Friday Finance Findings for September 26th
By Jeremy on Sep 26, 2008 with Comments 1
It sure has been a crazy couple of weeks in the markets, and I’m sure glad it’s Friday. I honestly can’t believe the actions some investors are taking. Most people that are most concerned have simply heard soundbites from the news or overheard co-workers at the water cooler and are blowing things way out of proportion. Apparently, those people seem to think we’re in the midst of the next great depression and they will be out on the street waiting in long lines just to get some bread to eat in a matter of weeks.
Now, we are in difficult financial times as a country to be sure, but a lot of the fear is unwarranted and is mainly being caused by the media and the lack of understanding that most people have of how the economy works. Anyway, do yourself a favor and turn the TV off for a while, and stop refreshing that finance website to see what the market is doing. You’ll drive yourself crazy. So, for this week’s links, I’m going to try and find articles that don’t talk about the financial “crisis” and pending bailout.
Museum Day 2008, and Other Frugal Activities for the Weekend – Looking for a frugal and fun weekend? Tomorrow is national museum day, so that could be a good start. But since this will be my last football season without a child for a long time, I’m going to stick to a frugal weekend of sitting on my couch watching countless hours of football.
Working From Home: Making Money While Working In A Job That Fits Your Life – Dreaming about working from home? It sounds glorious, being able to work on your terms and in your pajamas if you want. But, there are a lot of scams that prey on people who want this lifestyle, so make sure you find a legitimate work at home opportunity.
Reader Mail: Career in Financial Services? – Looking to start a career in the financial service industry? There are plenty of reasons to do so, but there are also a number of drawbacks. Frugal Trader addresses a reader who is wanting to learn more about this career transition.
Frugality Versus Self-Sufficiency – Trying to save a little money these days? I think we all are. But there is a difference in how you can save, and some savings can actually create value, whereas other savings is purely a monetary gain. Learning how to save money like a smart person will pay off in the long run.
Can You Trust Online Banks? – If you want some of the best interest rates for your savings, you’re probably going to be looking at some online banks. They have become increasingly popular in recent years, but are they safe?
Improve Your Gas Mileage by Slowing Down -It is a common tip on many finance websites that slowing down just a few miles per hour can create big gas savings. Nickel breaks it down with some numbers, and you can decide if it’s worth it.
7 Moves You Haven’t Made in Your 401k – Saving for retirement in your 401k? Good. But you should dig a little deeper, as there are many features and services that are probably hidden that you could really take advantage of. Here are 7 things you should look for in your plan.
Does The Economy Affect How You Save Money? – Does the status of the economy dictate how you save money? Do you save more when times are tough, or do you save more when the economy is booming?
Converting APR to APY, What’s The Difference? – Who cares what the difference is, I only linked to this because of the funny picture used in the post. No, really there is a difference between APR and APY and it pays to understand the difference. You want to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples so you can get the best rate.
Keep My Money Safe and Let It Grow – Your savings should be safe. After all, it is there in the case of an emergency, so it should be safe. So, The Sun examines a handful of the most common places you can safely stash your money away and let it grow.
The Quickest Route to a Six-Figure Job – Who doesn’t want a six-figure job? Well, some career paths can allow you to reach this milestone faster than others, so FMF talks about a few careers you might want to consider if that’s your goal.
Debt Reduction Gurus: Clark Howard -I’ll be honest, I’m not up with all the latest debt gurus out there and have only heard of Clark Howard’s name a few times in the past. But, NCN does a nice little review of Clark and how he might be able to help you.
Watch Out for This Grocery Pricing Trick -Grocery stores are using some tricky techniques to get you to spend money. This is a trick I haven’t encountered at my store yet, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for it.
Where To Sell Used Books And Textbooks -Personally, just can’t part with books. I don’t know why, but I love books, even if I’ve read it and know I may never read it again. But if you aren’t as attached to books as I am, you might be able to sell your old books, make some money, and get rid of some clutter at the same time.
Why Do We Use “Bacon” And “Dough” When We Talk About Money? -I love stuffing my head with odd trivia so this post caught my eye. Why do we refer to money as various types of food?
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Filed Under: Friday Finance Findings
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Thanks for the mention Jeremy!