Wed, August 20, 2008
Although gas prices have retreated from their highs, the recent surge over $4/gallon is not yet a distant memory. Gas prices have us thinking more about how much we spend on gas. Does it make sense to trade your car in for a fuel-sipping hybrid? Read the full article
Fri, July 18, 2008
One solution to soaring gas prices: walk there.
A new website that rates how walkable city neighborhoods are gave Boston the number three slot. The site has a nifty mapping feature tied into Google Local that rates "walkability" on the basis of proximity to amenities: parks, restaurants, grocery stores, and the like. Read the full article
Fri, July 18, 2008
Yesterday the Labor Department released updated regional figures for inflation from June 2007 to June 2008. Nationally, the CPI-U, which measures inflation for all urban consumers, was up 5%. Read the full article
Thu, July 17, 2008
If you have a longer-term CD that is now coming to maturity, you've probably been disappointed to discover how much interest rates have dropped since you last locked in your CD rate. What are the best options for those with short-to-medium-term cash to invest these days? Read the full article
Thu, June 26, 2008
The studentloanconsolidator.com blog noted a while back that new rates for Stafford and PLUS loans have been set; these are based on the Treasury Bill auction rates. There's further information in their Stafford loan blog. Starting July 1st, consolidation loan rates will drop significantly. Read the full article
Wed, June 25, 2008
Most middle-class parents aren't looking forward to the cost of sending their kids through college. For those of you who really want to get a head start, here's a scheme that will help maximize your college savings, albeit via rather quirky means. Read the full article
Thu, June 19, 2008
Most people understand that the FDIC insures certain kinds of bank deposits, like bank CDs. There's no way to “guarantee” an investment against losses, but an FDIC-insured deposit is probably the closest most of us will ever come to a guaranteed investment. However, consumers are sometimes a bit confused about how much FDIC insurance coverage they can have. Read the full article
Tue, May 06, 2008
For some months, the number of articles in financial publications on rising commodity prices has increased noticeably. I guess it's not a surprise that articles in the popular press on rising food prices are now cropping up with greater frequency. Read the full article
Sat, May 03, 2008
At the time of his death in 1976, billionaire J. Paul Getty was the richest person in the world. It's said that he was once asked how much money he would need to feel that he had enough, to which he replied, “just a little bit more.â€
Many of the clients with whom I’ve worked feel that they don't have quite enough money to accomplish all their goals. On one occasion, a client who was trying to save for an ambitious goal asked me, “which would be better for me to do – reduce my spending or increase my income?â€
Read the full article
Fri, May 02, 2008
What does it actually cost if you don’t pay off your credit card balances each month? What does a credit card purchase cost if you just make the minimum payments? Read the full article
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