Should I choose a private student loan based on the 1-month LIBOR or the Prime Rate? [more inside]
posted on Apr 8, 2008 - 4 answers

What's the safest possible thing that I can do with my money? [more inside]
posted on Mar 20, 2008 - 28 answers

How do you figure out daily interest from an APR on student loans due monthly? [more inside]
posted on Feb 28, 2008 - 8 answers

Posting for a friend: My friend was bad about paying bills on time for a credit card over a long period of time (multiple years). It's one of the major blemishes on their credit score right now and the issuer has just decided to cancel their card. The question is, how much will the issuer canceling the credit card be on my friend's credit score, and what can they do? [more inside]
posted on Jan 22, 2008 - 4 answers

[ConversationFilter] Me no speaky so good no more. Please help! [more inside]
posted on Jan 19, 2008 - 26 answers

Blue Gamer Needs Help Badly: Please Deposit 2 Cents [more inside]
posted on Jan 10, 2008 - 19 answers

Excel/OpenOffice: How can I use XIRR to show an estimated percentage return based on account deposits/withdrawals/balances? [more inside]
posted on Dec 16, 2007 - 3 answers

I read in the Wall Street Journal this weekend that Iceland's Central Bank raised interest rates...to 13.75 percent! Can I move my money to Reykjavik? [more inside]
posted on Nov 6, 2007 - 8 answers

Random strangers of the internet, please recommend a hobby to me. [more inside]
posted on Aug 28, 2007 - 38 answers

I have just spent the afternoon watching stocks around the world decline partially based on sub prime market fallout. My question is how can things be so great when the Fed is handing out stacks of cash to keep things stable (34 Billion USD and counting, not including the international bail out)?
posted on Aug 10, 2007 - 25 answers

How can I use my focus for good (either directing it towards something useful, or to maintain interest) ? [more inside]
posted on Aug 8, 2007 - 6 answers

ok, i know this is crazy. but is it possible to: --set up a cross-generational US bank account (say, not to be accessed for say, 200+ years) -- aquire a substantial gain, using the factors of TIME/INTEREST to build a sizable amount money to accessible a distant relative yet to be born. (don't think this would be a Dynasty Trust, since I would be starting out with some nominal amount, say $1000.)
posted on Jul 12, 2007 - 7 answers

What makes people interested in each other, friendship-wise and hanging-out-wise? [more inside]
posted on Jul 10, 2007 - 31 answers

Economist filter: How exactly does the fed set interest rates? [more inside]
posted on Jun 29, 2007 - 9 answers

Do most people try negotiating near the end of a teaser rate? [more inside]
posted on Jun 18, 2007 - 4 answers

I find it nearly impossible to do any real work, unless I happen to feel like it. But I don't want to end up drifting through life, settling for mediocrity. If you managed to get your act together and are now able work hard on things you aren't interested in, as we all should be able to do from time to time, then my question is: how did you do it? [more inside]
posted on Jun 5, 2007 - 26 answers

I am going to hire a landscaper to do some major renovations to my backyard. Since I don’t have all the cash on hand right now, I was planning on paying with a 0% interest credit card (and I would easily be able to pay it off in less than a year). The problem is that the landscaper (who we like much more than the others) does not accept credit cards. [more inside]
posted on May 17, 2007 - 21 answers

A local homeowners association with a lake adjoining a major state highway on one side and a public Audubon wildlife sanctuary on another has prohibited dog walkers access to trails without payment of a $50 annual fee. Previously there were no restrictions to public access to this area—going back 50 years or more. An aggressive warden in need of anger management education threatens to call police and file trespassing charges even for walking with a dog on what must be a right of way area nearest the highway. What kind of lawyer or public interest group should we try to find to help us challenge this situation.?
posted on Apr 29, 2007 - 14 answers

Interest rates and Inflation, does anyone actually understand it? [more inside]
posted on Mar 21, 2007 - 26 answers

I'd welcome hearing of Mefites who have had experiences with the Prosper website as a borrower. (Or, if no one can help me on that, recommendations for Chicago or national credit unions accessible to most anyone.) [more inside]
posted on Mar 7, 2007 - 6 answers

I've paid off all my credit cards.... now what? [more inside]
posted on Mar 7, 2007 - 22 answers

Every time the US federal reserve meets to decide on changing interest rates, the news articles say something like "in their statement the fed says ...". So my question is where can I find a listing of the statements for the past 10 or 20 years? I'd like to see how the words change over time. [more inside]
posted on Jan 31, 2007 - 4 answers

How do I lend someone money? [more inside]
posted on Jan 30, 2007 - 26 answers

Is it better to pay off all my debts, or keep the debts and invest the money I would have paid them off with? [more inside]
posted on Jan 11, 2007 - 24 answers

I recently found out that when filing my tax returns I can deduct interest paid on my student loans. My question is if I have to file my request for a deduction the same year I pay the interest, or can I wait a couple years to actually take the deduction? Here's the twister: I'm a dependent. Can I make interest payments now and deduct them from my taxes a few years down the road when I'm an independent. Does being a dependent bar me from currently taking a deduction? Thank you...I really appreciate any help.
posted on Oct 1, 2006 - 11 answers

Help me find an old insightful email commentary (one that did the rounds on email) on the chauvinism of American network coverage of the Olympics in mid-90s. [more inside]
posted on Sep 27, 2006 - 5 answers

My sister just graduated with a J.D.... accompanied by five student loans totaling over $100K. Recommendations for paying the least amount of interest possible? [more inside]
posted on Sep 3, 2006 - 10 answers

I just went to a screening of The Five Venoms at my art museum's in house movie theatre, and the lady that runs the place said in a sort of an off hand way (in the middle of a reminiscence about the old days when they had first started showing kung fu films as part of their schedule) something along the lines of 'of course now with the satellite TV and DVDs not nearly so many people are interested in these pictures'. That sounded strange to me, because would have assumed that those two factors would have increased interest in that kind of movie. Does anyone have any insight or information about changes in peoples interest in kung fu films? Does that
posted on Jul 30, 2006 - 5 answers

Know anything about jobs with pirg.org? [more inside]
posted on Jul 18, 2006 - 21 answers

Last Min. Tax Question. Please help [more inside]
posted on Apr 12, 2006 - 7 answers

My wife (who only works part-time) and I will be applying for a joint mortgage soon. My FICO score is 800; hers is 670. How will a lender determine our interest rate when we have such different scores?
posted on Mar 26, 2006 - 7 answers

I'm about to buy my first house and I'm shopping around for a mortgage. The best deal so far is a mortgage where the lender pays for the mortgage insurance. I'm aware of using 80/XX loans to avoid paying PMI but I've never come across Lender Paid PMI. What exactly is it and what's the catch? [more inside]
posted on Feb 21, 2006 - 7 answers

Canadian Investment Loan Income Tax question. I get so sick of people telling me "You can write off the interest...." and then when I ask them what that means exactly... Silence. [more inside]
posted on Dec 28, 2005 - 6 answers

Are there any hidden drawbacks to keeping my savings in an ING Direct Orange account? [more inside]
posted on Nov 30, 2005 - 17 answers

Can I renegotiate my variable rate mortgage? [more inside]
posted on Nov 2, 2005 - 20 answers

How do grace periods on US credit cards work and how can I avoid paying finance charges? [more inside]
posted on Oct 5, 2005 - 7 answers

I bought an engagement ring with the store CC and was given 6 months no interest. Well that six months is almost up, and I'd love to be able to get my CC's 1% cash-back. Problem is, if I transfer the money to my CC, I don't get the 1% back. I have the money and can pay it off, but 1% is a significant amount and I'd like to finagle that 1% into my wallet if at all possible. Is there anything I can do? Thanks for the help, SEINFELD
posted on May 12, 2005 - 3 answers

I have two loans, and an extra $250/month to pay them down, but I don't know which one to choose. *Bonus question: should I pay them down? [more inside]
posted on May 12, 2005 - 22 answers

I've got two credit cards with interest rates of 21.24% and 23% - both with balances over $5K. Both banks have sent me convenience checks - one with 3.99% fixed APR for life of balance - the other with 0% through August (then 17% after). Can I 'swap' the debt from one card to the other by using a convenience checks to pay the balance and getting lower interest rates? I'm paying my debt off every month - but if I can get it to grow slower, I thought this would be a way to do that.
posted on Jan 4, 2005 - 16 answers

"The Fed chief also seemed to be practically guaranteeing higher interest rates, saying that investors who weren't hedged against a rise were "desirous of losing money."."

these questions have been asked before, but any further thoughts on a hedge for dollar positions and increasing interest rates?
posted on Nov 20, 2004 - 5 answers

Credit Card Filter. I’m a college student on the verge of graduating this spring. I have never had a credit card. Should I have one to start to establish a good credit rating for the future? [mi]
posted on Oct 24, 2004 - 31 answers

A question below made me realize that I abandoned a bank account in the UK in 1995. It was with Barclay's, and had 52p in it when I left the country. Does it still exist, or do British banking laws allow Barclays to just take my hard-earned pence after a period of inactivity? It was a savings account that returned standard interest for the time and was opened at a local branch in Llandrindod Wells, Wales. The only evidence I have that it is exists is a bank card buried under books in my folks' basement.

Or perhaps my account will grow and when I'm about 80, I will own my ancestral homeland? Or will Barclay's sue my estate for £300,00 in unpaid maintenance fees? I don't remember any fees being associated with it, but that might have been just for the first year.
posted on Jun 21, 2004 - 6 answers

MortgageFilter: Does anyone have any experience with prepayment penalties for a variable rate mortgage? Our mortgage broker is strongly recommending a mortgage with a 10% payment limit per year, but I've heard rumors that it can turn out to be a bad thing. Any advice appreciated.
posted on Jun 8, 2004 - 10 answers

My parents used to tell me fantastic tales, that back in the day (being the 1950s), banks offered interest rates on savings accounts upwards of 10%, with almost no fees and charges. In comparison, my current bank (in Australia) offers me 0.5% interest, which is completely countered by about the first hour's worth of monthly charges. This is despite the bank being more efficient, having fewer employees, and having greater access to global capital. Can anyone tell me, if the global economy is really doing so great these days, why are savings / investment interest rates so abysmal in comparison to the past? Will this ever turn around again in the future?
posted on May 30, 2004 - 15 answers

What is the best thing to do with a small amount of money, around $5,000? Savings interest is almost a joke, CDs look attractive or maybe even mutual funds. Preferably the safer the better, as in investing it all in a high-risk mutual fund and losing it would make me cry. I've checked out "Investment FAQ" and it seems as if CDs are the best. I know little about investing but making money doing nothing intrigues me. What would be an expected return on such an investment? Is it even worth locking the money up for something like $10 a month?
posted on Mar 3, 2004 - 20 answers