U-Hauled – A Case Study in CEO Letter Writting

  Continuing to take the same actions while expecting new results has been called the definition of insanity.  For this reason, I sometimes cringe when Dave Ramsey advises callers to contact an offending organization daily until an issue is resolved. Calling “an idiot in an cube 300 miles away” over and over again may yield results but it also wastes time and causes much stress and frustration...

Same as Cash is NOT the Same as Cash

  We see it in print and over the airwaves.  We hear it on the radio or even over the in-store loudspeaker.  We hear it so often that its meaning begins to evolve.   The words begin to lose their individual meaning in favor of the refined collective.  “SAME AS CASH” This phrase is usually surrounded by such contextual scene setters as “ZERO % INTEREST*” or “NO INTEREST*”. ...

Authorize Yourself

   Who would have imagined it, but C&C Music Factory  Snap may have said it best…. “I’ve got the power“.  That’s an important and significant statement.  You do have the power and you should not be afraid to use it.  However, many of the masses fail to grasp or act on this reality.  These folks seek approval or permission to step up and seize the reigns over...

6 Month Anniversary

  We pause our usual programming to bring a little attention to a small milestone.  Today, August 11, 2009 marks the 6 month anniversary of this little blogging endeavor. Now 6 months is not a huge accomplishment in most circles, but it is not completely insignificant in the blogging world.  Trust me, I’ve read much about this in my early days and I’ve observed much the same.  Starting...

Plant Your Financial Tree

  According to an ancient Chinese Proverb, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.  The second best time is now.” I find that to be a compelling message.  And one that lends itself to the world of personal finance.  One only need imagine the line “the best time to pay-off debt, or start saving for retirement…” to identify the fit. Several months ago, I was...

You Make the Call

Try as we may, we don’t always make the best decisions.  We may improve our odds by creating rules and other criteria to evaluate our options but even in the best of times these rules may develop bends in the direction of our wants. Sure, every rule has its exception, but likewise, the justification slope is a slippery beast. So with that backdrop, allow me to share a recent financial decision...