Archive for December, 2007

My previous favorite online bank has dropped its rate again. HSBC Direct lowered their savings rate again this morning to 4.25% APY (from 4.50%). It seems like while other banks are able to maintain rates with the Fed drops HSBC keeps slipping. Emigrant Direct also dropped their rate to 4.65% APY this week.

Fortunately as previously discussed I moved all my long term savings money over to Countrywide SavingsLink who is still holding steady at 5.30%. Here is a roundup of some of the popular online savings accounts rates (APY):

• Countrywide SavingsLink - 5.30%
• FNBO Direct - 5.05%
• E*Trade Complete Savings - 5.05%
• WAMU Online Savings - 4.75%
• Emigrant Direct - 4.65%
• HSBC Direct - 4.25%
• ING Direct - 4.10%

Lifehacker has announced their 2007 guide to free software and webapps with a ton of FREE applications for your everyday needs. They broke it down into 20 categories and here are some of my personal favorites:

Backup Utilities
Mozy (Windows/Mac, online backup, up to 2GB free) - Provides automated backups of your important files online.

Desktop Search
Google Desktop (Windows/Mac OS X/Linux, free) - Search through all your files, emails, web history and more.

Virus Killers and Malware Cleaners
AVG Free Edition (Windows, free with paid upgrade) - Free virus protection for your computer.

I have never actually tried any of their apps in the Personal Finance/Money Managers category. I personally am a huge fan of Yodlee Moneycenter which they seem to have overlooked so haven’t explored too much. I may give them a try in the near future.

Check below for the full list:

Lifehacker 2007 Guide to Free Software and Webapps

Microsfot is currently running a campaign where you can get yourself a free copy of the $400 Windows Vista Ultimate Edition, Office 2007, or Microsoft Money Plus.

***UPDATE: This offer has ended.

The catch? You have to join their feedback program where you have to answer a few surveys and install a program on your computer where they can monitor your everyday actions for 3 months before you get your software. I’m sure to some giving up your privacy to big brother will not be worth it, but I decided to give it a shot - hopefully it will not be too bad.

Here are the requirements from Microsoft:

1. The survey feedback program. When you join the survey feedback program, you’ll be invited to take a survey on a regular schedule. If the survey arrives at a time where you are busy, you skip that one and take the next one instead. You will not receive more than a survey every two weeks.

2. The automated feedback program. When you choose to participate, most of the work is done behind the scenes, with no additional effort, time requirement, or inconvenience to you. Occasionally, we might send you an invitation to participate in a survey or another feedback program to get additional information about your use of computers but, in general, you only hear from us if we make significant changes to our data collection method or if we want to offer another feedback program to you that you might be interested in.

Join the Windows Feedback Program

Perfect for that holiday gift giving - now through December 16th, 2007 you can get 12% off a single item during your instore purchase at Best Buy. All you need is a free rewards zone membership to get the full 12%, otherwise if you do not have / want a membership you get 10% off.

Best Buy Coupon

Here is the fine print:

10% or 12% off any single item1 from the following categories:

TVs & More: TVs $399 and up • DVD players and recorders • TiVo® and DIRECTV® hardware • receivers, shelf systems,
speakers and home theater systems. Also valid at Magnolia Home Theater®.

Computer Accessories: DVD-RW drives • flash and external hard drives • notebook accessories • printers $149 & up •
scanners $99 & up • computer networking • computer speakers, mice and keyboards • PC cameras • PC gaming controllers •
digital recorders $99 & up • surge protectors • computer flash memory • computer cables • graphic and sound cards •
computer software • blank digital media and blank video media • ink cartridges • printer docks • paper

Cameras & Accessories: digital cameras $279 & up • digital camcorders $279 & up • digital camera accessories •
blank mini-DVD media • blank video media • camcorder accessories • camcorder batteries • blank camcorder media •
premium photo services

Music Players & Accessories: MP3 players and accessories • car audio • satellite radio hardware • musical instruments •
CD/DVD storage

Phones & Accessories: phone cards • cordless phones • answering machines • landline phone accessories • 2-way radios •
cellular phone accessories • pay-as-you-go phones

Appliances & More: major and small appliances • shavers • vacuums • microwaves • batteries • toys • mobile electronics •
navigation hardware

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Excludes Zune® devices; Bose®; JBL and Shure MP3 player accessories;
DIRECTV® service; Blu-ray and HD DVD players; digital SLR cameras; Apple® products; the Dyson DC18; video game
hardware and accessories; satellite radio service; Cinema Systems; HP ink; high-definition camcorders; pay-as-yougo-
phone cards; cellular phones; Roland, Boss and Edirol musical instruments; digital music services and download
cards; special order, clearance, demo and open-box items; Gift Cards; taxes; Magnolia Home Theater products: Bose®,
SpeakerCraft®, Sonos, Vienna Acoustics, Tivoli Audio, MartinLogan, BDI furniture, installation services, Magnolia
Guaranteed Performance Agreement and special order merchandise

Best Buy Coupon

Taxable Accounts:

$2,331.07 - Liquid Savings - 4.50% APY HSBC Savings Account
$25,128.31 - Savings - 5.30% APY Countrywide Savings Accounts
$15,731.53 - Stocks - Misc. Direct Investments
$5,861.64 - Stocks - Ameritrade Izone
$2,657.18 - Stocks - Zecco
$2,647.58 - Bonds - TreasuryDirect

$54,357.31 TOTAL

Retirement Savings:

$17,555.93 - ROTH IRA - Vanguard
$1,115.42 - ROTH IRA - Scottrade
$55,011.88 - 401K - T. Rowe Price

$73,683.23 TOTAL

Debts

$3,052.81 - Student Loan - AES (3.625%)
$4,308.00 - Credit Card BT - Chase(0%)
$17,816.28 - Credit Card BT - BOA NEA (0%)
$7,346.18 - Credit Card BT - Juniper (0%)
$19,793.00 - Credit Card BT - Upgromise (0%)

$52,316.27 TOTAL

Housing / Automobiles

$265,943.83 - Mortgage - Countrywide
$339,900.00 - Approximate Home Value
$9,988 - Approximate Car Value - Edmunds.com

$83,694.29 - TOTAL (Approximate Equity)

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