RSS feed readers get me lazy.

I read all your blogs through bloglines.com…it’s quite an awesome tool.

Since I’ve been doing this, I don’t really get to know or read everything on your blog. For instance, if you have an “About Me” page that gets updated…or if you redesign your blog layout.

I just mention this because I’m probably missing a lot of awesome blogs out there that are included as links in the template of the webpage. I think I only check out a new blog if it’s mentioned in a post that appears in my blog feeder.

I guess it would be a good idea to actually visit all the blogs once in a while…but, I have 300 blogs in my reader…that’s a lot of typing out to do!

A little thought about competitive savings rates…

Mymoneyblog.com has a handy calculator that computes how long it would take to cover lost interest if you switched from a lower interest savings to a higher savings … depending on the money-transfer time.

Although I feel it’s important to keep up with the best rates, it just doesn’t make sense if you’re transferring your money all the time.

I’ve transferred a lot of cash only once and that was from my ING to HSBC because HSBC’s rates were over 1% more…And, I also liked how HSBC offered an ATM card, have branches internationally.

When I see the new rates, I first check to see if it’s a bank that’s accessible to me, pretty large…and that it’s one I can trust. And, I’ll just start putting my new savings into the account. No transferring…just adding.

I’m happy that I have stuck with HSBC because they’ve been responsive to the frequent rate changes.

Aside from credit unions or smaller local banks, I think they have the best online savings program…

Cash distribution with banks:

Wells Fargo – primary checking

HSBC – secondary checking – $10/mo to keep it alive and safe

HSBC – main savings – short-term emergency savings (medical needs, car needs) & down payment savings
GMAC – CD ladder – long-term emergency savings (say I lose my job)

ING – $20/mo to keep it alive and investment play money

But, then again…ING does offer a $25 bonus is you open a new account and deposit $250 w/ an invitation referral.

That may not sound like much…but for some of us out there, it’s like a year’s worth of interest.

Jammed with work and other life issues.

A few things going on:

My roommate is leaving the apartment (YES!)

And, I’ve picked a new roomie a few days ago…

Kinda nervous since this is the first time I’ll be living with a guy and he’s from Craig’s List

But, things can’t get worse than current conditions…my roommate/close friend drives me nuts!

I interviewed for another job, and I felt it went well…except now doubts are slowly creeping up…

I don’t want to think about it too much because I’m a bit superstitious and don’t want to jinx myself…

Work is busy…trying to get through daily…

I have a few side jobs…finishing up a website (not getting paid for this one) and doing minor desktop publishing work for another person which will bring in maybe about $500.

I need the extra cash to buy a refrigerator to replace the one my roommate’s taking. Hm…expensive~

Lunching out at work is expensive.

I went to a blog post with a calculator that computes how much you'd save if you brownbag your lunch every once in a while.

This is one thing that I am adamant about – not buying lunch as much as possible. Dining out is expensive…even at McDonald's.

My work situation is good for brownbagging…we're all so busy at the office, we hardly have a chance to take a "real" lunch. I started brownbagging week two of my current job…and I only eat out maybe once a week.

Say eating out costs about $8/meal. Buying and preparing food from home $3/meal.  In a week, I save $20. That's $80 for the month…

The other great thing about this is that I feel comfortable treating my co-workers out to lunch occassionally…It's not burning my pocket and they appreciate the generosity. 

What I learned from scratchers…

Investing in the stock market feels a lot like when I played scratchers when I was 19.
The first time I got a $5 scratcher I won $50…so I got about 10 more scratchers…and sometimes I would get $2 back and other times I'd lose.

When I opened my Roth IRA, I purchased an auto-pilot fund that went up about 15%.
Well, since then I opened a separate brokerage account, and my investments have gone down a lot…like everyone else's.

So, I've been rethinking some things…
My natural reaction is to cease investing, but that's driven by emotion. I think if I look at things with the bigger picture in mind, this is what happens…this is part of the pattern to overall growth. I have some things that I know I should do. I should probably stick to a discount broker and purchase at least $1000 worth of stock each time. If I make a market order, it will typically cost about $20 to buy or to sell. So, if I buy some stock at $20 and then sell it…it will really cost me $40…which is what most people earn in savings interest for the year.

I've been building up a CD ladder for the past quarter…and this month I sent in my check. I forgot to transfer money from my savings to checking before the check went through. I think I had thought that the CD would be drawn from my savings directly. So, I got an insufficient funds fee of $30. That totally blows…stupid things like this piss me off. Why didn't I transfer that cash right away?!

Also, one last thing…no matter how much time and effort you spend ito analyze and understand the market, cds, savings, retirement programs, in the end, the best return you get is from your career. I've talked about this with boy a lot…and he feels strongly about investing in one's career. I can see his point; I've paid attention to the market closely over the past half year…haven't made much return…I sure have learned a lot and saved a lot of cash, but what makes more money is my two hours of Photoshop lessons that I give to the sculptor. Also, I've picked up work from our freelance creative director and one of our flash designers…so spending a few hours on that gives me much more than I can from buying and selling stocks. Maybe if I had more dough the return would be greater, but right now…I think I can allocate only up to 15% of excess income to investments. The rest would be split between my long-term savings/cds & retirement.

0601 Asset & Liabilities.

Ether. Ask me about things I know…

I got a beta invitation from Ether.com.

So far, I've only put down website development process as one of my know-hows.

I'll be updating that list gradually. You can check it on the top tab – "Insights (call me through Ether)

This service is pretty cool…because you're assigned a phone number that forwards to your real phone. Someone calls to ask you about what you know whether it be reviews on cameras, how to program something, how to control your kids, etc.etc. And, you get paid for your time.

Neat, right?

I think you can still sign up for beta-testing…Ether.com.

Live & learn.

Well, I suppose getting the Vonage stock upon IPO was a mistake.

Although I believe in this company & their services, it's dropped a lot since yesterday.

Fortunately, I got it at the lowest price yesterday and didn't lost too much.

Oh well…this & these past weeks' stock market's patterns seem to be telling me, "Chill out. No more buying stocks & focus more on improving situation with work. Build emergency fund more."

Dilemma dilemma.

So, work is a downer.

Yesterday, my beliefs about my boss and company were confirmed when our creative recruiter came to meet us at our office.

We occassionally farm out work to freelancers when projects get loaded or when we need someone of special expertise.

Our recruiter came to meet us, and my boss did most of the talking. And, he mentioned a few things that gave me the red flag.

1. He's not interested in growing the business

2. He's not confident about the business

It was had to keep a straight face during that meeting because I felt disappointed by my own boss. I want to be able to contribute something to my work – to have some ownership of the company, to steer it in an upward direction. I'm interested in exploring new ideas & ways of doing things whereas my boss likes to stick with the old ways of doing things even if it means patching it up with gum & tape and glue. I hope you know what I mean.

This is a real problem for me because I'm not satisfied but I feel guilty if I leave since we're such a small company. I guess I do have a major role in the projects, and it would be a blow to them if I left.

How do I secure a new job while maintaining good relationships with my current employer. And be able to leave them so that they can manage on their own? This is really difficult…

I do need to save some more money though.

Even though I have about 6 months worth of living expeneses in my emergency savings acct, I don't feel secure. I'll feel better if I have 9-12 months.

So, maybe I can work for a couple more months?  Even if my morale goes down?

What to do? What to do? 

Vonage IPO.

Vonage opened at $17/share.

I just purchased 50 shares at $14.95 for my Roth IRA.

It's now at $15.15.

I might add this stock to my dollar-cost-averaging brokerage account.

Let's see how it does… 

Stocks recovering…a bit & more of life’s expenses.

I'm no longer $150 under. I'm now at $100 under.

I went to the dentist today.  I need to get the last of my wisdom teeth pulled out.

Well, I didn't take them out today because I wasn't sure if my health insurance would cover it. I called, and I have passed the 3-month waiting period, and they will cover most of the cost. I scheduled another appt in 2 weeks.

I'm happy about the health insurance news but am worried that I'm becoming too absent at work.  But, these are things that I need to do! Ugh…I dunno what to do and what to feel.

Anyway, no savings for this month & next because I'm still trying to pay off last months bills of new furniture, mom's day, friend's wedding gift, and now my dentist stuffs…

=(