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Posted
Oct 09 2008, 11:36 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
People are more than a little miffed about the weeklong hoedown AIG held for independent life insurance agents days after the government threw the company an $85 billion lifeline. More details about the gathering at the palatial St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort came out the same day the government extended a second loan, for $37.8 billion, to the massive -- and massively troubled -- insurance company. Total taxpayer bailout so far: $122.8 billion. Total cost of fun-filled week at super-posh California resort: $443,344. But get this: Despite the public outrage, AIG was going to proceed with similar get-togethers as planned.
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Posted
Oct 04 2008, 12:19 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Meant to cure near-clinical depression on Wall Street, the $700 billion bailout for the economy contains an unexpected gift for those who truly struggle with mental illness.
Among the non-bailout items that are part of the bill is a popular measure to put insurance coverage for treatment of mental illness and substance abuse on a par with standard health care coverage. No more higher co-payments and deductibles or stricter limits on doctor visits for mental health care. People with mental illness will spend less out-of-pocket getting the treatment they need.
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Posted
Sep 23 2008, 05:30 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
"Vh" at Funny about Money and other bloggers focused a critical eye on their finances after another blogger raised a serious issue: If you were to cut back, which regular bills could you stop paying? This exercise would force you to make some tough decisions, too. But isn't it better to do it now than when you really have to? The first to go on vh's list would be a catch-all category that includes newspapers, magazines, clothes and miscellaneous junk, followed by the yard man, and life and long-term-care insurance. In fact, in a worst-case scenario, this Phoenix resident figures she could pare nonfood expenses down to $857 a month. (She owns her house.)
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Posted
Sep 17 2008, 10:57 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Ron Haynes at The Wisdom Journal is almost ready to bet the farm that you aren't doing everything you could to better manage your money. Doing our best to make every penny count could provide a greater sense of security as we collectively ride an economic roller coaster. So we took him up on the challenge and reviewed his "50 frugal things you aren't doing." He's right. We're not doing all we can.
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Posted
Sep 16 2008, 03:09 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of U.S. teenagers. So why shouldn't we talk about raising the legal driving age? "BeThisWay" at Are You Going To Be This Way The Rest Of The Time I Know You? tackled the question head-on in a post called "Captain Obvious reports: 16-year-olds maybe shouldn't be licensed." Her conclusion may surprise you.
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Posted
Sep 16 2008, 04:20 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from partner blog Blueprint for Financial Prosperity. We've made it through four of the seven deadly sins of personal finance and touched on many good topics so far. The first few were easy -- have an emergency fund, don't raid your retirement, budget and plan and project for the future. We're starting to get into the hazier areas of personal finance, where the answers aren't quite so clear-cut and where much of it depends on you and your specific situation. That brings us to today's deadly sin -- being improperly insured.
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Posted
Sep 15 2008, 11:32 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
David at MoneyNing asked his reader this question: "Would you do something immoral to increase your wealth if you won't get caught?" (It boosts our faith in humanity that in a poll at his site, a healthy 67% chose "No!") But how often do people cross a line? Case in point: "Miss Thrifty" wasn't injured in a four-car pileup that dinged her fabulous Thriftymobile. (She wasn't at fault.) But everyone she knew, including her mother, told her to file a whiplash claim. "Everyone does it," they said.
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Posted
Sep 10 2008, 12:14 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Two encounters with illness have cost David of My Two Dollars and his wife nearly $10,000 out-of-pocket so far this year, and that's not including the $320 a month they were paying for health insurance premiums. Health care is a huge personal-finance topic, but PF bloggers rarely write about it -- unless it hits close to home. Luckily, David and his wife were able to absorb the unanticipated expenses. But, he wonders, what about people who can't?
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Posted
Sep 05 2008, 04:17 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
There's an interesting debate going on at Prime Time Money about whether it's smarter to buy a new or used car. Right now, used seems to be winning. What do you think? Before you jump in, read the exchange between "PT" and contributor "J." It's instructional and highly amusing. PT also gives great tips to use whether you're buying a new or used car. Here's a serious part, with J arguing for a new car: PRO (J): Interest rate of 1.9%.
CON (PT): The rate may be low but your monthly payment is almost certainly going to be much higher. Not to mention off-the-lot depreciation. That's money you could be using for retirement savings or your kid's education.
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Posted
Aug 20 2008, 12:59 PM
by
Ryan MacClanathan
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Americans are driving less because of high fuel prices.
Presumably, that means fewer accidents, which in turn means we'll all see some
relief on our auto insurance bills.
Right?
Maybe not. Evidence that rates will be going down is far
from clear, says insurance expert Sam Friedman at A View From the Press Box, and the
insurance industry seems reluctant to make such an across-the-board move.
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