The week’s blog reading

A few interesting posts this week.

First I’d like to share a site titled Serene Journey. While not a Financial Blogger, I found this site through Sherri’s tweets and have found her posts great reading. This past week, she offered two posts titled Who Me? Worry? You Bet! Part 1 discusses why we worry and why worrying is no good, part 2 follows with strategies for how to stop worrying and having consideration for a spouse who worries. As with other articles I’ve read here over the part few weeks, I always leave her site thinking about how I’d make some change, for the better, in my own life. If every aspect of your life is absolutely perfect, you may not enjoy this blog, but for the rest of us, Serene Journey is a great find.

From Lazy Man and Money comes Save Money on Groceries (20 Tips inside!) These tips are grouped into four categories, General, Plan Ahead, Buy in Bulk, Get the Best Deals, and Change Your Eating Habits. Some tips are similar to those I’ve discussed in my Frugal Friday series, such as buying in bulk, and knowing the cost of things you buy to recognize a deal. Other tips hadn’t occurred to me, such as keeping a laminated spreadsheet of your refrigerator contents to use/reuse as a shopping list. Cool idea, just one of many you’ll find at the Lazy Man’s site.

This week, I also read posts regarding credit cards, a topic that gets addressed on a near daily basis as credit cards play such a role in our lives. Today, I received a new Citibank/Amex card, with a note telling me to destroy the one I now had. It seems the card was somehow compromised at a vendor, but when I called to activate the new card, Citibank would not tell me who. At The Digerati Life, we find a post discussing how Advanta closed their credit card account as Advanta shut down new lending. Clever Dude shares how Capital One (fortunately, not in my wallet) raised the rate of a close family member from 5% to 15%, with Capital One telling her on a phone call,”it’s nothing that you did. The company decided to increase across the board due to the economy. Ouch. Lastly, Mirana Marquit posting on her blog Yielding Wealth asks “Credit Card Bailout for Consumers?” It seems that many who are late on their payments have gotten away with making an offer when the call comes. In some cases for just fifty cents on the dollar (yes in plain english, half).

I may not have mentioned, I am now on twitter where there tends to be some random dialog, much of it financial. Follow me @JoeTaxpayerBlog. I have also continued my frequent visits to help answer questions at Moolanomy Answers.

I wish you a great week ahead.
Joe