http://www.bnet.com/5799-19692-0.html?type=18 Blog Recent Discussion Activity http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/does-your-family-live-on-main-street-or-wall-street/1501/#18975_91885 Who does the "Main Street" crew elect? 237 millionaires in Congress. So long as people are stupid enough to elect people who clearly do not represent them, they will continue to suffer when their economic interests don't align with the true constituency of Congress -- the so-called people of Wall Street.<br><br>This isn't some Marixan screed against capitalism. But just a statement that when you elect people with 50x your average yearly income, you shouldn't expect much in the way of results for yourself. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:38 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/does-your-family-live-on-main-street-or-wall-street/1501/#18975_91885 2009-11-21T16:42:38Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/prepare-to-pay-more-for-health-insurance-in-2010/1258/#18726_90713 This blog is right on. I was so surprised to find that I had fewer program choices this year for medical and dental. Although I have to pay more for out-of-pocket deductibles, I am paying slightly less premium each payday. Luckily, we still have the FSA option to help defray some of the costs in pretax dollars. As long as we stick to preventative visits and within the provider networks, we can break even. Heaven help us if something major occurs. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:09:17 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/prepare-to-pay-more-for-health-insurance-in-2010/1258/#18726_90713 2009-11-15T13:09:17Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-college-freshman-dont-know/1137/#16134_90711 I have to agree with vclarkm. There is no good reason to have a credit card unless you can have one with a credit limit high enough to negate a 30% interest rate and carry a balance of 30% to maintain a good credit score. That equates to about a $20K limit. No 18 to 21 year old is going to get one like that unless he or she has a trust fund to back it up. We have been living within a huge untruth for a long time. Our country may have been built on credit but the premise of that credit was need for a good or service in order to keep making a living. Luxury items are wonderful but the fact is you still need to live within your means. The credit industry has convinced us that we are worth more than we make by allowing us to carry a credit balance and penalizing us for using cash (e.g. the process of renting a car). Now that the bubble has burst, we should be realizing that we do not have the means to live large and pay 30% interest for the priviledge. As for talking to the Mom in this blog, I think you shoud be telling her to ensure that her daughter knows how the bank is treating her account and her debit purchases since the rules seem to change daily. If the the family is paying the bill for college, they should make sure they understand that if they have a financial emergency and can't pay on time, the school is likely to ruin their daughter's credit and that credit score so many hold in such high regard faster than they can blink. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:51:06 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-college-freshman-dont-know/1137/#16134_90711 2009-11-15T12:51:06Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/kids-cost-parents-200000/846/#14288_89027 Let?s say that a kid costs $420 a month and $5040 a year. If you invest $420 every month in stocks at 10 percent. Then you will have over quarter of a million dollars after 18 years.<br><br>I'm sorry because of the stupid power of compounding, the costs of a kid become higher than they appear to be.<br><br>So the question becomes would you use a condom to get over $250,000?<br> Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:34:32 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/kids-cost-parents-200000/846/#14288_89027 2009-11-04T23:34:32Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/the-perfect-car-for-a-teenager/608/#12851_87439 stepehen, I love your opinion. My son wants a 1973 240z for a car and he knows how to build one from the ground up but would it not be smarter to get him an 80's Yota or even late 90's Dodge truck for reliability? That way, he might crash in his Dodge or Yota, and not the Datsun. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:44:06 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/the-perfect-car-for-a-teenager/608/#12851_87439 2009-10-28T01:44:06Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/omg-teens-are-not-spending/1381/#17761_86481 I think you hit the nail on the head. We often avoid having values discussions with our children but isn't that one of the most important roles of the parents of a teenager? With younger children, a great way to teach the value of the dollar is to say yes, you can buy something in this mall, here is $20 and only $20, but you have to figure out how to spend it. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:27:55 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/omg-teens-are-not-spending/1381/#17761_86481 2009-10-22T20:27:55Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-the-good-wife-can-teach-us-about-the-new-normal/1388/#17765_86417 To "The New Normal" let's add "The New Gratitude." The cubicle-job looks good from the Trader Joe-job, but these could be the good old days -- things could always get worse.<br>It always helps, however, to look like Julianna Margulies. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:03:27 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-the-good-wife-can-teach-us-about-the-new-normal/1388/#17765_86417 2009-10-22T17:03:27Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-the-good-wife-can-teach-us-about-the-new-normal/1388/#17765_86231 If only I had known about the eyebrow thing when my son was little. Love the article, and want to know: how do I get a job as an eyebrow groomer? <br><br> Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:42:19 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-the-good-wife-can-teach-us-about-the-new-normal/1388/#17765_86231 2009-10-21T18:42:19Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-the-good-wife-can-teach-us-about-the-new-normal/1388/#17765_86133 Great article. I can definitely relate. Made me feel better about my own "new normal". As to a slogan, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" has a catchy, comforting ring to it. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:52:59 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-the-good-wife-can-teach-us-about-the-new-normal/1388/#17765_86133 2009-10-21T13:52:59Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/the-perfect-car-for-a-teenager/608/#12851_86074 The Bus! It is what gets my son around at U.C. DAVIS in SACRAMENTO, CA. for his transportation and his bike. Along, with any gas or hybrid scooters and/or Solar Powered bikes available through VoisenMotors!<br><br> LOOK UP THESE WONDERFUL PRODUCTS AT <br> Brad@TravElectricUSA.com or also at<br> www.Eco-CycleUSA.com<br> or www.VoisenMotors.com<br>These are wonderful options for many university students at many Colleges and Universities! They also have solar powered<br>bikes, that one just plugs into!<br><br> OTHERWISE! YES! A NEW CAR LEASE ON A HONDA OR TOYOTA! OF WHICH MY DAUGHTER JUST BOUGHT A COROLLA<br>AT A GREAT PRICE! My first car in 1976 was a 1972 Dodge Dart with a 318 engine!, it was good;yet do your maintenance!<br><br> My second car in 1977was a 1976 Dodge Dart Sport with a<br>slant 6 engine, which was good reliable and safe! YET! TODAY! AFTER BUILDING CARS FOR CHRYSLER AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND SELLING TOYOTA'S AND HONDA'S AND ACURA'S!. THAN YES! A CIVIC, ACCORD, COROLLA, AND EVEN A NEWER FORD FOCUS ARE GOOD CARS!<br><br> Boys have higher insurance premiums! SO--THE BUS AND THE BIKE ARE GOOD FOR NOW! BUT! IF YOU CAN FIND A GOOD USED CAR AT $4000.00 OR LESS, THAN GO FOR IT! OR LEASE A NEW ONE! AT $180.00 PER MONTH AND LOWER!<br>BUT! INSURANCE AND LOW DOWN OF $2000.00 MAY NOT BE <br>COMFORTABLE FOR MANY! MUCH LESS! HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA SAVE $150-240 PER MONTH IN THE BANK, SO AS TO BUY THE LEASED CAR 5 YRS FROM NOW!?<br><br> WE ALL HAVE IT HARD! SO-BUY USED! AT GOOD PRICES!<br>RE-SELL THEM FOR A PROFIT AND BUY AGAIN! AND KEEP MOVING UP! IT'S CALLED TURN AND EARN! BUT STATES LIMIT HOW MANY YOU CAN SELL! SO PUT THEM IN OTHER NAMES, LIKE YOUR WIFE ETC.!<br><br> OR HAVE THE STUDENTS, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TAKE THE BUS! AND/OR VOISEN MOTORS BIKES, SCOOTERS TOO! AND SAVE MONEY! THAN BUY AND FINANCE THAT GOOD 4 TO 5 YEAR OLD CAR! WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND/OR UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE AND THAN FINANCE AN EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AT $1000.00-$1300.00, IT'S GOOD FOR THREE ( 3 ) YEARS AND<br>THAN THEY CAN SAVE AND BUY THAT NEW TOYOTA COROLLA, LIKE MY 24 YEAR YOUNG! DAUGHTER DID! AND OF COURSE! WE WERE BLESSED! AS PARENTS TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE DOWN PAYMENT! BECAUSE MANY PARENTS CANNOT HELP AND MANY PARENTS WILL NOT !<br><br> I AM 52 YEARS YOUNG AND STILL MAINTAIN 3 TO 5 CARS<br>AT A TIME! ONE FOR MY WIFE! ONE FOR ME! ONE OLDER 1992 HYUANDAI SONATA FOR MY SON! WHEN HE COMES HOME FOR VISITS! AND THE SUMMER! YET! THAT IS TO KEEP INSURANCE LOW! SINCE HE CAN DRIVE OUR NEW FOCUS! AND IT WAS A 2003 FORD EXP 2 DOOR FOR MY DAUGHTER, BUT! SHE WORKED HER WAY UP TO THE NEW TOYOTA COROLLA! AND SOMETIMES A 5TH CAR FOR FUN AND EXTRA INSURANCE! IN CASE ONE CAR BREAKS DOWN!<br>I HAD A 1973 DODGE CORONET FOR MANY YEARS AS THE 5TH ONE! <br><br> THERE ARE A LOT OF CHOICES AND OPTIONS AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT WHAT IS AROUND YOU! WHEN YOU PAY ATTENTION AND SHOP AND LOOK! HECK! EVEN A 1979 280Z IS COOL! MUCH LESS A 1983 TOYOTA TERCEL FOR BASIC STUFF OR A 1979 TOYOTA TRUCK!<br><br> SO THINK AND PLAN SMART! AND BUY LOW! AND SELL HIGH! AND DO SOME MAINTENANCE! BUT NOT EVERYTHING THAT SOME MECHANIC RECOMMENDS! FIND A GOOD HONEST ONE! <br><br> BRAKES ARE A GOOD TESTING POINT! WITH MOST CARS, FRONT BRAKE PADS INSTALLMENT WITH LABOR--SHOULD COST YOU, $180.00 TO $240.00 PLUS TAX ON THE AVERAGE! DEALERSHIPS ARE HIGHER AT MANY TIMES! I EVEN HAD A DEALER TELL ME TO REPLACE MY REAR BRAKE SHOES ( OR I SHOULD SAY, THEIR FAVORITE WORD WHICH IS " RECOMMEND "! ) AFTER THEY INSTALLED RE-BUILT, REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS, ( OF WHICH WERE COVERED WITH MY EXTENDED WARRANTY! ) ALL THEY TRULY HAD TO DO! WAS CLEAN OUT THE BRAKE SHOE AREA!<br>AND USE A BLOW HOSE, TO BLOW OUT THE BRAKE FLUID THAT HAD SEEPED AND SATURATED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES! BUT! THEY " RECOMMEND " TO REPLACE AND CHANGE THE BRAKE SHOES! SINCE THEY WERE SATURATED WITH BRAKE FLUID! ALL THEY REALLY NEEDED TO DO WAS, CLEAN THAT WHOLE AREA!<br><br> WHEN I WENT TO TAKE DELIVERY OF THE CAR,THEY EVEN MADE SURE, THAT MY BRAKES WERE SOFT TO THE TOUCH OF MY BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE PEDAL! NICE TRY! BUT! I TOLD THEM TO RE-ADJUST AND CLEAN OUT THE REAR BRAKE AREA BETTER! IT'S AMAZING! ABOUT AND OF THE STUFF! THESE REPAIR PLACES AND DEALERSHIPS! WILL TRY! TO EARN MORE MONEY!<br><br> WHERE ARE THE STATES ATTORNEY GENERALS, MAKING TIME TO INVESTIGATE AND PLAN UNDER COVER OPERATIONS TO CHECK UP! ON THESE DEALERSHIPS AND OTHER AUTO SERVICE CENTERS!!!???<br><br> A PERSON TAKES A CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE!!! HA! <br>STAY ON TOP OF THINGS! AND STUDY REPAIR MANUALS! <br><br> I EVEN HAD A DEALER PUT A NEW DISTRIBUTOR IN MY 1979 CHRYSLER LEBARON IN 1983 AND THAN THE OIL PUMP FROZE UP! AND THE DEALER SAID, " THE DISTRIBUTOR HAD NOTHING DO WITH THE OIL PUMP! " HA! IT DOES TOO!<br>WHEN YOU INSTALL THAT DISTRIBUTOR, BE SURE TO LINE UP THE SHAFT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR WITH THE TOP OF THE OIL PUMP! SO AS, WHEN IT TURNS, THAN THE OIL PUMP TURNS! THE DEALER FAILED TO DO THAT! AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME! WELL! THANK GOD! I WON! IN COURT! <br><br> EVERYONE! GOOD LUCK!<br> IN YOUR ADVENTURES!<br> I HOPED THIS HELPED SOME PEOPLE!<br> <br> SINCERELY YOURS!,<br> BIRDFLIGHT!<br> Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:44:23 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/the-perfect-car-for-a-teenager/608/#12851_86074 2009-10-21T09:44:23Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-the-good-wife-can-teach-us-about-the-new-normal/1388/#17765_86014 I LOVE this article.<br>I think it's relevant that the old normal was not sustainable, <br>ecologically speaking. Maybe we can learn to live with less <br>before we use up all the oil and flood out coastal billions <br>worldwide.<br><br>(Jolie's a great writer.) Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:35:44 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/what-the-good-wife-can-teach-us-about-the-new-normal/1388/#17765_86014 2009-10-21T01:35:44Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/omg-teens-are-not-spending/1381/#17761_86005 This was a wonderful and very welcoming piece, to all of us <br>who are trying to wade through what is, and isn't necessary, <br>not only for our kids, but ourselves. Thanks for nailing this on <br>the head! ptally Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:13:54 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/omg-teens-are-not-spending/1381/#17761_86005 2009-10-21T01:13:54Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/the-perfect-car-for-a-teenager/608/#12851_83751 Maybe a little advice, before you buy something, especially a car, you must know the relevant notice. Small cars also have a big risk, especially the Civic.<br><a href="http://google-top-trend.blogspot.com/">Google Top Trend</a> Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:45:35 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/the-perfect-car-for-a-teenager/608/#12851_83751 2009-10-07T16:45:35Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/the-perfect-car-for-a-teenager/608/#12851_83515 This is too funny! I didn't get my first car till I was 30! Good grief...if my parents gave me a vehicle of any sort, I would NOT be complaining about it! <br><br>I agree with the user who mentioned 'the youth entitlement' crap has got to go! Just because JR is driving age, doesn't mean he NEEDS a car. When they go to college, it's a diff. situation, but 16?? GIVE ME A BREAK! IT's no wonder the USA is in such a mess! <br><br>Consequently, I still have my Corolla and love it. Also, I went through the car-buying experience with my other half and it was a nightmare. <br><br> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:07:19 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/the-perfect-car-for-a-teenager/608/#12851_83515 2009-10-06T20:07:19Z http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/nesting-proper-estate-planning-takes-time/1365/#17254_83415 Assuming your baby is uncoopoerative in arriving, and your doctor didn't get your due date calculated correctly, would you please expound on "the life insurance trust"? Why do I want one? What does it do? Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:35:22 GMT http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/nesting-proper-estate-planning-takes-time/1365/#17254_83415 2009-10-06T01:35:22Z