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Musings on personal finance and more...

Mesospheric clouds

How you can use same day flight change rules to save on airfare

I think Alaska Airlines is pretty much the best domestic airline out there right now. Bold claim, I know, and there are many different criteria that go into such a rating, but I say this based on a combination of … Read More … Read More
Toeing the line

There is no glory in poverty

Henry Rollins, who I’ve previously mentioned as being an honorary Unlikely Radical, perhaps the one that I aspire to be like the most, once joked at a spoken word show about a fictitious performance art piece, one with the pretension level amped up to … Read More … Read More
Golden Chains

The problems with airline loyalty

So by now, I’ve talked about the problems inherent in certain retail loyalty programs. Programs like Starbucks Rewards and Amazon Prime seem like a good deal, but can often force you in making decisions based on the idea that you’ve “already paid … Read More … Read More
Hands in the air

More confessions of a nerdy kid, or I dare you to get excited

Last time, I talked about the pleasure of the anticipation of purchasing…a modem for my computer. This was back in middle school, a time of general emotional trauma for all. I was a bit young for my grade, and so … Read More … Read More
Computer chips

Confessions of a nerdy kid, or the pleasures of saving up for things

I was a super nerdy kid. If you doubt this, this story will confirm it. When I was in middle school, I became very interested in Bulletin Board Systems (or BBSs). These were computer networks that allowed you to communicate … Read More … Read More
Lounge lights

How to decide whether to keep a credit card with an annual fee

I mentioned that there is only one reason to keep a credit card that carries an annual fee: The benefits you get from holding the card that you would have paid for anyway must be greater than the annual fee. … Read More … Read More
Fire breathing

Conferring with the enemy (Part 5): Finishing the deal

All posts in this series: Conferring with the enemy (Part 1): A credit card for a travel plan Conferring with the enemy (Part 2): Fulfilling minimum spend requirements on a credit card Conferring with the enemy (Part 3): The waiting (for … Read More … Read More
Metallic

What pennies taught me about the problem of private interest in government

I long for the days where it seemed like we fully funded the federal government to do its job or serving its people and keeping private interests in check. I think so much good could come from another set of … Read More … Read More
Hula hoops

Technology isn’t the answer to our finance problems

I believe we live in a techno-uptopian society. By this, I mean that “technology” is seen as the answer to whatever ails us. How else to describe the over-inflation that is Silicon Valley (and its cousins Silicon Alley, Silicon Forest, … Read More … Read More

How to transfer an IRA to Vanguard

Many years ago, when I was first learning about investing, I decided to start my own IRA. At my coworker’s suggestion, I set up the account at Scottrade. Over the course of two years, I put a little bit of money … Read More … Read More

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