My favorite online bank has a new promotion that you may be interested in if you’re looking for a new savings or checking account with relatively higher returns. I think it’s a pretty good deal if you consider their 3 month bonus rate for new accounts plus the guarantee that the yield that you receive will always remain in the top 5% offered by leading banks. EverBank is offering up to $75 as a sign up bonus for those who decide... 

Liquidation sales appear to be a place where you may find a lot of great deals. But recently, I came upon some eye-opening facts about the liquidation business. Some of you may already be aware of this but I don’t think everyone necessarily knows about the truth behind some of these warehouse type sales. For example, I’ve got some friends and family members (you know who you are!) who love to shop. I am the odd person out in the... 

I am not a huge TV junkie, but I did catch The Good Wife the other night. The plot was especially interesting to me in that an investment adviser had been murdered because of a Ponzi scheme and for defrauding hundreds of investors out of their money. Sounds familiar? Sure, we all remember the notorious Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme that rocked Wall Street and the investment world. I doubt that we will forget it anytime soon (no thanks to the... 

The credit card industry has been operating underneath a patchwork of regulations for most of its existence. Recent events have changed that reality. In February of this year, the CARD Act became effective, outlawing what many feel were some of the most abusive and deceptive bank practices. Last week, the financial reform act passed the Senate, with its signature into law becoming imminent. Among the many provisions of this act are the creation... 

If you like dining out, then this may be an offer you may want to investigate. Citibank has a new promotion for its highly regarded Citi Forward credit card. If you become a new cardholder, you can enjoy additional rewards through your Citi Forward card by simply using your card and making purchases of $100 between now and September 15 (2010). By doing so, you’ll get a $200 gift certificate to Restaurant.com. But of course, before you... 

With the economy sluggish, traditional vacations are a no-go for most people, so many are choosing to forgo elaborate trips and deciding instead, to take their vacations closer to home. With the huge array of interesting feature films slated for release, it could be a great time to visit your local movie theater. It’s an inexpensive way to get away for a few hours and to get lost…  Read More →

These days, it seems to take more effort to keep our heads above water. So I found it inspiring to read about one resourceful fellow, a young person, who somehow used Craigslist to snag himself a Porsche in a span of 2 years through shrewd bartering. But part of me really wonders about just how doable this is . It just seems like a whole lot of effort needs to happen to get this sort of thing to work out. Online Bartering Through Craigslist... 

If you’re still looking for a place to diversify your money by putting it in a non-traditional investment, I’d like to shine the spotlight on Lending Club . It’s a fixed income investment that you won’t find in your run of the mill brokerage firm , but it’s one that has become quite popular with the online crowd (and some personal finance bloggers). I’ve covered them pretty regularly on this site as I think... 

Colorful foods — well yes, we all like a good looking dinner when we’re served with one, don’t we? Being presented with a meal that has been overcooked can be pretty unappetizing. But when everything has been cooked to perfection and great care has been taken to provide a wide range of good colors in a well-presented meal, you can only look forward to enjoying your dining experience. Image from HealingWithLifestyle.com A Healthy, Colorful... 

A pep talk for those mulling over the idea of developing alternative streams of income. How many people do you know who have more than one source of income? The chances are, since the recession, you might know more than a few people who’ve gone entrepreneurial recently (more so now than a few years ago, when most people were focused on the real estate market). I know a few people who have been pretty resourceful and now enjoy more than... 

How many of you have ever received stock option grants as part of your Total Compensation Package with your company? I’ve been getting documents (that reference my options) every Christmas from the company I work for and I would simply file away the large manila folder labeled Options into my desk drawer. It wasn’t until recently that I unearthed these documents and caught…  Read More →

Citibank just recently announced a great new offer for students who are interested in picking up a student-friendly credit card. For those in college who are ready to get started using a credit card, and who know they’ve got the discipline to manage their debt and credit well, then this may be a good opportunity to check out some top cards with great features. There are three credit …  Read More →

Can you qualify for a mortgage loan with bad credit? These days, it sounds like a stupid question with an obvious answer, but let’s explore this topic. Some will say “of course not!” While others will say it’s impossible. But even if you have bad credit today, aren’t there ways to work towards getting that loan you want? Some thoughts on this below. So much for eliminating the marriage penalty for filing taxes.... 

For those who’ve ever downsized or who’ve been living in a small home , the biggest issue has always been about space. To be frank, I prefer to have spacious surroundings (read: a bigger house), but I can also certainly appreciate the charms and simplicity of residing in a cozier place . Now there’s an even bigger reason why living simply can work out pretty well. Apartment dwellers can rejoice when they come across more innovative... 

Should you use a mutual fund ranking service to help you choose funds for your portfolio? That’s a debate that continues to flare in the investment world, given the many different factions that exist, supporting philosophies of one sort or another. But if you’re the type of investor that is interested in mutual fund research and somehow feels compelled to keep up with the investment industry, then you may want to check out Morningstar...