Friday Finance Findings for June 29th

Thanks to our employee online travel booking service being down (at least my account) and some very short notice in regards to an upcoming trip to New York I think I have the worst itinerary possible. Multiple connector flights, long layovers… sometimes I think it would be quicker just to drive a third of the way across the country.

So, since I will be out of town on the week of the 9th I figure I’ll open up the chance for some guest articles during that time. If you’re interested just shoot me an email using the contact form and let me know what you have in mind. And with that, here are some good reads from the past week.

Win Great Prizes in Lazy Man’s Contest – He is holding his first ever contest where you could win a new briefcase valued at $200 or even some books. Entering is as easy as leaving a comment and there are even ways to get bonus entries.

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Started With Quickbooks – I used to use Quickbooks for my business back in 2003 but haven’t used it much since. This advice comes at a perfect time since I have just picked up the new version and I’m beginning to use it again for my business needs. It is a very powerful program and I recommend it to anyone who has business income.

You Are Responsible For Your Retirement – Nothing could be more true. It isn’t up to the government, so take control and take some responsibility for your future.

The Wal-Mart Dilemma: To Shop or Not to Shop - For whatever reason Wal-Mart brings out some very strong opinions one way or the other. Golbguru asks the question and dozens of people respond. I left my two cents in the comments over there as well.

Mid-Year Investment Adjustment – The Sun must have read my mind when talking about mid-year changes (or non-changes) to investments. This fits in perfectly with my current mid-year financial checkup series and I’ll be tackling investments shortly.

How to Spot Counterfeit Products – Damn, I knew my $50 Rolex was too good to be true. SVB discusses who buys these fake products and how you can spot them.

Don’t Use Your Turn Signal? That’ll Be $1,050 – It is about time! Not only should people who fail to use turn signals be fined, but those who hog the left lane while going under the speed limit and people who can’t park their damn car between the painted lines should be as well. Nothing ticks me off more than inconsiderate self-absorbed drivers who act like they are the only people in the world on the road.

A Simple Story About the Importance of Education – Steve Olson shares a great little story about the importance of education. I think the biggest thing to remember is that there is a distinct difference between schooling and education. You can go to school or college and never become educated.

Five Ways to Cut Family Vacation Costs – It is that time of year again where many families are taking some well-deserved vacation time. A family vacation doesn’t have to break the bank though and FMF highlights some ideas to keep costs down.

Joint or Separate Accounts? – Coddleshell talks about some ideas for couples to manage their money. I personally like the three account method, which is primarily what we use.

Five Reasons You Should Care About Your Credit Score – Your credit score reaches far and wide and can have an impact on more than just your interest rates or your ability to get a loan. Nickel covers some of the biggest reasons to make sure you work to maintain a high score.

Related posts:

1. Friday Finance Findings for October 29th
2. Friday Finance Findings for June 4th
3. Friday Finance Findings for June 18th
4. Friday Finance Findings for June 25th
5. Friday Finance Findings for June 24th