Friday Finance Findings for January 29

Just a couple of announcements before we get to the links this week. First, don’t forget to enter the Money Crasher’s epic New Years contest. There’s nearly $10,000 worth of prizes being given away! That’s huge, and I’m even giving away a new Kindle. You still have a few days left to get your entries in, so don’t delay.

Second, in case you didn’t catch my post last week about it, I’m working with a fantastic new company called Bundle. It’s a fun way to sift through all sorts of spending data from around the country. You can see how you stack up, compare different cities, or simply comment about what others are saying on the site. If you have a few minutes I’d encourage you to check it out and see how the data looks for where you live. You’ll also see me over there writing some content and commenting on what others have found.

Investing 101: What Are Bonds? – Most of us know what stocks are, but what about bonds? We know they are usually safer, but beyond that they remain a mystery for many. Learn the basics behind bonds and when you should use them in your portfolio.

Common Myths about Stock Market Risk – The stock market is a risky place, right? There are certainly some risks involved, but usually these risks get blown out of proportion in bear markets. Here are some common myths about the stock market and the reality behind them.

Free Turbo Tax Software! – It’s tax time, so what’s better than some free software to file your taxes? Be sure to check out Ben’s giveaway to try and secure your very own free copy of TurboTax.

Do You Have a Worst Case Scenario Plan? – What’s the worst case scenario for you and your family? Most of us have an emergency savings set aside to help in an emergency, but what if things get even worse? How can you possibly get by after exhausting those resources? You’d be surprised how you can find extra money each month if you look hard enough.

How To Apply For A Loan At A Peer To Peer Lender – Peer to peer lending is really taking off, and I’ve been lending with LendingClub for a while now. It’s been a great way to earn some decent interest on my money while helping people out at the same time. If you’re curious about how to go about applying for a peer to peer loan, here’s a good walkthrough.

Why Direct Stock Purchase Plan Still Makes Sense – In this day and age the DSPP has kind of fallen by the wayside. With cheap or free discount brokers and the plethora of ETFs to choose from people haven’t looked to direct purchase plans as much. Actually, they still make sense even today.

How to Choose a Retirement Strategy ‒ Or Not – The message here can be summed up by saying not to get bogged down with the details. There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to your finances, but rather than worry about making the best possible choice now, just do something and adjust your plan as you go and as needs change.

Should I Save For Retirement While In Debt? – Yes. That’s my opinion any way. Sure, your retirement savings shouldn’t put you in a position that significantly hampers your ability to get out of debt, but you also can’t ignore the power of compound interest. Having something saved for retirement even, even if small, can far outweigh the little extra interest you’ll pay.

Saving for College ‒ An Exercise in Depression – Are you saving for your child’s education? If so, here are some sobering details for you to consider.

How Does the IRS Pick Tax Returns to Audit? – Ever wonder what the IRS is looking for when choosing who to audit? Wonder no longer.

When Should You Start Investing? – If you’re reading this and haven’t started yet, the answer is yesterday. There’s no right or wrong time to start investing and many people wait far too long because they want to do it when the time is right.

Related posts:

1. Friday Finance Findings For January 25th
2. Friday Finance Findings for January 15th – Going Pro Edition
3. Friday Finance Findings for January 8th
4. Friday Finance Findings for January 22nd
5. Friday Finance Findings for January 14th