Category: MyLife101

Memorial Day, Boston, and Cheers

 

 

 

 

 

What a great weekend I must say. My family and I made the trip to Boston, MA for a three day weekend initially, but things changed. More on that later. I always attempt to do first time things when traveling to a destination away from home and we can successfully say we did a few. Guess what we did? Finally hit up cheers to get a few drinks. The Cheers bar thing has always been on my mind as a subliminal bucket list thing to do, now I can cross it off. JP Lick’s is a great place to get ice cream and even though it was my second time there the ice cream is so good that it feels like the first time. The only downside to the trip was that we had to cut the weekend short to two nights instead of three.

First Time Events:

-Cheers Bar
-Trampoline Event
-Rizzo’s Pizza
-Drove Non-Stop from Boston to NJ

What did we Spend:

-Hotel – $224
-Food- 85
-Kids Activities- $24
-Cheers- 35 (Got a Mug)
-Gas- $70
-Tolls- $10
-Parking- $20
-Ice Cream- $25 (JP Lick’s)

(In the Food category all drinks are included with that amount)

All in all we spent about $500 dollars for a two day trip to Massachusetts. Even though it was a budget buster weekend we enjoyed every minute of it. We visited family, friends, and just spent a few fun filled days with each other in another state. I probably should take the family away more often since we all had a great time, but the Mrs. is in school every weekend and I would never consider going without her. The funny thing about the weekend is that we did everything spontaneously because the original plans to go to Maine fell through, maybe we will go there next year.

What were your plans this weekend did you go away or did you stay home bound? No matter what you did I hope you enjoyed spending some dollars for those great experiences with your loved ones. That’s the one category in my budget that I actually do not feel guilty spending dough on.

So since I recently went on a mini-vacation I will answer a giveaway J.money is doing with hotel club.

What is the best tip for saving money on travel?

My answer to this mysterious question would have to be, if you are traveling to an international island destination to book the hotel separate from the flights. In my research with my previous travel plans I have saved between 200-500 dollars when I reserve them separately. For example some resorts have a direct number that you can call or a reservation website. This only will work if the resort offers this direct booking service.  If not you are limited to the vacation packages on the web.

 

Comment below to let the readers know what you did and how deep you went in your pocket for all the fun you had over the Memorial day weekend.

Which would you prefer? – The Dentist or Personal Finance

The dentist or personal finance talk which is worse, is money talk really that bad or are people just scared to disclose their situations. In all my research those that get together to talk about money for the most part do great at growing it. Millionaires love to talk about the intricacies based on increasing monetary value aka Money. Compound this on top of the principle idea, thus giving the founders who talk about money a spring board leap above the rest of those individuals who pester my mind with nonsense gab.

When I am expressing to discuss money, I am not asking anybody to give up how much you’re worth or what you’re income is. All I am attempting to convey is for people to step up and just give an opinion, share a financial story, or make an attempt to grow your knowledge of finance by reading and talking. If you feel any sense of urgency like I do then you know that time is passing super fast and we need to take action now.

If your not about action than your malfunction in life is best kept to yourself. Now let’s form a circle of networked based individuals who can pull and multiply resources with ease by not giving up, being persistent, having a drive for more out of this life.

Success is measured in many ways and I view it as:

1. Having the things you need not want
2. Living within your means not living extravagantly
3. Leaving a legacy for those important in your life and making a difference in your community

All of this is possible by succeeding in the money game and gaining freedom from a 9-5 type of employer.

I welcome any ideas, comments, and any influential discussions that you may have on this topic. If you prefer to talk about getting a tooth pulled then do not respond because this is a financial blog dedicated to bringing about change in the personal finance world. Those individuals that are learning how to really take advantage in this new era of an economy, increasing cash flow, maximizing investing techniques, and growing net worth I look forward to hearing from you.

Leave a comment below,

Thanks,

Computer Purchase

       

       
        
       As you all have read in my previous computer post, I was in the market to purchase a computer/laptop. So without further delay, I decided on a Toshiba Satelite 775 Laptop it has all the features I was initially looking for and it was priced right for my budget. Also I purchased it through Costco for $888 including taxes and they offered a free anti-virus software and a two year warranty. The specs of the CPU are listed below for your viewing pleasure. Also I was inches close to purchasing an apple product but due to job related reasons I did not go that route. Many of you had suggested apple as your preferred choice but, because at times I work from home, I did not want to purchase two separate computers: one for work and another for home use.

Tech Specs:

17.3 inch Led Backlit Screen
i7 2.2ghz with Turbo boost to 3.1
8gb Ram
1 TB Storage

Great Keyboard

Blu Ray Player (Whoo Hoo)

3.0 USB, 2*2.0 USB, HDMI, etc

So far I am content with the speed and the features of my laptop. After I hit the power button it is up and running in blazing fast speed in about 5 to 10 seconds. A dramatic improvement over my last computer. I was looking for a well priced under a $1,000 CPU with all the features I mentioned in my previous post and I definitly achieved that. Laptop Search Post  My rational behind this purchase was why spend over my budget to get something that is comparable in speed and size, and on top of this have to deal with work related issues in the future that could get worse as time passes with an apple. I am attempting to simplify my life not add stress to it.

The other three contenders for my money were an Apple all in one 21″ desktop for $1300, a Dell Xps laptop for $800, and an ASUS for $1249 but all had less features and two competitors were pricier than the Toshiba I purchased. The Mrs. was extremely against the Asus so that one was the first to go. I will give you an update in a few months as to how it is performing.

Comment if you have recently purchased a computer and the amount you paid for it.

Best Financial Decision Ever Part II

As the years keep passing I like to think back and really get a feel for what I have done right with my money. I think this is only possible if you have a great memory or if the decision you made had such a positive outcome thus staying relevant in your mind. Part II of this series of posts I want to revisit another smart decision and hopefully I can repeat it again or maybe help others do the same thing. After I reveal this important decision, then maybe you all can share a special decision you made. We all receive enlightenment from different sources whether it be people, books, a blog, or a financial TV program.
The underlying fact is that all those sources I mentioned before, were sparked by somebody who decided to share with the world a unique personal finance decision they made. What would happen if everybody kept things to themselves for whatever reason, that selfish frame of mind would not benefit the world. Sharing is caring now let’s begin this great cycle of discussing personal finance stories.

Financial Decision Part II:
As a kid I saved up any money I received from birthdays/Christmas’s and I envisioned a goal that I had in mind. Which was to buy myself a video game for my Nintendo system. I still remember that day on a Saturday when I told my mom to take me to the hobby/toy store on Broadway in 180st in NY city. If I can recall the day I must have frustrated my mom cause as soon as I walked in I was steered away by the numerous options of toys and games. I have always been a bit indecisive when it comes to making a final choice with my money. It’s the darn value vs. cost dilemma I struggle with still till this day. I can not recall the exact video game I purchased as this was many years ago, but this one action helped me see a new side of myself that I knew would be ingranied within me forever. As the years passed I visited that hobby store time and time again to continue purchasing that new toy that intrigued me without ever going into debt. Thinking back now if I had better guidance with financial matters, I could have saved at least 20% of my income, but then I would have never been the owner of as much cool GI Joe’s, Transformers, or Thundercat toys that I desired.

If you can take away one thing from this, it is to save up first as I did and then buy what you need/want. Credit cards didn’t exist back then and loans were not as prevalent as they are now. This one decision in a weird way made me the person that I am when it comes to money and I feel that the companies that run our society want us to do the exact opposite. Spend first then pay later plus interest. Only you can stop that downward non-productive cycle.

Now after reading this what would you like to share? Comment now and feel better about yourself for releasing information that is/was important to your past life thus helping you shape your current financial mind-set and or perspective.

Adding up the best financial decisions year after year is another way to watch your money!

Image is Time + Money = Goals graph.

Laptop Search 2011





     
     In doing a search for the best laptops in 2011, I have researched a myriad of options and brands that are tailored to what I want and need. At the top of the every list (Cnet Research) except for budget categories is the mighty apple products, unfortunately I do not foresee using my laptop for editing or any of those advanced features they all come with, so that is a no-go. Also they are completely out of the range I want to spend on a laptop. The $ range I am looking for is $399 – $799, which has led me to two categories of budget based and mid-range based laptops. So far the leader with techie features, innovation, and with a flare of style is Toshiba. In the past more than once I have heard that they are great laptops, but I haven’t really heard anything recently to solidify a purchase. The best priced brand in the lower end of the technology curve is Dell; but they don’t even come with windows 7 unless you pay extra. That brand is out -# Losers!  In between those two brands, I am still considering Asus, Lenovo, and Acer. Granted we all have heard you get what you pay for, but does that mean you have to dole out $1400 dollars for a computer that will be obsolete in 3 years. Value vs. Cost does not add up for me. Some of the features I am drooling over are listed below, and I will probably not get all of them at the end of the day, because of the game these companies play in picking and choosing which features are standard and what not.  
Features:
i7 or i5 2nd generation quad processor (Sandy Bridge)
6g Ram
500-750 Gigs Storage
Blu –Ray Drive or DVD Burner
5-7 Hours of battery life or more
5 pounds or less in weight
13 – 16 inch screen size
Windows 7 already included
Capability to connect laptop to TV
Good Keyboard for easier typing (Back lit option preferred)
I guess once I put all of these on paper, it does seem like a long demanding list. LOL! Oh well I want what I want. What’s also perfect is that this is the right time to buy as computers should be on sale based on my monthly calendar post. (See Link Here-Jan Calendar Post
*Please comment back and let me know what computer brand you currently have and if you are happy with it. Also if you’re current model has all of these options as well. I guess more comparison shopping for me in the near future. Uncertainty always finds its way into my mind when spending over a certain amount for something. Given all the options I am still leaning on getting a Toshiba laptop when the time comes.   
Getting a well-priced laptop to last you at least 5+ years is another way to watch your money!
Update Miss Rich Uncle El wants to actually get the Apple laptop as she feels it will last longer. What a dilemma now. Advice needed a sap.
Thanks,

New Year Resolutions

Ok now that we have gotten through a great christmas weekend I can only start thinking of the New Year and what that will bring to an already crazy life. I want to complete as many goals as possible in 2012 and I hope all of you have the same aspirations for your lives. I will share my goals in this post and I want all of you to please comment back and share at least one goal with us here at moneywatch101.

I found a cool article that lists the top ten most forgotten resolutions. I found this to be very interesting and it got me thinking, why do people commit to something and not follow through. Some of the reasons could be procrastination, laziness, or just a lost of interest. I think if we write our goals/resolutions down on paper and put it up on the refrigerator door that we all will be more inclined to follow through. 

The Top ten Resolutions are :

1. Lose Weight
2. Quit Smoking
3. Learn Something New
4. Eat Healthier/Diet
5. Get Out of Debt/Save Money
6. Spend Time with Family
7. Travel to New Places
8. Be Less Stressed
9. Volunteer
10. Drink Less

This list was featured in Time.com and will probably be 2012 top ten failed resolutions as well. Here is the link for the full article,     http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2040218_2040220_2040221,00.html

Maybe you have a similar goal in mind that is featured on this list or maybe you have a totally unique goal that you would like to commit to and complete. The only way to truly get the best results is to share it with others and continuously remind yourself of the goal by looking at it every so often. So since I started this great topic my number one resolution for 2012 is to —-
Dedicate More time to this website.
As you can imagine I enjoy speaking to all those willing to learn about personal finance. Dont forget to take 5 min of your time to comment back and write down your very own resolution list.
Thanks,

Bucket List !

Hello I would like to share with the world my bucket list and hopefully this will lead me to actually achieve some of the items on my list. If I post out to the world then I think emotionally I would be more inclined to follow through with the list. So without further ado here it is:

-Visit Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China within a week of each other.
-Establish my very own bank to compete with all these big to fail banks.
-Go on a hot air ballon ride/ then right after go sky diving.
-Go to Belgium, France and Germany and get lost for a week.
-Find a awesome looking rare thousand dollar bill so that I can show off to my friends.
-Buy a cool electric motorcycle and visit as many cities as I can in the U.S.
-Purchase an old school convertible muscle car in Black and drive it on Sundays in my neighborhood.
-Buy an Audi R8 and a Tesla Model S car to fully satisfy my car desires.
-Buy a cruise vacation to 15 members of my inner circle of family and friends.
-Start a educational foundation after I am debt free and able to live off my investments.

Well there you have it; let me know if you have any questions or if you have any ideas of your own cool and unique bucket list items. Share them with the world.

RichUncle El