Entries from July 2008 ↓

Canadian economy close to recession | Toronto Star

While there are all kinds of attempts to place a brave face on the Canadian economy, it seems certain that Canada is headed for slower economic times.  Suggests it is probably a good time for consumers to review their own personal financial circumstances, and financial plan.
Toronto Star
Canada’s real gross domestic product – the broadest measure [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Canadian economy close to recession | Toronto Star

Ask the Guy on the Inside

As the lead marketing writer for a major credit union, I see the ins and outs of the financial world from a unique perspective. Few people in the organization know the full spectrum of products and services like I do, and even fewer have to try to figure out how to best sell them. Thankfully, [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Ask the Guy on the Inside

Multilevel Marketing Fuel Additive

A few months ago my neighbor and his dad came over to talk to me for a few minutes. They told me about a great new product to help improve gas mileage. They showed me a small 2-oz. bottle of a product called EnviroMax Plus, which I thought was a sample for me [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Multilevel Marketing Fuel Additive

Wesabe Review: Can Wesabe Save You Money?

Wesabe tracks your spending… let’s you know where your money went.
If you are regular reader of personal finance sites, you’ve probably heard of Wesabe. It’s one of many personal finance start-ups that track your spending in order to help you maximize your dollar. I first heard of Wesabe over a year ago. I signed up to give it a shot. I had planned to write about Wesabe then, but I came away underwhelmed. The way Wesabe works is that it analyzes your spending and gives you suggestions from other members on things you could do [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Wesabe Review: Can Wesabe Save You Money?

7 Tips for a Fantastic and Frugal ‘Staycation’

Earlier this morning Mike brought up the “staycation,” an increasingly popular concept with gas and airline prices near all-time heights. Here are 7 tips for how to make your staycation both frugal and fun.
1. Lock up your electronics
Gather up computers, cell phones, and other electronic distractions that could keep you in your daily grind. The [...]

Continue reading → 7 Tips for a Fantastic and Frugal ‘Staycation’

Bama’s latest conspiracy

Bama thinks Prosper is “churning loans”.  He seldom lets facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory, but lets look and see if there’s any merit to his assertions.Here’s a graph showing the actual number of loans Prosper approved each business da…

Continue reading → Bama’s latest conspiracy

Prosper Facebook Application Reaches 5,000 Users

In October 2007, Prosper launched a Facebook application for our members. In April 2008, we then launched a new Facebook application which allows people to transfer funds to their Prosper lending account instantly. We provided this service because lenders wanted a more immediate ability to bid on loans they liked without having to wait for [...]

Continue reading → Prosper Facebook Application Reaches 5,000 Users

A brief update from our Italian friends…

Periodo di vacanze per gli Zopiani, ma chi si immaginava che ad alcuni Zopiani venisse l’idea di un coast to coast con arrivo a San Francisco e visita a Zopa US?
Ebbene, un equipaggio milanese è in partenza il 2 agosto: Marco detto Ciolo - prestatore pioniere che per l’occasione ha chiesto e avuto un piccolo prestito per finanziarsi il viaggio - [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → A brief update from our Italian friends…

Staycation – Being a Tourist in Your Own Town

Largely attributable to rising gas prices, and the perceived cost of travel as a result, many families are forgoing traditional vacations and are opting for something closer to home, the staycation. The results are more than just the enjoyment of taking in the local sights, but also lower costs and a renewed appreciation for where [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Staycation – Being a Tourist in Your Own Town

The Little Things That Make Me Smile and Scratch My Head

There are a number of things here in Nigeria that are just different enough to bring laughter and puzzlement to my days…
“Oyibo” – Wherever I go, people call out “Oyibo.”  Naturally, I initially thought this meant “hello” or served as some sort of greeting.  I suppose it is a greeting of sorts, but literally means [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → The Little Things That Make Me Smile and Scratch My Head

Bit of a catch up

An even more belated blog this time… we’re very naughty we know, but we haven’t ‘alf been busy.
So loads to update you on:
We welcomed our 200,000th member a few weeks ago, so where we were once ‘Bigger than Basildon’ we’re more like Brighton now. I’m hunting for my bucket and spade…
In looking back, there seems [...]

Continue reading → Bit of a catch up

May 2008 (already) Late Loans

Lending on Prosper, you’ll hear a lot of people say “You just can’t tell who will and who won’t repay!” If that’s the case, then I’ve just been lucky so far. Since I tend to believe that we make our own luck for the most part, I just can’t concede tha…

Online Stores

Continue reading → May 2008 (already) Late Loans

Is Prosper churning loans at the end of each month?

Lots of “pending review” loans get approved at the end of each month & some lenders are getting suspicious. It’s being discussed at prospers.org in the lender tab 

[...]

Continue reading → Is Prosper churning loans at the end of each month?

Extreme Foreclosure!

Extreme Makeover Home Foreclosure. What went wrong?
There was a little foreclosure in the news that caught my eye yesterday. A home featured on Extreme Makeover Home Edition is facing foreclosure. Milton and Patricia Harper of Lake City, Georgia were the lucky recipients of a complete home makeover turning their old home into a 5500 sq. ft. mansion. It took 1,800 people to get it accomplished. The estimated cost of the home and donated materials? $450,000. It looks like the dream is over for the Harpers.
Though this is somewhat original, I feel I’ve read [...]

Online Stores Related Websites
  • Rent or Own - What's Best Right Now? The housing market has many people concerned right now and one of the most popular questions is whether or not this is a good time to buy a home. Unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer to this question, and each individual’s financial state will determine the answer. However, there......
  • Review of Ty's Tricks by Ty Pennington Since tomorrow is July 4th, I've decided to take it off. There will be no blog post tomorrow which is why the book review is today instead of Friday. Have a great weekend everyone! If you're into do it yourself television, you've undoubtedly heard of Ty Pennington. He's been on......

Continue reading → Extreme Foreclosure!

The Checkbook, R.I.P.

Are you still toting that faux leather booklet around, filled with your Care Bear checks? The days of that payment method may be numbered. With more and more on-line services offering non-paper ways to pay, why do things the old fashioned way (not to mention irritating postage and the time to mail a bill)? .
It’s [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → The Checkbook, R.I.P.

Reviewing Your Top Expenses

I recently sorted all of my expenses by size to get a better understanding of which items were costing me the most. Looking at spending from this new perspective is insightful and beneficial. What follows is my thought process and analysis of my top expenses to illustrate how this method is used. Your expenses will [...]

Continue reading → Reviewing Your Top Expenses

Minister Late After Only 2 Payments

I found this loan while investigating a blender’s request–going through her late loans. After blogging on pious borrowers the other day, this seemed to follow quite nicely.http://www.prosper.com/lend/listing.aspx?listingID=296216Quote from listing tex…

Online Stores

Continue reading → Minister Late After Only 2 Payments

Checking on MyC4 late loans

Lenders at MyC4.com do not have an easy task, when trying to check which of their loans are late on the repayments. The account page does not offer a comprehensive overview page. If a lender really wanted to check in detail he has to click through to the detail page of each loan he invested [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Checking on MyC4 late loans

Eight Effective Ways to Fight Back Tough Times

Recessions and downturns have people nervous. But rather than bemoan the economy and long for change, getting proactive about spending habits could help you get a leg up on the financial swoon. Here are eight tips on doing just that.
1. Share the cost.
What are friends for, if not price proration?
If you do find [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Eight Effective Ways to Fight Back Tough Times

Students: One Tip That Will Save You Thousands

Let’s be real. Thinking about bank accounts while actively involved in school is something that very few college students do on a regular basis. So what happens is that most of them end up overdrawing their accounts – not just once, but many times.
Most students that are new to banking are not informed about [...]

Online Stores Related Websites
  • Finding the Right Bank A big portion of how you handle your finances will have a lot to do with the bank that you choose. In most cities, you should have quite a few choices, and with internet banking, it’s never been easier to find a new bank. However, before you open an account,......
  • Instant 10% Return ING is offering a $25 bonus for new accounts with a $250 deposit.  Both ING Direct Electric Orange Checking (current APY is 4.00%) and ING Direct Orange Savings (current APY is 4.50%). You don't need to leave the money in the account.  The $25 bonus cannot be removed for 30 days.  You need a referral......

Continue reading → Students: One Tip That Will Save You Thousands

New York Enters as Mass. Flounders

Just as New York’s Governor Paterson is planning to ask the state legislature to create a new low-interest student loan program, Massachusetts is turning students away from its own.
Governor Paterson announced last week that he would begin working with Albany to meet the needs of college…

[...]

Online Stores Related Websites
  • Tips for Paying Off Student Loans Right now, the student loan industry is going through one of its worst periods in decades. New Federal regulations have forced many banks to stop offering student loans, and students are being forced to either find a direct loan or start paying back what they owe. Enrollment figures are being......

Continue reading → New York Enters as Mass. Flounders

Bundled Football Tickets, Bundled Video Game Systems, Bundled Music and Bundled DVDs… Arrrg!

Note To Businesses: Consumers Don’t like Forced Bundling of Products
With football season coming up, my thoughts have started to slowly turn to blocking, blind-side blitzes, and blackouts. Recently tickets for next seasons AFC Championship rematch, New England Patriots vs. San Deigo Chargers went on sale. Though it’s a mere 8-hour drive, I was prepared to call in and try my luck at getting tickets. Then a friend told me something that I couldn’t believe. In order to purchase tickets for that game, you must buy tickets for two preseason games (see press release for details). [...]

Online Stores Related Websites
  • Football Memorabilia Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs: Original -> Football-NFL Collecting football memorabilia is a passion for thousands of people and whether you are a huge fan of the sport, or you admire certain athletes, there are many different items that are considered to be highly collectible. It’s easy to enhance your personal......
  • Football Helmets Sports Memorabilia -> Fan Apparel & Souvenirs -> Football-NFL Official NFL memorabilia comes in all shapes and sizes, but some very distinctive collectible items are NFL football helmets. Whether you want to collect one from each of the 30 teams, or just your favorite team or teams, it's a fun......

Continue reading → Bundled Football Tickets, Bundled Video Game Systems, Bundled Music and Bundled DVDs… Arrrg!

My Lates on Fantasy Prosper

As promised yesterday, I’ll examine the 3 lates in my Fantasy Prosper account. These made it through the filters on my pp’s and saved searches, so I’d like to check to see if they’d also have passed my “smell test.”http://www.prosper.com/lend/listing.a…

Online Stores

Continue reading → My Lates on Fantasy Prosper

Lesson Learned Using Fantasy Prosper

I started lending slow and conservative on Prosper. My plan was to continue for a year, then decide whether I wanted to continue and/or increase my investment.Things were going well in that first year, but I couldn’t convince myself there were enough g…

Continue reading → Lesson Learned Using Fantasy Prosper

Recreational Vehicles for Summer Fun

With summer upon us, taking to the road is a delightful way to see America in all its beauty. Many like to do this economically by purchasing or renting an RV. While gas may be expensive, the costs of your overnight stays are minimal. However, vehicle financing has been a complicated process that usually ended up being [...]

Online Stores Related Websites
  • Best Reasons to Use Unsecured Loans Prosper is a p2p lending marketplace for unsecured loans. Borrowers can borrow money up to $25,000 via an unsecured 3 year fully amortized note. New lenders recieve a $25 bonus on entering your first loan. The following is a guest post anybody else interested in a guest post should email......
  • Borrow Money on Prosper -- Case for Unsecured Debt via Personal Loans Prosper Marketplace, Inc. is a peer-to-peer (p2p) lending marketplace that facilitates 3 year fully amortized loans between lenders and a borrower.  A borrower wants to borrow money and lenders want to earn better than average returns.  The most typical reasons for loans on Prosper are credit card debt consolidation, small business......

Continue reading → Recreational Vehicles for Summer Fun

Simple and Inexpensive Vacations

We often fool ourselves into thinking that the more we spend, the better and more memorable a vacation will be. While money can buy certain memories, the correlation is probably much weaker than you’d expect. In fact, simple and inexpensive vacations are often the most relaxing, and the most memorable.
I love Mickey Mouse and the [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Simple and Inexpensive Vacations

I Share My Asset Allocation (as do 7 other Money Writers)

The Money Writers is having a group writing project. Each of us have decided to share our asset allocation and performance from the first of the year to last Friday. You might want to put the children to sleep, this could get ugly.
Asset Allocation
I would like to say that I put together a great graph for you, but I didn’t. My only excuse is what you already know… I’m Lazy. Instead I’ve put together my portfolio holdings inside my retirement accounts. You may ask why I don’t have significant money invested outside of retirement accounts. [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → I Share My Asset Allocation (as do 7 other Money Writers)

Fynanz Review

This year, it has never been more difficult to get a student loan, thanks to new federal regulations. Hundreds of lenders announced that they would no longer be taking part in federal loan programs and schools are struggling to try to offer loans directly to students. This opened up a huge marketplace in the p2p [...]

Related Websites
  • Tips for Paying Off Student Loans Right now, the student loan industry is going through one of its worst periods in decades. New Federal regulations have forced many banks to stop offering student loans, and students are being forced to either find a direct loan or start paying back what they owe. Enrollment figures are being......
  • RateLadder Loan Lisitng Auction Closes Today Now is your last chance to get a portion of the RateLadder loan request.  The auction ends at ~10:50am pst.  Don't miss out on this one. :) $25 Bonus For New Lenders How to Use Prosper Listing Widget for MySpace, Blog, Website, or Other ......

Continue reading → Fynanz Review

How to Make an Endorsement Count

Endorsements are a useful tool to help get potential lenders interested in your Prosper loan. There are a few ways to get the most out of this technique which can sometimes make the difference in whether your loan gets funded.

Endorse early

First, get your endorsements in line before you create…

[...]

Continue reading → How to Make an Endorsement Count

The Nuts and Bolts

Part of the reason I signed up for the Kiva Fellowship was to see how microfinance actually works on the ground. You can read all the books on microfinance, but that couldn’t make up for never seeing it in action with your own eyes. After getting an understanding of AMK’s operations from their nice air-conditioned [...]

Related Websites
  • Kiva Forum P2P No Bank has launched independent forums covering all p2p lending sites — including Kiva.   Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great......

Continue reading → The Nuts and Bolts

From the city, into the field: views from a motorbike

To see a complete list of MAXIMA’s clients who live in rural areas such as this one, please click here.

Continue reading → From the city, into the field: views from a motorbike

Sunday Money Madness

Welcome to a new edition of Sunday Money Madness where another portion of the financial blogosphere is illuminated. I found these stories to be worth while and interesting and they should make great weekend reading if you haven’t read them yet.

An Immigration Story by Digerati Life details a story of [...]

Online Stores Related Websites
  • The Benefits of Leveraging Debt to Create Multiple Income Streams Let’s face it, debt has managed to earn itself a pretty bad name in most circles, but in many cases, this stigma is undeserved. Debt, when used properly, can help you secure your financial future. While no one is arguing that improperly used debt is a bad thing, good debt......
  • Learning How to Finance Your Future Most of us think about retirement and panic. It can be tough trying to figure out how we’re going to survive and plan for our futures when we’re just trying to make ends meet right now. If you’re strapped for cash at the end of every month, chances are you......

Continue reading → Sunday Money Madness

Pious Borrowers & Prosper Lending

We’ve all seen it, I’m sure. The borrower quoting scripture or using his supposed piety to convince lenders their bids are safe.This discussion came up the other day on the Loans2U group discussion forum and led to some interesting research.Lendingstat…

Continue reading → Pious Borrowers & Prosper Lending

My First Ugandan Fight

Yesterday I was not in a fight, but rather saw my first fight in Uganda. This fight was over a woman - me. However, it was not between jealous lovers. Rather, the fight was between two taxi drivers vying for my fare.
In Kampala, if one doesn’t have a car or is too scared to [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → My First Ugandan Fight

Poland: Monetto has financed 1 million Zloty loans in 4 months

Statistics on Monetto, the social lending company that opened in Poland 4 months ago. [1 Zloty = 48c/ 0.24 Euros +/-]
P2P-Banking.com » Poland: Monetto has financed 1 million Zloty loans in 4 months
Monetto.pl, one of the three p2p lending services active in Poland has financed 1450 loans applications resulting in 440 loans totaling 1 [...]

Continue reading → Poland: Monetto has financed 1 million Zloty loans in 4 months

Zopa, CEO Douglas H. Dolton - SNW Interview

Interview with Doug Dolton, CEO of Zopa, the social lending company with offices in UK, US, Italy, and Japan. He has some interesting thoughts, and bullish views on the scale that social finance will achieve over time.
Social Networking Watch: Zopa, CEO Douglas H. Dolton - SNW Interview
What is your long term vision? Where [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Zopa, CEO Douglas H. Dolton - SNW Interview

Prosper Borrower Finally Funds on 57th Try!

Most borrowers would have long ago given up, but mvbrothers2 never gave up. On her 57th listing, she finally funded her $1050 listing at a borrower rate of 37.45%.Her path to success on Prosper began with this listing in February, 2007 as an HR borrowe…

Online Stores

Continue reading → Prosper Borrower Finally Funds on 57th Try!

Prosper.com - collections - you have forsaken lenders

Collections on late prosper.com loans are getting worse.  Prosper simply doesn’t take  their responsibility to lenders seriously.  Along the way there have been words from Prosper saying they were going to improve this or that, but they’ve all been …

Continue reading → Prosper.com - collections - you have forsaken lenders

Reducing the Cost of Owning a Pet

Pets can bring enormous joy into our lives, but can also cost us a lot of money. If you are considering a pet, or would like to keep costs as low as possible, we here at Lending Club suggest you consider the following tips that will benefit you as well as your pets:
Keep startup costs [...]

Online Stores

Continue reading → Reducing the Cost of Owning a Pet

Weekend Links - Lonely Mickey Mouse Edition

My wife and I went to Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago and spent a little time in Disneyland. One of the most interesting things I saw was a High School Musical 2 stage that was on wheels. It would come rolling through the park 2-3 times a day and put on a 30-45 minute show at the front of the park. A group of teenagers/young adults would jump off the stage and perform songs from High School Musical. It’s all very good, and it was a fine show.
As my wife was grooving along to [...]

Continue reading → Weekend Links - Lonely Mickey Mouse Edition

Poland: Monetto has financed 1 million Zloty loans in 4 months

Monetto.pl, one of the three p2p lending services active in Poland has financed 1450 loans applications resulting in 440 loans totaling 1 million Zloty (approx 0.5 million US$) in 4 months. The average loan amount is 2300 Zloty. The service claims 8000 registered users and a repayment rate of 97% so far (which is said [...]

Continue reading → Poland: Monetto has financed 1 million Zloty loans in 4 months

Prosper.com - collections - you have forsaken lenders

Collections on late prosper.com loans are getting worse. Prosper simply doesn’t take their responsibility to lenders seriously. Along the way there have been words from Prosper saying they were going to improve this or that, but they’ve all been…

Continue reading → Prosper.com - collections - you have forsaken lenders

Prosper Roundup

The personal finance blogosphere was packed with great articles this week… Here are a few of our favorites…
GenX Finance details the Top 12 Money Mistakes Most People Make and special congratulations to GenX Finance for being named by PC Magazine to the Top 15 Websites for Managing (and Saving) Money
 
RateLadder updates 1 Month Late or [...]

Online Stores