Friday Finance Findings for July 25th

It has been a busy week around here, and I had failed to get out one of the posts that I had scheduled. But that’s okay, that just means more posts next week. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for group writing project that The Money Writers is putting together. I think it will be informative, and quite interesting given the current market conditions.

You may have also heard the news this past week that Google has finally released their Knol service to the public. This is an interesting new service that is sort of a blend of Wikipedia and something like Hub Pages or Squidoo. I just had to give it a try, so I wrote a knol on the different order types when buying or selling stock. I’m not sure how or if this service will take off, but I wanted to get a feel for how it works. I have mixed feelings about it so far.

And finally, don’t forget that you can always contact me if you have questions, comments, or suggestions. If you’re looking for a place to interact with others and ask or share financial issues, you can always stop by my financial planning forums over at About.com.

Peak Oil or Oil Bubble? The Oil Bubble Argument – There couldn’t be a hotter topic for discussion right now than oil, and some experts say it is a speculative bubble, while others warn of peak oil. Obviously, oil is a limited resource, but is what we’re seeing right now attributable to peak oil, or speculation? This post has some valid arguments for a bubble.

How to Save on Gas (35 Tips Inside) – With high oil prices come high gasoline prices. Everyone is trying to save money at the pump, and if you want 35 tips on how you can save, this is the article for you.

How to Give Money to Charity – I always thought it was as straightforward as writing a check or stuffing a few bills in a donation jar, but apparently I haven’t given charitable giving enough thought. As Brip Blap points out, there are a lot of different considerations and ways you can give to charity.

Stock Market Diversification Works! The Proof – I’m regularly touting the benefits of a diversified portfolio, and SVB offers up some proof. I actually have an idea for another diversification post, and this one will provide a good reference.

Madison Quits and Joins Problogger Status – It seems like these days everyone is quitting their day jobs to write full time. Of course, when you have kids, there is more reason to stay home than just money.

Need a Budget? Google Can Help – Another useful Google resource available are the new financial templates available to help you create a budget. It is a pretty slick interface, easy to use, and best of all, free!

Investing in Commodity ETFs: An Ounce of Research is Worth a Pound of Gold – There has been a lot of talk lately about investing in commodities, and in the past, this was almost impossible for regular investors. Thanks to commodity ETFs, this is no longer the case. Ben talks about how to research commodity ETFs. I only own one commodity fund: DBC. And it is sucking wind this month.

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs -Student loans can be a significant burden for young adults, but there are some options out there that could help. There are certain instances where you can actually get out of repaying the loan. While most people are still on the hook for the repayment, it is worth taking a look at what options might make you qualify.

The Federal Minimum Wage: Looking Back Over Time -As you may have heard, the federal minimum wage has gone up this week. Some people claim it isn’t enough, while other businesses are afraid it will hurt their bottom line. Nickel has put together a really interesting chart to show the history of minimum wage relative to inflation adjusted dollars.

Earn Free Visa Gift Cards for Searching the Web -Do you spend so much time online that you wish you could get paid for it? Well, now there is a way you can earn free Visa gift cards just for searching the web.

How My Will Is Structured -Wills don’t get a lot of coverage, and that is mostly due to the fact that people don’t like thinking about death, and wills are personal documents. Even so, NCN shares with readers how his will is structured. This could be helpful if you’re looking at putting a will together for the first time.

Details on Equifax ID Patrol and Your Chance to Win a Free Trial -If you’re worried about identity theft, Equifax has a new program that could help put your mind at ease. FMF had an interview with the president of Equifax personal solutions to find out more, and even offers a chance to win a free trial.

Related posts:

1. Friday Finance Findings For July 27th
2. Friday Finance Findings For January 25th
3. Friday Finance Findings for July 11th
4. Friday Finance Findings For May 25th
5. Friday Finance Findings for July 18th