Good Money Blog

• Net Worth
  Our net worth was down 1.76% (-$2,940) following the market meltdown.
• Bank and Cash Accounts
  The majority of my cash is sitting in high-yield savings accounts such as E*Trade Bank (3.30% APY) and HSBC Direct (3.00% APY).
• Other Assets
  That’s not a Zillow estimate but the price we paid ($201K) two years ago. Zestimate for our house is currently a bit above our purchase price.
• Investment Accounts
  • CDs
    To set aside the 0% APR money (see Credit Cards), I opened two new 12-month CDs (4.25% APY) at ING DIRECT ($23K). With the 6-month CD (4.00% APY) opened at HSBC Direct ($8K) in October, I now have a total of three CDs.
  • I-Bonds
    I also have some I-Bonds ($10K) bought in April 2008 (~4.43% APY).
  • Portfolios
    In November, our retirement portfolios went smaller (-7.9% vs. S&P 500: -7.5%). Nevertheless, the 401(k) and Roth IRA accounts ($57K) are still on track to be maximized this year. My taxable account (-3.8%) at Zecco ($16K) continued to pick up some bargains.
• Credit Cards
  • Balance Transfers
    As 0% APR balance transfer offers nearly dried up, I applied for a new Discover More Card (12-month 0% APR with a $75 transaction fee). That came after I had unexpectedly received a similar offer (12-month 0% APR with a $199 transaction fee) from my existing Capital One credit card. Therefore, I’m owing the banks again ($22K)!
  • Usage
    I paid nearly all my expenses ($3.2K) with my favorite cash rebate credit cards - Chase Freedom (3% cash back in top 9 categories) and Chase Business Cash Rewards (3% cash back at gas stations, restaurants, and home improvement stores). The total balance is to be paid off at the end of the billing cycle.
• Loans
  We still have 20 some years to go on our mortgage ($155K).

• Food/Vacation
  We had a romantic dinner at a high-end restaurant and several big meals during our weekend road trip!
• Household
  I bought a Wal-Mart gift card from eBay with a 30% Live Search cashback.
• Bank Charges
  That is the transaction fee paid for the balance transfers.