Tomorrow marks my one year anniversary as a blogger, so I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned from blogging. But in keeping with the 12 Days theme, here’s a great video from Straight No Chaser singing their version of The 12 Days of Christmas:

Hope you get to see it. Warner Music has their nightgown in a knot and is removing their artist’s videos from YouTube. Check it out if it’s still there. These guys are fabulous!

Things I’ve learned about blogging over the past year:

1. Fellow bloggers are some of the nicest, most helpful people on earth.
Especially in the personal finance realm, your fellow bloggers are more than willing to help you in almost any way possible. I’ve heard that other niches are not that way, but in my experience, I’ve found virtually every person I’ve come in contact with to be friendly and willing to help me.

2. Blogging is hard work.
If you plan to write 6 days or more per week (like me!), it takes a lot of time doing the necessary research, writing, editing, searching for just the right photographs or movies, answering emails, responding to comments, figuring out monetization methods, and interacting with other bloggers. But it sure is fun!

3. People rarely click banner ads.
Most people never click a banner ad (have you?), but write about your experience with a product and include a text link, they just might click it.

4. Always wait for the first version AFTER the major revision.
The major revisions of software, particularly WordPress, seem to have a few little bugs in them, but if you wait until the first security patch comes out, you’ll probably get a better product. And it usually doesn’t take that long either.

5. Some plugins don’t play well with others.
Some, in fact, will crash other plugins, and some will crash your whole system. I’m currently having problems with SRG Clean Archives when I edit a post, but can’t seem to figure out what in the world is wrong with line 172.

6. You don’t need every plugin you find.
I’m running 43 plugins right now and some are probably duplicated in WordPress 2.7 but I haven’t had time to investigate which ones to deactivate. If you want a list of which ones I use, send me an email to thewisdomjournal at G mail dot com.

7. Some people won’t like what you post.
It’s best to just blow them off and move on. There’s no point in getting bent out of shape, is there “lumberjack411?”

8. Your RSS Feedcount will fluctuate.
Sometimes it will fluctuate wildly. When I moved my feed from the old Feedburner to Google’s Feedproxy, I seemed to have lost several hundred subscribers. Give it time and they will all come back. It appears to just be a glitch in the system.

9. The best way to build your own blog is to contribute to others.
Making comments on other blogs in your niche is the best way to draw attention to yourself. It’s important that your comments aren’t just “Great Post” or “I agree” but meaningful, substantive comments that add to the discussion.

10. Don’t be afraid to write a controversial post.
Go ahead and write about something controversial, but do so respectfully. You are entitled to your views as are your readers, but I don’t allow bad language on my blog and I have edited some comments to insure the language is PG at the worst. I personally discount any blogs that use vulgarity, gutter language, or any other language that my children shouldn’t hear. There really is no call for it in my opinion and it adds ZERO to the discussion.

11. Make sure your readers know how to contact you.
Sign up for a Gmail or Yahoo account and use that. I personally use Gmail and find that it has an incredibly strong spam detection system as well as the ability to add labels and a ton of other things!

12. If you self host a blog, upgrade now.
When I wrote 12 Things I learned By 42 That I Wish I Knew At 22, I had no idea it would get over 100,000 hits on Digg and Stumble. It crashed my server and I had to upgrade. Later, when 26 Signs You May Be A Mega Consumer hit the front page of MSN, it still was pretty slow, but it held up to a 25,000 hit day. I’m currently using, Bluehost but there are some other great web hosts out there including Lunarpages and Hostgator. Give them a try!

There are still a lot more things I’ve learned but I can guarantee that I’ll learn a lot more during the next year.

[tags]blog, anniversary, what I’ve learned, web host, web hosts[/tags]

Links to products or services may be affiliate links. See my disclosure policy on the site or on my About page.

1. Vacation Rentals By Owner
At VRBO you can connect with rental property owners with properties in Hawaii, South Africa, Gulf Shores, or almost any major city you can think of. The prices are pretty reasonable and VRBO handles all the nitty gritty details.

2. Restaurant.com
Restaurant.com sells $25 gift certificates to restaurants in most cities for $10 or less. Restrictions DO apply so check before purchasing. Right now take 80% off $25 Gift Certificates. Use code HOLIDAY and pay $2. Valid 12/22/08 thru 12/25/08. That’s just TWO BUCKS for a $25 gift certificate!

3. Trade-Downs
Economists call them “inferior goods” but I call them a bargain. Instead of taking my kids out for a Marble Slab ice cream at $4 each, I can take them to Sonic during Happy Hour (2PM til 4PM) and get a Strawberry Limeade for a fraction of the price. Plus trading down doesn’t force me to make extra money just to afford a little luxury.

4. A Trip to the Library
Your local library has tons of interesting books on the shelf and if you don’t see what you want, ask if they can get it. Libraries regularly loan books to each other, so you can probably find just about any book you’re interested in. Just ask.

5. A Stroll Down Memory Lane
Sometimes it’s fun to spend a few minutes just going through old photographs, remembering fun times, and reminiscing about how everyone has changed. My wife loves to scrapbook and she makes the memories so much more fun.

6. A Walk In The Park
Walking is great exercise and is FREE! Walking clears my mind and helps me to think better. When you do it hand in hand with someone you love, the benefits just keep adding up.

7. Speaking of Parks
You’ve already paid for them, why not take the kids to the local park and let them play on the jungle gym, the slide, the swings and the merry-go-round? I remember my parents taking my little brother and me to a park near our house when I was just a first grader. The park had a stream running through it and we always, always “accidentally” got wet.

8. Concerts, Theaters, or Sporting Events
Even for sold out events, check out StubHub.com. Since huge blocks of tickets to your favorite concerts or sporting events are purchased by major ticket brokers, StubHub.com probably has the ticket you’re looking for … and many times at an affordable price.

9. Cook Yourself a Gourmet Meal
The Internet has been such a boon to so many industries, stock brokers, insurance sales, and cooking! The recipe databases are enourmous and I really enjoy using the one at Cooking.com. There you can browse hundreds of recipes and select the one that will make you feel like a gourmet chef … and a respected food critic!

10. Interesting Things? You See ‘Em At A Museum
Mueums hold collections of some of the most interesting things in our world. They hold and protect things of beauty, things from history, and things of rarity. They preserve items from our natural history and representations of those items as well. Not only that, but they’re almost all free to enter, or the entrance fee is pretty minimal.

11. Camping
My family and I LOVE to go camping. Talk about inexpensive and fun! A state park campground site costs less than $18 per night and the bathroom is not too far away! A tent and a few supplies can be bought pretty cheaply online from Ebay or from the classified ads. No electronics are allowed and it’s always fun to watch the kids come up with games with a rock and a stick. Me? I love just watching caveman television (the campfire) and relaxing. Camping gives us a chance to escape the craziness of the world and to really spend time with each other, just talking, taking walks and hikes, maybe do a little fishing. Camping, especially tent camping, gets you back to nature and reminds you how easy you have it in the regular world. I think it makes me just a little more thankful and grateful for the things I have.

[tags]vacation, rental, camping, museum, library, ice cream, concert, sporting event[/tags]

photo credit: derrick@dandcphoto.com

photo credit: Pekka Tamminen

photo credit: clurr

Links to products or services may be affiliate links. See my disclosure policy on the site or on my About page.

1. Comparing your success to Bill Gates
It doesn’t do you any good to compare what you’ve done or what you’ve been able to accomplish to another person. They have a different set of tools, a different set of networking possibilities, a different set of attitudes, and a different passion for things than you. Compare yourself to what you CAN accomplish and set your goals accordingly.

2. Running from your fears like Adrian Monk
When I was a freshman at The University of Alabama, my roommate and I went on a run through a new neighborhood. Since he was much faster than me, when a giant Doberman started chasing us, Bob was easily able to outrun me. Instead of running away from the dog, I started running toward him. The dog didn’t know what to do and started throwing on the brakes and running from ME! That’s how it is with your fears. Run toward them with the intent of attacking them and they will melt away.

3. Leaving a job undone like the satellite installation guys.
Okay, they aren’t celebrities, but they’re notorious for failing to finish a job. Nothing kills success like failure to follow through with everything that needs to be done. The race isn’t over until you cross the finish line.


4. Feel sorry for yourself like Chad Johnson
No one feels sorry for someone who feels sorry for himself.

5. Speaking like Ozzy Osbourne
No explanation needed here.


6. Dressing like Brittany Spears
Now, I’m not known for being the king of style, but even I can spot a style faux pas like this. Dress like a professional, not someone experimenting with how little lace is needed to actually be labeled as “clothed.”

7. Having a Jon Stewart attitude
Criticism has it’s place but constant cynicism only makes you look like a bitter old fool.

8. Not learning to network like a Hollywood Pro
One of the greatest ways you can help further your own success is by being a genuine person and learning to network. People are generally more than willing to help someone, they just rarely get asked in a genuine way.

9. Selling yourself short like Aladdin
In the Disney story, Aladdin thinks he is just a “street rat” who can never catch the eye of a princess. His wording is “I can’t.” Those two little words have done more to squash success than any others. Most people who have achieved great levels of success have done so by looking at what they could do, so stop saying “I can’t” and start looking for ways that you can. You just might surprise yourself … and everyone else, too.

10. Having more regrets than dreams and goals like the consummate American businessman.

Nobody on his deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office’.
Paul Tsongas

Believe it or not, there ARE things more important than performance issues at work, making X percent more net income, and creating yet another spreadsheet … those things are called family, friends, and faith.

photo credit: Hot Rod Homepage
photo credit: Growl Roar

Links to products or services may be affiliate links. See my disclosure policy on the site or on my About page.

Most New Year’s resolutions end in failure. News flash, huh? The key to making a New Year’s resolution work for you is to treat them like baby steps rather than huge leaps forward. After all, it’s no big deal to lose a couple of pounds, but losing 50 seems like an impossible task.

Similarly, you can tackle most financial resolutions much more easily by taking them in small chunks. Try these nine resolutions on for size:

1. Read ONE financial book

You don’t even have to buy one, just use the local library. There are probably dozens of great books there just waiting to be checked out. If you don’t see one you want, many libraries will order whatever you want to read. Just ask. I would recommend these:

• The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
• Debt is Slavery: and 9 Other Things I Wish My Dad Had Taught Me About Money
• I.O.U.S.A.: One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt.
• The Millionaire Next Door

2. List your debts

List every debt you owe with the interest rate and minimum payment. If you want to get out of debt, make a resolution to just get started by making a list and checking it twice. If you can, consider making double payments on your credit accounts. If you keep paying that same amount each month, never charging another penny and you’ll pay off your credit card in less than three years, regardless of the current balance.

3. Get on a budget

The easiest way to get on and stay on a budget is to find a smarter way to manage your money. For me and my family, that’s using the Mvelopes Personal system of budgeting. Take a tour of Mvelopes Personal budgeting system and see if you’re as impressed as I am.

4. Monitor your mortgage

By planning to plan to pay just a little extra every month, you can pay the mortgage off early and save a fortune in interest. If your rate is floating, or if you have a home equity loan, consolidate now to a fixed-rate loan, if possible.

5. Play a money saving game

Check out 17 Sneaky Savings Strategies and resolve to implement just one. Once you do that, start another, then another, then another. Before you know it, you’ll be saving money left and right!

6. Develop an alternative income

There are all sorts of ways to make extra money and develop a side income. Lots of hobbies and interests can be developed cash streams with just a little effort. If you find a way to make just $1 in a new way, you have succeeded. You aren’t trying to replace your current income, just to make some extra money to invest or pay down debt. Most of the time starting is the hardest part, but then later expanding your earnings from this new income stream could potentially be quite easy.

7. Secure your identity

I went through the awful experience of having my identity stolen a few years back. Identity theft has quickly become one of the top complaints to the Federal Trade Commission and it doesn’t show signs of slowing down.

Banks used to be robbed, primarily because that was where “the money was at,” but today, when your identity is for sale to he highest bidder,”the money” is in cyberspace. It’s easier and safer to steal someone’s identity, making off with a couple thousand bucks than to rob a bank. The result: you have to take actions to protect yourself. The credit freeze is one possibility, but it has some drawbacks, namely that it has to be turned on and off and back on again anytime you apply for credit. That can be a pain.

One thing that I personally use and have had great results with is Equifax’s Credit Watch Gold. I personally use this service and can wholeheartedly recommend it. Not only does Equifax monitor my credit report, but they send me an email ANYTIME there is a change to it. That change can be an inquiry, a new account, or a balance change. I can set up the parameters to email me based on a percentage change in an account’s balance or just any change whatsoever. It is worth the small monthly fee to have this peace of mind, particularly after the nightmare I went through with having my identity stolen.

8. Evaluate your insurance

Do you have disability insurance? Do you have health insurance? Do you have life insurance? Do you have enough? Do you think it’s too expensive? Check out Netquote.com to get competitive rates and information on car, homeowners, health, and life insurance.

9. Update your estate plan

Review your documents and your will, keeping in mind that state laws DO apply — so if you’ve moved recently, be sure that your documents comply with your new state’s requirements.

[tags]insurance, personal finance, money, credit, credit cards, debt, investment, identity theft[/tags]

photo credit: bionicteaching

Links to products or services may be affiliate links. See my disclosure policy on the site or on my About page.

I was asked recently what websites other than blogs that I recommend, in particular, financial websites and if I have any suggestions for some really neat ones: Here’s 8 that made my cut:

1. Minyanville.com
Minyanville says that it provides “Financial Infotainment,” and it IS a very informative and entertaining financial website. The authors target their articles toward three niches of people:

• Traders in the financial industry
• Individual investors
• Families with kids

I find that I learn something every time I read one of their articles. Their editorial and opinion pieces are thought provoking and for an idea on how entertaining the articles can be, try reading their response to Tim Ferris’ book, The 4 Hour Work Week, called the 400 Hour Work Week. Good stuff and pretty funny, too!

2. Choose to Save.org
Choose to Save.org is a “national public education and outreach program is dedicated to raising awareness about the need to plan and save for long-term personal financial security.” On this financial website, I like their Ballpark Estimator where you’re able to figure how much you need to save in order to retire. It has 16 different questions like:

• What percentage of your current income you would like to receive during retirement?
• How much do you anticipate your wages to grow?
• What inflation rate do you want to input?

It’s a little bit of a shock to type in 43 years of age (!) but it IS better to know the truth than to flounder around in fantasy, right?

3. Monte Carlo Calculator
A what? A Monte Carlo calculator lets you figure volatility into your financial and retirement plans. According to the site:

You’ll get a slightly different outcome each time you run. That’s what makes this a Monte Carlo calculator: it’s doing the equivalent of running 1,000 sets … from the previous page. If you have a tall blue bar the the far right, that’s a good sign – it indicates that there are other “success” outcomes to the right of what’s shown on the graph.

If you aren’t comfortable with the odds of success – if the “red zone of failure” is a little too big – then it’s time to consider the strategies from the previous page: increasing your contributions during your working years, delaying retirement, and decreasing withdrawals after retirement.

4. Bankrate.com
Anyone who’s done any searching on the internet for financial websites knows about Bankrate.com. This is one of the premier financial websites for current information on rates for mortgages, credit cards, your savings account, or any other financially related information.

5. Dinkytown.net
Dinkytown has tons of free financial calculators. Want to estimate your tax burden (growing larger, I know)? It’s on there. Want to see what a bi-weekly mortgage payment will do for your individual situation? It’s on there. Should you rent or buy? Check Dinkytown. What about retirement contribution effects on your paycheck? Yep, it’s there!

6. Investopedia
This is a site designed to educate. Here you can learn what those financial buzzwords mean on CNBC, download the annual reports of businesses you might be interested in, use a stock trading simulator, take preparatory exams for different financial designations, or take a tutorial to learn more about anything financially related. If Investopedia is too cumbersome, check out The ABC’s of Investing. Here you can learn investing basics in only two blog posts per week!

7. MarketWatch
I like to read the Personal Finance section of MarketWatch. Here, I find tons of useful financial information on a broad range of topics including credit cards, banking, real estate, and various consumer issues.

8. Daily Wealth
When it comes to finances, maybe you’re a “contrarian” (someone who zigs when everyone else zags). There is some great money to be made with a contrarian philosophy and Daily Wealth is one of the leaders. One of the recent articles at Daily Wealth claims to be able to predict when a crash is coming in a certain investment sector 100 percent of the time. Yes, 100 percent of the time. Here’s a hint: remember when Warren Buffet said that you should “sell when others are greedy and buy when others are fearful?”

This is by no means an exhaustive list of cool financial websites, but it is a list of some of my personal favorites. Hope you check them out and let me know which ones you like!

Links to products or services may be affiliate links. See my disclosure policy on the site or on my About page.