Comments for Money Musings

Comment on Handling Paypal Fees in Quickbooks by Renee

Renee — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:23:22 +0000

Thanks! This was just what I needed! I didn’t know if I should set up Paypal as a bank account or some weird intermediary vendor. Your way makes a lot of sense! While I don’t tend to incur a lot of Paypal fees, at least now I know how to handle them! (I do pay most of my vendors through Paypal).

Comment on My First Computer Build by Michael

Michael — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:01:03 +0000

Oh, I used the stock Intel cooler, since I’m not overclocking any time soon. If I decide to do so later, then yeah, an upgrade of the CPU cooling fan will have to take place.

The Legos analogy is dead-on. It’s a lot like that. Although I don’t remember any Lego sets that utilized SATA cables or cooling fans.

The most work goes into researching the components and deciding what to put into the box.

Yup. Absolutely.

Comment on My First Computer Build by Eric

Eric — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:26:03 +0000

Congrats on the build. It really is easy, isn’t it? I’ve been building since the early 90s. I tell people that really it’s not much more complicated than Legos. Just a bunch of parts that pop into slots or hook together with cables. The most work goes into researching the components and deciding what to put into the box. Wow I didn’t know that HD prices had gone up that much. I got a 1TB 7200rpm drive about six months ago. You didn’t mention what you did for a CPU cooler. Aftermarket or the one that came with the proc? That will be an issue with overclocking, but OC’ing seems pointless these days with CPUs being so unbelievably powerful right out of the box.

Comment on My First Computer Build by Michael

Michael — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:07:11 +0000

I should’ve started building my own computers years ago, honestly. There was absolutely nothing complicated about it.

Comment on My First Computer Build by Mun

Mun — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:48:28 +0000

I’ve been looking for a new laptop/desktop for some time because my current laptop is aging – and I agree, many computers in the market don’t have a great price/performance ratio.

But I’ve never thought about building my own computer until I read this post. Not sure if I’ll be able to do that, (no tech background whatsoever!) but it does sound exciting. Assuming that the machine will work, of course

Comment on Simply Money and Windows 7 by Ted Barden

Ted Barden — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:40:25 +0000

Does anybody know where I can buy a copy of Simply Money 2 ?

Comment on Suze Orman: How to Split the Bills by mae

mae — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:30:28 +0000

My husband and I both pay our own personal bills such as charge accounts. My husband makes $4500 a month which includes social security, pension, part time pay. He also has a lawn service which he says that is his money to buy the things he wants and is not included in the $4500. I have $2500 coming in total which includes social security and pension. With his salary I should not have to pay any household bills since I am responsible for washing and keeping his clothing clean for his part time and lawn service job. All household chores are done by me(cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing,book keeping, painting, shampooing carpets,ironing,etc.He still wants me to pay half of our $2100 a month bills.We sat down and worked out a plan where he will pay 80% of the bills while I will pay 20%. It leaves him with over $3000 left plus whatever he makes from the lawn service. I have approximately $2050 left. And he still does not like this method. I told him I should not be living like a pauper while he lives the rich life. We are married and should have each other’s back.

Comment on So Why Save? by Mike

Mike — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:01:05 +0000

If I was confident I’d be in the same town 10 years from now I would probably be using any money I accumulated to buy investment property at 20 or 30% down. Small buildings within a few miles from where I live- maybe even within walking distance. This seems to be a way to use the low interest rates to your benefit – it is also “buying low”. I know we may not be at bottom, but if there is no improvement in the next 10 years, …well this country will be on a hard road and I won’t be alone trying to make do.

I know its a risk, but now it sometimes seems every investment is a very real risk. It just seems like everything is overvalued. I will continue to sock away a hearty 20% in growth and index funds in my 401k. But I only have a little more faith that I will be able to draw on that in 25 years than I do with collecting any social security (and that is almost nil faith).

So, have you ever considered real estate? I’m a landlord now and its not too bad, I live on the top floor of a nice duplex and my tenants pay 700 of my 1000 mortgage taxes and insurance.

Comment on Higher Debt-ucation by Michael

Michael — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:15:13 +0000

RichUncle,

Good thing everything else — our current debt and all prior obligations — is free, and we have plenty of money available to fund anything under the sun. The rest of the world will loan funny money to us in perpetuity, and we’ll trade them our funny money for theirs, and we’ll all live happily ever after and eat chocolate chip cookies and tiramisu every night. And prosperity will reign, so long as we continue to “grow our economy” via wholesale debt creation.

Where does it stop? I thought the whole Iraq thing was stupid; I thought the bailouts of 2008-09 were stupid; I think the idea of for “higher ed for all” is stupid. I am wholeheartedly against stupid.

So now that the U.S. has money waiting to be allocated…

Because heaven knows paying back our debt — or even JUST STOPPING ADDING TO IT — is a ridiculous proposition, an idea to be brushed aside with obvious contempt and derision.

Also what do you think of those countries that offer higher education practically free to their citizens with no questions asked?

Mostly, I think that the road to “entitlement hell” (and eventual economic disruption) is paved with good intentions. It plays out that way, over and over again. But hey — if they’ve got the money to pay for it, more power to ‘em.

Comment on Higher Debt-ucation by RichUncle EL

RichUncle EL — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:22:20 +0000

I understand what your saying here, but I believe their could be a postive side to helping those with student loan debt. The country is now done with the war in which we were paying billions of dollars to support. So now that the U.S. has money waiting to be allocated, then a program (Stimulus ) could be established to assist the citizens of this country saddled with student debt. If this happens then those same people will have a more money to spend back into the economy. As our GDP is made up of 70% of consumer spending I think it will be beneficial for the country. Also what do you think of those countries that offer higher education practically free to their citizens with no questions asked. There is always two sides of any debate.