Browse by Tags
-
Posted
Sep 14 2007, 02:10 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
When I wrote "Surviving (and Thriving) on $12,000 a Year" last January, I figured it would be like any other article I’d ever written for newspapers or magazines: some people would read it and agree, some would read it and get irritated, and the next day they’d all be thinking about something else.
Nope. Thousands of readers e-mailed their reactions to MSN Money. Many others, especially personal-finance bloggers, discussed the article online. Dozens of people tracked down my personal e-mail to offer support and tell their own stories; some even tried to give me money! (I declined, with thanks for their generous natures.)
The first article led to a second, "Living ‘Poor’ and Loving It," then to several how-to articles and short videos, and eventually to the chance to host the Smart Spending message board. On that site I’ve heard a lot more stories and many creative and resourceful ideas.
Read More...
-
Posted
Sep 18 2007, 12:25 PM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Something for nothing? Sign me up!
Sign up a whole bunch of us, apparently. Readers of the Smart Spending message board recently revealed the best ways to troll the Internet for freebies. Seems their mailboxes spill like busted piñatas with toys, gift cards, sample toiletries, OTC meds, T-shirts, magazines – and even cold, hard cash.
And then there are those freebie endorphins.
"I just like the idea of getting stuff for free," said Karen, a Pacific Northwest reader, who got "a nice Adidas tote bag" from My Coke Rewards.
Read More...
-
Posted
Sep 24 2007, 09:52 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
A clever entrepreneur explains how she's used Amazon to declutter her music collection and turn a profit. She's cleared 160 bucks in two months with surprisingly little effort.
Read More...
-
Posted
Sep 26 2007, 09:35 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
You've heard these before: "I don't make enough money, so I can't save." "I need to carry a balance on my credit card to build a credit history." "The furniture/appliance/gizmo store offers a zero-interest, zero-payment loan, so I can afford it." A blogger tackles these and 79 other commonly held beliefs about finances.
Read More...
-
Posted
Oct 08 2007, 08:01 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
We've all heard about the millionaire next door . Rather-Be-Shopping begins a series of blogs about a school janitor who long ago discovered the power of saving and investing. He owns his house mortgage-free, has two cars, lives without debt, and is about to embark on a comfortable retirement. All this on $35,000 a year in California.
-
Posted
Oct 08 2007, 04:06 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Lifehacker 's Hack Attack says his " Seller's guide to Craigslist " is not exhaustive, but we beg to differ. Step by step, he provides basics, like how to photograph ( always display a photo, he advises) and describe your item (be honest). He also explains how to filter incoming responses to your ad and use text replacement macros to answer all of that e-mail. For those interested buyers who need a more human touch, he says you can set up a free, temporary phone number and protect your privacy. Finally, he walks you through removing your ad once you've made the sale, and explains how you can give or barter your stuff away on Craigslist if you couldn't sell it. Also see the related " Craigslist for power users ."
-
Posted
Oct 09 2007, 12:07 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
J.D. at Get Rich Slowly offers sage advice for escaping the forced frugality of a low-wage life. How does he know? He did it himself , leaving the box factory for a career in computer programming after taking courses at a local community college (He's now a respected personal finance blogger). Sometimes spending less than you make isn't enough to build security if you're on the lowest end of the wage scale. You've got to work two jobs, change jobs or companies, or seek a promotion. In the long haul, J.D. says, education is the most effective way to increase your earning potential.
-
Posted
Oct 10 2007, 07:17 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Jim at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity played some Texas Hold 'Em in college, so he's no stranger to the game. While watching the World Series of Poker on TV, he recognized similarities between managing the game and his own financial life . For instance, there's "stack management"-- picking the right time to put your money in the pot. Lessons 1 and 3: Have patience, and learn from your mistakes. Lesson 7? "It's a grind." Whether it's the poker table or whatever you do to earn a living, the grind can be OK. "Lots of people love the grind," Jim observes, "because it is enough to give you a very fulfilling life."
-
Posted
Oct 10 2007, 08:07 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
An article at MSN Money notes that people making $20,000 or less a year donate a higher percentage of their income than those making more money, a fact that fascinates freemoneyfinance . Higher-income people have more disposable income, so why aren't they giving more to charity? FMF wonders, and offers several possible explanations . "My main guess ... is that people simply spend more as they make more and they do so at an increasing rate," FMF writes.
-
Posted
Oct 11 2007, 08:47 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
The less you earn, the more you’re likely to give away. People who earn $20,000 or less per year donate more (relative to their income) than higher earners.
Or so Arthur Brooks reports in his new book about American benevolence, ”Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism.”
Charity appears to benefit the givers as well. A recent article from the Christian Science Monitor noted that “greater charity tends to push up income.”
That might be because the act of giving makes for “better or happier people,” which in turn might make for greater success in the working world.
Read More...
More Posts Next page »
|
