Friday Finance Findings for March 13th

It’s another Friday the 13th, but this one feels like just any other day. Haven’t walked under any ladders, crossed a black cat, or broken any mirrors so it should be just fine. On the baby front, we’re still just waiting. It could be any day now, so we’re just sitting around waiting for the time to grab our stuff and head to the hospital. I have a feeling it’s going to be a St. Patrick’s day baby, but we’ll see.

In other news, I’m quietly thinking about a redesign for the site. I haven’t completely made my mind up yet, but I have paid for some design work in terms of developing a new logo. If that comes out as expected, I may go ahead and think about a complete overhaul to freshen up the place. So, I wanted to use this opportunity to ask you what features you like the most, what features you don’t like, and what you’d like to see if I were to change things around. If you have a moment, feel free to leave a comment. Tell me what you like or don’t like, or maybe point out a feature that could be helpful. Don’t be shy.

The $8,000 Tax Credit for First-Time Home Buyers in 2009 – I put together some information regarding the tax credit for first-time homebuyers in 2009.

Preparing My Income Tax Return: How I Organize My Tax Documents – I (well, an accountant) just finished our taxes this past week. I’ve talked about organizing tax documents in the past, but this article goes into a little more detail. I know that my organization paid off this year as it cut down time spent looking for everything when it was time to get to work.

Credit Karma Free Credit Score Service Can Help You in This Economic Environment: An Interview with CEO Ken Lin – If you haven’t heard of Credit Karma, it’s worth a look. And to better explain the service and how it can help you in this tough economic climate, Sun has an interview with their CEO.

How to Invest with Small Amounts per Month – I get questions like this quite often. People are looking for ways to invest, but don’t often have the few thousand set aside it takes to get into one of the good no-load fund companies like Vanguard. Here’s how you can get started with just small amounts each month.

Save Money on Television – TV is a major drain on many budgets these days. Satellite or cable can easily stretch to $100/month or more. So, if you want to streamline your television experience, Lazy Man has some tips for you.

Save a Ton of Money by Eating Salad for Lunch – Salad is not only cheap, but good for you. I have to highlight this article because she references my post from about a month ago that shared my technique for keeping your salad greens fresh and crisp.

How to Stick to a Decision – Learn how difficult it can be to make and stick with a decision when faced with almost limitless possibilities through the eyes of Brip Blap as he experiences some life changing events.

Credit Cards Just Loans Wrapped In Pretty Plastic – It’s true. Credit cards are just loans. Sometimes we forget that, and Frugal Dad shares a conversation with his daughter that reminds us all. Of course, you have the power to determine how long the loan is for and how much interest you ultimately pay, but this is why they can be dangerous if not used properly.

Lending Club Step-By-Step Guide – Everyone is taking my ideas for a Lending Club post! This is a great tutorial that walks you through the process of getting started with Lending Club step-by-step. I guess I’m going to have to think of something really creative when I pull out my review.

College Savings Plans: 529 vs. Coverdell ESA – This is a timely article for us since we’re having a child and will be immediately establishing some sort of college savings plan. Cash Money Life does a great job in comparing two of the most popular methods for college savings.

7 Ways Companies Are Cutting Back This Year – Companies are cutting back, there’s no question about that. But every company is different, and there may be action that can be taken before letting people go. What are you seeing where you work? If your company is cutting back, what are they cutting back on?

Spring Break Vacation Money Savers – It’s that time again, and that means spring break. Oh wait, as a working adult I these are only a distant memory. But if you have children who are getting time off or you’re going to take a little vacation as a family this Spring, here are a lot of great tips to help you get the most bang for your buck.

The Government Is NOT Giving You a Stimulus Check or Grant – Watch out! Even though there is a lot of government stimulus being thrown around, there are also a number of people looking to scam desperate people out of their hard-earned money. Here’s what you need to know and look out for when it comes to the government stimulus.

Related posts:

1. Friday Finance Findings For March 28th
2. Friday Finance Findings for March 6th – Newsletter Edition
3. Friday Finance Findings for February 13th
4. Friday Finance Findings for June 13th
5. Friday Finance Findings For January 25th