Six months after I graduated college, I finally struck out completely on my own, complete with a new apartment, a new car, and lots of bills. One of my most adult moments to date was receiving an electric bill with my name on it. Living on my own in a brand new city has been an opportunity to start over in many different ways. One way I've had to start over is to reevaluate my view of money and how I spend it. In college my parents paid most of my bills, but I still worked two jobs. As a result, whenever I had free time, spending money was never an issue. Shopping, going out, going out to eat, and traveling whenever, wherever, were all possibilities. Today? Not so much. I still have fun and enjoy life, but I've had to get a little smarter about how I spend my money. Here are some of the tips I've discovered that can really help out when budgeting your money:
1. Write down your expenses. It's a great way to track where you're money is going. And, in my experience, it really helps curb unnecessary spending if you know you're going to have to be accountable for it later.
2. Buy local, seasonal food- it's a great way to support your local economy and buying local, seasonal whole foods is cheaper and healthier than processed, packaged foods.
3. Use a planner to keep track of your bills. You can then plan your budget accordingly to determine how much spending money you have. This will also prevent missing payments that can result in frustratingly high late fees.
4. Plan an errand day. I have a day of the week where I buy groceries and run errands. This saves time, gas, and money... because we all know those sporadic trips to the grocery store where we're just going to "pick up a few things" can really add up.
5. Reward yourself. That's right, I said it! Rewarding yourself along the way keeps you satisfied and happy. No one likes feeling deprived, and if you get frustrated with your financial situation it might lead to a spur-of-the-moment splurge that you really can't afford. Take time to enjoy the simple things along the way- go out for a movie, have a nice dinner with friends, or anything else that will simply yet effectively reward your hard work.
Having a short supply of money doesn't have to be a miserable plight like I originally thought. There are so many things you can do on the cheap that cost barely anything; having a financially lean period definitely is a stimulus for creativity. Necessity truly is the mother of invention... I've learned to knit and rediscovered the joy of weekly game night, all simple joys in life that deliver a lot of satisfaction for just a little money.

Let's stop and think about currency as it applies to monkeys. Ok, well, currency doesn't really apply to monkeys very well, for some rather obvious reasons. Monkeys don't use money, but that does mean that their societies don't function on a level that is absent of the concept of goods and services and supply and demand. In fact, scientist know for a fact that the fewer females there are in a group, the more grooming services males will offer in order to get sex in return. When there are more females, there is less grooming (due to a larger supply of sex). Don't think for a second that this isn't an example of marketing-- there is a reason they call prostitution the world's oldest profession. For all we know, this is the beginning stages of monkey commerce.

So, now that we have this whole “money” as the basis of value concept working for us, what do you do when money is no longer plentiful? Well, you might decide to move backwards on the system a little bit and begin to barter. What do you have that other people might desire? Is it your skill as a massage therapist? Bread that you bake weekly? Fresh vegetables from the garden or honey from your hives? What about applying your OCD to cleaning other's homes in exchange for one of the above? Computer design and SEO work in exchange for having your clothing custom tailored? Whatever you are looking for might be available in a format where you won't have to worry about how you're going to pay the rent this month, and you would be surprised what people are interested in bartering for or with.

No matter how you choose to weather the economic storms that will doubtless occur over your lifetime, it is important to remember that you don't have to work in the current evolutionary line. From monkeys to humans, there are a lot of ways to get what you want and need in the world- and as long as they are legal, you should feel no hesitation in seeking out what you want!

I love watching movies. Independent films, documentaries, and foreign films are my favorite, but there's an occasional chick flick and action film in there, too. But I don't go and see every movie I want to see in the theater... it's just too expensive when I know I can catch it a few weeks later at my local discount movie theater (Unfortunately, gone are the days when you can call these wondrous establishments "dollar theaters." Sigh.) or add it to my Netflix queue for next to nothing. You will catch me at the, as I call it, "big time" movie theater every once in a while, though. Sometimes it's because I feel like some of the integrity of the film will be lost if I don't catch it on the big screen... and there are some special effects that have been mastered in such a way that they're just not the same as I watch them on my laptop later.

And there's the latest trend of 3-D movies that I can't get enough of. My friend Katherine only had to convince me a little to go see the Jonas Brothers movie after I found out it was 3-D, but don't tell her I told you that. There were moments where I thought one of them was actually going to fling sweat my way! It was so real. I found myself feeling a little giddy in much the same way that the tweens I was surrounded by were acting, and for the sake of the little dignity I have left at this point, we'll just say I'm in my low to mid twenties. Or something.

In my opinion, there are few things printable in this space that are as enjoyable as grabbing a snuggle and watching a movie at home, but hitting the theatres once in a while is great, too. Sure movie tickets are becoming more and more outrageously expensive as the years go by, but there are some things that are worth a splurge now and then. Things like a five dollar cup of coffee and a ten dollar sandwich I can pass on, but seeing the Jonas Brothers in 3-D and putting a smile on Katherine's face (and, okay, mine)? That's priceless.

When our daughter graduated from college last year, my husband and I decided that we wanted to reward her hard work and perseverance with helping her purchase a new car. She drove a hand-me-down car from her older brother throughout her last year in high school and all throughout college and taken great care of it, so we thought that helping her buy a new ride would be a great way for us to support her post graduation lifestyle. It had been awhile since my husband and I had been car shopping, though, and we soon realized we had a lot to learn. We were surprised by the popularity of leasing, for example, and decided we should weigh the options of helping Olivia buy a car vs. leasing one.

The most obvious "pro" to leasing is a lower monthly payment,  with the "con" being that at the end of the leasing term you don't own the car like you would at the end of years of paying monthly on a loan toward purchasing the car. Our financial adviser told us that leasing requires better credit than purchasing a car and is often favored by those who can't afford to put a lot of money toward the down payment. Our adviser also told us that leasing is more common with people who like to have a new car every few years. They take great care of their leased car and, when their leasing term is up, they trade it in for the newest model. But, like us, Olivia is pretty sensible, and we knew she was planning on keeping her next car for as long as she'd kept her first car, if not longer.

When Olivia found the perfect car for her we all weighed the pros and cons and decided that purchasing the car was the best option. We put a large down payment on the car to help our daughter's monthly payment to be as low as possible, and our research seems to have paid off. We now know the basics of leasing and may advise this for our son, who's planning on getting a new car soon, too, and likes having the newest, the shiniest, and the fastest.

When the government is looking at a $700 billion bail-out plan, and no-bid contracts are being handed over to the tune of hundreds and millions of dollars to companies who have already been proven corrupt, do you ever stop and wonder what's going on?  Does government intervention really save the day or does it just allow the people who are already on top to walk away with all the money, leaving the common folk to bare the burden of having had their hard earned money go to bailing out giant corporations whose executives have walked away filthy rich?

Of course, here is the real question:  what does $700 billion dollars look like to you?  To most people, it is a sum of money so large as to be unimaginable.  Ask them what could be done with this country for that much money and you're likely to hear a lot of really interesting answers.  Think about it:  if $700,000,000,000 were to be applied to programs designed to help individuals (not by giving them all money, that's just your right hand stealing from your left), how much change do you think it could make?

Here's the reality:  the way the average citizen views money is so vastly different than the way those at the top view money that it is nearly impossible to comprehend.  Of course, saying "this is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression" really and truly only means something to the senior citizens who lived through it.  Therefore, take my grandmother's advice and plant a garden.

Anyone who keeps an itemized budget knows that little expenses can really add up. The same goes for your morning coffee. If you're spending four dollars on a latte 5 days a week, for example, that's $20 per week, $80 per month, and $4160 per year. That's significant, considering what exactly it is you're paying for. If you spend that money on clothing, for example, you'll likely have evidence of the expense for  months- or years- in your closet. Expensive coffee is delicious, but also extravagant, considering it's usually gone a few minutes from purchasing it.

If your average coffee drink is $2.50, for example, consider this: If you switch to regular coffee each day instead of the gourmet variety, you'd save $1.50 per day.  If you find a financial investment company that allows you to make small monthly contributions, donate the $45 in extra money per month you save on coffee. At 12 percent interest, this monthly investment of $45 will be $570 after one year. After ten years, it will be $10,000, and after 20 years, $44,000. And that's if your gourmet coffee drink is $2.50... many specialty drinks are up to twice that amount, which could mean greater savings, a larger investment, and a higher yield.

A small amount of investment can go a long way, so it's worthwhile to consider the five dollar increments of money you regularly expend, gourmet coffee included. You could purchase a coffee maker, a nice travel mug, and enjoy fair trade organic coffee every morning and still enjoy delicious coffee but at a fraction of the price. You'll save time in the morning by not stopping at a coffee shop on your way to work or school, and you'll do your part in protecting the environment by not using a paper cup with plastic lid every morning. But if you still savor the convenience of grabbing your morning coffee, consider bringing in your own coffee mug each morning. Many coffee houses offer $0.25 or more in savings if your bring your own mug as it discourages waste. And many coffee houses and shops offer a frequent customer card where every time you buy a cup of coffee you get a hole punched and for every ten cups you buy you get one free. These little tricks can really save in the long run.

Money, that fickle monster, has gone and played some ugly games of late.  Last week the stock market dropped by about one third, a slightly larger percentage drop than the first day of the market crash starting off the Great Depression.  That crash ended up lasting for 3 years, saw the market drop by some 93%, finally bottoming out at 41, that's right, 41.  Considering that the market is still up in the 9000 range, there is still a ways to fall, or not.  It depends a whole lot on those at corporate headquarters.  Here is a quick look at how money is playing the stock market game.

All those highly paid, golden parachuted CEOs and executives and such proved they were not worth the money they were being paid by running a whole lot of businesses into the ground via the wonderful overleveraging made possible by government deregulation and via highly unstable financial practices.  The result is that about half of 1% of the U.S. population siphoned off billions of dollars from the US economy and put it in their pockets, leaving the country riddled with banks, corporations, mortgage companies, and more left with money only on paper but which is not liquid because it is all invested, often in high risk stocks and mortgages. 

The real trick comes to play when you realize that these same people, the .5, are also major share holders in these companies.  Typically on the so-called Black Mondays, these people artificially create a market drop by orchestrating some large sales of single stocks, making it look as if the company is having trouble.  The stock becomes unstable and a panic of rush sales ensues, if things go as planned, then the .5 come back in with their cash (remember, they have huge cash reserves from their recent sales when the stock price was still high) and they buy up all the extra shares of stock now floundering on the market at extremely low prices. 

Suddenly the .5 have greatly multiplied their holdings of major corporations and made cash profits.  These are the same people who the government is now bailing out by having the U.S. taxpayers pay off the debts, all of them; instead of making the CEOs who drove the businesses into such debt and imminent failure use their golden parachutes and exorbitant, unmerited paycheck wealth to stand behind their actions and pay the company debts. How will it effect the average stock holder?  Check in next week for more.

When adopting a pet, the cost of ongoing care for your pet is usually a consideration. Cost of healthcare, boarding during vacations, and pet food costs are all factors in determining the how big of a dent your new pet will make in the household income. A chihuahua may only eat a cup of pet food per day, while my family's Saint Bernard consumes 3 pounds of pet food each day! Depending on the type of pet and the amount of food it consumes, pet food costs can add up, particularly if your pet eats a lot or is on a special diet. But just as you look for ways to save on your own food bill, shopping around can save significantly on pet food bills.

Buy pet food in bulk. Big box discount stores offer a variety of items at a reduced price if you purchase them in bulk, including pet food. This is particularly helpful if you have more than one pet that eats the same food. Purchase a large plastic storage container to hold dry food and keep it fresh. Saving money on pet food will be of no use if your pet is a finicky eater who won't eat stale food.

Buy online. Especially if your pet eats specialty foods, purchasing pet food online can really save. Don't forget to factor in shipping costs when doing price comparisons, however.  Buy from bulk bins. Manufacturers offer loose, bulk food to pet stores at a low price since they haven't had to package it.  Clip coupons from the paper or the store's circular to save on pet food. Many pet stores now also offer discount cards that will save money on many purchases and earn rewards each time you use the card.

If you've met the woman of your dreams and want to ask her to be your wife, the high price tag on that diamond engagement ring may be holding you back, but it doesn't have to. As with any purchase, plan on shopping around for the lowest price and, if you're planning on getting it financed, the best possible interest rate. One idea is to apply for a credit card with rewards you can use to purchase the ring; try and find the credit card with the lowest interest rate and pay the balance off as quickly as possible. This way, your credit rating will improve as you pay off the credit card at regular intervals over a short period of time, and you'll earn a large amount of rewards points for such a big purchase. Some credit cards even offer no interest for the first six months you have the card, or sometimes even a year.

When you've found the perfect ring, see what finance options the jewelry store offers. Many jewelers offer a "90 days same as cash" layaway plan, meaning that if you pay for the ring before 90 days is up, you won't be charged interest. A benefit to this finance plan is you'll get at least 3 months to pay off the ring, but this obviously isn't an option if you don't want to wait that long to propose. But if you do have a few months before you're ready to propose anyway, consider getting a part-time job at a jewelry store. You may be able to get the ring as inexpensively as the store's cost plus 15 percent. That means you could get a ring for half the ticket price!

Finally, a sometimes overlooked aspect of financing an engagement ring is paying for insurance and a warranty. Most jewelry stores offer insurance and a warranty at the time of purchase for a reduced fee, and it's a small price to pay for piece of mind when you're already spending such a large amount of money anyway. Pay a little extra so you don't have to worry if the diamond falls out of the ring or it becomes damaged in some way.

Most currencies around the world include security features to help prevent counterfeiting.  Federal Reserve Notes used for currency in the United States have a variety of anti-counterfeiting security measures included in the design of each denomination of bill.  These features make the notes unique in ways which are extremely difficult to replicate.  Due to technology like computers, each note cannot get away with having just one security feature but must now have multiple security features.

The twenty dollar bill is an example with several readily seen features.  The new bills feature color fades with green and a sort of very washed out pale pink color.  On the right side of the front, under the main image, is fainter print, comprised of thin, tightly spaced, parallel lines of differing colors which says TWENTY USA above USA TWENTY.   When held up to the light a second faint watermark-the image of Jackson- becomes visible to the right of the dark green seal stamped over top of the word TWENTY on the right side of the bill's face. On the left hand side of the front, left of the seal, there is a thin metalized strip with information on it inserted between the layers of paper fibers. 

On the back side of the Twenty dollar Bill  in very small, yellow print are "20"s lightly printed and scattered like jacks to either side of the central, primary image of the White House. Also on the back side of the note, the number 20 is printed once in each corner, in a total of 3 different fonts and sizes.  In contrast, the front of the bill features four different color, font and size combination, one in each of the four corners. 

The many security features in place on each bill create a very complex example of printing arts and technologies.  The features form an effective defense against counterfeits with quick easily visible characteristics most everyone can learn to identify. 

My sister had a professor in college who also taught a money management seminar for a few weeks during the course. It was designed this way so students wouldn't go too crazy in their spending habits after college when they'd been used to living like poor college kids for so long. My sister passed along this bit of advice from the prof to me: Eat like a college student for as long as you can after you graduate. Living on beer and peanut butter Captain Crunch, I wondered? Yikes. But what she actually meant was to not spend a lot of money on food, not eating out too often and not being mindful of certain spending habits (like your grocery bill) can be fatal to your budget. Here are some tips I've learned on my own:

1. Read the sale paper. All the grocery chains in my area now offer their store circulars online. Consult your grocery store's circulars while you're making your grocery list. This is also a great time to plan out your menus for the week.
2. If an item you frequently use is on sale, buy it. How many times have you run out of toothpaste and gone to the grocery to get just toothpaste- and before you know it you have a whole basket full of items? Stocking up on necessities really does save in the long run.
3. Adopt a more vegetarian eating style. Eating this way will encourage you to eat more fruits and vegetables, and eating less meat (or none at all) will save a lot of money. A great way to segue into eating less meat is to treat meat like a condiment. Example: Appropriate 2/3 of your plate for vegetables, pasta, and grains and 1/3 for meat. You can also be creative while you're cooking meat to make it stretch farther. For example, if you're making tacos with ground beef, try using ground beef and beans.
4. Support your local CSA. Community Supported Agriculture is beneficial to both farmers and members of the community. Here's how it works: sometimes you pay one lump sum before the upcoming season, but depending on the farm some allow weekly or monthly payment. In return you receive a weekly or monthly box of fresh, local fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, flowers, and various other farm products. You support a community farm through your financial commitment and you're ensured a steady supply of whole, real foods. It's also a great way to encourage creativity in your meals. If you get 7 lbs of potatoes in a basket one week, for example, you're going to figure out many different ways of cooking them!

Be smart with your grocery bill and you'll be able to spend that money elsewhere. Explore what your city and community have to offer. Farmers markets, discount grocery stores, and even buying in bulk are all great ways to save.

Just recently, after debit carding my way out of the grocery store, and credit carding my way through the mall, I realized that my direct deposited check was handling my e-pay bills, but that I needed to swing by the ATM to get some actual cash for the evening's night at the club - don't ask me why, but it always seems desperate to me to by drinks on a card, any kind of card.  After my stop off, it occurred to me how little I actually use cash, and how soon we may live in a world that no longer has cash!  I bet my nieces and nephew would feel cheated if I sent them a twenty dollar bill for their birthday, it just doesn't mean anything to them anymore since mommy and daddy have used cards to buy everything for their whole lifetime.  A brief melancholy hit me as I mourned the imminent end of cash, even if it is not that close, before the question occurred to me - "What is money, anyway?"

What is money?  At first my knee-jerk answer was, "cash," cash is money.  Then I realized, well technically debit cards are money, so are checks, and actually credit and charge cards act like cash, so they count as money, too.  So if cards and cash, and checks are all money, what matters it the form it takes. We may as well use sea shells, although that was already done elsewhere.  Not that the revelation answered the question of what money is, only what forms it can take.  No, I needed to dig deeper if I was going to get real answers to this pressing question, after all, the mighty green is at stake here.  Have you ever noticed that while our money says "In God We Trust," our bank cards don't?

I looked deeper.  Turns out, money is just a symbol for valued energy spent/invested, be it via work of body/mind or exchange of goods, a symbol which has equal value to all and so is acceptable for exchange by all, whilst the valued energy spent/invested may have a lessor, greater, or no value to the person from whom an item for exchange is desired.  The use of money means that I can do work for one person at a value acceptable to both of us, and that person can pay me in money, accepted by all, rather than exchange with me product or work we two consider to be worth an amount equivalent to the work I did.  Money then is a symbol of perceived value traded for contributions made, or goods exchanged, that can then easily be utilized for other unrelated transactions and exchanges.

So you see, weep not for cash, for it is all only a symbol of the energy we have invested in our world.  And, besides it matters not what form that symbol take, so long as I can buy what I need with it.

If you’re anything like me, you’re personal finances are not exactly where you want them to be. I suffer from the never-ending credit card bill, on the single card that I acquired for those “just in case” situations. Somewhere between my good natured lending to friends in need (who always seem to be a month or two late paying me back) and my shoe addiction that could rival that of Carrie Bradshaw, that “just in case” card sees a decent amount of action. I’ve never managed to max out my credit card, but I can’t seem to keep the balance at zero for very long either. Every time I would get my bill paid off, there was always another friend who needed a hand or a pair of shoes that I could afford the next week. Of course, by the next week, the friend still couldn’t pay me back and there was a more pressing issue than paying off the entirety of the footwear purchase.

           

My problem is actually a fairly common problem, especially among those in the younger demographic; it is all about self-control, or the seeming lack thereof. Luckily for me, I had a friend with similar financial problems!  We sat down together and made a plan: I would police her bad financial habits, if she would police mine. We made a list of our goals and handed them off to each other. The top goal for me is, of course, the never-ending credit card bill; it’s followed closely by realizing that I’m not everyone's ATM. Her goal was to keep track of her spending so that she would not overdraft so often. We check on each other every couple of weeks. She asks me about my purchases and payments; I ask her if her account has bounced any drafts. My balance is not quite zero yet, but it’s definitely moving in that direction.

 

So, if you’re having trouble keeping your personal finances in order, or if your finances just aren’t where you want them to be, don’t continue to let it be completely a personal problem! Find a buddy who will work at it with you. Like going to the gym, or keeping to a diet, some things just work better with a friend.

In an effort to find something nifty to say about money, I thought long and hard.  But everything was so very ordinary.  So instead, I am going to show you pictures of money that are less run-of-the-mill.

A Dress Made of $100,000


Portraits Made of Pennies

Origami Money
I bet you do something boring with your money.  Like, you know, spend it.

Gas prices are slowly coming down again, but I know I learned a lot from the gas shortages and price hikes. Gasoline is a precious commodity, and we should use it as wisely as possible. There are trips that can't be avoided as we rush from work to the gym, to the grocery store and other errands. If you're a mom, time in the car seems to increase exponentially with every child you conceive. There are the more obvious ideas, like carpooling with friends, neighbors, coworkers, or your spouse, and also trying to make your car trips worthwhile, perhaps running all of your errands on the same day. Everyone's lifestyles are different so those options aren't always feasible, but what we can do is be responsible about our driving trips and take a few effortless steps to conserve gas. Here's how:

Drive the speed limit. Did you know that in most cars, when you drive above 38 mph, you start to lose mileage? In fact, for every 5 mph over 55 mph you drive, you can lose up to 10% of your fuel economy... that's a significant loss. Slow down.

Accelerate slowly. If you take off from a red light with your gas pedal to the floor, your car is going to have to work really hard really quickly, which takes up a lot of gas. A good tip: press in the accelerator pedal by about an inch at a time. The longer it takes you to reach a certain speed, the less fuel you'll use.

Always choose the highway, when possible. If there is an in-town route and a highway route to your workplace, take the highway. You get better mileage on the highway because you're able to keep a consistent speed... the stop and go of in-town driving guzzles gas. Have a "lead foot?" Set the cruise control...  you'll effortlessly maintain a consistent, gas preserving speed.

Coast when you can. When you're driving downhill, take your foot off the gas pedal and allow your car to coast... these are free miles! Also, as you approach a red light or stop sign, remove your car from the gas pedal and allow the car to coast to a stop.

Keep your car up-to-date on maintenance. Have your oil changed every 3000-7000 miles. This prevents sludge from building up in your engine, making it run at maximum efficiency. A dirty air filter will reduce your gas mileage by up to 40%. One misfiring spark plug will rob your car of 17% more gas.

Make your vehicle as light as possible. This means finally taking those 4 boxes of charity donations that have been sliding around in your trunk to the Goodwill. The less weight your engine has to propel, the less gas it will require.

Don't let your car run idle. If you're in a long line at the drive thru, bank, or school, turn your car off and save gas.

Get a gas card with customer rewards. This won't help you to save gas, but it will help you return some of the money you're spending on gas. If you're going to be having to spend the money anyway, why not do what you can to get some of it back?

Following these guidelines will have you saving money on gas. Most of them don't cost anything, and can be effortlessly added to your usual routine. I make  bit of a game out of it: Every time I fill my gas tank up, I set my odometer to "O." When it's time to fill up again next, do the math and see what a difference you've made!

Having a baby is a really exciting for expectant moms, their partners, friends, and family. But get a pregnant woman, especially a first-time mom, writing a list of the things she needs for her baby and she may be in tears in no time. It can be overwhelming, but the good news is that there are a lot of smart ways to cut costs. First of all, if there's any time you're going to get freebies, it's when you're expecting a baby. Most everyone these days gets at least two showers, one from friends and another from coworkers. You'll probably get most of what you need through these showers, and do your best to not buy anything until all your showers are finished. Women in the early stages of pregnancy often get excited and overzealous, going out and shopping and end up with many more items than they need. Besides showers, there are many other ways to get freebies. Do an online search of new parent programs and diaper, baby food, and formula companies... these companies usually offer an option where you can print off coupons and free offers and joining the mailing lists will afford you these incentives in your inbox all year long.

As far as saving on the necessities you still absolutely need to buy, consider joining a discount club like Sam's or Costco to save you on everything form baby food to diapers and baby wipes. The little savings can really add up when you buy in bulk. Also, don't be afraid to buy store brands... they're often still high quality and can save you significantly. Related to saving on the necessities, don't be afraid to buy secondhand items. Babies grow out of clothing quickly, tire of toys, and they won't know the difference between brand new items and gently used. Just make sure that everything you've bought secondhand is safe and clean in time for baby's arrival. Yard sales, asking friends and family for hand-me-downs, and Craigslist are excellent places to find used baby items.

Finally, remember that although many baby items are marketed to new parents as absolutely necessary, few actually are. Talk to friends and family members with children about, in hindsight, the item they've realized were invaluable as first time parents. Make sure you have those items before the baby arrives... during the discussion they may even offer to let you borrow or have the baby clothing, toys, and accessories they're no longer using.

Your credit score is one of those things that most people don't realize the importance of until they need to access it. Good credit can come in handy in a variety of different situations. When I moved into my new apartment, for example, I had to pass a credit check. I also saved $200 on the electricity deposit because of my high credit score. My credit score is something that I've been working on since I was 16 and got my first job and, with my dad's insistence, my first credit card. Making the payments on time and not maxing out the balance were just the beginning of building up my credit. And after working my way through high school and college, I was proud to have been able to buy a new car completely by myself, without having to ask my parents to cosign. That was a great feeling, knowing that my credit is good enough that I could take care of my own expenses. Thankfully, if you have bad credit or have damaged it, there are ways to slowly start building it back up again.

Here's the breakdown of what makes up your credit score:

35 percent payment history- More than a third of your credit score relies on paying your bill on time so, if at all possible, make it a priority. The later you are, the more it affects your credit score.
30 percent the amount you owe- Reduce the amount you owe and you'll improve your credit score. If you're overwhelmed by the number of different bills you owe, start trying to make double payments or just paying a little more than your minimum payment; this way, you can start paying off your debt, bill by bill.
15 percent length of your credit history- Increasing the length of your credit score is typically only something time can achieve. But if you're just getting started building up your credit, stick with just one or more accounts, gradually adding more.
10 percent new credit score- Opening up a lot of new accounts at the same time looks poorly on your credit score, so if you're constantly switching credit cards to get a lower interest rate, it's going to make your credit look shaky.
10 percent- types of credit. There are two types of credit- open ended credit, or revolving credit, and installment loans. An example of revolving credit is a credit card because it doesn't have a fixed number of payments. An installment loan, like a mortgage or a car loan, though, do have a fixed number of payments. Creditors want to see that you manage both types of credit well, so if you only have one type of credit, you may consider adding the other type to your finances (consider if this is feasible for you and your budget).

Pets can be a source of unconditional love and often provide unlimited amounts of joy to their owners. In most cases pets don't require much more than plentiful  food, water, exercise, and shelter from extreme temperatures. Illness of a pet can be just as financially burdensome as an unexpected illness of a family member, but there are measures you can take to care for your pet that will lessen the likelihood of a preventable illness or problem leading to a large vet bill later.

Spay or neuter your pet while it is young. This will prevent several potentially costly problems later. If you adopt a dog later in its life, have it spayed or neutered before bringing it home. Many city's humane societies will spay or neuter your pet for free or at a reduced price to prevent pet overpopulation.

Feed your pet healthy food and provide it with regular exercise. Pets who are overweight face the same kinds of risks overweight people do.

Keep your pet clean by bathing it, trimming its nails, and brushing its teeth regularly.

Preventative healthcare can save a great deal of money in the long run. Schedule regular exams and shots for your pet; this will increase the chance that if something becomes wrong with your pet, the veterinarian will catch it while it is still easily treatable.

Shop around. Many vet offices offer discounts for really young or really old pets, rescue animals, or new patients. Many cities also offer mobile vet care which can actually be cheaper than taking your pet to an office. Check your phone book or online for the vet services provided in your city.

Purchase pet insurance. You'll pay a monthly premium, but only a portion of vet bills and prescriptions.

As with people, sometimes pets get sick even if they are healthy and receiving the best possible care from their owners, but many pets will thrive on regular healthcare, a healthy diet, and plenty of exercise.

Yesterday I was sitting in my car at the stoplight, waiting for green and thinking about my dinner choices when a guy about my age crossed the street. I met his eye and smiled at him, and he did the same. He had on warm clothing but it was tattered and dirty. For a moment I pitied him, but then I stopped myself as I thought about a recent discussion I had with my friend about the homeless. She said that for a lot of them it is a choice, and that Asheville is one of the cities on a circuit itinerants travel seasonally, where they rely on government and church programs and panhandling for survival. The missing factor in a homeless person's life ostensibly is money, but if your basic needs are being met, what do you really need money for?

As I thought about what it would be like to be homeless, I slipped into a bit of an unrealistic, fantastical daydream. Homelessness would mean, well... homelessness. But other things as well- a simpler life, one revolving around surviving and not the acquisition of things I so often mask with the title of "living." I guess homelessness at this point would involve a degree of running from the law, as my student loans collapsed into default. Here's where I kind of envy the homeless man on the corner... no worrying about money. No worrying because you don't have any, and you don't need any! That would be quite a change from my current life.

What if we all lived the way the homeless do... concentrated on meeting our basic needs, with anything in excess that comes along a sweet surprise? I just thought that if you asked the average person what they need and a homeless person, how the answers would differ! If we all lived in a more need-centric society instead of a want-centric one, imagine the effects of that on a grander scale... what trouble our government and our economy wouldn't be in. It's definitely something to think about. I'm sure I'll settle back in to my usual mindset of wanting more than I have eventually, just like someone who gets a speeding ticket only drives carefully for a few days before it's back to the usual. We forget. But, for me, the vagrant I pass on the sidewalk who can smile at me so sweetly, who's truly content with so little... that's someone to be coveted.

It happens. You've been admiring the girl you see at the gym every day for the last month and today at the water fountain the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself happened. The next thing you knew you'd asked her out for Friday and she agreed! Great news, but the bad news is that as soon as your heart rate returned to normal it sped right back up again when you realized payday is next Friday and you have 30 bucks to get you through the end of this week and next. What to do? The first option is to cancel and risk looking like a flake, so that idea is out. Now all you can do is make the best out of your low cash flow. Remembering that necessity truly is the mother of invention, you'll probably just have to get a little creative.

Start off researching what's going on in your city the night you're going out. Local arts newspapers usually have events broken down into a calendar format, making it easy to read about what's happening every day of the week. You'll likely be able to catch an open mic night or poetry slam at the local coffeehouse, and you'll only have to pay for coffee, which is considerably cheaper than paying for dinner. You may even luck out and find an free outdoor movie in the park or an art crawl through the city's galleries where you can usually find free wine and cheese or other refreshments.

Remember that your first date is your only chance to make a good impression, so do your best not to sacrifice the quality of your first time spent together. Just because your money is tight doesn't mean you should let her know it, and definitely don't tell her outright. This will make you look like a cheapskate and may lead her to think that you're not responsible or stable, definitely not a good way to woo a girl on a first date. Everybody goes through lean times, though, and with a little planning she may even mistake your lack of money for thoughtful planning and creativity.

While enjoying a luxurious breakfast with friends over breakfast recently, I was given some financial advice that really struck me.  I was peacefully eating a banana when my friend, who is a financial adviser- and a really good one at that, asked me if I had a retirement plan with the company I worked for.  I narrowly avoided spitting banana all over the table and managed not to laugh when I replied to her that I have exchanged security for freedom.  Meaning that no, I don't have a retirement plan with my company.  They provide me with money, I quipped, and that's all.

It's not as if this is an uncommon position to be in.  I'm quite young and still enjoying my freedom.  The idea of a forty-hour work week in heels (or even worse, matronly work shoes or something) is an aspect of reality that makes me cringe.  And yet, I still want to make sure that I am financially secure, not only in case of emergency now, but also for the future.  Other than sucking it up and getting a "real" job with benefits, I have two options:  take the actions I need to now to make sure that I am prepared for the future or wait and see what happens.  The latter is a really bad idea.

So, here's the advice that she gave me, which should be followed by anyone who isn't already sitting pretty on some nice retirement funds.  You should always have an account that contains the amount of money you would need to live for a minimum of three months.  Above that, a Roth IRA was recommended.  At this point in time, you can put up to $5,000 a year in a Roth IRA (unless you move into an income bracket that is too high to qualify, in which case, you're probably not worried about it in a surviving comfortably kind of way).  The principal money can be removed at any time after the age of 59, or it can be removed before then federal tax-free to purchase your primary residence.  You also have a choice in how your money is invested with a Roth IRA.

Clearly, this is just a small glimpse of what all goes into it and what all was discussed over a still-pleasant but serious breakfast, but it should be enough to be a wake-up call for anyone coasting along without these measures in place.  What happens if you have an accident and can't work?  Do you have the funds to live until things improve?  Emergency funds shouldn't be something you tap into for regular expenses.  I recommend keeping the majority of your money in your savings account rather than your checking.  Psychologically speaking, it's really easy to spend the money in a checking account, but a little harder to dig into a savings account.

That's right. You asked for it...you got it! Yes, we're well aware that there are more important things to be writing about in a money blog--like gas prices, unemployment, the recession, etc.--but you can read about that stuff on those OTHER blogs. For now, we just want to bring you some comic relief. And maybe even educate you if you're one of the eggheads who puts crap like THIS on your resume:

1.  Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty!
2.  It’s best for employers that I not work with people.
3.  If this resume doesn’t blow your hat off, then please return it in the enclosed envelope.
4.  Married, eight children. Prefer frequent travel.
5.  Experience: Watered, groomed, and fed the family dog for years.
6.  Please disregard the attached resume-it is terribly out of date.
7.  Never been fired, although it could happen anytime now.
8.  Previous rank: Senior instigator.
9.  Personal: Five children. Dog: Jasper. Cat: Morris. Gerbil: Binky.
10.  Please explain any breaks in your employment career: 15 minute coffee break while working at a home improvement store.
11.  My ability to learn quickly is a key essential.
12.  Reason for leaving last job: Pushed aside so the vice president’s girlfriend could steal my job.
13.  Enclosed you will find my resume for your viewing and review purposes.
14.  Seek challenges that test my mind and body, since the two are usually inseparable.
15.  Enabling to multi-task with different projects in an amount of time.
16.  Special interests: I like any projects that are fun.
17.  While in military, was instrumental in creation of a treat detection system.
18.  I have happily been a “kept man” for the past 10 years.
19.  Hire me and you won’t regret it - I am funny, cute, smart and creative…really.
20.  I have recently sold my home and I now live in a large RV so I will be able to relocate quickly.

Don't be one of these idiots, or do--and see who is dumb enough to hire you! This stuff is, unfortunately, not made up. People actually put these things on their resumes:

1.  Enclosed is a ruff draft of my resume.
2.  I am a quick leaner, dependable and motivated.
3.  Here are my qualifications for you to overlook.
4.  I am very detail-oriented.
5.  I graduated in the top 66% of my class.
6.  I saw your ad on the information highway, and I came to a screeching halt.
7.  My focus and intensity are at inordinately high levels, and my ability to complete projects on time is unspeakable.
8.  Exposure to German for two years, but many words are inappropriate for business.
9.  I am a rabid typist.
10.  Special skills: Thyping.
11.  Objective: To have my skills and ethics challenged on a regular basis.
12.  I worked as a Corporate Lesion.
13.  Excellent memory; strong math aptitude; excellent memory; effective management skills; and very good at math.
14.  Education: Graduated from predatory school with honors.
15.  I have a bachelorette degree in computers.
16.  My personal goal: To hand-build a classic cottage from the ground up using my father-in-law.
17.  Vocational plans: Sea World.
18.  Referees available upon request.
19.  Strengths: Impersonal skills.
20.  My ruthlessness terrorized the competition and can sometimes offend.

In a recent poll conducted by the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, 1,019 adult Americans were asked whether they think government spending on the war in Iraq is partially responsible for the poor economy. Here are the results:

71% think that spending on the war has contributed to what many Americans believe to be a recession. (Hey, isn't war supposed to boost the economy?)
66% of respondents oppose the war.
61% think that the next president should should remove the troops within a few months of taking office.
36% said that the situation in Iraq was worth going to war over.

The question of a symbiotic relationship between the war and the economy links the two dominant political issues in the election. Economists have projected the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression; meanwhile, we're already into deficit borrowing, no thanks to Bush's tax cut and the cost of the war.

Bush, however, has disputed notions that the war is responsible for the economy, stating "I think actually the spending in the war might help with jobs ... because we're buying equipment and people are working," he said. "I think this economy is down because we built too many houses and the economy's adjusting."

Joseph E. Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and Linda J. Bilmes, a former chief financial officer at the Commerce Department wrote an editorial in the Washington Post recently, indicating that the war will end up costing the U.S. government $3 trillion.

"Others will have to work out the geopolitics, but the economics here are clear," the pair wrote. "Ending the war, or at least moving rapidly to wind it down, would yield major economic dividends."

What are the country's most admired companies and why? We have the list for you right here. This top 20 was put together by Fortune and its survey partners at Hay Group. More than 3,700 people from dozens of industries were asked to select the companies they admired most. This particular list reflects strong records of leadership, innovation and financial strength.

1. Apple - It's simple. Apple products work, especially if you buy more than one.
2. Berkshire Hathaway - This insurance giant has thrived off turning today's problems into tomorrow's profits.
3. GE - Even with its "stuck stock," GE is still America's top shareholder wealth creator.
4. Google - Everyone sees Google as the caretaker of the Web. I guess altruism still gets you high marks in this country. (Do no evil!)
5. Toyota - Taking 2nd place in car and truck sales (surpassing Ford), Toyota continues to add capacity while investing in hybrid technology.
6. Starbucks - Though it has dropped in the list due to over-expansion and weak sales, Starbucks remains a powerful brand and a sought-after employer.
7. FedEx - Environmental efforts in the face of rising fuel costs have strengthened this brand. FedEx also had its busiest day ever in December, handling 11.4 million packages.
8. Proctor & Gamble - Innovation, internationalization, and strategic focus keeps this company's momentum going.
9. Johnson & Johnson - Whatever your ailment, J&J has the remedy. From branded pharmaceuticals to medical devices, J&J has the ability to broaden or narrow their market focus with ease.
10. Goldman Sachs - Pulling in top rank in securities on Wall Street, Goldman is respected because its profits are more than a matter of luck.

Most people would like to see themselves as financially secure, with a solid future ahead of them.  Yet so many people incur debt or fail to plan adequately for the future and end up stressing over their finances well into retirement.  In order to avoid this becoming your reality, start making your plans now so that when the time comes for you to retire, you can sit back and relax, or start that extended trip to Europe that you've always wanted to take. 

Here are five ways in which you can set yourself up for a better financial future:

1.  Set goals for yourself.  If you don't know where you are going, how will you ever get there?  Write your goals down and formulate a plan to achieve them.

2.  Start your retirement savings early and then don't touch them.  Ideally, you would set up a 401K by the time you are in your early 30's and then never touch it again (meaning no cashing out or taking out loans against it).

3.  Try to avoid a 30-year mortgage.  Consider a shorter mortgage (such as a 15-year plan) which help you pay less over-all and get back on the path to saving up for retirement much sooner.

4.  Don't hand over control of your money.  You should know what's happening with your money on a day-to-day basis.  This means that if your spouse or a broker handles your finances, you need to be involved in this process.

5.  Control spending leaks and stop unnecessary debt from occurring.  So many people let their money escape from them without paying attention to how it's happening- nipping a small spending issue in the bud is much easier than dealing with large amounts of debt or substantial accumulated loss.

We here at Money Monkey loooooooove Suze Orman, CNBC talk show host, author and internationally acclaimed anti-debt guru. Sure, she's a little obnoxious, but damn does she know what she's talking about when it comes to personal finance. When in need of council with regards to your money, we recommend (in addition, of course, to visiting Money Monkey) that you watch Suze's show, read her books, or check out her website. You can catch her show at 9 PM and midnight on Saturday nights on CNBC. Clearly, those of us here at the Monkey have nothing better to do on Saturday nights...

Ladies, I implore you to read Women & Money, at the heart of which lies Suze's detailed "Save Yourself Plan." The plan is actually a five-month program that helps you create a healthy relationship with your money, make the most out of the money you have, and gain the freedom and knowledge to make solid financial choices. The plan isn't just about money, it's about women having a clear sense of who they are and what they deserve. Once you make the decision to "save yourself," you simply follow the plan which culminates in you ultimately opening up a SaveYourself account at TD AMERITRADE, in which you will be awarded $100, plus peace of mind in knowing that you're well on your way to financial freedom. Here's the kicker: you only have until 3/31/08 to open your account, so get a move on!

The Net Worth of Our Presidential Hopefuls

The criteria for becoming a presidential candidate are pretty easy to meet, but one unwritten criterion remains: it REALLY helps to be rich first. Why? To execute a full time campaign, a candidate needs to take 1-2 years off from work--not easy for a person on an average salary. Secondly, a candidate can put as much of their own money into their campaign as they want unless they opt for public financing, in which case the limit is $50,000.

Here are the net assets of the 7 front runners, most of whom came into their money recently. Keep in mind that the FEC allows candidates to report their assets in broad ranges, but here are the mean values.

Mitt Romney: $202 million
John Edwards: $54.7 million
Rudy Giuliani: $52.2 million
John McCain: $40.4 million
Hillary Clinton: $34.9 million
Fred Thompson: $8.1 million
Barack Obama: $1.3 million

Where the Money Came From

Mitt Romney: Let's just say that Big Love's got his hands in all the right pots on Wall Street--the Boston version of Wall Street, that is.

John Edwards: Earned many of his millions suing doctors; really though, he was a medical malpractice and personal injury lawyer before he joined Fortress Investment Group as a part-time consultant. Creme de la creme, ya'll!

Rudy Giuliani: Publishing, consulting, and speech-making jack-of-all-trades, riding the 9/11 train all the way to the upper west side.

John McCain: Married an heiress. But wouldn't exactly be dirt po' by his lonesome with his senator's salary, Navy pension, and lucrative publishing pursuits.

Hillary Clinton: Though Hill takes $165,200 a year as senator, Bill is breadwinner-in-chief in this relationship, bringin' home the bacon on his presidential pension, book royalties, and public speaking fees.

Fred Thompson: Well, the short stint on "Law and Order" helped, but most of his 8 mil came from other acting tidbits in which Thompson played presidents and CIA directors. Oh yeah,  and he worked as a senator, lawyer and lobbyist. Likely the best paid public servant...ahem...in American history.

Barack Obama: Post- Harvard Law life failed to rake in the big bucks, but this political pauper earned $60,000 as an Illinois state senator, plus another $32,000 as a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago.

This week's info source (cause we sure as hell couldn't come up with this stuff ourselves): CNNMoney.com.

This week Google finally released the new numbers for its little green meter called PageRank (or PR). Google PR is supposed to help determine the authority of any page on the internet.

In their most recent update they tech monkeys over at Google have made it harder to get a good PR. Many a bad monkey have been paying for links in order to get a high PR. Now its not so easy with Google target and discounting paid links.

No really. Check out Allan Greenspan's book The Age Of Turbulence. It will rock your socks off. Amazingly the dork of dorks comes off as a complete bad ass that will have your heart and mind racing as you learn about the past 80 years of our unpredictable economy.

Seriously, check it out.

I was thinking recently what would make a good gift with all the winter storms coming through. I think that a gas light would make a perfect gift to keep your loved ones well lit when the power goes out. And don't forget the gas light bulbs also know as gas light mantles. And if you don't mind I'm going to tick one quick plug in for gas grill parts for your gas grills.

I'm currently building an internet market department for a company in Atlanta, GA and we just had our first interviews. There are often a lot of things that you need to know about the person you're hiring that you can't just ask. Instead, you have to test.

The building's location gave me my first opportunity to test the potential employees. When setting up the interviews I did not give the the exact location of the building, which is supposedly not easy to find (I had no problem given no help). This test would give me two pieces on info.

• Can they figure out what the location of the building is without any help?
• If not, how long does it take them to call and ask for help?

Question two is far more important than question one. If I hire someone I don't want them to waste valuable hours searching for an answer that someone else already has.

Interview One
Question One: No
Question Two: Prior to interview start.
Arrived: 10 Minutes Early

Interview Two
Question One: No
Question Two: 45 minutes after scheduled start time.
Arrived: 1 hour late

I hired one of them that day. You can guess which one it was.

So why would a corporation elect to be taxed under sub chapter S? The answer is simple; to avoid paying double taxes.

Instead of being taxed on net profit, the sub chapter S status allows the company to pass earnings on to shareholders who pay a single tax on their income.

Its a good question to ask:  Why do stock prices rise? And the answer is a complicated one.

In short, stock prices rise because there are more people trying to buy than trying to sell. In contrast, less buyers means a drop in price. So now maybe you have a better question: Why do more people want to buy or sell a stock? And that is a complicated answer as well. It depends upon global perception of a company's outlook and what's expected in the future.

You may find yourself with your own Website someday and that website may have a shopping cart on it to sell your products. There are many good content management systems (CMS) that include shopping cart solutions. X-Cart is NOT one of those. It falls into the category of "You Just Picked a CMS that will cause you endless frustration" categories.

The system is not very flexible and has made a lot of serious coding mistakes. In one section I've even found some tags that were left unclosed. Its checkout solutions are very limiting and discourage the user from actually making it thought the checkout process (I think the current rate is that only one third of the users make it through).

So all in all the X-Cart can go suck my left monkey nut. It's not even worth flinging your poo at.

The most recent Money Monkey speculation is on Neah Power Systems, Inc. (Public, OTC:NPWS), currently at 34 cents per share (Friday close). They just released their first shareholders conference call on Thursday, September 4th, 2007. The company is looking at a potential 10/100 bagger as they have been awarded 8 patents and have 11 pending.

Their approach to fuel cells seems to be a unique one (again protected by their patents) and they have already had some discussions with the US Military.

I was sitting around running numbers, like ya do, when I realized what a smart idea a blog is as a web investment. Especially if you have businesses on the web. A blog site can easily generate its hosting costs through Google AdSense. To be exact, if you set up the blog yourself (such as wordpress) your hosting costs will be around $50 a year (if it's more you're getting ripped off). I'll just go ahead and suggest 1&1. All you need to make to cover your costs on this blog is about 15 cents per day to cover your hosting costs. That's not very much. Depending upon the subject you write upon that should be around 1 click a day.

This strategy would be especially good for search engine marketing and optimization firms, but it would also be beneficial for companies that already own web businesses. Once you get a few articles up and have a few links pointing into the site, you should be able to generate enough in AdSense revenue that your website goes from being a liability to an asset, and increasing (if only slightly) your net worth or the net worth of your business.

The SEO (search engine optimization) and SEM (search engine marketing) world got a spotlight today in the main stream money world with its article on Forbes. The source for the article was Rand Fishkin of SEOmoz (a nice guy in person).

The article highlights Google's crackdown on link sites; sites making money off of links but without providing any quality content. This crackdown may take a while and will surely open the door for slightly more legit linking strategies such as PayPerPost and Lead Search Solutions.

Tech Monkey is a blog dedicated to the era of “how do you make this darned thing work?” Written by a team which is half computer-savvy and half technologically challenged, there is something for everyone on Tech Monkey. No matter whether you want to read about the basic compounds of the universe or how to program a cell phone, the humor and easy-to-read writing style of Tech Monkey will keep you checking for updates.

Monkey News is a website created to bring you the lighter side of current affairs. Monkey News is not a parody site, but rather an educational by-product of generic, dry news sites. We take the meat of what’s happening and deliver it in a sweeter form; bringing out the comedy in the sometimes gruesome events of mankind. Monkey News is the silver lining of the news.

Marketing Monkey is a blog specializing in providing marketing know-how in a form easy to digest. Using humor and metaphor, the contributors to Marketing Monkey are committed to offering useful marketing advice. Marketing Monkey is written for the public ears that don’t know anything about marketing, but want to learn.