Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Weird Scenes Inside The Gold Mine

Stocks are not for the weak-hearted. The ups and downs on a scale resemble that of a person having a heart attack. Stocks are ever changeable, and weak-hearted individuals may  not be able to endure the battle to win the war.

I have been focusing on pharmaceuticals, which some advisors view as risky and fly by night. When Pfizer came out with Viagara, for example, it's stock price was at an all-time high. Today it is average and a risky investment long term.

When it comes to pharm-stock, I find you should strap yourself in for the ride, buy low and sell high, research the uses  of the product and make sure the target audience is dominant in it's a miracle cure for that audience.

Think senior health with baby-boomers aging and needing life-saving drugs. With senior, drugs need to fight cancer and boost immunity.

I came across Exelixis purely by accident. It was under $4 and into cancer research. I bought my shares and went on a wild roller coaster ride that would see me taking heavy monetary hits. At one point it was below $2 and all analysists pointed to not buying and selling. I didn't listen.

Today the stock is over $6. I realize that I am still in for a bumpy ride, but today I am far out of the red with this stock. This stock has now become a must buy, and even skeptics realize it's potential. I've seen my portfolio skyrocket in the past couple of weeks!~

Friday, April 29, 2016

Best INTEREST Banking

Back in the day, banks would pay out up to 5% APR on all savings accounts. Today some people are happy just to save money with a .08% APR return, because they feel that is the best they can do. Well, I know a few online banks that pay at least 1.0%!


I use 3 online banks for savings and emergencies. GE Capital became GS Bank and pays 1.05% APR. That is a great rate for an interest earning saving account. A bit of advice is to avoid CDs no matter how tempting. You're locked in and there are penalties for early withdraw, not only from the bank, but on your federal returns. Keep that in mind.


Saving money isn't always easy, but being an ant instead of a grasshopper will prepare you for anything that comes your way. Seeing a possible emergency coming may help you put extra money aside. This may very well be the theme of a frugal penny pincher.  Smile, you're on Candid Camera! Google CC.


If you want just a little bit more than GS Bank then you should check out Barclays. It not only pays 1.05% APY, but rewards you with extra credit for not withdrawing and depositing.


So is there possibly a better rate to help you save and earn interest? How does 1.10% sound? Check out Salem Five Direct. The .25% APY on the checking account!


In the GS Bank, I deposit as a weekly overdraft protection. If my paycheck doesn't cover expenses at some point, I withdraw from this account.


The Barclays is a long term savings for retirement account that will yield a high interest return. The Salem Five is for an emergency fund.  Some would say, "Wouldn't you want Barclays as an emergency fund?" An emergency fund might be short term, but more than likely will be longer than projected. Eventually, a non spent SalemFive may earn more than a Barclays!


Now if you are saving it implies that you are not living paycheck to paycheck. This really will not make any sense to those who do. Saving is a form of investing that has a guaranteed return.


As always, be sure to read all agreements before signing on. Is there a minimum deposit on high interest accounts? What is my rate? Read and understand what you are getting into for the most part!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Birthday Freebies

There are many freebies to be had on your birthday. By not using them, is like  turning down free money. Some may not be available in your area, others may not be your cup of tea, but regardless even one birthday money saver is worth it.

Here's a Google Search, to start. Denny's is still giving a free Grand Slam with just a proof of birth. Some sites you have to register and copy a birthday coupon that comes in your email. Either way, the freebies are great.

I also found local freebies from food to booze. The booze was a 2 liter boot of beer! That's over 2 quarts of beer!I couldn't finish the whole thing without a designated driver!

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Buyer Beware Buying A Car

There are services out there that charge you a fee for something you can get for free. LifeLock offers Identity Theft Protection for a few. Free ID protection is offered by Credit Sesame, which along with Credit Karma will supply your credit scores from all three credit agencies. This bypasses the yearly annual report everybody is entitled to, and is FREE!


So now we are hearing about CARFAX that gives us a history of any vehicle we hope to buy...for a fee. Car buying is a stressful situation because we are about to spend thousands on a mode of transportation that we hope will be reliable and not a lemon or a rip off!


Besides relying on a vehicle history we should be advised to have a reliable and trustworthy mechanic to inspect our selected purchase. Still there are free and MORE reliable services that can check a car's history.


AutoCheck, VinAudit, and NICB offer better service for FREE!


Remember to do your research before jumping on any vehicle that a dealer seems to steer you to.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Useful Links

Sometimes I wish there were ways to make things easier, especially if it comes to a way to save money. In today's world we should protect ourselves from possibly facing an identity theft that leads to financial ruin. Strong passwords and a good anti-virus protection will help.


For the best protection, you should have a strong password for each site, rather than one password for all sites. You should write your passwords on a notebook and keep them in a secure location. You can also use password managers such as RoboForm or LastPass.


When it comes  anti-virus' there are a vast number of different ones on the market. AVG and Avast offer both free and premium anti-virus'.


Financial health means possibly going on a spending fast, or freeze, for a day, a week, two weeks, or a month. Anytime you don't spend money puts money in your pocket. Find tips here, here and here to name a few.


Sites that save you on merchandise from food to goods are always worth trying. Coupons.com and SavingStar are useful to help you save. I also recommend applying for the retailers reward cards.


I was just turned on to a rather novel idea. If you buy gift cards from pawn shops or people trying to dump them for cash, you will save on merchandise and food. Try Raise.com where you can get deals and save some money.


If your still hesitant about investing, WealthFront will customize an investment plan and won't charge you until you reach $10000.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

The Money Tree

I encounter people who waste so much money it's pathetic. I wonder if they scam the system or can't see what's coming. I know some people in their 50s that have spent their entire retirement and continue borrowing as soon as they qualify. Their Social Security Income will probably be used to pay for their retirement loans.

Some people have addictions that will make them penniless in their golden years. Gambling and drug addictions are the biggies. Then if you live beyond your means, you will face a lifetime of debt. I might sound like a broken record in my rant, but I pull my hairs trying to understand why some live in a state of fantasy. Some continue to talk about retirement even though they still work beyond their original goals. Sad, indeed.

For those who save and invest and plan to retire in the real world, you get it. Saving and finding ways to make money will boost your retirement income. We all know about putting something aside weekly, and saving company raises and any extra income we make using coupons, etc., these will make a difference in your saving.

We all know about investing, although many are weary of the stock market and hiring a financial adviser. A new way to get a high yield(up to 9%) on your money is to lend money. This new trend is giving better returns than the stock market. And although there are risks, you can minimize them by choosing how much and to who you want to give your money to. The higher the risk the better the return. Two places to try are The Lending Club and Prosper.

The biggest pocket drainers(as I call them) in our daily lives are phone plans, cable television, internet connections, gym memberships, and groceries. My phone plan is $25, I don't have cable television, my internet is $48 down from $56 from another provider, my gym is $10 a month with a $40 annual fee(that most gyms charge), my groceries average $60 a week. That's pretty good but I feel I can do better.

Frugal Shopping sites might help you save on everyday shopping. Here are ways to save on 30 expenses that can add to your savings.







Wednesday, August 26, 2015

The Road-BLOCK-To Riches

Why aren't you rich, regardless of what you earn? It's really no secret. You live above your means(Period). Rationalize and come up with as many excuses as you must, but that is the truth when it comes to your financial situation.

Unfortunately, sometimes living beyond your means can be a form of self preservation. You don't want to live in a high crime area just to save on rent or home ownership. Living beyond your means actually can be summarized as putting your wants ahead of your needs. Your wants require no foreseeable sacrifice but will come with a great price in the near future.

We are materialistic and tend to try to keep up with the Joneses. If the Joneses are more financially stable than ourselves, we are doomed to financial ruin. Yet we continue to spiral in debt because we want more than we need.

When it comes to money, it takes discipline and discipline requires sacrifice sometimes. That is the reality. If you want fantasy, then keep on dreaming. Eventually you will have to pay the piper. God help you if it catches up at your retirement. I know people who haven't saved or invested one red cent their entire working career and have constantly borrowed from their retirement. Their choices are work until you die or retire penniless. This is just a fact.

If you're OK with your current trajectory in financial situation, then continue to dream and prepare for your nightmare. If you want to face facts about your finances, be sure to correct what may be keeping you poor!