It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, but I wanted to share this deal, because it’s, well, awesome. If you are a student, or have a valid .edu email address, you can get the upgrade to Win 7 for $30. Here’s the link.

Just a few tips during the ordering process:

• If you just want a SIMPLE upgrade be sure to select the same version/type of Windows as you currently have installed.  For example, if you have Vista Home Premium 32-bit, select Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit.
• If you want to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit, it is possible.
• You can purchase either Home Premium or Professional.
• The download is approx. 3GBs, so if your connection is slow, buy the additional “Backup DVD”.

My recommendation, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit.

Assuming you did the clean install, or as MS calls it, “custom install,” one issue I had was trying to figure out how I’m going to backup my email with Windows Live Mail.  I couldn’t find ANY information on doing this quick and easy, so I decided to do a test.  I just completely copied the storage folder for Windows Live Mail.  Then I simply replaced the storage directory for Windows Live Mail on another machine, and bam, all my email was moved with all my account settings.  It was amazing!  It will ask you for the username / passwords as it’s trying to resync IMAP accounts, or download email from POP accounts, but it works like magic.   My backup and restore process for Windows Live Mail (WLM):

1. Locate and copy the entire storage location for WLM.
2. Install WLM on new system.
3. Run it, cancel any prompts, and just close WLM out.
4. Find the storage location, and just pop all the files from your old WLM to the new location.
5. Start up WLM.

Finally, if you bought it from the link above and run into this error:

“We are unable to create or save new files in the folder in which this application was downloaded. Please check the folder properties to make sure that you have security permission on the folder to write files and that the folder is not read-only”

Go to this link:  http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7install/thread/aedb1245-f8f9-42ec-9a0c-1aa932363bbb

Look at the “Answer”.  It does require you have a DVD Burner and a few minutes to type out a few command old school style, but it’s not that bad.

I’m using Windows 7 now…for the first time.  Never used the release candidate.  So far, I’m fairly impressed.   Anyway, I just figured I’d share since I just went through the process. Good luck!

Hawaii is going through some tough times. We’re facing a budget shortfall just like many other states. I hear so many things from both sides, but what gets me the most is that when the state has a shortfall in revenues, State workers think that it’s unfair that the State cuts back on expenses by furloughs and/or layoffs.

Let me make this perfectly clear, I appreciate any service that anyone provides, public or private. We’re not talking military or people who risk their lives to help others. That’s different, and I think we owe them much more than just gratitude. I’m talking about the vast majority of public sector workers.

Hawaii is experiencing tough times. The governor has already done a lot to trim expenses and increase revenue BESIDES affecting the payroll. Now that we are experiencing another of 3(?) revised shortfalls, public sector workers are fighting against payroll reductions.

I believe there is compromise to be had, but to use the argument that payroll reductions are unfair is RIDICULOUS. In my opinion, Hawaii has too many state workers. I read that California has a 1.5% rate of state workers in the population, where as Hawaii has 3%. It’s fair to assume that some inefficiencies are there.

I do believe we need furloughs and/or layoffs. While I feel for the people affected, the State should operate just like a business. Raising taxes or digging into coffers of other public funds is a crutch that no private business has the luxury of using.

For the love of God, please, this is not about private vs. public sectors. This is about being reasonable and financially responsible. I’m willing to compromise, but to not expect any payroll reduction is crazy.

And one more note, slightly related, in some situations Unions make sense, but for the vast majority of cases, it doesn’t.  I think as a country we should really consider how we use Unions.  Unions are hurting the country more than helping in today’s day and age in my honest opinion.

It’s not a fun topic, but one I’ve thought about many times.  There’s no legality in this post, but since I don’t actually have one yet, this might be a good start.  No real names disclosed here, but if you know me, you can probably guess what they mean.

• 40% The H’s, mainly for the use of school for the 2 girls.
• 30% The V’s - I hope they can use that to fund their downpayment for their own place (10%) and for C’s college (20%).
• 10% for Brownie’s care.
• 10% for my Alma Mater.
• 10% for my family, since they really have enough money already, I don’t think they need it.

Eventually I’ll work on solid numbers, but for now that’s a good starting point I guess.

If someone is deep in debt, trying to pay their way out of it, do you take their financial advice?  There are unusual circumstances that lead to debt, but in most cases bad judgement got them there.  So do you take advice from people like that?  I’m not so sure I would.

In life, I’ve met many who give others advice, and it’s the same in the blogging world.  I hope people are wise enough to decide for themselves what’s prudent and, ultimately, accountable for their own decisions –especially in these times when it’s so easy to blame other people.

I finished my taxes last week, and I was just reviewing all the information–I haven’t sent my amount owed to the IRS yet.  Hey, every penny counts!

I use Taxact.com every year.  Initially, when I first started using Taxact.com, it was because the price was dirt cheap.  Today, I use it because I’m just familiar with it, and I’ve never had any issues.  I think it’s still really cheap.

At the end of filing, they give you one report called TaxWatch 2009, in it is one thing I find really useful, and that’s the “Effective Tax Rate.”  ETR = Total Tax Paid / Adjust Gross Income x 100.  The lower the better!

• 2004 = 16.30%
• 2005 = 17.33%
• 2006 = 20.50% (highest AGI)
• 2007 = 11.43% (lowest AGI)
• 2008 = 17.30%

I need to figure out a way to reduce my ETR.

Good deal…not sure how much longer this will last…

http://www.slickdeals.net/permadeal/19865/QuickBooks-Pro-2009-30

Did you know in some states, if you don’t pay your taxes your name gets plastered on a website?

http://www.spiesonline.net/delinquent-taxpayers.shtml

I think it’s a good tactic to some degree, although I’m sure a lot of people who are trying to work things out will get put on these sites.

Anyway, it’s almost time to send in that envelope with my payment since I’m not getting a refund. Just thought about filing for an extension to delay paying, but in the end, I don’t think it makes sense. You pay an estimated tax with an extension and then owe interest when you do finally pay, I believe…I could be wrong. I didn’t want to spend too much time looking into it. Oh well, taxes 2008 done. Hopefully.

Unreal.  UNREAL.

The “You” DeSantis refers to in that quote is Edward Liddy, AIG CEO.

I’m not going to say he speaks for all of the folks in the financial products division in AIG, but this is one guy, that made the decisions that has affected the GLOBAL economy and pretty much destroyed AIG, claiming he is “blameless.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29879463/

Even Obama understands the concept of responsibility and how everything that happens on his watch is his onus.

So I have 9 credit cards that are open and active according to my recent credit report.  Out of the 9, I only use 2, 1 is my primary card and the other is a backup.  By habit, all the other cards just sit in my desk, never activated.  I just figured it’s better that way.

So today, I decided to do some investigative work and discovered much advice on the internet, such as:

• “The account is already open and reporting to the bureaus. Activating it is merely a formality to enable you to use it for purchases. Many companies will automatically activate it after a certain period of time (scary, huh?) anyways. Just shove it in a drawer.”
  http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/718734/?start=0
• “You have a line of credit with that company now regardless of if you use the card. Not using it does not cancel the credit that they have for you. You would need to call them to cancel it which I would suggest you do if they have a membership fee they would charge you. ”
  http://archive.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=691477
• “If you don’t use the card, the creditor will eventually close the account for inactivity — probably after 9 months or so. “
• “You can’t use it. If you don’t want it, call the credit card company, tell them….and cut it up with scissors.”
  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081205174204AAXi9bj

Although I learned that not activating a card will still affect your credit score and not activating it will keep the account open.  None seem to directly address whether to activate or not if you’re just not going to use it.  So, I figured I’d post my thoughts on it…

If I have a credit card that I know I’m never going to use, I will:

1. Not activate the card.  In theory you are less liable to fraud as the card and number will be unuseable.  Not confirmed.
2. The card will remain open and affect your credit score, usually in a positive way.   I have about $170,000 in credit card credit available, generally using about $2,000 of it per month.  I pay off my credit cards every month.  I do believe having excessive credit can be a bad thing, just like having not enough.  If you have any ideas to find this “sweet spot” let me know.  :)  I think I have too much, but my credit score sits at 812 or so.
3. Cut it up!  I actually haven’t done this, but it’s a good idea.  One more way to prevent someone from using them if they get stolen.

By the way, I have not found that they cancel your account after 9 months of inactivity.  One of my credit cards has been inactive for almost 10 years!  Also, I did not receive a replacement card when I did not activate my cards.  I am unsure how true the feedback that banks will “auto-activate” your card for you is.  That seems like a really bad idea.  I should test that theory out on some of my cards.

This isn’t an advertising line I promise!  But I switched to GEICO and my policy went from $485.00 to $320.80.  A yearly savings of $328.40.  WOW! On top of that, lower deductible and more coverage.

Just to prove it!  Pictures.  I didn’t think ditching AIG would save me that much money.  Initially it was just disgust with AIG.

AIG:

GEICO: