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BBB: Beware of Facebook Ads
Tweet Share on Facebook April 3, 2009 Comment (10)Logging onto Facebook usually brings up advertisements, on everything from weight loss tricks to teeth whitening products, alongside notes and updates from friends. But now the Better Business Bureau is warning that some of those advertisements can get Facebook users into trouble.
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Quiz: How Much Social Security Will You Get?
Tweet Share on Facebook April 3, 2009 Comment (8)Here's a pop quiz for you: Do you know how big your future Social Security check will be?
I recently heard Erzo Luttmer, associate professor of public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School, present his research at the Brookings Institution on just how well people understand their Social Security benefits. (He conducted the research with his colleague Jeffrey Liebman.) He surveyed 2,500 50 to 70-year-olds. Among those who haven't yet received their first check, the average estimate of how much they would receive was $1,300 a month -- very close to the actual amount. Luttmer says that the accuracy of people's predictions can probably be at least partly attributed to the annual statements sent out by the Social Security Administration. Over 90 percent of those surveyed said they read the statements and find them useful. -
Podcast: How To Make Money From Blogging
Tweet Share on Facebook April 2, 2009 Comment (7)On this week's Alpha Consumer Podcast, I spoke with Silicon Valley Blogger, the pseudonym for the author of the Digerati Life blog. SVB earns around $10,000 a month from her blog, through advertisements, affiliate programs, and blog consulting services. She explains how she does it -- and how you can, too.
You can also hear the Alpha Consumer Tip of the Week on how to potentially shave $5,000 a year off of your grocery bill.
How To Make Money From Blogging
Subscribe to Personal Finance With Kimberly Palmer
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Beth Kobliner: Young People Have Opportunity
Tweet Share on Facebook April 2, 2009 Comment (90)Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, recently stopped by my office to talk about the new edition of her book, originally published in mid-1990s. Since then, the Internet has revolutionized the way people manage their money and a recession has created new obstacles, which is part of the reason why she completely rewrote certain chapters. Kobliner explained why young people, who can be bitter about the current situation, also have reason to think things will get better. Excerpts from our conversation:
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Young Adults on Economy: We Need Help
Tweet Share on Facebook April 1, 2009 Comment (7)Young adults in their mid-twenties are stressed out, and not just because of the typical dating/career/school angst. They are so worried about the future of the economy, according to a new survey from Charles Schwab, that they say making better choices about managing money is more important that strengthening family relationships or improving personal health and nutrition. They also said financial education in schools is even more important than sex education or physical education.
