QOTD: mr. c shares 10 seconds on fiscal restraint September 26, 2007

beckoning budgets & cursing like a turk September 24, 2007

Yikes it was a tough call — listening to that inner budgetary voice vs the call to wander lust.
For a few weeks, I planned on going with Sean to Istanbul and producing a few live Web shows like Jonny Goldstein does each week.
Yet the truth is, we already savored Hawaii this summer - an opportunity [...]

love songs & google docs: increased efficiency with vendors September 21, 2007

There’s a great tech group in town who specifically encourages women in the Web industry — DC Web Women. I chair their events committee & regularly sleuth for partners around DC to support our special events.
Rhodeside Grill is a fine new vendor hosting our Back from the Beach party tonight; I updated and [...]

negotiation tactics & feeling strange: haggling down your credit card rate September 18, 2007

I called two weeks ago to request our credit card rate be reduced; they complied with a one percentage point reduction.
I’m torn on this whole issue. Because for the sake of true blue ownership — I knew the terms of this card and used it anyway, fully aware. Yet at the [...]

cooking with camera samurai: photographer pal teaches how to save $11k September 14, 2007

We’ll be in the kitchen tonight learning acorn squash & eggplant.
Look out for on-video results next week and more tips on how at-home dining can preserve your bottom line.
Have an awesome weekend.
More from:
Camera Samurai’s fine photo education;
DC Media Makers, a media literacy group specializing in online video; Carl & I are both members.

edelman’s financial planner, part 2: integrity trumps a short-term sale September 12, 2007

Last week’s Edelman rep owns a completely different philosophy.
After a few hours of reviewing our situation, he offered to draft an official financial plan - an $800 service. But he immediately said directing that $800 toward our debt pay off would be his first recommendation … vs investing it toward his fees at [...]

reviewing one’s portfolio, investing money, & the duh factor September 11, 2007

I meet with the administrator of our retirement plan tomorrow and look forward to nailing down:

what our monthly contributions should be to retire age 65 with 75% of current salary;
what our monthly contributions should be to retire age 65 with 100% of current salary (omg that seems nuts but heck why not know the number);
and [...]

Edelman’s financial planner, part 1: my credit card & the taj mahal September 10, 2007

In my quest to find a financial planner for my family, I met with one last week from Ric Edelman’s firm. I’ve read a few of Ric’s books & appreciated his no-nonsense style & wit. I theorized associates working for his company would espouse similar credibility.
And that proved true with the planner [...]

new book … rich and thin: slim down, shrink debt, & turn calories into cash September 6, 2007

I’ve only read excerpts from this book, plus a book review by Michelle Singletary.
Singletary cites major statistics on obesity within the book’s context: better eating means good news for your health physically & financially.
It’s a familiar theory. But Singletary describes a financial tool from the book called the Money Calorie Counter. [...]

financial roots: your fiscal beliefs, fears, confidence must come from … where? September 5, 2007

In preparing for another financial planner interview this week, I imagined how a certain discussion could play-out regarding our debt:
Planner to me: So do you have credit card debt?
Me: Sure do.
Planner: So why don’t you pay it off right now or at least increase your payments?
Me: Because the [...]