Investment Performance April 2009 (+10.88%)

This is an ongoing monthly update on how our equity investments are performing. Please see this background on the investment tool I developed and how I am using it to track our performance against a benchmark to measure our progress or lack thereof.

Its still a work in progress, any feedback is appreciated and may be incorporated into future monthly reports. The only equity investments not covered are:
1) my 401k which is invested in institutional index funds through my employer that I haven’t found a tracking symbol for.
2) investments roughly worth less than $400-$500, simply because I don’t have the time and energy to keep up with them. I am thinking I will sell these off at some point and add the proceeds to my current investment portfolio because they are too much work to track.

April Highlights:

• April turned out to provide a terrific upswing on top of the big gains in March. For the 2nd month in a row, our benchmark and our portfolio posted the best returns since I started tracking our monthly return over a year ago.
• Our portfolio did not beat our benchmark this month, but the difference is pretty much a rounding error - given that we have beat the benchmark for the last 5 months, I’m still pretty happy we our current portfolio returns.
• Dow’s aquisition of Rohm & Haas closed at the beginning of the month, netting us a very nice return on our small investment. We netted a 35.2% return on our investment in 4 months. That would be over a 150% annualized return - not bad! Turned out to be a very good investment, but hindsight is always 20/20.
• We made a couple other small incremental investments this month including Pfizer, Conoco Phillips, KBW Banking Index with the Rohm & Haas proceeds.

April 2009 Investment Report:

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Families, Finances and Dementia

It’s a nightmare for families and their financial advisers: a parent or client with Alzheimer’s and significant money to manage.

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Change Is Coming to Your Wallet

President Obama on Friday signed into law a bill that will restrict how credit card companies can raise interest rates and charge fees. The legislation, written by Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), also forces companies to simplify terms and conditions of contracts. Analysts said the law will t…

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Will Susan Boyle's Meltdown Cost her a Fortune?

Did Susan Boyle have a meltdown?

Susan Boyle

Reports have flooded the news media about what’s being called the “Susan Boyle Meltdown.” According to several sources, Susan Boyle unleashed a tirade of curses at strangers in a hotel lobby in London. The strangers were insulting her, or “trying to wind her up,” as the Brits say.

Sources close to Susan Boyle have said that she has been stressed out since making it into the finals of “Britain’s Got Talent.” However, I don’t know if I’d call chewing out some strangers who were asking for it a “total meltdown,” as many tabloids are calling it.

The price of near-fame

While it may have done her some good to blow off some steam, it might not have been the best financial decision, and could send her back to a life of needing a loan till payday. Susan Boyle is set to compete in the finals on UK television show “Britain’s Got Talent.” A win would ensure her a future filled with financial stability, fame and success.

However, her reputation as a simple, sweet, humble, middle-aged woman is what got her all of this attention in the first place, along with her amazing voice, of course. If this mishap changes her fans’ views of her, all that cash she could have had her hands on may stay a fantasy forever.

Here is some background on Susan Boyle, in case you missed the story:

Suddenly Susan

Word spread quickly about Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle. She appeared on "Britain's Got Talent" in April, and she hasn't left the spotlight since. Shortly after her appearance on the British show, she appeared on CNN's "American Morning,” and reported that she was "absolutely gobsmacked" by her sudden fame. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Will Susan Boyle's Meltdown Cost her a Fortune?"

I Can't Get Out of the Payday-Loan Trap

Borrowing between paycheck is a hard habit to break.

Job layoffs, plunging retirement accounts, home foreclosures — the ripples of the recession are affecting us all. Like many Americans, you may have a limited income and no savings. You may have been turned down for credit or own maxed-out credit cards. You may have damaged credit for any number of reasons, including a previous bankruptcy filing. If these are your financial demographics, you are a direct target for payday lenders and you may be trapped in a habit of borrowing between paychecks that you can't seem to break.

Don’t be tempted.

Everyone's situation is different, but if you're living from paycheck to paycheck, this much is certain: it's not easy to make ends meet and payday advances are tempting. Anyone who's ever applied for an online payday loan is set upon by email messages like these every day: You’re just moments away from cash in your pocket today; Last chance for money before this weekend‏; Is Payday too far away? Make it happen tomorrow; Claim your cash eligibility by midnight tonight; Get cash with bad or no credit.  And the onslaught never ends.

Go cold turkey.

If you're trapped in a payday loan cycle, you will never begin to regain financial control until you say "no" to the next instant payday loan. This will mean that you will have to scrape by between paychecks. It will mean that you will have to stop paying for unnecessary things like health clubs, lawn maintenance, cable, internet service, and cell phones. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "I Can't Get Out of the Payday-Loan Trap"

I love my dog

He has been a part of our family for ten years. I think he might be dying. Every day, I see him mope around the house. He used to have so much energy, but now it has just gone away. I really hope he can last a few more years. I love him to death. He saved my niece when she was almost drowning. Dogs are amazing creatures like that. I believe they know and care about us more than we know and care about each other often times. That would be such a simple life, to be a dog.

Summer Travel Outlook: Sunny, Chance Of Bargains

Wall Street Journal columnist Scott McCartney says summer travel will be cheaper this year. McCartney pens the Journal’s weekly column “The Middle Seat.”

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

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Have you ever noticed that Crayola crayons have the oddest colors in them?

Who thinks of these weird things? There is macaroni and cheese yellow. The sad part about it is that they actually got the color right on. And then there are the off brand crayons that are so hard to color with. They all have weird colors. I think they are just trying to all compete with each other. Crayola has the normal colors with the weird names while other crayon companies have lots of bright colors with normal names. I just don't get it. A crayon is a crayon, right?

$100 Bonus For Opening a Chase Checking Account With Coupon Code

Chase is offering a $100 bonus if you open a checking account by July 7, 2009. There is no maintenance fee with this checking account as long as you activate a direct deposit or use your debit card for purchases five times each statement period. There is no minimum balance requirement, but an initial deposit of $100 within sixty days is required to qualify for the bonus.

If you live near a Chase branch, you can take this code with you when you open your account. Otherwise, you can open your account online at Chase’s website.

You will not qualify for the bonus if you currently hold an account at Chase or any of its affiliates, which could include Washington Mutual.

The coupon codes are good for one use only, so if you want to earn this bonus you must be quick to act.

3471822349438807 (Expires July 7, 2009)

If you have received coupons on the mail which you do not intend to use, please post the codes in the comments so others can take advantage of the bonus. I’ll add any posted bonus codes to this article.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

$100 Bonus For Opening a Chase Checking Account With Coupon Code

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Revitalize Your Aging PC With a Fresh Installation of Windows

I apologize for the recent lack of posts, I’ve been having some computer issues. I’ve been experiencing the usual sluggishness that happens after you’ve had Windows for a while, but recently it had been unbearably slow. Even after running multiple anti-virus and anti-malware software, defrag utilities, registry cleaners, I just gave up and had to re-install the operating system. Of course, I’m bad and only make sporadic backups so it took me a while to organize my files and make proper backups.

Although not directly related to finances, I found that re-installing a fresh copy of Windows on your computer can make a huge difference in speed and usability, so much so that you can delay buying a new computer for a while (within reason). This post is somewhat specific to Dell laptops since that is what I have, but much of it is still applicable to all Windows PCs.

According to this How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft Windows page at Dell, I had a few choices after backing up all my data:

System Restore
This is a Windows OS feature, so it should available across all PC laptop brands. It allows you to revert back to certain setpoints in your system’s past, hopefully back to a date in which everything was running smoothly. But I had been experiencing a slow and gradual decline, and none of the dates I picked improved my situation. It might work better for other folks. The good news is that you can also switch back to your original state.

Restore From Hidden Partition
Most recent Dell laptops have a hidden partition on the hard drive that contains a backup copy of your computer’s original factory software. The official name is Dell PC Restore by Symantec. You just have to hold Ctrl+F11 during start-up. I’m sure this would be great for most people. Unfortunately, my attempt failed. “Your installation was unsuccessful. Please call Dell Support”. Grrr.

Most other companies have a similar setup. For example, I did a successful factory reset on a family member’s Acer computer with Alt+F10. All I had to do was backup their pictures, and I was done in under an hour.

Restore from Recovery OS Disc
I was then left with the final option of manually re-installing the operating system with my Windows XP CD. Two houses and three years ago, I probably had it. Now, it’s nowhere to be found. (Side note: Some computer have you make the recovery CDs yourself. Do it before it crashes!) Luckily, I found that you can request a new recovery CD from Dell:

Dell Customers can now request a set of backup discs containing the factory-installed operating system as well as the device drivers and utilities specific to your system. Requests are limited to one (1) set of backup discs per system purchased.

There was no mention of needing a warranty, which made me hopeful since mine had already expired. After submitting my request, I received an e-mail saying that they would send me a Recovery CD for free, though they did make it very clear they didn’t have to since my warranty had expired. Still, they did FedEx it to me overnight at no charge, so I was very pleased with the service in this situation. Other brands may charge a nominal fee.

Final Result: Laptop that feels like new. Total Cost: $0. I am now back up and running, and it is amazing how much difference a fresh install makes. The cobwebs and grimy buildup is gone! I did spend hours on the backup and everything, but even if I bought a new laptop, I’d still have to spend hours reinstalling new apps and transferring files.

More Links
HP Notebook PCs - Repairing or Reinstalling The Operating System

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Rethinking Those Expensive Vitamin Supplements

Supplements inhibit the beneficial effects of exercise

If you exercise for fitness and take vitamin supplements, you might want to save cash now by rethinking the second part of that health regimen. Vitamin supplements are expensive, and a new study suggests that taking them inhibits certain beneficial bodily changes that result from strenuous exercise. If you've been needing cash advances between paychecks to finance a health and fitness routine, cutting out the supplements can get you that much closer to breaking free of a vicious payday loan cycle.

Supplements suppress the body’s natural defenses

When you exercise, your muscle cells burn sugar which releases reactive oxygen compounds –oxidants—that cause cell damage. The body reacts to the oxidants by strengthening its defenses against cellular damage and becoming more metabolically efficient.

Researchers in Boston and Germany found that when young male subjects who exercised took moderate amounts of vitamins C and E, the vitamins shut down their bodies' natural defenses against cellular damage. As a result the subjects missed out on a key health benefit of exercise.

Supplements prevent improved insulin sensitivity

Another benefit of exercise is that it improves the body's sensitivity to insulin. "Get more exercise" is often among the first recommendations given by doctors to diabetics and people at risk of diabetes. The researchers also measured sensitivity to insulin and found that exercise did not improve the sensitivity of the subjects who took vitamins. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Rethinking Those Expensive Vitamin Supplements"

Kevin Trudeau's Books Deemed Fraud | Save Your Money

Kevin Trudeau’s ups and downs

You may have seen an infomercial for any number of Kevin Trudeau products. He has hawked several books, including “Natural Cures ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About.”

Kevin Trudeau’s books have made it onto the best-sellers list as consumers seeking help hit up payday lenders so they could buy the books as soon as possible. Unfortunately for Kevin Trudeau, a couple of his books have also been labeled fraud by consumer agencies, and he has been fined tens of millions of  dollars for violating an agreement to refrain from being in any way involved with more infomercials.

Kevin Trudeau history

Let’s take a look at the beginning of Kevin Trudeau’s career. In 1991 Kevin Trudeau was convicted of credit card fraud. Christopher Pascale of suite101.com reports that after Kevin Trudeau completed his sentence, he and his former cell mate “started an illegal pyramid scheme based around the concept of multi-level marketing, selling vitamins.”

This began Kevin Trudeau’s stint in selling “health care” products.

The many products of Kevin Trudeau

In thousands of hours of infomercials, Kevin Trudeau sold products to cure hair loss and to cure addiction. He advertised books on improving your memory and released best-selling “The Weight Loss  Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About.’ That’s when Trudeau’s Troubles Part II began. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Kevin Trudeau's Books Deemed Fraud | Save Your Money"

Modern Mom | It Takes An Online Village (and Brooke Burke)

An online moms club

When it comes to being a mother, isolation is not a good thing. It goes against the bulk of human history to turn away from communities that can offer support, advice and a sympathetic ear. The currency of having a network of experienced mothers to draw strength from when all the questions of giving birth to and raising children arise can’t be ignored. It’s like guaranteed loans or a no faxing payday loan. Mothers give to each other and everyone benefits.

But what if your mothering network is of the online variety? For whatever reason, afternoon tea isn’t happening in your town, so you’re depending upon the World Wide Web. Check out sites like Modern Mom. It’s choc full of useful information.

Now in v2.0 - with Brooke Burke

Kara Swisher blogs for All Things Digital that Modern Mom has received a fresh relaunch with a celebrity face. It seems that Brooke Burke, the model/TV star/”Dancing With the Stars” champion, wants to share her own experiences as a mother, while helping other moms in the process. And this isn’t her first trip into e-Commerce, as Baboosh Baby indicates. In addition to Burke, Lisa Rosenblatt (wife of Demand Media founder Richard Rosenblatt) will be a business partner. Between the two mothers, they have seven children. They hope that the equation “celebrity + mom + tips galore” will equal success. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Modern Mom | It Takes An Online Village (and Brooke Burke)"

I cannot wait until winter and spring are over!

I want the sun to come out and start shining brightly and for the weather to start getting warm. I really don’t like being cold. When I’m really cold I can feel it in my bones and it seems like nothing warms me up. I can put on several layers of clothing or even turn on my heater and I just get cold again as soon as I move. I would much rather live somewhere with warm weather than somewhere that’s cold all the time. It’s really kind of funny though, my roommate loves the cold and hates being hot and I am the opposite. Too bad I have yet to find somewhere where I can be happy.

Jet America Takes Flight, Offers $9 Fares | Yes, There's A Catch

JetAmerica.com’s lure

RyanAir, based in the U.K., also offers low airfare.

Reading about Jet America’s $9 plane tickets, which you can purchase through jetamerica.com, reminds me of the time a telemarketer offered me a product that was “completely free.” After reassuring me about a dozen times of its complete freeness, she asked for my credit card number to pay for the shipping and handling charge. Click.

See, the actual ticket from Jet America Airlines is $9, but your trip will cost a lot more than that. However, for the time being it seems that these $9 price tags are doing exactly what Jet America set out to do: get attention.

Limited service

Jet America Airlines opens for business today, and  its promotional kickoff special is $9 airfare. This brings us to catch No. 1: The $9 tickets can only get you between Newark, N.J.’s Liberty Airport and one of these four cities: Toledo, Ohio; South Bend, Ind.; Lansing, Mich.; and Melbourne-Vero Beach, Fla.

Catch No. 2 is that there are a limited number of these tickets available. Only nine seats on each flight will go for $9, and there’s no telling how long this offer will last.

The real cost

Catch No. 3 is that you may be left scrambling for instant cash loans to pay for all of the extra fees that Jet America will tack on to your $9 ticket. For instance, ordering the ticket will cost more than the ticket itself, no matter how you do it. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Jet America Takes Flight, Offers $9 Fares | Yes, There's A Catch"

Surviving Recession: Financial Planning with a dose of Payday Loans

The basic purpose of payday loans

There is a widespread misconception that the need for a payday loan arises out of poor financial planning. The fact remains that the best and the most meticulous of your plans can be undone when faced with tough times. As Mike Tyson once said, "Everybody has a plan, until they get punched in the face." Of course, this is not to say that you do not need well thought out and long term financial planning. The underlying point here is that payday loans will take the punches for you when all your plans fail.

How to plan your finances

Building and managing your personal finances requires a dedicated effort towards planning. Following are some ways in which you could effectively manage your finances in daily life:

• Look out for the best deals whenever you plan on buying something, be it car insurance, or an iPod. Spending a little extra time and energy on searching for better deals could save you a lot at the end of the day.
• Think twice before you buy anything on credit. Ask yourself if you really need this item now. Maybe putting off this purchase by a couple of months would save you some bucks.
• In case you really need that item urgently, just remember that credit card fees, account overdraft charges and penalties etc. are simply exorbitant and affect your credit score. A payday loan would be handy in such scenarios, knowing that it is cheaper and independent of your credit score.
• Plan a weekly or monthly budget that puts adequate emphasis on saving and then stick to it. Living for the moment doesn't mean that you lose the long term perspective and start spending thoughtlessly. Even a payday loan does not give you the license to spend recklessly.
• Don't put all your eggs in the same basket. Branch out your investments, both geographically and qualitatively. E.g. a nice branched out portfolio could include stocks cutting across various industries and domains, real estate, fixed term deposits, 401k savings, bonds etc.
• Do not procrastinate, you are never too young (or too old, for that matter) to start saving. One of the biggest reasons why we are facing the credit crunch is because decades of prosperity and growth have played havoc with our spending habits. We are spending more than we save and hence the result. This must change.

Role of Payday Loans

As I said at the beginning, well planned personal finances are not a sure shot guarantee against recession. In tough times when you need some cash quickly, a payday loan could be your savior. Online payday loans are easy and quick and do not typically require faxing. All you need to do is to fill an online form and your application could be approved in 20 minutes. The money could be yours in as quickly as 2 hours. These faxless payday loans make great sense for many reasons: Firstly they are quick, so you get the money when you need it and not a day after. Secondly, they are cheaper than other options like credit car ds and account overdraft. Finally, if you plan a payday loan well, i.e. take only the amount that you need and spend it on things that you need urgently, then you can be sure that your next paycheck will take care of this loan. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Surviving Recession: Financial Planning with a dose of Payday Loans"

Business Credit Cards | Are you Victim of Advanta Freeze?

Business credit cards to be shut off

On Saturday, up to 1 million business credit cards through Advanta Bank Corp. will be shut down, frozen, terminated, however you want to put it.

What is the owner of an Advanta business credit card to do? There are a couple of things you should find out before you panic.

Business credit cards without personal guarantee

If you set up your Advanta business credit card as business credit without personal guarantee, that means you won’t have to dip into your personal bank account to pay you Advanta credit card bill.

The process of setting up business credit cards without personal guarantee is pretty involved, it’s not like getting fast payday loans. However, if you complete the process your personal finances will remain intact even if your business goes bankrupt.

Sudden credit freeze

With little to no warning, Advanta plans to shut down nearly 1 million business credit card accounts on Saturday.

Advanta sent notifications to customers via snail mail, the company says. However, because of “postal problems,” customers will likely receive notice that they can no longer use their Advanta business card on or before the day their accounts are frozen. Read the full story here. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Business Credit Cards | Are you Victim of Advanta Freeze?"

I used to hate wrestling.

My brother wrestled in high school and it drove me nuts. I couldn't figure out why someone would want to put on something really tight and then try and beat each other down. They don't even get to really fight when they wrestle. There are all these rules in place that make it so you can't hurt the other person. I hated it until my son started playing it in middle school. He decided that was the sport he wanted to do and I had to support him. I guess I learned to like it then. I am glad I did because my son is the best on the team and needs my support.

Outer space would be amazing

I wish I could be an astronaut and go to outer space. It would be amazing! I would get to wear one of those awesome helmets that keep the oxygen in so I wouldn't suffocate. I would also get to float in air instead of having gravity on me all the time. It would be the coolest thing ever. I would get to walk on other planets. That would be amazing to be able to experience that. I think that maybe I am going to have to find a way into NASA so that I can become a part of this amazing space program. I will have to put that on my bucket list so that I can do it before I die.

Podcast 5: Pursuing Your Passion and a Dual-Income Budget

Today’s podcast features an interview with J.D. Roth from popular blog Get Rich Slowly. J.D. talks with Tom Dziubek and me about how he was inspired to begin writing about personal finance and his decision to leave the corporate world behind and take his passion to the next level.

Tom also speaks with Bryan J Busch from Stop Being Broken. Bryan is a usability expert, and Stop Being Broken is a series of videos pointing out problems with a wide variety of user experiences. One such user experience is the budget, and in this interview, Bryan explains what works for him and his wife. Here is the video and Excel spreadsheet mentioned in the interview.

To listen, use the player above (Adobe Flash required), download the podcast here, subscribe to the podcast RSS feed, or use the iTunes link. Note: open links in a new window (Ctrl-click or Command-click) to avoid interrupting the podcast.

[00:00] Introduction from Flexo
[00:48] Interview with J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly about following passions
[01:38] — The beginning of Get Rich Slowly
[04:04] — Leaving the box factory to write full-time
[05:50] — The effect of self-employment on social interactions and benefits
[07:37] — How to prepare for leaving a career
[09:07] — Seeking professional advice
[10:30] — The progress of Get Rich Slowly and unforeseen obstacles
[15:12] — Tips that apply to passions other than writing
[16:39] — Pursuing multiple streams of income and the effect of the recession
[19:28] Interview with Bryan J Busch of Stop Being Broken
[20:20] — A family budget system for dual income
[21:41] — Adapting the budget for a single income family
[23:48] — Using joint savings accounts in addition to checking accounts
[25:23] — Alternative approaches to the budget
[27:00] — Automatic transfers based on the budget
[28:44] End

If you have suggestions for the next edition of the Consumerism Commentary Podcast, or reactions to these interviews, feel free to leave a comment here or email your thoughts to podcast at this domain name.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

Podcast 5: Pursuing Your Passion and a Dual-Income Budget

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How much fun would it be to be able to fly an airplane?

I think it would be awesome. I would really like to learn how to fly and have my own plane so I can go anywhere I want when I want. It would be so much easier loading my kids onto an airplane for a few hours instead of into a car for a few days to visit my family. We would have to make sure that we had a door separating the pilot from where the seats are because my kids would want to push all the pilot buttons and that could lead to death. Death would be really bad. Besides that, owning and being able to fly an airplane would be awesome.

What an amazing invention dishwashers are.

I’m really glad that dishwashers were invented. Whoever thought of them and actually put them together, and figured out how they work was a genius. Having a dishwasher makes my life easier because that’s one less thing that I have to do. It would be such a pain having to wash all of your dishes by hand. I don’t know if I could do it. I like being lazy and being able to throw my dishes in a machine, push a button, and then have my dishes sparkling clean 45 minutes later. I would probably go crazy having to hand wash all the dishes we go through ever day. I have a hard enough time doing chores around the house, the last thing I need is to have to spend a few hours on dishes.

"Colin" Zombie Film Wows Cannes; Made for $70!

Beware the zombie paydayloan

Proper budgeting is important during a recession. If you can spend $70 for groceries instead of $115, you’re doing well. But spending $70 to make a film that has drawn the interest of feature film distributors worldwide is another matter entirely.

No paydayloan or money loans were used in the making of “Colin,” a zombie film that has taken the Cannes Film Festival by storm. Amazingly, the British production was made for only $70!

Tom Foster reports for CNN that young English director Marc Price is tasting the fruits of success and a possible distribution deal for his urban zombie thriller. Made in guerrilla style with the help of online social media, the movie is currently in negotiations for release by a Japanese distributor. American distributors are also interested.

“We were almost fainting”

“We were almost fainting at the list of people who were coming [to the final market screening of the film],” said Helen Grace of Left Films. Left is publicizing “Colin” at the Cannes Film Festival, a yearly homage to film culture in France.

“When we say it’s a low budget film, people presume a couple of hundred thousand [dollars]. People can’t figure out how it’s possible (at $70). What Marc’s achieved has left people astonished,” she said.

How did Price pull this off?

First came the ads on Facebook for production help. Then Price obtained leftover makeup from film studios and learned how to do special effects on his own at very low cost. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled ""Colin" Zombie Film Wows Cannes; Made for $70!"

Memorial Day Barbecue Recipes | Keep Costs Down

Celebrate Memorial Day

Memorial Day is one of those holidays that you can really pull off without spending a lot of money. Many holidays have turned into big, commercial events. Memorial Day could be this way, if you let it, but keeping your costs low and celebrating Memorial Day right is easy as pie.

Having a picnic or barbecue is a great way to celebrate Memorial Day, and there’s really no need to spend any extra cash other  than what you would spend on a regular meal. Of course, it’s always more fun to include friends, so I found some super-cheap recipe ideas for Memorial Day.

Don’t discount hot dogs

Hot dogs are some of the most inexpensive protein you can find. Furthermore, most kids like them, so if you make them for your family you probably won’t end up wasting food and thus money because of picky eaters.

Hot dogs at the grocery store I go to are $1.50 for a pack of eight. That’s less than 20 cents a dog! Add in the buns, and still you are looking at less than 50 cents per serving. Of course, just a hot dog and bun doesn’t sound like a very exciting meal. However, I came across a whole slew of hot dog recipes on Razzle Dazzle Recipes that will help your barbecue be exiting, delicious and inexpensive.

Crunchy Kraut Dog

Thousand Island Dressing:
1/2 C. mayonnaise
2 T. chili sauce
1 T. minced onion
1 T. minced green bell pepper
1 T. minced dill pickle, sweet pickle or drained pickle relish
2 t. minced fresh parsley

Other ingredients:
3/4 C. sauerkraut
8 wieners
8 hot dog buns, preferably bakery-made
3 bacon slices, chopped and fried crisp ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Memorial Day Barbecue Recipes | Keep Costs Down"

Dancing is a lot of fun to watch.

From ballet to crumping or even ballroom it can be so expressive and graceful. It’s amazing to watch professionals dance. I think all women would agree when saying a guy that is a good dancer is a turn on. And I think all men would agree that women who can really get down on the dance floor and look good doing it, are sexy. Dancing can make someone look strong , good looking, and independent or fluid, graceful, and sexy. I don’t know what this world would be without dancing, and boy and I glad it’s around.

Memorial Day Sales | Save Some Money This Weekend

Memorial Day and its many traditions

Everyone has an opinion about what constitutes summer fun.

Like many holidays, Memorial Day has morphed somewhat from its original. The day now is marked by several traditions that don’t really have much to do with honoring fallen soldiers.

Many people view Memorial Day, and the weekend preceding it, as a celebration of the imminent summer. Barbecues, picnics, camping, boating an hiking are the appropriate way to welcome summer, according to many. But some say “as seasons change, so must your wardrobe.” And voila, the tradition of Memorial Day Sales was born.

Stock up for summer

Of course, you can get many things besides clothing on sale during Memorial Day weekend. If you’re thinking “I need to spend my cash now!” you’ll have endless opportunities. In fact, if you are not into all of that sunshine and natures, you can take advantage of many Memorial Day sales without leaving your computer.

MemorialDaySales.us/shop is a great resource for finding Memorial Day sales online. If you want a lengthy list of Memorial Day sales, visit that site. Here are some highlights.

Today only

Some of the places holding Memorial Day sales are actually holding sales today and only today. Overstock.com is offering 10 percent off of health and beauty items today in its “Select Spring Clearance” sale.

Altrec.com is offering up to 60 percent off on summer footwear through the end of the day, and 15 percent off Mammut gear. Wine.com is offering a “summer stock-up” deal; it’s 10 percent off when you buy 12 bottles. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Memorial Day Sales | Save Some Money This Weekend"

Government Improvement - Let Businesses Deal with Sales Tax

When I was in Canada where the sales tax was 15%, my dad taught me a simple way of calculating the ridiculously high government sales tax. Take 10% of everything you buy, add an additional half of the result and that’s the taxes you are paying. Now, add that on top of the purchase price and that’s the true cost of ownership.

The tip worked well, but now that I’m in California, a 7.75% sales tax isn’t so easy to calculate. I could bring a calculator with me, but is it seriously a viable option? Am I supposed to use it on every item that I see on the menu before I decide?

To make matters even more confusing, every county has a different sales tax percentage. I used to live at the border of two counties, and it always amazed me that anyone would shop at the department stores that had the higher sales tax. The 0.50% may not sound like much, but paying more unnecessarily is never sound decision making no matter how you look at it.

If I had my way, the government will mandate that sales taxes be included in the advertised price. As a consumer, it’s not as important for me to know what the sales tax is on every bill. What is critical though is how much I need to spend to buy a certain product, not how many line items make up that shirt I’m interested in.

Gas prices are already treated that way, so the nation clearly has the infrastructure to manage the process. Speaking of gases, can you imagine what it will be like if sales taxes were added on top of the advertise price?

Car owner: I’m going to fill her up with $20 since that’s all I have with me.
Gas Pump Reads: Total - $21.55. Please pay at the register.
Car Owner: What?!??

No matter how you look at it, not knowing the real cost of ownership is bad for the consumer. Here are a few more reasons why we need sales taxes to be embedded into the advertised prices.

• Less Confusion and More Clarity - Who in the right mind can always process sales taxes with every purchase? You might think you are buying that TV for $919, but it’s actually more than $1,000 (oh better get a bigger loan from the credit card company now).
• The Cost of Opening a Retailer in a High Sales Tax Location Reduces - While the retailer still needs to pay higher sales taxes, at least consumers like me will not go out of our way to avoid it. As a business owner, it’s just one less customer perception problem I have to worry about.
• Less Illegal Tax Evasion - A major draw for online shopping is that there are no taxes, yet the law actually requires us who buy online to still pay sales taxes (we are supposed to report it). I doubt anyone actually pays, but if it’s already embedded in the sales prices, it would level the playing field.
• Promotes Responsible Spending - The retailers are going to retaliate this proposal. Why? Embedding the sales tax is like increasing the price for every product of theirs without adding to profits. There will be less people buying and for regular folks like you and I, that’s not a bad thing at all. The bottom line is that it should be downright illegal to tell me that a shirt cost $49 when I have to pay closer to $55, period. It’s no wonder why people in America spend more than most other nations. None of us even know how much we are paying until we actually see the bill.

This is part of the Government’s Opportunity of Improvement series where I discuss every Friday areas that our great nation could improve on. Please let me know whether you agree or disagree by commenting below. I look forward to your insights.

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Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:

• Government’s Opportunity for Improvement - Intro
• Taking Advantage of Different State’s Sales Tax
• What Does Fiscal Stimulus Mean?
• Right Time to Buy a House or Just Bad Money Management?
• Why is Our Bailout Money Going Towards Paying for Executive Bonuses

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Ask the Readers: What Makes You Feel Rich While Being Frugal?

Earlier this week, Aaron asked whether repaying debt should be an obsession.

I replied that for some people, “gazelle intensity” makes more sense. (Trent from The Simple Dollar is one of these folks.) For others — including myself — it’s important to exercise balance, to allow a budget for fun.

Everyone who opts for a life of thrift can benefit from finding one or two things that make them feel “rich”. These indulgences don’t have to cost a lot of money — they just need to provide mental relief, an escape of sorts. While browsing through old conversations at Wesabe, I stumbled on a related question from Rebecca2Lexington, who asks, “What makes you feel rich while being frugal?”

Ok, let’s get some creative juices flowing and share with some great ideas to feel abundance while paying off debt. We have been paying down debt and staying on budget for several months now. Tell us about your mini splurges or thoughts are that keep you going.

This is a great question. It gets to the heart of what frugality is all about: establishing priorities so that you’re able to spend on the things that matter to you while ruthlessly cutting the things that do not. The 59 comments in the Wesabe discussion include suggestions like:

• Potluck dinners with friends
• “Spending the $10 to clean my car thoroughly, inside and out, but especially the inside.” (I know from first-hand experience that this is also a great way to kill the new-car itch.)
• Getting your hair done at a beauty school or getting a massage at a massage school.
• Debtkid says that a $2 firelog makes him feel cozy.
• Several people mentioned prepaying their mortgage or paying down credit card debt or contributing to mutual funds as actions that make them feel rich.
• Allese offered two great ideas: spending time outdoors and organizing her home. A clean home can make a huge difference in how you perceive your environment.

For me, food is an important part of my lifestyle. I’m able to cut back on clothes and books and entertainment, but I’m unwilling to economize on food. Why? Because when I eat well, I feel wealthy. Being able to spend $15 on my favorite pasta dish at Gino’s makes me feel rich even when the rest of my expenses are cut to the bone.

But one thing that has helped me feel richer than anything else: Quitting my day job. For the past 15 months, I’ve worked from home. I’m actually working longer hours than I did at the box factory, but I don’t mind. I have the freedom to go for a 6-mile run at 10 a.m. I can go to lunch with a friend. I can take a break to walk to the library. If I feel like taking a hot bath at 2 p.m., nobody’s going to stop me. Though I’m working long hours, the freedom to structure my life the way I want it makes me feel rich. And it doesn’t cost me a dime.

What about you? What makes you feel rich while being frugal? What mini splurges keep you going? What about cost-free ways to feel rich? I’m not looking for all of your indulgences — just the ones that make you feel as if you have a greater disposable income than you really do.

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Related Articles at Get Rich Slowly:

• What Does it Mean to Be Rich?
• Small Amounts Matter
• My Frugal Life
• Personal Finance Breakdown: New iPod
• Rich or Poor? Sometimes It’s All in Your Head

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What I Did On My Summer Nocation

First there was the shorter vacation, then the workation and the staycation. Now comes the latest signpost that the recession is changing the way Americans live: the nocation.

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The best date that I have ever been on

Junior prom. I went with a friend of mine and we grouped with a bunch of mutual friends. It was a blast. We woke up around 6am and went for a hot air balloon ride. The person who owned the hot air balloon was the dad of one of the guys in our group. We bought donuts for breakfast and ate then in the balloon. It was freeing but awesome seeing the farming fields from so high up. It took a while for everyone in our group to take their turn. For lunch we took big dice and wrote driving direction on them. For instance one side would say turn around, on another, straight, left, right, or u-turn. We used them to find out where we were going to eat lunch. You just roll the dice and follow the directions for 15 minutes and where ever you end up is where we ate lunch. That’s pretty much all we did but it was a blast. The best dates are the ones with friends I’d have to say.

Deep Sea Fishing in Mexico

When I was about twelve or thirteen my grandpa paid for all of his kids and grandkids to go to Mexico and go deep sea fishing. It was a blast! We stayed in beach front hotels and went fishing, snorkeling, and played in the ocean daily. We would go out into the ocean on covered boats so we wouldn’t burn and the crew would bait the hook and take the fish off the hook for us. All we had to do was cast and reel the fish in, if we wanted. Then we’d have fish tacos, burritos, omelets, and anything else that would go with fish to eat. By the end of the week I sure was sick of fish and swore that I would never eat it again, but that didn’t last too long luckily. I still eat fish occasionally.

I am so glad that there are still old fashioned farmers around.

What would we do if there weren’t any farmers? How and where would we grow the fruits and vegetables that we eat and use on a daily basis? They would probably be grown in some kind of factory by scientists who would keep on trying to improve them somehow when they are fine just the way they are. It would be fun to be a farmer, a lot of hard work but fun. I don’t think that I would mind living or working on a farm. It would be great growing your own fresh vegetables and fruit and not having to worry about pesticides or things like that because you already know where they came from. I think being a farmer would be great.

'American Idol' Winner Faces Mountain of Money | Or Does He?

‘American Idol’ winner under contract

The “American Idol” winner, and probably the runner-up too, most likely have buckets of cash in their futures. They just have to play their cards right.

The catch is, Forbes reports that the contracts that the show’s creator locks contestants into are not ideal, and the company takes a much bigger cut than a company giving a quick payday loan.

Money problems

Anyone who competes to be the “American Idol” winner on the show, regardless of how far along they get, must sign a contract saying that Simon Fuller’s company, 19 entertainment, has “first dibs on signing them to recording contracts, which though famously secretive are widely regarded as the stingiest in the music industry,” according to Forbes.

Fuller also gets a cut of every CD, endorsement, TV, movie or T-shirt bearing the likeness of his Idol charges. (Fuller’s 19 Entertainment was bought out in 2005 by CKX for $174 million in cash and stock.) While managers traditionally enjoy a 15% or so cut of a performer’s contract, 19 Entertainment reportedly takes as much as 50%.

Breaking away

Many previous “American Idol” winners have discovered that their record contracts were, indeed, not to their liking. One contestant, Mario Vazquez, even bailed on the show after becoming a finalist because he thought he’d be better off without the “American Idol” machine.

After Kelly Clarkson’s first album,” Breakaway,” went mutiplatinum she severed her contract with 19 Entertainment. Clarkson would still be rolling in the dough if she’d kept her contract, what with her endorsement deals with Ford, Proactiv, Vitamin Water and Candie’s. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "'American Idol' Winner Faces Mountain of Money | Or Does He?"