October 2010

401(k) and IRA Contribution Limits for 2011

October 31, 2010

The IRS recently released retirement savings contribution limits for 2011. These caps cover 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), and traditional IRA retirement accounts. For the most part, the limits are unchanged from 2010, although there are some small inflation adjustments with respect to qualifying income limitations. So here are the 2011 401k and IRA contribution limits: Elective [...]

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The DoughRoller Weekly RoundUp (The Origin of Halloween Edition)

October 31, 2010

Ah, Halloween. That wonderful evening each year when children and adults dress up as their favorite characters, spooks or specters and celebrate with treks for candy or costume parties. We all love it, from its Jack O’Lanterns to its haunted houses, ghost stories, and parades of children tapping at our door.  But where did this [...]

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College Dropouts Hurt More Than Just Themselves

October 29, 2010

Photo: JKD Atlanta If you or a family member has gone to college, or even so much as taken a look at possible costs, you know how much higher education can cost. Even in-state public tuition numbers are in the thousands of dollars, and private school annual tuition can approach or even exceed $50,000 per [...]

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DIY Credit Help: The New Credit Score Standard Raises The Bar

October 27, 2010

680 used to be the credit score consumers were told to aspire to. In this good credit range, a 680 was solid enough to access the great loan and mortgage rates, get you approval for most credit cards, and open up your financial options. With a 680, you could be confidant that you could borrow [...]

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Managing $225,000 in Debt Is Starting to Wear on Me

October 27, 2010

Every six months, I write down all of my debts, which are primarily student loans and for the last few years, I’ve been pretty satisfied with the progress I’ve made.  Only for the past 18 months have I actually been able to get ahead of my debts and with everything now being paid on time [...]

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Beware of These Two ATM Scams

October 26, 2010

Technology is both a curse and a blessing, especially when it comes to your finances. We continue to improve our ability to do things faster and with greater ease, but we are increasingly open to new threats. By now, you’re probably aware of the safety precautions you should take when using an ATM: Never go [...]

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TIPS Auctioned at Negative Yield (And What It Means For Consumers)

October 26, 2010

Yesterday was a big day in the world of TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities). For the first time ever, the government auctioned off 5-year TIPS at a negative yield of 0.55%. In other words, people actually paid more than the face value of the bond. So why would investors do such a thing, and more importantly, [...]

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When Should You Carry Only Liability Auto Insurance?

October 26, 2010

Buying a car can be an exciting time. Unfortunately, this excitement can be somewhat deflated by the prospect of choosing an insurance policy and the appropriate amount and type of coverage. In order to actually choose the best policy for your driving needs, it’s important to be educated on the different types of insurance – [...]

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The Best Credit Card Offers Are Online

October 25, 2010

Before the credit crunch, I often found that the credit card offers in my mailbox were better than those being offered online. But in the last two years, credit card mail offers have become less generous, while online offers have grown more competitive. Perhaps the main reason why mail offers are no longer competitive with [...]

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