How Being Anti-Social Saves Me Money
A couple of months ago, Jennifer Derrick contributed an excellent article When Invitations Become Money Grabs. That article resonated with many readers and there was a lot of fruitful discussion on the subject. I also spent a lot of time considering the article and how my wife and I have handled the cost [...]The Money-Wasting Days of Our Lives
In the days when I worked at an office, I would often get up late, rush to work and hit the coffee place on my break. I’d head to the corner shop for a snack in the afternoon, and then run to get more groceries on the way home since I had no idea what [...]WTDirect Bank: 3.06% APY + Up To $250 Sign-up Bonus
Here’s another decent deal with hopefully minimal drama. Online bank WTDirect is offering up to a $250 cash bonus for opening a new account and keeping a certain minimum average balance for January and February. WT stands for Wilmington Trust FSB, which is FDIC-insured and all that good stuff. Your bonus depends on your average balance:
$20,000 = $100 bonus
$30,000 = $150 bonus
$40,000 = $200 bonus
$50,000 = $250 bonus
Must be funded by ACH transfer initiated by 12/22. You must type in the promotion code WTG3DNC, or simply apply through this link.
This offer is available to new WTDirect clients only. To receive the bonus, clients must enter the promotion code “WTG3DNC” at the time of account opening. There is no minimum balance required to open the account. WTDirect account must be funded via electronic (ACH) transfer which must be initiated by 12/22/08. Clients may transfer funds in and out of the WTDirect account during the promotion period (1/1/09 - 2/28/09) and the bonus will be based on the average balance level during that time. Account must remain open and in good standing through the end of the promotion period. Bonus will be credited to client’s WTDirect account on or about the second week of March. WTDirect reserves the right to cancel or modify this promotion at any time without notice.
How good is this bonus? To start, you are already guaranteed 3.06% APY for the first 60 days, which using my APY to APR calculator gives you roughly 3% APR. On $10,000 for two months, that’s 10000 x 0.03/12 x 2 = $50 in interest. Since the bonus is also $50 for a $10,000 balance, you’re basically getting double the interest, or roughly 6% APR during these two months.
Alternatively, if you’re trying to see how much more interest you’re earning as opposed to DollarSavingsDirect or FNBO Direct, even compared to 4% APY you’re looking at least $30 extra interest for every $10k invested ($150 on $50k).
So if you’ve got the cash, I’d put in $50k to max out what is basically a 6% APR 2-month CD. There is supposed to be no hard pull. I’d also do it sooner rather than later, as you still have to verify some trial deposits to set up the ACH by the 12/22 deadline.
Credit card issuers to cut $2 trillions?
Holidays With the Financial Half-Wits
By Maggie Ellis, guest writer It’s that time of year again. The time of year when my spouse and I are punished for our thrifty ways. How are we punished you ask? By being forced to spend the holidays with our families who are, at best, financial half-wits. (Half-wit is probably generous in some cases. No-wit [...]MyCorporation Corporation/LLC Filing: Free For A Week
If you missed it last month, MyCorporation is offering their incorporation filing services for free again this week (12/1-12/5) with the coupon code MYGIFT. A savings of $149. Tip: You can also check out now but delay the official filing of your corporation or LLC until 2009 if you want.
Must use coupon MYGIFT to obtain discount. Document shipping, state fees, publication fees, and additional product fees are additional. Discount valid for orders placed for a new corporation or limited liability company only.
CyberMonday Gifts That Can Pay For Themselves?
My friends and I were talking about CyberMonday and we started trying to come up with some gift ideas that might pay for themselves, beyond the usual rechargeable batteries or fluorescent light bulbs. Things we’d actually want to receive as gifts, or may end up buying ourselves with the inevitable gift cards. Here’s a few of them:
Emergency Hand-Crank Flashlight and Cell Phone Recharger - Keep one of these in the car, and your cell phone will never die. Just crank and recharge! This one is even solar-powered. Add in the fact that many old cellphones with no monthly plan still have 911 service, and you have another nice emergency back-up. I actually bought one of these - one tip is to make sure you have the right power adapter tips for your phone and keep it handy.
Ooma VoIP Phone System - This VoIP phone system that costs $210 upfront, but you don’t have any ongoing monthly fees for unlimited local and long distance calling in the US. I still haven’t seen one in action, but I keep hearing good reviews though this blog.
Wii Game Console - We were divided on this one (mainly between those who have one and those who don’t…). It can certainly produce less going-out and save money on movies/food/drinks that way, but all the little accessories really add up. Controllers, $50-$80 a pop since they have two parts. Guitar Hero will make you want two guitars. And now comes the Wii Fit! Still, I must admit I love those Raving Rabbids…
Crock Pot / Slow Cooker - Cold weather + recession = Increased slow cooker sales. At least that’s my theory. I saw this at Costco and they were selling fast. The actual crock pot is removable for serving and easy clean-up.
Some previous mentions:
Chest Freezers - Not really much of a gift idea, but still something to consider as food prices are still going up.
Kill-a-Watt Energy Meter - For some reason I bought one of these a year ago, took a bunch of data, and then promptly lost it when we moved. Arrgh. Need to dig this up again.
The Simple Dollar also has some other items in his list of gadgets that actually save money.
Any other ideas?
The End of the One-Month Spending Crash-Diet
It’s over. We did it. We made it through No Spend Month, where we had only $400 to spend on gas, groceries, and entertainment, with money to spare. We spent $339.54. The last week was both challenging and liberating. We hosted Thanksgiving for the family, and we managed to buy the turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries, [...]OptionsExpress Brokerage $500 Sign-up Bonus
OptionsXpress brokerage is offering a $500 bonus if you open up with $500 with promotional code C3. You just need to keep $500 in it for 6 months*, and complete at least one trade. You’ll get the $500 on May 15th, 2009. That’s a while from now, but I’ll remind you. 
Well, it looks like I’m going to have to open up another brokerage account this month… I can’t pass this up. The deadline is today, November 30th!
Thanks to readers Roger and Anonymous. Selected fine print:
*Offer limited to one $500 bonus for each newly activated, funded optionsXpress account meeting the terms and conditions of the offer. To qualify for the $500 bonus, the account must be opened through [link] or with promo code C3 by 11/30/08, a per account average balance of $500 must be maintained for 6 months, and the account must trade at least once. The $500 bonus will be deposited into the account on May 15th, 2009 if terms and conditions are met. A customer can only qualify for the $500 bonus a total of one time. Deposits of new funds or securities from existing optionsXpress accounts are not eligible for this offer. Qualified (IRA), linked and shared accounts are not eligible for this offer.
* Since the average account balance required is $500, and you need to make one trade, I’d deposit a bit more than $500 to make sure you qualify, since a trade costs $14.95 and your investment’s value might also drop. You can decide what to buy, but you’re already getting 100% ROI on $500. A possible low volatility choice is BSV, the ticker for Vanguard’s short-term bond ETF.
Do Not Put Off Til Tomorrow That Which You Can Do Today
My driveway is in serious need of pressure washing. The need is so serious that my homeowners association has sent me a nasty-gram telling me that if I do not pressure wash the driveway by tomorrow, the association will refer the matter to its attorneys. Yikes. I have no desire to have to deal [...]-
-
About
We aim to bring great info on saving money, budgeting, and managing your personal finances.
-
Blogroll
- Bad Credit Advisor
- Consumerist
- Debt Advice
- Debt Diet
- My Money Blog - Personal Finance and Investing Blog
- PFBlog.com: The Unique Personal Finance Blog Since 2003 - Daily personal finance observation, musing and decisions in a journey toward financial independence by 36 with at least a million dollars.
- Saving Without A Budget - Saving Lots of Money Is Easy. I’ll Show You How.
- SavingAdvice.com Blog - Bridging the gap between saving money and investing
- Your Money
Get an Equifax 3-in-1 Credit Report Now!
Get up to $1500 NOW!