Diversions - Super Bowl Half Time Shows Need To Feature Better Music

By MoneyBlueBook

Warning - alarm - I am about to drive off the personal finance road and head into the entertainment marshes.

Well it's been months since I rambled off topic but I think after having watched this year's 2008 Super XVLII, I feel compelled to comment on the deteriorating quality and excitement of the once highly anticipated half time musical performances. It used to be that I always looked forward to watching the Super Bowl half time shows since they used to feature pretty good superstar performances. But unfortunately, what was once an exciting party bash has in recent years turned into a safe and cautious yawn fest.

Tom Petty's Performance Was Decent But Too Safe For A Super Bowl Half Time Show

This year's half-time show featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a band that probably caters more to the older generation than today's kiddies, myself included. While I will admit he did pull of a pretty skillful performance and sang some great songs, I've never been much of a fan of his band's music. I wasn't really moved or pumped up by their performance as it wasn't really much of a performance - mostly just a karaoke selection of his greatest hits.

I think future shows need serious tuneups. Ever since the whole Janet Jackson alleged wardrobe malfunction episode of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, the quality of the halftime shows have been sliding downhill. We really need MTV to bring back the excitement that the event once had or I think we're going to start

By MoneyBlueBook

One of the ways to maximize your money is by taking advantage of the higher cash back credit card rewards that many reward credit cards offer for purchases made at special bonus reward locations that include - supermarkets, drugstores, and gas stations. What some people might not realize is that many, if not most of these three brick and mortar locations also sell gift cards that can be used towards other major retailers - everything from places like Home Depot to Bed Bath & Beyond. By buying these retail gift cards at the bonus reward locations, cardholders have the potential to earn up to 5% or more cash back through credit card discounts and rebates through a process that's essentially a mild form of gift credit card arbitrage.

Purchase Gift Cards At Rebated Prices And Use Them At Places Like Department Stores, Restaurants, and Online Retail Websites

While there is a multitude of specialized reward credit cards out there (everything from airline credit cards to restaurant credit cards) offering all sorts of credit card offers and usage perks, the majority of these rebate cards reserve the highest cash back percentages for purchases made at what I'd like to call "the big three" - supermarkets, gas stations, and drug stores. Credit card terms do vary, but they usually offer much lower rebate rates (usually 1% back) for everyday purchases made at non "big-three" locations like department stores, clothing shops, restaurants, and online stores.

The trick to earning the maximum reward percentages even when

By MoneyBlueBook

I think it's time all market investors learn to turn their backs on the daily stock ticker blips coming out of Wall Street - not completely, but just enough to regain their emotional composure so they can properly implement the correct long term investment strategy.

Don't Gamble Your Money Away - Invest For the Long Term

Not too long ago, I wrote about one of the biggest dangers to rational investing - emotional trading based on panic buying and selling. The wise and prudent investor should put aside irrational emotions, and always invest for the long term if they can help it. Unless you are very close to retirement, your investment plan should be to hold for the long haul. When you invest for the short term and try to make some fast money, you cease to become an investor and transform into a gambling market timer. But financially, day traders and gamblers live and die by the sword. Yes it is certainly exciting when you occasionally can make a quick 50% profit in one fell swoop, but like all gamblers, their desire to constantly make fast money inevitably causes fatal missteps that will ultimately result in financially devastating losses.

Years ago I tried out the gambling day trading strategy. It was during the dot com boom. Yes I made quite a bit from very short term trading bursts, but overall, my losses outnumbered my gains. My short term investing strategy led me to essentially buy high and sell low. My emotions caused me to jump

By MoneyBlueBook

There's no denying that we are in a major real estate funk right now. Housing prices have plummeted and the real estate housing successes enjoyed by many in years past are long gone, despite the blinded and self-motivated views of some. But yet, home sellers are still putting their homes up for sale and there are still buyers roaming the streets looking to snap up their future homes. If you are a seller, here are some reasons why your home may not be selling well, and some things you should look at to ensure you are truly maximizing your home's value and chances. Some factors like broad housing conditions are beyond your control, but others you can personally change to improve your selling advantage.

1) Your Home Asking Price May Be Set Too High

As much as you'd like to think that you or your real agent determine the market value of your home, at the end of the day, it's the market and the buyer that set the price. They determine how much your home is worth and how much they are willing to pay for it. Overpricing your home is the number one reason why homes don't sell. Much of the interest in a home is generated within the first 30 days it is placed for sale. By overinflating your asking price, you price out many prospective buyers, particularly if they feel you have no intention of budging or negotiating lower.

Remember to price your house similarly enough with the other comparables in your