Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning http://moneyning.com A personal finance blog where we share insights on carefully saving money, investing, early retirement, mortgages, stocks because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom! Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:03:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 MoneyNinghttp://feedburner.google.com Happy July 4th! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/kope_V4PZ-k/ http://moneyning.com/misc/happy-july-4th/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:01 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3285

happy 4th of july

Enjoy the holidays and let your loved ones know how much you appreciate them!

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


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happy 4th of july

Enjoy the holidays and let your loved ones know how much you appreciate them!

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/misc/happy-july-4th/feed/ http://moneyning.com/misc/happy-july-4th/ Personal Financial Education - Government Improvement Series http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/81DwNdGxhTI/ http://moneyning.com/kids-and-money/personal-financial-education/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:26 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3273

I hesitated before I wrote this piece because it’s so obvious, but we need to remind everyone again and again until we finally complete the implementation. We need to incorporate basic personal financial education topics into our educational curriculum.

In fact, I think we need to inject the lessons into every subject. How? Math teachers should use sales tax examples in fractions and decimal lessons, and teachers should talk about delayed gratification along with compound interest. In English, we should also read personal finance books, or at least novels that give youngsters a glimpse of what it’s like to be drowned in debt. I mean, history and Shakespeare is important and all, but isn’t it just as important that we learn about the power of credit cards? Some subjects are more obvious than others, but I believe that every general subject can be tied to personal finance. History? How about talking about the savings and loans crisis in the 1980s or our financial crisis in 2008?

Having the topics incorporated into each subject and repeated through the years also lets kids absorb the ideas much more efficiently. It’s like learning addition. You are exposed to it early. Then it’s used again in grade school, junior high, high school and so on. Once it’s deeply planted in your brain, you can’t forget it even if you try. Imagine everyone knowing personal finance topics like they know how to add. How great would that be?

I don’t know why, but none of the developed nations actually teach any of this. Do they believe that everyone will be responsible enough to learn by themselves? Or do they believe that learning about Newton’s laws of motion is more important than realizing the disastrous ending of not living below our means? Let me be more upfront. While knowing that you are falling down just as fast no matter how much you weight is a fun fact that may impress your friends, knowing how to spend wisely might save your retirement, and quite possibly your life.

With more exposure to these topics, kids will even start teaching their parents the basics by asking them questions about it. Imagine your kid, coming home from school and asking - “Do we have a retirement account?” I bet it will give every family an additional push to make the right moves.

Financial education at a young age is such a no-brainer. I can’t believe our government isn’t pushing to include it.

Can we add it? Please, please, pretty please?

This is part of the Government Improvement Series, where various possible government improvements are discussed every Friday. Many more are available at the link provided, and please help spread the word if you agree with the suggestion.

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]>

I hesitated before I wrote this piece because it’s so obvious, but we need to remind everyone again and again until we finally complete the implementation. We need to incorporate basic personal financial education topics into our educational curriculum.

In fact, I think we need to inject the lessons into every subject. How? Math teachers should use sales tax examples in fractions and decimal lessons, and teachers should talk about delayed gratification along with compound interest. In English, we should also read personal finance books, or at least novels that give youngsters a glimpse of what it’s like to be drowned in debt. I mean, history and Shakespeare is important and all, but isn’t it just as important that we learn about the power of credit cards? Some subjects are more obvious than others, but I believe that every general subject can be tied to personal finance. History? How about talking about the savings and loans crisis in the 1980s or our financial crisis in 2008?

Having the topics incorporated into each subject and repeated through the years also lets kids absorb the ideas much more efficiently. It’s like learning addition. You are exposed to it early. Then it’s used again in grade school, junior high, high school and so on. Once it’s deeply planted in your brain, you can’t forget it even if you try. Imagine everyone knowing personal finance topics like they know how to add. How great would that be?

I don’t know why, but none of the developed nations actually teach any of this. Do they believe that everyone will be responsible enough to learn by themselves? Or do they believe that learning about Newton’s laws of motion is more important than realizing the disastrous ending of not living below our means? Let me be more upfront. While knowing that you are falling down just as fast no matter how much you weight is a fun fact that may impress your friends, knowing how to spend wisely might save your retirement, and quite possibly your life.

With more exposure to these topics, kids will even start teaching their parents the basics by asking them questions about it. Imagine your kid, coming home from school and asking - “Do we have a retirement account?” I bet it will give every family an additional push to make the right moves.

Financial education at a young age is such a no-brainer. I can’t believe our government isn’t pushing to include it.

Can we add it? Please, please, pretty please?

This is part of the Government Improvement Series, where various possible government improvements are discussed every Friday. Many more are available at the link provided, and please help spread the word if you agree with the suggestion.

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/kids-and-money/personal-financial-education/feed/ http://moneyning.com/kids-and-money/personal-financial-education/ Volunteer Vacations are Fun, Frugal and Rewarding http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/8X-Vbo6mt9A/ http://moneyning.com/budget-travel/volunteer-vacations-are-fun-frugal-and-rewarding/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:32 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3223

When money is scarce, vacations are often the first thing to go. For many, the dream of a cruise or an island getaway seems out of reach. However, even if an expensive vacation is out of the question, there are many great ways to take time off without maxing out your credit card. One idea is the volunteer vacation, a short trip designed to help others in need.

Low-cost volunteer vacations can take many forms. For the outdoorsy personalities, hiking trail preservation trips can be a great way to help reduce the risk of forest fires. Hiking trails are usually designed to protect the forest against natural disasters; unfortunately, they are often not adequately maintained. Volunteers will help keep the trail clean and well-defined for future use. These trips are very inexpensive; usually costing between $200 and $500 per week, and they can be found all over the country. The American Hiking Society has a terrific list of 7-day trips.

Another great option is to volunteer at a camp for special-needs children. These camps provide an opportunity to inspire children to overcome life obstacles and stretch to achieve their full potential. The camps rely on volunteers to help reduce costs for the families of the children. These camps usually take place in remote multi-purpose facilities, with outdoor recreation and lodging – one example is the beautiful Apple Canyon Center, where the Camp Ronald McDonald takes place. Full training is provided, so no special experience is necessary to volunteer.

For those who enjoy physical construction, Habitat for Humanity projects can be a very rewarding experience. Habitat for Humanity provides a unique home-ownership opportunity for families all around the country. In addition to making a down payment, families contribute hundreds of hours in “sweat equity,” often working alongside volunteers.

Volunteers may participate in all parts of the construction experience. No experience is necessary, and most projects take anywhere from one to four weeks. Projects can take place anywhere in the country; to find one near you, just visit Habitat for Humanity. Current opportunities can be found under the “get involved tab.

Although volunteer vacations do incur some costs, many of the associated expenses are often tax-deductible. Deductions for volunteering can include costs of meals, transportation to and from the volunteer site, and sometimes even the costs of accommodation. However, you should always check with the non-profit to determine what you may or may not deduct.

All in all, volunteer vacations are a wonderful way to gain perspective and give back to the community, while providing you with a welcome, affordable break from day-to-day life. For additional resources, please check out charityguide.org, a one-stop shop for learning about opportunities that might interest you.

Vik Tantry is the creator of Kanjoh.com, a video blog focusing on finance and money management. In the Japanese Shinto Tradition, “Kanjoh” means a calling for a truthful sermon; clarity and honesty are especially important in today’s complex financial world.

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


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When money is scarce, vacations are often the first thing to go. For many, the dream of a cruise or an island getaway seems out of reach. However, even if an expensive vacation is out of the question, there are many great ways to take time off without maxing out your credit card. One idea is the volunteer vacation, a short trip designed to help others in need.

Low-cost volunteer vacations can take many forms. For the outdoorsy personalities, hiking trail preservation trips can be a great way to help reduce the risk of forest fires. Hiking trails are usually designed to protect the forest against natural disasters; unfortunately, they are often not adequately maintained. Volunteers will help keep the trail clean and well-defined for future use. These trips are very inexpensive; usually costing between $200 and $500 per week, and they can be found all over the country. The American Hiking Society has a terrific list of 7-day trips.

Another great option is to volunteer at a camp for special-needs children. These camps provide an opportunity to inspire children to overcome life obstacles and stretch to achieve their full potential. The camps rely on volunteers to help reduce costs for the families of the children. These camps usually take place in remote multi-purpose facilities, with outdoor recreation and lodging – one example is the beautiful Apple Canyon Center, where the Camp Ronald McDonald takes place. Full training is provided, so no special experience is necessary to volunteer.

For those who enjoy physical construction, Habitat for Humanity projects can be a very rewarding experience. Habitat for Humanity provides a unique home-ownership opportunity for families all around the country. In addition to making a down payment, families contribute hundreds of hours in “sweat equity,” often working alongside volunteers.

Volunteers may participate in all parts of the construction experience. No experience is necessary, and most projects take anywhere from one to four weeks. Projects can take place anywhere in the country; to find one near you, just visit Habitat for Humanity. Current opportunities can be found under the “get involved tab.

Although volunteer vacations do incur some costs, many of the associated expenses are often tax-deductible. Deductions for volunteering can include costs of meals, transportation to and from the volunteer site, and sometimes even the costs of accommodation. However, you should always check with the non-profit to determine what you may or may not deduct.

All in all, volunteer vacations are a wonderful way to gain perspective and give back to the community, while providing you with a welcome, affordable break from day-to-day life. For additional resources, please check out charityguide.org, a one-stop shop for learning about opportunities that might interest you.

Vik Tantry is the creator of Kanjoh.com, a video blog focusing on finance and money management. In the Japanese Shinto Tradition, “Kanjoh” means a calling for a truthful sermon; clarity and honesty are especially important in today’s complex financial world.

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/budget-travel/volunteer-vacations-are-fun-frugal-and-rewarding/feed/ http://moneyning.com/budget-travel/volunteer-vacations-are-fun-frugal-and-rewarding/ Best of Personal Finance with MoneyNing - June 2009 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/tOvxTAOigDM/ http://moneyning.com/best-of/best-of-personal-finance-with-moneyning-june-2009/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:00:59 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3226

A special note goes to all sales people out there because the end of the quarters will always have a special place in my heart. Back when I was in sales, I either “loved this time of year” when I meet my quota or “hated it because I needed to go buy a bulletproof vest”. While I usually did pretty well, it still sucked because I had to spent time coming up with a presentation so if you are struggling right now, don’t worry - we know how you feel!

June was also special because I received the first proof of the budget travel book! It needed some changes, but it was extremely rewarding to see the actual printed book. As the launch date draws closer, you will definitely hear more about it.

Also, if you want some exclusive content from the book, a free course and also a special offer in the coming days, you better sign up for the free frugal newsletter in case I close up membership (or decide to charge for it or something).

(Don’t worry about spam because I hate it as much as you do):

Personal Finance Articles from the Past Month

Every month, I will do a roundup of what I wrote here at MoneyNing, highlighting some of the more interesting posts based on your feedback. This month, check out:

How to

Other Money Topics

Review

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]>

A special note goes to all sales people out there because the end of the quarters will always have a special place in my heart. Back when I was in sales, I either “loved this time of year” when I meet my quota or “hated it because I needed to go buy a bulletproof vest”. While I usually did pretty well, it still sucked because I had to spent time coming up with a presentation so if you are struggling right now, don’t worry - we know how you feel!

June was also special because I received the first proof of the budget travel book! It needed some changes, but it was extremely rewarding to see the actual printed book. As the launch date draws closer, you will definitely hear more about it.

Also, if you want some exclusive content from the book, a free course and also a special offer in the coming days, you better sign up for the free frugal newsletter in case I close up membership (or decide to charge for it or something).

(Don’t worry about spam because I hate it as much as you do):

Personal Finance Articles from the Past Month

Every month, I will do a roundup of what I wrote here at MoneyNing, highlighting some of the more interesting posts based on your feedback. This month, check out:

How to

Other Money Topics

Review

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/best-of/best-of-personal-finance-with-moneyning-june-2009/feed/ http://moneyning.com/best-of/best-of-personal-finance-with-moneyning-june-2009/ How to Be a Millionaire http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/VEp6Lhlr_04/ http://moneyning.com/money-management/how-to-be-a-millionaire/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:32 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3209

How to be a millionaire? You may be a bum wishing to have a million bucks, or you may be an aspiring young professional who wants to know if you are on the right path. Below are seven ways people become millionaires. Some are by pure luck but there’s no need to worry as others are based much less on chance and more on planning and wits. With some effort, you can have a big fat bank account one day too.

lotteryFirst and the easiest, Win the Lottery - Without a doubt, this is the quickest way to become a millionaire. I was in Vegas the other day, and there are a ton of ways to strike it big as well. The problem? Your chances are one in a billion. Good luck and start rolling the dice!

Be Innovative - Most people believe that the easy inventions are already out in the marketplace but yet, new gadgets come out every day. Ideas are everywhere, so get your thinking caps going. If you aren’t the thinking type, you can always…

Learn from Madoff - Of course, you will also be on the front page of every newspaper and be in jail for 150 years but at least your wife can enjoy a good life with money you stole from other people.

If you take this path btw, let me know so I can report you before you start.

Corporate Slave - Okay, this is the first way to be a millionaire while avoiding the headlines. Many high paid professionals end up with significant wealth built up. Of course, they get beaten up at work daily as they climb the corporate ladder and then pay obscene amounts of government taxes afterward, but hey - nothing is going to stop you from becoming a millionaire right?

Forget Million, I was Born a Billionaire - Parents are rich aint’ a crime right? Even if you aren’t born that way, you might get a second chance. Get adopted!

Marry Rich - If you go to any bars or restaurants that are within close proximity to high end neighborhoods, you will see many very attractive ladies at the bar. There are some fairy tales alright, but most die trying.

Save Your Ass Off Millionaire - You can keep trying, but this is exactly how most of us will become a millionaire. It’s not glamorous like winning the nodel prize but no one will bother you (that’s a good thing when you are wealthy) because no one will ever know you are rich either.

Since this is actually the most probable way of becoming a millionaire, I’ve outlined a few steps you can take.

  1. Stop Watching TV
    But everyone watches TV! Yes, couch potato the third, that’s why so few ever become millionaires. While you are watching TV, your competition, the more successful and the people you envy are all making money. Stop watching TV. In fact, cancel it if you always give in.
  2. Generate Some Income
    • Working smarter and harder at work - If you have to choose between the two, please err on the side of being smart. Be friendly and helpful to coworkers, know when you should work hard and when to say no to distractions.
    • Getting a Side Job - If you are earning less than $40,000 and trying to feed a family of four, you could probably write a book on money saving advice. Stop reading up on frugal living and write about it instead! Start your own business and earn more money!

    3. All the rubbish about a penny saved equal two pennies earned is incredibly true because pondering about that all day will save you exactly two pennies. If you ever want to save enough money to make your family proud, start earning some to begin with. This includes:

  3. Save Some Dough
    Alright, what I said in step one was misleading (it wouldn’t be the first time so stop complaining). After you have decent income coming in every month, you need to save at least some of it. How much? It all depends on how fast you want to become a millionaire. There’s no right or wrong answer. No pain, no gain my friend.
    Extra: What a tip? Start by resisting the temptation to improve your standard of living too quickly. It’s fun when you start going to fancier restaurants and living in bigger houses but there’s no going back (or at least without major pain). You can always go later. There’s really no rush.
  4. Investing It in Diversified Index Funds
    I keep telling everyone that I’m becoming an index fund convert. No, I’m not those that liked index funds from the get go or someone who lost a bunch of money in the stock market betting on individual securities. In fact, I made a small fortune in the stock market. However, it was risky, tiring, frustrating and stressful. I wanted a life. If you really want to be a millionaire, stick with index funds. You don’t need the crap and you don’t want to buy tissues after you bought Bear Sterns based on rumors that it was good value.

You are probably thinking right now - Tell me something I don’t know. Well, if you know everything already, why aren’t you a millionaire? Don’t be a smart bum that knows everything. Be a millionaire that got started reading and applying every common sense advice ever written.

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]>

How to be a millionaire? You may be a bum wishing to have a million bucks, or you may be an aspiring young professional who wants to know if you are on the right path. Below are seven ways people become millionaires. Some are by pure luck but there’s no need to worry as others are based much less on chance and more on planning and wits. With some effort, you can have a big fat bank account one day too.

lotteryFirst and the easiest, Win the Lottery - Without a doubt, this is the quickest way to become a millionaire. I was in Vegas the other day, and there are a ton of ways to strike it big as well. The problem? Your chances are one in a billion. Good luck and start rolling the dice!

Be Innovative - Most people believe that the easy inventions are already out in the marketplace but yet, new gadgets come out every day. Ideas are everywhere, so get your thinking caps going. If you aren’t the thinking type, you can always…

Learn from Madoff - Of course, you will also be on the front page of every newspaper and be in jail for 150 years but at least your wife can enjoy a good life with money you stole from other people.

If you take this path btw, let me know so I can report you before you start.

Corporate Slave - Okay, this is the first way to be a millionaire while avoiding the headlines. Many high paid professionals end up with significant wealth built up. Of course, they get beaten up at work daily as they climb the corporate ladder and then pay obscene amounts of government taxes afterward, but hey - nothing is going to stop you from becoming a millionaire right?

Forget Million, I was Born a Billionaire - Parents are rich aint’ a crime right? Even if you aren’t born that way, you might get a second chance. Get adopted!

Marry Rich - If you go to any bars or restaurants that are within close proximity to high end neighborhoods, you will see many very attractive ladies at the bar. There are some fairy tales alright, but most die trying.

Save Your Ass Off Millionaire - You can keep trying, but this is exactly how most of us will become a millionaire. It’s not glamorous like winning the nodel prize but no one will bother you (that’s a good thing when you are wealthy) because no one will ever know you are rich either.

Since this is actually the most probable way of becoming a millionaire, I’ve outlined a few steps you can take.

  1. Stop Watching TV
    But everyone watches TV! Yes, couch potato the third, that’s why so few ever become millionaires. While you are watching TV, your competition, the more successful and the people you envy are all making money. Stop watching TV. In fact, cancel it if you always give in.
  2. Generate Some Income
    • Working smarter and harder at work - If you have to choose between the two, please err on the side of being smart. Be friendly and helpful to coworkers, know when you should work hard and when to say no to distractions.
    • Getting a Side Job - If you are earning less than $40,000 and trying to feed a family of four, you could probably write a book on money saving advice. Stop reading up on frugal living and write about it instead! Start your own business and earn more money!

    3. All the rubbish about a penny saved equal two pennies earned is incredibly true because pondering about that all day will save you exactly two pennies. If you ever want to save enough money to make your family proud, start earning some to begin with. This includes:

  3. Save Some Dough
    Alright, what I said in step one was misleading (it wouldn’t be the first time so stop complaining). After you have decent income coming in every month, you need to save at least some of it. How much? It all depends on how fast you want to become a millionaire. There’s no right or wrong answer. No pain, no gain my friend.
    Extra: What a tip? Start by resisting the temptation to improve your standard of living too quickly. It’s fun when you start going to fancier restaurants and living in bigger houses but there’s no going back (or at least without major pain). You can always go later. There’s really no rush.
  4. Investing It in Diversified Index Funds
    I keep telling everyone that I’m becoming an index fund convert. No, I’m not those that liked index funds from the get go or someone who lost a bunch of money in the stock market betting on individual securities. In fact, I made a small fortune in the stock market. However, it was risky, tiring, frustrating and stressful. I wanted a life. If you really want to be a millionaire, stick with index funds. You don’t need the crap and you don’t want to buy tissues after you bought Bear Sterns based on rumors that it was good value.

You are probably thinking right now - Tell me something I don’t know. Well, if you know everything already, why aren’t you a millionaire? Don’t be a smart bum that knows everything. Be a millionaire that got started reading and applying every common sense advice ever written.

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/money-management/how-to-be-a-millionaire/feed/ http://moneyning.com/money-management/how-to-be-a-millionaire/ Not Settling for Mediocrity http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/SynDjjr7b-Q/ http://moneyning.com/misc/not-settling-for-mediocrity/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:44 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3206

didnt forget sound effects

Good Morning!

  • I feel uninspired at the moment.
  • I wrote and deleted and wrote and deleted.
  • My ink is dry.
  • There is no post today.

Speaking of this, what happened to refusing to deliver mediocrity when you aren’t at your best?  I miss that in people.  How about you?

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]>

didnt forget sound effects

Good Morning!

  • I feel uninspired at the moment.
  • I wrote and deleted and wrote and deleted.
  • My ink is dry.
  • There is no post today.

Speaking of this, what happened to refusing to deliver mediocrity when you aren’t at your best?  I miss that in people.  How about you?

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/misc/not-settling-for-mediocrity/feed/ http://moneyning.com/misc/not-settling-for-mediocrity/ Hello from Las Vegas, NV http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/M0hBRTez7AM/ http://moneyning.com/misc/hello-from-las-vegas-nv/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:01 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3191

I’ve been here in Las Vegas at least three times in the past 90 days and it’s a good thing that I don’t gamble because the dealers will know me by now. Before I left, my mom asked me why I’m always on vacation and I figured it was the perfect opportunity to promote my upcoming budget travel book. I told her:

“Buy the book and you will know why I can go on vacations all the time like it is free”.

So with that said, the sage advice goes to all of you as well. Buy the book! (it’s not out yet but hey, BUY THE BOOK :))

Personal Finance Article

  • My Two Dollars shares his friend’s story about paying for movers which reminds me of what my colleagues once said. You can pay for movers, or you can ask all your friends to help, probably get some of them upset for sweating, then pay just as much to treat everyone out to dinner after. So, when is spending worth the cost?
  • Very similar to my constant reminder of taking action, I want to link to you a very old piece on Get Rich Slowly, The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good.
  • Bargaineering has an interesting article on many levels - What is Your Dream Job? Many people have dreams, and many more encourages others to have dreams. If you ask me, I don’t think that’s enough. It’s good to have dreams but it’s more important to actually do something about it! Say your dream job is to become a professional singer. Why don’t you do something about it? Even if you don’t actually become a pop star, you still would have so much fun spending time practicing and learning about the whole process. Start with a dream, but follow it too!
  • Stock Trading Brokers seem to like OptionsXpress, and gave a brief mention about its Virtual Trade program where they give you $5,000 to practice.  To be honest, I wish I spend some time at the very beginning to try out different strategies before I used my own money.  Patience young one, patience.  That advice really saves you money!

Carnival

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]>

I’ve been here in Las Vegas at least three times in the past 90 days and it’s a good thing that I don’t gamble because the dealers will know me by now. Before I left, my mom asked me why I’m always on vacation and I figured it was the perfect opportunity to promote my upcoming budget travel book. I told her:

“Buy the book and you will know why I can go on vacations all the time like it is free”.

So with that said, the sage advice goes to all of you as well. Buy the book! (it’s not out yet but hey, BUY THE BOOK :))

Personal Finance Article

  • My Two Dollars shares his friend’s story about paying for movers which reminds me of what my colleagues once said. You can pay for movers, or you can ask all your friends to help, probably get some of them upset for sweating, then pay just as much to treat everyone out to dinner after. So, when is spending worth the cost?
  • Very similar to my constant reminder of taking action, I want to link to you a very old piece on Get Rich Slowly, The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good.
  • Bargaineering has an interesting article on many levels - What is Your Dream Job? Many people have dreams, and many more encourages others to have dreams. If you ask me, I don’t think that’s enough. It’s good to have dreams but it’s more important to actually do something about it! Say your dream job is to become a professional singer. Why don’t you do something about it? Even if you don’t actually become a pop star, you still would have so much fun spending time practicing and learning about the whole process. Start with a dream, but follow it too!
  • Stock Trading Brokers seem to like OptionsXpress, and gave a brief mention about its Virtual Trade program where they give you $5,000 to practice.  To be honest, I wish I spend some time at the very beginning to try out different strategies before I used my own money.  Patience young one, patience.  That advice really saves you money!

Carnival

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/misc/hello-from-las-vegas-nv/feed/ http://moneyning.com/misc/hello-from-las-vegas-nv/ OptionsHouse Review http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/0h583AaE8LE/ http://moneyning.com/review/optionshouse-review/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:35:47 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3193

OptionsHouse, OptionsThis and OptionsThat. So many options brokerage houses which means confusing choices for us all. How does OptionsHouse get you to remember them? How about $2.95 per stock trade?

Click Here to Sign Up for an OptionsHouse Account

Fees Come First

That’s not a typo. Over at OptionsHouse, stock trades are just $2.95 no matter what. When a company can make money like this, it really makes you wonder how much money other premium stock brokers are making off us. What’s even better is OptionsHouse’s flat rate options commission structure. The per contract fee can quickly add up because you buy or sell so many contracts per trade. With this broker, it’s $9.95 per trade no matter how many contracts exchange hands, no questions asked.

Other Fees?

Here’s some of the other fees of the options broker.
optionshouse rate and fees
Exactly what I like to see. No maintenance fees, no minimum trade requirements, and if I ever want help, broker-assisted trades are still just $2.95!

OptionsHouse Interface

optionshouse screen
Upon looking into the account, I found that the interface is very much like the professional trading platforms of the higher end brokers for professional traders. Within the main screen, you can see an account summary, quote lookup, order statuses, positions, and detailed information on particular securities.

Webinars and Seminars

I’ve begun to really love the education that these brokers provide and OptionsHouse is no exception. It’s obvious that the company’s expertise is in options trading because all the webinars are concentrated in that area but I expect it to expand to stock trading and other subjects in the future.

Don’t Underestimate Them

While many of you may not have heard about this brokerage firm, they seem to have their act together. In fact, Barron’s 2009 Online Broker Survey ranked them #1 in trade experience, beating out the likes of thinkorswim, optionsXpress, E*Trade and Charles Schwab.

Conclusion

optionshouse transfer feesOptionsHouse really gets my blood flowing because of its extremely low trading fees. Is it SIPC insured? Check. Is there good word out there? Another check. Changing brokers is really a hassle though. But like others, they are willing to reimburse me for up to $100, which is enough to move from pretty much any institution. Hmm… decisions decisions decisions. As for you, there’s really no right answer, but I’d say that $2.95 stock trades is reason enough for you to at least give it a test run.

Click Here to Sign Up for an OptionsHouse Account

Resources:

Who is OptionsHouse Anyway?

To be honest, one of the first reaction I had when someone told me about OptionsHouse was: “Who?” I then went to do a little research and here’s what I found out.

OptionsHouse is really OptionsHouse, LLC and is owned by PEAK6 Investments, L.P. The company’s headquarters is in Chicago, the home of the Chicago Board of Trade. The parent company have been in the options and derivative trading business for years, and is actually one of Chicago’s 101 best and brightest companies to work for.

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


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OptionsHouse, OptionsThis and OptionsThat. So many options brokerage houses which means confusing choices for us all. How does OptionsHouse get you to remember them? How about $2.95 per stock trade?

Click Here to Sign Up for an OptionsHouse Account

Fees Come First

That’s not a typo. Over at OptionsHouse, stock trades are just $2.95 no matter what. When a company can make money like this, it really makes you wonder how much money other premium stock brokers are making off us. What’s even better is OptionsHouse’s flat rate options commission structure. The per contract fee can quickly add up because you buy or sell so many contracts per trade. With this broker, it’s $9.95 per trade no matter how many contracts exchange hands, no questions asked.

Other Fees?

Here’s some of the other fees of the options broker.
optionshouse rate and fees
Exactly what I like to see. No maintenance fees, no minimum trade requirements, and if I ever want help, broker-assisted trades are still just $2.95!

OptionsHouse Interface

optionshouse screen
Upon looking into the account, I found that the interface is very much like the professional trading platforms of the higher end brokers for professional traders. Within the main screen, you can see an account summary, quote lookup, order statuses, positions, and detailed information on particular securities.

Webinars and Seminars

I’ve begun to really love the education that these brokers provide and OptionsHouse is no exception. It’s obvious that the company’s expertise is in options trading because all the webinars are concentrated in that area but I expect it to expand to stock trading and other subjects in the future.

Don’t Underestimate Them

While many of you may not have heard about this brokerage firm, they seem to have their act together. In fact, Barron’s 2009 Online Broker Survey ranked them #1 in trade experience, beating out the likes of thinkorswim, optionsXpress, E*Trade and Charles Schwab.

Conclusion

optionshouse transfer feesOptionsHouse really gets my blood flowing because of its extremely low trading fees. Is it SIPC insured? Check. Is there good word out there? Another check. Changing brokers is really a hassle though. But like others, they are willing to reimburse me for up to $100, which is enough to move from pretty much any institution. Hmm… decisions decisions decisions. As for you, there’s really no right answer, but I’d say that $2.95 stock trades is reason enough for you to at least give it a test run.

Click Here to Sign Up for an OptionsHouse Account

Resources:

Who is OptionsHouse Anyway?

To be honest, one of the first reaction I had when someone told me about OptionsHouse was: “Who?” I then went to do a little research and here’s what I found out.

OptionsHouse is really OptionsHouse, LLC and is owned by PEAK6 Investments, L.P. The company’s headquarters is in Chicago, the home of the Chicago Board of Trade. The parent company have been in the options and derivative trading business for years, and is actually one of Chicago’s 101 best and brightest companies to work for.

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/review/optionshouse-review/feed/ http://moneyning.com/review/optionshouse-review/ Side Hustle, Self Employed, Entrepreneurship http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/47DhqJOenGs/ http://moneyning.com/better-yourself/side-hustle-self-employed-entrepreneurship/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:25 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3185

Some of you know, others are jealous, many wonder but yesterday, one person actually asked.

You are making a living sharing what you do day to day and you seem to love it. I can only wish to make money doing what I love. What’s the secret?

I was flattered by the question. It’s true that I love writing over here, and I’m very fortunate that what I love to do happens to put bread on the table (those are for show of course, I secretly eat steak instead since I’m a meat kind of guy). It’s great now, even though it hasn’t always been like this.

When I started writing, I was excited when I made just one dollar that particular day. To give you some perspective on my earnings expectation, Emma and I used to have a little competition to see who could have a bigger paypal account at the end of the month. She would sell her one or two items a month on ebay, I would write.

You see. I never planned for this to become my primary source of income. At the beginning, I saw this as a hobby that gave me cash on the side. I was already passionate about money topics, and I was excited to learn about putting up a website, changing the look of it and adding new features. The time I spent on it (and it was a ton of time because I practically did nothing else back then) didn’t matter because I wasn’t keeping track.

It didn’t matter that I wasn’t making nearly as much as I could by working a part time job. I loved it. I couldn’t wait to get home to work on my site and read up on the latest news. I wrote and wrote and wrote, changing, improving and adapting at the same time. Slowly, more money came my way and that only fueled my desire to tweak, change and improve some more.

There are no secrets. I just kept doing stuff and not settling for what’s good enough. I spent more time on the look of the website. I wrote longer and more interesting posts. I made some friends and wrote on their websites. I even wrote a budget travel book that is coming out soon. As time went on, I did more, tried to be more efficient, and then took on more projects.

Whether it’s getting out of debt, saving or making money. The key is always to do something about it. Stop reading how others do it. Study them and apply it to your own situation. There’s no right way. Just start.

Otherwise, you are still hoping, wishing and dreaming while others are doing, living, and enjoying.

Editor’s Note: If you are here for the Government Improvement Series that is discussed every Friday, it will resume next week. I felt that this post needed to be published right away, because taking action can never wait.

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]>

Some of you know, others are jealous, many wonder but yesterday, one person actually asked.

You are making a living sharing what you do day to day and you seem to love it. I can only wish to make money doing what I love. What’s the secret?

I was flattered by the question. It’s true that I love writing over here, and I’m very fortunate that what I love to do happens to put bread on the table (those are for show of course, I secretly eat steak instead since I’m a meat kind of guy). It’s great now, even though it hasn’t always been like this.

When I started writing, I was excited when I made just one dollar that particular day. To give you some perspective on my earnings expectation, Emma and I used to have a little competition to see who could have a bigger paypal account at the end of the month. She would sell her one or two items a month on ebay, I would write.

You see. I never planned for this to become my primary source of income. At the beginning, I saw this as a hobby that gave me cash on the side. I was already passionate about money topics, and I was excited to learn about putting up a website, changing the look of it and adding new features. The time I spent on it (and it was a ton of time because I practically did nothing else back then) didn’t matter because I wasn’t keeping track.

It didn’t matter that I wasn’t making nearly as much as I could by working a part time job. I loved it. I couldn’t wait to get home to work on my site and read up on the latest news. I wrote and wrote and wrote, changing, improving and adapting at the same time. Slowly, more money came my way and that only fueled my desire to tweak, change and improve some more.

There are no secrets. I just kept doing stuff and not settling for what’s good enough. I spent more time on the look of the website. I wrote longer and more interesting posts. I made some friends and wrote on their websites. I even wrote a budget travel book that is coming out soon. As time went on, I did more, tried to be more efficient, and then took on more projects.

Whether it’s getting out of debt, saving or making money. The key is always to do something about it. Stop reading how others do it. Study them and apply it to your own situation. There’s no right way. Just start.

Otherwise, you are still hoping, wishing and dreaming while others are doing, living, and enjoying.

Editor’s Note: If you are here for the Government Improvement Series that is discussed every Friday, it will resume next week. I felt that this post needed to be published right away, because taking action can never wait.

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/better-yourself/side-hustle-self-employed-entrepreneurship/feed/ http://moneyning.com/better-yourself/side-hustle-self-employed-entrepreneurship/ Our Mini Vegetable Garden http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MoneyNing/~3/YhalZOpXdNY/ http://moneyning.com/diy/our-mini-vegetable-garden/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:00:31 +0000 MoneyNing http://moneyning.com/?p=3177

Actually, I should call it Emma’s mini vegetable garden as taking credit for something that is completely a result of my wife’s hard work is inappropriate. I was never going to post this due to its massive operation and size but seeing others do it was really inspiring and hey, I hope to inspire someone else to do it as well.

So here it is, in its entirety.

vegetable garden

Told you it was massive. :) With our apartment, it was impossible to have an expansive garden but it didn’t stop my wife.

  • She loved taking care of the plants, and we enjoyed everything that grew from it.
  • She was proud of the results, no matter what the outcome may have been.
  • We were happy to study up on proper care, even though we weren’t going to be able to live off of it.

Speaking of that, do you envy other people’s success but always managed to come up with a reason why you can’t possibly achieve the unachievable?

If so, be like us and try to start small.

  • You may not have the resources that others do but you can love it just as much.
  • It may seem overwhelming at first but hard work solves many problems.
  • You may not know where it will take you but passion and drive will take you very far.

Build your own mini vegetable garden because it might just grow into the garden of your dreams.

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]>

Actually, I should call it Emma’s mini vegetable garden as taking credit for something that is completely a result of my wife’s hard work is inappropriate. I was never going to post this due to its massive operation and size but seeing others do it was really inspiring and hey, I hope to inspire someone else to do it as well.

So here it is, in its entirety.

vegetable garden

Told you it was massive. :) With our apartment, it was impossible to have an expansive garden but it didn’t stop my wife.

  • She loved taking care of the plants, and we enjoyed everything that grew from it.
  • She was proud of the results, no matter what the outcome may have been.
  • We were happy to study up on proper care, even though we weren’t going to be able to live off of it.

Speaking of that, do you envy other people’s success but always managed to come up with a reason why you can’t possibly achieve the unachievable?

If so, be like us and try to start small.

  • You may not have the resources that others do but you can love it just as much.
  • It may seem overwhelming at first but hard work solves many problems.
  • You may not know where it will take you but passion and drive will take you very far.

Build your own mini vegetable garden because it might just grow into the garden of your dreams.

---
Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


]]> http://moneyning.com/diy/our-mini-vegetable-garden/feed/ http://moneyning.com/diy/our-mini-vegetable-garden/