Finance

Investing and Money Management

2006-07-21 06:55:00

by

2006-07-21 06:55:00
Car Finances Update
I just realized I did that backwards. I come out behind by $52. My used car was not worth it. I would have been better off financing a brand new car. 

Comments [2]

2006-01-17 22:29:00

by

2006-01-17 22:29:00
Counting Pennies
Here is my 2005 distribution of coins received for change (excluding a lot probably):

Quarters: 262
Dimes: 148 ***
Nickels: 92 ***
Pennies: 307 ****

And a quick trip to the local coinstar machine converted that all into Amazon cash! Hmm…not quite enough to buy a MacBook Pro…

Comments [5]

2005-06-18 00:44:00

by

2005-06-18 00:44:00
40 Million Credit Cards Stolen
So this explains how they got my card number.  Credit card breach exposes 40 million accounts

Once again, little to no security.

Tips to avoid and be aware of identity theft:

2005-06-09 20:17:00

by

2005-06-09 20:17:00
Trying to steal my identity?

Yesterday a voice mail on my cell claiming to be from Washington Mutual said my account was overdrawn (which is strange because I show a positive balance, and they don’t have my cell) and needed to call them. So I called the number and the lady asked for my social security number to “verify my identity.” Of course I refused, so she asked for my bank account number, which I also refused. They had called three times that day so I asked them to stop calling my cell (I thought perhaps the previously owner of this number might have also had a Wamu account). 

This morning Western Union calls to ask if I had authorized a $915 transfer to their bank from my Chase credit card. Of course not, so they put a stop on the transfer and I called Chase and the man asked for my social security number to verify that I wanted the card cancelled! …I finally convinced him to cancel it without my social. We also found another fraudulent charge on that card from peopledata.com …maybe that’s how they got my cell. 

I decided to call Washington Mutual to see if that call was from them, after a little research they said, “Those calls didn’t come from us.” …but they didn’t seem to be the least bit concerned that someone was impersonating them. They just wanted me to know the calls weren’t from them and have a nice day! 

So I had a nice day. |:-) 

Ben – email – 2005-06-09 21:05:49
One Time Use Numbers 
I would like to see “One Time Use Numbers”, login to your credit card account, generate a one time use card number, and even specify the dollar limit for that number. 

GodsFrog – email – 2005-06-10 01:10:04
Ben, 

For someone that takes soo much time to be sure that no one can ever steal your identity, you seem to be getting a lot of people trying… 

Take me for example, I do not take all the steps that you do, and I have never really had anyone try to rip me of fraudulenty… Dishonestly yes… But through idenity theft, no. 

Ben – email – 2005-06-10 01:48:19
This is why I don’t give me social out to anyone who asks. Had I given it to “Washington Mutual” to “verify my identity” the people who have my card number would also have my social and would no doubt be opening new cards in my name. 

An SSN is like an unchangeable easy to guess password that gives anyone access to open accounts in your name. The only institutions that should need it are: employers, banks, stock brokers and variants. 

Here’s some good information on the matter: http://www.epic.org/privacy/ssn/

Phil – email – 2005-06-10 12:04:14
In Indonesia, you have to make sure they don’t take your credit card into the back room, because that means they’re going to put it in a little machine that duplicates it. Scary. 

Phil – email – 2005-06-10 12:10:35
Thanks for that link, it’s very helpful. Hurrah for the Privacy Act. 

GodsFrog – email – 2005-06-11 01:38:19
Ben, 

For someone that takes soo much time to be sure that no one can ever steal your identity, you seem to be getting a lot of people trying… 

Take me for example, I do not take all the steps that you do, and I have never really had anyone try to rip me of fraudulenty… Dishonestly yes… But through idenity theft, no. 

Ben – email – 2005-06-11 11:33:17
I’m probably more of a target than most people Frog… 

Another tip: When you give your name out to businesses change your middle initial, then you’ll know who gave out your info when you get junk mail.  

Of course, someone probably patented this. 

2004-08-18 19:44:00

by

2004-08-18 19:44:00
SEC Notified
Open Notice to All Retail Stores:
$200 worth of unpaid mail-in rebates moved from Accounts Receivable to Bad Debt Expense. I’m not a bank, I don’t lend money. From now on I will consider your mail-in rebates malarkey.

2002-07-10 22:28:00

by

2002-07-10 22:28:00

Today I went through statements, invoices, receipts, checks, etc. A while ago I re-installed Windows on my machine but I forgot to make a recent backup of my Quicken data. It also slipped my mind that someone stole my Quicken CD. I finally got another copy from dad and then discovered that Quicken doesn’t backup your files correctly. Fortunatly I was able to recover all but the last 3 months from an older backup.