Free Stuff on Your Birthday

Today is iSpend's birthday!

In light of this joyous day, I've found a great list of free stuff you can get on your birthday on Bargainlist.com. Enjoy! Now write iSpend some happy birthday wishes.

How to Score Free Stuff on Your Birthday

College Majors That Will (Probably Not) Get You Rich

Don't deny it--you totally picked your college major based on how much money you'll make after graduation. Well, if you don't want to take any risks choosing a poor man's degree, check out Forbes.com's piece on the Most Lucrative College Majors. #1? Computer Engineering. These nerdy kids are expected to make$60,500 after 0 to 5 years. Business management majors are expected to bring in $40,900 after 0 to 5 years (less than history majors, who I assumed where by nature always broke). So, basically I could make just as much as a business major by waiting tables, stripping or...majoring in creative writing.

Take that!

Are You Getting Ripped Off By Rent?

Do you breath oxygen? Yes, of course you probably are...but what is much more important (as stated in my post below) is if you're getting more ripped off than your neighbors. Well, now you can find out. Rentometer lets you plug in your apt number and zip code, and then shows you were you fall on a scale of what everyone else is paying. Probably not totally accurate, but still really fun!

Are You as Financially Savvy as your Friends?

Charles Schwab offers a pretty cool "Peer Comparison Tool" (which I always thought was when you spot a girl with a huge ass and ask your friend if yours is smaller) . They ask you 10 questions like do you invest in a 401(k) (81% of kids 25-29 don't...wow...) and then show you how you rank comparatively. And the responses to your questions are surprisingly human. When I said I have no debt, they responded, "Wow, no debt at all? That's great!" As if they didn't believe me...But, really, it's an interesting site, so go ahead and see if you're as smart with your investments as the rest of us (with kids these days stakes aren't too high).

Enjoy, you savvy spenders!

Politics Just The Way I Like I Like 'Em - Light and Pointless

New York Magazine has outdone itself with its Electopedia 2008. It has a bunch of little lists/featurettes that someone as politically jaded, yet topically interested, as myself can enjoy.

It's a pure delight filled with happy hour fodder including how candidates did in school, their biggest lie, most amusing youtube video, and their hairstyle and its evolution.

Nice journalism guys. Seriously! Keep it base - keep it real.

"In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."

-Eric Hoffer

Zen Master On Saving Money

Zen Habits shares the 10 ways he saves money.

The dude has six kids and doesn't ever go out or travel, but he does have a few good ideas. On his site, he goes into greater detail about his spartan ways.

I've always wanted to cut my own hair...

1) I cut my own hair. Annual savings: $580.

2) No Cable TV. Annual savings: $780.

3) Became vegan. Annual savings: $900.

4) Don’t use the gym. Annual savings: $420.

5) Rarely go to the movies. Annual savings: $780.

6) Quit smoking. Annual savings: $1,825.

7) Don’t drink much. Annual savings: $800.

8) Never go out. Annual savings: maybe $500.

9) Stay healthy. Annual savings: probably $1,200.

10) Don’t go shopping. Annual savings: probably $2,600.

11) Have only one car. Annual savings: unknown, but perhaps $5,000.

12) Bring my own lunch. Annual savings: $1,800.

13) No magazine or newspaper subscriptions. Annual savings: $360.

14) Rarely buy new clothes. Annual savings: maybe $400.

15) Never travel. Annual savings: $1,500.

16) No more lattes. Annual savings: about $1,000.

Estimated total savings: $20,445.

(city) Broke Back

Much like Jay-z, I'm back, again, for good, until I'm not again.

But seriously, I am sorry (Marshall) for being a deadbeat. I will try (for you) to be more prolific. Feel free to comment with any special requests for content type. **And no. That type of content is not allowed (Marshall)

Cold Air, Worth It.

As tight-fisted as I can be, I broke down and bought a new AC on the 2nd day of summer. Not installed yet, but I slept like a baby knowing that a 56 pound Haier AC rested on the floor near my bed.

The challenge is now getting the thing in the window (?) without losing any fingers or letting the chunk of mettle fall 5 floors to the sidewalk below. I'm not very good with directions and I don't know any AC wizards so I'm open to suggestions.

I wonder if putting the thing in its place will end up costing me more money.

Oink! Oink!

You may have seen some ads on T.V. for a new site called feedthepig.org (they are pretty hilarious) featuring an actual dude dressed like a pig named Benjamin Bankes (who is so hip he has a MySpace page). Well, I checked the thing out and, beyond have a great name, it's actually pretty useful. It's all part of a campaign by the AICPA called 360 Degrees of Financial Literary designed to help you start saving at any stage of your life, and have simple articles like Establishing a Budget - wow, so easy!

But my favorite part of personal finance sites - the calculator - is way cool on feedthepig. For example, check out the lunch calculator (if you spend $10 on lunch every day after 4 years you'll have spent about $7,500 - DAMN!)

And when you visit be sure to keep your sound on...

401 Frenzy

A little bird gave me this and I find it very helpful so see why you're so screwed if you don't starting investing in your 401 NOW. Have a nice day!

Compound and Compare

Contributing regularly to your investments can make a big difference in your future savings. And with compounding—or earning “interest on interest”, the growth of your funds may be accelerated in later years. The table below shows how an investment account can grow depending on the length of time you invest, and the amount you contribute annually.

Investing until age 65 from	$2,000 annually (approximately $167 monthly)	$4,000 annually (approximately $333 monthly)	$8,000 annually (approximately $667 monthly)
age 30	$360,111	$718,066	$1,438,287
age 35	$236,741	$472,065	$945,548
age 40	$152,778	$304,642	$610,198
age 45	$95,634	$190,696	$381,964
age 50	$56,743	$113,146	$226,632
age 55	$30,274	$60,367	$120,916
age 60	$12,260	$24,447	$48,967

The figures assume an 8% annual rate of return and tax-deferred growth. The chart is for illustrative purposes only, and does not represent the performance of any investment.