All Questions
37,605
questions
12
votes
4
answers
547
views
What is title insurance, and should I get title insurance for my home?
I have just sold my house and bought a new one. The lawyer I am working with to do all the necessary paperwork has sent me something about "Title Insurance". I am not quite sure exactly what this is....
- 347
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Should I keep a credit card open to maintain my credit score?
I have a credit card that was opened when I first got out of college, and was my first credit card. Since then, I have switched to cards with rewards, figuring that since I pay it in full each month, ...
- 616
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
I just moved to the United States. What should I do to develop a good credit rating, fast?
I just moved to the US for working purposes, and found out that for a lot of stuff you buy, you need to have a good credit rating (or pay more, or make a security deposit, etc).
I found out also that ...
- 261
9
votes
4
answers
1k
views
I am co-renting with others who do not pay rent reliably. Is there a way I can stay without harming my credit rating?
I rent with other adults in a rental property and my name is on the rental agreement with them. I would like to know if I have to move out, or is there a way I can remain and still pay just my fair ...
- 265
6
votes
3
answers
31k
views
An ecommerce retailer forgot to charge my credit card, & I received the package. Legally speaking, must I inform them they didn't charge me?
I recently made a large purchase from an online retailer's outlet store. The online store was having performance problems the day I ordered, but it is large trusted company so I placed the order ...
- 25.2k
5
votes
3
answers
378
views
How can you be sure you're getting the best prices on airfare and hotels from travel websites?
I know people don't use travel agencies anymore as there are so many do it yourself websites available, but with everyone touting themselves as "discount", how can you be sure you're getting the best ...
- 8,683
19
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Why should I invest my money in a life insurance policy?
As i am 24 now i get lot of calls from lot of insurance companies asking to take up an insurance policy.... So i decided to get answers for some of my questions in basicallymoney...
Why should i ...
- 705
5
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How do I get a US credit or debit card if I reside outside the US?
I am from Hungary and I would like to purchase sometimes from US web services like iTunes and so on. They require US cards and billing address. Is it possible to have one without traveling to the US? ...
- 2,438
5
votes
1
answer
128
views
How to Transition From Employee to Employer?
I know Making the transition from employee to employer requires financial stability, a good business plan, self-confidence and a lot of discipline.
But i am looking for some instructions/tips from ...
- 705
5
votes
4
answers
424
views
How can I make the most money when selling used stuff in a mass "spring clean" on eBay?
Have you ever had a mass "spring clean" so to speak of items and put on ebay?
Do you have a habit or hoarding stuff? Lots of DVDs/Books/Electronics you never used? If so have you ever cleared the lot ...
- 2,034
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
My Ontario small business collects only PST (beneath GST threshold). How will HST affect me?
I own a small business in Ontario
and make less than $30,000 per year.
I only charge the PST
Will I be affected by the new HST
and if so, how ?
====================
Also:
If the PST is going ...
RG
15
votes
8
answers
3k
views
At what age should I start or stop saving money?
I am around 24. I've never saved money. I don't know when I should start or stop saving money.
Is there an age where I should stop saving money?
Is there an age when I should start saving money?
- 705
35
votes
5
answers
11k
views
What are the advantages of a Swiss bank account?
I've heard about bank accounts in Zurich / Switzerland, but I don't fully understand the unique advantages of swiss bank accounts. What I do believe about these (but don't know for sure):
They accept ...
- 515
20
votes
6
answers
8k
views
In what state should I register my web-based LLC?
DISCLAIMER: I understand that as a US corporation, you're required to pay taxes in whatever state you A) do business in, b) pay employees in, and c) have property in. I understand that registering in ...
- 1,190
9
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Are funeral plots a good investment?
At the risk of sounding morbid, is it worth looking into cemetery plots/mausoleum storage? Is it correct to assume that these costs will increase over time?
- 6,210
4
votes
3
answers
626
views
Should I trust barcode iPhone apps? Are they secure for rewards and airmiles points collection?
My husband downloaded all kinds of iPhone apps that mimic the barcodes on my rewards cards such as AirMiles, Aeroplan, Longo's, Hallmark etc. Are these types of applications secure?
- 8,683
6
votes
5
answers
380
views
When going abroad, how do you take your money?
When going abroad, how do you take your money?
All hard cash? Some travellers cheques?
I guess you could use your normal current bank account, but the UK banks (at least my one did) charges fees all ...
- 2,034
4
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Ontario gas prices & HST: What will happen to prices at the pump on July 1, 2010?
When the HST comes into effect on July 1, 2010 will gas prices at the pump be affected immediately?
- 6,210
12
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What percent of salary should go towards retirement vs. emergency savings?
What percent of salary should go towards retirement vs. emergency savings? Should some be set aside each and every pay for emergencies?
- 427
7
votes
1
answer
619
views
What does pink-sheet mean related to stocks?
I see the term pink-sheet mentioned a lot in context of stocks. What does it mean?
- 2,438
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can you calculate the ROI on your credit score?
I've heard it said from people who work in the industry that your credit rating isn't a measure of your ability to pay, but rather a measure of how profitable a customer you are. I've also heard ...
- 203
11
votes
4
answers
19k
views
Co-signing & dying: What if a loan co-signer dies? Is estate of co-signer liable?
A grim and tragic question perhaps, but I'm curious:
What happens when a person that co-signed on a loan dies? Is the co-signer's estate potentially liable until the loan is paid off, the same as if ...
- 31.6k
13
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What should I do with the stock from my Employee Stock Purchase Plan?
I've got an employee stock purchase plan program. The details are a little tricksy, but I basically get to buy about 2500 shares of company stock at something like $2.33/share... and the stock has ...
user296
18
votes
3
answers
920
views
Is there any way to know how much new money the US is printing?
There is a lot of talk about the Fed printing money.
Is there any way to know how much new money is being printed and when?
- 472
6
votes
1
answer
152
views
What investment strategy would you deduce from the latest article from Charles Munger?
One of the most interesting article I read in the last months was from Charles Munger (vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway).
Here is a link:
http://www.slate.com/id/2245328/pagenum/all/
I would be ...
16
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Pensions, why bother?
Ok this question is going to show my age, but its something I've been thinking about for a while and can't quite figure it out
Why bother with a pension?
I don't understand, why should I put away £...
- 2,034
8
votes
6
answers
533
views
Are you just shooting yourself in the foot if you give to charities that solicit door to door or over the phone?
It seems like if charities come to the door and you give them money, you just end up with more charities at your door. The same happens with charities that solicit by phone. They obviously share ...
- 3,768
5
votes
3
answers
878
views
Is there any site to compare the security of (online) banking services?
I work in the computer industry, and I know a few things about security, like the fact that those "security questions" that you're asked for are pretty much completely bogus and not useful as security....
user296
6
votes
1
answer
234
views
Is there any site you can find out about the 'bonus features' of credit cards? [closed]
I'm doing fairly well financially, and pay my credit cards off monthly, so to me they are less useful for financing and more useful as a matter of convenience. As such, I'd like to know more about the ...
user296
16
votes
6
answers
741
views
To rebalance or not to rebalance
I have not been able to understand the concept of rebalancing in investing. To me it's a form of the gambler's fallacy.
Let:
s_n = stock price at time n
s_{n+1} = stock price at time n+1
E[x] is ...
- 949
8
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Are the new "Smart" or "Chip" Credit Cards better from a security standpoint?
The new Chip credit cards are being introduced to provide better security to consumers, merchants and credit card vendors.
Sample Card:
(source: mastercard.com)
Card Reader & PIN Entry:
...
- 6,210
8
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Received email from credit card company: "URGENT: Your Master Card SecureCode Password has expired!" Is it legitimate?
(Public service announcement)
I received an email titled "URGENT: Your Master Card SecureCode Password has expired!" The email body is an image. Is it legitimate?
12
votes
5
answers
567
views
What should I be doing to protect myself from identity theft?
You see ads all over the place for services that purport to protect you from identity theft, but my gut tells me that most of these are at best marginally effective and at worst outright scams.
Are ...
- 52.3k
171
votes
3
answers
695k
views
Can someone explain a stock's "bid" vs. "ask" price relative to "current" price?
In my online brokerage account, I want to buy a particular stock and I see the following:
Bid: 13.20 x200 Ask: 13.27 x1,000
the current stock price is 13.22.
Can someone explain what ...
- 2,185
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Take new loan to pay off old one, what would you do in this scenario?
This is my current loan.
Loan Amount : £11,750
Total Interest : £6,422.40
Interest Rate : 21.2% per year
Total : £18,172.40
Pay per month : £306.19
Term : 60 months (5 years)
I'm 2 years into the ...
- 2,034
2
votes
1
answer
170
views
What are good strategies to maximize cross border shopping benefits? [Canada]
Depending the length of one's visit to the US from Canada there are different limits and different exemptions. This also assumes that the price discount is worth it. What strategies have people ...
- 6,210
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is there something similar to Mint.com for Canada?
Mint.com sounds like an interesting service, but it doesn't look like it works in Canada. Is there an alternative for us?
- 3,768
3
votes
1
answer
87
views
Do distance selling protection regulations work across borders?
When buying online in the UK, purchases are covered by the distance selling regulations, which basically give you 14 days to return or annul an agreement or purchase made online.
If I buy products ...
- 3,883
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Mortgage: Difference between joint tenancy / tenants vs. tenancy in common?
When taking a mortgage, what is the difference between joint tenancy and tenancy in common? Under what circumstances is it preferable to choose one over the other? If your circumstances change how ...
- 3,883
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What is garnishing / garnishment of wages or accounts and when does it happen?
What does garnishing / garnishment of wages or accounts mean? Under what circumstances does it happen and what are the implications?
- 3,883
8
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Does life insurance cover one's funeral costs, or should I save for it separately? How much?
What is common practice? What does it usually cost? Should I be thinking about this?
- 8,683
8
votes
5
answers
591
views
Are personal finance / money management classes taught in high school, anywhere?
It sure seems like something that would be a valuable life skill, akin to Home Ec (or even more important!)... Where I'm from (Peel Region in Ontario Canada), it isn't part of the curriculum.
- 8,683
23
votes
10
answers
25k
views
Someone asks you to co-sign a loan. How to reject & say "no" nicely or politely?
Hypothetical situation:
A dear friend or family member comes to you and asks you to co-sign for their loan. Let's say the reason they need the money is not a life-or-death type of situation. ...
- 31.6k
5
votes
1
answer
20k
views
Contractors: Guideline on what percentage to keep when hiring a SUB-contractor?
My business may be growing past the point beyond which I can no longer handle the jobs alone (yay me!)... If mine is an hourly job, with little to no overhead, and I bring someone on to work the jobs ...
- 8,683
1
vote
1
answer
6k
views
Child care expenses: How much deduction can be claimed on tax return? [Canada]
How much deduction can be claimed for child care expenses on a Canadian income tax return, for 2009?
Does it vary by province?
Are receipts required to claim a child care expenses deduction?
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Which US market indexes (Dow/DJIA, S&P500, NASDAQ) include reinvested dividends?
Which major US market indexes (Dow/DJIA, S&P 500, NASDAQ) include returns from reinvested dividends, and which don't?
Where can "total return" information be found for each index that doesn't ...
- 31.6k
11
votes
2
answers
24k
views
What does CAGR mean when it is used in relation to a company stock?
I saw this abbreviation CAGR related to stocks and financial statements and I am not sure what it is. Can you please explain it to me?
- 2,438
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What are the benefits and downsides to an LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship vs. Individiual?
As a followup to my previous question, what benefits are there for an LLC vs. a Sole Proprietorship? What are advantages and disadvantages to both and also vs. just being paid as a person?
- 809
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is Mint.com an adequate substitute for Microsoft Money? How does it compare?
I've been looking for alternatives to MSMoney since Microsoft announced they were discontinuing the product line, and came across Mint.com, which looks promising.
Are any of you using it? Is it a ...
- 52.3k
8
votes
2
answers
17k
views
How do you calculate pretax deduction savings?
I am trying to determine how much money I will save by participating in the TransitChek program. The way the program works is I can set aside a certain amount of money from my pay check before taxes ...
- 277