Friday Finance Findings for February 13th

I’m not a superstitious person, but today sure feels like a Friday the 13th. Since waking up this morning, the day has been filled with nothing but problems and headaches. What can go wrong has gone wrong. But the good news is that it is Friday, and I have a long weekend because of the holiday on Monday. So I have that going for me, which is nice.

Aside from that, there has been a lot of activity in the finance world over the past week. We’ve heard a lot of talk about the stimulus plan, the new homebuyer’s credit, and saw a volatile stock market. If you’re like to shoot the breeze with other like-minded individuals, head on over to the finance forums over at Bargaineering. We’ve had some good discussion surrounding a lot of the recent news. And of course, here is your weekend finance reading.

Itemized vs. Standard Tax Deductions – Wondering whether or not you should itemize your tax deductions or just take the standard deduction? This can help you determine which is right for you.

Start A Sunny Day Fund – Forget a rainy day fund, start a sunny day fund. It’s important to save for those rainy day emergencies, but setting some money aside for some fun is great too. There’s no sense in hoarding all of your money until retirement, so if you plan ahead and save some now, you can enjoy something without feeling guilty or going into debt doing so.

myFICO To Drop Experian Credit Score and Report: One Less FICO Score – Starting today, it becomes a little harder to get your Experian credit score. There are still options available, but if you use something like myFICO, Experian won’t be included.

Keeping Tabs on the Economic Stimulus Plan – It’s sad that we’ve become numb to the hundreds of billions, and even the mention of trillions of dollars being thrown around, but how can you make sense of it all and keep track of who’s getting what? Here’s something that may help.

How to Claim Recovery Rebate Credit on 2008 Tax Return – Didn’t get a stimulus check in 2008? You still have a chance. When filing your taxes, you may be able to qualify and get some or all of that stimulus rebate if you qualify. Here’s how.

Yours, Mine, and Ours – Deciding Who Pays the Bills – If you’re married, you’ve undoubtedly encountered the occasional disagreement over money. Who pays for what? Should you have separate accounts or should everything be combined? Here are some tips to help you smooth over any money problems with your significant other.

My Wife and I Robbed Black Angus Last Night – As you may know, I’m a big advocate of eating in and saving big money in the process, but I have to admit that when you can score some deals like Lazy Man did, it’s worth going out. A lot of restaurants are offering amazing deals right now to get people in the door, so keep an eye out.

I Saw What You Spent Last Summer – Whether you’re aware of it or not, you probably have a good idea of how those around you spend money. You keep tabs on what the neighbors have and may wonder how they can afford it. And in times like these, it’s becoming even easier to tell who is really doing well, and who was faking it.

7 Things Your Insurance Company or Agent Won’t Tell You – I hate insurance. Every single type of insurance. But, it’s a necessary evil. So, here are seven things that you’re insurance company probably won’t come out and tell you, but you should be aware of to avoid any surprises down the road.

Is Cash4Gold.com Misleading People? – Heck yeah they are! If you want to throw money down the toilet, then feel free to use Cash4Gold. But if you value money, there are many better places to take your jewelery and get something better than what they will offer, not to mention the hassle.

How to Change a Wall Switch – Need to replace a simple light switch but don’t want to shell out the cash to have an electrician do it? Well, these instructions will probably help. Complete with pictures and detailed instructions, you can probably save some money by doing this home repair yourself.

Related posts:

1. Friday Finance Findings for June 13th
2. Friday Finance Findings for February 6th
3. Friday Finance Findings For February 29th
4. Friday Finance Findings for February 15th – Looking for a Guest Post or Two
5. Friday Finance Findings for January 30th