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Alliant Credit Union Savings Still at 2%

BudgetBoy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:48:29 +0000

If you are still looking for a high yield savings account that hasn’t had a rate drop in over 3 months, then you may consider Alliant Credit Union. Their Savings account is still sitting at 2% APY for the past 3 months without a drop. To get the 2% you must maintain a balance on $100 or more in the account

Their checking account is also at a decent 1.75%. To get the 1.75% you need to opt out of paper statements and have at least one monthly electronic deposit. They have an ACH feature that allows you to push and pull money to other linked accounts, which makes moving money around very painless.

Alliant is more of a cutting edge credit union, meaning they have features and benefits that other credit unions don’t. My favorite is the e-Deposit Plus. This allows you to deposit checks into your account by using a scanner. No more trips to the bank to deposit checks. Since Alliant is not located where I live, having an ATM, Checks and free online bill pay for taking money out of my account and direct deposit and e-Deposit Plus to put money back in, I never need to even go to the branch.

They don’t offer any debit rewards programs like other banks, but the high interest rates alone make up for that as you know most of those debit programs conversion rates are terrible.

Alliant Credit Union is based out of Chicago. To join you must be a member of a qualifying organization. A $25 one time membership to the National PTA is good enough to get you in which is how most people are allowed to join that don’t live or work in the Chicago area.

I have had a checking, savings, HELOC and HSA with Alliant for over 2 years now and use them as my main bank. They have excellent customer service and are always competitive with their rates. IF you have had it with banks that just offer teaser rates, or are tired of jumping through hoops in reward checking accounts to qualify for the high APY, you may take a look at Alliant Credit Union for your banking needs

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$100 OptionsXpress Promo – 2010 [Promotion Bonus]

BudgetBoy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:15:30 +0000

There is a new OptionsXpress promo where you can get $100 when opening a new account.

You need to open an account (using the link below) with at least $500 by December 31st 2011 and execute 3 trades within 12 months of the account opening. The $100 bonus will be deposited into the new optionsXpress account within one month after meeting the terms and conditions of this offer

Learn how you can get $100 when you open up a new optionsXpress account.

OptionsXpress is a online brokerage that allows you to trade options, stocks, futures, mutual funds, bonds and more in one account. They have a flat rate of $14.95 / trade for stock, but what is even more enticing is that if you are an options trader they charge $15 or a 10 contract option order. Most brokerages charge a flat commission for options then charge an extract dollar per contract. OptionsXpress has included 10 contracts in that price which helps keep commissions low when trading options.

I have an OptionseXpress account that I use for trading options and really like their service. They have an ACH feture where you can link your checking account to move money in and out of your optionsxpress account. They have a fast trade execution which is always important to me when I am trying to put in orders at or near the current stock price.

Another great feature they offer is a virtual trading account where you can practice with fake money. This is nice if you are new to the market and want to play a bit before investing real money.

They have also rolled out an easy to read options naming, where you can easily distinguish your options holdings from your stock holdings. I have never had to deal with their customer service so I cannot comment, however live chat and calling their 1-800 number for help is always available.

If you are looking for a great brokerage and a quick $100 to help with future commisions, then sign up today:
Learn how you can get $100 when you open up a new optionsXpress account.

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Online Checking Account from Ally Bank

BudgetBoy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:33:28 +0000

Ally Bank, which has always been known for their best savings account, has a new Ally Bank Interest Checking Account which offers unlimited ATM rebates. So not only do you not get charged by Ally bank when using an ATM, but Ally also rebates you the fees charged by the ATM.

In addition to the free ATM usage, you get free checks and unlimited check writing. The interest rate is dependant on the amount of money you have on deposit, for balances less than $15,000 you will earn .05% APY and for balances $15,000 and greater you will earn 1.15% APY. (Rate as of 03/02/2010) The account also offers free Online banking and Bill Pay as well as free overdraft protection. Ally Bank has an ACH feature where you can transfer money in and out of your linked accounts for free and you can also set up direct deposit if this is going to be your main checking account.

All of this with absolutely no fees or minimum balances. This isn’t even an Ally Bank Promo! The ATM rebates alone can save you quite a bit of money if you tend to use ATM’s often throughout the month. For those of you that are sick and tired of being gouged by fees from other banks and the dismal interest rates that they offer, this is definitely an account that can help you save.

Check out the Ally Bank Interest Checking Accountpage for more details.

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Another Woot Off Going On Now

BudgetBoy — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:50:13 +0000

Woot.com is having another of its Woot Offs right now. It started around midnight central time and will go until they run out of stuff. If you are unfamiliar with Woot.com, they are a site that offers items at a discount. Usually only one item is listed per day starting at 12am Central Time and is listed until it is sold out or 11:59PM Central Time.

A Woot Off, which happens rarely, is a number of products that are for sale on a particular day or successive days. One product follows another as soon as it has been sold out. The number of Woot-Off items, sequence, and quantity will not be announced so an item could take a while to sell out or sell out immediately. Don’t miss a chance to score some items at a steal if you have some money to blow! But remember, that I prefer you really think about saving it.

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Max Out Your 2009 ROTH IRA

BudgetBoy — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:25:30 +0000

If you have’nt maxed out your ROTH IRA, you may want to consider doing so prior to submitting your 2009 taxes. The IRS allows you to make a 2009 ROTH IRA contribution during 2010 as long as you complete it before April 15th 2010 (taxes due date) and you note it on your 2009 taxes. For those of you beginners out there, a ROTH IRA is funded with after tax money. The benefit is that as the investment grows over time, once you retire and start to take distributions from it, that money is tax free. This can be very advantageous depending on your tax situation now and when you retire, which is why the IRS puts a cap on the amount you can contribute.

This year you can contribute $5000 to your ROTH IRA if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is below $166,000. If you income exceeds $176,000, they you not eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA for 2009.

If your MAGI is between $166,000 and $176,000, then you can contribute some amount less than their full limit. My advice here is to prepare your taxes first using the $5000 contribution, your return will tell you how much overpayment there was. Then subtract that from the $5000, and make that your ROTH contribution. Deposit those funds into your IRA, then file your taxes with that same number.

The jury is still out as to if ROTH IRA’s will be around forever so it makes sense to get in now while it is still good. If you are looking for a good ROTH IRA provider you make check out an ETRADE ROTH IRA. They have a current promotion where you can get $100 free trades when opening a new ROTH IRA by December 31, 2010.

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ING Direct Increases Referral Bonuses for New Accounts

BudgetBoy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:28:07 +0000

If you have an ING Account and are looking to make a little extra money, ING Direct is doubling their referral bonus to $20 until March 31st 2010. The person you are referring will receive $25.

Log into your ING Account. Click the “Rewards For Friendship” link just above your account listing. Then select the “Refer Now” button. Ad the name and email address of your referrals and select the “Continue” button. Your friend will receive an email link that they need to use when opening the account.

Your friend must open either an Electric Orange Checking account or an Orange Savings account with a minimum of $150 by March 31st 2010 . Once this has been completed your friend will receive $25 and you will receive a $20 referral bonus.

If you don’t have an ING account and want to open one and receive the $25 bonus, please complete the form below and I will send you a referral link via email.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

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PerkStreet Promotion – 2% Cash Back on Debit Card Purchases

BudgetBoy — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:48:49 +0000

PerkStreet Financial has a promotion running through the end of April where you can get a a 2% cash back bonus from all debit card purchases for 6 months when opening a new online checking account. Once the 6 month period is complete you will then earn a 1% cash back bonus on your purchases.

This offer expires April 30th 2010, but can be canceled at anytime.

The PerkStreet Financial free online checking account is being promoted as a rewards account. You earn a cash back reward of 2% for first 6 months, then 1% after on purchases when using your debit card that is tied to the account. The cash back reward is based on non-pin debit card transactions. The 2% cash back for first 6 months is a great deal since most checking account offer rewards that equate to far lower than a 1% return.

There is no minimum balance required, however to avoid an inactivity fee of $4.50 you must have activity in the account each month from either a debit card transaction, check, deposit or withdrawal. The account comes with a free book of checks, free debit card and free online banking and bill pay.

PerkStreet Financial is also a member of the STARsf Surcharge Free ATM networkwhich offers of 37,000 free ATMs nationwide.PerkStreet Financial’s banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank which is FDIC insured. The Bancorp Bank has a been a FDIC member since 2000.

If you are looking to move toward an online checking account this one may be the way to go. With the high rewards, nationwide free ATM access though the STARsf network, and no fees when you keep your account active, there are not many other online checking accounts that beat this deal. Make sure to open by April 30th 2010.

Check out the PerkStreet Financial promotion page for more details.

You can also check out more checking account promotions here.

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When Do I Get My Tax Documents?

BudgetBoy — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:16:28 +0000

Now that tax time is upon us, people tend to get into a frenzy when they haven’t received their tax documents from their employer, bank, etc. Here are some details to let you know if and when you should be receiving them:

W2: Your employer should have sent you this form by February 1st. That is the mandated date by the government. If you have still not received one be sure to contact your HR department.

1099-INT: These documents are provided to you by financial institutions where you have received interest. Most people will receive these from banks where their accounts are provided. Note that you will not receive a 1099-INT from a bank where you did not accumulate more than $10 worth of interest. 1099-INT documents should arrive at your home by February 1st.

1099-DIV: This document is sent out by brokerages where you have bough and sold stock. These show the dividends/losses you incurred during the year. In just the past few years, they have extended the date when you are to receive a 1099-DIV by 15 days, so you should receive it by February 15th.

1099-R: If you took rolled over a tax free retirement account to an IRA, or took a disbursement of cash, you will be receiving a 1099-R. This should arrive by February 1st.

1099-MISC: If you did any side work or made any money from a job where taxes were not deducted, you will get a 1099-MISC from the employer that paid you. You only get one if the dollar amount was larger than $600 for the year. There is a lot of debate as to whether or not you need to claim amounts less then $600 since a 1099-MISC was not issued. My advice is to better be safe than sorry and do it! This should be received by February 1st.

Those are a list of the common tax forms that people will be receiving for the 2009 tax year. Before you meet with your accountant or sit down to do your taxes via TurboTax or any of the other online tax providers, make sure that you have accounted for all your forms for all of your accounts. This will just save you time and hassle later by having to file an ammended return.

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$50 Cash or $100 Travel Credit from Miles Discover Card

BudgetBoy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:55:23 +0000

Discover Card has a new promotion where you get 12,000 miles when signing up for the Miles by Discover® Card. To get the 12,000 miles, you need to make 1 purchase every month for 12 months after appying for the card. You will earn 1,000 miles each month the purchase is made, up to 12,000 miles. The 1,000 miles will be posted within 8 weeks after the purchase.

The 12,000 miles can be converted into the following:

$25 Account credit for every 5,000 miles(12,000 miles = $50 Statement Credit + 2,000 miles)
$50 Travel Credit for every 5,000 miles (12,000 miles = $100 Travel Credit + 2,000 miles)
Redeem for gift cards starting at 1,000 miles.

There is no annual fee on this card. There is also a 0% Balance Transfer option for 6 months available. Please note that the balance transfer fee is 3.0% of the balance with a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $75. You also will receive 0% APR on purchases for the first 6 months.

Card Application Page

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2010 Brokerage Promotions

BudgetBoy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:20:23 +0000

Now that the new year has begun a lot of new brokerage promotions have popped up to get people to open a new account. The Dow Jones is hovering around 10,000 so we are still a little off of the high from 2 years ago. If you have some extra cash to invest, now is the time to get it working for you.

Here are some of the current brokerage promotions that offer some kind of cash bonus or free trades:

OptionsXpress Promo- OptionsXpress is offering a $100 bonus when you open a new account with them. (See post for more details)
Tradeking Promo- Get $100 when referring a friend to Tradeking. There is no limit to how many $100 referral bonuses you can get (see post for more details)
Optionshouse Promo- Get 100 free trades when you open a new account, with $2.95 flat rate stock trade commisions. They have one of the lowest stock trading commissions out there. (see post for more details)
ETrade IRA Promo- Open an ETrade IRA and get 100 free trades. (See post for more details). Open that 2009 IRA by April 15th, 2010.
Zecco Promo- Zeccobrokerage gives you Get 10 free stock trades every monthif you $25,000 balance or make 25 paid trades each month. Otherwise the commission is only $4.50 / trade which is one of the lowest out there. (See more details here)
Firstrade Promo- Firstrade is giving away 5 free trade when you open a new account. (See post for more details). Firstrade offers a low $6.95 commission per trade.

If you know of any others, please add them in the comments and I will add to this post.

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