Friday Finance Findings for June 15th

I briefly mentioned in the last installment that I had some exciting news to share but I never let the cat out of the bag. Things have been progressing a bit slower than anticipated before making an official announcement but I should hear back later today the final details. I know a few people out there know already, but for those who don’t I’ll give you a hint. Very shortly I will begin writing for a much larger and well-known online resource. The topics will be similar to what I cover here, but with more focus on the planning aspect of finances and will basically complement what is discussed here. So until then, here are some great reads from the past week:

Work Smart Not Hard – I think this is one of the keys to success. It isn’t how hard you work that matters but how smart you work. Ben does a good job at illustrating the importance of working smart.

Lifestyle Inflation: When Does It Become a Problem? – I don’t think I’ve ever really heard the term lifestyle inflation before but Golbguru discusses what it is and how it can lead to financial problems.

How Movie Theaters Make Money – Since I rarely ever go to the movies I’m not up to speed on a lot of things but it is interesting to see how they make money. Nickel breaks down an article that talks about it.

I Am a Monkey – Well, I’m not, but the Lazy Man is apparently. I guess if you lend money on prosper you are a monkey according to the Miserly Bastard.

PowerShares’ New Water ETF – I’m always interested in these new specialized offerings and this one is no different. Investing in water may be a good idea considering it is a precious resource in a world with a constantly growing population.

Real Estate Cash Back Transactions are Illegal – What? Nothing like some good ol’ mortgage fraud to start your day. Jim shares a story and an interesting conversation follows.

10 Ways to Handle That Problem Property Next Door – The Silicon Valley Blogger gives some tips on how to handle that piece of crap property next to yours so your property values aren’t diminished as much.

Top Athletes Make Boatloads of Money – It always amazes me at how much money many athletes make. I don’t have a problem with the money they make, but it always irritates me when you hear about them whining about their salary and holding out for even more money. Will it really make a difference if you make $28 million or $30 million a year? They will just blow it on 10 hummers or another house they don’t need anyway.

Would You Drive a Car That Only Cost $2,500 New? - I’m not sure I would trust this car while cruising 80 down one of our interstates but if I lived in a city this would be a fantastic vehicle. So far this is slated for India but could this spark production of similar vehicles elsewhere in the world?

$6,500 Repair Bill to Remove a Stone From a Moon Roof? – This ties in nicely with what I wrote earlier this week about car salesmen. Wise Bread highlights a story where a dealership was really trying to work someone over. They may not have a significant markup on the vehicles they sell but they sure do rake in the cash when you bring your car back to the dealership for repairs.

Related posts:

1. Friday Finance Findings for June 8th
2. Friday Finance Findings for June 1st
3. Friday Finance Findings for May 4th
4. December 15th Friday Five – Double Dose Edition
5. Friday Finance Findings For May 25th