Archive for posts by Kent Irwin

The Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge, or Stock act was signed into law yesterday April 4th, 2012 by President Obama, prohibiting members of congress from buying and selling stock based upon inside information. It is about time that this was passed, given the 6 years the bill has been worked on and the opportunity for… Read More »

There has been a lot of news the past few days about the $600+ million Mega lottery. If people knew the facts, they would never spend the money. It is crazy to see all of those people lined up with pockets full of cash to buy a chance at winning. Consider the facts: Tax on… Read More »

Thrift stores that sell used home furnishings and clothes have been a place for us to acquire needed items, but I have not come across a Picasso like Zach Bodish did, when he bought a signed print for $14.14 and might be worth $6,000 – $12,000 at the Volunteer’s of America store in Columbus Ohio…. Read More »

Interesting article in the Atlantic: College costs continue to rise, outpacing inflation, yet the cost to them and society is astounding: College graduates earn 80% more than high school graduates If US raised education performance South Korea’s level US economy would improve by more than $2 trillion (same as Italy) The impact of a good versus average teacher… Read More »

Insurance policies to help offset the cost of living in an assisted living facility are priced based upon the amount of benefit that one feels they need or can afford. People in their 50’s and 60’s often consider this insurance, but it isn’t cheap, neither is the cost of living in a facility.  The costs… Read More »

The Wall Street Journal reported that BofA is initially offering in New York, Arizona and Nevada homeowners who are having difficulty making mortgage payments, to lease their home back to them, at market rates, in exchange for transferring the deed to the bank using a ‘deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.’ This could be a win for the… Read More »

Great article in the Wall Street Journal about leftovers, discarded food and the impact to household budgets and the environment. I hate it when food goes bad and we have to toss it out.  We try to freeze things like peppers or meat before they go bad, and only buy what we plan to use in… Read More »

The Financial Protection Bureau recently reported that total student debt topped $1 trillion last year (2011). They report that some of the reasons for the rise is a lot of Americans returning to college, instead of staying in the weak labor market. Tuition increases have continued especially considering cuts in state funding. Also many parents… Read More »

Have you ever had something that you really wanted and were getting ready to purchase, and instead of doing so you gave the money to some needy person? Have you ever considered taking a prized possession and selling it, and give the money to an institution that you believe in? A friend of mine down… Read More »

People have many option these days for tax preparation, all have their strengths and weaknesses: Doing it yourself: Tax preparation software like Turbo Tax, Tax-Cut, or just doing it in paper and pencil can be learning self educating experiences for those willing to invest their time. The software is easier to use and is getting better all… Read More »