Why the Fall in Stock Prices was Good For Your 401K

I hope you didn’t reduce your 401K or other retirement account contributions when stock prices and markets tumbled earlier this year. Even though the value of your current 401K or retirement plan probably fell over this time, in the long term the power of dollar cost averaging and recovering/rising markets would …

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Until the Nation is Broke, Viva la Credit Card

It was recently reported, by the Federal Reserve, that consumer borrowing surged again in March. Consumers increased their borrowing at an annual rate of 7.2%, compared with a 3.1% rate of increase in February. Here is a summary of the worrying borrowing and debt figures: The increase in consumer debt …

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Frugal Ways to Keep Your Home Safe

Recently there has been a spate of minor burglaries in my apartment complex, which prompted my wife and I to consider getting an alarm system for our apartment. We looked into this via various on-line sites and calls to security companies in our local area and found that the costs …

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Start Budgeting for $8 Gas Now!

[Update] I wrote this article a few years ago as average national gas prices were approaching $5 per gallon. That seemed preposterous then. Fast forward a few years and $5 seems mild now as we may see $8 gas in some states as inflation spikes and supply constraints worsen due …

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Results From The Latest IT Salary Survey

I work in the technology sector and so it was interesting to see the results of the latest US IT salary survey. Overall it looks like the median salaries for business technology professionals fell for the first time in 11 years. From 2007 to 2008, median base pay for IT …

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Taxes and my Paycheck Withholdings

When I moved here a long time ago one of the financial mysteries for me was the taxes on my paycheck. This included what would be deducted from my pay check and more importantly how much should I withhold to meet my tax obligations. I learned the importance of understanding …

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Insuring Pregnancy – Is this Going too Far?

Expectant mothers will now be able to insure their unborn babies against pregnancy complications, birth defects and even death. This type of insurance, possibly the first of its kind, is being offered by ING Australia. It is aimed at the growing number of older mothers (who have a greater risk …

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