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July recap

Did not make $100 in passive income but am much closer to the mark this month (Adsense topped others in revenue, followed closely by PayperPost and Ebay.)
Did increase traffic and increased position in major search engines (How to Make a Million Dollars is now found on Google, MSN, and Yahoo). The ultimate goal would be to create the most comprehensive and useful how to make a million dollars website on the internet and be able to help a large number of people from around the globe reach their financial goals.
Did create a new company, but it did not create profit, I still have yet to sell a song.
Did decrease my liabilities considerable and created a plan to pay off all student loans by the end of this year.
Did increase net worth.
Did not change much of the website's format, will do that in August to make it more organized, more user-friendly.
I am very happy with the progress so far, hope to continue at this rate.

Increase your financial knowledge

As a personal finance blogger I realize the importance of learning about finances. Everyone has a different situation, some are in debt, some are just starting out, some are starting families, some are paying off a mortgage, some are entering retirement, no matter where you are in life you can always increase your financial knowledge. If you have little knowledge then I sugguest reading, and learning as much as you can to avoid financial hardship. One place to find an abundance of information about a variety of topics is at the global-investimate-institute. Their website has over 600 articles on finance, real estate, and investment opportunities. They even have a beginners guide to investing. It worth checking out. Here is an example of one of their articles
Personal Finance - Can you afford NOT to look After your Finances?

Investing is a subject a lot of people don?t want to think about. And there is good reason for that. Investing seems scary. It either sounds like something only the rich do or something that only a skilled professional can do. But the truth is that investing is something that everyone can and should do?as soon as possible.

Why should you start now? Think about this. There are two ways to make money. You can exchange your time for money or you can make your money work for you. Most of us work 40 hours a week. In this case, you are trading your time for money. But wouldn?t you rather earn more than you are making? If you are making $1,000, wouldn?t you rather be earning $5,000? Most people think the only way to earn more is to work more. Work overtime is their motto! But there is more to life than working. Investing gives you the chance to let your money work for you?saving you time and earning you money.

But is the purpose of investing to get rich? Some people don?t invest because they think that investing is something you do to get rich. They figure they?ll never earn enough to get rich, so why bother. But that?s not what investing is for. Investing is a way for you to be able to maintain your current lifestyle.

Think about this: what if the company you worked for suddenly closed down? What are you going to do when you get to retirement? Sometimes working more is not a viable option. Investing gives you another source of savings and earning income. You don?t invest to become a multi-millionaire (of course no one would stop you if that happens); you invest so that you can provide for yourself in the way you are accustomed to both before and after retirement.

Many people are convinced that investing is the right thing to do at this point, but, there are some misconceptions people have about investing that prevents them from actually doing it. These misconceptions are that:

*

Investing is too hard
*

Investing is too risky
*

You need a lot of money to invest

Let?s look at each one of these misconceptions.
Investing is too hard

You may think that investing is just too hard. But a lot of that has to do with the terminology of the investment industry. I mean who knows what Fed Fund rates, mutual funds, indexes, or blue chip stocks are? But you don?t need to be scared off by a bunch of words?in the end they are just words. Just like you probably didn?t know what PMI was before you bought your first house or what APR was before you got your first credit card, you can learn what these things are. And you will find that they aren?t so hard to learn. And if you seek the advice of a professional, they can explain it to you.
Investing is too risky

Some people have the idea that investing is risky. Movies such as ?Wall Street?, no doubt, lead people to think that. But the fact is that investing is only as risky as you want it to be. Do you want to take huge risks? You can invest in international stocks. Want to play it safe? Go with bonds. The risk level is up to you and only you.
I can?t afford to invest

Many people think they can?t afford to invest. But when you look at the alternatives (social security may not be there, job security is not 100%), you really have to ask yourself how can you afford not to invest. And the earlier you start, the more money you will earn. Even if it?s only a small amount, the money you invest today will earn you big in the future.

Related Articles ....

Interest Rate Effects
What interest rates usually effect in your life are primarily the things that you buy on credit like a house, car, and stocks and bonds. For example, if you go to buy a house the interest rate is going to determine how much house you can buy.

Equity Loans
An equity loan is a type of loan that allows homeowners to borrow money by pledging the equity they have in their home as collateral. Often called home equity loans, these types of loans are typically offered as fixed rate loans or lines of credit.

Work At Home Ideas
You may often find that income from a single source is not able to satisfy your financial requirements. In such a case, looking for an alternative where you can generate money while operating from home is a good option.

Tax efficient Investing In Missouri
Many investors often look for tax breaks in order to keep their investment capital free from extensive payments to the government.

Understanding Savings Plans
Savings plans are one of the most important concepts that need to be mastered before you head out into the financial world. Understanding your AER and the basic savings plans is a great start for understanding investments.

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Look before you Leap! Watch out for so called "GREAT DEALS"

In my experience everytime I sign up for something whether it be cable or a cell phone, it starts out not costing a lot, because I got a great introductory offer for being a new customer. This initially savings and great service dwindles after about 6 months to a year, and I find myself with a big fat cable bill, and a nice chunky cell phone bill as well. Why is this? Good marketing. Companies are like fishermen always leading you along and advertisers are talented baitmen that can disguise any old rusty hook to look like a terrific deal. So before you bite, STOP and THINK. Read the fine print. A lot of times this is were the most important information is stored and the saleman is probably trying to seduce you with extra options, gizmos, gadgets, accesories, insurance, and service plans. Don't let them rush you. Instead take your time, you could be signing up for a whole lot more than you think (a 2 year agreement perhaps, with early termination penalties). SO WATCH OUT! Or you might end up stuffed and posted on a plank over one of these saleman's fireplaces as the big sucker, they brag about to their friends about. Don't be the stories they'll tell to their grandchildren.

New feature on Ebay allows members to make a quick $20 bonus from UnwiredBuyer

If you have 10min an Ebay account (at least 12months old or positive feedback score of 10), and a cell phone you can make a quick twenty dollars. How? Sign up for Ebay's new phone bid service called UnwiredBuyer. For signing up you get a twenty dollar bonus after you place a bid using the phone. You can bid on a 10 cent ebook, lose the auction and come out $20 dollars richer. I just did it. I want to share this opportunity with as many people as I can because for each new person I refer I'll get $5. So it's a win/win situation. It's easy, just sign up for here for UnwiredBuyer, go to Ebay find a cheap Ebay ebook auction and set a right price. Then you will recieve a call when there is 3min left in the auction, bid using options # 1, and you're done. You'll recieve $20 credit in your paypal account. Email me at MarshallMiddle@walla.com if you have any questions, or if you want a referral link so we both make some money.

How to get the most out of your 401K retirement plan

At work find out if your company has a 401K retirement plan. Find out how much the company matches, my company only matches 4%, but hey I'm not going to complain about free money. Next contribute at least what your company will match. Then pay off debts as soon as possible, and increase the amount that you contribute (out of each paycheck) to your 401k each year as you are able to afford it. The early you start saving the better, because compound interest is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Contributing money out of your paycheck on a regular basis is good for two reasons, you do not get taxed on your contribution (you will only be taxed when you take it out -- hopefully when you retire and are not making as much money -- therefore you'll be in a lower tax bracket). Simply you will not be taxed as much on this money that you are saving (the ultimate would be to start a "ROTH IRA " because it is only taxed once when you contribute, then you can reap the rewards of interest years later, and take it out tax-free. Also contributing on a regular basis teaches discipline and helps develop excellent saving habits.
Talk with your benefits provider (whoever is taking care of your 401K) find out which investment company your employer utilizes and talk to someone about your financial goals. Then should be able to set you up on a plan so that you'll do well for yourself when you retire. I currently have a plan with Fidelity called 2040 Freedom, "FFFFX" on the exchange. I've been monitoring the progress and was not too pleased. Basically Fidelity 2040 Freedom FFFFX is a diversified mutal fund made up of 88% and 12% stable bonds and investments. This fund changes as time progresses to decrease risk as the years pass and when you get closer to retirement. Make sure your 401K is getting a good 8-10% yeild and read the annual reports. Do some research and check the track record, talk to some financial professionals to make sure you are getting something that will pay off in the end, instead of leaving you out in the cold.

Utilize Ebay to bring in some extra cash

Sell things on Ebay if you have not already. Go there ebay.com and check it out. What are you waiting for? I've done very well - selling what I consider to be useless junk to others that find it useful and have profitted. The saying certainly holds true that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Just look at the one red paperclip kid, who traded up in under a year to get a house in Canada. Simply amazing. I wonder what I could get for one silver paperclip. There is even a new widget that just came out for Wordpress that allows you to place the items you are selling in the sidebar. Anyone can sell anything, anytime, anywhere. I think it's pretty neat and it is really a great service for those small business owners looking to increase profits. Many people have been running auctions on Ebay as making a good living doing it. They buy wholesale products and auction them off for less than full price. The internet has really revoluntionized the way people can shop. It's easy as point and click, and poof, just like magic the package comes in the money days later. The only drawback is that it is very impersonal.

Google Page Rank Increase

This site now has a Google Page Rank of 4.

Cut down your cable bill, HDTV for FREE

I am going without HBO, a small sacrifice to save about $240 a year. Check out what your cable bill is and how you can decrease it. I got Comcast right now and I'll wait until after college football is over before making any drastic changes. I've also found that if you live near a major city (where there is a broadcast tower) you can hook up a HD antenna and recieve HD television for free (without a cable company). There's a great DIY article at CNET that explains everything go here for more info "Free HD TV" I wanted to do it, but live too far away for it to work.

The Golden Rule, Ethics, and Philosophical Musings

Do onto others as you would have them do onto you. Important lesson. Learn it, live it, teach it. I find that there are many excellent lessons for life in the Bible, which can be utilized in the business world. You need to be trustworthy and ethical in all your dealings or you will not prosper. If you are providing a service, make sure you are providing the best quality you are able to produce the most good for the greatest number of people. If you provide an excellent service or product you will be rewarded monetarily, and emotionally (acknowledging the fact that you have added value to other people's lives and made something more enjoyable or more convient for them). After you can support yourself and your family, look to help those around you, and help your community, it is your civil duty and responsibility to help those less fortunate than you. I feel very fortunate to be born in the USA, land of opportunity. Until recently I have been ignorant when it comes to financial matters, and seek to change this. When I find new information or tips that help my financial future, I'll share my experiences here or this blog so that others will avoid the mistakes I've made, and reap the benefits of my financial research. If I find a great deal, or tip to save money, I'll share it with readers so that they save money as well. I believe in the good in all people, that human nature is inherently good, and trust the good in people. I have paid for this naivity (as some like to call it) a few times before but over my lifetime this philosophy has let me sleep soundly at night.

Banks discriminate against the poor.

If you want to get a loan from a bank you may have a difficult time, if you have poor credit, no credit, or live in a poor section of town (the ghetto). If you notice that there are more places to Cash Checks/Pawn Items than there are banks you may be in trouble and it may be difficult for you to obtain a loan, even if you are a good, hard working, taxpaying, citizen of the USA. I read an article/review in the New York Post yesterday about the topic of banks being biased and discriminating against those with already poor socioeconomic status. It pissed me off. Read up about it here. "Why Banks Don't Lend To the Truly Needy"

This Month's Business - Tackling the Music Industry

This month's business that I am assembling is a talent scout/music production company/band. Flyboy Productions is my record company. My band is the G. Myers Band. Here's the website for "The G. Myers Band" I have already put together two albums and have a few songs posted on Soundclick.com. There are individual song downloads for sale at .75 cents a piece of that .75 cents I'll get .37 cent for each song sold. So far I have not sold any songs. I hope to sell at least 5 songs this month. Go ahead check it out, let me know what you think.

Need an office?

If you are looking for office space or have office space to rent then check out OFFICE2SHARE.com It is a great site that can hook you up with an office or help sell your extra space. Each year they have a contest called Home Office from Hell, if you are working from home and need a new space to get work done check it out. I do not personally need an office as of yet, but hopefully in the future I'll be able to utilize their service. Get your business off the ground with a nice workplace equipped with the necessary tools for success.

What's in your wallet? Cash or Credit?

Recently I discovered a tendency to spend less money when I am actually paying for merchandise with real paper bills instead of using a credit card. Credit and debit cards have become so quick and efficient (almost everywhere you go takes visa or mastercard) that people do not carry money. Instead they have a wallet full of plastic debt cards. The credit card gives people the dangerous ability to buy now and pay later. Many times this can lead to impulse buying, instant gratification is granted without an afterthought to the purchase. If used correctly credit is good. If you don't pay off your credit cards in full, you are paying several times more than the original purchase price (after tallying up interest, and late fees). My advice is carry some money. I'm not talking about your life savings, just enough to cover expenses you expect to encounter in the next week. When you have money in your wallet you will definately think about the purchase before handing over your hard earned cash to the cashier. It is easier to quickly swipe your credit card and forget all your worry. Limit credit card use to bigger expenses such as groceries, and major purchases. You might find yourself thinking before you act, which is a very good thing.

It's a "buyer's market"

That's what they say. What does this mean? Why should I care? Well, the terminology and phrases come from the real estate business. A buyer's market is when it is a good time to be buying and a seller's market is simply a good time to be selling. You make the most money on your house if you are selling in a seller's markert and you will be able get the most house for your dollar in a buyer's market. We are currently entertaining the idea of getting a house, right now, we live in a condo (which is quite nice except for the association fee). We are looking at a few neighborhoods with good schools and keeping our eyes peeled for For Sale signs.

Oprah and her insight into personal finance with America's Debt Diet

Today on the Oprah Winfrey show, Oprah had some special guests including the author of Automatic Millionaire David Bach, Jean Chatzky, and Glinda Bridgforth. Oprah's show focused on debt and now on her website you can sign up for America's Debt Diet, featuring aricles, worksheets, and forums to keep track of your progress. Check out Oprah's Website or go directly to "America's Debt Diet". Tommorrow is part 2 of this series it may be worth checking out.

I just saved a whole bunch of money on my car insurance

Do yourself a favor and shop around for the best car insurance rate in your state. I recently discovered that GEICO was more expensive than another insurance company in my area, New Jersey Manufactors. By taking the time to fill out the paperwork, we will be saving $414 a year. It is definately worth it to check out the car insurance companies and what they are offering. You can compare rates at Progressive and many other websites. You can also get a discount if you have a good driving history.

New Money Blog Network "TheMoneyBlogs"

There is a great new network for you to join. The site features a variety of topics including personal finance, real estate, stocks etc. It is another blog community that brings together individuals with similar goals and unique ideas. I recommend that all financial bloggers click over to check it out. The site is call "TheMoneyBlogs"

Great new program to monetize your blog!

I recently came across a website that pays you to promote products. This is very useful, especially for bloggers who already promote products. There are a lot of different products to chose from and you can promote the goods or services that you actually use. This is an easy way to start making money from your blog. The site is called "PayPerPost" I recommend that you check it out. This may very well be the best thing since google adwords for bloggers http://www.payperpost.com



Building a better business through employee satisfaction

In order for your business to be successful, you must hire smart, competent employees. Motivated workers can be hard to find, most of the time if you look around workers are hardly working. In order to inspire and motivate your team, you need to be a leader. Find out what specific employees interests and goals are and utilize their talents and strengths to strengthen your company. Picture you company like a baseball team, and you're the mananger. You need to find out who is good at what, sometimes this takes trial and error, but once you have the right combination you'll see results. Satisified employees do better work than unhappy employees. A great team of people can accomplish much more than one brilliant person working alone.

Best Money Tips from Jonathan Pond

I recently watched an excellent financial program on PBS which featured Jonathan Pond. Here are some valuable tips from the show that will help you reach your financial goals. Enjoy!


Reaching Your Retirement Aspirations

1. Add money regularly to your retirement accounts

2. Consider a Roth IRA conversion

3. Pick the best time to begin collecting Social Security benefits

4. Request duplicate investment statements for the seniors in your life

5. Roll your 401(k) plan into an IRA once you turn 59½.

6. Delaying retirement has a lot of advantages



Financial Myths Debunked

7. "I don't qualify for an IRA contribution"

8. "The more attention you pay to your investments, the better your investments will perform"

9. "I need a big mortgage for the tax deduction"

10. "I need to keep some money in a safe place for emergencies"

11."You save money when you buy something on sale"



Becoming a Sagacious Investor

12. Bonds protect your portfolio from financial shocks

13. Exchange-traded funds can be an excellent investment

14. Buying Treasury securities online is a snap

15. Don't hesitate to offload underperforming investments

16. Risk is your friend

17. Shun those who think they can predict the future of the investment markets



Segment II

Coping with Life's Financial Annoyances

18. Save money by avoiding insurance you don't need

19. 529 plans can jumpstart college savings

20. Your life insurance needs often decline as you age

21. Organize your records and store a copy away from home

22.Pay your bills online

23. Get used to your loved one's financial peccadilloes



Enjoying a Prosperous Retirement

24. Carefully choosing sources of retirement income can cut your tax bite

25. If you need an income annuity when you retire, shop for the best deal

26. The ideal retirement investment provides both growth and rising income

27. Do well for a charity and yourself with a charitable gift annuity

28. Give a child or other relative the gift of an IRA



There's Strength in (Investment) Diversity

29.Consider the "60/40" investment solution

30. Add some pizzazz to your bond holdings

31. Middle sized stocks, like middle children, deserve more respect

32. There's not much to change in the way you invest when you retire

33. Savvy investors look overseas for investment opportunities





Segment III

Important Reminders for 2006



34. Take advantage of changes in the tax rules

35. Update your health care proxy with a HIPAA amendment

36. Name contingent beneficiaries for your retirement accounts

37. Choose the Medicare drug plan that's best for you

Investment Ideas for 2006

38. Skittish investors will like stocks that pay dividends

39. Technology stocks aren't dead

40. Make the interest on your short-term investments more interesting

41. Preferred stocks can boost your income



Top 10 Tips List

10. Simplify your investments

9. Cut the time it takes to pay off your mortgage by half

8. If you need it, obtain flood or earthquake insurance

7. Life expectancy has a big effect on your financial planning

6. Invest in your career

5. Taking care of your health is as important as taking care of your wealth

4. Avoiding the crowd will help you be a better investor

3. Your home is your best investment, but it's not an investment

2. Be happy with what you've got

1. Maximize your retirement spending in order to minimize your kids' inheritance