Four totally unrelated observations before getting on to the link roundups:
One of the best parts of the stimulus package - the best, at least in terms of my own personal situation - was the COBRA premium reduction. As long as I’ve been paying the reduced premium, I’ve felt like I’ve had affordable coverage with a reputable company that’s not tied to my employer. I’ve been able to move from one contract to another without switching doctors or learning a new set of copayment rules. It gave me a glimpse of how I’d like health care to look: not related to my employer, and pricey but not so expensive that it would cripple an average family budget.
The temperatures have dropped slightly in Florida but the high-rise I work in continues to blast - literally - freezing cold air out into the work area. I will need a sweater soon. It’s in the 80s outside. I shudder to think of (a) the cost, (b) the environmental impact and (c) the illnesses it seems to cause - half of the office is sniffling and the other half are coughing. It’s unpleasant in the extreme.
I have been writing two ebooks (slowly) and I found a tool to do so that really surprised me. I am no fan of Microsoft Office, preferring Open Office, but MS Office has some nice formatting tools and I’ve been able to put together what are - to me - pleasing “Webby” looking documents. I am trying to use the e-book writing to spur my own creative thinking for this blog.
Finding writing subjects for the blog has continued to be a struggle for me, but I’m trying to broaden my reading a bit to shake up my brain. I blame, recently, Stephen King and football. King is one of my favorite writers, but for some reason my brain seems to get distracted from other subjects. Same goes for football - if you’re a fan it’s easy in the internet age to do nothing but read football ALL DAY LONG. Reading stats and game analysis crushes a lot of creativity. So less pop culture, more esoteric stuff (new blogs, non-fiction books and more notebooking of my own ideas).
On to some links. I will actually have a second linklings post tomorrow - otherwise this would have been the War and Peace of roundups.
Saving For Retirement? Best Move For Your Retirement Plan: I have put off rolling my 401(k) into an IRA for about six months, and I just started moving it this week. I have no idea why I didn’t go ahead and do this sooner - I can think of no possible benefit to having a dormant 401(k) sitting in a separate account when I have my TD Ameritrade rollover IRA ready to go - plus, they have a bonus if you start a new IRA before December 31st.
Did Mortgage Rates Just Hit Rock Bottom?: Surely rates can’t go much lower, although I’d like to have a 2% mortgage if someone would give it to me.
How We Saved Money when Moving: Having just been through this, I liked these tips (actually this is a post linking to the post on the Quicken blog).
Career Planning Saved My Life: While I’m not as optimistic, I do think getting out of corporate employee life and into corporate contract consultant life was a step in the right direction. That having been said, it was only one step, and I probably have another 5 or 6 steps before I’ll be in a role I actually like.
TFSAs, Self Control and Your Future Self: While this article talks about Canadian retirement funds, the point holds just as true for Americans. I know people might think that the tax penalties imposed on early withdrawals from IRAs, etc. might just be the government once again taking a shot at citizens, but it’s one of the few cases where the taxes are good. If penalties keep people from cashing out their retirement accounts at the first sign of adversity, all to the better.
Stop Feeling Sorry For Me - I’m Frugal, Not Broke: Amen. I feel sorry for myself sometimes, too. I have the money to buy a lot of the things that I feel I want in moments of weakness. I’d like a new Prius or BMW. We could afford it. We could afford a lot of things, and although I get a great deal of satisfaction from driving two paid-off vehicles, just once in a while I wish I could yell at people “I drive a nine-year-old Pontiac but I’m not broke you idiots! It’s just not WORTH buying a new car if this one runs and is comfortable and reliable!”
50% Of Poll Respondents Chose Wal-Mart As Best Symbol Of America.: At least they didn’t choose McDonald’s. I don’t like Wal-Mart, but it’s another case where my values collide with my checkbook and my free time. If I need some pasta, some printer paper and some athletic socks, Wal-Mart is a cheap one-stop solution. I know I shouldn’t go there, but I do, because it’s cheap and convenient. I know that by doing so I’m killing other businesses that sell these products, so it’s a vicious circle. The solution? Maybe amazon.com? I don’t know.
Happier: Another great article from J.D., but I have to pick on one thing. I am getting weary of hearing that money doesn’t increase happiness:
“I’ve also come to understand that part of the problem was that I expected money to solve my problems. I expected money to make me happy. Money and happiness, however, are mostly unrelated. That’s just not how it works.” (emphasis mine - Steve)
I have to say that “mostly” is the key word. Money does solve problems. Having money has allowed our family to weather a long bout of no income with almost no long-term impact on our finances. Having money kept the health insurance going when I wasn’t working. Money lets us eat organic foods and send our son to a fantastic Waldorf preschool (and next year, Pumpkin, our daughter, will go, too). So JD’s point is valid - money and happiness are mostly unrelated - but I think having money helps a lot. Not just in the sense of being able to buy a Kindle, but simply to be able to live a lifestyle (good food, health care, freedom to travel, etc.) that allows all those other “happiness boosters” to mean something.
Plus a few more good articles, but I’m tired of typing…
- Which Type of Life Insurance is Best for You?
- How To Be A Smart Investor In Any Investment Environment
- Plug Your Money Leaks and Save Hundreds of Dollars Painlessly
photo by audreyjm529
I have long disliked Jimmy Buffett. He didn’t really work with my worky-worky aesthetic. He sang stupid, silly songs about drinking in the afternoon and swinging in a hammock. But here’s a good example of lifestyle reeingineering: I moved to Florida and suddenly songs about drinking in the afternoon and watching the waves at sunset didn’t seem so stupid. They seemed, well, topical. I checked a couple of Buffet CDs out of the local library and - to my surprise - enjoyed them. Songs about gumbo and margaritas suddenly make sense. I felt what he was singing in a way I never had before. An artist I’d dismissed suddenly seemed, well, relevant.
Silly stuff. But I thought about moving to Russia, and about how at that time I suddenly started appreciating and really understanding the stuff I studied in school. You can read about the Russian Revolution or Stalingrad but until you see the monuments and walk over the bloody ground you can’t really FEEL it. I love the idea that you can travel the world through words; travel writers have taken me to far distant corners I have never visited myself. I have been in some distant, random parts of this beautiful world, but other writers have gone further afield, and I count on them to take me where they went. But sometimes nothing substitutes for the real thing. Standing in the shadow of Ivan the Terrible’s insane cathedral late at night, with snow falling all around me, couldn’t be replaced with a thousand books.
And now for the links…
Training A Child About Money – Online: This is a great resource post for a parent of children about, oh, 5 and under. I worry about money training more and more each day now that my son (3) sees and understands the transactions that go on at stores - I don’t want him to believe in the magic credit card, obviously.
What Works For Me: The one-thing-at-a-time mindset is the goal we all need to strive for, I think.
How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Even Save Some Money – Equipment: Mmmmmm, beer.
What If There Was No Tomorrow: A good word of advice about personal finance. Imagine you got hit by a car tomorrow. What about your planning would be pointless and what would be unfinished? I still don’t have a decent will and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about planning for my 60s…
Financial Advisor Websites With Blogs: Interesting idea - if you really want financial advice, seek out a financial advisor’s blog.
Case Study: Financial Priorities: Me, I don’t see it. Pay off ALL debt. Then invest. My 6-word solution, free of charge.
Where To Save Birthday Money For Kids: I have a few months before the rounds start again, but it never hurts to start planning.
Great Stock Market Performace, But Will Dow 9,200 Hold?: Me, I don’t think it will. I’m a Dow 6000 (or lower) guy. I think that we’re overvalued, even now - but time will tell.
How to Survive and Thrive During a Recession: Interesting ideas, although I just don’t look at broadband internet as a luxury anymore.
Federal Minimum Wage at $7.25/Hour – Chart of the Day: Don’t get me started on a rant about the unfinished choice between capitalism and socialism in America. Either abolish the minimum wage or make it reasonable. As of now it’s barely reasonable, so either get rid of it and tell everyone to work for whatever they can get OR assure everyone a decent living wage. Make a philosophical choice. $7.25 is a living wage in some states; in others it isn’t.
Best Free Essential Software For Windows: Great list; I am building a computer on free software and paid DOS, although with the announcement of Google’s OS that may change soon. So far, I haven’t noticed a glitch using Open Office and Gimp and Picasa - great tools at the very, very right price.
Put The Squeeze On SpongeBob: If you have kids, though stuff to think about. I hate thinking about TV - it is my guilt and my pleasure when it comes to my kids. It gives me peace and gives me anxiousness…
I don’t know if I’ve ever made it very obvious, but I’m a big fan of the goth-rock group The Cure (yes, I was, and yes, I am, stop judging me!) and more specifically of the lead singer, Robert Smith. I’ve also always liked blink-182′s music, and when I heard the blink-182 duet with Robert Smith I decided that blink-182 could move into the “approved by the Cure and therefore by me” category. Citi and Live Nation are offering some good deals for concerts - including blink-182 and a few other great groups - this year. Throughout July and August, Citi credit and debit cardmembers have access to $5 Lawn Tickets to tours like blink-182, Crue Fest 2 (another favorite of mine - back in high school I loved AC/DC and Motley Crue), and Nickelback, among others. Starting today, cardmembers can visit www.citiprivatepass.com to get a special access code that will allow them to view information and purchase tickets to all participating $5 Lawn Ticket concerts.