Hey, Portlanders! On Saturday, November 15th, I’ll be speaking at Multnomah County’s central library, discussing personal finance and blogging as part of the “Writers Talking” series. I’d love to see you there. As I prepare my presentation, let me know if there are specific topics you’d like me to cover.
In the meantime, here are some interesting personal finance stories from around the web:
Somehow I managed to stumble upon an eight-year-old Epinions article about how to purchase a mattress. This piece (from an ex-mattress salesperson) offers tips for determining quality, explains why the same mattress has different names at different stores, and more. I’ve bookmarked this because we may need to replace our mattress in a couple years.
Last Thursday, The New York Times published editorial from Warren Buffett in which he talks about the personal financial investments he’s been making lately (as opposed to the moves he’s made with his company, Berkshire Hathaway). Buffett used to own 100% U.S. government bonds. Now he’s buying stock in American companies. “If prices keep looking attractive, my non-Berkshire net worth will soon be 100 percent in United States equities.”
The Blogging Scholarship is back. CollegeScholarships.org is offer one $10,000 scholarship to a college student who blogs. If you’re a blogger (or know a college student who is), be sure to apply for this opportunity by October 30th.
Finally, Mark at Soul Shelter has posted a defense of aimless learning (which can also be though of as “life-long learning”). “I came to believe that knowledge and culture could be found all around me at relatively little or no monetary cost (primarily through libraries, conversation, and travel), whereas a full and formal college education was sure to set me on a lifelong path of debt.” Great stuff.
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I read the mattress buying guide and it was great. And it also explains why I’m tired as heck after trying to rotate that thing by myself. Guess I bought a good one!
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My finance professor used to always say, “Follow the Buffett if you want a full plate”. I wonder who is lucky enough to hold his brokerage account…
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Hey J.D., I hope to see you in Canada one day. I read that op-ed post in The New York Times on Oct 16 and found Buffett’s article somewhat interesting because what he mentioned in it resembles with what I said in my book, Invest Now. I wrote a post on this too. Anyone interested reading it – here is the link: http://adawnjournal.com/2008/10/21/warren-buffett-cash-stocks-and-award-winning-book-invest-now/
Cheers,
A Dawn Journal
http://www.adawnjournal.com
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I’ll second A. Dawn – come to Toronto!
There’s a small library a couple of blocks from my house that would be perfect.
Mike
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I love the essay by Housman excerpted at Soul Shelter. Bravo! I miss the world of liberal education.
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You could record your speech and put it out as a Podcast?
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Steve, that’s an interesting idea. In retrospect, I wish I’d recorded my first speaking engagement last April. Actually, it was recorded, but I got so flustered with the microphone that I left the podium and just RAISE MY VOICE. That worked well for my presentation, but didn’t allow me to archive my speech for later.
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I’ll third that, I would also attend if you visited Toronto!
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One great way to do some “aimless learning” is through the MIT opencourseware program. They essentially publish all the materials and requirements for every class they have online. Many come with the lectures and exams as well. A free education from MIT is one of the best bargains possibly in the universe.
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Congratulations! I think you should speak about your journey and show how anyone can get their finances together.
I wish my little local library would have such events.
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If you’re looking for more info about mattress shopping, check my co-blogger’s post here: http://frugalize.blogspot.com/2007/11/buying-mattress.html
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Can’t make it, bro. Going to be in Salem for the NaNoWriMo Capital Word War.
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Hey JD,
Sounds like an interesting speaking engagement. I may come down from Seattle to watch. Maybe we could talk Jonathon from MyMoneyBlog in to attending as well. Might be fun to meet. I think there are a few other PF Bloggers from the area that might be interested as well. If you are interested, we could post something on the MoneyBlogForum. Might be a good “meet up” opportunity for anyone in the NW.
Hazzard
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I’d come if it were in Seattle
Be sure to record and post it!
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The “defense of aimless learning” reminded me of my first week in grad school. My classmates and I were in a discussion about choosing the grad program (in the humanities) because we had a strong interest in the subject matter and felt invigorated by academics, and then there was a pause and someone said “Or we could’ve all just joined a book club for free.”
Don’t get me wrong, my degree was worth it for me and there are elements of academia that you can’t get anywhere else, but there are certainly a lot of learning opportunities that everyone in every walk of life can and should participate in, and it is inexpensive and very fulfilling.
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