Posts Tagged ‘friday financial follies’

Financial Follies: Ramen Noodle, with a Twist, and a Tata Edition!

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Friday Financial Follies:

The Friday Financial Follies (FFF) are designed to summarize the important financial issues of the week.

  •  Share the humor of  the FFF that are funny.
  • Make fun of the stupid.
  • Highlight those FFF you need to be aware of if you want to be financially well-grounded or is it well-rounded???

The Twist (no not Chubby Checker’s version)

The financial talking heads  this week  focused on the Federal Reserves “Twist” plan. The twist is the Feds buying long-term debt and mortgage debt instead of short-term debt.  The idea here is to keep mortgage rates and the costs of borrowing down. (For a review of QE 2, the last Federal Reserve effort to save the world check out the link.)

Most experts feel it’s unlikely the twist will provide much benefit to the average Joe, and the stock market voted with a 600+ point Dow drop since the announcement.  Doom and gloom is again in the air.  And may stay till the election, or until Greece et al default….whichever comes first…

On a lighter note, Museum for Noodle Lovers!

For all you frugalista’s who’ve eaten Ramen noodles every which way possible, you now have an Ramen Noodle alter where you can worship-The Ramen Noodle  Museum.  Yokohama here I come!

Are You All In?

Full Tilt Poker, the once darling of the online poker world, now faces Ponzi scheme allegations and indictments. I wonder if I can get one of those Full Tilt caps on the cheap now?  Will they be allowed to teach Texas Hold-em in prison?

Public Broadcasting scandals down under:

You think our public broadcasting has it’s financial scandals.  In Australia a television parody of the first female prime minister having sex while lying on the Australian flag has raised a few eyebrows about supporting public broadcasting….Even in that live and let live country.  Flag poles…naaah I won’t finish that thought.

Is this your lucky rabbit?

How to Save Money On Your Fire Alarm:  Rabbit wakes up homeowner sleeping during a housefire, only to succumb to smoke inhalation.   (I wonder how they decided that?-Rabbit CIS do an autopsy????)  Maybe the owner will save the feet….(yea, I know that’s bad.)

Jeweled Tata’s

How can a car called a Tata Nano, normally 3,000 bucks, be worth millions?  By pasting it’s body with gold and precious jewels.  The real question is why?  I’d like to save that Tata.

iPhone app for writers:

iPhone/iPad App of the week is for you writers/bloggers: Techland’s review of Clean Writer, @ 99cents seems to be a bargain-though buying that accessory keyboard may not be such a  great deal.

Lawsuits anyone?

Another in the long line of “you can sue anyone for anything” an NFL fan in the stands hurt by a thrown ball sues the Philadelphia Eagles….

 

Personal Finance Reads:

In this weeks FFF, I want to highlight a few of the newer members of Yakezie, and the Yakezie Challenge. The best personal finance blog network.

20′s Finance talks about his green frugal efforts.  I’m a little cynical when it comes to “green” but I admit I do many of the things outlined here.  I bike commute several days a week, and we use CFL’s.  But I’m more motivated by saving money and fitness not  saving the world.

Paul at The Frugal Toad has a few tips on preventing identity theft for college students.

Parents are the financial adviser of choice of 20 somethings….is Shaun’s topic at Smart Family Finance.  Scary huh?  The generation with the highest foreclosure rate and debt rate since the depression giving financial advice….Maybe they will say “do as I say, not as I did…..”

For you who have resisted the smart phone, Mrs Accountability at Out of Debt, Again writes a “how to” post on using text messages to search Google for directions and phone numbers.

Cash Flow Mantra is looking for part-time bloggers making over 1 grand/month with their blog.  Don’t look here!

The Debt Myth-Jackie reviews the reasons for an emergency fund and the dangers of using credit for emergencies-for those of you starting your dump debt journey!

An analysis of the long-term price of oil and fossil fuel reserves is on Mitch’s mind at Beating the Index.  I agree the long term trend is up. But with a world-wide economic slow down going on, I predict another $10-20 buck drop in oil prices in the next 6 months.  That may be the only thing keeping us from another recession.  If gas prices drop it’s like a raise for most families.

Thanks for being a reader!   Have a great weekend, and remember when doom and gloom is the consensus, the market bottom can’t be far away….

{Photo credit: B.2010 c.c.}

Speakin of Google + I’m there as Dean Burke.  Put me in one of your circles, I’ll feel so special….

Make sure you follow me on Twitter @DrDeanBurke- quick links on the side of the blog!  And let’s not miss a post-sign up for email special delivery or the RSS feed!

Friends, I love friends-check out my Facebook page, and I’m definitely Linked-In-use the shortcuts on the side-that’s why I paid my Web Master of the Universe-Ben-the big bucks to put ‘em there-saves you time!

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Quality of Life | 1 Comment »

Friday Financial Follies: In-Vitro Lottery Edition!

Friday, July 8th, 2011

The Friday Financial Follies are designed to summarize the important financial issues of the week.

  • Make light of those that are funny.
  • Make fun of those that are stupid.
  • Highlight those you just need to be aware of if you want to be financially well grounded.

Debt Limit Dance Redux:

Debt limit extension and balanced budgets remain in the news-negotiations are ongoing. A game of chicken at the highest level of our government is in action.   The next few weeks will be interesting to watch.  For more info on the debt limit game see this post!

Job Schizophrenia

If you love schizoprhenia, you will get a kick out of the two job reports this week.  The ADP private job survey suggested there is light at the end of the tunnel….Jobs data showed improvement for the first time in months.

But the more respected governments own employment report showed a measly bump up of 18,000 jobs in June-with a net of 140,000 required just to break even.  The unemployment rate is up again to 9.2%, which doesn’t count those so frustrated they no longer are actively looking for work.

Unintended Consequences

Another example of unintended consequences: The 2006 law that makes automatic enrollment of workers into a 401k was supposed to increase participation, and it has especially among lower income workers.  New studies show however that because employees aren’t active in making the decision, they aren’t increasing the amount they put into the plan as their wages increase.  The overall result for middle and upper income employees is that their overall retirement savings are lagging!

Remember the big petroleum reserve release?

Oil prices are back up above the level  that precipitated the release in oil reserves two weeks ago.  So much for the Obama’s administrations efforts at getting oil prices down.

The President’s own economic advisers has released it’s latest report on the $650+billion stimulus resulted in job growth costing $278,000 each.  Not an efficient use of taxpayer dollars. (Understatement of the year)

Retirement age?

Getting close to retirement age? This article reports 5 states friendly for retirees…The comments from the various state residents  involved are worth reading too.

Ethanol tax breaks may soon be ending-whether that will help or hurt at the pump remains to be seen…

And when you think you’ve heard it all: A new lottery in Britain-worth about 40 grand in In-Vitro fertility treatments….

If the stakes weren’t so high, the jousting going on in Washington would be amusing.  I’m afraid the decisions made in the next few months will reverberate in our economy for years.  (Fingers crossed!)

For your weekend Reading Pleasure:

Donna at Surviving and Thriving goes dumpster wading??? In Alaska…

Bret at Hope to Prosper writes words of wisdom on investing.

Broke Professionals has a 1000 ways for you to save money. Yes, 1000 ideas-go check ‘em out!

Faithful With A Few explains the common traits of financial failure during credit counseling.

The downsides to self-employment are explained by Daniel at Sweating the Big Stuff.

Canadian Personal Finance explains why debt is like teenage sex. Worth a read!  Course I’m too old to remember….

Free Money Finance wonders how he would fare after 3 hours in a financial hot seat…It sounds interesting.  Let me know if you set up a group FMF, but if the entrance threshold is a net worth of 10 mil, I will have to wait till next year:)

Roundups where I’ve been featured:

The Wealth Artisan’s weekend roundup.

Invest it Wisely’s roundup.

The Great Len Penzo wants me to buy the Dodgers. Interested billionaire investors contact me here at the blog!

Thanks and if I’ve missed one let me know!

Hope you have a great weekend, and return next week for another round of financial follies found only here, at The Millionaire Nurse Blog!

{photo credit: Bytemarks c.c.}

Make sure you follow me on Twitter @DrDeanBurke- quick links on the side of the blog!  And let’s not miss a post-sign up for email special delivery or the RSS feed!

Friends, I love friends-check out my Facebook page, and I’m definitely Linked-In-use the shortcuts on the side-that’s why I paid my Web Master of the Universe-Ben-the big bucks to put ‘em there-saves you time!

Tags: ,
Posted in personal finance | 1 Comment »

Friday Financial Follies: Nude Biker Edition!

Friday, June 24th, 2011

The Friday Financial Follies are designed to summarize the important financial issues of the week.

  • Make light of those that are funny.
  • Make fun of those that are stupid.
  • Highlight those you just need to be aware of if you want to be financially well grounded.

No shortage of flippant, funny, financial foibles to foist on you guys this week… Of course you are saying: “Finally, it’s Friday!”

I want to thank Guy Kawasaki for highlighting my post on the importance of learning new technology, “Hidden Danger Of The Status Quo“.  The man can drive some  traffic!

For a review of Guy’s best selling book, Enchantment go to my Yakezie article, and for an interview of Guy-check it out here…And if you haven’t purchased his book, he has a two for one special going now.  His book and a great book on making presentations special. Check it out!

The Friday Financial Follies!

  • The FDA announced the safety of silicone breast implants-but warned 20-40% of implant patients would need surgery for correction of complications or implant rupture within 10 years.  This additional cost and risk should be considered by anyone considering implants.  The FDA also recommended costly MRI’s to screen for rupture every couple of years.

And for your personal finance reading pleasure, check out these great writers and teachers:

I’ve been bike commuting 3-4 days a week this summer-but I promise to keep my clothes on.  Talk about distracting drivers!

Hope you have a great weekend.

{photo credit: cupcakes 2 c.c.}

Comments, letter, or emails welcome!

Make sure you follow me on Twitter @DrDeanBurke- quick links on the side of the blog!  And let’s not miss a post-sign up for email special delivery or the RSS feed!

Friends, I love friends-check out my Facebook page, and I’m definitely Linked-In-use the shortcuts on the side-that’s why I paid my Web Master of the Universe-Ben-the big bucks to put ‘em there-saves you time!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Quality of Life | 2 Comments »