Coin by Coin

This American Life has put together another one of their excellent shows on the current economic problems. This time they explain what wrong with the banks — it’s worth a listen. From the show’s description page:
The collapse of the banking system explained, in just 59 minutes. Our crack economics team—the guys who explained [...]

The Dave Ramsey Show is a personal finance radio show that’s actually worth listening to. Every few months I try out the finance podcasts available on iTunes and every time I’m disappointed. Many financial shows discuss money in the most dispassionate, dull way possible. The focus is always on the interest rates, [...]

Look at the skyline of any major city and play the ‘who owns the tallest buildings game’. Almost always it’s insurance companies. These buildings are like the resort casinos in Las Vegas: they are evidence that, on average, people don’t win. I don’t go so far as Ned Flanders (who doesn’t insure [...]

This American Life recently did a show on the subprime mortgage crisis. I’ve listened to lots of shows on the impending credit crisis, but none have explained the situation with such simplicity and gentle humor as TAL.
[Click here for ‘The Giant Pool of Money’ by This American Life]
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Header photograph by Thom C
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To see future [...]

There is a big difference between ‘having a job’ and ‘working’.
People mix the two, they say they don’t want to work, but they really don’t want to have a job. A job is boring, tedious and pointless for so many reasons. Working is not. If someone else makes profit from your effort, [...]

Forbes has a slideshow up about the cheap billionaires. These frugal men include Warren Buffett, who still lives in the house he bought in 1958, Jim Walton, who drives a pickup truck, and others.
[Click here to see the slideshow]
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Header photograph by EverJean
Story via boing boing
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Unfortunately, I’ve suffered from being a naturally frugal person. I don’t make big purchases. I don’t have an expensive apartment filled with expensive clothes. Why do I say ‘suffer’? Because I’ve never been forced to track my spending. I’ve glided along under the impression I’m doing fine.
I feel fine, but [...]

On Point, an excellent current events podcast, recently did an episode on how to protect your investments from the falling value of the US dollar. From the show’s description:
It has been scary times for any American with two cents to invest and no idea where to put it. Stock markets — at home and [...]

There are a lot of get rich quick schemes out there. One of the oldest and best is writing a book (or blog) on the very process of getting rich itself. Fill the book with correct but hopelessly vague advice, wait for the dreaded Hawthorn Effect, then promote yourself as an expert.
An established [...]

Active Income
Active income is derived from being in a physical place performing a physical task. Most commonly this is in the form of a job or work. You have to actively engage in the work if you want to get paid. Don’t show up, don’t get money. This is the most [...]