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Archive for the ‘money’ Category


11.06.2009

I’m baaaaack

posted by admin

in fiscal fasting, money
1 Comment

…and married.  And shopping for houses in the ‘burbs.  And pregnant.

Ha!  Just kidding about that last one.

That pretty much sums up my life at the moment.  So, in typical “Katie” fashion, I’m going to borrow content from some other author.  I’ve been trying to regulate my sleeping schedule lately…a regular schedule at night = a regular schedule at work = happier Katie overall.  Anyway, I found this article and I’m going to try at least a few of their tips for getting more sleep…I’ll let you know how it goes!

This about sums up the hints:

  • Exercise more (doing some ab-flexes during my hour-each-way commute?)
  • No late night surfing or watching TV (ok, it’s not exactly late but I’m breaking both of these right now)
  • Give yourself a set bedtime (I do this, i just never keep it.  Grr)
  • No naps after work (Check!)
  • No big meals late at night
  • Make sure you’re comfortable (I’ve got comfy pillows, a down comforter, fancy sheets, and an air purifier…check!)
  • No caffeine or liquor at night (I’m breaking this one right now…whoops)
  • Find ways to relax before bed (I guess I can’t count my glass of wine for this one)

Check out the full article here.

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20.02.2009

How does the new stimulus package benefit the “responsible” people??

posted by admin

in money, news
1 Comment

I read that in the new bill that there will be an $8000 “free” loan to new homebuyers, so I can’t complain too much about the new stimulus package.  However, I’ve heard about some people who have foreclosed on their homes because they owe more than the home is worth, despite being able to afford the mortgage.  These same people will then purchase a new home at these new reduced rates and get to take advantage of the new stimulus efforts, while the middle class people who have been responsible and continue paying their mortgages get nothing.  At least this is the impression I’ve gotten from the bits and pieces that I’ve read or heard in the news.

Fastforward to yesterday, when I added the “NBC Today Show” podcast to the iPod Touch (yep, I gave in and opened it), and I heard an interview with Meredith Vieira, Dylan Ratigan (host of CNBCs fast money), and Barbara Corcoran (a contributing real estate expert).  I thought I was about to get some answers when I heard this question:

Meredith (after hearing about rates being lowered for current mortgage-paying homeowners):

“But what about people who have been paying their mortgages? What about me?  I’d like my rates lowered as well.”

Dylan:

“As well you should.  We found ourselves in a situation that was created by our politicians, and our bankers, we’re creating this easy flow of money.  This easy flow of money creates mispricing of assets and what we mispriced was our houses.  So now home prices have to come back to an actual rational price for the average american buyer…and what you’re seeing is a moral hazard, people are getting rewarded for bad behavior but at the same time a shock absorber, which is what this is, to try to affect the transition from overpriced houses to properly priced houses without completely destroying so many households in this country.  That’s the political decision that you’re seeing made.”

——————————————————————————————————————–
Does anybody see anything in here that answers Meredith’s question?  Yeah, me neither…  moving on…
——————————————————————————————————————–

Meredith:

“But aren’t there some people where they should face foreclosure?”

Barbara:

“Well, it’s almost like a punishment, like you did badly and now we’re going to get you. No, I don’t believe that at all.  I think people made the most prudent decision they were able to make at the time, and if they need the help, it’s smart to help them, because everybody else is paying that price through the economy. Now, it makes no sense at all to punish the people who have made a mistake in the past.”

Dylan:

“The problem is we’re fighting two battles simultaneously: the banks and the congressional cooperation created this toxic mess.  At the same time, because of the toxic mess, we run the risk that it’s like a blob that’ll continue to spread through the entire economy. And it’s spreading. and that blob is further home foreclosures, further job losses, and what you see obama and the administration in DC are trying to do right now is stop the spreading of the blob as Tim Geitner at the treasury tries to deal with the blob.”

——————————————————————————————————————–

OK, I get the part about people’s “mistakes” affecting the entire economy.  But seriously, “now, it makes no sense at all to punish the people who have made a mistake in the past”????  I can understand the poor folks who’ve lost their jobs and need help to get back on their feet, but SO many people took on insanely high loans that they should’ve known they couldn’t handle.

What happens when several people forego common sense?  $1.5M condo on $20K income: Prospective buyers lose $175K in Bellevue.

I just don’t know how rewarding people for making terrible decisions is the right idea.

OK, rant over.

Click here for the highlights from the new stimulus bill.

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16.02.2009

Will try to end my long hiatus…

posted by admin

in cool, money
1 Comment

What has it been…a couple of months?  Once I realized my wedding was only 3 months away, I went into full planning mode.  I had the dress and the place, but aside from that…nothing.  No addresses, finished invitations, wedding favors, flowers, alterations, hotel blocks, DJ, shoes, etc.  The list literally goes on and on.  Rather than talk non-stop about it, I opted to zip it instead.

Hiatus over.   Most of it is finished…if anyone cares I can go into details about what I’ve done thus far to cut corners.  Just let me know!

On another note, yesterday morning I hopped on this deal: 8GB iPod Touch, $229 from FYE AND a $150 rebate.  After taxes it’ll be around $90. People have had issues with the rebate not being accepted for the 2nd generation Touch, but the issues seem to be quickly resolved with a phone call.  I’m debating whether or not to open it (or wait to be sure the rebate will go through), but I’m guessing that will only last another couple of days.  It’s hard to look at it everyday and not rip it open and start playing.

ipod touch 2nd generation 08

Incase you’re interested:
Click here to go to the fye rebate/promo search engine.  Under “Product Purchased”, select “8GB IPOD TOUCH”, put in today’s date (”02162009″) and select “FYE” under “Purchase Location”.  Two rebates should appear.  They have different valid purchase dates but otherwise seem to be identical.

Call around, if I got one you can too!  Just don’t come after me if for some reason the rebate doesn’t work out…I’ve never been burned on rebates so I’m pretty optimistic  :)

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11.12.2008

hit a savings goal. secrets listed below!

posted by admin

in fiscal fasting, money
1 Comment
  1. Marry rich.
  2. Don’t sign a pre-nup.
  3. Divorce.

OK, those aren’t MY secrets, but I know for a fact they’ve worked for some people (*cough* K-Fed *cough*).

About 6 months ago we (fiance and I) set a savings goal…it wasn’t outrageous, but was enough that it required a bit of pinching.  I’ve got the purse strings tied semi-tightly anyway…my Mom trained me that eating in is cheaper than going out, and coupons are my friends.  Even with this knowledge drilled into me, I had to change my habits a bit.  Here are a few of my tips:

  • Pay off the car, and buy something reliable.  I paid off the Honda almost a year ago, and in that year I’ve been able to save an extra $350/month… that’s $4200 a year.  Tip?  Buy something that’ll last and keep it until it starts costing more per month than a payment or lease.
  • Don’t order drinks if the price isn’t listed on the menu!  This one was learned the hard way.  We went to a Lebanese place and he was craving a Red Bull/Vodka.  I got an $8 beer (this should’ve tipped us off!)  Out came the bill and guess how much it set him back?  $15.  $23 total.  2 drinks.  0 buzzes.  That about sums it up.
  • Pack a lunch.  $3 for a loaf of bread and $3-$5 for whatever meat floats my boat that week (AND is on sale). There’s your main dish.  Top it with a baggie of baby carrots and a tablespoon of ranch dressing and there’s lunch.
  • Resist the vending machine!  I know they look delicious.  Trust me I know.  A year ago I would make it until around 2 and then fish through my enormous purse for change to blow on Fritos.  But not just any Fritos…Honey BBQ Twists.  I’m hungry just thinking about it.  Anyway, now I scan the weekly ads for snacks that look tempting, and then buy one bag for the week.  Snack-sized plastic baggies are perfect to prevent overpacking (and therefore overeating).  This brings me to…
  • Stick to the weekly ads whenever you can.  If there’s a great deal on something (ground turkey, for example), buy a few pounds and freeze it.  Most veggies can be frozen too (see the link for which ones and how to do it)
  • Cut coupons.  Harris Teeter is my favorite grocery store in Reston because it offers double savings on any coupons under $1 AND most, if not all, items that are offered as “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” ring up at half price (rather than having to buy two to save).  I subscribe to the Washington Post on Sundays only, just to snatch the coupons up.
  • Hand-me-down furniture can save a TON.  This one is a bit harder to cash in on.  I’ve got a weird aversion to used furniture, unless I know the person I’m getting it from, although I snagged 2 bar chairs for $15 from Craigslist.  I’d also go for just about anything that my head doesn’t rest on (ex. coffee tables, end tables, nightstands, bookshelves, etc).  As far as the rest goes, in my living room right now I’ve got a couch, chair, and coffee table from my great Aunt Maudie, and a La-Z-Boy recliner from my friend’s grandfather.  All comfy and all free, although whenever I sprawl across the couch with a nice cold beer, I picture Aunt Maudie’s jaw dropping in shock…
  • If you’re craving a big purchase, wait one month and re-evaluate.  I haven’t followed this one this month (see my previous post on the PS3), but it has saved me in the past.  When the new Nano came out my friend bought one and the craving for my own kicked in.  My current mp3 player felt heavier and looked more like a brick everytime I used it.  Having the latest and greatest is great, but if you’re trying to save just remember there will always be something later and greater.  For me, entering all of the Nano sweepstakes I could find and getting a couple of new CDs for my brick helped me stave off the urge.
  • Slickdeals.  If you absolutely must have something, this is the place to go to find a sale.  Warning: for any one thing you wanted to buy, this site will make you want to buy 5 more other things.
  • As far as wedding planning goes:
    • Almost every week Michaels prints a 40% off coupon.  If you have the patience to go once a week for a few months, you can save hundreds on invitations, centerpieces, place cards, programs, and more.
    • We’re renting out a restaurant that isn’t charging for Linens, place settings, chairs, or even an overall rental fee.  To top it off it’s locally owned and one-of-a-kind.
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03.12.2008

citibank tries to get more $$ out of me!

posted by admin

in fiscal fasting, money
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  1. Raising my APR for purchases from 9.99% to 16.99% (70% increase!)
  2. Raising my APR for cash advances to 21.99%
  3. Raising the default APR to the Prime Rate plus up to 23.99%, which they can charge if I
    • don’t make the minimum payment
    • go over my limit
  4. Balance transfer charge of 3%
  5. Late fees of: $15 on up to $100, $29 on up to $250 and $39 on anything above $250
  6. $39 over-the-limit fee
  7. $39 returned payment fee
  8. $39 for request to stop payment on a convenience check

Wow.  I wonder if all credit card companies are taking similar steps?  And if so, is it to chase away the people with bad credit?  There is an advantage for them to have some people that frequently make late payments, go over their limits, etc…they end up paying mostly interest and late fees and the companies benefit bigtime.  Also with all of the layoffs going on, Citibank should be careful not to scare off their customers in good standing.

I’m just lucky I can afford to pay mine off each month.

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01.12.2008

great way to save on books

posted by admin

in cool, fiscal fasting, hobbies, money
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Around this time last year, I was introduced to Half Price Books while in Seattle for the holidays.  $15 and 3 books later I was hooked to the idea of buying books for less (without scrounging for 20% off coupons from Borders).  In the past I’ve had trouble justifying $14 for chick lit…even though these are a great way to wind down at the end of the day, they’re total fluff and not worth the high price tag.  However, at a discount, I can eat them up as quickly as I get them and not break the bank.

I was a bit disappointed to discover that there are no MD or VA locations.  What to do?  Why Google of course!  With a bit of searching I found booksalefinder.com, thus upping my thirst for Chick lit to a new level.  After finding my first used book sale, I walked away with a bag full of pink covers, all for about $7.  Used sales take things a bit further than Half Price books, selling paperbacks for $.50 or $1, and hard covers for $1.50 or $2.00.  Do the math…that’s 14 – 28 books for the price of one!

This brings me to the past month.  Almost a year later and my little bookcase was/is bursting from the seams.  There was only one thing I could do to get everything to fit: start reading.  Thus began a reading obsession that has taken over big chunks of my weeknights and causes me to leave 5-10 mins later every morning.  Everyday I have a mental argument with myself over whether it would be socially acceptable to hide out in my car during lunchtime to get a few chapters in while I eat.

Even though I’m pretty sure it’s bad for my relationship (I hide under the covers reading while he takes over the living room for some Madden (xbox 360 and football…’nuff said), I wanted to share the wealth!  Just stay away from the sales in Northern VA…that’s my territory  ;-)

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28.11.2008

Failed to resist Black Friday

posted by admin

in Sweepstakes, cool, mmm, money
4 Comments

During my first year out of college and in the “real world” with my “real” first job, I saw Black Friday as my big opportunity to get everything I wanted at affordable prices.  My first laptop was bought/earned after standing outside of Bestbuy braving the cold weather and line around the building at 4am, running with the herd at full stampede pace to grab every deal in sight, followed by waiting in a checkout line that weaved across the store and then in and out of several aisles.  It was pure madness but my adrenaline was high and I had a credit card.

That first year was my worst.  Since then I have managed to wait until at least 8am before foraging for deals, and year by year my urge to run out and buy everything I see has dwindled (thank goodness).  Last year I was thisclose to buying an elliptical machine for $400, until my common sense finally kicked in.  It was around this time that I realized that if I don’t go out, I wouldn’t get the urge to spend.  Right?  Right?!?

Thus began my plan for Black Friday 2008.

Step 1: Do NOT take off of work.  If I’m at work, I’m not out shopping.
Step 2: Avoid taking more than a few minutes to look at the ads, for fear of finding that “amazing” deal I can’t pass up.
Step 3: Repeat to self: If I didn’t want it yesterday, I don’t want it now.

Sounds easy enough, right?  Wrong…

Step 1 was easy.  If I tell my boss I’m coming in, I’m coming in.  It’s as simple as that.

Step 2 was relatively easy.  I opened my paper yesterday morning and managed to skim through all of the ads over my bowl of cereal.  My fiance fell off the track around this step…I caught him pen-in-hand jotting down anything that looked interesting.  I think his list included a sound system and several TV deals, and possibly subwoofers?  I’m not quite sure as I refused to pay too much attention.

Amazon was my downfall.  Last year I participated in the “Customers Vote” drawing…6 rounds of “voting” for your favorite fantastic deal, followed by a drawing to decide which customers get the opportunity to buy the item at the super-low price.  Last year I wasn’t one of the lucky chosen few, but the year before I got a drill for around $30 and a Swiss army knife for $3.  Anyway, the greater the deal, the less odds of getting it, so this is typically my way of choosing things to buy without actually having to buy them (or even being able to).

That is, until this morning, when I was picked to participate in round 1: the PS3 and Blu-ray round.   Down from $567, I could get a PS3 with an 80GB hard drive, a remote, a controller, a game, and a Blu-ray movie.  My price?  $199.

Did I follow my mantra for the day???

Hell no!  I am now the proud owner of a PS3.  Now what to do with it.  Here’s hoping that common sense will kick in and I resell…

amazon customers vote black friday

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22.10.2008

Linens -n- things going out of business sales…so far “eh”

posted by admin

in money, news
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linens ‘n things

Linens ‘n Things was always a bit pricey for me, so I’m pumped about getting in on some of the “going out of business” sales that are happening now.  So far it’s not worth it…the sign out front says “10-30% off” but almost everything was only 10%.  I’m sure I missed a few but I personally only saw ONE item marked 30% off…a duvet.  Anyway, until the sales are at least as good as the 20% coupons I get in the mail all the time (for Bed Bath & Beyond but redeemable at LNT), it’s not worth the trek.

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18.09.2008

investing in a volatile market

posted by admin

in fiscal fasting, money, news
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I love HSBC…they hold most of my money for me, give me a high interest rate, and allow easy online access in addition to giving me a debit card for quick withdrawals. That being said, their stock has plummeted over the past few days (just like most others), bogged down by the mortgage and stock crisis.

I’ve heard that a good time to buy stock is during a crisis…when the stock goes back up, I benefit. My question is…is it too risky for me to put stock into the company that has treated me so well, in hopes that I’ll get even more out of them? Or is that just crazy??

Update: Was up 16% when the market opened this morning.  Went down since then, but still up 4.98%.

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17.09.2008

short, fat nano pretty freaking cheap

posted by admin

in money
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ipod nano

The last generation nano (the shortie one) is selling at $79 for the refurbed 4GB.  Not sure why I’m craving one of these lately, but so far still resisting…something about clinging to my values and fighting the man.  Oh, and not joining the herd.  Even though the herd has mp3 players w/ large, clear screens, beautiful listening quality, and easy-to-use touch navigation wheels.  Damnit.

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