Thursday, April 30, 2009

Money & Finance: Credit, Money Management, and Saving

Read the article How Credit Scores Work and took the Credit Score quiz. Scored 100. Also read How Identity Theft Works. It was very informative.
I have in the past checked my credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, but I'm past due to check them again.
Looking at some of the pages off of the Mymoney.gov website, I found one on savings, and it lead to a page by the SEC on Tools and Calculators for Investors. Some of them should be helpful.
Some of the budgeting plans seem very labor intensive. I have done plans years ago when I was first learning how to handle money. I guess they would be helpful for people that have problems with their spending habits or want to save for something specific. I want to look at some of them to get an idea if I can do better, but for the most part, I don't have problems.
Using the TCDRS website would be great, except I have no idea where my 2002 annual statement is to find my pin number. Some of the general info is good and I like the page of links. And why use Social Security numbers, why not our id numbers. I finally called to get a pin mailed to me. This seems complicated for a part of a training session. Finally got to log into my account. Finally found a place to see Statements of Depost and other info. It does tell you how much you'll earn depending on when you retire and how to set up your beneficiaries. As I'm not planning on retiring soon, not so much interested right now.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Money & Finance: Banking, Budgeting, and Spending

I use a credit union and they do have free online banking, but I don't use it. They have security and everything. I had started paying directly from the business sites before the credit union started the online banking and I have just never changed over.
I'm looking at the budgeting websites. Foonance doesn't really appeal to me. It looks very simplistic, but you have to sign up to get much information. I will at least try expensr and Wesabe, but they seem to be time intensive. No matter what you choose, you have to spend time inputting data.
As for cutting cost, I already comparison shop and buy some things at Sam's Club cheaper that you can get at the store. I don't buy bottled water, I try to use rechargable batteries. On my mileage, I get at least as much as the highway standard and it takes regular gas.
I already wash in cold water and usually air dry. I usually use a microwave, or I have a small toaster oven instead of the big oven. I've been changing over to the florescent bulbs as the others burn out. I just need to be better about turning out lights.
I don't have cable and my cell phone is prepaid.
I have a credit union for most of my banking and there are no charges for that.
Everything else, I try to be as frugal as I can.