping through channels as the votes unraveled and looks like Virginia the deciding vote went to the Democrats giving them the majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. This says something about the Republican Party and President Bush. He said something like this on TV, " I thought we were going to do just fine yesterday, but this shows what do i know.." I think that's what he said or something to that effect.

Back to the minimum wage issue:

"Tuesday's election means more money for minimum-wage earners in several states. Voters there increased the rates above the federal standard of $5.15 an hour." ...... "

"$7.25 high on Democratic agenda"

Read the entire article Here

E-LOAN Savings Update II

2006-11-05T18:42:00.000-05:00

I finally got a reply from them and this is what it said:

"Thank you for your message.
Interest is calculated using the daily balance method and credited on the monthly anniversary.
For example: If you opened your account on October 24th, the interest would post the 24th of every month. Please reply to this message or call (866) 576-7283 with any questions. Thank you."

E-LOAN Savings Update

2006-11-05T12:08:00.000-05:00

I still have not received a response from them. I contacted them via their secure messaging service twice. According to Banking Guy,

"It turns out that your account balance is updated monthly from your anniversary date of your account opening. I opened the account on October 2nd and I my account was credited with interest yesterday on November 2nd. However, electronic statements are issued at the end of each month. On the statement, you'll see interest credited up to the end of the month. On the monthly anniversary, that month of interest will be credited to your account and will be shown on your account page."

I guess that solves the mystery. E-Loan has a long way to perfect their website as there are many issues with it. It's very amateurish if you will. But I can't complain when they have a 5.50% APY !

E-LOAN Savings Account Issues

2006-11-03T08:25:00.000-05:00

The relatively new E-Loan savings account has a lot of glitches and problems. First of all, if you make a deposit, for a day or two it shows up as a "debit" rather than a "credit." According to a CSR that is going to be fixed soon. Secondly, I was informed that my e-statement was ready. When I logged on my balance had not changed, I looked at the statement and saw that I earned like $15 in interest on 10/31 but that is not reflecting in my account as of 11/3. What's up with that? I sent them a secured message on 11/1 and am still waiting for a reply. I might call them tonight and check up on that. I will post my findings as soon as I can.

Credit Card Offers

2006-11-02T08:43:00.000-05:00

I was scouting for some new offers but was disappointed. Citibank who usually has a lot of $100 sign up bonuses has reduced their bonus offers and changed their ThankYouNetwork point to dollar ratio. Their Premier Pass Card commercials that offer 15,000 bonus points has one down side, an Annual fee.

Citi Simplicity Card (Click on the Card for Details)

$100 Sign up Bonus
No Annual fee. Reward points for every dollar spent
0% for 12 months on balance transfers& NO BALANCE TRANSFER FEE!

Bank of America Amex Card (Click on the Card for Offer Details)

No annual fee and the flexibility to pay over time.
Introductory 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR)^† for Cash Advance Checks and Balance Transfers through your first twelve billing cycles.* (subject to a 3% transaction fee, no less than $10)
Receive a $50 Statement Credit after qualifying transaction(s).^§§

InboxDollars Update

2006-11-02T08:37:00.000-05:00

Many of you have signed up for InboxDollars. I encountered a little problem with their survey sites. As you know you get $1 per survey limited to one survey per day. So far I have gotten $16 from them but I have taken more surveys than that. I have taken at least 5 more surveys. I contacted them but they were unable to verify that I took the survey! Please! That irritated me a lot so I have stopped taking surveys. I might start taking them again but this was not a good experience. Then again making $37 from that site is not too bad.

Get $5 just for signing up! To sign up click here!

Financial Snapshot: Net Worth Update October '06

2006-11-01T08:42:00.000-05:00

This time around I did a better job of calculating my net worth. Last time I did not include some of the amounts by mistake thus you'll notice a sudden jump in my net worth. Hopefully from next month I will have a more uniform way of calculating and demonstrating my net worth and the increase or decrease in that amount.

Here is my % to goal illustration:

Trick or Treat

2006-10-31T20:34:00.000-05:00

Tonight was something! I had to run to the store twice as we ran out of candy within an hour. Apparently 4 bags was not enough. I was wondering however what would be the age limit to go trick or treat? I saw many kids who had to be between 16 - 19 who came alone for free candy! In my opinion this is for the little monsters, personally under 13 in my book. I don't know what I am saying maybe had to much candy myself that I am rambling. I ate like 12 mini boxes of Mike&Ike... now I fee sick. Happy Halloween! Boo!

Don't Fall Victim to Phony Emails

2006-10-29T10:03:00.000-05:00

Last week I got numerous phony emails from Paypal, Bank of America, Citibank and a lot more none of them were real. Just remember never click on the links on an email to access your accounts. If suspicious call your financial institute to inquire about the email. Delete the emails and report them to the financial institute. BEWARE!

$25 From HSBC For Using Bill Pay

2006-10-29T00:57:00.000-04:00

HSBC is offering $25 for using their Bill Pay and paying 3 bills by Nov 30.

"Now, for a limited time offer when you use the free Bill Pay service to pay 3 bills by November 30, 2006, we'll send you a $25 HSBC MasterCard® Gift Card. Sign up or log on today!

*Gift card will be sent 6 to 8 weeks after expiration date. Limit one per household. Limited time offer. Only payments made using the Bill Pay service are eligible for this offer."

Promotion Link

$25 Sign Up Bonus Citi e-Savings Account

2006-10-25T20:13:00.000-04:00

Well well well! Citibank finally came out with the sign up bonus of their e-savings account! You can get $25 for opening up a new e-savings account. However, you need to open up an EZ checking account as well. I will let the AD do the talking Click here for the promotional page.
Code: CSCL

Citibank does perform a hard credit pull to open these accounts.

Credit Card Protection Plans

2006-10-24T10:17:00.000-04:00

I for one can not stand these credit card protection plans. There seems to be a protection plan for everything now, from electronics, to toys to even just simply living... You get the picture. Credit card protection plan might be good for a few but not for most people. I hate it that whenever I call the credit card company for anything they try to sell you one thing or the other. I recently was signed up to Citi's Credit Protector - why did I sign up? I was in no mood to argue and agreed thinking I'll cancel the next day. Well I cancelled today, just a few days before the trial period. The lady I talked to tried to sell me a more "cost effective plan" i.e. the same plan but at a cheaper price. Sheesshhh, when I told her absolutely not, she got an attitude, cancelled the plan and basically just hung up.

These plans charge you around 85 cents for every $100 balance you have. They try to sell it to you by saying if you pay the balance in full there is no fee. NOT TRUE! I pay my Credit Cards off every month. For the plan to have no fees you have to pay the balance off before your statement CLOSES! So beware. Read the fine print and if you don't charge a lot and pay it off, I don't think you need this type of service.

Dealing With Identity Theft & Fraud

2006-10-21T19:45:00.000-04:00

I got a lot of emails some arguing that I "really wasn't a victim of identity theft" and so on. Well lets look at the definition of identity theft: " Identity theft occurs when someone wrongfully acquires or uses another person's personal data, typically for their own financial gain. Sometimes it is referred to as "identity fraud" since the criminal impersonates rather than 'removes' the victim's identity.Most commonly, this term is used in relation to credit card fraud although mortgage fraud and other kinds of financial fraud are common. " (Wikipedia.com)

Here are the some steps to follow:

Do not give out personal financial information or other private information to anyone over the phone or online.
Check your credit reports frequently. Remember you get one free credit report a year from each of the three credit bureaus. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com
Review your credit card bills, and other financial accounts at least once a month.
Look for missing statements in the mail. Switch to e-statements if you prefer.

In case you are a victim of identity theft:

Contact the account administrator and close the account. File a claim.
File a police report. This will be crucial depending on your case.
Contact all three credit bureaus.

Equifax: P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348
Report fraud: Call (800) 525-6285
Experian: P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
Report fraud: Call (888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
TransUnion: P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834
Report fraud: (800) 680-7289

Identity Theft Issue

2006-10-19T09:51:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned that I was a victim of identity theft, even though it was just one credit card it was still something. I am going to post a detailed article with steps to follow if you are a victim of identity theft tomorrow. The sooner you act the better it is!

AmTrust Direct CD Rates

2006-10-19T09:40:00.000-04:00

I have never used AmTrust but they have very attractive CD rates with low minimums. The highest yield is in the 12 month CD with the 5.71% APY this might be a good option for those who are looking to lock in a good rate. Even their long term CDs have much better rates that other banks. AmTrust Direct is FDIC insured. I am going to look into this any maybe put away some money for a while.

Certificates of Deposit Rates (Copied from the AmTrust Website)

	Interest Rate	APY	CD Term	Compound Frequency	Min. to Open
6 Month Promo CD	5.459%	5.61%	6 months	Daily	$1,000.00
9 Month Promo CD	5.450%	5.60%	9 months	Daily	$1,000.00
12 Month Promo CD	5.554%	5.71%	12 months	Daily	$1,000.00
18 Month Promo CD	5.402%	5.55%	18 months	Daily	$1,000.00
24 Month Promo CD	5.364%	5.51%	24 months	Daily	$1,000.00
30 Month Promo CD	5.317%	5.46%	30 months	Daily	$1,000.00
36 Month Promo CD	5.289%	5.43%	36 months	Daily	$1,000.00
60 Month Promo CD	5.317%	5.46%	60 months	Daily	$1,000.00

New ATM At My Local Bank Of America

2006-10-18T09:16:00.000-04:00

There is no deal or bonus here but I just had to share this with everyone. I went to make a deposit at Bank of America and found out that they had installed a new ATM. With this one you do not need a deposit slip or an envelope! It takes your checks one by one and scans them and it counts your cash right away. Thus, for me at least it made all my cash available immediately where as it made a $100 from my check available immediately. Another cool thing: it prints a mini image of your check deposit on your receipt! I just think that was so cool and I have a record of exactly what I deposited! If you bank with BoA go and check out if you have these cool new machines. (I am a sucker for things like these!)

Victim of Identity Theft

2006-10-17T20:31:00.000-04:00

I recently was a victim of identity theft. I still haven't grasped the idea of what exactly happened but it sill has left me in shock. Someone apparently got hold of my MBNA credit card number and was charging like there was no end. How did I find out? I called to inquire if my payment reached on time and the associate after verifying my identity told me that my card was blocked as there had been some suspicious activity. Blocked? How? What? Apparently they tried to contact me but I had not updated my new number with them, so as a precaution they blocked my card. THANK GOD! After verifying that out of the thousands of $$$ in charges only $4, that's right $4 was mine she informed me that my card was canceled a new card was issued with a new account number. Phewww!

But I still can't figure out how this happened. I never use my cards online. I always use the virtual account numbers that you can generate to buy stuff online. I have read articles where restaurant employees swipe your card and retain the information which they later either sell or use. What a world we live in!

Word of Advice: Check you accounts at least weekly, set up e-alerts if your card issuer offers them. Keep track, if anything seems suspicious call the credit card company or bank immediately.

CD Rates Drop Again

2006-10-17T20:23:00.000-04:00

Citibank's 5.50% 6 month CD rates just dropped to 5.25% Whereas GMAC Bank has a 5.40% 12 month CD, their rates are better than Citibank at the moment. ING Direct - Don't even ask! E-Loan has a 5.75% 18 month CD with a $10k min.

As far as savings accounts are concerned in my book E-Loan leads the way with 5.50% and GMAC bankl follows with a 5.25% and coming in third is HSBC DIrect with 5.05% and Citi's 5.00% e-savings account is fourth.

With falling CD rates and no sign of any rate hikes it might be the time to lock in any good rates for a longer period. It has been said that we might see some drop in the prime rate next year which means that we will see a drop in the online savings accounts and CDs.

Savings & CD Rates

2006-10-13T05:51:00.000-04:00

After weeks of slashing rates, this week we see a little improvement. GMAC Bank raised their savings rate from 5.00% to 5.25% and today they raised their CD rates up from 5.30% to 5.40%
GMAC BANK (Min deposit $500):
Term: Rate: APY:

3 months	5.12%	5.25%
6 months	5.21%	5.35%
9 months	5.21%	5.35%
12 months	5.26%	5.40%

On the other hand World Savings has been slashing their rates. Their 6.01% CD went down to 5.76% a few weeks ago and now that's gone too! Their highest paying CD is 5.61% for a 4 month term only. For their online banking their rates are as follows (Note that they have no 6, 9 or 12+ moth CDs!):

Term APY
3- Month 3.16% APY
4- Month 5.61% APY
5- Month 5.26% APY
5- Year 5.14% APY

Another attractive option at the moment is from Citibank that is still running their 5.50% 6 month CD special with a minimum deposit of $500 and 5.00% e-savings account.

E-Loan is still offering the 5.50% online savings account. Refer to me earlier post regarding the E-Loan account.

Another Pinecone Reaserch Link Found!

2006-10-12T19:54:00.000-04:00

I stumbled upon another Pinecone research sign up link. Refer to my post on Pinecone under "Making Money Online." Hurry and sign up before they disable the link!

From the Pinecone Website:
"W h a t i s P i n e C o n e R e s e a r c h ?

PineCone Research conducts on-line interviews with consumers from all walks of life to obtain their opinions about new products. To become a panel member, all you need to do is complete the simple form below. This will only take a few minutes of your time.

It's easy and fun to see and evaluate new product ideas in the comfort of your own home AND get paid $5 for your time. Each interview usually takes 15-20 minutes of your time. Plus, you are free to leave the panel at any time should you choose to do so.

We will occasionally ask some questions about your household in order to match the appropriate questionnaires to you. This usually includes just 3 or 4 questions and is brief. These questions are uncompensated. "

Think You Got A Good Deal?

2006-10-12T19:26:00.000-04:00

It is interesting to note how people run to the store as soon as they hear there is some big sale going on. But is the sale really worth it? Not most of the time!
CASE-IN-POINT: JCPENNY like they always do has another sale going on this weekend, the main attraction buy one get the second for $0.88! You might think "WOW! it's like getting one free!" NO! If you have ever noticed how in a normal shopping day when there are no sales the prices are set below the sticker price but as soon as a sale like this or 20% off is announced the base sale price is the maximum for each product i.e. the one printed on the tag. EXAMPLE: There are graphic tees that sell for $8.50 - $9.00 any given day but for this sale the price for the tee was $18! Lets do some math:
$8.50 * 2 = $17.00 <-- Not on Sale
$18.00 + $0.88 = $18.88 <-- On Sale
Get the picture? Let me point out that no not every item is like that. There actually might be something that you get cheaper but the majority or or popular items are priced the way I have my example set up. So next time when you think about going shopping just because o fa sale, pay close attention.

American Consumer Opinion

2006-10-10T13:14:00.000-04:00

I have mentioned about taking paid surveys and testing products. The best so far in my opinion has been ACO - American Consumer Opinion. Their surveys are short and interesting. So far their surveys have not taken me as long as other survey sites. They pay a decent amount. My surveys have ranged from $4- $8 so far. A few extra bucks has never hurt anyone. If you have questions about my experience with ACO or comments please feel free to email me. Sign up below and give it a shot!

Click Here: Sign Up for ACO

*If you would like you can enter my email as your referrer green.cash2@hotmail.com

Sign Up Link for American Consumer Opinion

2006-10-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

Bank of America Customer Referral Bonus Extended

2006-10-10T09:30:00.000-04:00

Extended or re-introduced the Bank of America customer referrals are an easy few bucks in your pocket. The last promotion expired on 9/27 but I just found out that the same promotion offer extended until 1/24/07 ! The basic gist:

You get $25 and the person you refer can get up to $35 ($25 for opening a checking and $10 for a savings) after 90 days of account opening.
You get $10 and the student you refer can get up to $20 ($10 for student checking (fee free for 5 years) & $10 for a student credit card) after 90 days of account opening.
You get $50 and the person you refer can get up to $220 ($50 for opening a business checking and the rest for other products refer to the link below) after 90 days of account opening.

Here is the link for the promotion CLICK HERE. This offer can be redeemed online and at the banking center. I would take a copy of the offer with me to the banking center. Normally they deposit the bonus into the new customers account and send a check to the referrer.

October Earnings and Expense Estimation

2006-10-09T21:20:00.000-04:00

October is going to be a tricky month for me. I will have an added expense of $200 a month in living expenses. A lot of birthdays! So my expenses are going to be around $800 more than last month which is going to hurt me (damn those expensive presents...but it's worth every penny to see the look on the faces of people you love when they open your gift). Keeping this in perspective I am not going to eat out at all this month, or at least try not to. I am going to do more of the extra activities such as surveys and mystery shops. I would estimate about $120 from surveys and mystery shops alone. This month most of my mystery shops are very entertaining and interesting so it should be fun. I hope everyone looks for the best deal be it for clothes, furniture or anything else. Since, I have been doing a lot of shopping this month, I have hunted for a lot of coupons and deals and might I say I have saved over $300 using those promotions. I have used 15% off to 40% off, free shipping, rewards etc. I think I will write an individual post on how to find the best deals and coupons before you purchase anything, and I mean anything.

For more information or if you have any questions about which service provider to sign up with for surveys and mystery shops just contact me.

Money, Money, Money, Money...MONEY!

2006-10-08T07:22:00.000-04:00

It might be obvious that I am always looking for a way to make more money. And though it seems a bit tedious I keep on trying. As mentioned before, I recently started mystery shopping and taking online surveys which has led to a substantial jump in my earning. I was browsing inbox dollars a week ago and signed up for another survey site that paid $1.00 to join. Thinking $1 isn't too bad to just sign up. I got three emails over the course of the week. The first one i deleted without even reading it assuming this survey site was not worth my time. However, out of boredom I opened the other two and took the initial survey to see if I qualified. And I did! Best of all, this particular survey sent me products to try. For each product I get $4 to try and take a small survey online at the end of the week. I have gotten 3 products that equates to $4 x 3 = $12 and free stuff! I have to say that I regret not starting all of this sooner. So much time wasted just surfing the web for nothing. If you want to know what survey site I am referring to, then email me at green.cash@hotmail.com

(Unfortunately I can not disclose any information on the products or the survey).

E-LOAN Savings Account Opening Process

2006-10-07T21:19:00.000-04:00

I finally opened the new E-Loan Savings account currently paying a sweet 5.50% The account opening process is quick and painless. You enter your personal information, select a username and password. Enter the information for the external account you want to link either checking or saving and you are done. Keep in mind that they will do two trial deposits and then later withdraw those out. If you are linking a savings account this process will take three withdrawals so make sure you don't go over the limited 6 withdrawals that you are allowed.

GMAC ONLINE SAVINGS RATE: 5.25%

2006-10-06T07:13:00.000-04:00

In a startling turn of events, GMAC BANK raised their savings account rates to 5.25% from 5.00% This is a big change considering GMAC had been reducing their rates weekly on CD's. A few good features about GMAC that I have mentioned before is that they offer check writing, check card, online transfers (faster than most banks) and have a history of higher rates than others. There is one downside, they require a $500 minimum balance. Apart from that this is a great account, I have been with them almost a year now and love it. Mostly because I can write checks and fund my checking account at BoA who credit me the amount next day and keep earning interest on the money till the check actually clears.

Inbox Dollars Update

2006-10-05T20:42:00.000-04:00

So far in less than a month I have made $22.42 for doing absolutely nothing...well just some surveys, and signing up for survey sites etc. Take a look, read more about it under the "Making Money Online" category. Or click here
Here is a snapshot of my InboxDollars Account:

To join follow this link:

September Net Worth Update

2006-10-03T09:57:00.000-04:00

Since September was the first month I truly started tabulating my net worth here is a mini snapshot. I have never in the past 2 years saved that amount in 1 month! I made a budget and tried hard to stick to it. I went over my budget but not by that much. The net worth shown is the actual money I have minus the credit card debt and student loans. It also includes the $2250 401 K and Roth IRA contributions.

Here is a look at where most of my money went (Click on it to see it in detail):

Save A Little... Live A Little

2006-10-03T09:25:00.000-04:00

Now that gas prices have developed a downward trend, be it politics or the abundance of supply, save! You can save a lot by trimming a few dimes here and a few dollars there. For example, log your gas purchase at the highest rate you can remember. Reason your daily purchases. Is $5 - $10 a day wise for eating out? Try buying ready to eat meals at a grocery store and take those for lunch. Using the "drive thru" at McDonald's or Wendy's to eat at home? Don't by the pricey sodas. Just think around $1.50 for a soda at McDonald's compared to less than$0.50 at home if you buy soda in bulk as cans or bottles. Think smart, save smart but still enjoy life. I am not saying that you should just stop spending but just reason each impulse buy or daily purchases that you make. Think about it! If you average saving even $3 a day that adds up to $90 a month! Then if you are earning 5.50% interest on it! Hallelujah!

Time For High Yield Savings Rates To Go Down?

2006-10-02T06:18:00.000-04:00

Emigrant Direct's rate went down from 5.15% APY to 5.05% now matching HSBC Direct. ING DIRECT remains at 4.40% and Citibank at 5.00%. With interest rates falling on CDs and savings accounts you might want to consider parking your money in a CD that is paying at least 5.50% or higher.

As mentioned in the earlier post, E-LOAN's high yield savings account is paying a 5.50% on balances over $5000 and 5.25% for balances below that. Please refer to that post here.

September Budget Update

2006-09-30T05:56:00.000-04:00

Later today I will post my personal budget update. I thought I was doing well, but I did go over.

Once Again CD Rates Drop...

2006-09-30T05:50:00.000-04:00

This week a number of high paying short term CD rates dropped while Credit Unions continue to offer a substantially higher interest rate. The highest paying ING DIRECT CD is now only 5.10% and GMAC Bank's highest paying CD is only 5.25%

Again, if you find a good rate on a CD, LOCK IT! You might be interested in Citibank's 5.50% 6 month CD or check out some of your local credit unions. For example, in Maryland, Mid-Atlantic Credit Union is offering a 6.00% 13 month CD!

Look into the E-LOAN high yield savings account that is currently paying 5.50% on balances over $5000 and 5.25% for balances under $5000.

New Credit Card Offers

2006-09-28T19:35:00.000-04:00

I came across some interesting credit card offers listed below:

1. Nascar RacePoints Visa from Bank of America
If you are a Nascar fan this just might be a card for you. It offers 0% for 12 months on balance transfers AND cash advance checks. There is a 3% balance transfer fee. ALSO you get a FREE NASCAR LICENSED TAILGATE CHAIR after your first qualifying purchase. Checkout there rewards:
"Earn NASCAR RacePoints reward points every time you make a purchase. Here are some of the cool items and experiences you can earn:

1,500 Points: Car flag of your favorite driver
5,400 Points: 1:24-Scale diecast car
14,900 Points: ProScan 100 scanner
50,000 Points: Access to driver-introduction Red Carpet area
175,000 Points: Crew Member for a Day "- Copied from the offer page.

2. Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card
Main features: 0% on balance transfers for 12 months. $100 Gift Card after first purchase! and you earn 5 points per $1 spent at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations!

E-LOAN Savings Account Update 5.50% APY

2006-09-27T20:28:00.000-04:00

Here is the response I got from E-LOAN:

"Thank you for contacting E-LOAN.  In response to your question there are no fees
associated with our savings accounts.  Upon verification of funds in your
account you will be able to make unlimited deposits and up to six withdrawals of
any amount in every calendar month.  However, your interest rate will vary to
reflect current balance of the account.  We do require that you maintain a
balance of at least $500 or your savings account will be subject to closure.

We do not do a credit check for savings accounts.  Your social security number
will be used for identification purposes only.

If we can be of any further assistance please reply to this e-mail or call us at
(866) 576-7283.  Thank you. "


Important Things To Note:

Min deposit of $500 required otherwise your account maybe closed.
No hard credit pull!
Interest varies - by how much? I will call them and get more information.

Another Online Bank Joins The Race With 5.50% APY

2006-09-26T21:24:00.000-04:00

Forget about ING DIRECT (seriously), and the likes of Citibank, HSBC etc because a new online savings account is in town! Its the new "Free High Yield Online Savings Account" by E-LOAN.
Here is some information from their FAQ's:

Minimum to open: $5000
Withdraw/Deposit Money via ACH transfer through E-loan. You can only withdraw money using E-loans withdraw money, no outside debits are allowed.
You can link only one account and change it only four times a year. (Need more clarification - Emailed)
Statements issued Quarterly electronically.
Interest is compounded daily and credited monthly. (Good!)
For balances under $5000 the rate is 5.25% (Confirmation needed)

I have emailed their customer service with many questions. As soon as I get the details I will post them here. One important question I asked them is whether they perform a hard credit pull or not. I have to say this is a very attractive offer and I might open the account, depending on their response. I want to make sure there are no fees, minimum balances etc.

Got A Promotion? What About The Pay?

2006-09-25T20:49:00.000-04:00

This is more of a rant so, I apologize for going a little off topic. I have been working at this company for over a year. Not to brag, but I pretty much do everything at some point each week. I mean, I have knowledge of over 80% of the duties of other employees with higher and lower positions than mine. I like the people I work with, and that is the only reason that is keeping me there as I have been screwed over my pay over and over again. I got a promotion in June, and my pay raise is scheduled to take effect in October and I am highly disappointed. They are going to pay me peanuts! Seriously, the pay I will receive is far too low, not only for the amount of work I do but compared to others in the same job band. I tried my best to negotiate, I am aware that if I were to apply at another company for an even high position I would get a lot more. I have been approached by recruiters but my loyalty to the company stood in the way. What should I do? Any suggestions?

Mystery Shop Earnings

2006-09-24T12:57:00.000-04:00

I started Mystery Shopping this month. This was my first time doing it and it was an interesting experience. I work and go to school thus I do not have enough time to mystery shop. I only signed up for three shops that were very close to home or work.
Time Spent on all three shops: Less than 10 minutes combined.
Earnings: $17
Merchandise: Free food and clothes (Sorry I can't disclose where I shopped). Valued at $36.55
Net Amount: $ 17 + $ 36.55 = $53.55

Pretty good for less than 10 minutes of my time! I should be receiving my check in the mail around October 15th. If you need more information on mystery shops check out my other posts under "Making Money Online" or contact me via email.

Every Penny Counts

2006-09-24T12:39:00.000-04:00

In today's world, money has attained a new priority in an average persons life. Money is the reason for many family feuds, end of relationships, friendships and in extreme cases someones life. I myself have noted a change in my way of thinking. From being a carefree, concerned human being, I have turned into a money minded freak looking to get the best deal, save every penny I can and just see my net worth grow. I realized today that this "disease" has cost me a part of my humanity. You see, I used to be very charitable. Ever since I was a kid, I would give most of my toys, money, and new clothes to the less fortunate. Anytime I would get cash for birthdays and holidays, I would give more than half out to charity. Now, I hardly do anything for them. I am fortunate to have a roof over my head and have three meals a day. I am fortunate enough to have a good education and money to spend.
So today I have decided to collect money for a month and donate to a charity or two. I have decided that I will not eat out for a month and the savings from that will go towards the charity which I will later decide upon. I urge you to donate as little or as much as you can. Every penny makes a difference. If I get a huge response I might open a donations account on paypal to collect the money. Please let me know if you would like me to open a donations account. I am planning on donating this to an organization that feeds the homeless, like a soup kitchen or feed the world campaign. I will list the organization later and when I make the donation I will post the corresponding documents.

My Charity Run Ends October 31st!

Cleaning Up A Big Mess

2006-09-23T21:10:00.000-04:00

Let me ask you a few questions:

Have you ever bought anything that came with a mail in rebate? Did you mail it in? Did you keep track? And Finally did you receive it? If not, did you fight it and receive it then?
Has any online business ever con you out of money, or charged you outrageous fees? Were you refunded?
Have you ever had trouble with a retail store, shop or business where you think you were taken advantage off? Did you fight it and get whatever it was (money, goods, service, etc) ?

If you can relate to any of the above let me tell you, you are not alone. I have had many problems with many businesses, websites, rebates etc. However, I have managed to get everything resolved be it a rebate check or a service charge refund. I am going to share my strategy with you, using real life examples.

Chaotic Mess # 1: Acomdata Rebate for an External Hard Drive - $30.00
I bought the hard drive during a promotion at CompUsa. I am responsible with rebates, I complete them, make a copy and log them in an excel file with the date and amount to keep track. I mail them out and wait. If the rebate is not received within the given time frame I contact the merchant to check on the status. I sent the rebate and after the time frame I contacted Acomdata via their customer service number and was told to wait another 3 weeks as it was in process. Given I was not in a hurry, I reluctantly accepted. Still no rebate, I called them again and was told they never got my rebate! Frustrated I emailed them and was told to email then a copy of everything and a picture of the hard drive. I did that. Still no rebate, I had an exchange of about 7 emails after that they stooped replying. I sent 1 email a day for a week and got no reply. Pissed! I resorted to my last option, which now come to think should have been my first option! I filed a complaint at the Better Business Bureau online (it took only 2 mins) and one with the FTC. Results? Within 2 weeks I had the check in my hand and an apology from Acomdata!

I can share a lot more things, but I guess you can get the picture. Remember you have rights, and you should not give up! It does not take too much effort all this can be done online within minutes. Follow these simple steps:

Contact the merchant and keep a copy of the email.
If you feel no resolution will be reached, file a complaint with the BBB
File a complaint with the FTC.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH EVERYONE! BLOG IT! POST IT! GET THE WORD OUT!

***Currently I am having an issue with PayPal. I will let you know how that goes. FYI read reviews about PayPal online. I would not trsut them with my money!***

Get the Best Deal

2006-09-23T06:54:00.000-04:00

Buying books, furniture, jewelry, or anything else? Online or in a retail store? Are you getting the best deal?

If you put in a little time or effort in to finding coupons and codes you might end up with a huge discount on your purchase. For example, this semester my books if bought new at the bookstore would cost me $675 and if bought used cost me $485. Expensive? YES!
How much did I pay for all my books?
A mere $235! How? I searched for the best deal! I looked for used books online and especially international versions of the book (i.e. usually they are just soft covers but everything else is the same). I searched on Google, Amazon, eBay and ended up with the lowest prices and good condition of books.

This is not online for books, but clothes, phones, furniture, essentially whatever! To search for a discount just use a phrase like "Target coupon" in Yahoo! or Google and you will end up with numerous codes and coupons to use like Free Shipping, 10% off, 20% off etc. SO next time you shop try to invest some time in finding the best deal.

Gas Prices Drop Across The Board

2006-09-22T07:31:00.000-04:00

As gas prices drop it might be a good idea to scout for the lowest gas price in your area and try to save a few bucks. With gas prices outrageously high this summer it is time to make up for the the difference. Economists claim that in a few years gas prices may go as low as $1.15 a gallon! I look for gas prices around the areas I am during the week. Prices differences? $2.60 where I live, $2.81 where I work and $2.35 near my school! Something to think about....

Find the lowest gas prices in your area at Gas Buddy

World Savings 6.01% CD Long Gone!

2006-09-21T09:58:00.000-04:00

The prime rate was untouched and now we can see its effects. CD rates have been dropping every week. World Savings 6.01% 15 Month CD has expired after a fairly short run. They are now offering a 5.76% 13 Month CD. They do have an in-branch special only for the 6.01% CD for more information on that contact your local branch. Their website: www.worldsavings.com

So if you need to park some of your money it might be the best time to find a good deal and lock in a great rate. If you come across some stellar rates please let me know!

Refer a friend deals

2006-09-20T19:48:00.000-04:00

Many places now offer a refer a friend bonus from online survey sites, rebate sites to banks. One very good deal is going on at Bank of America where you get $25 for referring someone to checking account and $10 for referring a student checking account. The person opening the account can get up to $50. This deal is good for you if you have friends looking to open accounts because you can make a lot of money! I received an email from "GimmeMoreMoney" who informed me that in a period of less than two months he has made $275 from Bank of America by referring people. Not a bad deal!
Information Link: "Click Here"

Things to note: If you do in fact refer someone make sure you give them your name and address. Your account number is not necessary. On the website it says offer expires 9/27/06 so hurry!

Bye, Bye High CD Rates!

2006-09-19T07:14:00.000-04:00

As the rates keep falling on short and long term CD's nationwide, World Savings Bank's 15 month 6.01% is long gone. They now have a 5.76% APY 13-month CD promotion on a $10,000 minimum deposit. Given the state of US economy it does not look like the Feds will be having rate hikes any time soon and we should continue to see a drop in interest rates. If you find a good rate, lock it in. Another short term CD is by Citibank at 5.50% APY for 6 months with a minimum deposit of $500.

T-Bills Rates Dropping

2006-09-17T16:24:00.000-04:00

I have been investing in 28-day and 4-week T-Bills this year since their yields were great with the added advantage of exemption of state and local taxes on the interest. I had developed a weekly 28-day T-Bill ladder and a monthly 4-week T-Bill ladder. Even though the rates have dropped in the past few weeks they are still an attractive investment option especially for those with high State taxes. Investing in T-Bills is very simple. In a short version, visit the Treasury Direct website and open a free account. Depending on your account verification, they will require you to get a bank official to notarize a document verifying your identity. Once set up you can link any account and use it to fund your investment choices. To buy a T-Bill you need to place an order before Tuesday. Every Tuesday they announce the T-Bills rates and on Thursdays they issue the T-Bills. They can be bought in increments of $1000. You can reinvest them without loosing any interest. If you want me to post or email you a detailed step by step procedure please email me at green.cash@hotmail.com
To see T-Bills rates etc click on the links below:
Treasury Direct Website
T-Bills Rates

GET AN IPOD NANO AND A MLB JERSEY FROM Bank of America

2006-09-16T07:55:00.000-04:00

"Introducing the MLB™ Extra Bases™ credit card. The only credit card on the planet that earns you points towards autographed memorabilia by past and current players, VIP access, field-level game tickets, travel rewards and even cash rewards that will blow you away!" (Excerpt from the credit card application)

Bank of America / MBNA have launched a new card called the "MLB Extra Bases Credit Card" apply for the card and you get:

Get an official MLB™ licensed jersey - after your first qualifying transaction(s).§
In addition, receive an Apple^® iPod nano by making any combination of purchase or cash advance transactions (balance transfers included) totaling $2,000.§
Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR)^† - for Cash Advance Checks and Balance Transfers through your first twelve billing cycles.* (subject to a 3% transaction fee, no less than $10
On top of all these unbelievable rewards, this card offers secure online access, 24/7 fraud protection and no annual fee.†

Fine Print:
To qualify for the first reward (an official MLB™ licensed jersey), respond to this offer and use your new account within 90 days of the date the account is opened by FIA Card Services, N.A., to make any combination of purchase or cash advance transactions (includes balance transfers) totaling at least $75 (excludes transaction fees). Limit one (1) jersey per new account.

In addition, to qualify for the second reward, a 1GB Apple^® iPod nano, respond to this offer and use your new account within 90 days of the date the account is opened by FIA Card Services, N.A., to make any combination of purchase or cash advance transactions (includes balance transfers) totaling at least $2,000. Limit one (1) 1GB Apple iPod nano per new account.

Allow 8-12 weeks for delivery after qualifying. Offer sponsored by FIA Card Services, N.A.: we may substitute an item of equal or greater value and we are not responsible for lost, stolen, or undelivered merchandise. U.S. residents must be 18 to apply for a credit card.

Saving for Retirement

2006-09-14T21:46:00.000-04:00

Looks like my Roth IRA was finally opened today. I opened a Roth IRA at Citibank online last week. I did a lot of research to find the best deal for the buck.

Why I choose to contribute to a Roth IRA?
I don't earn enough to benefit from contributing into a Traditional IRA. Traditional IRAs in my view are for individuals who are making a lot of money and would benefit by putting money away from pre-tax dollars and thus paying lower taxes when they actually use the money when they retire. Here is a list of benefits of the Roth IRA from Citibank's website:

•

Tax benefits. Although your contributions are not tax deductible, earnings are tax-deferred and withdrawals are free of federal income tax if you're over age 59½.³

•

Compounded earnings. Your contributions may earn interest, dividends, and capital gains, which are then reinvested, so your money has the potential to grow even more.

•

Contributions. Individuals can contribute up to $4,000 for each of the tax years 2005 and 2006. If you're married and filing jointly, the annual cap is $8,000 ($4,000 each) for tax years 2005 and 2006.⁴

•

Distributions. There's no required age at which you must start taking distributions.

•

Withdrawals.

-	You can withdraw your contributions any time without paying a 10% federal tax penalty.
-	You can withdraw earnings without paying federal income tax if your Roth IRA has been open at least five years, and (1) you've reached age 59 ½; (2) in the event of death or disability; or (3) you use the money for a first time home purchase ($10,000 lifetime limit).
-	In certain circumstances, you can withdraw earnings early without a federal tax penalty.

What was I looking for?
The critieria I used to decide where to open a Roth IRA is as follows: No annual fee, No "custodian" fees, FDIC insured, CD and Money Market accounts, and high interest rates. I researched many banks and found Citibank to be the best deal. Although they do have a $75 fee only if you move the IRA to another bank which I don't plan on doing.

What rates did I get?
I opened with $250 (the minimum amount for a CD) a 6 month CD at 5.50% APY! Their 5 year CD was at the timebeing at 4.60% which is also a great deal. I plan on contributing $250 a month. I can only contribute upto $4000 according to the cap for 2006.

Washington Post's Article on Budgets

2006-09-14T21:34:00.000-04:00

Michelle Singletary wrote in the Washington Post about Budgets! In her column "The Color of Money" she discussed budgets and it is an interesting read. She offers a suggestion of using percentages and use math to play the Budget Game. As mentioned before if you want to get your finances on track and need motivation to start savings, set goals and make a budget then work to keep up with it. It is a good read. Click to read the article "It Pays to Do the Math in the Budget Game"

If you have other suggestions or would like to share what your strategy is when it comes to budget please feel free to share it.

$$$ Bank Bonuses $$$

2006-09-13T21:31:00.000-04:00

I got some mail from Bank of America offering me money to open an account and then I came across some online. Here are some of the offers that just might be worth your time! Two things to mention if you are looking to bank with BoA, they have online specialists that you can chat with before you open an account and they have only customer service for customers. One negative might be that they have no completely free checking account, except for the Student Checking account which is free for 5 years.

Offer # 1:
Get up to $125 for opening a checking account and savings account. This offer seems to be for people who already have some sort of account with Bank of America. I signed up last month with this offer and confirmed with the Customer Service online that my offer is valid. Be sure to use the offer code to get your bonus. Offer expires 12/31/2006
To see offer details click OFFER # 1
http://www.bankofamerica.com/promos/jump/125signup/

Offer # 2
Get $100 to open a My Access Checking account which is free with direct deposit. Anyone can apply. Offer expires 12/31/2006
To see offer details click OFFER # 2
http://www.bankofamerica.com/deposits/checksave/100mya/

Note: I asked the CSR's and they informed me that there is hard pull on your credit when you first open an account. But if you are an existing customer, there is no hard pull rather a soft pull that does not affect your credit. Please ask a CSR to confirm this.

**Picture of cash found online.

Check your Credit Reports!

2006-09-12T21:35:00.000-04:00

I can not stress this enough but check your credit reports! And report any errors immediately! I had a friend of mine pull her credit reports a few days ago after she was complaining of getting extremely high interest rates. Guess what we found? There were two credit cards, one past due that she does not have and a lien after some court decision against her. The best part it was placed on her account when she was only 15! What happened? Errors happen! But that has plagued her credit history since then and she is finding this out now, in her twenties! You can imagine how adversely that has affected her so far. She is working on removing the erroneous information from her credit reports but please take her example and do a yearly credit check. You are entitled to a free credit report from the 3 credit bureaus so use them!

Here is their website: Annual Credit Report

Feel free to share any advice or stories.

Online Savings Account Mini Review

2006-09-12T21:11:00.000-04:00

If you are reading this blog chances are you are already aware of many online savings accounts but here is my personal mini review of a few that I use. I am rating them from 1 star to 5 stars, where 5 stars is the best deal for the buck.

ING DIRECT (****)
This was my first online savings account. Their website is very user friendly ans easy to access. Their current yield is 4.40% that is low compared to other online banks. You need cancelled checks to link external accounts. They currently have a refer a friend program where you get $10 and the person who opens the account with a minimum of $250 gets $25. Apart from their lack of competitiveness in interest rates their customer service and website is great.

Citi e-Savings (***)
Offers 5% APY with no minimum balance requirement but requires a checking account with citibank. The best checking account is the EZ Checking account that is free if you maintain $1500, pay 2 bills online a month or have direct deposit. One good thing about citibank is that they offer good rates on CD's like their 6 month CD is at 5.50% (6% in Texas). They also offer Thank You points that add up and you can get gift cards etc. They also have free online bill pay.

GMAC Bank (*****)
For me this was the best deal! Right now they are offering 5.00% APY. They offer a check card, and checking writing (first 50 checks free!). I find this very appealing as I use Bank of America to pay bills online as they deduct money on the day funds are delivered to the person rather than taking them out 3 - 5 days in advance. So I schedule a payment say for 9/12 in the amount of $500, on 9/12 I go to the bank and deposit my check from GMAC for $500 this way I earn the most interest as it takes time for the check to actually go through plus I put it in the day the payment is deducted (Do not try this if you get holds on your accounts or it is for a larger amount, what works for me might not work for you). You can link many external accounts, they verify using the trial deposit method.

HSBC Direct (****)
The current yield is 5.05% APY apart from their slow funds transfer to and from external accounts it is pretty good. I have their checking account as well so I transfer into the checking and write checks. They have been very competitive with their rates.

Which account is the best for you? That is your pick on what you are looking for. If you have more specific questions feel free to email me and I will be happy to answer any of your questions.

Earn some extra bucks in your free time

2006-09-12T20:56:00.000-04:00

During these initial days I have been focusing on making a few extra bucks here and there. So I will continue with that and move towards making returns on your savings and all other good stuff.

Have you heard of Mystery Shoppers or Secret Shoppers?
Why not become one! If you have spare time maybe in the evenings or a free summer then you can earn some cash, free food and depending on where you shop you might also get to keep the merchandise. There are many agencies that offer this service and you can do it on your own time.

How does it work?
I can't say for every agency but the one agency that I have worked for is pretty simple. You log on to the website and search for assignments pick one and if you are selected (usually first come first serve) they will email you a confirmation. You then log in to the website and download the instructions and perform the shop. It might be as simple as ordering pizza from your house and rating their customer service and looking for key things like type of greetings, offers etc or go to a store and purchase something. After the shop you submit a report online which is very simple. Usually Yes and No questions with a few comment fields where you can write briefly about your experience.

Is it worth it?
It depends. You can make (from what I have noticed) anywhere from $5 + merchandise to $50. For example to rate a car dealership I saw they paid $25.

Need to find reputable companies/agencies?
Contact me at green.cash@hotmail.com

Note: I am not affiliated with any company and this post is based on personal experiences just like the remainder of the blog.

Prime Rate Prediction and CD rates

2006-09-11T21:22:00.000-04:00

It seems like the Feds are done for rate hikes for the year. So, this might be the best time to park some of your cash in a high yield CD. The rates have been dropping across the board from the 6% to the low 5%'s now and they might continue to drop.
There are a few good deals out there depending on where you live. A few available to most are from the World Savings Bank that have a 15 month CD for 6.01% APY with a minimum deposit of $10,000 and it has to be "new" money i.e. from outside the bank. Another good one is the Citibank 6 month CD at 5.50% APY and 6.00% in Texas.

So if you are looking to lock in a great rate now is the time. At least that's what I think. If you want rates in the upper 6% to 8% look at your local credit unions as many have very high yields on their CD's and deposit shares.

If you find some good deals please let me know!

Some banks like GMAC is offering CD's up to 5.40% and INGDIRECT up to 5.20%

For a detailed account of the prime rate prediction visit the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate Blog

Update: Pinecone

2006-09-11T20:43:00.000-04:00

Well the pinecone research link has been disabled. Hope some of you got through. I have collected a bunch of promotions from banks and credit card companies with offers ranging from $10 to more than $200 so I will try to organize them and put them up as soon as I can. In the mean time if you are looking for a specific offer or deal feel free to contact me.

Pinecone Sign up link FOUND!

2006-09-10T22:22:00.000-04:00

As mentioned before in my post about Pinecone I just came across a working link! I don't know when it will expire so I suggest you hurry and sign up!

Pinecone is a an online research company that pays you $5 per survey I myself have gotten over $30 in one month.

Note: I know people wonder if I would get anything if you sign up and the answer is no. I don't get anything.

"Get Paid to take an Online Survey? Are you for real?"

2006-09-10T17:58:00.000-04:00

I got an email today in which part of it read, "Get Paid to take an Online Survey? Are you for real? " and the answer is yes. There are many survey sites and you can probably google and find tons and tons of them but be careful! Apart from fraudulent websites, there are some that might not be worth your time.

Look for survey sites that pay per survey and not the ones that enter you in a free drawing, odds of one wining that drawing are slim besides I feel like they are a waste of time. I deal mostly with two survey websites.

My favorite survey website is the Pinecone Research as it sends a flat rate of $5 per survey. A check is sent within 3 - 5 days.
How can I join? Look for a banner. They do not offer members to send invitations nor do they have a sign up page on their website: www.pineconeresearch.com They have limited slots and you have to look for them as they advertise via banners on websites. If I find one, I will provide the link here.

Secondly, I use surveysavvy, they offer from $1 to $10 for any given survey. They send a screener survey to see if you qualify. You can request the payment in the form of a check through their website. To join or get more information click on the image.

Whatever I earn through these surveys goes directly into a high yield savings account like HSBCDIRECT, Citibank e-savings, GMAC bank, or INGDIRECT(Their rates are low at this point) and I also invest in T-bills to avoid state and local taxes. Those are very hot options right now. I will provide a detailed account on online savings accounts and T-bills in future posts.

A little thing called InboxDollars

2006-09-10T15:24:00.000-04:00

Here is the first installment for the Making Money Online section. I came across this deal by accident and so far it has turned out to be quite fruitful. In a matter of 8 minutes that's right 8 minutes I have made $9.43.

What is InboxDollars?
An online website where you register with your usual information and they give you access to multiple online survey companies, 100% free stuff, free trials, and other offers. You can maximize your check by trying products and cancelling them or if you'd rather take the safer route, just register for the survey websites and get anywhere from $0.50 to $3 for signing up. There is no cost to sign up and nothing to purchase. Take their daily survey and get $1 for each survey completed.
They also send you an email where you get money just for reading the email. So far I have not detected any spyware or adware with this service. I have not given them any sensitive information and I do not plan on doing so either.

What type of questions they have asked?
So far they just asked what type of tax preparation software do I use, and what I look for in a tax preparation software. Took me less than 1 minute to finish that.

Any Bonuses?
Yes! Sign up by clicking on the image below and get $5!
What do I get? $5 for referring you. Once you sign up go ahead and refer others and make $5 for each referral.

** I do not represent InboxDollars and the information is not guaranteed. Check the website and direct your questions to them.

A taste of what to expect

2006-09-10T11:57:00.000-04:00

In the coming few days I expect to have completed my compilation of reviews, offers and promotions of various banks, online savings accounts, and some website where you can make money for just taking online surveys. If you are interested in getting free samples of various products look for my posts on many offerings this coming week. I will share with you what I have tried and used and what I have not.
I will try to create a user friendly page with some make money offers with bonus, surveys etc that I myself have used to make money off. For example, I am a member of a survey company called Pinecone Research they usually send me like 2 or 3 surveys a month that take about 5 minutes to do. What do I get? A $5 check for each survey. So far I have made about $30, not to shabby! Then there is this other service that gives you money for signing up for survey websites, trying free offers, or even just reading their offers no sign up or purchases necessary! I just joined this one and have made $12 in one day!

Interested? Need more information before I post the details? Email me!

Credit Card Deals

2006-09-10T08:19:00.000-04:00

Lets look at some of the hot credit card deals out there!

Bank of America rewards American Express Card
This card has a few good perks.
1. No annual fee
2. 0% APR on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 months!
3. AND you get a $50 Statement Credit after qualifying transactions

Other Perks:

Double points on dining and travel purchases until Jan 2007

Low standard APR of 7.9% for purchases (Depends on your credit)
Free Additional cards and much more! You can check this offer out by clicking on the card image.

Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card
This is another great card with a lot to offer!

No annual fee
$100 gift card through their ThankYou Network after first purchase.
0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months!
And right now offering 5 reward points for every $1 spent at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations. That equates to 5% back on those purchases.

Other Perks:
Citi's balance transfers are way to simple. All you need to do is login to your credit card and transfer funds immediately to any bank account or credit card you want. You can make money off this offer by putting the money in a high yield savings account for 12 months and then paying it off once the 0% deal is over. You will be earning around 5% on their money! If you need more information on this feel free to email me. CLICK on the card image to link to their promotional offer.

THE PLASTIC AGE

2006-09-09T22:51:00.000-04:00

For most people credit cards and debit cards are the primary source of payment for anything they purchase. But have you focused on how you can benefit from using the plastic?

Here is a list of things that I look for in credit cards:
1. No annual fee!
2. Low interest rate but depends if you pay your bill in full which I highly recommend this is not a main concern.
3. Rewards, cash back program

What about debit cards?
Not many banks that issue debit cards offer any incentive but from my dealings Bank of America has the "Keep the Change" program and Citi mails me a card to earn up to $5 like once a year for using my citi debit card.

I prefer bank of America since if I really do have to use my debit card the Keep the Change Program adds up. How it works is that say I bought coffee for $4.50 at the end of the day they round that up to $5.00 and move the extra $0.50 from my checking to savings. They match my savings 100% for the first 3 months and 5% there after. One thing that bugs me is that you get the match up bonus on your anniversary date. Wish they did that monthly.

If you are applying for a card make sure you look for the best deal. I look for a sign up bonus be it a $100 or a free ipod. Then I look for what the card offers: the rewards program. Look for any cap on the amount you can earn, and qualifying purchases for points/rewards. A possible 0% balance transfer offer with no transaction fee to make money off of their money!

So what cards do I carry? A few that I used most often:
Amex Blue - One of the first cards I got. Not my ideal choice. Offers upto 5% cash back on gas and drugstore purchases BUT WAIT! The fine print is that you need to spend 6500.01 to get that before that there is a 0.5% on everyday purchases and 1% on gas. Not all transactions qualify for cash back!
Citi Simplicity - I got this card for the 10,000 sign up bonus in Thank You points that equates to a $100 gift card. Overall its a good card that offers a flat 1 point per dollar for every purchase not the best when it comes to rewards but it does offer a 12 month 0% balance transfer with no transaction fee!
Bank of America Power Rewards - Another card I like, 1 point for every dollar spent, ease of paying at any bank of America. Again I prefer a 5% back on gas and such. But this is good if you need to pay bills, tuition etc using a credit card and earn points on it. From my experience BoA has given me points for paying my tuition but AMEX did not :( I paid over $7000 and got nothing from AMEX wish I had used BoA or Citi~!

I will scout for the best credit card offers and post them ASAP I am aware of a few that seem great like the Chase Rewards and Bank of America AMEX card but I would like to finish my research to provide you with all the details so you can make a wise decision!

Mastercard Visa Image retrived from the internet and has no relationship with this website.

First Step: Track Your Expenses and Make a Budget

2006-09-09T22:01:00.000-04:00

Step 1: Track your expenses

The first step to make a budget is to track your expenses and come up with a realistic amount for your budget. Track where you spend and make categories like Eating out, gas, entertainment (i.e. movies etc). I prefer making worksheets in Excel and I track my expenses daily. If you only use credit cards and cash only in rare cases then you can sign on to your credit card website either once a week or daily and record all your expenses and see where you stand.

I was spending close to $1000 and most of it was for dining out and entertainment. This month I have created a budget of only $500 which might seem drastically low but it really isn't. (I SPEND A LOT ON FOOD AND I NEED TO STOP THAT!!) This amount includes all my expenses that I have. All the savings goes into a high yield savings account and a monthly contribution to a Roth IRA. I will share my choices with you later on these subjects.

Here is a sample Budget for September

If anyone needs the excel file I use for my budget please email me and I will send you a copy. (It is a very simple basic template).

A little about myself...

2006-09-09T21:48:00.000-04:00

How should I portray myself here? Should I divuldge personal information or create an imaginary persona of my liking? Should I portray an old wise man with lots of advice and experience or someone young with new ideas? Or should I just be who I am and work towards who I want to become?

I am a college student, recently I started working full time while still in school working on 3 that's right 3 Undergraduate degrees, I am senior in one program while a junior/sophomore in the other two. I have some set financial goals that I have set and am working to achieve. I have come a long way from being a spent thrift to now working on a controlled budget. I will share my strategies and experiences with you all and would appreciate any feedback and advice.

Another One...

2006-09-09T21:31:00.000-04:00

Hello Fellow Readers!

This is yet another blog that deals with money. I am going to focus on saving and making money. Find the best deals, free stuff, promotions and share them with you. In case you are wondering why I set up a blog to share my financial goals, ideas, deals etc...The answer is simple, in this day and age we have to work to secure our future and personally I don't have too many people interested in these matter thus I will share it with the online community! Feel free to write to me at green.cash@hotmail.com and share you thoughts.

Thanks!!