Well, a decent month in the books considering:
- Tax Payments sent in.
- Barely positive investment performance.
- Purchased air tickets for friend’s wedding (~$400.00)
- Paid off car loan.

Okay, not must use, but I really, really recommend them. They are great applications. I’m a Windows user, so my recommendations are for Windows apps. Some versions maybe available for Linux and MacOS, but I’m not sure…

Password Corral
I’ve been using this app since 1996. Actually, I’m not really sure when I started using Password Corral, but it’s been awhile…I have passwords recorded from waaaaay back.

Irfanview
Hands down the BEST free imaging tool. Of course, it’s user interface could stand for some improvement, but the features make it well worth it.

EZ Antivirus by Computer Associates
Sure you could spend $40.00 a year on Nortan or McAffee, but I prefer free. On top of that, I try to becareful when viewing emails and documents, so my anti-virus app is really just an extra level of protection. I actually ran without one for over 2 years before installing EZ Antivirus last November.

Okay, everybody hates Spyware. If you’re a fan, let me know…You would be the first person I’ve met that likes it. Unlike viruses, Spyware can mutate and “live” in your environment in multiple ways…often being more invasive then viruses since they are actual applications that run on your computer, versus viruses which find holes in applications. If you want a really clean environment, don’t install odd software! If it’s looks shady, don’t install it…But if you’ve already installed music swapping software, free games, etc. then you need to run:

Microsoft Defender (Beta 2)
Spybot - Search & Destroy
Ad-aware

These 3 tools should clean out most Spyware. Yes, you should run all 3 of them. Why? Because they often detect different spyware apps. I strongly recommend Microsoft’s Defender…it offers real-time protection, which means that it’ll tell you right away that some suspicious activity is happening on your computer.

All right, so let’s say you’ve run all 3, and you STILL have some funky windows popping up on your system. Well, now it’s time to call in the calvary. Properly used, this tool will help get rid of any bad stuff on your computer. It’ll let you dig deep into the details of Windows.

HijackThis. Don’t let the novice looking webpage scare you. This is the Swiss Army knife of system tools. Not recommended for the faint of heart, this tool can be extremely useful and cause irrepairable damage if not used correctly.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Check out John’s list @ Might Bargain Hunters.

So I spoil my little boy. Actually, today I think I am justified to spoil him…He was neutered and microchipped. Poor guy. It’s for the best though, for me and him. If it adds a couple of years to his life and makes him more sociable to other dogs/people, it’s all worth it.

Hold your breath, $220.77 for microchipping, treats, a couple toys, leash, antibiotics, and flea medicine (almost ~$90.00! for 6 months).

Total to date: $3,992.79

Here’s the full post of Brownie’s cost to date.

Woot $65 bonus cash has been funded to my Sharebuilder account. I must say, I’ve been happily impressed with Sharebuilder, especially with the email notifications they provide throughout the process of opening your account. Everytime I had a question, like, “hmm, I wonder if I qualified for the Costco $65 bonus?” I would get an email shortly after saying, “You’re qualified and will be credited $65.” Nice. Thanks to Jonathan @ MyMoneyBlog for the introduction to Sharebuilder.

Just to recap this week, Brownie has been insured. Vet costs for our furry, and sometimes non-furry, friends can add up quickly. It gives me peace of mind that I can give Brownie the best care regardless of my financial situation at the moment.

I’m still smoke free! You know, I’m starting to realize that certain things that I do bring the urge back…for example, just the other day I went fishing…The urge to smoke was stronger than ever! I didn’t, but still. Worse my friend and I have this thing, every fish we catch, means one cig. We need a new “thing,” and I guess I have to force my mind to dissociate fishing with smoking.

I’m also looking to purchase a home in a year or so…I found City Girl wrote up a great post on soul searching to figure out why you want a house. It’s a great read, check it out!

Speaking of houses, congrats to fivecentnickel and SingleMa on their home purchases!

John @ Mighty Bargain Hunter has a great discussion on education. It’s important to think about your education and what you expect to get from it. Just like buying a house, I believe you really need to ask yourself why you want to get a degree in abc field. Is it the money? Is it the glamour? Or something else? It’s not like you want to spend 4 years of your life getting a degree only to realize you don’t like it. Of course, each journey we take is our own unique journey, but you probably don’t want to travel down the same path too many times ;). Especially since it’s not only time but hardwork and money! Makingourway discusses the money part and who he feels should pay. One day I hope to go back to school.

Since it’s the weekend, I don’t want to leave you thinking about something as serious as education or the 990 posts on PFBlogs.org about gas prices since a little pain does us good, rather I want to leave you with an important question to ponder about “Why is American Idol so popular?” Hah. And buy him a beer while you’re there! That’s funny.

Have a great weekend everyone!

I’ll admit it, MTV is part of my generation’s lifestyle. From “the Real World” to “Beavis and Butthead,” MTV affects the younger generation, like it or not.

A few shows like “True Life” and…uhh, and “True Life” actually do something good for society. Everything else is well, just crap IMHO. Wait, I’ll admit MTV’s Boiling Point is a show I watched on occassion for a laugh, but that’s it. There is one show out of all of them, even more so than “Date My Mom” or “Punk’d” that irritates the heck out of me and that show is “My Sweet 16,” which they have recently renamed to “My Super Sweet 16.”

On MTV’s website, it describes the show as:

My Super Sweet 16 takes you on a wild ride behind the scenes for all the drama, surprises and over-the-top fun as teens prepare for their most important coming-of-age celebrations. 

Most important coming-of-age celebrations? What normal 16 year old has a huge party that costs over $150,000.00? If it was the most important, I feel sorry for the majority of 16 year olds that never see this. And forget college, because this party would be much more of a financial burden than the minor point of COLLEGE.

It lives up to all the stereotypes of being rich, conceited, selfish, and totally disconnected from the real world, no pun intended. Chrees’ talks about an article on her blog…what should be an April Fools article is real.

I can’t believe it. These parents are actually proud to show off their kids like this? Wow. I thought I wasn’t going to write anything today, but Chrees’ post hit a nerve. Any naysayers claim jealousy, really I am not jealous of being thought of as snooty idiots. So yeah, I’m jealous…hah. /rant

A dog that was born with only 2 working legs that was almost put to sleep, learns to walk like a human! It’s pretty neat. Check it out here.

Not much going on in the blogging section of my head today, so I’m probably not going to post anything else today. See ya tomorrow.

I’m a tease shopper. I go into a store, look around. I have a couple things I need…shaving gel, some pens, and maybe a magazine. I spend hours deciding between two or three different brands, comparing value, features, smell, ingredients if it’s food, quality, etc. etc. etc. I then find a few things that I’ve “wanted,” but don’t really need…put them in my basket or cart. I proceed to look around. Finally, I approach the cash register and pull a 360. I put back 50% of what I don’t need. I even go back and compare brands of shaving gel again, even though I always use the same one. People give me weird looks. But I feel good leaving the store with only the things I need. I’m a tease.

I’m also a a value shopper. This applies more to supermarket shopping. I go into a store, and only buy things on sale. I rarely buy stuff that isn’t. I don’t know why. I just can’t get myself to buy something at regular price. I like seeing “SALE” next to each item on my receipt…I feel like I won something. Then at the bottom it says, “You saved $xx.xx.” I always try to make this value bigger than the amount I actually spent…I’ve done it a few times, but it’s not easy. Oh, and I love the surprise sale / price error items! Like finding money in my pocket.

My two value shopping goals:
1. All items with “SALE” next to it.
2. My saved amount greater than my paid amount.

I’m a value shopper.

Anyway, just thought I’d share my shopping habits with you. How about you? Are you a value and tease shopper like me?

So I got this email…one of those that you don’t even remember when you signed up but continue to receive in your inbox that you normally just delete…yeah one of those emails. Well this one caught my attention. The subject: “Sell Walmart, Sell Caterpillar.”

In the email, it goes on to say…

My name is Robert Hsu, and I have some shocking news for you: 

China affects every stock you own.

Let me explain.

Wal-Mart is a China stock. If Wal-Mart were an individual economy, it would rank ahead of Australia and Canada as China’s 8th-biggest trading partner.

But even this understates reality. A toy company like Hasbro is doing great business this holiday season, and over 20% of Hasbro’s sales are through Wal-Mart. And most of Hasbro’s toys are made in, you guessed it, China.

Boeing, Motorola, Cisco, Autodesk, Yum Brands and Caterpillar–all are China stocks. They are China stocks either because their profits depend on China
importing their goods (Boeing is both outsourcing the new 7E7 Dreamliner assembly AND counting on orders from China Air) or because their profits depend on
imports FROM China.

In fact, I would go even further.

EVERY stock in your portfolio is a “CHINA STOCK.”

It is a China stock either because its fortunes are directly and openly enmeshed with China’s astounding growth.

Or it is a China stock because management has steadfastly IGNORED the fact that China is the newest, most DISRUPTIVE and most important factor in
its survival.

Which brings up a question that my American friends often find a little disturbing: What, exactly, is YOUR China investment strategy?

Because, if I were to look inside your portfolio, the stocks you hold–yes and the bonds and even the real estate–would imply a very clear China Strategy.

Then it goes on to say:

In this free special report you’ll learn: 

* The surprising reason that McDonald’s won’t be
successful in China.
* What China’s monstrous appetite for oil really
means for ExxonMobil and Chevron.
* Why you should buy Motorola but not Qualcomm.
* The real reason so many U.S. stocks are riding high
on the China Miracle and so many China stocks are
failing.
* Do you Baidu–and should you?
* Are stocks listed on the Chinese exchanges poised
to make a comeback in 2006? The answer may surprise
you.
* PLUS 7 U.S traded China stocks that you should
avoid.

Full details on all this and more in my new Report,
“Red Flag Stocks.” It’s yours FREE when you go here
now.

If you’re interested…

http://investorplace.com/order/?pc=6GL152

I don’t want to link it just because I don’t feel comfortable having my readers head over to sign up…I’m not sure if they will try to “up sell” you. So I’m not going to link it, but you can copy and paste if you want. It’s not a referral link…the “?pc=6GL152″ part is just the specific document I believe. Anyway, I don’t trust a lot of these things…If you couldn’t tell already. Am I going to sign up? No…Interesting read though…

Shucks!

Yes!

Yeshucks! My payment has been received by the IRS. My check cleared. Happy. Sad. It’s left me feeling, well relieved but not. Oh well, I guess I should be happy I got a couple extra days of interests on my cash…oh wait! It’s not in an interest bearing checkings. Ah, forget it. In case your payment hasn’t cleared yet, and you’re worried but not, check the status of it by calling (800) 829-1040. Read more about in my previous post. Just a word of caution, you will have to go through about 5 levels of phone menus before you reach someone. Tax payer money well spent :).

I’m curious, would anyone be able to help me understand what my best options would be during a time of recession? How about a depression? Do you know what to do? I guess we wouldn’t really know we’re in a situation until after the fact…but still, it’s good to know right?

Let me try to explain my understanding, a depression is a severe or long recession. I never knew this until I found it on Wikipedia, but apparently a recession can be due to inflation (value of money goes down, costs of goods go up) or deflation (value of money increases, costs of goods go down).

So during:

a) Inflationary recession, the value of cash is decreasing, thus the best investments would be non-cash investments, stocks?

b) Deflationary recession, the value of cash is increasing, so cash is king.

Would you agree with that? Since we’re in a period of inflation right now, the biggest threat is too much inflation…thus we need to find the best investment vehicle that can beat inflation. Right? Am I completely confused? :/ Hopefully I didn’t overly simplify everything…But just trying to understand the basics first…