Single Guy High Impact Saving

Lots of little things keep adding up

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:51:17 PST

Nothing overly thrilling here, just lots of news on how if you keep with the plan, it will work. (You know the plan, saving money and making good investments!)

My reirement accounts are now $15k more than they were at the start of last year's meltdown. Of course since then I have...

I wish I could have had advice like this

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:30:06 PST

Warning: This is (mostly) non-financial related. (But the guys out there should like it!)

OK, you've been warned.

Ever see those interviews where they ask the person, if you could give your younger self advice, what would it be? Well here is my advice to my younger self, pretty...

Its all a matter of perspective

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:47:59 PST

I'm sure everyone has heard this. You talk to someone from ... say Africa... and they would say you have a lot. Talk to someone from the rich enclaves here in the USA and they would say you have so little.

The thought came to mind when I went to a "grand opening" sale at the local...

Books, books (and oh yeah, books)

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:23:05 PST

A sorta rant here, as I try to extricate myself from the overwhelming piles of books left with me from my ex. While this wasn't her only problem, it certainly contributed to her complaining she didn't have any money. She kept buying books, reading a few pages, then buying more books....

Squeaking by on $300,000

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 08:06:59 PST

Yes, that is the title of today's front page story in the Washington Post. Of course they understand how it will sound absurd, so in the story they go over the numbers for this family living in their own named house on Long Island Sound. The Post has been doing a number of stories...

Bills are down for the past month

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:28:16 PST

Couple good things so far this month...

Got this month's CC bill, it was only a little over $200. That may sound bad, but it has most all of my expenses on it but utilities (and even some of those), and is usually much larger. That is great! This month will be worse, as I just...

Tilting at windmills

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:46:11 PST

Getting your own windmill has been for the past years has been for the most part an effort in futility (so I've heard anyway). But now comes this product that is supposed to make it so easy to set one up on your house. While it sounds great, you have to wonder if the devil is in...

The accidental frugalist

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:32:13 PST

Sometimes you go with the best of intentions, and things don't work out. Then other times you aren't even trying, and things just fall into place.

The above was certainly the case tonight. I went to the local Safeway with the plan of getting the 10 bottles for 80 cents each sale...

How much do I really need to save?

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:13:28 PST

Here is an interesting article dealing with some people saving too much for retirement.
How much is too much?
While I can feel there can never be too much saved for retirement, it does make the point that you need to enjoy your money a bit, if you have it to enjoy of course. Before...

I expect to be single a very long time.

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:07 PST

Damn, if that isn't a depressing title, I don't know what is. As has been reported here by other single guys, meeting single women with, well shall we say common sense and some manners, is so near impossible that it really has effected me mentally this past month. (oh, plus the fact...

Save some money, cut your grass

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:57:09 PST

Boy, its been a long time since I wrote anything here. Alot of crud going on in my life, and that sort of leads to the title of this. While I was out cutting the grass tonight, I did what I always do, sorta get into a mental zone, let my body go on autopilot to do the work, and let...

If you're driving lots this holidays, this could be for you...

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:08:46 PST

... with a couple of "your milage may vary" warnings thrown in. If you're the type that is diligent in paying off your credit cards so you don't pay fees, here is one that could be for you.

http://www.citibank.com/us/cards/exmbl/promo8.htm

It gives you 30 cents back in rebates...

What are they spending their money on?

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:04:47 PST

I know its always easy to criticize people and their spending, but really, how can some people not have a lot of money saved up? The local newspaper have this series where they are trying to get people out of debt. The current group are military folks, but this one couple, sheesh....

I want my DTV

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:55:10 PST

No, not MTV (for those that remember the song), but DTV, Digital Television. If you're crazy like me, and I don't have any cable or satellite service, you need to pick up a digital signal TV converter box. And of course you need to get the $40 vouchers for buying the darn little...

You need to think outside the box & I'm in!

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:32:46 PST

Well, I guess thinking outside of the box can apply to anything, but in this case it applies to my yard sale-ing. I was out yesterday, and stopped at one last spot. I saw a wall display for golf balls. Very nice, cherry, felt backed, but I'm no golfer. Probably a $15 - $20 item....

I had an OMG moment last night

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:08:39 PST

... and I don't have them very often. (oh, btw, it has nothing to do with the stock market insanity either).

Background: In the past two plus years I have been getting myself knowledgeable about everything financial. I read items on the internet, finance mags, newspapers, and...

Just when you thought they couldn't get dumber

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:12:56 PST

... I read article like this...

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/the-65-mpg-car-ford-won't-sell-in-us.aspx

I'm not in the market for a new car, mine does just fine at 36MPG. But jeeze, if I was looking for a new car, I would have to wonder what the people...

Yard sales, and ebay, and craigslist - oh my.

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:57:42 PST

Well, this past month (or so) I have finally gotten around to selling items on ebay (ok, just 2 things - but still...), had a yard sale, and have sold things through craigslist. Not that I needed to make money, but I couldn't just throw out perfectly good items.

So how did it work...

A/C conservation results are in...

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:07:48 PST

and they were more impressive than I could have imagined.

Due to various life issues I have been concentrating on work, dealing with life problems, and saving money. Not fun, but there are times you gotta do what you gotta do. Anywho, this summer I have tried to see how far I...

I�ve hit a milestone. (Yes, its a good one!)

bennyhoff@yahoo.com (bennyhoff) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:53:26 PST

I have a pension now. Well technically, I am not vested in my employer's pension plan yet. However I have so much built up vacation time and sick time that can be used towards pension calculations, that if I had to leave for some strange reason today (not bloody likely), I could...