tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33354220056621850562024-02-20T17:03:19.388-08:00LookGirl goes to the bankFabulous financial finds <br>for tycoons of all kindsShine A Light Yogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13790721223938289548noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-12175578743257053802008-05-15T17:44:00.000-07:002008-05-15T18:00:31.220-07:00Surviving High Gas PricesHow to do it? Well, there are car-maintenance tips (such as keeping your tires inflated and taking out anything that might be adding excess weight, like junk that's been hanging out in your trunk). There are Web sites such as <a href="http://www.gasbuddy.com">GasBuddy.com</a> that let you use the power of the Internet to search for the cheapest gas nearby. You could go green and drive a hybrid, bike, walk or take mass transit. Of course, you could invest in, say, Exxon or BP and try to recoup some of your money as a shareholder.<br /><br />My latest strategy? Stopping the pump once it hits $25. And reducing how far and how much I drive, by walking when I can, not driving one or two days a week, or running errands while already on my way to or from work so that I try to accomplish more in fewer trips.<br /><br />So far, I've been able to spend only $50 bucks total on gas this month, but with a trip to the exurbs in my immediate future and half a month still to go, we'll see how this strategy works out in the end. The fact that local gas stations are all within easy shooting distance of charging $4 a gallon for regular is going to prove to be a challenge.<br /><a href="http://www.gasbuddy.com"></a>LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-4193433937067237912008-03-22T18:25:00.000-07:002008-03-22T18:41:36.965-07:00Coming Soon: Rebate ChecksWhether you've already made plans for your economic stimulus check or not, now you'll at least know when it's coming. The IRS says checks will start going out on May 2, for everyone eligible and who filed their taxes by April 15. All rebates going to those who selected direct deposit will be out by the end of May. Those awaiting a paper check may have to wait into mid July. For either method, checks will be sent out according to the last two digits of taxpayers' Social Security numbers. To see the schedule, go to <a href="http://www.irs.gov">IRS.gov</a>.LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-44389929060294113522008-03-09T18:45:00.000-07:002008-03-09T19:09:32.029-07:00A Simple Start to Finance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ998DWfU9mO_CuM1YrcnbOC_6WuTUo5SqEolgNAjIlyRE291wXOIhd-M7iAWnsavXDAms-7f7ByvdT8V0nupX5wEyvQ61LdGf9IV6rrjooeIGFEPvciYx1x9o6-jSDVer62A0TZFzqdE/s1600-h/0308_cover_180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ998DWfU9mO_CuM1YrcnbOC_6WuTUo5SqEolgNAjIlyRE291wXOIhd-M7iAWnsavXDAms-7f7ByvdT8V0nupX5wEyvQ61LdGf9IV6rrjooeIGFEPvciYx1x9o6-jSDVer62A0TZFzqdE/s320/0308_cover_180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175928896715268850" border="0" /></a><i>Real Simple</i>'s March cover story (if you missed the print version, <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/package/1,21861,1697911-1710778,00.html">click here</a> to read it online) looked at solutions for six money problems, including spending too much and saving too little. Each problem comes with immediate steps to take, and more advanced steps to do next. Plus, sidebars feature real people, their budgets and advice from a planner.<br /><br />All in all, the article is a good way to dip your toes into reading about personal finance. The advice is sound, though I would quibble with a couple of things.<br /><br />Just keep in mind that this is a starter article. Take the next step: Direct your attention to the section of your local newsstand that features the magazines devoted solely to the topic of personal finance to get more in-depth information.LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-41089952703454697462008-03-04T16:27:00.000-08:002008-03-04T17:37:58.092-08:00Caught in the MiddleFederal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke again suggested a <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/04/news/economy/bernanke/index.htm?postversion=2008030410">proposal</a> that mortgage lenders should write down principal for troubled homeowners as a measure to help mitigate fallout from the housing crisis. Not a bad idea necessarily.<br /><br />But what about those homeowners who are upside down on their mortgages, yet can still afford to pay them and aren't in risk of foreclosure? Do they get to take advantage of such a proposal? My guess is no. If such a homeowner had to sell in this market, however, they could be down by tens of thousands of dollars, which could cause a bankruptcy or at worse severely impact their financial foundation.<br /><br />It's this group of homeowners caught in the middle -- between the most troubled borrowers and the owners who have plenty of equity -- who I wonder how they'll survive the crisis. Save for one recent article in <i>The Wall Street Journal,</i> no one yet seems to be talking about them. I suspect that soon they'll become a bigger topic, if they're anything like the owners in the <i>Journal</i> article who are also beginning to mail their keys to the bank.LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-30883696101351795532008-02-24T14:22:00.000-08:002008-02-24T15:24:58.564-08:00An Ode to Tax Software<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehZvw-gtV7k6gD0FhpTVnduKJkPeVVFrvOQfuuNnq5fXZxpUoCe1bSKtARaO3l4r1dxUmpGjdsKkq354GV_X58NxCJ7D3vK5xWkotccGbsVGSK80BhhyphenhyphenY9n2Fntl6UDdafEgxF0Q4Ttr7/s1600-h/images-2.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehZvw-gtV7k6gD0FhpTVnduKJkPeVVFrvOQfuuNnq5fXZxpUoCe1bSKtARaO3l4r1dxUmpGjdsKkq354GV_X58NxCJ7D3vK5xWkotccGbsVGSK80BhhyphenhyphenY9n2Fntl6UDdafEgxF0Q4Ttr7/s200/images-2.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170691011094826898" border="0" /></a>I've been doing my own taxes for years, and for much of that time, I used pen and paper. But four years ago, I turned to tax-preparation software and I've never looked back.<br /><br />If all you're filing is a simple Form 1040, you could probably stick to the old-school method. But if your tax situation is more complicated, tax software can ease the pain of figuring it all out -- which forms to file, whether or not you should itemize, etc. The only thing I dislike is having to type in the information from your W-2s, but that annoyance is worth making the rest of the process a breeze. I've used Tax Cut and TurboTax -- both are pretty good and walk you right through your taxes step by step with a series of questions. Be sure to have all your tax documents handy before you begin, and you should be done in no time.<br /><br />What's even better is that, if you qualify, you can use tax-preparation software free through the <a href="http://www.irs.gov/">IRS's Free File program</a>. To be eligible to use the service, your adjusted gross income has to be $54,000 or less for 2007. I found the service fairly easy to use the year I tried it, though I did have to consult the FAQs several times to clarify some of the rules. But if all that's holding you back from using software is the cost of buying it, this is a great way to use it free — and if you use e-file you don't even have to pay for a stamp. (Note that with paid-for software, generally you have to pay a fee to electronically file. In that case, mailing the forms is usually the cheaper option.)LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-22369278503345695602008-02-11T16:53:00.000-08:002008-02-11T17:39:31.572-08:00Review: Girl, Read This Book!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLznFTfAmV6UIanIv1xIAQmWl3AuzWp4ISmMrpU5i4NNHjf_Cx44JpBySCPkIaeoVUfx7t535CMIoFNY3kZYoKRE7TUofRVXjSqX2QDwIA5qlrOfcqlRO0atzXE5tGGAmoYcj0OG8MWjU9/s1600-h/girlbookcover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLznFTfAmV6UIanIv1xIAQmWl3AuzWp4ISmMrpU5i4NNHjf_Cx44JpBySCPkIaeoVUfx7t535CMIoFNY3kZYoKRE7TUofRVXjSqX2QDwIA5qlrOfcqlRO0atzXE5tGGAmoYcj0OG8MWjU9/s320/girlbookcover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165901018753191778" border="0" /></a>The first time I came across financial expert Glinda Bridgforth was on <i>Oprah,</i> when she participated in the "America's Debt Diet" series. Bridgforth was the unfortunate expert who got stuck with the family who wouldn't follow expert advice, even though the advice was sound. When I was handed a copy of her latest book, <i>Girl, Get Your Credit Straight!</i>, I decided to take a look.<br /><br />With its catchy title that I couldn't get out of my head, I dove in and found an interesting read. The book is directed to African-American women, but any woman will find this book useful. Bridgforth weaves in her own personal struggles with money with tales of other women, who like her, have overcome their financial troubles. Having dug myself out of a mound of credit-card debt, I always find other real-life stories of conquering debt fascinating.<br /><br />Bridgforth also breaks down financial terms and jargon into regular language, and gives step-by-step advice on how to prioritize and pay off debt. At times, Bridgforth gets a little too spiritual for my tastes, but all in all, her book's an entertaining, educational read. The book is the third in a series: The second, <i>Girl, Make Your Money Grow!</i>, written with a co-author, was a bit harder to get through. I have not yet picked up her first book, <i>Girl, Get Your Money Straight!</i>. But Bridgforth's book on credit was helpful enough that I plan to pick up her first book soon.LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-21879907061699633672008-02-04T17:47:00.000-08:002008-02-05T09:13:24.595-08:00Go Fee-Free<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7cZgHrp2srOTKEr-y8MDRilUqMa33eGD8WjcbLh_Mtdm7_mP1ylZiGSOb7geLuJOSAD8-3UnJW4rWhgi90hILYEuaVbZJgO_9TivFkPuRCTHP3dh2RsMYWt0m-tLw8w-trqKj8K4lJt2/s1600-h/images.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7cZgHrp2srOTKEr-y8MDRilUqMa33eGD8WjcbLh_Mtdm7_mP1ylZiGSOb7geLuJOSAD8-3UnJW4rWhgi90hILYEuaVbZJgO_9TivFkPuRCTHP3dh2RsMYWt0m-tLw8w-trqKj8K4lJt2/s320/images.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163354585939132578" border="0" /></a>One secret on the road to wealth: Cut the fees you pay. If you can't avoid them altogether, then make sure you're paying as little as possible.<br /><br />It may take a little comparison shopping, but who doesn't like to shop? There are all kinds of ways to shave the amount you pay in miscellaneous fees. Get free checking and credit cards with no annual fees, for example. Protect your nest egg by choosing an IRA that charges minimal to zero account fees, and ask how much you're paying in annual and investment fees for your 401(k).<br /><br />If you're investing on your own, trade with a discount brokerage that charges low commissions. If you invest in mutual funds, pick no-load funds, which have no sales charge. Choose funds with low annual expense ratios; index funds and exchange-traded funds offer some of the lowest annual expenses around. The amount you pay in investment fees eats into your investment returns, and that can add up to big bucks over time.<br /><br />Don't be afraid to question fees you're being charged. If you're buying a house or a car, be particularly careful that you understand what every dollar is paying for. And inquire if there are ways to cut those fees. If you're carrying a credit card balance but pay on time every month, ask your credit card company if it will reduce your interest rate.<br /><br />Changing your behavior helps, too. Don't use ATMs that aren't in your bank's network, and pay your bills on time. Pay off your credit cards every month so you won't pay interest. Avoid incurring overdraft fees on your bank accounts. If you have to meet certain minimums to avoid service fees, then meet them.<br /><br />Fees pop up everywhere these days (see <a href="http://lookgirltravel.blogspot.com/">LookGirl on the go</a> for the latest airline fee to avoid), so you have to be vigilant. The less you pay in fees to companies, the more money you'll keep in your pocket — which is where it belongs.LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-2730928901615088382008-02-03T13:25:00.000-08:002008-02-03T14:31:59.586-08:00In Search of Better Rates<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Yv2tN1jFu4E/R6NTPR2Qy9I/AAAAAAAAApw/k1pvuKYCKDg/s1600-h/istockphoto_4099720_financial_research.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 130px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Yv2tN1jFu4E/R6NTPR2Qy9I/AAAAAAAAApw/k1pvuKYCKDg/s320/istockphoto_4099720_financial_research.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162061119850859474" border="0" /></a>Ben Bernanke & Co. at the Federal Reserve have been slashing benchmark interest rates in hopes of saving the economy from recession. Lower interest rates are great when it comes to things like credit cards and mortgages. But if you're trying to earn some money on your cash in a savings account or certificate of deposit, it's a different story.<br /><br />Not that long ago online banks were offering rates on savings accounts at 5% or more. In recent weeks, they've cut rates to less than 4%. That's still a good deal when compared with many brick-and-mortar bank savings accounts. But if you're shopping around to score the highest rate possible, check out <a href="http://www.bankrate.com/">Bankrate.com</a>. You can search for the highest rates for savings accounts and CDs nationwide. And if you <i>are</i> looking to benefit from the Fed's rate cuts, you can also search the site to find the lowest rates on mortgages and credit cards.LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-31876288992211426492008-01-31T18:05:00.000-08:002008-02-04T17:46:24.876-08:00It's Just Business<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrsHc9UgOIo5652w48av4-vE3B0NLLqMc8rdNSAB8Cvm7HbEFC-r8hSqj2kD2JRIuoUHZ3UOZoJhfUUlDN5hqNz4rbDFA8PhZGG_c9pJ3v564qDen6qzvRW2faQykEkZWRfTmXhSefvJU/s1600-h/705_05_fillingupshoe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrsHc9UgOIo5652w48av4-vE3B0NLLqMc8rdNSAB8Cvm7HbEFC-r8hSqj2kD2JRIuoUHZ3UOZoJhfUUlDN5hqNz4rbDFA8PhZGG_c9pJ3v564qDen6qzvRW2faQykEkZWRfTmXhSefvJU/s200/705_05_fillingupshoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162866918172475506" border="0" /></a>There's something about <i>Celebrity Apprentice</i> that's got me hooked. Perhaps it's the throwback feel to Battle of the Network Stars. Granted, it's lost some pizzazz since Gene Simmons got fired, and the show usually devolves into the participants cashing in their celebrity to win. But like <i>Project Runway,</i> I like the fact that <i>Apprentice</i> makes its contestants use at least some brain power to complete their tasks.<br /><br />The show's started, and turns out the Vinnie/Piers fight is a put-on. With its twist of sabotage, we'll see how this episode turns out. My prediction is the women's team, Empresario, is going to lose again and Omarosa, who backed Vinnie coming into the team, <i>finally</i> goes home.<br /><br /><b>UPDATE:</b> My powers of prediction were poor on this one. With Carol Alt as project manager, the women score their first win with the Crocs challenge. At least Piers ended up staying, thank goodness.LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-18988734237189548442008-01-31T17:21:00.000-08:002008-02-03T12:59:40.945-08:00Battle of the Savings Programs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Yv2tN1jFu4E/R6NTPR2Qy-I/AAAAAAAAAp4/k7rgguJ9m8M/s1600-h/istockphoto_4581377_piggy_bank_savings_male.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 194px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Yv2tN1jFu4E/R6NTPR2Qy-I/AAAAAAAAAp4/k7rgguJ9m8M/s320/istockphoto_4581377_piggy_bank_savings_male.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162061119850859490" border="0" /></a>Looking for a way to trick yourself into saving? Bank of America and Wachovia Bank both are offering customers a way to do that. BoA's Keep the Change program rounds up your debit-card transactions and puts the change into your savings account. The bank also says it matches up to $250 a year.<br /><br />Wachovia Bank's newly launched Way2Save program works differently. It moves $1 from your checking account to your Way2Save account whenever you bank online or use your debit card. You can also set up a maximum automatic monthly transfer of $100. Money in the Way2Save account intially yields 5% in interest (tho that's subject to change), and on the first-one year anniversary you get a bonus of 5% of your Way2Save balance up to $300.<br /><br />Be sure to read the fine print at the banks' Web sites before signing up. You have to have accounts at these banks to take part, of course. But BoA's match and Wachovia's bonus are what sweeten the deal. We're not talking huge sums here, but every little bit counts. Plus, it's nice to see saving being promoted instead of spending — that's a cause I can get behind.LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3335422005662185056.post-23864347972740787922008-01-26T18:40:00.000-08:002008-02-03T13:03:15.180-08:00Get Savvy About Money, Honey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Yv2tN1jFu4E/R6NT3R2QzBI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/4PZdYLKtEKQ/s1600-h/Money_Coins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Yv2tN1jFu4E/R6NT3R2QzBI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/4PZdYLKtEKQ/s200/Money_Coins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162061807045626898" border="0" /></a>When LookGirl goes to the bank, she wants to see her balance is growing. In this day and age, you can't ignore your finances. Your future depends on how well you pay attention to your bottom line now. Few companies offer pensions these days, and Social Security may or may not exist in the future. Not only do you need a sizable nest egg for the long term, you need to cover your expenses in the short term and that includes everything from groceries to vacations.<br /><br />But in the Internet age, managing your money is easy to do. With online banking and online bill paying, you can track your income and expenses with a few clicks of the mouse. Investment firms let you track accounts online. And if you don't know the difference between a mutual fund and an ETF, you can find out quickly by doing a little research on financial Web sites. So if you aren't already paying attention to your money, could there be a more perfect time to start than now?LookGirl Threehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954389246333618711noreply@blogger.com0