Now May not be the best time to move, if you are cash strapped, but a move actually can be a great way to spark a declining attitude towards ones own life. If you have the money for a move, and was recently laid off, if may be a good time to think about where you would like to live other than your current town. If a job is available elsewhere, and it's some place you and your family wouldn't mind moving to, then why not be bold, and take the challenge. Here 10 of best cities to move too if you are money strapped. They are ranked using a formula with variables for how cheap living expenses are, the unemployment rate, and the average salary of the metropolitan area.
#1 Manchester-Nashua, NH
#2 Ogden-Clearfield, UT
#3 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
#4 Worcester, MA Metropolitan
#5 Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan
#6 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
#7 Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
#8 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
#9 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
#10 Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan
Of course you have to have the financial means to make a large move to one of these areas, and if you already have a job, make sure you can secure a similar job in one of these areas before just picking up everything and hauling it away.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Best and Worst States for Unemployment
A couple months back I did a story about the unemployment rate in America. I love looking at data and seeing which areas are hurt the most and the least in the job sector. The US unemployment rate is currently at 9.7%, and will likely top 10% sometime this year before it's eventually but steady pull back, in my opinion. Here is a look at some of the states in the top 5 and bottom 5 of the unemployment data set. As you can see there is quite a disparity between job rates in America.:
Top 5 Most Unemployed States:
Michigan - 15.4%
South Carolina - 12.3%
Rhode Island - 12.2%
Nevada - 12.1%
Oregon - 12.1%
Top 5 Least Unemployed States
North Dakota - 4.6%
South Dakota - 4.9%
Nebraska - 5.1%
Wyoming - 5.7%
Utah - 5.9%
As you can clearly see, there are some major differences between the top and bottom 5 states in Unemployment rates. It is obvious that the States in the Union who rely heavily on agriculture are doing quite well, while those states Like Michigan, whom lost thousands of jobs when the auto industry went bust, and Nevada who is clearly one of the nations worse housing markets, as well as taking a hit from a gambling and travel decline, are the worse.
Top 5 Most Unemployed States:
Michigan - 15.4%
South Carolina - 12.3%
Rhode Island - 12.2%
Nevada - 12.1%
Oregon - 12.1%
Top 5 Least Unemployed States
North Dakota - 4.6%
South Dakota - 4.9%
Nebraska - 5.1%
Wyoming - 5.7%
Utah - 5.9%
As you can clearly see, there are some major differences between the top and bottom 5 states in Unemployment rates. It is obvious that the States in the Union who rely heavily on agriculture are doing quite well, while those states Like Michigan, whom lost thousands of jobs when the auto industry went bust, and Nevada who is clearly one of the nations worse housing markets, as well as taking a hit from a gambling and travel decline, are the worse.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
2010 Stock Market Predictions
I have been known to make predictions, and although I dislike leading people in an y direction, I am doing this for fun only. Please do not follow me, rather make your own personal choice while investing in the stock market. If you search my past predictions, you would see I predicted back in March, when everyone was panicking that the Dow would be at 9000 sometime in July. I also predicted the bottom of the market the day that it hit the bottom in the low 6000's Most of my predictions are just gut instincts, and really probably should not be used as an investing guideline, however Here I go with just a few more.
2010 Stock Market Predictions. (Prices predicted at the start of 2010)
Dow - 10650
We have just over 5 months before the beginning of 2010. The recession will likely be announced over sometime before the end of this year, and we may see the unemployment rate begin to ease. Stocks are still undervalued compared to their future profit potential. I think as long as there are no major snags along the way, 10,650 is a pretty good spot for the Dow to be trading at. That's almost a 20% gain from today's prices.
Google (Goog) - $550
I still love Google. The internet continues to grow, and the mobile internet continues to explode. Google has it's hands surrounding both. Internet ad revenue should continue to grow at a huge rate, and Googles new Wave could bring in a ton of users worldwide. Google should slightly out perform the market over the next 5 months leading to 2010.
Bank of America (BAC) - $23
Bank of America, although they have their share of issues, is a very strong company that should easily have explosive profit growth once the recession is over and things pick back up. The acquisition of Merrill will certainly help them in this once things settle. The housing market is clearly thawing out, and the bank will be the ones to benefit from this. A 80% gain in the next 5 months may seem extraordinary, but if you look at how far this stock has fallen it really isn't.
CD Interest Rates
If you are like me, you may have some cash you have that you like to keep free. I usually do this with no-penalty Certificates of Deposits. Having said this, the rates have been under 2% as of late. I think that starting in 2010, rates should begin increasing. By the end of 2010 a 4-5% CD will likely become available. To start 2010, I am guessing maybe 2.5-3% CD's will be available.
Like I said, take these predictions with a grain of salt. Follow your own stock market lead, not mine.
2010 Stock Market Predictions. (Prices predicted at the start of 2010)
Dow - 10650
We have just over 5 months before the beginning of 2010. The recession will likely be announced over sometime before the end of this year, and we may see the unemployment rate begin to ease. Stocks are still undervalued compared to their future profit potential. I think as long as there are no major snags along the way, 10,650 is a pretty good spot for the Dow to be trading at. That's almost a 20% gain from today's prices.
Google (Goog) - $550
I still love Google. The internet continues to grow, and the mobile internet continues to explode. Google has it's hands surrounding both. Internet ad revenue should continue to grow at a huge rate, and Googles new Wave could bring in a ton of users worldwide. Google should slightly out perform the market over the next 5 months leading to 2010.
Bank of America (BAC) - $23
Bank of America, although they have their share of issues, is a very strong company that should easily have explosive profit growth once the recession is over and things pick back up. The acquisition of Merrill will certainly help them in this once things settle. The housing market is clearly thawing out, and the bank will be the ones to benefit from this. A 80% gain in the next 5 months may seem extraordinary, but if you look at how far this stock has fallen it really isn't.
CD Interest Rates
If you are like me, you may have some cash you have that you like to keep free. I usually do this with no-penalty Certificates of Deposits. Having said this, the rates have been under 2% as of late. I think that starting in 2010, rates should begin increasing. By the end of 2010 a 4-5% CD will likely become available. To start 2010, I am guessing maybe 2.5-3% CD's will be available.
Like I said, take these predictions with a grain of salt. Follow your own stock market lead, not mine.
Monday, July 27, 2009
30 Ways to Save Money on Groceries
Saving cash is something everyone is looking to do in this terrible economy, so I decided to add another money saving guide to the weekly edition. Here are tips on how to save money while grocery shopping.
- Don’t be afraid of store brands, they are just as good
- Stock up (within reason) when things are on sale
- Get rain checks when sale items are out of stock
- Buy the Sunday paper
- Keep an eye on the weekly store circular
- Clip coupons for name brand items
- Check the store’s website for printable coupons
- Check your cupboards, pantry, and fridge before leaving
- Keep a complete list of items you need on your fridge
- Break your list down by store and plan your outing
- Plan your trip through the store to minimize wandering the aisles
- Don’t forget your list when you head to the store, but…
- Be willing to deviate from your list for great deals
- Be on the lookout for “double coupon” days
- Stack manufacturer and store coupons, both are allowed to be used at once
- Keep a price list/book so you know a deal when you see one
- Learn your store’s sale cycle (sales are often cyclical)
- Visit multiple stores to get the best deals, or…
- Buy in bulk, but…
- Be sure to look at unit pricing
- Bring a calculator (unless you’re a math whiz)
- Be on the lookout for “shrinkage” (e.g., 1.5 quarts vs. half gallon)
- Cook large batches and freeze for later
- Don’t waste leftovers
- Ask your preferred store to match prices form elsewhere
- Avoid non-grocery items that can be bought for less elsewhere
- Joins the store’s affinity program and flash your card
- Buy a chest freezer
- Eat less – seriously, many people eat way more than necessary
- Cook from scratch, avoid processed foods
Remember to spend some time preparing for your shopping expedition, as it could literally save you hundreds of dollars each year.
- Don’t be afraid of store brands, they are just as good
- Stock up (within reason) when things are on sale
- Get rain checks when sale items are out of stock
- Buy the Sunday paper
- Keep an eye on the weekly store circular
- Clip coupons for name brand items
- Check the store’s website for printable coupons
- Check your cupboards, pantry, and fridge before leaving
- Keep a complete list of items you need on your fridge
- Break your list down by store and plan your outing
- Plan your trip through the store to minimize wandering the aisles
- Don’t forget your list when you head to the store, but…
- Be willing to deviate from your list for great deals
- Be on the lookout for “double coupon” days
- Stack manufacturer and store coupons, both are allowed to be used at once
- Keep a price list/book so you know a deal when you see one
- Learn your store’s sale cycle (sales are often cyclical)
- Visit multiple stores to get the best deals, or…
- Buy in bulk, but…
- Be sure to look at unit pricing
- Bring a calculator (unless you’re a math whiz)
- Be on the lookout for “shrinkage” (e.g., 1.5 quarts vs. half gallon)
- Cook large batches and freeze for later
- Don’t waste leftovers
- Ask your preferred store to match prices form elsewhere
- Avoid non-grocery items that can be bought for less elsewhere
- Joins the store’s affinity program and flash your card
- Buy a chest freezer
- Eat less – seriously, many people eat way more than necessary
- Cook from scratch, avoid processed foods
Remember to spend some time preparing for your shopping expedition, as it could literally save you hundreds of dollars each year.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Next Week: ExxonMobile Reports
So far this week, has been quite a thriller for those long in the stock market. Earnings reports came in better than expected for the most part, and Housing numbers surprised even the most optimistic experts in the field. So, will next week continue the rally? Could the Dow Actually start it's accent up to the 10,000 mark within a couple months? I guess we will all find out soon. Let's take a look at Next weeks agenda.
- Jul 27 10:00 AM New Home Sales
- Jul 28 9:00 AM Consumer Confidence
- Jul 28 9:00 AM S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index
- Jul 28 9:00 AM S&P/CaseShiller Home Price Index
- Jul 29 8:30 AM Durable Orders
- Jul 29 8:30 AM Durables, Ex Transportation
- Jul 29 10:30 AM Crude Inventories
- Jul 29 2:00 PM Fed's Beige Book
- Jul 30 8:30 AM Initial Claims
- Jul 31 8:30 AM GDP-Adv.
- Jul 31 8:30 AM Core PCE
- Jul 31 8:30 AM Chain Deflator-Adv.
- Jul 31 8:30 AM Employment Cost Index
- Jul 31 9:45 AM Chicago PMI
- Jul 31 10:00 AM Employment Cost Index
As you can see, there are a lot of second quarter numbers coming out. I will be paying particular attention to the New Home sales, as well as the home price indicators, to see if the increase in pre-owned home sales was caused by a lowering of prices, or a decrease in new home sales, or if it the entire market is beginning to thaw. The unemployment and GDP numbers should also be significant economic indicators to fill us in on the state of the general economy. Next week is also another big one for earnings. Below are some of the key companies reporting next week:
Monday:
Radio Shack
Sohu
Verizon
Tuesday:
BP
Earthlink
Mittel
Viacom
Wednesday:
Hess
IAC
Thursday:
Brunswick
Expedia
ExxonMobile
Friday:
Chevron
- Jul 27 10:00 AM New Home Sales
- Jul 28 9:00 AM Consumer Confidence
- Jul 28 9:00 AM S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index
- Jul 28 9:00 AM S&P/CaseShiller Home Price Index
- Jul 29 8:30 AM Durable Orders
- Jul 29 8:30 AM Durables, Ex Transportation
- Jul 29 10:30 AM Crude Inventories
- Jul 29 2:00 PM Fed's Beige Book
- Jul 30 8:30 AM Initial Claims
- Jul 31 8:30 AM GDP-Adv.
- Jul 31 8:30 AM Core PCE
- Jul 31 8:30 AM Chain Deflator-Adv.
- Jul 31 8:30 AM Employment Cost Index
- Jul 31 9:45 AM Chicago PMI
- Jul 31 10:00 AM Employment Cost Index
As you can see, there are a lot of second quarter numbers coming out. I will be paying particular attention to the New Home sales, as well as the home price indicators, to see if the increase in pre-owned home sales was caused by a lowering of prices, or a decrease in new home sales, or if it the entire market is beginning to thaw. The unemployment and GDP numbers should also be significant economic indicators to fill us in on the state of the general economy. Next week is also another big one for earnings. Below are some of the key companies reporting next week:
Monday:
Radio Shack
Sohu
Verizon
Tuesday:
BP
Earthlink
Mittel
Viacom
Wednesday:
Hess
IAC
Thursday:
Brunswick
Expedia
ExxonMobile
Friday:
Chevron
Thursday, July 23, 2009
6 Ways to Save Money on Gas
No one really knows where oil prices are headed now-a-days. We have seen the price of oil affect gasoline prices throughout the world to a pretty large degree, especially over the last 3-4 years. As prices bounce around, the economy also is not in great shape. Everyone is looking to save some cash on gasoline right? Well here are some things you, as a consumer, can do to help lower your gasoline use.
#1 Choose alternate cheap methods.
Consider walking, biking, or riding the bus. The first two will not only save you money, but possibly even a couple years on your life, and maybe some money on those extra large sweatpants you have to buy.
#2 Park in the Very First Spot you Find.
Don't spend minutes riding around looking for a better spot. In the time it takes to find another spot, you could already have been at your destination. Walk a little if it's nice out. Time in your car means more gasoline consumption.
#3 Combine trips.
Plan out the quickest way to run all your errands that will save on time and distance traveled. Plan ahead instead of having to run out 5 times every day.
#4 Check the Internet for Gas Deals
Check out sites like Gasbuddy.com for deals in your area. Sometimes you can save as much as 15 cents a gallon from one station to the next.
#5 Who Cares What Brand it is
Gasoline is Gasoline. Who cares if it is Mobile, BP, or some no-name brand? There may be slight differences in the additives of one brand compared to another, but overall, you will not notice a difference.
#6 Sign up for a Gasoline Credit Card
You can often save up to 3% on all gasoline purchases with a cash back rewards program offered to people with good credit scores. Remember to pay off your card on time every time, and to shop around for the best deal.
#1 Choose alternate cheap methods.
Consider walking, biking, or riding the bus. The first two will not only save you money, but possibly even a couple years on your life, and maybe some money on those extra large sweatpants you have to buy.
#2 Park in the Very First Spot you Find.
Don't spend minutes riding around looking for a better spot. In the time it takes to find another spot, you could already have been at your destination. Walk a little if it's nice out. Time in your car means more gasoline consumption.
#3 Combine trips.
Plan out the quickest way to run all your errands that will save on time and distance traveled. Plan ahead instead of having to run out 5 times every day.
#4 Check the Internet for Gas Deals
Check out sites like Gasbuddy.com for deals in your area. Sometimes you can save as much as 15 cents a gallon from one station to the next.
#5 Who Cares What Brand it is
Gasoline is Gasoline. Who cares if it is Mobile, BP, or some no-name brand? There may be slight differences in the additives of one brand compared to another, but overall, you will not notice a difference.
#6 Sign up for a Gasoline Credit Card
You can often save up to 3% on all gasoline purchases with a cash back rewards program offered to people with good credit scores. Remember to pay off your card on time every time, and to shop around for the best deal.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
AAPL, Dynamite Again
There are only a few companies in America that I can say are as exciting as Apple (AAPL). Not only is Appl continuing to innovate, but while just about every other computer company has flopped during this recession, they report that sales of their personal computer, iMac's are up. That is incredible, and just goes to show how popularity in one area can mean success in all. Ever since Apples Launch of the iPod several years ago, a product which has become the symbol of electronics for this decade, the "coolness factor" has driven up sales in all their other product lines. Than came the iPhone, which just built upon the iPod's successes.
So, whats in the future for AAPL?
You might think, "hey, the glittery exterior of the iphone and ipod are wearing off, how will Apple keep the success coming? Simple. They will do what they did in the first place, innovate. Rumors have it that sometime this year, Apple will release a tablet like computer. Some describe it as a larger iPod touch, while others describe it as a possible alteration to the newly popular netbooks. Either way, I'm certain they will blow us away with their innovative foresight.
It just makes me wonder. If a company like Apple who sell products which cost consumers prices that are above average in each area they are in, can prosper in a recession, what happens when the economy begins to grow again? Might be time to considering adding some of their shares to your stock portfolio.
So, whats in the future for AAPL?
You might think, "hey, the glittery exterior of the iphone and ipod are wearing off, how will Apple keep the success coming? Simple. They will do what they did in the first place, innovate. Rumors have it that sometime this year, Apple will release a tablet like computer. Some describe it as a larger iPod touch, while others describe it as a possible alteration to the newly popular netbooks. Either way, I'm certain they will blow us away with their innovative foresight.
It just makes me wonder. If a company like Apple who sell products which cost consumers prices that are above average in each area they are in, can prosper in a recession, what happens when the economy begins to grow again? Might be time to considering adding some of their shares to your stock portfolio.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
How To Save Money on your Water Billl
With the economy still shaky, and unemployment rate about to hit 10%, every little bit of money one can save could mean a huge difference in their lives. Here are 7 things you can do to save a bundle on your next water bill.
1. While waiting for the shower to heat up, catch the cold water in a bucket so you can use it later to water plants, flush your toilet or clean outdoor furniture. This can save as much as 300 gallons per month alone.
2. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth. This will save 3 gallons per day, or 1000 gallons per year on average.
3. Use less detergent while washing dishes by hand. A smaller amount will clean just as well, and take a lot less water to rinse off.
4. Rinse Vegetables in a fill pot instead of letting the faucet run over them. This can save up to 3000 gallons per year.
5. Instead of putting everything in your garbage disposal, instead create a compost pile. This can save you up to 1000 gallons per year.
6. Put mulch around trees and plants. Mulch allows water to stay in the soil instead of evaporating. This means less watering, which will save you upwards of 12,000 gallons of water per year.
7. Do not water your lawn on windy days. The wind speeds evaporation, and can mean the loss of up to 300 gallons of water in just one session.
These simple steps can save you over 40,000 gallons of water per year. That's a lot of money.
1. While waiting for the shower to heat up, catch the cold water in a bucket so you can use it later to water plants, flush your toilet or clean outdoor furniture. This can save as much as 300 gallons per month alone.
2. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth. This will save 3 gallons per day, or 1000 gallons per year on average.
3. Use less detergent while washing dishes by hand. A smaller amount will clean just as well, and take a lot less water to rinse off.
4. Rinse Vegetables in a fill pot instead of letting the faucet run over them. This can save up to 3000 gallons per year.
5. Instead of putting everything in your garbage disposal, instead create a compost pile. This can save you up to 1000 gallons per year.
6. Put mulch around trees and plants. Mulch allows water to stay in the soil instead of evaporating. This means less watering, which will save you upwards of 12,000 gallons of water per year.
7. Do not water your lawn on windy days. The wind speeds evaporation, and can mean the loss of up to 300 gallons of water in just one session.
These simple steps can save you over 40,000 gallons of water per year. That's a lot of money.
Monday, July 20, 2009
AAPL, PFE, and Others Report this Week
After quite an eventful week last week, we are in for a bit of a quieter one for economic data. Having said this, we will likely get some excitement from the earnings reports being released this week. Last week saw the market rebound quite well. Intel's results combined with that of Google, and the major banks propelled us back up towards the highs of May. The existing Home sales number coming out on Thursday will be quite important to see if home sales are maybe trending towards a rebound, or at least leveling off.
Jul 20 10:00 AM Leading Indicators Jun
Jul 22 10:30 AM Crude Inventories 07/17
Jul 22 10:35 AM Crude Inventories 07/17
Jul 23 8:30 AM Initial Claims 07/18
Jul 23 10:00 AM Existing Home Sales Jun
Jul 24 9:55 AM Mich Sentiment-Rev Jul
There are way too many stocks reporting this week for me to list, but I'll list a few for each day of the week that I feel could be important market drivers.
Monday:
Halliburton
Texas Instruments
Tuesday:
AMD
Apple
Continental Airlines
The Coca-Cola Company
Yahoo
Wednesday
Altria Group, Inc.
Ebay
Etrade
Eli Lilly
PepsiCo
Pfizer
Piper Jaffray
Thursday
3M
Amazon
AT&T
Baidu
Bristol Myers Squib
Wyeth
Xerox
Friday
Exelon
Jul 20 10:00 AM Leading Indicators Jun
Jul 22 10:30 AM Crude Inventories 07/17
Jul 22 10:35 AM Crude Inventories 07/17
Jul 23 8:30 AM Initial Claims 07/18
Jul 23 10:00 AM Existing Home Sales Jun
Jul 24 9:55 AM Mich Sentiment-Rev Jul
There are way too many stocks reporting this week for me to list, but I'll list a few for each day of the week that I feel could be important market drivers.
Monday:
Halliburton
Texas Instruments
Tuesday:
AMD
Apple
Continental Airlines
The Coca-Cola Company
Yahoo
Wednesday
Altria Group, Inc.
Ebay
Etrade
Eli Lilly
PepsiCo
Pfizer
Piper Jaffray
Thursday
3M
Amazon
AT&T
Baidu
Bristol Myers Squib
Wyeth
Xerox
Friday
Exelon
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Stock Market Good News Emerges - Goog Reports
It seems that just last week, the investors were once again worried about the status of our economic recovery. People began questioning if the market rally from the 6000's to the 8000's were warranted. Fast forward a week, and now it seems we are all blissful with dollar signs in our eyes. There are a few things propelling us.
Earnings reports:
Intel released what some experts are calling a monster blowout in both earnings and their forecast. Intel stock shot up close to 8% following earnings, and looks to be in great shape. They also took much of the computer sector as well as the entire DOW and S&P with them, as we saw the Dow up over 256 points. Clearly Intel's results signaled to traders that the technology industry is on the rebound, which also means just about every other industry must be as well.
Jobs Reports:
Unemployment is still going up, however, this morning we learned it was going up at a much slower pace now.Initial jobless claims dropped by 47,000 to 522,000, lower than forecast, in the week ended July 11, from a revised 569,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said today in Washington. This gives us hope that we could see the unemployment number begin to fall by year's end.
Google (GOOG) reports at the close today, and investors are certainly excited to see their results. Google is expected to earn $5.09 per share on revenue of $4.06 billion, based on the average estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. If they beat this number, it would be incredible news for most of the market. We will see around 4:15 today.
Earnings reports:
Intel released what some experts are calling a monster blowout in both earnings and their forecast. Intel stock shot up close to 8% following earnings, and looks to be in great shape. They also took much of the computer sector as well as the entire DOW and S&P with them, as we saw the Dow up over 256 points. Clearly Intel's results signaled to traders that the technology industry is on the rebound, which also means just about every other industry must be as well.
Jobs Reports:
Unemployment is still going up, however, this morning we learned it was going up at a much slower pace now.Initial jobless claims dropped by 47,000 to 522,000, lower than forecast, in the week ended July 11, from a revised 569,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said today in Washington. This gives us hope that we could see the unemployment number begin to fall by year's end.
Google (GOOG) reports at the close today, and investors are certainly excited to see their results. Google is expected to earn $5.09 per share on revenue of $4.06 billion, based on the average estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. If they beat this number, it would be incredible news for most of the market. We will see around 4:15 today.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Predicting the Stock Market With Bets
One of the sites I like to look at to get a true feeling of what people expect, weather it is with the economy, sports, politics, etc, is Intrade.com. Basically Intrade is a betting site, that works sort of like the stock market. The higher the share price, the more likely people think an event will happen. There is not better way to get a good accurate feel of a general populations thoughts, than through betting. Polls, and questionairs can be deceiving, as the people taking them do not have an incentive to be honest. With Intrade, people put their money where their mouths are. So, I will take a quick look at some of the states:
According to the bettors at Intrade.com the following is true according to the last trade price at the betting site.
Facebook IPO
14% Chance that FaceBook Will announce an IPO by December 31st, 2009
31% Chance that FaceBook Will announce an IPO by December 31st, 2010
Dow Jones Price Target
88.5% chance the Dow will end at over 6000 on December 31st, 2009
77.5% Chance the Dow will end at over 7000 on December 31st, 2009
30.2% Chance the Dow will end at over 9000 on December 31st, 2009
7.8% Chance the Dow will end at over 11000 on December 31st, 2009
Economic Data
55% Chance the US Unemployment will be Greater than 10.50% by December 31st, 2009
7% Chance the US Unemployment will be Greater than 11.50% by December 31st, 2009
55% Chance the US Recession will end in this Quarter (Quarter 3)
Just thought these numbers were interesting. Take them for what they are.
According to the bettors at Intrade.com the following is true according to the last trade price at the betting site.
Facebook IPO
14% Chance that FaceBook Will announce an IPO by December 31st, 2009
31% Chance that FaceBook Will announce an IPO by December 31st, 2010
Dow Jones Price Target
88.5% chance the Dow will end at over 6000 on December 31st, 2009
77.5% Chance the Dow will end at over 7000 on December 31st, 2009
30.2% Chance the Dow will end at over 9000 on December 31st, 2009
7.8% Chance the Dow will end at over 11000 on December 31st, 2009
Economic Data
55% Chance the US Unemployment will be Greater than 10.50% by December 31st, 2009
7% Chance the US Unemployment will be Greater than 11.50% by December 31st, 2009
55% Chance the US Recession will end in this Quarter (Quarter 3)
Just thought these numbers were interesting. Take them for what they are.
Monday, July 13, 2009
GMGMQ Halted, Finally
I very rarely blog about one particular stock, however with this instance I am making an exception. Earlier today the the self regulatory body of the brokerage industry, FINRA stepped in and halted trading on the Bankrupt General Motors company, now known as "Motors Liquidators," with ticker symbol GMGMQ.
Why did it Take so Long to Halt GMGMQ?
This is a question many people are asking. Why didn't this stock get halted weeks ago? General motors stated repeatedly that the shares of GMGMQ would be worthless once the US government, the United Auto Workers, and the company’s bondholders take their pieces of the restructured company. By allowing it to continue to trade it allowed for manipulation to occur, and traders to make quick money off of the uninformed.
What Sparked the Halt?
Earlier today the stock surged, up 38% for really no other reason then stock newsletters pumping it up. The initial jump in price caught the attention of investors who thought that maybe the GMGMQ symbol represented the new General Motors which emerged from bankruptcy just last Friday. This was not the case, thus the halt to stop the confusion.
It's pretty crazy when a company that claims their stock is worthless trades at a market cap of over $600 million, like it was at at the time of the halt earlier today. I just wonder how many investors lost big money thinking they were buying into the new General motors that is now no longer bankrupt.
Why did it Take so Long to Halt GMGMQ?
This is a question many people are asking. Why didn't this stock get halted weeks ago? General motors stated repeatedly that the shares of GMGMQ would be worthless once the US government, the United Auto Workers, and the company’s bondholders take their pieces of the restructured company. By allowing it to continue to trade it allowed for manipulation to occur, and traders to make quick money off of the uninformed.
What Sparked the Halt?
Earlier today the stock surged, up 38% for really no other reason then stock newsletters pumping it up. The initial jump in price caught the attention of investors who thought that maybe the GMGMQ symbol represented the new General Motors which emerged from bankruptcy just last Friday. This was not the case, thus the halt to stop the confusion.
It's pretty crazy when a company that claims their stock is worthless trades at a market cap of over $600 million, like it was at at the time of the halt earlier today. I just wonder how many investors lost big money thinking they were buying into the new General motors that is now no longer bankrupt.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tazoodle - A look Inside
Below is an overview of a new Search engine which launches in about 98 days. It's called Tazoodle, and it leaves many questions to be answered. This overview is written by a guest author, and not myself:
Overview of Tazoodle
Here's the brand new search engine Tazoodle. We don't know much about it. In this article, we're going to talk about how it works.
In the beginning, after registering a Tazoodle account, a user becomes a viewer. The viewer becomes an advertiser, when a website is added to the account and advertising is purchased. After that, the website of advertiser is added to the display list of the website together with other advertisers. Then, their website is displayed at some times.
One website's view or click cost is $1 and each advertiser pays fees ahead of their site being shown. $1 purchases one credit for website display. Tazoodle gains income, when an advertiser's site is displayed. The earned income is shared differently with different accounts in the next manner – 50% of the total income goes to account owners, which merit sharing in the earnings pool, 75% of the remained 50% goes to advertisers, and 25% goes to advertisers and viewers.
Account keepers can share in the everyday income pool by surveying 20 advertiser sites for 15 seconds each. Advertisers receive a 25% bonus in credits for website display. All that is calculated and then added to their display credits every day. The site display credit count defines the quantity of times the website of the advertiser might be displayed and the implicit income gained by the advertiser.
Both viewer and advertiser can introduce Tazoodle to others. If the user creates an account under the account number of either viewer or advertiser, they become the sponsor of the new account. The sponsor receives a 10% cash commission, if the new account's owner buys advertising. In the same manner if the new account's proprietor invites a user to Tazoodle that later buys advertising also, the first sponsor will receive a 5% cash commission. Commissions are paid instantly to the cash account of the sponsor. Every day, the viewing earnings and commission earnings will be counted and transferred to the user's cash account. Then, each user will have the choice to buy Tazoodle advertising, transmit money to another user's cash account of transfer it to International Global Exchange or PayPal account, which offers debit card facilities and bank-to-bank transfers.
Overview of Tazoodle
Here's the brand new search engine Tazoodle. We don't know much about it. In this article, we're going to talk about how it works.
In the beginning, after registering a Tazoodle account, a user becomes a viewer. The viewer becomes an advertiser, when a website is added to the account and advertising is purchased. After that, the website of advertiser is added to the display list of the website together with other advertisers. Then, their website is displayed at some times.
One website's view or click cost is $1 and each advertiser pays fees ahead of their site being shown. $1 purchases one credit for website display. Tazoodle gains income, when an advertiser's site is displayed. The earned income is shared differently with different accounts in the next manner – 50% of the total income goes to account owners, which merit sharing in the earnings pool, 75% of the remained 50% goes to advertisers, and 25% goes to advertisers and viewers.
Account keepers can share in the everyday income pool by surveying 20 advertiser sites for 15 seconds each. Advertisers receive a 25% bonus in credits for website display. All that is calculated and then added to their display credits every day. The site display credit count defines the quantity of times the website of the advertiser might be displayed and the implicit income gained by the advertiser.
Both viewer and advertiser can introduce Tazoodle to others. If the user creates an account under the account number of either viewer or advertiser, they become the sponsor of the new account. The sponsor receives a 10% cash commission, if the new account's owner buys advertising. In the same manner if the new account's proprietor invites a user to Tazoodle that later buys advertising also, the first sponsor will receive a 5% cash commission. Commissions are paid instantly to the cash account of the sponsor. Every day, the viewing earnings and commission earnings will be counted and transferred to the user's cash account. Then, each user will have the choice to buy Tazoodle advertising, transmit money to another user's cash account of transfer it to International Global Exchange or PayPal account, which offers debit card facilities and bank-to-bank transfers.
Friday, July 10, 2009
July Earnings and Economic Data
This has been another, not so good, week in the markets. Having said this, I am still very optimistic. I feel that these drops in the market are just buying opportunities for later in the year and next year. I have been asked, where I thought the DOW would be by the middle of 2011. No one, not even the best economic experts in the World could even venture a good guess at this question. Anything could happen between now and than. I will however say that in 2 years from now, I could see the Dow in the 11,000 - 12,000 range. Now that's almost a 50% gain from today. 25% per year is an amazing return.
Next week is going to be certainly a wild one. We will get a lot of information on the status of the economy. Most importantly, the earnings reports from some of the largest corporations on the planet, including, Google, IBM, Citibank, Bank of America, and many others. In addition to this, we will also get the following economic data released all throughout next week.
Jul 13 2:00 PM Treasury Budget Jun
Jul 14 8:30 AM Core PPI Jun
Jul 14 8:30 AM PPI Jun
Jul 14 8:30 AM Retail Sales Jun
Jul 14 8:30 AM Retail Sales ex-auto
Jul 14 10:00 AM Business Inventories May
Jul 15 8:30 AM Core CPI Jun
Jul 15 8:30 AM CPI Jun
Jul 15 8:30 AM Empire Manufacturing Jul
Jul 15 9:15 AM Capacity Utilization Jun
Jul 15 9:15 AM Industrial Production Jun
Jul 15 10:00 AM Business Inventories May
Jul 15 10:30 AM Crude Inventories 07/10
Jul 15 10:35 AM Crude Inventories 07/10
Jul 15 2:00 PM Minutes of FOMC Meeting June 24
Jul 16 8:30 AM Initial Claims 07/11
Jul 16 9:00 AM Net Long-Term TIC Flows May
Jul 16 10:00 AM Philadelphia Fed Jul
Jul 17 8:30 AM Building Permits Jun
Jul 17 8:30 AM Housing Starts Jun
I will be paying close attention to the Business Inventory number, as well as the Philadelphia Fed. The Housing numbers should also be very interesting. So, whether you are buying or selling in the current conditions, Next week will certainly make a financial impact on your holdings.
Next week is going to be certainly a wild one. We will get a lot of information on the status of the economy. Most importantly, the earnings reports from some of the largest corporations on the planet, including, Google, IBM, Citibank, Bank of America, and many others. In addition to this, we will also get the following economic data released all throughout next week.
Jul 13 2:00 PM Treasury Budget Jun
Jul 14 8:30 AM Core PPI Jun
Jul 14 8:30 AM PPI Jun
Jul 14 8:30 AM Retail Sales Jun
Jul 14 8:30 AM Retail Sales ex-auto
Jul 14 10:00 AM Business Inventories May
Jul 15 8:30 AM Core CPI Jun
Jul 15 8:30 AM CPI Jun
Jul 15 8:30 AM Empire Manufacturing Jul
Jul 15 9:15 AM Capacity Utilization Jun
Jul 15 9:15 AM Industrial Production Jun
Jul 15 10:00 AM Business Inventories May
Jul 15 10:30 AM Crude Inventories 07/10
Jul 15 10:35 AM Crude Inventories 07/10
Jul 15 2:00 PM Minutes of FOMC Meeting June 24
Jul 16 8:30 AM Initial Claims 07/11
Jul 16 9:00 AM Net Long-Term TIC Flows May
Jul 16 10:00 AM Philadelphia Fed Jul
Jul 17 8:30 AM Building Permits Jun
Jul 17 8:30 AM Housing Starts Jun
I will be paying close attention to the Business Inventory number, as well as the Philadelphia Fed. The Housing numbers should also be very interesting. So, whether you are buying or selling in the current conditions, Next week will certainly make a financial impact on your holdings.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
2009 2nd Quarter Earnings - Google, Citibank, etc
We have seen the stock market drop nearly 10% from it's Highs back in late May. In the last two weeks though, the market has really tumbled. Most of this is from economic data, which was not as good as expected, but a lot of the negative sentiment is from jitters before the 2nd quarter earnings reports for 2009. Starting next week we will see some very important companies release their earnings. Below are just some of the companies releasing their reports next week, that I feel are a bit more important to the economy as a whole.
Tuesday, July 14th
Goldman Sachs
Johnson & Johnson
Wednesday, July 15th
Kinder Morgan
Worthington Industries
Thursday, July 16th
Google
IBM
Friday, July 18th
Bank of America
Citigroup
General Electric
Mattel
If the majority of these reports are better then expected, and if the companies give forecasts that seem to lend a hint of optimism towards a soon to be expanding economy, meaning more job opportunities, we may just retest the highs of late May. Having said this, it could go the other way as well. I personally see more room to the upside then downside though.
Tuesday, July 14th
Goldman Sachs
Johnson & Johnson
Wednesday, July 15th
Kinder Morgan
Worthington Industries
Thursday, July 16th
IBM
Friday, July 18th
Bank of America
Citigroup
General Electric
Mattel
If the majority of these reports are better then expected, and if the companies give forecasts that seem to lend a hint of optimism towards a soon to be expanding economy, meaning more job opportunities, we may just retest the highs of late May. Having said this, it could go the other way as well. I personally see more room to the upside then downside though.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
How to Save on Life Insurance
Life insurance. It's not something anyone really wants to think about, because no one wants to consider the possibility of dying earlier then expected. Having said this, Life Insurance is one of the more important insurance types anyone can buy. Be aware that there are a lot of companies out there that will rip you off on policy terms. Because of this I have created a short, but important list of things you can do to save money on your Life insurance policy:
#1 Look for "No Load" Policies
Although they are rare, "No-load" policies are a smart move. This means that you are not paying any of your monthly premium for expenses to the agents, thus more money will go immediately to work for you. The best way to get a No-Load policy is to seek out financial advisers which charge a flat one time fee.
#2 Improve Your Health
There is no questioning why a Life Insurer would charge a lower rate to someone who is healthy. Concentrate on quitting smoking, losing weight, and decreasing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Note that you usually have to stop smoking several years prior to getting a policy in order to get the "non-smokers" rate.
#3 Pay Entire Insurance Bill Yearly.
Do not opt for the monthly payments. This will only increase your rate and interest payments. If you pay the policy free and clear at the start of each billing year, you will walk away with much more cash at the end of the year.
#4 If You Are Healthy, Do Not Buy A Guaranteed Issue Policy
Guaranteed issue policies are policies which require no medical exam, and are guaranteed to you. The problem is, that if you are healthy, you want the insurer to know. Guaranteed issue policies are riskier to the insurer, thus they cost more for you.
Remember as with every financial decision, do your research, online and offline to make the best decision possible for you.
#1 Look for "No Load" Policies
Although they are rare, "No-load" policies are a smart move. This means that you are not paying any of your monthly premium for expenses to the agents, thus more money will go immediately to work for you. The best way to get a No-Load policy is to seek out financial advisers which charge a flat one time fee.
#2 Improve Your Health
There is no questioning why a Life Insurer would charge a lower rate to someone who is healthy. Concentrate on quitting smoking, losing weight, and decreasing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Note that you usually have to stop smoking several years prior to getting a policy in order to get the "non-smokers" rate.
#3 Pay Entire Insurance Bill Yearly.
Do not opt for the monthly payments. This will only increase your rate and interest payments. If you pay the policy free and clear at the start of each billing year, you will walk away with much more cash at the end of the year.
#4 If You Are Healthy, Do Not Buy A Guaranteed Issue Policy
Guaranteed issue policies are policies which require no medical exam, and are guaranteed to you. The problem is, that if you are healthy, you want the insurer to know. Guaranteed issue policies are riskier to the insurer, thus they cost more for you.
Remember as with every financial decision, do your research, online and offline to make the best decision possible for you.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
47 Ways to Raise Your Credit Score
At Another website I run I often get asked questions about credit scores, and how one can raise them. Yesterday someone emailed me with a 600 Credit Score, who was panicking because she couldn't get a mortgage. She wanted to know how she could raise her score to at least a 700 within 12-18 months. Without Going into detail I have listed 47 different ways one can raise their credit score. Many of these are obvious, yet people continue to ignore them.
1. Make Sure that each Creditor Reports to the Credit Bureaus
2. Add Your Name to Someone Else’s Good Account
3. Get Credit Advice from a Professional
4. Do Not Max Out any Credit Cards
5. Pay All your Bills on Time Every Time
6. Get Current on Past Due Accounts
7. Immediately Settle Disputed Accounts
8. Do Not Close Unused Credit Accounts
9. Do Not Make Too Many Credit Inquiries
10. Reduce Revolving Your Debts
11. Never File For Bankruptcy
12. Dispute Delinquent Credit Accounts
13. Correct Credit Report Inaccuracies
14. Get a Secured Credit Card
15. Open New Credit Accounts with High Limits
16. Close Accounts Slowly, Starting with the Newest
17. Get a Savings or Checking Account
18. Quickly Dissolve Joint Accounts after a Divorce
19. Avoid Consolidating Debts or Balance Transfers
20. Negotiate Better Terms with Creditors
21. Stop Using Credit Cards
22. Ask for a Credit Limit Increase, But Not Too Often
23. Never Take a Cash Advance
24. Occasionally Use Your Credit Cards
25. Pay Utility Bills on Time
26. Maintain at Least One Good Account
27. Something is Better than Nothing
28. Shop for Loans within a Short Period
29. Live Within Your Financial Means
30. Apply for an Auto Loan
31. Don’t Open Too Many Accounts within a Short Period
32 Add Information to Your Credit Report
33. Payoff Existing Loans
34. Pay More than the Minimum Payment
35. Ask Creditor to Delete a 30-Day Late Item
36. Enroll for Automatic Bill Paying Services
37. Resist the “In-Store Credit” Temptation
38. Pay Credit Cards Early
39. Do Not Exceed Your Credit Limit
40. Pay Balances Off in Full
41. Avoid Finance Companies
42. Re-Open Closed Accounts
43. Lower Your Overall Debt Ratio And Increase Your Assets
44. Have at Least Three Open Accounts At Any One Time
45. Do Not Apply for a “Capital One” Credit Card
46. Prioritize Your Debts
47. Always Know Your Credit Score
1. Make Sure that each Creditor Reports to the Credit Bureaus
2. Add Your Name to Someone Else’s Good Account
3. Get Credit Advice from a Professional
4. Do Not Max Out any Credit Cards
5. Pay All your Bills on Time Every Time
6. Get Current on Past Due Accounts
7. Immediately Settle Disputed Accounts
8. Do Not Close Unused Credit Accounts
9. Do Not Make Too Many Credit Inquiries
10. Reduce Revolving Your Debts
11. Never File For Bankruptcy
12. Dispute Delinquent Credit Accounts
13. Correct Credit Report Inaccuracies
14. Get a Secured Credit Card
15. Open New Credit Accounts with High Limits
16. Close Accounts Slowly, Starting with the Newest
17. Get a Savings or Checking Account
18. Quickly Dissolve Joint Accounts after a Divorce
19. Avoid Consolidating Debts or Balance Transfers
20. Negotiate Better Terms with Creditors
21. Stop Using Credit Cards
22. Ask for a Credit Limit Increase, But Not Too Often
23. Never Take a Cash Advance
24. Occasionally Use Your Credit Cards
25. Pay Utility Bills on Time
26. Maintain at Least One Good Account
27. Something is Better than Nothing
28. Shop for Loans within a Short Period
29. Live Within Your Financial Means
30. Apply for an Auto Loan
31. Don’t Open Too Many Accounts within a Short Period
32 Add Information to Your Credit Report
33. Payoff Existing Loans
34. Pay More than the Minimum Payment
35. Ask Creditor to Delete a 30-Day Late Item
36. Enroll for Automatic Bill Paying Services
37. Resist the “In-Store Credit” Temptation
38. Pay Credit Cards Early
39. Do Not Exceed Your Credit Limit
40. Pay Balances Off in Full
41. Avoid Finance Companies
42. Re-Open Closed Accounts
43. Lower Your Overall Debt Ratio And Increase Your Assets
44. Have at Least Three Open Accounts At Any One Time
45. Do Not Apply for a “Capital One” Credit Card
46. Prioritize Your Debts
47. Always Know Your Credit Score
Monday, July 6, 2009
Should you Start Your Own Business?
As the United states unemployment rate approaches 10%, more and more people are looking for work. As this occurs, more people are considering launching their own business, and firing any future boss's they may have. The dream of working for yourself, is one that certainly has it's benefits, but also has several dangerous risks. Below I will Provide 5 Questions that you should ask yourself before you enter the world of entrepreneurship.
#1 Do you completely understand the downside of Working for yourself?
From working 16 hour days, to constantly being on call, per se, do you understand just what is needed to succeed? Find someone who is in this line of work and ask them what they may have to be less appealing about working for themselves in the particular area you are thinking of.
#2 Do you have enough cash to survive for the next 12-24 months with 0 Income?
Running a business means reinvesting profits usually to begin. Can you survive without any profit for up to 2 years? How much Money do you have saved?
#3 What Positives and Negatives are you leaving behind in a job working for someone else?
How do they compare with what you will be doing?
#4 Are you doing this for the money or the Happiness?
You must be passionate about the business you are creating. If you are running the business for the sole purpose of getting rich, you likely will not succeed. Unless you enjoy what you will be doing, you will likely slack without the presence of a boss, especially if you are used to working for someone else.
#5 Are you in the right stage of your life to be taking on these responsibilities?
If you know you will need to work 12-16 hour days, and have a couple toddlers at home who need your caring, than it may be best to hold off on your Entrepreneurial desires.
As with any life changing change, you must spend as much time as possible weighing your options. Never jump into something without the proper research.
#1 Do you completely understand the downside of Working for yourself?
From working 16 hour days, to constantly being on call, per se, do you understand just what is needed to succeed? Find someone who is in this line of work and ask them what they may have to be less appealing about working for themselves in the particular area you are thinking of.
#2 Do you have enough cash to survive for the next 12-24 months with 0 Income?
Running a business means reinvesting profits usually to begin. Can you survive without any profit for up to 2 years? How much Money do you have saved?
#3 What Positives and Negatives are you leaving behind in a job working for someone else?
How do they compare with what you will be doing?
#4 Are you doing this for the money or the Happiness?
You must be passionate about the business you are creating. If you are running the business for the sole purpose of getting rich, you likely will not succeed. Unless you enjoy what you will be doing, you will likely slack without the presence of a boss, especially if you are used to working for someone else.
#5 Are you in the right stage of your life to be taking on these responsibilities?
If you know you will need to work 12-16 hour days, and have a couple toddlers at home who need your caring, than it may be best to hold off on your Entrepreneurial desires.
As with any life changing change, you must spend as much time as possible weighing your options. Never jump into something without the proper research.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Unemployment Rate 9.5%
Well, we come to the end of a shortened market week, and have to say, Yesterday threw us some surprises. One surprised figure was the number of jobs on employers' payrolls fell by 467,000 in June, which was significantly worse than analysts had expected. The unemployment rate rose to 9.5. This really throws a dagger into the hoped of a recovery in the 3rd and forth quarters of the year. I still think their is hope, but it is possible we will have to wait till Quarter 1 of 2010 to see an end to the recession.
Below is the usual list of economic data to be released next week. Unlike this week, there is not all that much data becoming available, but the usual claims for unemployment should be interesting.
Jul 6 10:00 AM ISM Services Jun
Jul 8 10:30 AM Crude Inventories
Jul 8 3:00 PM Consumer Credit May
Jul 9 8:30 AM Initial Claims 07/04
Jul 9 10:00 AM Wholesale Inventories May
Jul 10 8:30 AM Export Prices ex-ag. Jun
Jul 10 8:30 AM Import Prices ex-oil Jun
Jul 10 8:30 AM Trade Balance May
Jul 10 9:55 AM Mich Sentiment-Prel Jul
There really are not too many earnings reports being released either, next week. Here are a couple of the highlights though.
Tuesday - Ruby Tuesday
Wednesday - Pepsi
Thursday - Chevron
Below is the usual list of economic data to be released next week. Unlike this week, there is not all that much data becoming available, but the usual claims for unemployment should be interesting.
Jul 6 10:00 AM ISM Services Jun
Jul 8 10:30 AM Crude Inventories
Jul 8 3:00 PM Consumer Credit May
Jul 9 8:30 AM Initial Claims 07/04
Jul 9 10:00 AM Wholesale Inventories May
Jul 10 8:30 AM Export Prices ex-ag. Jun
Jul 10 8:30 AM Import Prices ex-oil Jun
Jul 10 8:30 AM Trade Balance May
Jul 10 9:55 AM Mich Sentiment-Prel Jul
There really are not too many earnings reports being released either, next week. Here are a couple of the highlights though.
Tuesday - Ruby Tuesday
Wednesday - Pepsi
Thursday - Chevron
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Could Bing Challenge Google?
There has been a lot of fuss lately about the new Microsoft owned search engine called Bing. The fuss by the tech blogs, and Microsoft haters out there probably stems form the fact that Microsoft has claimed they will be spending upwards of $100 million on advertising the new search engine on television, magazines and the internet.
Can Bing's Advertising Help Them Overtake Google?
I can attest to the huge ad budget they have. For some Adwords ads (Googles ad platform), Bing comes up first even if the term has nothing remotely related to computers or search. I also noticed other ad platforms like Kontera, which sells in-text ads, also show Bing for a large array of key words. Google on the other hand has a huge fan base, who in effect advertise them for free. The moment Google announces a new feature to search, there are literally thousands of popular blogs which pick up the news story and announce it to the internet world. Remember, like Microsoft, Google has billions of dollars in cash. So although $100 million is a drop in the bucket for a large corporation like Microsoft, Google can still be using their $100 million to improve an already amazing search product.
Bings Search Results
So, are Bings search results better then that of Google? There have been arguments on both sides for this. In my opinion, after analyzing key results for key terms, it seems as though Bings database of sites it indexes is much smaller than that of Googles. For some searches, Bing may show better results, but for the majority of searches, Google is still far and away the best.
Is Bing Better then Live Search?
The answer to this quest is, absolutely. Even though I feel that Bing is still leaps and bounds from catching Google both search quality wise, and in the number of everyday users. Bing by far outperforms Live search. Bing basically is a copy of Google. They took many of Googles best features and made them their own. They not have sections for health, traffic, weather, travel videos, and even their own "Google Trends."
What will it Take for Bing to Catch Google.
In order for Bing to even come close to Google in their number of everyday users, it will take lot and lots of time, as well as money, but most importantly, something innovative and unique. Bing has modeled themselves after Google, and has many similarities to it. The problem is, Why would people who use Google everyday change their searching habits and just move to another "Google"? The answer is, they won't. Bing needs to be the first mover and come up with something uniques that Google does not already incorporate. If they can do this, and have a nice span of time before Google Copies their unique idea, I think we could start seeing Googlers becoming Bing'ers.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Save Money on Homeowners Insurance
As you know I have a series of blog posts related to saving money in various industries. Today I will look at a few ways to save money on your Homeowners insurance policy. If you own a home, than Homeowners insurance is a must, however, it can often drive someone crazy trying to figure out what types of coverage they need and want. Below are 4 tips to save some money on your Homeowners insurance policy:
#1 Shop Around
There are so many different insurance companies out there, and so many different types of insurance available. Do your homework before simply signing on to a policy. Check out the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website at: naic.org to get a list of insurers in your area as well as complaints and praises about each.
#2 If Possible, Buy Your House and Automobile Insurance From the Same Company
Today, more and more insurance companies offer all types of insurance, from flood, to homeowners, to auto, to life. If you can buy a couple policies from one company, you will likely save anywhere from 5-10% off your premium. Like I said though, make sure you do your homework first.
#3 Raise Your Deductible
Homeowners insurance should be in place in case of a disaster. If you are paying an insurance company to cover the minor problems you may face with home damage, you are likely losing money. Remember, an Insurance company is making a profit. This means they are charging you more than the average person needs to spend to fix their damaged home. By raising your deductible, you will save a ton of money on your premiums, and still be covered for those major problems you may face with damage to your home. Raising your deductible from $500 to $1000, can save as much as 25% on your premiums.
#4 Stay with the same Insurer.
Unless you find an amazing deal with another company, it is usually best to stay with the same company. Not only are you familiar with the policy terms, but many insurers will decrease your rates by 5-10% after 3-5 years with them.
#1 Shop Around
There are so many different insurance companies out there, and so many different types of insurance available. Do your homework before simply signing on to a policy. Check out the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website at: naic.org to get a list of insurers in your area as well as complaints and praises about each.
#2 If Possible, Buy Your House and Automobile Insurance From the Same Company
Today, more and more insurance companies offer all types of insurance, from flood, to homeowners, to auto, to life. If you can buy a couple policies from one company, you will likely save anywhere from 5-10% off your premium. Like I said though, make sure you do your homework first.
#3 Raise Your Deductible
Homeowners insurance should be in place in case of a disaster. If you are paying an insurance company to cover the minor problems you may face with home damage, you are likely losing money. Remember, an Insurance company is making a profit. This means they are charging you more than the average person needs to spend to fix their damaged home. By raising your deductible, you will save a ton of money on your premiums, and still be covered for those major problems you may face with damage to your home. Raising your deductible from $500 to $1000, can save as much as 25% on your premiums.
#4 Stay with the same Insurer.
Unless you find an amazing deal with another company, it is usually best to stay with the same company. Not only are you familiar with the policy terms, but many insurers will decrease your rates by 5-10% after 3-5 years with them.
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