What Motivates Me
- Friends
- Music
- Blogging
- Love of learning
- MountainWings
Monday, October 18, 2010
Motivation Monday: What Motivates Me
Firstly, they say it's my birthday tomorrow. That's right I will turn 26! Scary thought there haha. Please help me out by joining my cause. All the info can be found here on my fan page. It means more to me than life itself! Thank you!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
SAVINGS SATURDAY: Financial Planning Tips
Read these 100 Financial Planning tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Explore 10 categories of tips ranging from Auto Insurance to Savings Accounts. Gurus keep the financial planning tips, advice and answers flowing to readers and fans, in exchange for promotion, free book publishing services and donations to the charity of their choice. Readers, Gurus, Charities—Everybody wins at LifeTips.com.
Different Bank Account Types
When you compare bank accounts, there are many differences to consider, whether you're reviewing checking accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, or savings accounts.
Evaluating Bank Services
A banking relationship is about more than just the interest rates of the savings accounts and mortgages--it's also about you getting the services you want. When you compare bank rates, don't forget to compare customer service methods and online banking availability as well, depending on your priorities. Here are some things to consider:
Different Bank Account Types
When you compare bank accounts, there are many differences to consider, whether you're reviewing checking accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, or savings accounts.
Evaluating Bank Services
A banking relationship is about more than just the interest rates of the savings accounts and mortgages--it's also about you getting the services you want. When you compare bank rates, don't forget to compare customer service methods and online banking availability as well, depending on your priorities. Here are some things to consider:
- Can you transfer between accounts online? Is there a fee to do so?
- Does the bank have an automated system for answering calls? Is that something you are comfortable with or would you prefer a live operator system?
- Is there a bank branch near your home or office?
- Are there ATMs available where you shop and work, or will you have to pay a fee for every transaction?
- Is your bank open during hours that you find accessible or are the hours too restrictive to work within your schedule?
- Do you need national and international wires to and from your account? Can your bank accommodate that?
- Will the bank allow free transfers between accounts?
Who Needs a Savings Account?
Savings account rates are not notoriously high. This leads many people to avoid the work put into comparing the rates of savings accounts and just leaving their emergency cash fund in their non-interest-bearing checking accounts. But no matter how low savings account rates are, some growth is better than no growth, so it's still better to deposit your money in a savings account than it is to leave it in a checking account.
Example: Let's say you have $1,000 to deposit in a savings account for emergencies. If you leave that in your non-interest checking account for a year, you'll still have that same $1,000 at the end of 12 months. It's even possible that you'll have less because you're more apt to the spend money that's in your checking account than the funds in your savings account.
Now, if you deposited the $1,000 in a savings account earning 1% interest compounded monthly, you would have an additional $127 by the end of the year. So even though a 1% rate is not high and certainly won't bring you to retirement, it's more growth than no growth.
High-Interest Savings
Believe it or not, it is possible for the average investor to get high interest savings accounts. With rates upward of 2%, these high interest savings accounts may not make you rich or compete with the growth of stocks or mutual funds, but as far as savings accounts go, they're impressive.
High interest savings accounts are great tools for emergency cash, short-term investments, and any money that you want to gain a small return on for limited risk. It's important to remember that the rates on high interest savings accounts could be less than the rates of many bonds and CDs, which are also considered lower-risk investments. Before you settle on a high interest savings account, compare the rates of all low-risk investments.
Of course, bonds and CDs can lock you into their vehicles for a certain period of time, which can give you some liquidity risk. For instance, if you invest in a bond and need to liquidate, you must find a buyer. If new bond rates are higher, you might have to sell at a discount in order to get any buyers. In addition, CDs might have charges if you take your money out before it matures.
Friday, October 15, 2010
It's Freebie Friday and...Freebies Rock (Randomness Rocks)
Hooray for Freebies! Who doesn't love free? If you tell you don't I'll laugh at you then if I ever stop laughing so hard I cry I won't dare believe you cos I know you are lying! Today's freebies come from:
- La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream FREE Sample
- Treats for Baby Tuesday: Stride Rite, The Children’s Place + More!
- Pampers Gifts To Grow: New 50-Point Code
- Join Me: Marie Callender’s Twitter Party Tonight
- Target: New Printable Coupons
- Jasmere: $5 Credit With Survey
- Natura Advantage Pet Food FREE 5-lb. Bag
- Redbox Free Rental Code
- Snapfish: FREE Desk Calendar or Photo Mug
- Au Bon Pain FREE Travel Mug
- Reserve Your Healthy Choice Coupon
- Everyday With Rachael Ray Magazine Subscription $2.99
- New Snapfish 20 FREE Photo Cards Offer
- JCPenney Sephora: Cindy Crawford Meaningful Beauty FREE Sample
- FREE 50 Sheets Origami Paper
- Emergen-C Vitamin Drink Mix FREE Sample
- Tropical Smoothie Café: FREE Smoothie for Your Birthday!
- Amazon: The Simple Dollar FREE Kindle Ebook Download
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Whatever Wednesday: My Bday Wish
oops!
I made a little mistake yesterday. I posted a blog on all four sites as if it was Thursday when it was really Wednesday. I was so pooped after the long busy day. Read yesterday's blogs for why my day was so busy. Or check out my facebook fan page for the links to each one! Fixin it now..today's issue will be what I should've posted yesterday! Sorry guys!Whatever Wednesday: My Bday Wish
On Tuesday October 19th, I will be celebrating my 26th birthday. To celebrate, I created a Birthday Wish where my friends and family can help me raise money for a cause that I care about. In addition to just writing on my facebook wall, sending a card/email, and/or giving me a gift, why not help a cause I believe in? I have suffered with Asthma in varying stages since the age of two so this cause is very personal.
I want help create awareness of this condition, help aid research, and help fund programs for people like me who may not be able to afford the medications they need to keep breathing. I would love to have donations sent that will make a difference and help to change the world one person at a time! Please check out my Birthday Wish, spread the word, and make a donation if you can. As little as $10 can make a major impact. I'm so fortunate to have such awesome friends, family, and fans.
There is more you can do with Birthday Wish other than just donate. You can create cards, share stories, pictures and videos, and share my wish with your other social networks and friends to make it the biggest party possible. http://birthdays.causes.com/wishes/54031
Thanks so much!
-Rita-
PS: don't wanna give out any info on facebook/causes.com? no problem. My cause is THE ASTHMA AND ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA (AAFA). These links below come directly from their site. Please rest assured that your online transaction will be safe and secure. You can also call AAFA's toll-free hotline at 1-800-7ASTHMA or mail your donation to the following address:
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 1000
Landover, MD 20785
On Tuesday October 19th, I will be celebrating my 26th birthday. To celebrate, I created a Birthday Wish where my friends and family can help me raise money for a cause that I care about. In addition to just writing on my facebook wall, sending a card/email, and/or giving me a gift, why not help a cause I believe in? I have suffered with Asthma in varying stages since the age of two so this cause is very personal.
I want help create awareness of this condition, help aid research, and help fund programs for people like me who may not be able to afford the medications they need to keep breathing. I would love to have donations sent that will make a difference and help to change the world one person at a time! Please check out my Birthday Wish, spread the word, and make a donation if you can. As little as $10 can make a major impact. I'm so fortunate to have such awesome friends, family, and fans.
There is more you can do with Birthday Wish other than just donate. You can create cards, share stories, pictures and videos, and share my wish with your other social networks and friends to make it the biggest party possible. http://birthdays.causes.com/wishes/54031
Thanks so much!
-Rita-
PS: don't wanna give out any info on facebook/causes.com? no problem. My cause is THE ASTHMA AND ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA (AAFA). These links below come directly from their site. Please rest assured that your online transaction will be safe and secure. You can also call AAFA's toll-free hotline at 1-800-7ASTHMA or mail your donation to the following address:
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 1000
Landover, MD 20785
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Top 10 Thursday: Favorite Quotes
To my loyal readers (yes you awesome people): I would like to apologize for no entry for yesterday's Whatever Wednesday. I .had a very busy morning and last night I slept over a friend's house in preparation for today. Today we attended a Statewide Conference for NJ's Youth Groups and Family Support Organizations. We had a ton of fun and learned a lot but are extremely exhausted as we needed to be up by 6AM (when we normally get up closer to 8 or so). To find a Partnership for (Elementary School Age) Children, Youth Partnership Group (approximately ages 13-21 or older), or FSO near you check a phone book or do a google search by the county you live in. I live in Camden County and the website for YP, Parents Anonymous, and other FSO's is http://www.camdencountyfso.org. There is also the Camden County Partnership for Children @ http://www.camdencmo.org. I will post some more information about our YP Group at a later date. Looking forward to tomorrow's meeting from 530pm- approximately 830pm. I will make sure to Post the Freebie Friday blogs before then! Now onto today's entry! :)
Top 10 Thursday: Favorite Quotes
1) "Every success of every child and family being served is important and can be built upon to afford other children and families the greatest opportunity to reach their fullest potential and to be self-empowered."
2) “The family is the corner stone of our society. More than any other force it shapes the attitude, the hopes, the ambitions, and the values of the child. And when the family collapses it is the children that are usually damaged. When it happens on a massive scale the community itself is crippled. So, unless we work to strengthen the family, to create conditions under which most parents will stay together, all the rest — schools, playgrounds, and public assistance, and private concern — will never be enough.” -Lyndon Baines Johnson
3) <--
4) "Friends are family you choose for yourself." -Author Unknown
5) I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.” -Maya Angelou
6) "Kids can remind us to always nurture, love, and spend quality time with the greatest gift God could have ever given to us-kids." -Author Unknown
7) "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." -Marcel Proust
8) "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." -Marcel Proust
9) "This we know: All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves." -Chief Seattle
10) “Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.” - Virginia Satir
3) <--
4) "Friends are family you choose for yourself." -Author Unknown
5) I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.” -Maya Angelou
6) "Kids can remind us to always nurture, love, and spend quality time with the greatest gift God could have ever given to us-kids." -Author Unknown
7) "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." -Marcel Proust
8) "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." -Marcel Proust
9) "This we know: All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves." -Chief Seattle
10) “Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.” - Virginia Satir
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