Archive for September, 2009


Did Mortgage Rates Just Hit Rock Bottom?

Posted by Madison on September 30, 2009

I had to rearrange my schedule today. I subscribe to the rate watch at Pentagon Federal and they sent me an email that the 5/5 ARM rate had dropped to 4.0% with no points. And it’s a jumbo! Are you kidding? Is it April Fool’s Day? Whatever the reason, I had to drop everything and […]

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Life is full of moments that leave a bad taste in our mouths; just turn on the news and you are met with daily tales of cruelty and weird happenings. But life is also about wonderful, precious moments and when these beautiful moments come around, we want to celebrate them. The union of two people […]

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Did you get an allowance from your parents when you were young? I remember my first allowance, a whopping $2 a week! The amount went up over the years as I aged, but the allowance was always mine to spend or save as I pleased. Fast forward to adulthood. At one time my spending got out […]

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5 Ways Spending More is Actually Frugal

Posted by Jill on September 28, 2009

If you are a frequent reader of personal finance articles, you are familiar with some of the most commonly cited ways to save money – bring your lunch to work, install a programmable thermostat, cancel your cable, etc. In general, choosing the most frugal option is good for your bottom line. But sometimes, spending a […]

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HSBC Direct $50 Bonus

Posted by Madison on September 25, 2009

HSBC Direct is offering current customers Free Money. They’re giving $50 to customers for using the HSBC debit card. How to Get Your $50 Be a current customer, which is defined as having a HSBC Direct Online Savings Account as of September 8, 2009. Open an Online Payment Account by September 30, 2009. Make 3 […]

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Why Fidelity Sucks

Posted by Madison on September 24, 2009

Fidelity Solo 401k I opened a Solo 401k at Fidelity last year. However, I held off on making our contribution until just this month, so that we would be able to more accurately pinpoint our income. This is one of the best characteristics of the solo 401k. As long as you establish your plan in […]

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Before diving into the personal finance articles of the week, I usually write about a quick personal finance topic that I’m engaged in for the week. However, as I was writing about my difficulties dealing with Fidelity today, I got a little long winded…. obviously I’m really mad! So, we’ll just jump right into the […]

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A Comparison of College Savings Plans

Posted by Jill on September 23, 2009

It is never too early to start thinking of saving for college. Yesterday, we talked about things to consider when developing a college savings plan. Today we’ll review various college savings options in more detail. College Savings Plan Considerations When choosing a savings plan, you should be aware of the following: Maximum contribution per year: […]

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Things to Consider When Saving For College

Posted by Jill on September 22, 2009

As another school year dawns, high school students everywhere are thinking of what will come next: college life and all that it entails. Meanwhile, their parents are thinking of the accompanying bills. Depending on where a student goes to school, college can entail books, dorm costs, meal plans, parking, and travel to/from home – in […]

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6 Ways to Save Money on Appliances

Posted by Amanda on September 21, 2009

Are you moving and need new appliances, or have you had one break recently and need to replace it? Appliances can make or break your budget in two ways. First of all, they can use up so much energy that they become a drain on your month-to-month electricity charges. Secondly, they can cost a small […]

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