Friday Finance Findings for October 1st

Saying there’s a lot going on these days would be an understatement. On Monday my wife gave birth to our second child. We now have an 18-month old and a newborn at home. Yikes! It’s been a long few days in the hospital and it’s good to be home, but the fun is just beginning.

In addition to the new child there’s also a new personal finance site I’m working with. You may have seen some mention of it across the web over the last few weeks, but American Express has a new site out called Currency. It’s an interesting new site covering all sorts of finance topics geared toward younger adults. You’ll find me covering everything from taxes to retirement over there so be sure to check it out.

Finally, you may recall I’m also one of the community editors over at Bundle. Not long ago I did a review of Bundle and walked you through the process, but they also went live with a new site update this week as well. Lots of new features and fun stuff to check out.

5 Ways to Save on Homeowners Insurance – If you own a home, you have homeowners insurance. Nobody likes to pay for insurance, but you sure are glad you have it if you need it. So, rather than just paying what they tell you to, how about trying to save money on your premium?

3 Strategies to Increase Your Lifetime Earning Potential – There is a lot of focus on saving money in the personal finance world. One reason for that is because it’s easy. It’s easy to stop buying Starbucks or to stop using a credit card, but that’s only half of the equation. You also need to focus on increasing you income. This isn’t as popular because it’s hard. You usually can’t simply walk up to your boss and demand more money. So, here are a few ways you can work to increase your earning potential.

Age Discrimination In The Workplace – Are old employees treated differently than younger employees? Are younger employees treated differently? You bet. As much as we’d all love to believe we’re past various forms of discrimination, it’s alive and well in the workplace even when it comes down to something as simple as age.

Be Frugal by Shopping Online, Using Coupons, and Getting Cash Back! – If you’re looking to save money on shopping, look no further than this post. It’s full of ideas to help you cut back by shopping online, using coupons, and getting cash back on your purchases.

Should You Use Your Cell Phone For Credit Card Processing? – A new trend is emerging where people can pay for things and even process credit cards on their cell phone. Is it handy? You bet. But is it really a good idea? Here’s a rundown on what’s happening in this area and whether or not you should think about using your phone for such things.

Ways to Track your Spending – There are a ton of ways to track your spending and this is an important aspect of any financial plan. If you don’t know where your money is going you’ll never know where you can make improvements. Here’s a great list, although don’t forget Bundle.com!

7 Frugal Moving Tips – I hate moving. I’ve had to move too many times in my life and I would be happy if I never had to move again. That being said, it’s also a fact of life so if you need to move, you might as well try to make the most of it.

Roth 401k vs Traditional 401k – Many people are familiar with the Roth IRA, but have you heard of the Roth 401k? They still aren’t all that common in the workplace, but they are starting to show up here and there. Here’s what you need to know if you have the option at your employer.

The Silver Lining of Hitting Rock Bottom – Nobody wants to hit rock bottom, but sometimes it’s the best thing that can happen to you. Going through a difficult time can make you even stronger and actually give you an advantage over those who have had it easy for most of their life.

7 Tips to Protect Yourself Against Mail Identity Theft & Fraud Today – Identity theft is a real problem. In fact, we had one of our credit card numbers stolen a few years ago. You never think it will happen to you, but it can, and it will if you don’t take the right protective actions.

Credit Sesame Beta Review – If you like trying new things, check out the new beta of Credit Sesame. It’s a new service that can help you improve your financial situation. See what Jim has to say about it and get your own beta key today.