A funny thing happened on my way to 21%....
I made my usual $100 post-mid-month payday contribution as scheduled and today I made a deposit of $197.44 - the sum of all my currently tallied inflows and the $50 energy star rebate.
On Monday, before heading out of town on business, I transferred $115 from ING to my checking account to cover my first auto insurance payment. Cash has been extremely tight while waiting for a very large expense reimbursement. It turns out that in my haste to take care of it all before leaving...i did the transfer in the wrong direction! Gah.
The bad news is that I triggered my overdraft protection (none of my expense check deposited the day before had apparently cleared. ahem.) The "ok" news is that I will pay off the $86 in overdraft protection tomorrow, avoiding interest fees.
The GOOD news is that with the scheduled deposits, $4.10 interest, and my complete financial goof, the meter is at 21%...w00t!
Friday, September 30, 2005
Received $50 Energy Star Rebate
Yesterday we received the $50 rebate check for our Whirlpool front-loading washing machine. It took about six weeks to arrive after sending in paperwork. This rebate was on top of the $35 credit to my Upromise account that I received from Whirlpool.
This check's going right to savings...
This check's going right to savings...
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Should I Dump RCN Digital Vision?
So now that I have been looking at every little charge on my telecomm bill and looking for charges to axe, I became very interested in exactly what channels are considered the "digital vision" service. Access to these 40+ channels cost us $11.95 a month (nearly $144 a year):
So I'd say we'd "miss" about 5 channels...but paying $144/yr for those channels seems utterly ridiculous. However, we really do watch those channels probably as much as all the other channels combined (with the exception of the current Stargate SG-1 immersion...its just so fluffy and silly!) I'm going to talk it over with the gal pal...
We do watch the additional Discovery channels, other science/history channels fairly often (compared to overall TV watching). BBCA and DIY get watched less often...and our grand intentions of watching Sundance and/or the Independent Movie channel just never get acted on. We'd also potentially lose access to video on demand, but other than using the "free" anime to find neat new things to watch we NEVER use that either.
- Noggin
- Nick Games/Sports
- Nick TOO
- Boomerang
- Discovery Kids
- G4 TV
- Game Show Network
- Nick TOONS TV
- XY.TV
- VH-1 Soul
- MTV Español
- VH-1 Country
- MTV JAMS
- VH-1 Classic Rock
- MTV Hits
- MTV Logo
- Sundance Channel
- Independent Film Channel
- Lifetime Movie Network
- Lifetime Real Women
- Style
- Soapnet
- Discovery Health
- Discovery Home & Leisure
- ACN JewelryTelevision
- DIY-Do-It-Yourself
- National Geographic Channel
- The Science Channel
- Discovery Times
- Biography
- History International
- The Military Channel
- Golf Channel
- NFL Network
- Speed Channel
- Fuel
- TVG
- Fox Soccer Channel
- Tennis Channel
- Outdoor Life Network
- Fox Sports Espanol
- BBC America
- AZN Television
- CNN International
So I'd say we'd "miss" about 5 channels...but paying $144/yr for those channels seems utterly ridiculous. However, we really do watch those channels probably as much as all the other channels combined (with the exception of the current Stargate SG-1 immersion...its just so fluffy and silly!) I'm going to talk it over with the gal pal...
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Retirement Plan Contribution Maximums
An article in Equity Trust Company's newsletter "The Ultimate IRA Report" once again highlights the benefits of the individual 401(k).
The nice thing about this one is that they have a table showing sample incomes incremented by $20,000 and the corresponding 2005 contribution limits for Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs and Individual 401(k)s. It's a good one for quickie reference.
What has escaped my attention until this particular article is that while those doing business as sole proprietors can contribute 20% as profit sharing, those with an incorporated business may contribute as much as 25%.
The nice thing about this one is that they have a table showing sample incomes incremented by $20,000 and the corresponding 2005 contribution limits for Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs and Individual 401(k)s. It's a good one for quickie reference.
What has escaped my attention until this particular article is that while those doing business as sole proprietors can contribute 20% as profit sharing, those with an incorporated business may contribute as much as 25%.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Telecomm "Bundle" Explained
A commenter made a good point on my previous post that "bundles" don't always save you money. I indeed found that the bundle I had been paying for at the time of my layoff included several services I never or rarely used. It was at that time I discovered the company's "anti-bundle" so now I basically pay for their services "a la carte"...only the ones I want and use.
My use of "bundle" may have been confusing because I meant that I have one provider for all of my telecomm services (except long distance). But by paying a la carte here is my current breakdown:
Basic Services (CPI):
* My company reimburses me for broadband access because I do a lot of work from home, so these charges and respective taxes net out for me
** I have been thinking about re-evaluating the "digital channels tier". I know it includes BBCA but not sure what else, this may be worth cutting (potential savings $144/yr)
*** The distinctive ring is a cheaper alternative to having a physical dedicated fax line. It has a double ring and the fax can be setup to ignore our normal line, but answer double rings. This was mainly for my partner's business. It really just means we get fax spam. Thought we were being so clever about an additional fax line. We'll be thinking of cutting this as well (potential savings $42/yr)
**** There is one show on pay channels that we really want to watch when they air. This show lasts for about 12 episodes each year so we only pay for Showtime while that show is running new episodes, then we cancel again. $39/yr to watch that show without waiting is worth it to us. Call us crazy, but we all have our gazingus pins.
And one final word about the cable modem rental: I know better. I know that I can buy a cable modem once for about $40 or so instead of paying $5 month after month to rent one. I really don't know what to do here....I should take the plunge, but once we get into the realm of MAC addresses, I kinda freeze up. You know?
My use of "bundle" may have been confusing because I meant that I have one provider for all of my telecomm services (except long distance). But by paying a la carte here is my current breakdown:
Basic Services (CPI):
($42) for broadband (includes $5 cable modem rental fee)*Add-Ons, etc:
($39) basic cable tv
($16) basic local phone
($10) accelerated broadband speed*Notes:
($12) "digital channels"**
($5) cable box rental
($7) caller ID
($3.50) distinctive ring***
($12) taxes & fees
($13 x 3) showtime for 3 months****
* My company reimburses me for broadband access because I do a lot of work from home, so these charges and respective taxes net out for me
** I have been thinking about re-evaluating the "digital channels tier". I know it includes BBCA but not sure what else, this may be worth cutting (potential savings $144/yr)
*** The distinctive ring is a cheaper alternative to having a physical dedicated fax line. It has a double ring and the fax can be setup to ignore our normal line, but answer double rings. This was mainly for my partner's business. It really just means we get fax spam. Thought we were being so clever about an additional fax line. We'll be thinking of cutting this as well (potential savings $42/yr)
**** There is one show on pay channels that we really want to watch when they air. This show lasts for about 12 episodes each year so we only pay for Showtime while that show is running new episodes, then we cancel again. $39/yr to watch that show without waiting is worth it to us. Call us crazy, but we all have our gazingus pins.
And one final word about the cable modem rental: I know better. I know that I can buy a cable modem once for about $40 or so instead of paying $5 month after month to rent one. I really don't know what to do here....I should take the plunge, but once we get into the realm of MAC addresses, I kinda freeze up. You know?
$240 Off Telecomm for 12 Months
"Just ask" indeed!
Armed with the simple "how to" on MyMoneyBlog, inspired by several past posts (specifically at BudgetingBabe and StopBuyingCrap), and today's carnival post about using competitive offers as leverage LaLa took the plunge (the account is in her name) and called our Cable service to ask for a reduced charge.
We currently have a bundled cable, phone and internet service and the base price is $97/month. We pay about $37 in add-on services like caller id and renting the cable box and modem (which totally cheeses me but I digress). With taxes and fees, our bill has been about $146/month total. We switched to this bundle so we only pay for what we actually use and it is cheaper than what we had been paying (a different "bundle" chosen by them)
The plan was to ask for the current promotional rate of $60/month for 6 months...hoping to save a total of $222. The retention CSR was not authorized to give us that deal...so we were given $20 off for twelve months for a total of $240 less. Slightly more in all, but spread out over the next year.
$240 for 45 minutes of sitting on the phone. woohoo.
Armed with the simple "how to" on MyMoneyBlog, inspired by several past posts (specifically at BudgetingBabe and StopBuyingCrap), and today's carnival post about using competitive offers as leverage LaLa took the plunge (the account is in her name) and called our Cable service to ask for a reduced charge.
We currently have a bundled cable, phone and internet service and the base price is $97/month. We pay about $37 in add-on services like caller id and renting the cable box and modem (which totally cheeses me but I digress). With taxes and fees, our bill has been about $146/month total. We switched to this bundle so we only pay for what we actually use and it is cheaper than what we had been paying (a different "bundle" chosen by them)
The plan was to ask for the current promotional rate of $60/month for 6 months...hoping to save a total of $222. The retention CSR was not authorized to give us that deal...so we were given $20 off for twelve months for a total of $240 less. Slightly more in all, but spread out over the next year.
$240 for 45 minutes of sitting on the phone. woohoo.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Carnival of Personal Finance #15 is Up
Free Money Finance has the Carnival of Personal Finance #15 up and wow is it chock full of diverse posts and useful information.
YoungMiser's carnival post encouraging people to review their witholding so they don't overpay taxes reminds me I need to re-calculate my witholding allowances because things have changed a bit since I did it earlier this year.
And armed with JLP's post regarding projected 2006 tax brackets, maybe I can do some advance planning for next year.
YoungMiser's carnival post encouraging people to review their witholding so they don't overpay taxes reminds me I need to re-calculate my witholding allowances because things have changed a bit since I did it earlier this year.
And armed with JLP's post regarding projected 2006 tax brackets, maybe I can do some advance planning for next year.
New Bits n Bobs
I've done some tidying up this weekend on the site. I noticed that my links were slightly out of synch with what I have actually been reading regularly in bloglines and such. Instead of trying to keep up manually with those changes, I've switched over to have bloglines do it for me (only downside is inability to style or remove the "Powered by Bloglines" tagline).
I've used FeedDigest and Feedburner to create a small animated headline scroller for Personal Finance articles from three major sources: CNN/Money, BusinessWeek's Well Spent, and Fidelity Investor's News. I will be swapping Fidelity out for something else in the future (my limit with a free account is three sources) but for now it's a decent placeholder. They often have good articles mixed in with their articles clearly aimed at marketing Fidelity products.
I've also futzed with and cleaned up chicklets and uncovered my BlogShares chicklet (which was accidentally left set to not display).
Basically I had fun tinkering with the template and being geeky...AND working on my revised budget, but nothing really carnival worthy I guess. Ah well.
I've used FeedDigest and Feedburner to create a small animated headline scroller for Personal Finance articles from three major sources: CNN/Money, BusinessWeek's Well Spent, and Fidelity Investor's News. I will be swapping Fidelity out for something else in the future (my limit with a free account is three sources) but for now it's a decent placeholder. They often have good articles mixed in with their articles clearly aimed at marketing Fidelity products.
I've also futzed with and cleaned up chicklets and uncovered my BlogShares chicklet (which was accidentally left set to not display).
Basically I had fun tinkering with the template and being geeky...AND working on my revised budget, but nothing really carnival worthy I guess. Ah well.
Save-o-Meter to 16%
Yesterday I officially bumped the Save-o-Meter to 16%. Even though I am still working on re-stating some goals I want to see some progress represented here. I made a commitment to put a bare minimum of $100 in a month so the meter is growing by at least 1% a month. Since I am still working out what amounts I need to set aside "freedom account" style, I've been feeling like some of that cash will need to come back out since "emergency fund" is mixed in with "planned expenses" and even a potentially new bucket: "$1000 cushion"
Luckily, I got good news this past week with my homeowner's policy renewal. I had intended all this time to pay off our policy in one payment of about $750 when it came due. (this is our first time even paying it ourselves and not via mortgage) But apparently, I can simply pay 15% as the first payment ($115) and sign up to have the remaining 85% deducted from my checking account in 10 equal payments (~$65)....at no charge.
Since there are no fees or interest associated with this option, my money is better off staying in savings (ING or ED) while I pay a modest monthly premium. Since cash is very tight while I wait for my huge business expense reimbursement (some of it is 30 days overdue, most of it goes toward existing business credit card balances....but some of it is money I have personally spent already), I've moved the first payment from ING back into checking so everything is on time. After deducting that from my ING balance, I was left with a little over $1600 (16%)
I expect my savings goals to split my current save-o-meter up in the near future, but it's still technically in one lump so I dont mind tracking it this way until that changes.
Luckily, I got good news this past week with my homeowner's policy renewal. I had intended all this time to pay off our policy in one payment of about $750 when it came due. (this is our first time even paying it ourselves and not via mortgage) But apparently, I can simply pay 15% as the first payment ($115) and sign up to have the remaining 85% deducted from my checking account in 10 equal payments (~$65)....at no charge.
Since there are no fees or interest associated with this option, my money is better off staying in savings (ING or ED) while I pay a modest monthly premium. Since cash is very tight while I wait for my huge business expense reimbursement (some of it is 30 days overdue, most of it goes toward existing business credit card balances....but some of it is money I have personally spent already), I've moved the first payment from ING back into checking so everything is on time. After deducting that from my ING balance, I was left with a little over $1600 (16%)
I expect my savings goals to split my current save-o-meter up in the near future, but it's still technically in one lump so I dont mind tracking it this way until that changes.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
My Missing Money
A couple of months ago, I found myself on the MissingMoney site. It's a searchable database of abandoned property throughout the US. On a lark, I searched on my name in every state I've ever lived and I actually found one item...
...in the state I currently reside in! It turns out that after I moved out of my first Boston apartment and started graduate school across town, I never updated my address with the credit union that was my only bank account (ah the days where I paid my rent with a money order out of my passbook savings account). I guess I left a few dollars in there - literally a few dollars - because when it was turned over to the state in 1995 it was $34.32
It was easy to start my claim and I received paperwork within a couple of weeks. I quickly gathered most of the documentation I needed (W-9 form, documentation of my SSN) but I was missing the final piece: either my passbook or a statement from the abandoned account. Since I "abandoned" this account 14 years ago I really didnt have any of that stuff hanging around.
The treasurer's office informed me I could use information obtained in a visit to the bank...anything showing my name, old address, account number and amount. This actually took me two trips because I didnt bring enough information with me the first time (like the year it was submitted to the state or the exact amount...duh me) for them to locate me in their paper records.
I have everything now, and it's all packed up and ready to mail back to the state. Apparently it can take up to 12 weeks to "process" and then a another 30 days to receive a check. 16 weeks to get at my $34 seems pretty ridiculous. Oh well. At least I can check the status of my claim online
...in the state I currently reside in! It turns out that after I moved out of my first Boston apartment and started graduate school across town, I never updated my address with the credit union that was my only bank account (ah the days where I paid my rent with a money order out of my passbook savings account). I guess I left a few dollars in there - literally a few dollars - because when it was turned over to the state in 1995 it was $34.32
It was easy to start my claim and I received paperwork within a couple of weeks. I quickly gathered most of the documentation I needed (W-9 form, documentation of my SSN) but I was missing the final piece: either my passbook or a statement from the abandoned account. Since I "abandoned" this account 14 years ago I really didnt have any of that stuff hanging around.
The treasurer's office informed me I could use information obtained in a visit to the bank...anything showing my name, old address, account number and amount. This actually took me two trips because I didnt bring enough information with me the first time (like the year it was submitted to the state or the exact amount...duh me) for them to locate me in their paper records.
I have everything now, and it's all packed up and ready to mail back to the state. Apparently it can take up to 12 weeks to "process" and then a another 30 days to receive a check. 16 weeks to get at my $34 seems pretty ridiculous. Oh well. At least I can check the status of my claim online
Friday, September 23, 2005
ED or ING? Here's a Calculator!
I'm sure most people know about dinkytown financial calculators...they are all over the web (in fact my old company used to license them) but he has some new calculators as of June.
This one shows you the annual difference between up to three different annual percentage yields. It's useful for showing just how much more you will make at EmigrantDirect within a year or conversely show you it's not worth the hassle to move your funds.
This one shows you the annual difference between up to three different annual percentage yields. It's useful for showing just how much more you will make at EmigrantDirect within a year or conversely show you it's not worth the hassle to move your funds.
2004 Profit Sharing: Delayed
I received unofficial word today that the profit sharing contribution to my 401(k) will not be paid at the end of the month. It's a nice chunk of money comprised of a 50% match and a profit sharing piece that I thought would hit my account before Q4.
Oh well. It's a bit of a bummer because I am anxious to get my hands on it and start turning it into more ;) But it's not the end of the world...or the end of the company. We've definitely been struggling with cash flow due to spotty sales and some unexpected (and large) legal fees but things are turning around. It takes a while to bounce back though and I suppose the timeliness of this benefit had to suffer.
Hopefully it will hit my account by the end of October....
Oh well. It's a bit of a bummer because I am anxious to get my hands on it and start turning it into more ;) But it's not the end of the world...or the end of the company. We've definitely been struggling with cash flow due to spotty sales and some unexpected (and large) legal fees but things are turning around. It takes a while to bounce back though and I suppose the timeliness of this benefit had to suffer.
Hopefully it will hit my account by the end of October....
ING at 3.4% APY - Trails EmigrantDirect
Just logged into ING to move a little money around and noticed that their rate bumped to 3.4% APY as of today.
And by bumped I mean nudged.
A 70 basis point spread between their recent 3.3% and EmigrantDirect's 4% and they reduce it to .... 60? That's kind of lame.
Glad I finally opened my EmigrantDirect account...but sadly I jumped the gun and MyMoneyBlog won't get a cut of that action (which he assuredly deserves) but at least I'll be making 50c more on my $1k a month! Seriously though, with the Emigrant rate, 0% Balance Transfers start looking worth the risk that I might somehow screw it up.
And by bumped I mean nudged.
A 70 basis point spread between their recent 3.3% and EmigrantDirect's 4% and they reduce it to .... 60? That's kind of lame.
Glad I finally opened my EmigrantDirect account...but sadly I jumped the gun and MyMoneyBlog won't get a cut of that action (which he assuredly deserves) but at least I'll be making 50c more on my $1k a month! Seriously though, with the Emigrant rate, 0% Balance Transfers start looking worth the risk that I might somehow screw it up.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
$10 Amex "Reward" Card
LaLa has an American Express Small Business card and was sent a postcard promoting their ability to download data into financial software (they need to promote this?)
Sit through their flash demo and answer a few questions in a survey and they send a $10 American Express Reward Card (I'm not sure exactly what that is). LaLa didnt want to bother, so I did it for her (hey, I do the downloads too so it fit). It was VERY short...under a minute. Hopefully we can turn that $10 into something useful (cash? heh)
This promotion is only open to those that have the card and have been invited to participate. This note was on the final survey page:
Sit through their flash demo and answer a few questions in a survey and they send a $10 American Express Reward Card (I'm not sure exactly what that is). LaLa didnt want to bother, so I did it for her (hey, I do the downloads too so it fit). It was VERY short...under a minute. Hopefully we can turn that $10 into something useful (cash? heh)
This promotion is only open to those that have the card and have been invited to participate. This note was on the final survey page:
This offer applies to Small Business Cardmembers who provide their e-mail address to American Express between 8/31/2005 and 10/31/2005, in response to this promotion. Please allow 6-8 weeks after the promotion end date to receive your gift card.
Auto Insurance Irony
Yesterday I received my updated EFT withdrawal notification from my auto insurance company. With my new policy my monthly withdrawal amount will actually be going UP by about $2.
This is actually due to billing changes that took place last year after I started to pay, so once my final policy amount was spread across the remaining months...well you get the picture.
I am certainly paying a few hundred dollars less this year in total, and $2 doesn't really impact the budget. It's just...ironic ;)
Last night my buddy Pepper and I compared our policies line by line since I am paying over $400 more than she is. It really came down to two large difference and two small ones. The two small differences were in collision and comprehensive (both $1k deductible) between a 2000 Jetta VR6 and a 2001 Civic sedan.
One big difference - approximately $200 - was that I am covered for $100/300k under optional bodily injury to others and she is covered for much less. She admitted hers should really be higher, and I'm not comfortable lowering my coverage, so there's no room there.
The remaining difference was in our driving records. She is a step 10 which is one incident within the last 6 years. This is two steps below me (step 9 is "perfect") and her credit for that level is $178 more than mine (which is $300).
In comparison, I found an old policy of mine from 2002 - after my first record blemish - when my step was 10. My coverage was very similar to now (well collision was WAY more expensive with a year old car) and my credit due to my near perfect score at the time? $579.00! I cannot tell you how much I wish my monthly bill was $75 instead of $123. Gah.
More irony. I am a very very safe driver. I drove for seventeen years without a ticket and then I got two within a year of each other. I rarely speed and when I do, it's about 5 miles over the limit. My first incident was that I forgot to get my new car inspected a year after I bought it - total duh. But seriously...the car was a year old...a warning would have been nice, I wasn't intentionally putting it off. My next ticket, 9 months later and two blocks away, was due to me speeding. I was going 40. It happens to be a well known (NOW they tell me) speed trap where the limit changes from 35 to 20 suddenly right before a rotary. I absolutely broke the law...no denying....lady luck was laughing her ass off at me that day. Ok, enough "woe is me".
I am just wishing I had access to some competively priced auto insurance. I would hope my 20 out of 22 years of driving without incidents, in addition to driving under 7500 miles a year, would lead to affordable rates.
This is actually due to billing changes that took place last year after I started to pay, so once my final policy amount was spread across the remaining months...well you get the picture.
I am certainly paying a few hundred dollars less this year in total, and $2 doesn't really impact the budget. It's just...ironic ;)
Last night my buddy Pepper and I compared our policies line by line since I am paying over $400 more than she is. It really came down to two large difference and two small ones. The two small differences were in collision and comprehensive (both $1k deductible) between a 2000 Jetta VR6 and a 2001 Civic sedan.
One big difference - approximately $200 - was that I am covered for $100/300k under optional bodily injury to others and she is covered for much less. She admitted hers should really be higher, and I'm not comfortable lowering my coverage, so there's no room there.
The remaining difference was in our driving records. She is a step 10 which is one incident within the last 6 years. This is two steps below me (step 9 is "perfect") and her credit for that level is $178 more than mine (which is $300).
In comparison, I found an old policy of mine from 2002 - after my first record blemish - when my step was 10. My coverage was very similar to now (well collision was WAY more expensive with a year old car) and my credit due to my near perfect score at the time? $579.00! I cannot tell you how much I wish my monthly bill was $75 instead of $123. Gah.
More irony. I am a very very safe driver. I drove for seventeen years without a ticket and then I got two within a year of each other. I rarely speed and when I do, it's about 5 miles over the limit. My first incident was that I forgot to get my new car inspected a year after I bought it - total duh. But seriously...the car was a year old...a warning would have been nice, I wasn't intentionally putting it off. My next ticket, 9 months later and two blocks away, was due to me speeding. I was going 40. It happens to be a well known (NOW they tell me) speed trap where the limit changes from 35 to 20 suddenly right before a rotary. I absolutely broke the law...no denying....lady luck was laughing her ass off at me that day. Ok, enough "woe is me".
I am just wishing I had access to some competively priced auto insurance. I would hope my 20 out of 22 years of driving without incidents, in addition to driving under 7500 miles a year, would lead to affordable rates.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Introducing: Travel Gnome!
The Travel Gnome is a good friend of mine and coworker who always alerts me to reward program promotions and answers all my questions regarding frugal traveling and the vagaries of miles and points programs.He has done a ton of business travel and frequents places like FlyerTalk and is generally a frugal guy. He carries his change in a sandwich baggie in case you were wondering (I know you weren't)
Most of what I learn from him is applicable if you do a fair amount of traveling, but he has also helped me keep my vacation costs low in general, so even if you don't travel a lot, his tips might come in handy.
Current Rewards Promotions from the Travel Gnome:
Double miles in September and October on Delta (with Amex)
Double points at Marriott October through EOY (with Visa)
Since I mostly fly Delta for work and stay in Marriotts, those are the promotions that are currently on my radar. The promotions assume reward membership and require registration for the particular promotion. Find promotional details on their respective pages.
Free iPod? Guess not!
Yes....I know that when something seems too good to be true...is usually is, so maybe this was a real dumbass thing to do. But I know that some companies will affiliates to bring them customers so I thought that it is possible that might add up to iPod level. And honestly, I was curious beyond belief.
I found the link in a forum on iBankDesign while searching for an elusive HSBC sign-up bonus code (didnt find a valid one) and was led to one of those "free iPod if you go through advertising hell to get it" type offers so I decided to test it out carefully.
Basically it ended up being a deal of "complete 2 offers on this page" for a total of 3 pages. It is not always clear what "complete" means for each item and each page becomes progressively more "expensive" to complete. The offers to complete are usually trying products and services or signing up for credit cards. My plan was to try to execute the total of 6 offers for a minimum of cash (was shooting for zero honestly) and make sure to follow up and cancel anything afterward.
I can't speak for the free iPod part of the deal, but most of these offers are not outright "scams" but several are very tricksie. Most offers had a "catch"...some were more obvious than others. I ended up choosing:
2 7-day trial memberships to a discount/coupon site (dealpassX2) in exchange for a $25 Linens-n-Things gift card and a $25 Borders gift card
These were basically similar offers marketed differently for the same service (PassportToFun and SimplyYou both fronting DealPass.com). They charged me $1 each to try their service for 7 days. Since I thought I'd be getting gift cards in return, that seemed fine (*snort*). The catch is that in order to get your gift card, they mail you a form that you must return. You must still be a member when they receive the form. But it will take 4-6 *weeks* for them to even mail you the form. You don't find this out until you've joined and logged in to claim your card BTW.
You must call them on the phone within 7 days to cancel in order to avoid the membership fee. They make you wait on hold for 20-30 minutes and when you get through, you get the hardest. sell. ever. The reps are obviously scripted, and the script just includes offer after offer for every time you re-iterate you want to cancel. Some of the scripting was hilarious, but I'm getting windy as it is. They finally let you cancel and yet those $1 charges are sitting on my card glaring at me (I used an empty card I don't currently use so it will be easy to monitor) and I am thinking of disputing those charges.
For someone who buys a lot of this stuff (movie tickets, chain restaurants etc) there may be a bargain in those sites somewhere but for me it was definitely NOT a match. And even if it was, the hard sell was a dealbreaker for all time. Since I had two of these...I had to go through the SAME PITCH twice. Down to the gas card offer and ending with the Walmart gift card. No No No and No thank you.
2 Free Ticket Vouchers to Universal Studios
We're going to Orlando in November so I thought this was worth a shot. But it turns out it's one of those "sit through our timeshare salespitch FIRST and then you can have the tickets". I've read that those things are actually legit, but terribly boring...not gonna follow through.
South Beach Diet Online
I started SoBe in mid July and in general I like the way it feels more like healthy eating suggestions and not a "diet". They are very upfront about how it costs $5 a week (which is way to pricey IMO), you are initially charged $65, and of that...$20 is non-refundable (but you have access to the site for those non-refundable weeks if you cancel). I had no problem cancelling, no hard sell, nice guy on the phone and the credit hit my account the next day. I'm out $20 but I do get to poke around the site while that runs out. I'm snagging recipes....
AOL "music" something or other
I thought it was some sub-service of AOL for music....but it was just a disguised "try AOL for 30 days" offer. I still have to cancel this one...I couldn't get into my account after trying for 20 minutes on their site. Nice.
Discover Card
Shiny Orange Plastic! I really didn't want another credit card and there are probably better offers out there but I'm hoping to try arbitage and if not... I am hoping I can get 2% cash back on the purchases that only get me 1% on the Citi Dividend. I followed through with this, and at some point it was stated I had to use the card once to "complete the offer" ... and when I called up the rep said I get a $10 credit to my cash rewards if I use the card soon...so I was going to buy a 99c iTunes song. We'll see.
So I don't think I'm getting an iPod ;) but I have satisfied my curiosity as to how these things work. So far it only cost me $22 (and I'm going to attempt to lop $2 off that) which was definitely not ideal, but I could have done far worse.
I found the link in a forum on iBankDesign while searching for an elusive HSBC sign-up bonus code (didnt find a valid one) and was led to one of those "free iPod if you go through advertising hell to get it" type offers so I decided to test it out carefully.
Basically it ended up being a deal of "complete 2 offers on this page" for a total of 3 pages. It is not always clear what "complete" means for each item and each page becomes progressively more "expensive" to complete. The offers to complete are usually trying products and services or signing up for credit cards. My plan was to try to execute the total of 6 offers for a minimum of cash (was shooting for zero honestly) and make sure to follow up and cancel anything afterward.
I can't speak for the free iPod part of the deal, but most of these offers are not outright "scams" but several are very tricksie. Most offers had a "catch"...some were more obvious than others. I ended up choosing:
2 7-day trial memberships to a discount/coupon site (dealpassX2) in exchange for a $25 Linens-n-Things gift card and a $25 Borders gift card
These were basically similar offers marketed differently for the same service (PassportToFun and SimplyYou both fronting DealPass.com). They charged me $1 each to try their service for 7 days. Since I thought I'd be getting gift cards in return, that seemed fine (*snort*). The catch is that in order to get your gift card, they mail you a form that you must return. You must still be a member when they receive the form. But it will take 4-6 *weeks* for them to even mail you the form. You don't find this out until you've joined and logged in to claim your card BTW.
You must call them on the phone within 7 days to cancel in order to avoid the membership fee. They make you wait on hold for 20-30 minutes and when you get through, you get the hardest. sell. ever. The reps are obviously scripted, and the script just includes offer after offer for every time you re-iterate you want to cancel. Some of the scripting was hilarious, but I'm getting windy as it is. They finally let you cancel and yet those $1 charges are sitting on my card glaring at me (I used an empty card I don't currently use so it will be easy to monitor) and I am thinking of disputing those charges.
For someone who buys a lot of this stuff (movie tickets, chain restaurants etc) there may be a bargain in those sites somewhere but for me it was definitely NOT a match. And even if it was, the hard sell was a dealbreaker for all time. Since I had two of these...I had to go through the SAME PITCH twice. Down to the gas card offer and ending with the Walmart gift card. No No No and No thank you.
2 Free Ticket Vouchers to Universal Studios
We're going to Orlando in November so I thought this was worth a shot. But it turns out it's one of those "sit through our timeshare salespitch FIRST and then you can have the tickets". I've read that those things are actually legit, but terribly boring...not gonna follow through.
South Beach Diet Online
I started SoBe in mid July and in general I like the way it feels more like healthy eating suggestions and not a "diet". They are very upfront about how it costs $5 a week (which is way to pricey IMO), you are initially charged $65, and of that...$20 is non-refundable (but you have access to the site for those non-refundable weeks if you cancel). I had no problem cancelling, no hard sell, nice guy on the phone and the credit hit my account the next day. I'm out $20 but I do get to poke around the site while that runs out. I'm snagging recipes....
AOL "music" something or other
I thought it was some sub-service of AOL for music....but it was just a disguised "try AOL for 30 days" offer. I still have to cancel this one...I couldn't get into my account after trying for 20 minutes on their site. Nice.
Discover Card
Shiny Orange Plastic! I really didn't want another credit card and there are probably better offers out there but I'm hoping to try arbitage and if not... I am hoping I can get 2% cash back on the purchases that only get me 1% on the Citi Dividend. I followed through with this, and at some point it was stated I had to use the card once to "complete the offer" ... and when I called up the rep said I get a $10 credit to my cash rewards if I use the card soon...so I was going to buy a 99c iTunes song. We'll see.
So I don't think I'm getting an iPod ;) but I have satisfied my curiosity as to how these things work. So far it only cost me $22 (and I'm going to attempt to lop $2 off that) which was definitely not ideal, but I could have done far worse.
EmigrantDirect at 4%
Dang....Jonathan's already posted it and now Jim's right behind him. I'm sure the PFBlogosphere will be all abuzz about the new rate by morning.
So 4% is apparently the APY that finally got me off my duff -- I have officially signed up for an EmigrantDirect account and I anxiously await my two test transactions.
I intend to use Emigrant for "emergency" cash and any 0% balance transfer action I can get my hands on and continue to use ING for "freedom account" type activity. And I'm still hoping ING makes an attempt to meet Emigrant (cuz Emigrant is smoking my orange ball!)
So 4% is apparently the APY that finally got me off my duff -- I have officially signed up for an EmigrantDirect account and I anxiously await my two test transactions.
I intend to use Emigrant for "emergency" cash and any 0% balance transfer action I can get my hands on and continue to use ING for "freedom account" type activity. And I'm still hoping ING makes an attempt to meet Emigrant (cuz Emigrant is smoking my orange ball!)
Monday, September 19, 2005
Truing up what I owe my ING
When I established my ING account earlier this year, I intended to put all found money, unexpected inflows, recycling redemption money, and rebates directly into my savings. I also intended to put my reimbursed cell phone and broadband expenses in there as well.
My reimbursed expenses run about $110/mo and are paid a full month later than I submit them (give or take) and I have a $100/mo ING deposit that was my BARE minimum deal with myself for monthly contributions. So, I've done "ok" on that front. But it's pretty lame. I should be getting August expenses on Friday so with that check I will start putting cell and broadband reimbursements into ING when I receive them.
I tallied up the other "inflows" that were intended for ING and here are my YTD totals:
My reimbursed expenses run about $110/mo and are paid a full month later than I submit them (give or take) and I have a $100/mo ING deposit that was my BARE minimum deal with myself for monthly contributions. So, I've done "ok" on that front. But it's pretty lame. I should be getting August expenses on Friday so with that check I will start putting cell and broadband reimbursements into ING when I receive them.
I tallied up the other "inflows" that were intended for ING and here are my YTD totals:
- $20 - from the guy who nudged our car
- $20 - found on the sidewalk
- $16 - LaLa's kentucky derby winnings (among friends)
- $30 - can and bottle redemptions
- $57 - rebates (cat litter, tax software, etc)
- $4 - survey money
Received $4 Survey Check
I can be opinionated so I signed up for one of those deals where you can earn a few dollars if you participate in a survey. I have completed a couple of survey screening questionnaires without being selected but on September 1 I met the criteria and participated in an opinion survey for Visa Signature Card (which was HI-larious, but I digress).
So I received the $4 check within three weeks. It's not a lot of money, but it hasn't been taking much of my time either. I just love getting money in the mail...even small amounts.
This will end up in ING eventually, but I'll wait until I have a monthly tally for rebates, returnables and any little bits and bobs like this.
So I received the $4 check within three weeks. It's not a lot of money, but it hasn't been taking much of my time either. I just love getting money in the mail...even small amounts.
This will end up in ING eventually, but I'll wait until I have a monthly tally for rebates, returnables and any little bits and bobs like this.
Carnival of Personal Finance #14
The new carnival is up at Optimized Living and as usual there's a lot to read...and a diversity of PF topics represented.
I'm still finding new blogs with each carnival and this one is no exception. Three new blogs now on my radar are:
I'm still finding new blogs with each carnival and this one is no exception. Three new blogs now on my radar are:
- No Credit Needed
- Wealthy Web
- The Picket Line
- and... Optimized Living, the host itself! (found before, but needed a reminder)
Sunday, September 18, 2005
My Hippie Roth: To the Max
This is part three of my three part post: My Hippie Roth (Part three: To the Max)
Future Contribution Schedule
Ideally I'd like to be maximizing my Roth contributions within each calendar year. Since I'm a little behind, I'll have to take advantage of the fact that I can make contributions for the previous tax year up until tax day of the current year. This strategy will help get me back on track in time for 2007.
Once I ran the numbers I realized investing my birthday money would really help me meet my 2005 contribution goal so that's decided. I will have to wait until next to year to experiment with I-bonds and maybe I'll get an iPod nano for Christmas (the dark side grows strong within me). Of course I just deposited the $220 into ING so I could noodle...oh well.
At some point in the (near?) future, I will also want to diversify beyond my PAXWX fund...perhaps when I am ready to invest in individual stocks I will do so within a Roth.
Future Contribution Schedule
Ideally I'd like to be maximizing my Roth contributions within each calendar year. Since I'm a little behind, I'll have to take advantage of the fact that I can make contributions for the previous tax year up until tax day of the current year. This strategy will help get me back on track in time for 2007.
Once I ran the numbers I realized investing my birthday money would really help me meet my 2005 contribution goal so that's decided. I will have to wait until next to year to experiment with I-bonds and maybe I'll get an iPod nano for Christmas (the dark side grows strong within me). Of course I just deposited the $220 into ING so I could noodle...oh well.
- $330 - Currently monthly contribution for 2005 (Aug & Sep)
- $220 - one time contribution for 2005 (sometime in Sep)
- $520 - monthly from 10/05 to 3/05 for 2005 contribution
- $444 - monthly from 4/05 to 12/05 for 2006 contribution
- $333 - monthly contribution for 2007
At some point in the (near?) future, I will also want to diversify beyond my PAXWX fund...perhaps when I am ready to invest in individual stocks I will do so within a Roth.
My Hippie Roth: Checkup
This is part two of my three part post: My Hippie Roth (Part two: Checkup)
Currently
Back in April, while I was corralling my Calvert investment and transferring to my new account, I borrowed $3000 to make a 2004 Roth contribution with which I also purchased PAXWX. In mid August I established an automatic investment plan to purchase $330 in PAXWX monthly. My current market value is $6532 which calculates to a 7.07% rate of return for this account since April and an overall annualized rate of return of 6.71% since inception of my roth. So here is my actual annualized rate of return summarized for each investment phase:
I'm now determined to maximize my Roth IRA contributions every year, but I got a late start this year and I really do not want to borrow again. So now I need a plan to make up for lost time....
Currently
Back in April, while I was corralling my Calvert investment and transferring to my new account, I borrowed $3000 to make a 2004 Roth contribution with which I also purchased PAXWX. In mid August I established an automatic investment plan to purchase $330 in PAXWX monthly. My current market value is $6532 which calculates to a 7.07% rate of return for this account since April and an overall annualized rate of return of 6.71% since inception of my roth. So here is my actual annualized rate of return summarized for each investment phase:
That's not too bad for the last seven years I guess. Not great either. My Calvert return would have been higher if I had not had a miscommunication with the financial planner I was dealing with (to be fair, we were both at fault) as that would have saved me the $15 fee I believe. Also, I made a choice to leave the fund before the seven year mark (when you no longer pay a load for B shares) and forfeited that $96.Community CD 04.41%
Calvert (CSLBX) 07.38%
Fidelity (PAXWX) 07.07%
Since inception 06.71%
I'm now determined to maximize my Roth IRA contributions every year, but I got a late start this year and I really do not want to borrow again. So now I need a plan to make up for lost time....
My Hippie Roth: History
Now that I have had Roth Religion for 5 months and I am determined to meet the contribution limits each year going forward I figured it was time for some analysis and planning. Welcome to my three part post: My Hippie Roth (Part one: History)
History
I did a little digging into the history of my Roth IRA investments because I am interested in calculating my true return and because I have maintained my Roth at three institutions, Quicken isn't much help there. I started with an initial investment in a 1yr "community" CD at a local socially conscious bank, then moved it to a Calvert fund and most recently into my new Fidelity Roth IRA account.
11/23/1998: (Initial investment) $2000 in a 1yr CD with 5.1% APY
01/14/2003: (Transfer) Cashed out $2392 a 4.41% annualized return
01/14/2003: (Bought) Shares in Calvert Social Investment B CSLBX
04/21/2005: (Exchange) $2885 in CSLBX to CLGBX [comm error]
05/09/2005: (Paid) $15 fee + $96 in load
05/09/2005: (Transfer) Cashed out $2822 for 7.38% after fees
05/09/2005: (Bought) Shares in Pax World Balanced PAXWX with Calvert $
In April I had opened a new Roth IRA at Fidelity so I could consolidate existing and future investments and easily manage it going forward. I chose to invest solely in Pax World Balanced for now since this account is small in size and yet I needed something that was balanced and well rated (in other words a decent past performer). I happened upon a Consumer Reports article that listed PAXWX as a really good fund so the fact that it is socially responsible was an extra bonus for me.
History
I did a little digging into the history of my Roth IRA investments because I am interested in calculating my true return and because I have maintained my Roth at three institutions, Quicken isn't much help there. I started with an initial investment in a 1yr "community" CD at a local socially conscious bank, then moved it to a Calvert fund and most recently into my new Fidelity Roth IRA account.
11/23/1998: (Initial investment) $2000 in a 1yr CD with 5.1% APY
01/14/2003: (Transfer) Cashed out $2392 a 4.41% annualized return
01/14/2003: (Bought) Shares in Calvert Social Investment B CSLBX
04/21/2005: (Exchange) $2885 in CSLBX to CLGBX [comm error]
05/09/2005: (Paid) $15 fee + $96 in load
05/09/2005: (Transfer) Cashed out $2822 for 7.38% after fees
05/09/2005: (Bought) Shares in Pax World Balanced PAXWX with Calvert $
In April I had opened a new Roth IRA at Fidelity so I could consolidate existing and future investments and easily manage it going forward. I chose to invest solely in Pax World Balanced for now since this account is small in size and yet I needed something that was balanced and well rated (in other words a decent past performer). I happened upon a Consumer Reports article that listed PAXWX as a really good fund so the fact that it is socially responsible was an extra bonus for me.
Friday, September 16, 2005
So...are we suckers?
Flexo drew my attention to Ted Rall's article on Yahoo: Charities are for Suckers in which the author claims:
Let me be perfectly clear that I agree that this administration has been further disenfranchising our poorest people while padding the pockets of the truly wealthy. If you don't agree, that's fine, but I do believe that's been happening. But I think that putting an end to philanthropy will have ZERO effect on that trend.
And I also believe that if anyone is using philanthropical donation totals to justify "abdication of its duties to its citizens" that they are merely grasping at false reasoning for doing what they're going to do no matter what. And if that no longer becomes an excuse they will simply find a new one and stay right on track.
The only thing that can affect that "trend" is voting. The position that ending philanthropy will be a call to the government to care more for the disenfranchised is absurd. And don't call me a sucker.
I certainly agree it will be a drop in the bucket, but I don't get how how it's a vote for irresponsible government...precisely because it's such a tiny drop in the bucket. He continues:Cutting a check to the Red Cross isn't just a vote for irresponsible government. It's a drop in the bucket compared to what you'll end up paying for Katrina in increased taxes.
The generosity that is less than 1% of what is needed? Feeds the sinister ideologues? So they argue to cut the "helping people" part of the budget by...a whopping 1%? I thought it was a drop in the bucket? How can a droplet be enough to bolster any sinister idealogue's argument?Tragically, that generosity feeds into the mindset of the sinister ideologues who argue that government shouldn't help people
So let me get this straight: This guy believes that if private charities are no longer funded ("starved"), the government will have an "aha!" moment and turn into Robin Hood? And I'm a sucker for giving a small donation to the Red Cross? ::: snicker :::It's time to "starve the beast": private charities used by the government to justify the abdication of its duties to its citizens.
Let me be perfectly clear that I agree that this administration has been further disenfranchising our poorest people while padding the pockets of the truly wealthy. If you don't agree, that's fine, but I do believe that's been happening. But I think that putting an end to philanthropy will have ZERO effect on that trend.
And I also believe that if anyone is using philanthropical donation totals to justify "abdication of its duties to its citizens" that they are merely grasping at false reasoning for doing what they're going to do no matter what. And if that no longer becomes an excuse they will simply find a new one and stay right on track.
The only thing that can affect that "trend" is voting. The position that ending philanthropy will be a call to the government to care more for the disenfranchised is absurd. And don't call me a sucker.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Saving Birthday Cash
I turned 38 about three weeks ago (I was traveling for business at the time...not my favorite way to spend it) and was given some cash by several family members. Though I usually do a fair amount of thinking about what I really want before I spend it...birthday and holiday cash does get spent pretty quickly around here.
I won't pretend I didn't have my "new tivo! with DVD burner!!" and "ipod nano!" moments but I just tranferred all $220 of it to ING for further consideration. I think I've made up my mind that I want to use it for savings in some form - in other words, turn it into an asset
It might end up in my 2005 Roth since I will be struggling to meet the limit this year or I might buy a few I-bonds (I typed "bongs" first...I think that's bad) to feel like it's "stashed". I might even open a sharebuilder account while they're having a halfway decent promotion. But I have been rock solid about not touching the current ING money (though the homeowner's insurance is in there, might have to make an exception for that) so it's pretty safe in there until I decide.
I won't pretend I didn't have my "new tivo! with DVD burner!!" and "ipod nano!" moments but I just tranferred all $220 of it to ING for further consideration. I think I've made up my mind that I want to use it for savings in some form - in other words, turn it into an asset
It might end up in my 2005 Roth since I will be struggling to meet the limit this year or I might buy a few I-bonds (I typed "bongs" first...I think that's bad) to feel like it's "stashed". I might even open a sharebuilder account while they're having a halfway decent promotion. But I have been rock solid about not touching the current ING money (though the homeowner's insurance is in there, might have to make an exception for that) so it's pretty safe in there until I decide.
...and Spent (on Airfare)
Ok, it's not as bad as it sounds. I got some great deals!
Since the early part of the year I have been planning for two late-year trips: After 5 Christmases on the east coast indulging my family, it's time to head to CA for a LaLa family xmas. I had also thought in April that I'd visit my grandparents (and friends) in Orlando...but that was my first true "we can't afford it" moment after seeing the "savings light" so we post-poned our trip until November (the irony is that my grandparents have since sold their home, and are moving into a one bedroom apt - in a retirement community - without so much as a pull-out couch)
I've been keeping an eye on airfares a bit and Sunday was the day I bit the bullet to lock in a couple of really good prices. We're heading to LAX for $513.80 (Song was having a promo, and i love that airline...TVs, people, TVs!!!) for both round-trip tickets and to MCO for $310.80 (again for two RT tickets, on American). The timing of the health care reimbursements means that I can immediately pay for these tickets rather than dip into any savings.
I purchased the LAX tickets with my Delta Skymiles Amex card because Song is owned by Delta and I get bonus miles of some sort that way (my friend, the travel gnome, would be horrified at my imprecision) so this gets me a chunk closer to having two tickets worth. I put the MCO tickets on my Citi Dividend so someday I'll see about $3 back from that.
As a bargaineering sidenote...I was using several online travel sites to compare prices for the Orlando trip (bookingbuddy, expedia, travelocity, even newcomer kayak) and the lowest I found was about $161/each on American Airlines. I went to AA.com to buy the tickets, re-did the search and found a lower fare on their website by about $30! I guess it's a new thing with them to guarantee that their lowest fares are only found on their site. Huh.
Anyway...money in, money out...
BUT I knew this was coming...have saved for it...and I got good deals. Not too shabby.
Since the early part of the year I have been planning for two late-year trips: After 5 Christmases on the east coast indulging my family, it's time to head to CA for a LaLa family xmas. I had also thought in April that I'd visit my grandparents (and friends) in Orlando...but that was my first true "we can't afford it" moment after seeing the "savings light" so we post-poned our trip until November (the irony is that my grandparents have since sold their home, and are moving into a one bedroom apt - in a retirement community - without so much as a pull-out couch)
I've been keeping an eye on airfares a bit and Sunday was the day I bit the bullet to lock in a couple of really good prices. We're heading to LAX for $513.80 (Song was having a promo, and i love that airline...TVs, people, TVs!!!) for both round-trip tickets and to MCO for $310.80 (again for two RT tickets, on American). The timing of the health care reimbursements means that I can immediately pay for these tickets rather than dip into any savings.
I purchased the LAX tickets with my Delta Skymiles Amex card because Song is owned by Delta and I get bonus miles of some sort that way (my friend, the travel gnome, would be horrified at my imprecision) so this gets me a chunk closer to having two tickets worth. I put the MCO tickets on my Citi Dividend so someday I'll see about $3 back from that.
As a bargaineering sidenote...I was using several online travel sites to compare prices for the Orlando trip (bookingbuddy, expedia, travelocity, even newcomer kayak) and the lowest I found was about $161/each on American Airlines. I went to AA.com to buy the tickets, re-did the search and found a lower fare on their website by about $30! I guess it's a new thing with them to guarantee that their lowest fares are only found on their site. Huh.
Anyway...money in, money out...
BUT I knew this was coming...have saved for it...and I got good deals. Not too shabby.
Chiropractic Reimbursements Received
$872 received in chiropractic reimbursements from my health care company over the past 10 days.
Even though my company's recent 50% health benefit cut has meant I am paying (IMO) exorbitant health care costs, I am enjoying some juicy benefits of this PPO. I found out in May or so that my visits to my chiropractor were partially covered.
Because he is out-of-network, I could receive 80% of each visit after an annual $250 deductible had been met. His visits were only $40 but I was going about twice a month for a couple of years. Also, I could submit for reimbursement up to two years after the visit. And LaLa is covered under my plan as of October 2004, so this means that we could submit for all of my 2004 and 2005 visits and all of LaLa's visits since her coverage date.
This was quite the paperwork ordeal and there was a doozy of a copy & paste error (all of my 10/04 to 6/05 visits were entered under LaLa's subscriber ID...flagging each one as a duplicate and denying reimbursement) with the first go around, but yesterday I received the final balance. I was going to rant and rave about the error prone claim system but at this point I'm just happy I have my cash.
Our total chiropractic expense for 2004 and 2005 (to date) was $2680 (dang that looks huge) and we got about a third of that back.
We decided to forgo chiropractic care this summer to help our savings but now that we have a new chiropractor we've decided to only go once a month. Each month we'll have to front the $80, but at least for the rest of 2005, we should get 80% back the following month. So we'll only be paying $16/mo net for sweet relief for the remainder of 2005.
Even though my company's recent 50% health benefit cut has meant I am paying (IMO) exorbitant health care costs, I am enjoying some juicy benefits of this PPO. I found out in May or so that my visits to my chiropractor were partially covered.
Because he is out-of-network, I could receive 80% of each visit after an annual $250 deductible had been met. His visits were only $40 but I was going about twice a month for a couple of years. Also, I could submit for reimbursement up to two years after the visit. And LaLa is covered under my plan as of October 2004, so this means that we could submit for all of my 2004 and 2005 visits and all of LaLa's visits since her coverage date.
This was quite the paperwork ordeal and there was a doozy of a copy & paste error (all of my 10/04 to 6/05 visits were entered under LaLa's subscriber ID...flagging each one as a duplicate and denying reimbursement) with the first go around, but yesterday I received the final balance. I was going to rant and rave about the error prone claim system but at this point I'm just happy I have my cash.
Our total chiropractic expense for 2004 and 2005 (to date) was $2680 (dang that looks huge) and we got about a third of that back.
We decided to forgo chiropractic care this summer to help our savings but now that we have a new chiropractor we've decided to only go once a month. Each month we'll have to front the $80, but at least for the rest of 2005, we should get 80% back the following month. So we'll only be paying $16/mo net for sweet relief for the remainder of 2005.
Fidelity's "Paul McCartney CD" Promo
People love free stuff.
Fidelity has a current promo for a complimentary "Paul McCartney compilation CD". If I understand it correctly, use one of three online planning tools to qualify. There is no purchase required. They do collect your name and address but they do need to send the CD somewhere afterall. This offer is valid until November 30th 2005.
I tried both the Retirement Quick Check and the Portfolio Review, both of which where interesting, but some things didn't quite make sense to me in the portfolio review (which I had used before). We'll see what happens with that CD....
Fidelity has a current promo for a complimentary "Paul McCartney compilation CD". If I understand it correctly, use one of three online planning tools to qualify. There is no purchase required. They do collect your name and address but they do need to send the CD somewhere afterall. This offer is valid until November 30th 2005.
I tried both the Retirement Quick Check and the Portfolio Review, both of which where interesting, but some things didn't quite make sense to me in the portfolio review (which I had used before). We'll see what happens with that CD....
Citi Click-to-Pay Annoyances
Oh how the might have fallen.
I used to LOVE Citi's online account access. Once upon a time it was shiny, new, advanced and it worked really really well. But they've recently made some changes in the name of "security" that are preventing legitimate customers from doing what they want. It's just frustrating.
I've got my new Citi Platinum Dividend card...I received it in early August or so. I intend to pay this card off every two weeks because we are switching almost all of our cash expenditures to this card (at least for now) and I don't want anything getting out of hand by accident.
I got a little of a late start with the first payment but it was still quite early. However, I logged in on 9/6 to do my first CTP for my current balance around $1400 and hit the annoying thing that Nickel posted about: a first time CTP limit of $1000! So I ponied up the 37 cents and sent the balance via check.
Today was payday, so I logged on to Citi to get back on track with my payday-ish CTP payments. I entered all my payment info and hit submit and I received this:
So I guess I have to WAIT to get into my groove. The sad thing is all I want to do is give them my money while I am thinking about it and be done with it. But they don't really have an incentive to get my money sooner rather than later...so why would they care about my frustration?
I used to LOVE Citi's online account access. Once upon a time it was shiny, new, advanced and it worked really really well. But they've recently made some changes in the name of "security" that are preventing legitimate customers from doing what they want. It's just frustrating.
I've got my new Citi Platinum Dividend card...I received it in early August or so. I intend to pay this card off every two weeks because we are switching almost all of our cash expenditures to this card (at least for now) and I don't want anything getting out of hand by accident.
I got a little of a late start with the first payment but it was still quite early. However, I logged in on 9/6 to do my first CTP for my current balance around $1400 and hit the annoying thing that Nickel posted about: a first time CTP limit of $1000! So I ponied up the 37 cents and sent the balance via check.
Today was payday, so I logged on to Citi to get back on track with my payday-ish CTP payments. I entered all my payment info and hit submit and I received this:
For security reasons, we limit you to 1 payment for 15 days after your first payment is posted using the Click-to-Pay program. You can return to make another payment at the end of that initial 15-day period. Click here to see a record of your first Click-to-Pay transaction in Payment History.I know the sky isn't falling, but this is so annoying to me. I don't really know how this is for security reasons (even though someone might have a good rationale for it) and I have not only made a legitimate CTP payment for $1000, but I have also sent a paper check. Am I not verified yet?
So I guess I have to WAIT to get into my groove. The sad thing is all I want to do is give them my money while I am thinking about it and be done with it. But they don't really have an incentive to get my money sooner rather than later...so why would they care about my frustration?
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
On Giving, Abundance & Fear
FMF has a short but thought provoking post in which he states his agreement with author David Bach on giving and his observation that "giving people become wealthy". I think about this concept often, and more so lately after Katrina. I know it may seem a little new agey, but I tend to notice the same effect with not just "giving" but also "letting go" so I constantly push myself to let go of more (not for the sake of being rewarded mind you, but because it feels good). Sometimes I need the internal push, sometimes it comes more naturally.
In order to let go, I focus on assuring myself that I have enough and will always have enough. It's when I have to combat fear that I need the push sometimes (old habits and training die hard)
Examples of this in my own life range from being willing to let things on ebay go for $.99 only to see them soar to a high final bid to giving some guy on the street $11 (he said he needed gas money and seemed quite distraught) and then having a few $20's unexpectedly make their way into my life over the next couple of weeks (one on the sidewalk, one from the guy who tapped our car from behind). The examples might seem trite, and maybe I am looking to hard for a connection, but it seems to me that when I "share" from a place of abundance it has a multi-level positive effect.
During the Sept 1 day of fundraising for Katrina, I felt compelled to give beyond my comfort zone, and I did...but I'm not sure I pushed myself hard enough. I didn't have an overwhelming sense of being grateful that I could help ... but I had a feeling of "it wasn't enough". And maybe that was just the sheer enormity of the situation or the anonymity of the Red Cross online donation form. But maybe I could have pushed a little farther...dug a little deeper...done a little more...but I was feeling pinched this month yaddy yaddy yaddy cash is tight blahblah upcoming big expenses hm hm.
All I'm really saying is that I agree with FMF and taking it a bit further...maybe those Wiccans are onto something with the belief that whatever you put out comes back three-fold. And when I truly feel I have *enough* is when it is easier to share, but that it can be a struggle against fear some days.
But it's really why I'm here...to define and achieve "enough" and let go of all the fear.
In order to let go, I focus on assuring myself that I have enough and will always have enough. It's when I have to combat fear that I need the push sometimes (old habits and training die hard)
Examples of this in my own life range from being willing to let things on ebay go for $.99 only to see them soar to a high final bid to giving some guy on the street $11 (he said he needed gas money and seemed quite distraught) and then having a few $20's unexpectedly make their way into my life over the next couple of weeks (one on the sidewalk, one from the guy who tapped our car from behind). The examples might seem trite, and maybe I am looking to hard for a connection, but it seems to me that when I "share" from a place of abundance it has a multi-level positive effect.
During the Sept 1 day of fundraising for Katrina, I felt compelled to give beyond my comfort zone, and I did...but I'm not sure I pushed myself hard enough. I didn't have an overwhelming sense of being grateful that I could help ... but I had a feeling of "it wasn't enough". And maybe that was just the sheer enormity of the situation or the anonymity of the Red Cross online donation form. But maybe I could have pushed a little farther...dug a little deeper...done a little more...but I was feeling pinched this month yaddy yaddy yaddy cash is tight blahblah upcoming big expenses hm hm.
All I'm really saying is that I agree with FMF and taking it a bit further...maybe those Wiccans are onto something with the belief that whatever you put out comes back three-fold. And when I truly feel I have *enough* is when it is easier to share, but that it can be a struggle against fear some days.
But it's really why I'm here...to define and achieve "enough" and let go of all the fear.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Whirlpool Upromise Approved!
I just received my confirmation email from Whirpool that my Upromise rebate for $35 was approved. I entered the code they sent me and the amount should post to my account within 7-10 days. w00t!
I'm not in a rush to use Upromise money, but soup to nuts this rebate took less time than most (if the 7-10 day period holds true) so that's not bad. We bought the washer mid-August and submitted rebate that next week.
And of course, adding a whopping $35 to my current balance of $0.54 will be very nice. I guess I just don't spend enough money in the "right" places to be racking up the dough, but something is better than nothing.
[Update: Wow...it posted in less than 24 hours. And I earned an unexpected $1.04 from a restaurant during business travel last week. $36.58 isn't too bad for "free" money]
I'm not in a rush to use Upromise money, but soup to nuts this rebate took less time than most (if the 7-10 day period holds true) so that's not bad. We bought the washer mid-August and submitted rebate that next week.
And of course, adding a whopping $35 to my current balance of $0.54 will be very nice. I guess I just don't spend enough money in the "right" places to be racking up the dough, but something is better than nothing.
[Update: Wow...it posted in less than 24 hours. And I earned an unexpected $1.04 from a restaurant during business travel last week. $36.58 isn't too bad for "free" money]
Monday, September 12, 2005
Catching my breath
I have felt out of the PF loop for the past week and a half mostly due to having limited internet access (and time) while on vacation visiting family and then turning around for another business travel week. I'm pooped.
I spent the weekend and some of today catching up on the two most recent carnivals: Carnival #12 at Savvy Saver and Carnival #13 at Smart Money Daily and plowing through all the good personal finance blog posts that have backed up in the meantime. What a prolific bunch. And I discover new (to me) blogs each time the carnival runs...lordy.
This will be the first week since July ended that I get to spend all at home. Yay! I'm hoping to use this time at home to re-evaluate some of my PF goals and get more organized about my short term goals and tasks. It's been a bit chaotic in my PF life over the past couple of months and I feel like I'm running in place (see how the save-o-meter hasn't really budged much? It'll go up to a whopping 15% mid-week).
I've been concentrating on making some small reductions in monthly expenses (like long distance and auto insurance) and chasing down money that is already mine (health insurance reimbursements, and re-claiming "missing" money) but I am behind on revisiting my budget, instituting freedom accounts, and establishing some more useful goals.
Overall I think I've been doing "ok" at managing expenses and keeping to my original budget. I have been able to pay off the credit card every month including large planned expenses like the dishwasher and trips (past and future). My net worth continues to climb a bit each month mostly due to 401(k) and Roth IRA contributions.
But the sloth of the save-o-meter dogs me. And I fear large-expense-creep (hence the desire for freedom accounts asap). And I wonder if I will have any money in my saved bucket at the end of the year (ok, I will, but you sense my anxiety?)
AND?
my desk is pretty messy.
I spent the weekend and some of today catching up on the two most recent carnivals: Carnival #12 at Savvy Saver and Carnival #13 at Smart Money Daily and plowing through all the good personal finance blog posts that have backed up in the meantime. What a prolific bunch. And I discover new (to me) blogs each time the carnival runs...lordy.
This will be the first week since July ended that I get to spend all at home. Yay! I'm hoping to use this time at home to re-evaluate some of my PF goals and get more organized about my short term goals and tasks. It's been a bit chaotic in my PF life over the past couple of months and I feel like I'm running in place (see how the save-o-meter hasn't really budged much? It'll go up to a whopping 15% mid-week).
I've been concentrating on making some small reductions in monthly expenses (like long distance and auto insurance) and chasing down money that is already mine (health insurance reimbursements, and re-claiming "missing" money) but I am behind on revisiting my budget, instituting freedom accounts, and establishing some more useful goals.
Overall I think I've been doing "ok" at managing expenses and keeping to my original budget. I have been able to pay off the credit card every month including large planned expenses like the dishwasher and trips (past and future). My net worth continues to climb a bit each month mostly due to 401(k) and Roth IRA contributions.
But the sloth of the save-o-meter dogs me. And I fear large-expense-creep (hence the desire for freedom accounts asap). And I wonder if I will have any money in my saved bucket at the end of the year (ok, I will, but you sense my anxiety?)
AND?
my desk is pretty messy.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Hurricane Relief Donation...Doubled
As reported by FreeMoneyFinance and many others, it's Hurricane Katrina Blog Relief Day today. Instapundit is tracking a lot of the flood aid and hurricane katrina relief blog activity.
FMF has generously offered to match your donation to the organization of your choice with a donation to Samaritan's Purse. He has a way to go to reach his $500 limit, so there's still time to effectively double your donation to the relief efforts. I've made my donation to the Red Cross and taken him up on his match offer. Thanks FMF!
I urge you all to give just past your comfort zone whether that amount is $5 or $500 or more. If it helps you give more, please consider how your true out of pocket costs can be reduced through tax deductions and rewards credit cards...then just do it :) The devastation wreaked by this natural disaster and it's aftermath is horrific.
Don't forget to email FMF ( fmf [AT] freemoneyfinance [DOT] com ) about your donation so he can match it!
FMF has generously offered to match your donation to the organization of your choice with a donation to Samaritan's Purse. He has a way to go to reach his $500 limit, so there's still time to effectively double your donation to the relief efforts. I've made my donation to the Red Cross and taken him up on his match offer. Thanks FMF!
I urge you all to give just past your comfort zone whether that amount is $5 or $500 or more. If it helps you give more, please consider how your true out of pocket costs can be reduced through tax deductions and rewards credit cards...then just do it :) The devastation wreaked by this natural disaster and it's aftermath is horrific.
Don't forget to email FMF ( fmf [AT] freemoneyfinance [DOT] com ) about your donation so he can match it!
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