Mattresses and shoeboxes don't have quite the security measures that banks have, yet The New York Post reports a few skeptical New Yorkers are withdrawing their funds and turning these household items into deposit places.
One of the biggest lessons the government learned from the 1930s can be seen in the formation of the FDIC, and the FDIC website reminds us that "In the FDIC’s 75-year history, no customer has ever lost a single penny of insured deposits." It would seem that this would offer consumers peace of mind, but obviously some have become distrustful of banks.
Turning 30 can be a dreadful birthday for some reluctant 20-somethings, but no matter how full of dread you may be there's a way to gracefully enter the next decade in regard to money management. In order to set you up for smooth sailing, MSN Money created a list of six money milestones to reach by the time you're 30. Do you think these milestones are appropriate for most people in their twenties? Is there anything you'd add or remove?
Scale back the credit cards. If you aren't able to live on your earnings and are still taking on credit card debt when you're 30, it's going to be difficult for you to save enough for retirement.
Own a home, or have a plan. One expert says that homeownership should be a priority, and to start saving for a down payment.
Have skills. Develop a set of marketable skills by the time you are 30 and try to bring something new to the table.
Give money away. Financial advisor Scott Hanson says, "I think it's financially healthy to give."
Know thyself. Decide what's important to you. Hanson explains, "Start to know yourself and build parameters so your life and money line up with those parameters."
Know smart people. When you need advice, turning someone who's good at their job can save you money in the long run, whether it's a tax preparer, financial adviser, attorney, or insurance agent.
In the "Business Ethics" episode of The Office, Holly holds the type of business ethics seminar that could only take place at Dunder Mifflin. She starts the group off on a light note, reminding them that it's wrong to make personal calls during business hours and that spending a half hour at the water cooler is technically time theft, but Michael quickly ups the ante and offers "complete immunity" to anyone who shares their darkest workplace indiscretions.
Michael kicks off the troubling tell-all by admitting he didn't work for five days after discovering YouTube and watched Cookie Monster sings "Chocolate Rain" about 1,000 times. Oscar announces he occasionally takes long lunches. Mindy reveals she downloads pirated music to her work computer. The big HR crisis moment comes when Meredith admits she's been sleeping with a supplier in exchange for discounts and Outback Steakhouse gift certificates for six years.
I can't imagine many of you have ever pulled a Meredith, but I'm giving you full immunity (I promise I don't know your HR director): What would you say is your worst time theft offense at work?
House swapping was never something that crossed my mind until I watched Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet merrily swap abodes in The Holiday. Cameron's character (Amanda) got to stay in a cozy English home while Kate's character (Iris) spent a week in a decked-out Los Angeles pad, and in the end everyone got exactly what they wanted. I made a mental note to peruse Craigslist to see what was out there the next time I traveled, but the fact is the idea hadn't come up again until I read an interesting article from Budget Travel.
Frequent traveler Joanna Goddard is a big proponent of home swapping; she's exchanged her Manhattan apartment for stays in other people's homes all over the world. She and her traveling partners have been able to stay for free in often expensive cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Paris, and more. Joanna admits that, at first, it was difficult to imagine other people using her towels and sleeping in her bed, but once she became friendly with them over email she became comfortable with the idea.
Would you ever consider checking out the Housing Swap section on Craigslist instead of searching for a hotel deal?
Oprah featured the "thriftiest family in America" on Wednesday's episode, so I stopped by her website to check out a recap. What I found was nothing really new, just an overall message to cut spending by tracking expenses and finding deals. However, I did find a money saving hint from a woman named Rhondalyn that could be an interesting experiment to save money and energy. Here's what she accomplished.
To save on her electric bill, Rhondalyn unplugs everything in her home when it's not in use. Appliances, TV sets and lamps that are plugged in pull in energy even if they are turned off, and Rhondalyn says the small change has added up. In May 2008, her energy bill was $268. After she started unplugging, her bill went down to $91. And when Rhondalyn got really vigilant—even turning off the air conditioning—her energy bill was only $60.42. That's over $200 in savings!
Thursday night's TV lineup gives my DVR a hefty workout, and one of the shows always on my must-watch list is Ugly Betty. The Mode / Hot Flash / Player offices are completely dysfunctional, and it's the exact reason why the show works. Which of these characters would you want as a co-worker?
Citigroup waved a white flag late Thursday as it bowed out of the battle with Wells Fargo over which bank would buy ailing Wachovia. Early last week, Wells Fargo had backed out of talks as the federal government brokered a deal that arranged for Citigroup to pay $2.2 billion for Wachovia’s banking operations and $12 billion in stock to the FDIC. Later in the week, after the deal with Citi had been agreed upon, Wells Fargo came back and offered $15 billion in stock to buy all of Wachovia.
With Citi now out of the picture it seems likely Wachovia and Wells Fargo will join forces, though the drama isn't over. Citigroup has sued Wells Fargo for $60 billion in "compensatory and punitive damages." According to The New York Times, both banks were attracted to Wachovia for its retail banking operations "widely regarded as among the best in the business."
Wachovia customers, are you worried that the quality in service will deteriorate with a Wells Fargo merger?
Mattresses and shoeboxes don't have quite the security measures that banks have, yet The New York Post reports a few skeptical New Yorkers are withdrawing their funds and turning these household items into deposit places. 
Vivienne Westwood
Alberta Ferretti
Fontanelli