Archive for February 2009

Alternatives to High Yield Online Savings Accounts

Written by Nickel - 21 Comments

If you’ve got money in the bank, then you’re likely aware that savings account interest rates have been plummeting. For example, in the month since we opened our DollarSavingsDirect account, they’ve slashed their interest rate by nearly 35%, and WT Direct has actually cut rates twice within the past week.
A sampling of other current savings [...]

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Published on February 27th, 2009 - 21 Comments
Filed under: Banking, Saving & Investing
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More Discounts on Quicken 2009

Written by Nickel - 2 Comments

If you missed the last round of discounts on Quicken 2009, today’s your lucky day… Intuit is offering discounts of up to $50 on various Quicken products through April 26th May 31st, 2009 (EXTENDED!).
Here are the details:

Quicken Deluxe 2009 ($59.99 $39.99)
Quicken Premier 2009 ($89.99 $59.99)
Quicken Home & Business 2009 ($99.99 $69.99)
Quicken Rental Property Manager [...]

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Published on February 27th, 2009 - 2 Comments
Filed under: Miscellany
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The Foreclosure Crisis: Location, Location, Location

Written by Nickel - 6 Comments

If you listen to media reports, you might think that there’s an astronomical foreclosure crisis affecting every neighborhood in America. But guess what? A recent study by University of Virginia researchers has revealed that 87% of the dollar losses stemming from foreclosure activity were concentrated in just four states: California, Florida, Nevada, and Arizona.
Sure, you [...]

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Published on February 26th, 2009 - 6 Comments
Filed under: Economy, Real Estate
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Surviving Income Tax Season Without an Audit

Written by Nickel - 9 Comments

Having just finished a first pass through our taxes, my thoughts have naturally turned to our audit risks. We haven’t done anything sketchy, and I also know that the odds of getting audited are quite low, but still… I really don’t relish the idea of having to fight an audit.
To that end, I thought I’d [...]

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Published on February 25th, 2009 - 9 Comments
Filed under: Taxes
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Have the Rules Changed?

Written by Nickel - 13 Comments

In response to my previous post about when the recession will end, a reader named Neal wondered aloud if we’re entering a new paradigm — one in which the old economic rules no longer hold.
“We could always say that the market will do this or that based on history. But based on what is going [...]

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Published on February 24th, 2009 - 13 Comments
Filed under: Economy
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When Will the Recession End?

Written by Nickel - 17 Comments

Consumer confidence is stumbling, the stock market is tumbling, and unemployemnt is soaring. We’re now 14+ months into a severe recession, and the news just seems to keep getting worse. When will it all end? It’s hard to say for certain, but economic experts have made their share of predictions. But before we talk about [...]

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Published on February 23rd, 2009 - 17 Comments
Filed under: Economy
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Weekly Roundup – Immortal Razor Blade Edition

Written by Nickel - One Comment

Did you know that you can make a razor blade last forever (more or less) by simply cleaning/drying it thoroughly after you use it? Strange but true. Apparently it’s the oxidation that makes a blade go dull, as opposed to the actual act of shaving, so…
If you keep it clean and dry between uses, your [...]

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Published on February 23rd, 2009 - One Comment
Filed under: Link Love
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How to Claim the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Written by Nickel - 352 Comments

Are you eligible for the new $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit? Wondering how to claim it? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Earlier today, a sharp-eyed reader named Sonny pointed out that the IRS just issued a revision to Form 5405 yesterday. This form, title “First-Time Homebuyer Credit” walks you through the process of [...]

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Published on February 20th, 2009 - 352 Comments
Filed under: Economy, Real Estate, Taxes
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CD Ladders in a Low Interest Rate Environment

Written by Nickel - 9 Comments

A reader named Joyce recently wrote in to ask about managing a CD ladder in a low interest rate environment. She noted that interest rates have been falling, and that she’s not crazy about locking her money up for minimal return. She’s thus wondering if she should continue to plow her money back into her [...]

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Published on February 20th, 2009 - 9 Comments
Filed under: Banking
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Lending $100 Giveaway Reminder

Written by Nickel - 3 Comments

This is just a quick reminder that the Lending Club $100 giveaway ends tomorrow. Simply Lending Club account (note that you have to go all the way through the signup process) and then leave a comment on the original post. That’s it. If you win, Lending Club will deposit $100 in your account.

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Published on February 19th, 2009 - 3 Comments
Filed under: Giveaways
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