JolleyTrails

Moonwalking With Einstein

2011-10-24T22:27:00.000-04:00

Moonwalking with Einstein is a very thought provoking book. It's the story of the author Joshua Foer, a journalist, and his journey from reporting on the US National Championship to winning the event the following year. The book chronicles how he set out to find an answer to the question, "How can I improve my memory?"

Personally, I was intrigued by the book and found the style of writing much to my liking. There is a lot of research and information that is presented and explained via story. It reminds me a lot about how JD Roth from GetRichSlowly was able to successfully blog about potentially dry topics in personal finance: he tells a story.

This book is not a book on technique and specific practice regimens, but a treatise on how our memories work, how memory usage has changed throughout time, and the exploration of how practice can indeed improve memory skills. Some of the skills employed in memorizing decks of playing cards, scores of random numbers, or other random trivia, in less than a minute involve the image association and storing those images in a 'memory palace'. While impressive, I wondered whether practicing this skill was ultimately useful. Surprisingly, even the author, shortly after winning the US National Championship, placing 13th overall in the World Championships, Joshua Foer conceded that in today's world of externalized memory storage, it's just easier to store that phone number in your cell phone than your brain.

US Hardcover, pg75
What follows are just my notes that I took while reading that I wanted to save for myself.
Without time, there would be no need for a memory. But without a memory, would there be such a thing as time? The more we provide our lives with chronological landmarks, the longer our lives will seem. Our perception of time is subjective. Sometimes time flies, other times the opposite is true. "Our lives are structured by our memories of events. Event X happened just before the big Paris vacation. I was doing Y in the first summer after I learned to drive." The denser the web of accumulated life experiences, the denser the experience of time. "Monotony collapses time; novelty unfolds it." "Life seems to speed up as we get older because life gets less memorable as we get older. Youth have a continuous stream of new experiences, but each passing year converts some of this experience into automatic routine which we hardly note at all, the days and the weeks smooth themselves out...

US Hardcover, pg 138
Technological gadgets have made it unnecessary to remember phone numbers, friends birthdays, and even directions. They've changed the world, but they've also changed how we think and how we use our brains. Writing, for Socrates, was nothing more than a cue for memory.

And yet, for me, I've always held to the idea that I read in one of Tom Clancy's novels - if you didn't write it down, it never happened. For me, writing is the only reliable anchor that I can attach to my memories so they don't get lost in all that grey matter.

US Hardcover, pg 145
The history of books and the invention of alphabetical indexes, page numbers, and table of contents as a means to navigating the immense information stored therein. "As books became easier and easier to consult, the imperative to hold their contents in memory became less and less relevant, and the very notion of what it meant to be erudite began to evolve from possessing information internally to knowing where to find information in the labyrinthine world of external memory."

US Hardcover, pg169
Joshua Foer also became a subject of research to a Florida professor, Anders Ericsson. When Joshua hit a plateau on his speed times for memorizing a deck of cards, Ericsson helped him learn about skill acquisition. Phase one is the "cognitive stage", you're intellectualizing the task and discovering new strategies to accomplish it more proficiently. During the second "associative stage," you're concentrating less, making fewer major errors, and generally becoming more efficient. Finally you reach what Fitts called the "autonomous stage," when you figure that you've gotten as good as you need.." You're OK with your current skill and stop improving and were once thought the upper bounds of ability. The only way to break free is to engage in a very directed, highly focused routine, which Ericsson, who has studied the best in several fields, has labeled "deliberate practice." "They develop strategies for consciously keeping out of the autonomous stage while they practice by doing three things: focusing on their technique, staying goal-oriented, and getting constant and immediate feedback on their performance. In other words, they force themselves to stay in the "cognitive phase." "When you want to get good at something, how you spend your time practicing is far more important that the amount of time you spend." "Indeed, the single best predictor of an individual's chess skill is not the amount of chess he's played against opponents, but rather the amount of time he's spent sitting alone working through old games." "You have to analyze what you're doing."

US Hardcover, pg 202
In these pages, Tony Buzan's Mind Map was explained, and it reminded me of when I was writing my research paper in my college English class. My professor explained to me that after reading my paper she felt like the opening scene in the Simpson's show when the cash register trys to scan Maggie at the checkout with the groceries, but the computer is confused and doesn't know what to do. Her advice to me was that I needed to go home and read each paragraph and color code it to it's theme and then cut up my paper and rearrange it so that it flowed better and made better sense. I took her advice - and it worked! This was essentially the groundwork of a mind map. "It's kind of an outline exploded radially across the page in a rainbow of colors, a web of associations..." Tony Buzan also said, "The art and science of memory is about developing the capacity to quickly create images that link disparate ideas. Creativity is the ability to form similar connections between disparate images and to create something new and hurl it into the future so it becomes a poem, or a building, or a dance, or a novel. Creativity
is, in a sense, future memory."

US Hardcover, pg 266
He had improved his ability to remember digits, playing cards, and yet could still forget where he parked his car. His memory was the same. He had new skills, but ultimately he "validated the old saw that practice makes perfect. But only if it's the right kind of concentrated, self-conscious, deliberate practice." "Remembering can only happen if you decide to take notice." "Our memories make us who we are. They are the seat of our values and source of our character... That's what Ed had been trying to impart to me from the beginning: that memory training is not just for the sake of performing party tricks; it's about nurturing something profoundly and essentially human."

Bankruptcy on the Rise

2011-03-28T00:00:00.036-04:00

The Great Recession’s Impact on Bankruptcy Filings was originally written by Marilyn Bischoff and published in Idaho's Two Cents Newsletter.

The National Bureau of Economic Research reports that the US officially entered into the recession in December 2007, with the recession ending in June 2009. However, those in the insolvency professions would argue that we are still in a recession. How has the recession affected bankruptcy filings for various demographic groups?

Bankruptcy petitioners are not required to disclose age, ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, or current employment status. The Institute for Financial literacy, which provides bankruptcy prefiling counseling and post-filing debtor education, does collect demographic information from individuals participating in their program. The Institute provides services in-person, by telephone, and online. At the beginning of either service, participants are asked to voluntarily complete a demographic survey. In 2009 more than 52,000 clients volunteered to answer survey questions. The findings challenge some common assumptions about bankruptcy filers.

Age
Almost 56 percent of bankruptcy debtors are between he ages of 35-54. An emerging tend is that the 55-64 and 65+ age cohorts appear to be experiencing an increased deterioration in the financial conditions and are filing bankruptcy at greater rates than in 2008. Ages 18-24, 2% filing bankruptcy; 25-34, 17%; 35-44, 29%; 45-54, 27%; 55-64, 17%; 65+ 8%.

Educational Background
Bankruptcy rates of individuals with higher education continue to experience lower levels of bankruptcy, but during this recession their rates have increased. This change may suggest that this is a “white collar” recession, perhaps reflecting our economy changing from a manufacturing to a service/ technology base. Educational level: High school/GED degree or less, 42%; Some college or Associate degree, 38%; Bachelor’s degree, 14%; Graduate degree, 6%.

Personal Income

As expected, lower income household are more likely to file for bankruptcy. Those earnings $30,000 or less made up 59% of filers; $30,000- 40,000, 15%; $40,000-$50,000, 10%; $50,000-$60,000, 7%; $60,000+, 9%.

Causes of Financial Distress
The Institute asked clients to pick from a list of common causes of financial distress to self-describe reasons for their current situation. Clients were encouraged to choose more than one cause; therefore, the percentages equal more than 100%. Reduction of income was cited by almost 2/3 of respondents (65%). That, combined with overextended credit (74%), and unexpected expenses (55%), drove most filers over the bankruptcy precipice. Other responses reflect causes commonly cited in other studies: job loss (42%); illness/injury (31%); and changes in household composition: divorce (15%), birth/adoption (10%), death of family member (8%). Interestingly, retirement was cited by 8% of responders.

Source: Linfield, L., December/January 2011. Class of 2009: The Great Recession’s Impact on the American Debtor. American Bankruptcy Institute Journal. Retrieved 12/14/10 http://www.abiworld.org/AM/ Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID= 62554&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm.

Patrick's note: I think the biggest thing to learn from this article is not who is going bankrupt, but possibly a key to preventing yourself from going bankrupt. Identify the most danger prone areas and then work to keep yourself out of those areas. Higher education and its corollary, personal income, is a major factor in preventing bankruptcy. However, the causes of bankruptcy demonstrate the wisdom in having a fully funded emergency fund to tide things over when life happens.

Free Credit Score - How to Get One

2011-03-21T00:00:00.005-04:00

How to Check your Credit Score, a guest post by Luke Erickson editor of Idaho's Two Cent Tips.

Like a mighty king,this three digit number can seemingly grant our ultimate desires or dash them to tiny bits on little more than a whim or a missed payment. This number determines whether or not you can get a loan, including a credit card, a car loan, or a mortgage, and will also determine the rates that you will pay on these loans. Itis also reclusive and mysterious, rarely being seen by the common consumer. Instead it prefers to meet privately with lenders in back offices where your fate is unemotionally determined. Some zealous subjects have been known to pay tribute, by borrowing unnecessarily with the sole purpose of pleasing this number. In fact, this notorious number is not content to simply rule over its own kingdom, but also tries to extend its influence into other areas, such as insurance, rent, and even employment.

Before I attempt to demystify this number, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page. A credit score and a credit report are entirely different creatures. A credit report lists a detailed financial history of every single credit account that you’ve established or messed up in the last 10 years or so. Most people have 3 similar but different reports, all of which can be viewed FOR FREE by visiting annualcreditreport. com. A credit score, on the other hand, is a proprietary number that can usually only be accessed by paying a fee.

Now here is where it gets confusing. You actually have more than one credit score. The main score that lenders, insurers and employers will consider is the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) score. But there are some alternatives to FICO scores, including Vantage scores which are done by each of the three major credit bureaus, and some financial institutions may even give you a credit score along with your monthly bank statements. Keep in mind that all of these scores are calculated differently, often times on different scales, and may or may not be an indicator of what a potential lender might see. I have seen cases where a credit score can vary by over 100 points for the same person.

Where can I get my score?
As described previously, you can get your credit score from about a billion different websites, most offering it for free if you but merely sign up for a free trial of some unnecessary monthly service. As you can imagine it is all but impossible to break free from such an agreement. If you want just any old score, with any old agreement, then any old website will do. But if you want your FICO score, without strings attached, there is only one place I would recommend:

MyFICO.com, but, surprise (to be read with sarcasm) it’s not quite that simple! Do not click the massive red button that says FREE FICO SCORE. As I will describe below, it’s not really free, again another solicitation for some unnecessary service. Find and select the “FICO Standard,” button for a one-time credit check for $19.95. Not cheap, but completely accurate. In addition to your score, FICO standard will give you a FICO score simulation tool which can tell you how your personal score might change given future changes to your accounts. At http://www.myfico.com/ FICOCreditScoreEstimator/ there is also a free FICO score estimation tool which gives you an estimated score that I found it to be fairly accurate.

Aside from your FICO score, I would also recommend the “get credit score” button at the top right of your free credit report from annualcreditreport.com. This gives you a Vantage score for $7.95, which is becoming more accepted by lenders, and can be an indication of your true FICO score.

Will checking my score affect my credit?
According to the folks at MyFICO.com, “Statistically, people with six inquiries or more on their credit reports can be up to eight times more likely to declare bankruptcy than people with no inquiries on their reports.” Therefore, the answer is yes, checking your score will reduce your score by about 5 points, each time. Not a big deal if checking only once or twice a year. Also, don’t forget that many lenders will actually show you your score when applying for a loan.

The Mission for NASA

2011-03-15T00:00:00.001-04:00

"The aeronautical and space activities of the United States shall be conducted so as to contribute . . .to the expansion of human Knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space. The Administration shall provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof."
-NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACT OF 1958

Underwater Mortgages

2011-03-14T00:00:00.002-04:00

This is a guest post by Luke Erickson the editor from Idaho's Two Cent Tips.

Recent estimates indicate that about one in every four Idaho homes is currently underwater. Well, it has been snowing a lot lately . . . You don’t have to boo me for that one, I’ll do it myself. The term underwater really refers to the instance when the amount you still owe on your mortgage is more than the current market value of your home. How can I joke about this topic—especially with such a lame joke? Well the lame part just comes naturally, but I can joke a little about this very serious topic, because for most people with underwater
homes, there is still hope.
Following is an article that illustrates the possible options you might choose from if you find your house underwater.
Stay put
Don’t panic if you hear that you’re “underwater.” All that means is that you would lose money if you sold RIGHT NOW. But unless you absolutely must move right now, you may be able to recoup some or all of that lost equity. Additionally, consider renting your place out. Even if you have to rent your house out at a small loss each month, you may still be better off than any other alternative. Some lenders will work with you to renegotiate the rates and terms of your mortgage, whether you’re in a financial pinch or not. This sort of informal “in-house refinancing,” is fairly new, but some lenders (the smart ones, in my opinion) are working with their borrowers to avoid foreclosure and loss of current customers.
Negotiate an exit plan
But, if you simply can’t stay put -- Your family no longer fits within the confines of your once spacious two bedroom house, you land a much better job in another part of the country, or your adjustable rate has become unaffordable, the next option is to attempt to negotiate an exit plan.
A short sale is an agreement between you and the bank that you will make every effort to sell your house for as high a price as possible – no big deal, this is something you would do anyway – and in return the lender will accept the sale price as partial payment of your debt and forgive any debt for which you fall short. Hence the term, “short-sale.”
A deed-in lieu is also an agreement with your lender, in which you simply hand them a deed to your residence
with the understanding that you owe them nothing, or at least a reduced amount on the remaining balance, once the lender sells that house. These are forms of proactive foreclosures, if you will. Remember, any such agreement must be in writing to be valid.
As far as your credit is concerned, a short sale, deed-inlieu, or foreclosure will all have similar effects on your
credit score, reducing it by as much as 300 points, de-pending on how your lender reports it to the credit bureaus.
Lender won’t negotiate?
If your lender won’t negotiate, and you must leave your house, there are basically two options. Bankruptcy is a step to either liquidate your assets in return for forgiveness on your loans, as in a chapter 7, or is a legal
restructuring of your debts so that you can afford the payments, as in a chapter 13. Neither option is pretty, and will destroy your credit for up to 10 years.
Bankruptcy makes the most sense when you have additional unaffordable debt besides the mortgage. Or, just walk away - though this option has received lots of media coverage, and sounds pretty simple, it can be anything but. Walking away essentially means mailing the mortgage company your keys, and leaving your residence never to return. You may never hear from your lender again. But, on the other hand, in some states, your lender can still legally come after you for the difference you still may owe after they sell the house. This option will have the same effect on your credit score as a foreclosure.
Which of all these options is the right one? That’s sort of like asking whether it’s best to be punched in the gut or the face. Either way it’s going to hurt. But, I’ve always believed that those who try to do the right thing, whatever that may mean in this situations, will eventually be rewarded for it.

You Cannot Multiply Wealth by Dividing it.

2010-10-18T00:00:00.002-04:00

“You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."*

* Adrian Rogers, 1931*

Guilt Free Vacations

2010-09-27T12:00:00.002-04:00

Are you feeling bogged down with debt? Don't worry, you are not alone. However, you CAN rise up and take that dream vacation. It's not just a fairy tale. Lots of people are finding out how and sharing their stories with us.

I read an article today over at Yahoo Finance: "Staying out of debt leads to first affordable vacation in years."
The article explained how an average couple found themselves, "in a continuous cycle of borrowing from this week's paycheck to pay last week's bills and desperately wanting to catch up and get out of debt."
However, they "finally had to sit down and ask, "Where's all our money going?""
Once they did that, they were able to prioritize their spending. Rather than just throw money away on things that didn't have value to them, they consciously spent or saved their money for things that did. The end result?

After climbing out of debt this year, my fiance and I were able to take our dream vacation to New Orleans. Everything was paid for outright, without any interest charges. We were able to enjoy the trip to its fullest, without wondering how it would be paid for.

This is my idea of a dream vacation! Paris, France.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr, Brooklyn Musuem

It seems that a common thread lately from personal finance bloggers is chronicling the personal success stories. JD at GetRichSlowly.com features a weekly Reader Stories, Trent Hamm at TheSimpleDollar features numerous Mailbags where he answers individual readers questions with his own opinion, Ramit at IWillTeachYouToBeRich also has featured success stories entitled Master's of Earning More.

It makes sense - that is how their own blogs were started. They were reporting on their own personal finance journey. Once they achieved their own success and continued to prosper with their new foundation in personal finance, they have all started showcasing the personal stories of other fellow readers.

This isn't a new tactic. Personal finance books have always included snippets of success stories from people that have been helped by following the proposed program or principles. In some ways, reader stories serve as a further testimonial that what the author is spouting out really does work and more importantly, that it works for more than one type of person.

Take heart in the success stories and realize that you CAN achieve your dreams, too. Others have done it. Look at their stories and try to identify what was their turning point. Identify what things worked for them and try to apply some of the principles and ideas into your own life. Not everything will work all the time, but there is a lot to learn from the experiences of others.

Stop dreaming and start sailing!

I Will Teach You To Be Rich Book Review

2010-09-02T00:00:00.008-04:00

I recently picked up I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. Ramit has a great website and his book on personal finance is one of the funner ones to read. This is the book to read if personal finance is still a new word for you - then this is the book for you. Ramit has a targeted audience of younger twenty somethings. As with all knowledge - if you aren't too put off by simple examples that don't exactly mimic your situation and instead apply the principle being taught - you will definitely learn something and most likely benefit, too.

Ramit has boasted that his $10 book has helped people save thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of dollars. Boast might not be the right word, because some people have reported these savings on one of his videocasts. In fact, armed with the scripts in the book and a bit of extra confidence, I tackled the seemingly impossible task of negotiating the removal of some rather nefarious fees from one of my credit cards.

The real beauty of reading I Will Teach You To Be Rich is that Ramit remembers that there is a large psychological piece of the money puzzle that other personal finance authors and mathematics simply ignore. Ramit realizes that people are lazy and want the easy way out. This is not to say that Ramit has uncovered the magic silver bullet. Quite the contrary, he is not fearful in telling people that they need to buck up and do the hard thing to get their finances initially under control. Yes, that might mean some work, but then he introduces what he terms your "Conscious Spending Plan". Ramit finds it ludicrous to cut out your daily latte - IF, that latte brings you significant happiness and pleasure to your day. Instead, cut mercilessly in areas that you do not care about so that you can splurge on the things that matter most to you. There is a HUGE difference between being cheap and being frugal.

Ramit dutifully covers the basics of checking accounts and savings accounts and preparing to invest for your future. One of the key messages of the book is the 85 percent solution. Don't worry about getting it 100 percent done, or even perfect. If you only get an 85 percent solution, that is still leaps and bounds ahead of doing nothing like the rest of the population. At least you'll have something to show for it.

Sprinkled throughout the book you will also find a short piece written by some of the most admired personal finance bloggers. Entries from Get Rich Slowly and The Five Cent Nickel and The Simple Dollar among others all contributed. I appreciated the additions from these bloggers because I was familiar with them and I thought it was a rather unique way to collaborate with them in this manner.

In summary, if I was just starting out with personal finance and didn't want to fall asleep reading about asset allocation in my 401(k) or get lectured about cutting up my credit card - I'd think this was the best book out there. Understanding my current situation, having applied most of the principles, it was a good reminder of why I was doing things and in some instances, a call to further simplify them. If you are at this stage of your own personal finance, then I'd suggest you visit Ramit's website I Will Teach You To Be Rich to learn how to advance you to the next stage of personal finance: Earning More Money. There is a definite focus on his blog and his products to help you earn more money. Inspiring as that all may be - it means nothing if you never take action. Decide today to take action!

Moving Woes

2010-08-30T00:00:00.002-04:00

I took a day off work this week to do something unexpected. Yikes, taking a day off work was unexpected enough. One of the guys I work with accepted a new job offer and was moving across the country. He had scheduled a U Haul and I offered to help him move his spartan belongings from his third story apartment and help pack it in the U Haul trailer for him. I had no idea that a Queen size bed fits so perfectly inside a 5'x8' trailer.

Alas, there was one incident worth remembering for future moves. Some of the boxes were standard weight, the dishes were understandably heavy, and yet other boxes were surprisingly light. The most prized possession was the box of computers. It also turned out to be one of the heaviest - and unfortunately, happened to be the one box that was dropped.

The takeaway lessons - Don't put all your eggs in one basket, and secondly, don't over pack your boxes. When you are moving, things are going to get disorganized anyways, so don't try so hard to put all of the same thing in one box. Diversify. Put some soft, light stuff in with your fragile, or heavy and expensive equipment. Packing it all together, two desktop computers in this case, causes unnecessary risk from the added weight and from single points of failure.

I did notice that there was a package of packing paper on the counter, so hopefully, it was used in abundance. Packing paper is great for protecting your valuables in creating a crush zone around your items.

Disclaimer: I really like the Berenstain Bears Books and I don't know what kind of paper that is, but the stuff I used, looked like it, and it's worth it.

Quotable Quotes: Phantom

2010-08-28T00:00:00.001-04:00

These are the Quotable Quotes that I found very interesting or intriguing or inspiring while reading Phantom by Terry Goodkind, the 10th book in the Sword of Truth Series.

Richard is explaining to Zed and Nicci how he could understand the emblems of the Chainfire spell and brought up the amulet he wore which held symbolic representation of the way of the primary edict.
"It means only one thing, and everything: cut. Once committed to fight, cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. There is no rule more important, no commitment that overrides that one: cut.
"Cut from the void, not from bewilderment. Cut the enemy as quickly and directly as possible. Cut with certainty. Cut decisively, resolutely, Cut into his strength. Flow through the gaps in his guard. Cut him. Cut him down utterly. Don't allow him a breath. Crush him. Cut him without mercy to the depths of his spirit."
US Hardcover, page 92

Nicci describing how the Old World was subjugated and why the people blindly follow along.
"And since faith is the indispensable glue that binds together their teetering tower of beliefs, faith eventually gives birth to brutality. Without brutality to enforce it, faith ends up being nothing more than a fanciful daydream,...."
US Hardcover, pg 158

Richard is commanding his army, the D'Haran army to wage a new kind of war in retaliation to the Imperial Order.
"It's true that innocent people - including children - will be hurt of killed. What is the alternative? Continuing to sacrifice good people out of fear of harming someone innocent? We are all innocent. Our children are all innocent. They are being harmed, now. The Order's rule will eventually harm everyone, including all those children in the Old World. The order will turn many of them into monsters. Many more people will die in the end if the Order wins.
"Moreover, the lives of the people in the Old World are not our responsibility, they are the Order's responsibility. We did not start this war and attack them - they attacked us. Our only proper course of action is to end the war as swiftly as possible. This is the only way to do that. IN the end, this is the most humane thing we can do because in the end this well mean the least loss of life.
"We are defending our right to exist. If we succeed we will , as a consequence, help countless others to live free as well."
US Hardcover, page 266

Jagang is attempting to explain to Kahlan his view of life as a brutal contest.
'Kahlan knew that life could be brutal, but that such brutality did not define life or its purpose, and that the sexes were not rivals, but meant to share together in the work and joys of life.'
'To those like you it is,' she said. 'That's one difference between you and me. I use violence only as a last resort, only when it's necessary to defend my life-my right to exist. You use brutality as a tool of fulfilling your desires, even your ordinary desires, because, except by force, you have nothing worthwhile to offer to exchange for what you want or need- and than includes women. You take, you do not earn.'
US Hardcover, pg 469

The introductory statement to The Book of Life reads: Those who have come here to hate should leave now, for in their hatred they only betray themselves.
"People who hate don't usually recognize that vile taint within themselves. They spew their hatred as righteous. That corruption is what makes them so evil - and so dangerous. They are able to do the most despicable things and think themselves heroes for having done them.
US Hardcover, pg 543

Tuesday Tip: Baking Soda

2010-08-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

The many uses of Baking soda. You can do more than cook with it!

Do you have some old baking soda you don't want to cook with or is no longer useful at sucking in yucky odors in your fridge?

Use it to clean off all the corrosion on your car battery terminals. One day I walked out to the parking lot after a long day's work - alas, my car would not start. I popped the hood and saw that my battery terminals were showing signs of excessive corrosion. My wife came to the rescue with some warm water and some baking soda. We dissolved the baking soda in the warm water and then slowly poured the mixture over my battery terminals. Once clean, a solid electrical connection was possible, and my car started right up.

Use it to kill mushrooms on your lawn. When we moved into our new house we discovered after an especially rainy spring that a huge patch of mushrooms had grown into our lawn. Apparently, an old tree had been cut down years ago, but the root system was still underground providing ample food for mushrooms. A little baking soda sprinkled on them took care of that problem.

Use it down your drain to eliminate smelly odors. Just like in your fridge, drop it down your drain and let it dissolve into the water in the trap to eliminate some odors and neutralize any acidic decomposition.

Disclaimer: I use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda products like the one pictured.

Tuesday Tip: Handling Bulk Purchases

2010-08-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

It is generally accepted that buying in bulk will help you save money on your grocery bill. However, if the quantities are so large that they are cumbersome, you might end up losing money in the long run. Here's a few tips on how I handle bulk items.

Olive oil. Buy this heart healthy food in a nice large can - and then what? Who wants to drag out a gallon can when they just need to measure out a tablespoon of oil? And who really measures anyways?
My trick - save your syrup bottle, wash it out, and make it your new oil dispenser. It's just the right size, and a little squeeze of oil in the pan is all you need. If you do not like the old syrup bottle idea - then a nice glass oil dispenser might be what you are looking for.

Disclaimer: The above picture is for reference only and is not the brand I use.

SimCity2000: Screen Shots and Building Tips

2010-08-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Feeling a bit nostalgic, I busted out my copy of SimCity 2000 and DosBox and went to work as the mayor of a thriving metropolis. But it wasn't a metropolis right away. I built this city, slowly, from the ground up. I was surprised that I had forgotten some of the intricate details and strategies for building a successful city. However, these mistakes only set me back a couple of decades of development as I waited for my coffers to refill.
So, just for fun, here are a few screen shots of my city as it grew throughout the years. Enjoy!

"Commerce needs connections." I kept getting this message until I realized what it meant. The commercial sector needed a way to do business with the world outside of my immediate city. Building roads that extend to to the neighboring cities is one way of connecting your city to the outside world. Additionally, building seaports and airports will also do the trick. Another tip regarding ports - they need roads and power like any other zone - however, unlike residential, commercial, and industrial zones, do not stretch power lines across the available squares to speed up development. The power lines actually hinder growth at ports. So, only stretch the power lines across the road in a few places and let the ports grow from there.

Your sims need to travel. You can use the query tool to check on how much traffic a section of roadway is getting. Add subways and rails, or build a complete highway system with on ramps and off ramps. The bus system, however, is one of the most effective at moving your sims along. This allows them to travel further distances and reduces pollution. Sims will only attempt to travel so far. They need to be able to reach each of the different zones. They need to live and go to work and go shopping. The better the transportation infrastructure, the further they can travel and the more valuable the zoning arrangement will be. Remember, this game is all about developing the most expensive real estate because property taxes are what fill your coffers at year's end.

As property values increase, you will notice the building types to look cleaner and crisper. Use the query tool to view each property and its characteristics.

Hydroelectric power is the overall cheapest method to power your city. Every other power plant looks cooler, is more expensive per megawatt, may produce lots of pollution, and also has the expensive requirement of needing to be replaced after every 50 years. Hydro is also nice because it can fit in nicely where ever you have a slope with water to build it on. While this is not very realistic sometimes, it also has the added advantage of spreading out your power supply. During an earthquake, any number of buildings could be lost - and if one of them happens to be a costly power plant - your city could be without power while you try to recover from the wreckage. Disasters are the primary reason it is recommended that your power and water grids be as interconnected as possible. In the event of a disruption on one block, power can still be rerouted around the problem center. Take the time and place extra power lines around the block.

Another trick I remembered was how well water pumps perform based on their location. The amount of water each pump can produce is directly dependent upon the number of fresh water squares that are adjacent to it. That is why most of my water pumps are sitting next to my hydroelectric dams - it increases their output tremendously. One adjacent square of fresh water will increase output by nearly 50%. This will ultimately help reduce the number of water pumps you need to quench your thirsty city.

The military will come knocking on your door when your population reaches 60,000 residents. Apparently, you need to have a pretty hilly terrain in order to get the elusive Army base. They are useful when you have a disaster because they are additional units to deploy to assist your police or firefighters in containing riots and fires and whatnot.

If you do not want to play the original SC2000 inside of DosBox - you can pick up SimCity4 along with its expansion and a few other games in the SimCity Box. I have been wanting this latest version for some time. If you have it and have played both, please share your comments below.

Tuesday Tip: Microsoft Office Update Fields

2010-08-02T00:00:00.001-04:00

Do you need to update all the fields in your Microsoft Office Word document when you don't have a table of contents?

CTRL+A to select all text and then hit F9.

It will then update all your fields instead of having to right click and select "Update field" for each one individually.

Do a quick search for any errors, for example, "Error! Reference source not found."

It may be helpful to save right before you do this so you can open up the last saved state and compare if you suddenly find yourself scratching your head wondering where a reference link was supposed to be pointing towards.

Sword of Truth Series: Chainfire

2010-07-29T00:00:00.004-04:00

The Sword of Truth series continues with Terry Goodkind's ninth installment: Chainfire.

Chainfire is an epic struggle between the hero, Richard Rahl, and his friends. His greatest adversaries in this novel are those friends closest to him. He believes strongly in one thing and is focused to see it through, and yet he meets resistance from all those around him.
The time line serves to allow Jagang's army to complete critical strategic movements which will position them for the 'final battle'.
Another civilization is encountered briefly, yet plays a critical piece to the puzzle being worked out by the Seeker of Truth.

It finally dawned on me while reading this novel and listening to another author's book the differences in introductory writing styles. Specifically, how an author is carrying forward recurring characters throughout a series. One style simply assumes the reader has participated in the previous installments and is already intimate with the characters. In this case, the next novel in the series simply continues the story with only minimal reference to the background story or recent events. This is akin to reading one really long novel that just happened to be broken up in separate physical books.

The other style assumes new readers are discovering the series mid stream, or sufficient time has passed to allow readers to forget important qualities and characteristics of the main characters. In this case, the author will use the beginning phase of the book re-introduce the main characters and to re-establish their defining characteristics.

The Sword of Truth series continues from one book to the next without gaps in the time line. Most begin on the following day, however, Goodkind devotes the first half of his book with the second style mentioned above. I believe this is why I was so frustrated with Soul of the Fire. I found it maddening to read about chickens and spend over 100 pages doing nothing with the story before the group finally started moving again. My perception of the story was that it was dragging on endlessly and further fueled my frustration when I neared the end and the climax was wrapped up in a matter of only a few short chapters.

While it is true that Chainfire follows the same pattern, I felt much more comfortable with the pace of the story at the introduction. The group was traveling, rather quickly in an attempt to save Richard's life, and the development of the new plot line served to more naturally re-introduce the characters.

It makes me wonder, now, understanding this, if my attitude towards Soul of the Fire, might have changed had I recognized this before I picked up. Probably not, the chickens were really getting on my nerves.
What is your opinion? Do you appreciate an author who takes the time to re-introduce his characters every book? Or are you just impatient for the story to move along?

Sword of Truth Series: Wizard's Rules

2010-07-28T00:00:00.014-04:00

The Wizard's Rules that are learned, one by one, in each book were originally in my quotable quotes posts for each book. But then I found that Wikipedia had already done a much more elegant job of phrasing them and referencing them. This post, now has simply become a compilation then of the Rules sections from the individual book's wiki pages. Additionally, it is worth noting that each of the Rule's form a large basis for the foundation of the plot for each novel. Each specific Rule is an underlying theme throughout its book.

From the first book we learn the Wizard’s First Rule – People will believe anything they want or are afraid might be true.

People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.
—Chapter 36, p.397, U.S. hardcover edition

Stone of Tears teaches us the Wizard’s Second Rule – Law of unintended consequences.

The greatest harm can result from the best intentions.
It is explained in the book as follows: "It sounds a paradox, but kindness and good intentions can be an insidious path to destruction. Sometimes doing what seems right is wrong, and can cause harm. The only counter to it is knowledge, wisdom, forethought, and understanding the First Rule. Even then, that is not always enough. [...] Violation can cause anything from discomfort, to disaster, to death."
—Chapter 63, p. 634, U.S. hardcover edition

Blood of the Fold teaches us the Wizard’s Third Rule – Passion rules reason.

Passion rules reason.
It is explained in the novel as follows: "Letting your emotions control your reason may cause trouble for yourself and those around you."
—Chapter 43, p. 360, U.S. hardcover edition

Temple of the Winds teaches us the Wizard's Fourth Rule: Forgiveness Heals.

There is magic in sincere forgiveness, the magic to heal. In forgiveness you grant, but more so, in forgiveness you receive.
It is explained in the novel as follows: "Forgiving and being forgiven are powerful elements of healing for the soul. Forgiving others grants by the giving of forgiveness but more so one receives self healing by the necessity of letting go of bitterness through forgiveness of others."
—Chapter 41, p. 318, U.S. hardcover edition

Soul of the Fire teaches us the Wizard's Fifth Rule: Actions Speak Louder than Words.

Mind what people do, not only what they say, for deeds will betray a lie.
It is explained in the novel as follows: "People will lie to deceive you from what they truly mean to do. Watching the actions they take will prove their true intentions."
—Chapter 28, p. 205, U.S. hardcover edition

Faith of the Fallen teaches us the Wizard's Sixth Rule: The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason.

It is explained in the novel as follows: "The Sixth Rule is the hub upon which all rules turn. It is not only the most important rule, but the simplest. Nonetheless, it is the one most often ignored and violated, and by far the most despised. It must be wielded in spite of the ceaseless, howling protests of the wicked. Misery, iniquity, and utter destruction lurk in the shadows outside its full light, where half-truths snare the faithful disciples, the deeply feeling believers, the selfless followers. Faith and feelings are the warm marrow of evil. Unlike reason, faith and feelings provide no boundary to limit any delusion, any whim. They are a virulent poison, giving the numbing illusion of moral sanction to every depravity ever hatched. Faith and feelings are the darkness to reason’s light. Reason is the very substance of truth itself. The glory that is life is wholly embraced through reason, through this rule. In rejecting it, in rejecting reason, one embraces death."
—Chapter 41, p. 319, U.S. hardcover edition

The Pillars of Creation teaches us the Wizard's Seventh Rule: Life is the future, not the past.

It is explained in the novel as follows: "The past can teach us, through experience, how to accomplish things in the future, comfort us with cherished memories, and provide the foundation of what has already been accomplished. But only the future holds life. To live in the past is to embrace what is dead. To live life to its fullest, each day must be created anew. As rational, thinking beings we must use our intellect, not a blind devotion to what has come before, to make rational choices."
—Chapter 60, p. 549, U.S. hardcover edition

Naked Empire teaches us the Wizard's Eighth Rule: Deserve victory.

(Translated from "Talga Vassternich" in High D'Haran)
It is explained in the novel as follows: "Be justified in your convictions. Be completely committed. Earn what you want and need rather than waiting for others to give you what you desire."
—Chapter 61, p.626, U.S. hardcover edition

Chainfire teaches us the Wizard's Ninth Rule: A contradiction cannot exist in reality. Not in part, nor in whole.

It is explained in the novel as follows: "To believe in a contradiction is to abdicate your belief in the existence of the world around you and the nature of the things in it, to instead embrace any random impulse that strikes your fancy - to imagine something is real simply because you wish it were. A thing is what it is, it is itself. There can be no contradictions. In reality, contradictions cannot exist. To believe in them you must abandon the most important thing you possess: your rational mind. The wager for such a bargain is your life. In such an exchange, you always lose what you have at stake."
—Chapter 48, p. 489, U.S. hardcover edition

Phantom teaches us the Wizard's Tenth Rule:
I have not read this yet. I'll update this post when I do.

Confessor teaches us the Wizard's Eleventh Rule:
I have not read this yet. I'll update this post when I do.

Quotable Quotes: Chainfire

2010-07-26T00:00:00.001-04:00

These are the quotable quotes that I found while reading Chainfire.

I found it fitting to read words of a revolutionary during the month of July when we celebrate the Independence of the United States of America! (Page 169 - Hardcover)

"You've all bravely taken the first step and thrown off your shackles... But this is not about a single battle won. This is about the future of how you will live your lives from now on - how your children and your grandchildren will live their lives. You've fought bravely. Many have already lost their lives pursuing our common goal and many more yet will. But victory over evil is possible and within your power. You won a battle for something profound: your own lives to live as you see fit. But don't now fail to see that the war for that ideal is a long way from being finished.
"You have won your right to live free today. Now you must have the fire to fight to live free always. "
"Freedom is never easy to keep and can easily be lost. All it takes is willful indifference."
"I am simply a man who has come to understand the need to stand without compromise against tyranny.

Nicci is speaking to Richard and proves herself to be a true friend because 'she convinced him to keep fighting even when she did not believe in what he was fighting for.' (Page 507 - Hardcover)

"Because you were doing what you though you must do and as much as you would hope we would agree with you, in the end it didn't matter what we thought. Your conviction was what you had to act upon. you didn't quail at the decision, you acted. You did what you felt you had to do. You were making the decisions based on what you believed, for reasons only you can truly know, and that it was the right thing to do."

She continues in her supporting but reprimanding tone.

"Sometimes the people who love us the most have the highest expectations for us, and sometimes those expectations are idealized....You have no responsibility to live up to anyone else's expectations. You have only to live up to your own expectations."

Hubble Telescope 20 Years of Awesome

2010-07-24T00:00:00.001-04:00

There is still one gem that glimmers despite all the controversy surrounding NASA and how they have lost their touch and all they do is spend gobs of money on programs destined to be canceled: The Hubble Telescope. The greatest telescope ever imagined was set free from the Space Shuttle Discovery on April 25, 1990. I was just a kid in elementary school at the time. I grew up with Hubble and all its glory. I watched as the blurry images were corrected and was inspired by the awesome images it was sending back home from far away parts of the galaxy. Space is awesome and NASA was the discoverer of that final frontier.

It is no wonder that I fell in love with space and went on to become a rocket scientist. Just look at the possibilities that lay before us if we just put our minds to a project and open our eyes to the wonders above.

Visit NASA Goddard’s Hubble resource Web site. This site features an extensive list of Hubble links, including the new Carina Nebula image. Remember, Hubble images are in the public domain and free to use. Your taxes already paid for them - so go out and enjoy them.

How to Display HTML Code in a Blog Post

2010-07-14T18:40:00.003-04:00

Sometimes when you are creating a page, you want to include the code that you used to be able to share with others.
For example, if you wanted to know what the specific HTML tags are to create headings and paragraphs, I couldn't just type them in because the program would interpret them as code and process them as such.
So, how to display HTML code as text? or How do I quote HTML code on my blog?
This comes in to play when you want to give someone a blogger award like the one below.

And, now I want to share that code with you.
But in order to do so, I must change some parts of the code to a different piece of code. If you want coding elements to appear as text, you must provide the code equivalent of the characters.



<img src="http://www.scrapboxusa.com/ImagesWeb/210x210_Ad_Rachelle_ani_20100712b.gif" border="0" />



To make the above code appear as text and not be immediately interpreted as another command to display the above picture I had to make some changes to the code. When a browser happens upon the bracket symbol it knows to begin code interpretation. The way around that is to feed the browser the code that displays instead the symbol as text. This is done by replacing the symbol with its code equivalent.

Replace "<" with "<" (without the quotes, and yes, that is a lowercase "L")
Replace ">" with ">" (again, without the quotes.)

Additionally, I found via this forum, that it is good coding practice to enclose the code you want to appear as text with the <code> tags. This way, if your page is ever translated, some browsers will just skip over the section and not waste time trying to translate a section not intended nor needed.

Here is a great resource page for any web programming language.
http://www.w3schools.com/default.asp

A final note, the and tags just create a paragraph break. If you don't want the extra paragraph break you can omit them. If you wanted a line break, use a "b" instead of the "p".

Popular Science

2010-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

If you have not ever read an issue of Popular Science - you are missing out. Each issue is packed with futuristic ideas that might change our world, close-ups are provided into the tech gadgets we use, or the jobs that keep our worlds running smooth. My favorite part of the magazine is near the back and is the How 2.0 section aptly named the Tips, Tricks, Hacks and Do-It-Yourself Projects section.

In the April 2010 issue they covered things like making an atomic clock, compressed air fires, award winning Transformers Movie inspired projects, and Virtual PC's. In the article they covered Microsoft's Virtual PC which is available as an integral part of Windows 7. However, I thought they were remiss in not mentioning some of the other options. If you have ever wanted to try out Linux or if you have ever wanted a repair tool then Knoppix and Ubuntu should be on your list. Ubuntu comes in a full OS or like Knoppix can be booted and ran directly from the disk. I used this feature on occasion to familiarize myself with the Linux operating environment and to just generally try out new things.

Writing Tips

2010-05-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

I get a little surprise every month when the latest issue of Popular Science arrives in my mailbox. It is a fun magazine to read. It's all about big dreams and big ideas. The magazine offers a variety of articles that range from the quick to the more in depth stories. This format makes it perfect for any moment you have to flip through to find something for your moment.

I was intrigued by a small article near the back of the April 2010 issue titled 5 Things to Help You Write Your Masterpiece.
1 - Start somewhere. Anywhere. We all need to Practice, Practice, Practice. They suggested a collaborative story website protagonize.com. I have also found onemillionmonkeys.com and occasionally writers will host a collaborative story on their blog.

2 - Focus. They mentioned minimalist word processors like Dark Room and WriteRoom. "The bare bones text editor nix the features you don't need so you can focus on getting the words down." Personally, I thought, well, maybe that is why Rachelle likes her Dana so much - it is just a text editor, very basic and to the point.

3 - Their advice for getting an agent was to register for free access to LiteraryMarketPlace.com, a giant database of publishers and agents, searchable by city and genre. For a substantial fee you can actually get their contact info.

4 - Getting published: Go to Poets & Writers web site, pw.org, which lists summaries of more than 450 fiction , poetry and essay journals which let you submit your work online and find information on writing contests and MFA programs, etc.

5 - Copyrights: Go to Myows.com to defend against plagiarism.

Rachelle Christensen has been putting together some of her tips that helped her publish her first book on the national market.

Discover Card $75 Signup Bonus

2010-05-13T00:00:00.011-04:00

It pays to Discover. That is there slogan, and this time they are living up to it with a new promotional code. In fact, Discover Card will pay you a $75 cashback bonus if you apply online using the promo code: DADN. You can also apply by phone, 1-800-210-9022, and referencing this invitation code: DADN. This reward is for new cardmembers only.
The Fine Print -

Get a $75 Cashback Bonus when you apply by June 18, 2010 and make a total of $500 in purchases with your new card within 3 months of being approved. Promotional reward will be applied within 8 weeks. This promotional reward is in addition to the Cashback Bonus earned on all purchases.

There is no annual fee on this card. It is their popular 5% Cashback Bonus card that offers rewards in categories like travel, gas, groceries, restaurants, etc. However, the categories eligible for the full 5% reward change quarterly and/or monthly. Otherwise, as is standard, all purchases earn an unlimited 1% Cashback Bonus.

Discover also partners with some retailers to increase your Cashback Bonus rewards. Sometimes you can turn your $40 Cashback Bonus into a $50 gift card at participating retailers. In the past, you could even find deals to double your Cashback Bonus.

How to Get Paid to Bank

2010-05-12T00:00:00.007-04:00

You've got a job and you've got your bills. And therein lies the problem. The amount leftover after the bills isn't enough to satisfy you wants. Savvy personal finance says you have two options. Increase your earnings or spend less than you earn. I am always on the lookout for different ways to increase my earnings. The first place to increase your earnings significantly comes from your current income source - your job. Brush up that resume, or ask for a raise. In the meantime, there are other methods that are great for boosting income. Sell you stuff! Then go online and open a few bank accounts.

Yes, believe it or not, banks are increasingly using the tactic of offering up cash incentives and rewards to lure in new customers. Make sure you do your homework first if you are currently looking to open a new checking or savings or brokerage account. There are lots of lucrative first time customer rewards. In fact, to help you get started I have started to list the current bank deals that I am aware of on my Free Money Bank Deals page.

GetRichSlowly recently asked the readers, "Ask the Readers: How Do You Choose a Savings Account?" For me, it was moving to a new area that opened up my eyes to different service providers and a few hundred dollars. Bank of America offered me $100 to open a new checking account online with no fees. SunTrust offered me $150 to bank with them and use their billpay service. And BB&T is still offering $100 to new customers who open a banking account. ING Direct is also offering a free $50 for new customers. There are plenty more including brokerages like TradeKing's free $50.

How do you find the banking bonus deals?
I find out about these primarily by visiting the actual bank either online or through their physical brick and mortar branches. From there it is advertisements, SlickDeals, FatWallet, and personal finance blogs like MyMoneyBlog. There appears to be an exhaustive list on iBankBonus.

Is it worth it?
In the last year, I was given nearly $1,000 to open up a new account and do business with various banks and brokerages. All that income is reported to the IRS via a 1099-INT and subject to taxes. But aside from the monetary gain, the greatest benefit came from the ability to pick the bank that worked best for me. It was like they were offering me cash to come take a test drive of their services and see how they stacked up against the competition. How well was their billpay setup? How easily could I transfer in funds?

Does it affect your credit score?
Sometimes. Not every bank will do a hard pull of your credit score. If your checking account comes with an overdraft line of credit then they will likely do a hard pull. Each inquiry to your credit will ding your score. This will not be helpful if you plan on going in and getting a new loan for a car or house in the near term. You can read more about what affects your credit score.

Are you at increased risk of identity theft?
It is generally believed that the more you expose yourself the more chance you have of becoming a victim of identity theft. This might be true. Banks and other financial institutions are charged with safekeeping your information private but thieves do exist. That is one reason you should check your credit report at least once a year even if you haven't been opening new accounts for a few extra Benjamin Franklin's in your wallet.

What is the catch?
There is definitely a catch. They aren't likely to just hand over a free $100 for nothing. They want your business and your money. To qualify for your bank bonus you will likely have to complete a few small tasks. Banks usually require one of three things or a combination of them and include using their billpay service, establishing direct deposit, and/or using a debit card a set number of times per month. There may also be various time limits associated with each of these. SunTrust asked for 3 bill pays each month for 3 months. Brokerages similarly ask for a minimum deposit and sometimes executing a trade.

Do the rewards always come through?
Yes, as long as you meet all of the requirements. If you are going to sign up for a promotion be sure to print off or save the promotion page with all of the fine print. Then create a little to do list and keep to it.

What are the best deals?/What are the easiest way to make free money?
The best deals are those that just have a minimum deposit for a required time frame. For example, open an account and leave the money there for six months to a year. These offers can be thought of as lucrative one year CD's because you have to wait to get your principal back. Some banks will count direct deposits that come in the form of an ACH push from another bank.

Can I do more than one at time?
You are not limited to the number of offers you want to apply for. You will likely be limited in the number of direct deposits that you can do in a month. If you employer allows your paycheck to be split up and direct deposited into several accounts it will be easier to do two offers with direct deposit requirements. If you want to fulfill billpay requirements on more than offer - just split up payment and pay it multiple times or from multiple sources.

Any other tips?
Make sure you are aware of your limits. Some credit cards only allow a set number of payments during each billing cycle. Don't allow yourself to get so caught up in making an extra $100 that you miss a payment because you didn't understand the new banking system and get charged late fees. Don't make signature based purchases on your debit card on the last day of the month and expect them to show up as transactions for that month - they often take a day or two to clear and finally post to your account.

Remember, while you might be upset the banks were all bailed out and are evil - they are only offering the money as a marketing ploy to gain you as another customer.

Have you switched banks recently? Tell us about your experience with new account offers.

Switching Banks

2010-05-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

Adam Baker recently explored What Does It Take to Make You Switch Banks? over at GetRichSlowly. It is a good question and one that I think is worth the time it might take to investigate what you might be missing by not banking elsewhere. Adam talked about his own experience with the same bank for years and years even though he didn't really like the bank. Why? It was what his parents used and where he first started out.

To some degree I can relate with Adam. My parents set up my first savings account where they banked. Naturally, as I grew older and needed more services like a checking account and later a credit card - they all came from that bank.

I believe some people do not change simply because we naturally avoid change. Change is hard. Additionally, there is some amount of loyalty that is generated after being a customer for so long. Adam lists five things that might cause someone to finally have the motivation to change. Higher Rates, Customer Service, Length of History, Principle, Accessibility.

There is one thing which caused me to not to shed any tears when I closed my first account. I had seen my parents do it before. Seeing my parents go through the process taught me that I could do it, too. However, to be honest, my biggest motivator to switch banks was accessibility because I moved away from home.

Moving opens up a whole new field of opportunities. It forces you to re-evaluate all of your relationships with health care, finances, and social circles. Sometimes, this chance to rebuild is just what people need to discover what else is available and the freedom to adjust their priorities.

Not moving anytime soon? That is okay. You can still start fresh from where you are. Look at the connections you have and imagine you are searching for those services for the first time. Becoming aware of your current situation is the first step to making any progress towards change.

Coming up soon, I hope to profile my search for financial services that served me best. I have already started with my post on why I moved my IRA to Fidelity. Simply, the pain of the same was larger than the pain of the change. Additionally, I want to reveal how profitable starting fresh can be.

$50 Free Money at Ing Direct

2010-05-08T00:00:00.001-04:00

Ing Direct has a $50 Free Money offer when you open a new Electric Orange Checking Account online. This offer has an implicit minimum deposit based on the requirement to make three signature based debit card transactions. I am a proud Ing Direct customer and have received more than one promotion from them. They sport no account fees, free bill pay, and a really nice web interface. I also love their person2person payment services. It is just like PayPal without the fees. Couple that with their savings accounts and the ability to open sub-accounts makes your banking experience easy and less stressful.

Use your Electric Orange Card to make at least 3 signature-based purchases in the first 45 days after your account has been opened.

If you want a savings account, too, you can always earn another $25 from a referral award. The referrer gets $10. Need a referral? Just ask.