ING & HSBC Rates

I received an email from HSBC that is showing 4% on a 6-month CD. When I click the email I am immediately delivered to a page that reminds me HSBC's savings account is paying 3.25%.

So, imagine my shock when I log into my ING Direct account and see that my main savings account has dropped from 3% to 2.75%.

I know, I should have expected this with the Fed's dropping interest rates. It is just that I try to hold on to the positive, "it could happen". You know, the bank could feel generous and leave rates unchanged.

Sometimes, most times, I am like the nine year old. I too, believe in Angels in the Outfield.

Since clearing out my savings to pay those annual bills, my interest was already looking thin. Now, it could become invisible.

Looking at my 1/2 full cup. I suspect it will be easier to match this years interest, next year. ;-)

One money stream down

I knew it was bound to happen. Yet, I still held a glimmer of hope that we could avoid it. I find it is always best to stay some what positive or else you are always feeling the let down!

Today, I have been notified that my itty-bitty income stream - the secret job I do, is being cancelled by the big business! I'm gonna miss that tiny little stream.

I fear this is only the beginning. Other things are showing signs of shakiness.

Rental:Shaky but moving forward

Tenants, in the residential rental, seem to be regular late payers. How they live this way, is beyond me. I would go crazy paying my bills late.

Not only that, they are paying me late fees. Late fees that could cover their electric bill in size. They will never get ahead, if they don't rectify this soon. Paying extra is just putting another block in front of them towards success.

On a good note, I am receiving the rents. My financials say this will be the most profitable year since I acquired this property. As of today, I have 1 month in advance paid on the mortgage and money left in the bank. Plus, I took about $85 from the extra late fees and paid down the mortgage a bit more.

That measly $84.46 saves me 1¢ a day in interest expense.

Add that $84.46 to the $168.09 I prepaid earlier, and I am now saving:

• 4¢ a day
• $1.29 a month
• $15.69 a year

Not much, but when you figure out this is all a bonus to my everyday cash flow, it sure is SWEET!

I'm taking the rest of the extra fees and using them to fund a business savings at ING, if anyone emails me a link. :-) Hoping to build up enough to cover annual bills, without my personal funds and keeping it separate. Too much cash movement is making me crazy.

Go Pro

There are so many awesome sites out there. Professional bloggers that have that special knack of staying focused on topic and drawing in the readership. I am not that type of blogger. I am just a person throwing my thoughts out into the world in hopes of connecting with others that have similar views and challenges. As well, as mixing it up with opposing views.

I've come to discover that the free sites for bloggers, that shall remain nameless are fabulous for people like me. Yet, they still lack a lot of pop. I have tried a few times for something of my own. I fail every time. Mostly because I am cheap and quality web design services cost anywhere from $499 for a basic build to $1399 for a made to suit. It is so hard to go away from the free when it is more personal then business.

Of course, with a service Web site up and running in less than two weeks! I have trouble fixing my site after years. If I wasn't cheap, I would go for the more personalized options, like:

• a 5-page design and Web site hosting
• My own designed theme
• of course with modifications to fit me personally

This way is definitely the way to go for newbies like myself. That aren't cheap and have a goal to be in the big leagues.

Up that price to the high end of $1399 and get that one on one attention to make the site all you and not something to be shared other places.

My guess is, on either option, you best have a plan to get the funds back from your investment.

Something New

Do you buy Chiquita Bananas or Fresh Express Salads? I do and I had no idea they had a site called freshfunds. Sign up is free and you earn points every time you buy one of these good for you products. If you are like me, this is a weekly event.

The points can be used to earn prizes, donate to charity or even bid on auctions for other healthy stuff. They say the auctioned items change weekly, so check in at least that much, if your points have grown to a dipensable amount.

Did I say, it is free? You earn points for what you are doing right now, already. Nothing new to add to your burden except claiming your points. And reaping the benefits for you or your favorite charity. Win-Win!

We have a soccor mom in our town, I guess every school does, that is much like the The Sproutwells. She will scream at every single play in the game. If her child is in the game, Ms. Soccor Mom, will be yelling so hard and furious that you can not even hear the announcer. Worse yet, she is accompanied by family, 4 generations come to every sporting event and they are loud and obnoxious, just like Mama Sproutwell in this clip. It is a You-Tube clip that Fresh Funds has put out to promote their site to Soccer Moms, but looking at it - it goes with Football Moms too!

I can never decide, do we call parents like this dedicated and passionate or obnoxious and bothersome?

FEAR:Check In + Bills Out = Money Left

Talk about creating an internal panic. When you receive your monthly paychecks and not your rental or investment income yet. Then you pay all your bills, initiate a transfer to retirement, pay off your equity line and credit cards (less the 0%) and see a substantial balance in your checking account.

Fear is automatic at that point.

I completed the month end for our business last night and as always paid all the business bills and the employees (us), then completed billing. There was a lot of invoicing to do, since we were on vacation last month and did not bill anyone. It's okay, this time - generally folks want regular monthly bills when we are on a job. The particular home we are building has a very wealthy farmer as an owner. It will not phase him very much, when he received a bill over $100k.

I would be having a stroke.

Anyway, I stopped working in time to watch McCain. Let's not go there. I did not complete our bill paying till this morning. I have most items automatic, but there is still some recording and initiating that I must do.

I am in shock!

I have paid everyone. I currently owe nothing in the monthly category. Including paying off all current month charges. Even though they are not due to the end of September. But I had money in the account and I like ZERO's. And I still had money left.

So, I initiated a payoff of our home equity line. It is now zero, until the 0% card expires. And I still had money left.

I paid all the business bills, that I usually wait for the rent checks to cover. I'm still missing 2 rent checks. This made me very happy - with over $2k coming in still this month personally.

I still had cash and did what I thought was best - I paid an extra payment on the 2nd Mortgage to make an even thousand balance on the loan. Then I made the retirement contribution for my DH. And I still have money left.

This isn't right!

I had no choice, I had to print a transaction report for this month and last month. I'm looking for a missed bill due. I must have forgotten something - right?

No, I didn't. Here is what I found:

• After vacation, I transferred out our savings dollars to pay the big annual bills.
• There was enough money there to pay those annuals and the credit card balances from vacation - plus that new a/c unit.
• This left me with some unusually low credit card balances for September.

Credit cards are my cash. So, with balances so small - my regular card had a balance above $400, where it usually is above $2.2k. I'm feeling rich.

This is a great way to head into the last quarter of the year. Now that I am positive I will not take any current bills and add them to our debt load, I have some goals for the last quarter.

1. Keep paying minimums on 0%
2. Transfer 0% to Line prior to the maturity dates
3. Max out DH's retirement before year end
4. Max out my retirement before year end
5. Get through Christmas Debt Free
6. Pay for N.C. Trip with current month income
7. Pay for KY Trip with current month income

If all that takes place, we will be in a sweet spot come January 09'. Even after 4 vacation/get-a-ways this year. Michigan weekend, Jersey Week, North Carolina long weekend & Kentucky weekend.

This past year was a huge jump to freedom for us. Funny how the jump is so much easier now.

Ebates-Vrs-SavingsWatch

I received a comment on how I could earn more rebates with SavingsWatch.com then with Ebates. Ignorance is not bliss, leaving me no choice but to investigate.

Store ------------Ebates---SavingsWatch

Drugstore.com---------6%------------------8.25%

Best Buy----------------1%-------------------1.5%

Eddie Bauer-----------4%---------------------6%

FragranceNet-----------6%------------------8.25%

The list goes on and on - but these are a few of my regular stores.

I do not see a referral system in SavingsWatch, but I am still adding this to my shopping sites. These percent difference just mean more money in my pocket after regular purchases.

I'll keep both and check them both before I begin my Christmas shopping.

OMGosh! I'm on the home page

I am not a writer. As anyone who reads my ramblings knows. I basically say what is on my mind. Not always getting warm responses, but such is life.

I actually believe different views build a more exciting world.

Anyway, I just received an email from Helium, one of the writing sites. Way back when I wrote an article about the DaVinci Code and The Passion. Of course, 100% my opinion, but something I felt compelled to do.

I'll be, if the folks at Helium didn't put me on the Home Page. I'm at the bottom of the page and go by the name Laundry Queen. How cool!

I wish I was a more talented writer, I love Helium.

I've referred NO ONE and referrals only come through their emailing system on site. Meaning they don't provide me with a link to share. :-( Anyhoo. I have earned over $50 on this site. And if you are interested in giving it a go, for fun and maybe some cash - email me and I will send you a link.

Ebates Bonus Ending 6/30

Here is hoping that you, that one person sitting on the fence with Ebates, signs up.

Before I give you the link that will earn you $5 after your first linked through purchase and me a $10 bonus if you sign-up prior to the deadline and make that purchase, let me share my thoughts.

Folks, this is FREE money! It's like having a coupon every time you shop. There is no catch. You have no costs. Ebates earns money from stores and online merchants when they send customers their way and then they share the money with you. Easy.

Since I joined I have earned/saved or if you prefer discounted my purchases to the tune of $90.03.

Every quarter, Ebates will automatically transfer to my PayPal account my savings. Could it get any easier?

Now, I don't recommend you go shopping crazy because of the discounts and cash back. What I do recommend is that if you are making the purchase anyway - sign up for Ebates, and click through. Why not get cash back?

Some of the places I have earned cash back -

• Eddie Bauer
• Barnes & Noble
• Six Flags
• East Bay
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Hotels.com
• Best Buy

There are so many stores that participate.

And don't think that your Ebates rewards are all your discounts. Even when using Ebates, you can still add in discount codes and coupons to your purchase. So go ahead do a search for another discount to add on. Ebates is just an extra income source.

I just need one more person, on the fence, to jump in and sign-up and I will get a bonus of a $10 Target Gift Card. So, please, please consider it!

Under Six Figures

It was a glorious day yesterday. Okay, no parade or huge display of fireworks. And to be honest, it slipped by without a huge commotion. But only because I was busy.

Yesterday, I made my first payment on our commercial property, since acquiring that rate adjustment last month.

I ran into a bit of a snag though. Completely my fault, I wasn't paying attention.

Apparently, when we did the adjustment - the bank re-adjusted my payment due date. Not the day of the month, but the month.

You see, I have all my mortgages paid a month in advance. This is my first line of defense for an emergency fund. Blessing me with a month of float time before I feel a pinch. I like this system, because I am never worrying if a check comes in on time.

So, when I was making my electronic payment yesterday, I noticed that it said for June 1st. Oh crap, I'm late. I already paid Junes payment in May. This is not good! This payment should have been for July 1st.

I did what anyone would do. I made my payment and opened my email and typed a quick "whats up?" to my banker. Which of course, first responded that this how a re-adjustment works, blah, blah, blah. Yet, any prior adjustments I have done - NEVER WORKED THIS WAY, because I pay attention and make sure the paperwork is what I want.

Smack me for not looking. Crap!

So, I emailed the banker back. Shared that I didn't like it, being my first line of defense for a disaster, but would live with it.

I was gone mid-day and returned to an email from the banker telling me "it is fixed!" I love having a relationship with a bank. This is the 3rd time in less then a year, when they cater to me, without my begging or requesting - just a mention. Makes me feel like they truly value my business.

Not only is everything as it should be, but I crossed a major point yesterday. Our commercial real estate loan went from 6 figures to 5. This is going to be our bread and butter income, when it is paid off. Supplying more the 2/3rds of our needed income for retirement after expenses.

Still one of my best investments.

Deposit Crazy!!!

I have a customer, that is slowing the money flow in their business. I am more closely involved at the moment, because one of the partners is in Italy. So, I am seeing the lag in timing from their system. And frankly, it is driving me bonkers. This is no way to run a business. Especially a new and growing one (under 5 years).

They are receiving customer payments at one location and then mailing them to another to be deposited. How crazy is that? This is creating a 3-5 day lag in their money clearing the bank.

While I completely understand the why they do it, I'm determined to find a better way.

Which had me remembering that mailer from my bank a while back. Where they were going to let us test drive a "deposit from home/office" system. That is just what these guys need.

I was totally excited when I saw that DepositNow has a system that would work wonders with their Quick Books Manufacturing program. The first guy that receives the check, could just scan it in and get the money to the bank. The DepositNow system integrates with their software so the other office would see (and me too) the money and deposit through QB. SWEET!

My next task is to determine how cost effective it is. Because in a young business it all goes back to dollars and cents. Okay, in all businesses.

The initial unit (scanner) costs $225. The only extra plus here is that this scanner is not for checks only and could be used in other areas of the business. Making it even more cost effective.

There are immediate costs with every check they currently receive:

• Postage to 2nd location - 42 ¢
• Trip to bank estimating 10 miles round trip in a big Buick - I'd say 1/2 gallon of gas - $2.00
• Time - depending on schedule and location always a variable.
• Money saved on paying bills without delay and penalty - variable.

So, if we just say $2.50 per deposit, with an average of 2 a week, that is $20 a month. $20 that could go to other things. And could more likely, looking at the past, grow into much more based on fees.

The only loose end for me, is the cost to have this system up and running. They say it has too many variables to provide numbers online. Which means, I need to make some calls.

For the moment though, I am going to email a page link to them to check it out and see how it is received. Wouldn't want to waste my time, if it is a NO GO from the start.

Hey - if you need this system too put my blog site name into the referral box and they will give you $25 off the scanner. And let me send you a big thanks, because I will also receive $25.00. I need to figure out how to get my company to sign on this system, earning me the referral, without revealing my blog. I don't suspect this will be possible. :-(

Prying Eyes

Most small businesses worry about having their numbers in view of employees and subcontractors. We just like privacy as humans. Many require detailed time and expenses when billing customers. For these reasons the logical choice is Online Time and Expense software. Where everyone can access and then the head cheese can download the information into their accounting software and follow through with billing.

The best records, mean the most in sales.

Part-time Job?

Lately, I have been entertaining the idea of getting a part-time job. It is an idea that is remaining silently in my brain, because I know my DH will not be on board.

Not to say he will be adamantly against it. I just know him to like a steady schedule and flow of things and this could upset the home balance.

To be honest, I am not totally thrilled by the idea, but I think it is a possible fast lane for freedom. One that if I could manage for a while, I could alter our future. No, we are not behind on our bills or being buried alive by them.

I do feel stress though - and it seems to be getting worse.

When I try to formulate my feelings and tie them to a place - this is what worries me and prompts my thoughts:

• The recession, which in my mind is going to be lasting longer then they say. I foresee the likelihood of depression. Both emotionally & financially (one feeds the other).
• College bills - if I could get a part-time and take all money, after expenses to pay on college bills, we could stop the "maintaining" phase and actually move forward. I know I should be happy we are maintaining - with 2 divorces under us, but I'm not.
• Residential Rental - still have 1 side sitting empty. I find myself in such a panic over this that I am hiding from it. This is bad.

So what would a Part-Time Job really get me?

2- 6 hour shifts a week @ Minimum Wage ($7.50) = $90 a week gross

Less 10.65% Tax Withholding (no fed too low, 7.65% FICA & 3%State) = $9.59

Net Weekly Check = $80.41

Guesstimate 2 Gal of Fuel a Week = $8.00 (using the estimated summer high)

That would leave me with $72.41 to assist.

If I could start by April, I would have roughly 22 weeks in which to earn before the first college bills of the 08-09' year.

22 X $72.41 = $1,593.02

There is where I stop. Losing 44 evenings with my family for $1593.02 is that worth it? I made more then this online last year and lost no time with my family. My office is at home. Flexible my time is.

Stop Walking

I got an idea - how about folks stop walking away from their mortgages and homes and take some different steps.

1. How about pulling up a mortgage refinance. You may be saying "I won't be approved". Well then .... on to #2
2. Rent a room, the garage or a section of your home. Get some income to help supplement.

The real estate market has a ways to go, before we start seeing growth, so instead of fretting and losing everything - lets get proactive!!!

I personally have 2 rooms available and with DS1 going to college in the fall, sadly I will have 3. The basement room could actually be a whole living space for someone - and it is nice with it's own bathroom.

February Income and Expenses

The Shortest month of the year has no correlation to the smaller spending figures. In fact, in our case it seems to be quite the opposite.


So many issues in February - seems to go with the month I had. The good news is I survived. Mentally, I feel like I was bashed. But with the warm weather we are experiencing (ignoring the calls for snow) I feel promise in March is coming. (grabbing for any optimism I can find)

Income is high because:

• We received an early payment on a contract sale, that was not due until March.
• Birthday Gift Money seemed to just flow to me.
• Ebates Rebate Check for Christmas Shopping
• Tax Refunds for 2007
• Received Prepayment for March Rental Property
• Huge Online Income

Expenses are nothing to blink at either:

• Auto a bit high - purchased a tank of gas for DD3
• Bank Charge was from PayPal - when I was paid by credit card - OUCH!
• Charity - not my Lent cash give away - but I did have a couple places to give where cash wasn't appropriate. Again aggravating hubby with the documented giving. I can't help it some times.
• Clothing expense seems to be re-occurring as I continue to downsize my body.
• Dining - being the big spender that I am, I took hubby out to a hot dog stand for lunch one day.
• Entertainment - We went to the Chicago Auto Show - I found out at the show, when I bumped into my brother and sister-in-law that we could have went for free. :-( Brother gets tickets from work.
• Groceries - way over budget here. Of course, February has 2 birthdays and I make what everyone wants. As I posted earlier - March will be up too.
• Household - Big out of the box spending here. First of all, we replaced all our cookware this month with Caphalon stainless steel - So worth it! Then I did a ton of dry cleaning for charity. I didn't want to take my too big clothes without having them cleaned.
• Repairs and Maintenance - 2 Words - Commercial Furnace.
• Tax - Paid 1st quarter 2008 Estimates.
• Utilities - has 2 electric bills - paid March in February.

The good thing is we had income to pay the bills. The bad thing is - no retirement investments.

I can only guess what March will hold for us.

Looking for a career in California?

Not me. I'm sure I am either allergic to warm weather or earth quakes. Plus, I am no writer. I do this purely for me.

Although, I know some of you are excellent at what you do and I thought I would share an email I received. Because you never know..................

I'm looking for an editor/writer to lead the Mint.com Personal Finance blog. A job spec is attached. Given the content and reach of your own PF blog, I thought you might be aware of some "up and coming" bloggers in this space who would be interested in and qualified for this opportunity.

The role is full-time, based in Mountain View, CA, and pay in the mid to high "five figures". Successful candidate will have personal experience writing on personal finance topics and must submit samples to be considered. They’d do some writing themselves, as well as managing a handful of other writers (including Angie Szesciorka, who you’ve traded emails with) on specific PF topics. They’d drive the blog design and it’s SEO/Acquisition goals, as well.

Many thanks and best wishes for continued success,

Donna Wells
Chief Marketing Officer
Mint Software, Inc.
280 Hope Street Mountain View CA 94041
O: 650-469-1302
C: 650-996-7676
www.mint.com

I was unable to open the attached file with specs, but I am positive she would send this information to you, should you have interest.

Happy going!

Fast $8

I think I messed up somewhere. I had joined Opinion Outpost and thought I didn't get any opportunities for surveys. Evidently, I was trashing them.

I just completed my first survey for Opinion Outpost and made $8 (80points) in 15 minutes. Holy cow! Now that was definitely worth my time.

The link above, for anyone who hasn't joined yet - which I doubt there are any. I see this site everywhere. Anyhow, it is a referral link. You don't have to use it, but I would appreciate it if you did - it's worth a whole $1 to me after you complete your first survey.

This site my help me keep my goal of $3600 in online/extra income for 2008. Especially if the surveys continue to pay out like this.

PLUS, I clicked over to see if I could get a payout and you know what - I could. Already. I think I am going to like Opinion Outpost.

Make $25 Fast Dollars

Stop waiting for tomorrow. Tomorrow is today. Open an ING Direct Savings Account and watch your money grow. Literally. Every time you log in to your account (each day), you will see your interest accumulating. it is very motivating and one of the many reasons I chose ING Direct to save with.

Need more reasons?

• 3.4% APY
• No Fees
• No Changing Banks - do it from home
• 24 hour access to your account
• FDIC Insured

With those great benefits and the added perk of a $25 bonus, when you use one of my referral links and open the account with $250 - why wouldn't you have an ING Direct account. This is an immediate 10% return on your money. No muss, no fuss, and no risk. All the cash is still yours at the end of the day. Unlike some of the other 10% return options (ahhhhmmm stocks).

In fact, with the bonus and the regular interest rate currently, you will make 13.4% this year.

ITS A NO BRAINER!

I know you don't have to, but I would appreciate it if you did, use my links:

Referral Link #1
Referral Link #2

When you use my link ING deposits a bonus into my account for $10. You would be helping my financial well being, without an expense to you.

And when you get your account up and running. You can refer others and increase your savings rate. It doesn't get any better then that.

January Income and Expenses

I'm sure everyone is aware that I do not budget - ever. It just is a lot of work for nothing in my eyes. The reason I say this is because we take all our cash after expenses and apply to debt. Then we live cash poor the rest of the month. Overall, I think my DH and I are very good with controlling our wants.

Although, we do slip from time to time. Of course, I think we need to. Every time you slip, you come back stronger with a vengance to defeat the burden.

I decided to look at what came in and what went out this month. It sounds easy, but with our complexities it isn't easy to formulate an accurate picture. Add that to Quickens flaws of not being able to pick and choose transfers you want to include. I guess I just want it all.

We sure do touch a lot of cash each month. Just amazes me that we feel a struggle. Of course, the struggle comes from aggressively eliminating debts. Our networth, which I will update later, is pretty much the spitting image of growth as the Overall Total of $7,656.08. Showing we use all our profits to be free. Or close to it.

Notes:

• Cash Back Income - from credit cards
• Contact Sale Interest - from Paper held & Business Sale
• Rental Income - Commercial Property (no residential in a business of its own)
• Salary Spouse - only includes check I take from construction company - my business income is in a seperate entity.
• Gift Received - includes Christmas Gifts I held over until new year.
• Auto Expenses - very deceiving. I paid kids insurance last year, and they paid me this year when it was due. Actual money out was $572.09 (a couple hundred is for DS2's antique truck in the garage)
• Cash - the mysterious $12 that I have no idea how it got in our accounts. I believe it was a credit of some sort that I wasn't sure which expense it belonged too. Time is the issue here.
• Charity - looks low. For good reason. DH does not like attaching our names to donations. A personal thing for him. We have to withdraw cash, give cash and then miss the tax deduction. I don't like it, but I do live with it. I kind of understand his need to be anonymous. Little bits, come from when I am approached for $$, I don't carry cash and generally resort to another form of giving - drives him nuts, but I don't want to not give. Just because I don't carry cash.
• Dues - HOA is $805 of this. Paid for 08'
• Groceries - sweet joy! January was 5 weeks. We are doing awesome eating at home and still we are way under budget ($200 a week). I did a lot of low budget, multiple meal, meals - soup, chili, pasta, etc.
• Household - is a new filter for my very expensive water filtration system. I drink a lot of water and I think this is worth it.
• Insurance - Life for DD2 and Commercial Rental quartly payment
• Medical - refund I found we were owed when auditing our bills from last year.
• Mortgage interest - all properties held personally
• Repairs - I just discovered is a FLAW IN QUICKEN 08' or atleast $129 of them - they shouldn't show up here, they aren't allocated here - they actually are only seen in a credit card and accounts receivable - expenses I paid for constuction company. I haven't been able to fix this FLAW IN QUICKEN 08' yet. The rest is accurate - all repairs were at commercial rental

2007 Lingering Effects

Since 2008 has landed safely in my lap, I am forced to face the mess I failed to clean-up in 2007. I just could not manage all I had to do in a mere 365 days.

If only it had been Leap Year.

When I say mess, I mean in the books and paperwork side of the businesses. Yes, I kept everything going in 2007, but it was on a thread. Doing only the minimum to get by. Now I am forced to face the piper.

So far, I have cleaned 2 big messes (i.e. businesses).

Accounts have been reconciled and tied to the Trial Balance. All documents, bills, invoices, and receipts have been viewed and separated and recorded properly in accounting software. And the majority of said documents are ready for scanning and saving to PDF files.

Actually I have completed about 11/12ths of PDF transformation. Only December to go.

For the 2 a fore mentioned companies. I have 3 more I have neglected. Grateful, at the moment that I was cleaning up the rest as I went. Must be the paycheck factor :-).

I picked up a temporary assignment for a week this month. Which just happens to begin today. So, in an effort to remove anxiety - I worked 10 hours yesterday, clearing all pressing issues and preparing me for the extra income project.

8 hours were billable - Sweet!

My intention is to clear up the last 3 businesses this week. While devoting a good deal of time to my temporary assignment. For which, if I meet the satisfaction of this "boss" I will enjoy 3 more weeks of extra work in March.