tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883Thu, 05 Sep 2024 01:18:31 +0000FreeFSFPromotionsArticlesCredit CardsInvestingMicrofinanceSocial EnterpriseCharityDIYSamplesSavingsAccoladesBankBanksCouponsDealsFrugalMoneyTaxesBudgetingCustomer ServiceDCEducationEntertainmentGiftsGivingGrad SchoolGreenMusicOrganizationRebatesResolutionsRetirementStrange but trueStyleTradingTravel; DealsPersonal Finance Blog for the young, the frugal, and the fantastic. Saving and frugality basics to stretch your dollar farther.http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (The Financista)Blogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-3688544857368126746Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:52:00 +00002007-06-11T10:59:12.577-05:00As you may have noticed, the posts here at The Financista have been sporadic, at best, of late. Unfortunately, I believe that trend will continue indefinitely as it has been hard to find time to post on a regular basis. If you have ideas or questions for posts, or any comments, please do still feel free to email me at TheFinancista@gmail.com. I do plan to post every so often, but more as the http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/06/on-sabbatical.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-5957263969318831797Thu, 24 May 2007 14:59:00 +00002007-05-24T10:47:43.729-05:00So I don't know who has been paying attention to the stock market lately (I have!), but it has been on an absolute terror, and I am loving it! I am not sure what it is about this time of year, but there is a certain lightness of being all around, even in the financial world it seems. Since Memorial Day starts summer unofficially, stores all around are trying to latch out to your excitement. http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/05/summer-is-in-air-optimism-and-sales.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-1551996960394705342Fri, 18 May 2007 20:39:00 +00002007-05-18T15:45:10.890-05:00FreeFSFEverything posted on Freecycle is free -- that's right -- FREE! Posted items range from flashlights to old magazines to berets and various sundry in between. If you've never checked it out, it's worth doing so. My roommate was going to buy a set of free weights until a nice couple replied to my request for them. It's also an excellent way to be a good steward and make sure usable items don't http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/05/fsf-freecycle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-7708470419772336382Thu, 17 May 2007 20:29:00 +00002007-05-17T15:52:59.382-05:00ArticlesAccording to a Kiplinger article, more than half of all college seniors make at least a pit stop back in the nest before starting their adult lives. To be honest, I think this has been true for almost every person I know. My own stop was probably shorter than most, one month, but I know several friends and family members that have been back with the parental units for a year or more. While I http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/05/boomerang-kids.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-3431616538164543949Tue, 15 May 2007 03:16:00 +00002007-05-14T22:20:14.509-05:00FreePromotionsHere's the scoop: At participating Haagen Dazs tomorrow, between 4 and 8 pm, the company is giving away free 4 oz scoops of one of its new flavors: sticky toffee pudding or cinnamon dulce de leche. The only hard decision will be figuring out which one to pick!http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/05/new-flavor-day-at-haagen-dazs-may-15.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-6136217592942644719Fri, 11 May 2007 18:44:00 +00002007-05-11T13:49:39.728-05:00FreeFSFThis new Keri Russell film has received some pretty great reviews. Way to go, Felicity! If you're interested in seeing Waitress, but don't want to shell out the cash, why don't you see it for free? Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there are free screenings everywhere, but check out if there's one near you. It's just like the tagline line says: It's easy as pie!http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/05/fsf-free-screening-of-waitress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-5755110029469176860Tue, 08 May 2007 13:34:00 +00002007-05-08T08:38:11.709-05:00BudgetingBankrate has an article that proposes a challenge to you: Go 7 Days Without Using Your Plastic. Instead, set a realistic budget for the week, take out that much cash and use only that. You can read the end article here. I am heavily dependent on my credit card, but stick to my budget, so I am unsure whether or not I am going to try this out. It might be a good experiment. Any thoughts? http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/05/7-day-spending-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-433720667601761717Fri, 04 May 2007 18:34:00 +00002007-05-04T13:47:26.158-05:00CharityFreeFSFPromotionsIf Cascade Action Pacs actually do what they propose to, clean dishes completely without having to handwash anything, they will have a convert here. Yes, I am a nerd, but I can't wait to try these out. I also wanted to present you with a chance to do some free do-gooding. How? It's simple. Burger King has generously agreed to donate $100,000 to the needy Gulf Coast area to a particular http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/05/fsf-cascade-action-pacs-and-some-do.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-6387131778808061344Thu, 03 May 2007 16:37:00 +00002007-05-03T10:40:11.610-05:00Growing up, my grade school's computer lab featured some of those second generation computers, with a size similar to modern day computers, but whose disks actually were floppy, and whose screens displayed a black background screen and green type with a blinking chunky green cursor. (Oh, the memories!) This was well before the days of really quality computer programming for kids, but one of thehttp://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/05/financista-fundamental-4-waste-not-want.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-1400086977656351274Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:21:00 +00002007-04-27T09:25:01.025-05:00FreeFSFArt, art, everywhere I look! DC has long been a cultural hub, but the up and coming arts scene is finally giving DC its just deserts with ArtDC. Featuring over 85 galleries, including some homegrown ones, the four day fest promises to be a feast for the eyes. And, today, the normal $12 admission is waived! Doors open at 11 am and close at 7 pm. Check it out if you are in the area.Though nonehttp://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/fsf-artdc-and-post-its.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-5430466314192424215Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:54:00 +00002007-04-26T09:54:54.703-05:00PromotionsI love Tivo. I can honestly say that it's one of the devices in the last decade that has truly made a large impact in my leisure time. No longer a slave to arbitrary show times, I am free to come and go as I please, and I can skip through all those enticing ads that make me want to spend money on things I don't need! Tivo was the initial innovator in DVRs, and with its partnership with Amazon,http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/15-tivoamazon-unbox-credit-until-043007.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-6605504391672715689Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:57:00 +00002007-04-25T12:57:54.846-05:00RetirementSaving money is not always easy, and saving money for retirement is sometimes the most difficult financial hurdle of all because of its haziness as something that exists off in the distant "FUTURE" (Insert Twilight Zone Theme here). As we get older, different financial obligations arise, even further complicating the matter.For example, in my twenties, my focus is a balancing act between saving http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/tips-for-saving-for-retirement-no.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-7711796927841300329Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:44:00 +00002007-04-23T08:54:25.641-05:00Credit CardsSince my recent move, I have been up to my ears in new purchases (or so it feels), so who can blame me for trying to defray these costs a bit? One such way was to open up a credit card at the department store where I bought my new mattress. Whether or not this was a good move, really depends on how well I pay attention to when the promotional period (10 months) ends. If I don't, there's a http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/are-store-credit-cards-worth-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-292581141863219757Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:35:00 +00002007-04-19T09:35:33.081-05:00DCAdmittedly, this is only loosely related to personal finance (though it does have to do with spending your money on quality things and getting good deals), but I found an excellent website today about the best ethnic restaurants in DC, written by a professor of economics at George Mason: Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide. Mind you, I've heard the claim that DC has no soul, and to some extent, http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/dc-ethnic-food-guide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-8270289225239289860Tue, 17 Apr 2007 02:12:00 +00002007-04-16T20:12:54.782-05:00I love the analogy that an emergency fund is like Noah's Ark that Everyday Money makes. I would appreciate the shout out to the Good Book on its own, but the post also makes an excellent point: Where would Noah have been without his ark? When it comes to personal finance, an emergency fund is your ark and salvation in tough times. I know you are saying, "But, Financista, I am barely scraping by http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/who-built-ark-wellyou-did.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-1634327700434171514Sat, 14 Apr 2007 04:41:00 +00002007-04-13T22:42:03.827-05:00FreeFSFSamplesWeeks like this past one made me yearn for a good pick-me-up (and Ryan Adams was nowhere to be found). This sample from Folger's could have been a good fall back choice . Check out the free sample here.http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/fsf-folgers-sample.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-7182614829127776973Thu, 12 Apr 2007 05:22:00 +00002007-04-11T23:21:28.266-05:00DIYFreeFrugalMy current answer to that would be, "what's that?" For all of you faithful readers out there (hi Mom), you may have noticed that my usual steady trickle of posts has dropped off a bit of late to a bare drip. Things are hectic at work, etc., but that doesn't stop me from dreaming of the things I could be doing. For example, some handy dandy DIY projects! (I adore arts and crafts). Here are http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/free-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-2501088289288807429Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:24:00 +00002007-04-09T13:25:17.318-05:00FreeFSF-------------------------------------------------------Thanks to Andrew for letting me know that the link below seems to be DOA. They must have pulled it. Sadness. I hate to be a misinformer. To make it up to you, at least those of you on the East Coast, Baskin Robbins is offering a free scoop of ice cream until the 13th, which I hope you can enjoy. Check out the link here. With spring in http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/fsf-free-16x20-digital-print.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-4886978576034315835Fri, 06 Apr 2007 02:52:00 +00002007-04-05T20:52:52.176-05:00BanksFor some of you, this is small fries. However, to me, this is a BIG PAIN. Currently, my paycheck is directly dumped into my Emigrant Direct (ED) account, and my rent, student loan, and credit card payment are all debited directly from it. This was a great little system while it lasted. I first heard of this alarming news no, not from Emigrant Direct, but from Jonathan at My Money Blog (on http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/emigrant-direct-no-longer-offering.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-6689990073325316274Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:38:00 +00002007-04-03T08:49:12.423-05:00ArticlesMorningstar has a nice basic article for younger folks about some fundamentals of what to do with your money. Their advice is to budget, save, and plan. The advice about setting a financial timeline is especially worth considering.http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/04/its-all-about-fundamentals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-5682439234140989489Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:26:00 +00002007-03-30T09:26:06.712-05:00FreeFSF"When the moon hits your eye and your face looks like a big pizza pie, you need Bioré." Check out today's free sample for Bioré skin products here.http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/03/fsf-thats-bior.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-8728911286032070823Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:14:00 +00002007-03-28T14:25:09.201-05:00MicrofinanceSocial EnterpriseA philanthropic-minded family, the Ebingers, has issued a challenge to Opportunity International, a microfinance institution that helps aspiring small entrepreneurs all over the world, to spread the word about the organization's work. For every person that completes a small (we're talking less than one minute) survey, the family will donate $10, up to a total of $50,000 in all. This is a http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/03/help-alleviate-chronic-poverty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-5458555562318701340Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:43:00 +00002007-03-27T11:48:30.608-05:00FreeOrganizationI am back in DC with an overwhelming amount of things on my to do list and jet lag making me a bit weary. If you find yourself in a similar situation (even sans lag), you may want to check out Gubb, a great way to always have access to your to do list, whenever you have your computer, BB, or cell phone handy. I like the archive feature because it reminds me of what I got done and when and giveshttp://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/03/organization-helper-gubb.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-2395934784053782962Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:52:00 +00002007-03-16T13:07:59.408-05:00Credit CardsFSFPromotionsSamplesI can't decide which of these offers I am more excited about -- free ice cream or getting $250 for opening a new Chase Freedom account. It appears that you must be a first-time cardmember with a new account. I am not sure whether or not existing Chase card holders qualify (non-Freedom cards), so make sure you double check the fine print. ----------------On another note, I am going on vacationhttp://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/03/fsf-ice-cream-and-250-chase-offer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012883.post-4204086293869535319Fri, 16 Mar 2007 04:44:00 +00002007-03-15T10:44:39.106-05:00FreeIn the same vein as my earlier post, check out this free screening from Fox Searchlight films to see "I Think I Love My Wife." Even if this movie isn't any good, at least you can say you didn't waste $10 on seeing it!http://thefinancista.blogspot.com/2007/03/free-movie-screening-tonight-in-select.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Financista)0