Pretty Good Deal, Northwest Miles and National Rental Car. Double Upgrade & 150 Miles Per Day.

I just got an email from Northwest Airlines, and in it was a pretty decent offer. You get a free double upgrade from National Rental Car and an extra 150 miles per day.Click on the image to take you to the offer. The offer states good until December 31, 2006. Here's the link. Enjoy!

What If Our Cars Told Us How Much It Costs Per Mile?

What if our cars told us how much each mile costs us almost like a taxi cab meter? Would that make drivers more conscious about how much they are driving? Right now, our cars tell us how many miles we've traveled. The fancier cars tell us how many miles per gallon we're getting, but we don't necessarily associate the cost per mile unless we actually take the amount we spend on gas and divide that by the miles traveled. Even then, we don't see maintenance costs, insurance, etc. added to the picture. What if, our car's console told us how much each trip costed? For example, if we knew: Gas = $3.00 / gallon Car's Fuel Efficieny = 20 mpg Then cost per mile = $0.15/mile If we took a 20 mile trip, that would be $3.00. Add in the return trip, and suddenly your little outing becomes a $6.00 venture. Would that make you think twice about driving? Throw in maintenance and insurance costs, and suddenly cost per mile goes up. I personally would really love to see manufacturers start doing this. It would make everyone much more sensitive to how much they are driving. Of course car manufacturers would have to figure out some way of allowing drivers to input the cost to fill up each tank. Pretty simple fix to raise awareness I think.

How I Streeeeeetch Each Dollar I Spend, v2.0. Improved.

This is a revised version of my original post, which was, uhh, lacking. I'm critiquing and revising my own post. Sorry you had to click on that. This one is a little better, I think. As always, though, please comment. Of course, my first priority is to try and save, but if I'm going to be spending money anyway, might as well try and stretch each dollar. Everyone has their own tricks on doing this. I'll share mine. There are two categories, regular everyday items and "big ticket" items, over $100.00. For everyday things: 1. Gas, grocery and drug store purchases should be done on a Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards card. You'll get 5% back as "ThankYou" points. One recent change I've noticed is that the 5% back in "ThankYou" points is only for the first year. Instead, you could use the Citi Dividend Platinum Select card and get 5% back cash, up to $300/year. I don't see the first year limitation on that card. 2. Eating out or buying office supplies? Then use the Citi Professional Card for 3% back in "ThankYou" points. 3. Get a "0% APR on purchases" card for everything else. Be sure to consider how much of a balance transfer you might put on this card, or you may not have enough credit to last the entire 0% period. Right now, I'm using an Amex Blue card that's got 0% on purchases until December. Or, you can choose to use a standard 1% back card as well. I'd say go with the 0% cards first though, I'm pretty sure you can do better than 1% over the remaining months of your 0% offer, that is unless you have just a few months left. 4. Tack on AA RewardsNetwork to your credit card! Especially good with the Citi Professional card. Dine program to Citi Professional Card for additional mileage bonus for eating at certain restaurants. You get miles, up to 10 miles per dollar and 3% back! Could equal almost 13% back. 5. Never use cash! Why? You get added benefits for using a card and on top of that they are lending you money for almost a whole month. Sure pennies in interest, but over a lifetime, it could be substantial. 6. And finally, try to buy generics or things on sale. For "big ticket" items, over $100: 1. eBay is your best friend! Search eBay first...you can get a good idea of what price you should expect to pay. Be sure to look at "completed items." This way, you can see what people actually paid. 2. Search, search, search! Google becomes your second best friend. Search for the "Brand + model." For example, "Casio S600." You'll be presented with links to price comparison sites, which leads me to the next point. 3. Use pricewatch.com, pricegrabber.com, and nextag.com to compare prices. Electronics are the easiest things to compare, but almost anything can be compared. 4. Use slickdeals.net, flamingoworld.com, and fatwallet.com. These sites pack tons of great deals, like $30 off $100, 20% codes, etc. Be sure to add their RSS feeds to your reader. 5. Buy with an online merchant that does not charge sales tax! Could be a large savings depending on how much you are spending. Generally, if you see a brick & mortar version of the online merchant in your area, you'll pay sales tax. 6. WAIT. If at all possible. When a deal appears, jump on it. Besides, waiting might make you reconsider your purchase. Do you really need it? Also, if you're interested in free stuff, then check out this site, AbsurdlyCool.com. They only post free things! Pretty cool...actually absurdly cool! Now if only I could use one credit card to pay off another...I'd be getting everything for free (and making some money)! I haven't got into newspaper coupons, yet, but maybe that's next. How about you? Any additional tips on stretching each dollar?

The Orange (ING) That Started It All Is Going Bad

They pratically revolutionized the online savings frenzy, but now they seemed to have lost focus. The high rates were key to their success, and suddenly with all the competition, they've just seem to have accepted taking last place. I'm pretty dissappointed by ING's recent decisions to lag behind in the rates war. I like the ING site, it's clean and easy to use. But if they can't keep up, then I might have to consider moving almost all of my funds out. The Orange is going bad. There is hope though. If ING doesn't want to play the rates game, then I think they could offer features. Features, like their "Orange Checkings," that they sent out surveys about 1 year ago, would be a good one. I don't think features are as effective as basic rates, but it could be enough. But still, for me, rates were the biggest draw to ING. We shall see. It seems the online banking business is going through a major stage of evolution. I'm guessing that largely due to the explosion in financial institutions offering "online" accounts. Competition is great isn't it?!

Gates & Buffett's Admirable Mission and The Pursuit of Happiness. Happy 230th Birthday America!

I figured this would be an appropriate post for the 4th of July, since the holiday celebrates the independence of this great nation, which provides its citizens with so many opportunities. "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." - Declaration of Independence, United States of America, July 4, 1776. "...the Pursuit of Happiness." What is does it mean? To each person, it has a different definition. For me, happiness is rooted in what my dad keeps telling me over and over and over, "Work hard and make lots of money so you can give back. That's how you'll be happy." I think I agree. First Gates announces his slow retirment from Microsoft. Then Buffett pledges a tiny sum of nearly 30 billion to the Gates Foundation. Kudos to Gates & Buffett! Seriously. Even if they had some ulterior motives, I don't care.

 

What makes this whole thing so awesome is the possibilities. Bill Gates, interestingly coined Bill v.2.0, but I think Bill 2008 would be more appropriate, has been quoted as saying,

There is no reason we can’t cure the top 20 diseases.

I believe it, and even if 5 out of the 20 were cured, that'd be amazing. I'm very curious how the next few years turn out, and I really, really hope I'll be reading more about the Gates Foundation in the years to come. Then I read Buffett talking about why he wants to give to the Gates Foundation and not keep the wealth in the family, he says,

I believe in equality of opportunity...They should not inherit my position in society, based on the womb that they were born from.

He leaves his own foundation and his 3 children's foundations with a mere 1 billion each. Yeah, that's still a lot of dough, but considering 85% of his net worth was donated to charity, that's a pretty darn significant portion! Back to that Buffett quote...it moves me. Why? After seeing things like MTV's Super Sweet 16, it's awesome to know there are folks in the UHNW levels that still hold a sense of integrity. Like what I mentioned earlier about my dad teaching me to give back, seeing two rich guys do exactly that makes me feel, well, good. I don't know how else to explain it. I feel proud that the American Dream has given rise to these two rich guys. Kudo's Bill & Warren! Happy 4th everyone!

Thank You: High School Biology Teacher

If there's one teacher that standouts above all others, it's my high school biology teacher, BK. I can't name any other class that made me as excited to be in it than this one. His style of teaching and grading...People got A's and A++++++++++'s. Of course some folks still got B's through F's, but the fact that someone could get an A++++++++++ spread enthusiasm like wildfire. When I saw my first grade like that, I was like, "WOW! That's cool." I already liked science, but this sold me. From Darwin's theory to Mendel's law to Sexual Dimorphism to Pig Anatomy to learning that teachers are not all about being serious (ex. various lies you told about your disfigured leg) to the live frog dissection which has scarred me to this day...Thanks! I'll admit, high school had some rough times, but I could count on bio class to inspire me to push myself beyond what I thought I could do. Biology class has helped me become who I am today, and for that, Thank You! To my readers, financially, I didn't learn much from bio class, but hey who learns about finances in biology class? I know this is a personal finance blog, but this is important, and it's personal...so at least it fits that part of the category. :)

How I Streeeeeetch Each Dollar I Spend

Of course, first priority is to try and save, but if I'm going to be spending money anyway, might as well try and stretch each dollar. Everyone has their own tricks on doing this. I'll share mine. 1. Citi Dividend Rewards for gas, groceries, and drug store purchases. 5% Walmart, Kmart, Target... 2. Citi Professional Card for office supplies and eating out. 3% 3. Use a "0% APR on purchases" card for everything else. Right now, I'm using an Amex Blue card that's got 0% on purchases until December. 4. Tack on AA RewardsNetwork to your credit card! Especially good with the Citi Professional card. Dine program to Citi Professional Card for additional mileage bonus for eating at certain restaurants. You get miles, up to 10 miles per dollar and 3% back! Could equal almost 13% back. 5. Never use cash! Why? You get added benefits for using a card and on top of that they are lending you money for almost a whole month. Sure pennies in interest, but over a lifetime, it could be substantial. 6. And finally, I try to buy only things on sale. Now if only I could use one credit card to pay off another...I'd be getting everything for free (and making some money)! I haven't got into newspaper coupons, yet, but maybe that's next. How about you? Any additional tips on stretching each dollar?

Are Books Overrated? Do You Need To Enjoy Reading Books To Be Rich?

I'll be honest. I've never enjoyed reading books as a past time, but I've noticed many folks enjoy reading books, especially "wealthier" folks. I've tried to get into it, but each attempt has failed miserably. I've never been able to stay interested...my mind wanders off so easily. Maybe I have A.D.D.? Before you jump on me for even asking such a question, at least hear me out--reading is really, really good, but do you really need to enjoy reading books to be successful? Reading in general is essential, but if you are an avid reader of newspapers, magazines, and the Internet, do you even need books anymore? And honestly, how many of you actually sit down and read books on a regular basis? Or do you pick up an occassional book once a year and read it? I'm just curious, because it seems like a lot of people are into books. Thank [put higher power here] for the Internet! (Just trying to be inclusive)

06.2006 Net Worth [+$5,807.05, +2.99%]

Theme of this month? Not much. This month would be a good reference point in terms of what I should be able to save on an average month. But I did break the $200k mark, which feels good. Next target, the "quarter million" mark.

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You may have noticed a fairly significant shift from my investment accounts to my cash accounts. I originally wanted to shift a significant portion of my assets into stocks, but with the current savings rates, I'm happy to leave my cash in savings accounts. Yeah, may not be the wisest move, but I like being able to sleep at night. As a compromise, I do plan on shifting my 401k assets into more aggressive funds. Which funds? To be determined. I may expense some stock options next month. Depending on how my company's stock does. I also have a CD expiring, just in time to get that cash into an even higher yielding CD. Next month's expenses: - Auto Insurance premium.

A Major Letdown...Sorry To Those Who Supported Me, I'm Smoking Again. :(

Sigh. I actually started smoking about 2 weeks ago. I didn't want to post about it because I feel so bad. Even as an anonymous blogger, I feel like I let my readers down. I let myself down too. I got re-hooked by a simple meltdown, a bad day. This is not the end. I will try again.