Another Rate Cut Coming?
February 29, 2008
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Congress that the nation is in for a period of sluggish business growth and sent a fresh signal Wednesday that interest rates will again be lowered to steady the teetering economy.
Why is Wal-Mart Thriving in an American Recession?
February 29, 2008
The nation’s largest retailer, which caters to working-class customers, seems to have something of a sweet spot. The stock closed Tuesday at $51.40
—its highest close since March 2005. Given the economic headwinds, one would think that a retailer catering to lower-end consumers would be doubly slammed.
Dollar Continues Plunge as Bernanke Proposes More Rate Cuts
February 29, 2008
The dollar fell to a record low of $1.50 per euro on speculation Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke today will indicate the U.S. central bank is prepared to keep lowering interest rates.
FDIC Readies for Bank Failures
February 29, 2008
Be prepared for a run on the bank!
Progress – and a new accountability partner
February 29, 2008
So, March is right around the corner. Some really good friends of mine are taking Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University classes, and I promised to babysit for them for the 13 weeks of the class. Each time they come home to relieve me of my babysitting duties, we talk about what they learned. The topic they brought back to me one week had to do with accountability partners. For marriages, two people really have to work together and “be on the same page” so to speak, but when somebody is single, they don’t have to report to anybody really.
But Dave Ramsey recommends having a friend or friends as accountability partners – somebody you do your monthly cash flow planning with. Naturally, I have two people I can do this with, so I prepared for my first budget committee meeting with them. 
It’s going to be fun. We couldn’t do it before the end of February, so we’re going to do it on Sunday, March 2.
I have some good news – at least for myself anyway. I was able to put $2000 towards the principal on my car in February. I’m really happy about that; although I plan to put $2550 towards the principal – not including the normal monthly payment. At this rate, along with the raise I received and a reduction in rent due to another roommate who is moving in before April, I’m able to get my car paid off by the end of August, 2008. That’s really only a few months away – and I’m really looking forward to it!
My student loan is on track for being paid off by the end of April 2009. Just a little over a year from now. I’ve reduced the time to do Baby Step 2 from a couple of years to just about 14 months, and that doesn’t take into account future raises and/or bonuses we might get in 2009.
I’m pretty happy with where I’m at – I still have a long ways to go, but I’m on-track and that feels pretty darned good.
Building a Life on $25 and a Gym Bag
February 25, 2008
College Graduate Leaves Comfortable Life for Poverty Experiment
Banks borrowing billions from Federal Reserve
February 25, 2008
U.S. banks have quietly been borrowing massive amounts of cash to ease the credit crunch.
The Economy: How Bad Can it Get?
February 25, 2008
The credit markets are seizing up and the uncertainty recently drove up short term interest rates for municipalities and some rock solid institutions such as New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art to 20%…Yet it’s still a relatively small number of institutions and individuals getting hurt by this not-yet-a-recession…
Sports Authority Fools Customers with 20% Coupon
February 25, 2008
Sports Authority sends a 20% coupon to their customers. However, they can’t use it on 68 of their named brands or any sports equipment! The only thing they could possibly buy is a pair of socks.
Bank Of America Won’t Let You Access Your Money
February 25, 2008
I once had an account with Bank of America. This is only one of the reasons I terminated my account and moved to a credit union.
Silly Bill. He thought Bank of America would let him spend $5,800 on a home theater system just because he had over $10,000 in the bank.
