Archive for December, 2008
« Previous Entries2008 Benchmark Index Returns
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Okay, the markets closed about 30 minutes ago. Here’s a quick look at how some of the major U. S. market indexes performed for 2008. NOTE: These are not total returns. I’ll publish total returns as soon as they are available.
I don’t know about you but I’m happy to say goodbye [...]
OT: How Many Songs Are On Your iPod?
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008I FINALLY got an iPod! My wife bought me the 160 GB iPod Classic. I LOVE IT!
Every CD I own has been ripped and stored on my music hard drive. I have spent some time over the last few days, going through my music library and loading up my iPod. I [...]
Ten For Tuesday (December 30, 2008)
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008Here’s this week’s Ten for Tuesday. Enjoy!
1. From Charles Schwab comes the Personal Finance Calendar for 2009.
2. Brian Tracy’s short and sweet Guide to Time Management.
3. A TV cannot change your life.
4. The Digerati Life takes a look at how the Madoff fraud affects us.
5. How to Keep Your [...]
Bureaus Roll Out New Credit Score Formula for 2009
Monday, December 29th, 2008The three credit bureaus will begin using a new formula to calculate credit scores in 2009 – just as folks were starting to get the hang of what goes into the old formula. Transunion will roll out the new formula in January, Equifax in the Spring, and Experian is TBD as of yet. [...]
Question of the Day – Kids and Chores
Monday, December 29th, 2008Okay, here’s today’s question of the day:
How much of a stickler for details are you when your kids do a chore?
I ask this because I don’t know if I’m expecting too much of my kids.
Here’s the way things usually play out:
The boys are supposed to do their chores. They know what chores they are [...]
It Can Happen: 3/4 of Tenants late
Monday, December 29th, 2008As some of you may know, I became a landlord earlier this year. I now own two duplexes (4 units), one advantage of which is that it is very unlikely that all my tenants will be delinquint at once.
Unlikely, but not impossible of course.
So far this has worked out well. [...]
Boost Reserves or Buy Stocks?
Friday, December 26th, 2008Many people who save regularly are facing a similar dilemma in the wake of the 2008 market chaos as they look ahead to setting 2009 goals. Should I boost my cash reserves or should I buy stocks?
Cash is probably the right choice if you:
Need the money to spend in less than 7 years,
Aren’t sure [...]
I Like This Quote From Alan Abelson!
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008For some reason I got the December 15th issue of Barron’s today (I got the December 22nd issue on Saturday). Anyway, Alan Abelson’s column ($) was about the Madoff fraud. I like this quote from his column:
What Madoff’s investors lacked in numbers, they more than made up in wealth. Which proves that cupidity [...]
Rethinking Our Kids’ Allowances
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008I’ve written in the past about how my wife and I handle our kids’ allowances. Basically, we pay our boys $10 per week. That allowance means that my wife and I are not hassled for stuff every time we go to a store. If they want to buy something extra, they have [...]
I Think We’re Seeing Stock Market Capitulation (This is Good News!)
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008From yesterday’s Wall Street Journal [empasis mine]:
Harris Cohen, a 25-year-old project manager with Amtrak in Washington, D.C., opened an individual retirement account in 2001, when he was 18, and filled it with stocks he thought had a bright future, including Apple Inc. and Garmin Ltd. He bought mutual funds that invest in alternative energy companies [...]