LivingAlmostLarge - trying to live large  ...one step at a time

Entries from August 2008

Paying for Tot’s Photo

July 31st, 2008 · 10 Comments · Rant

This author says it’s not a bad idea to pay for celebrity tot’s photos.  She says it’s a safer way to allowing the world to see the child rather than having the paparazzi chase down the parents and child.
But heck, Angelie Jolie and Brad Pitt’s twin’s photos are going for $15M to put into People [...]

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Book Review: Million Bucks by 30

July 31st, 2008 · 26 Comments · Book Review

I got a complimentary book, autographed from Alan Cory of “Million Bucks by 30″.  So I’m reviewing in and giving it away.  Leave a comment if you are interested in winning the book and I’ll draw it next week Friday 08/08/08! 
Alan describes himself as a frugal, cheapskate who worked 9-5 in order to make a $1 million [...]

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How much energy do you consume?

July 30th, 2008 · 5 Comments · Frugal, Home maintenance

I was thinking about being green, and decided to ask readers how big is your home, what do you spend on utlities like electric and natural gas, and how much do you as a family consume?
Our house is 1900 sq ft townhouse.  We consume approximately an average of 850 kWh over the course of one year.  The maximum [...]

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How to save on a wedding gift…

July 29th, 2008 · 9 Comments · gifts, marriage

This is a very strange etiquette post and finance post in one.  So how do you save on a wedding gift?  Don’t give one!  Are you obligated to give a gift to the couple?  What happens if you don’t?
Our roommate went to a wedding memorial day and didn’t give the couple a gift.  And yes [...]

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No Kids = Rich?

July 29th, 2008 · 11 Comments · Children

A question asked by someone on a message board I read was “Will I save a lot of money by not having children?”  Most parents will say yes you will.  But of course you don’t get intangible benefits. 
But as someone without kids, I gotta say I wonder?  Because truthfully when you don’t have kids you have [...]

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Should we deviate from our goals?

July 28th, 2008 · 13 Comments · Debt, Spending, Student Loans, budgeting

At the end of 2007, I set out goals financially for us to achieve here.

Max out 401k - on track
Max out Roth IRA 2008 - done
Max out ESPP - done
Cash Flow $20k tuition - done
Not take out student loan of $8500 - debating
All cash month - done

It’s not yet the end of the year but [...]

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Free House in Foreclosure

July 27th, 2008 · 11 Comments · Debt, Economy, Financial Mistakes, Mortgage, Real Estate

Apparently a family in Georgia got a free house in 2005 from Extreme Makeover, and now they are going into foreclosure here.  So what happened?
Well 2 years after Extreme Makeover rebuilt the new home for the Harpers and paid off their exisiting mortgage, the Harpers took out a $450k mortgage only 15 months ago!  And somehow in 15 months are [...]

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Pension Question?

July 27th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Retirement, budgeting

What’s the best way to take a pension?  The question was asked in Money Magazine.  Should you take a lump sum and manage it yourself or should you take a monthly payout for life?
An interesting question and one which many boomers getting ready to retire I’m sure are wondering.  A lot depends on your health, [...]

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8 reasons you won’t inherit

July 26th, 2008 · 3 Comments · Estate Planning, Retirement

This is an amusing article by the New York Times.  It suggests that there are 8 reasons that Generation Xers and younger will not be inheriting as much money as previous generations.  And those who did expect to inherit might be sorely disappointed.
First the article suggests that people are living longer.  Thus their retirement savings [...]

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The 401k Debit Card

July 25th, 2008 · 2 Comments · Credit Cards, Debt, Economy, Retirement

What is going onnow in the US?  Haven’t we learned anything from the housing boom and crash?  That our homes are not ATMs?  That we can’t keep cashing out equity to pay for our lifestyles?
Apparently not.  Here the New York Times presents an article where people are now able to get a Visa Debit Card [...]

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