Author Archive | Randal Birkey

High gas prices have given rise to “Hypermiling,” the art and science of wringing as much mileage out of a tank of gas as possible. Some practitioners take it to extreme and even illegal limits. But _MSN_ reviewed some of the saner techniques promoted by a champion hypermiler who routinely gets over 50 miles per […]

You’re probably acquainted with some of the most common web sites for discounted airfares and hotel rooms. But _Kiplinger’s Personal Finance_ magazine recently suggested some lesser-known sites that are especially well suited for those willing to travel on short notice. It recommended for low priced airfare/hotel packages. For bed and breakfast deals, sign up for […]

We’re accustomed to stories about the world’s richest people. But inspirational speaker Tim Richardson is compiling a list of what he calls the REAL richest people in America, those who are rich in good deeds. Nominees for include a hurricane Katrina survivor whose organizing efforts have cleaned up 250,000 pounds of trash in New Orleans, […]

A whopping 70 percent of U.S. adults don’t have a will or other estate documents, according to a recent _MSN_ story. Surprisingly, an even higher percentage (74 percent) of parents with children under age 18 have no such documents. Ironically, the main reason for having a will is the very issue that holds many parents […]

The average car loan today stretches to about 70 months–up from 62 last year. Some financing companies are even writing auto loans for as long as nine years. And nearly 30 percent of today’s new car buyers owe more on their trade-ins than they’re worth–up from about 20 percent five years ago. In part, a […]

What’s one of the most valuable yet underutilized corporate perks? Answer: tuition reimbursement. As reported by the _Wall Street Journal_, about 85 percent of large employers offer some type of educational assistance. However, less than 10 percent of eligible employees make use of such benefits. h3(matt). Matt’s View p(matt). One of the best investments we […]

Let’s face it; there are few more boring things we could do than spend a few hours creating a detailed inventory of our stuff. However, should we ever lose our stuff through a fire or other disaster, we’ll be glad we fought off the yawns to get the job done. While several companies will gladly […]

There’s some good news for all of us non-Mensa members: A high IQ is not required for wise money management. As reported by _ABC News_ and the _Motley Fool_, Ohio State University research scientist Jay Zagorsky has found that while people with higher IQs do tend to earn more, “there is no relationship between IQ […]

Thinking about opening a 529 college savings plan for your little one? used to be the recommended site for learning about the tax-advantaged plans and comparing the many options. But that site has gone the “free, free, free, FEE!” route, with some of its information now available to paid subscribers only. Fortunately, as reported by […]

Nearly 20 percent of children 0-2 years old now have a TV in their bedroom, as do more than 40 percent of 3-4 year olds. Those are among the findings of a new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, as reported by the _Chicago Tribune_. The main reason parents cited for putting TVs in […]