Searching for Good Money Advice

If you know me, you know that I've long been a student of all things money, particularly ways to save it and keep it. Now, that doesn't mean I'm frugal. Far from it. In fact, I spend money when I'm blue and I love, love, love to not have to cook. Doesn't mean I don't like to cook. I just don't want to have to do it. So, needless to say, I like to eat out.

I'm happy that I've found these two great enewsletters recently, full of good money advice for women: DailyWorth and LearnVest. I've been a DailyWorth reader for more than a year now - a function of surviving during 14 months of unemployment - and I find their information fascinating and helpful, usually. LearnVest seems to be a little less helpful . . . but I'm reserving final judgement. I've only been a subscriber for a just over a month.

In any case, if you're on the lookout for good advice, check out DailyWorth and LearnVest. And, if I can keep up this semi-regular blog again, keep a lookout for more posts on money! 'Cause hey: we all want it, we all need it, so what are we going to do with it?

WFDD Wants My Money

They do. They ask for it about 200 times a day this week. And I'm inclined to give them some of it, especially when they tell me I could win a Mac Book Air (ooh, ahh). But, I'm not convinced.

I'm not convinced because I know how much they ask businesses to pay for "sponsorships." In my industry, they're known as really very expensive, really very short ads that you have to run lots of to make any impact at all.

I'm also not convinced because they could be (if they're not) writing grants to get their funding. And because they get some of my taxpayer money, too.

And, let's be honest: Diane Rehm's voice grates on me like nothing else and someone over at WFDD the other day said it would be worth paying the 27% cost increase for her program next year. I disagree. Completely.

In any case, I do value what NPR brings me, at least most of what it brings me. But I want a little more say in how they spend my money. Shouldn't I be able to vote for which shows make it and which ones don't? Shouldn't I be able suggest that WFDD only give in-kind sponsorships to local arts groups? Shouldn't there be a listener advisory board to help the staff decide how to spend all that money?

Someday, tomorrow perhaps, I will give WFDD money again, especially when they threaten the non-renewal of Morning Edition or All Things Considered or Prairie Home Companion. But until I can direct my donation to my favorite shows or at least most of my money to that part of the station I really want to support, it's going to take a lot more to part me from my money.

Other charities, including the couple I've got listed on the side of this blog? Check them out on Charity Navigator. Heck, for a shocking look at how some charities are run, check out the Top Ten Lists. It's even worth pointing out that Charity Navigator's got a good list of how to be a good philanthropist, here.

Be smart with your money, especially these days.

Money, Money, Money

So, Jess introduced me to this fabulous little tool back in November which tracks your Networth. You don't enter account numbers or anything; you just list your account positions and it tracks them over time for you. All that to say, I just finished my June update (I hadn't done one since December '07) and I'm glad to say my net worth is now positive. Yeah! 'Course, that's mainly because my house value went up, my car value (odd, I know) went up, and my retirement went up (some). Up is definitely a good direction.

Here's the site, in case you're interested.

And no, my profile isn't public. Sorry.