Angola Stamps Profile

In South Western Africa bordered by Namibia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and the Atlantic Ocean lies Angola. It has an exclave in Cabinda that is bordered by the two Congo. A stretch 60 kilometers wide which is part of the Democratic Republic of Congo separates Cabinda province from the main country. Until its independence in 1975, for 400 years Angola was under the Portuguese rule. The Portuguese influence is ubiquitous - Portuguese is the first language and the population predominantly Christian. Despite its abundant oil reserve, the life expectancy is around 40 and literacy is below 70%, as until recently the civil war had left the economy in shambles.

The first stamps were issued in 1870 when the country’s postal administration was part of the Portuguese mail service. They depict the Portuguese crown in single color with Angola inscribed using Common Design production. A set of ten stamps with this design were the only ones used till 1877 and significant amount has survived in very good condition. The catalog value for the set of ten stamps is in the range of $350 for MNH and $250 for Used. Scott #5a and #6 (40r blue and 50r green) are the most valuable in the set with a CV of $250 and $50 respectively for MNH. In 1881, a new set of stamps depicting Luís I in an embossed design appeared in a set of 9 stamps. Each stamp in the set catalogs between $5 and $50 with used ones cataloging for about one-third MNH - the entire set catalog for around $250 MNH and $80 used. The same designs along with a King Carlos design and several Common Designs (Ceres, Vasco de Gama, etc) and overprints formed the issues between 1881 and 1945. Many of these stamps catalog in the tens of dollars but as fakes abound for overprints collectors need to exercise caution. Couple of stamp issues worth additional mention during this period is:

1. The 1894 overprints (Scott #37) of a newspaper stamp of 1893 with a vertical inscription of “Angola” and a blue surcharge overprint (25r). This stamp catalogs for around $80 MNH and around $60 used.
2. The “Marble Column and Portuguese Arms” set of three stamps (Scott #292 to #294) issued in 1938 that catalog for close to $100 MNH and one-third that for used.

Angola hosted its first philatelic exhibition in April 1950 and a set of stamps were issued to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of Angola’s first stamps. Surprisingly, the set (Scott #328 to #330) catalogs economically at under $10 for MNH. A souvenir sheet that was released sold with a special oval exhibition cancellation. These catalog around three times higher and have a minor error as the middle stamp is inverted in the sheet. The years 1951 and 1953 saw Angola issuing two large sets of stamps, the birds set and the animals set. The higher denominations of the birds set (Scott #333 to #356) are valued upwards of $50 – the whole set catalogs for almost $600 MNH – used sets catalog for a much lower value (around $70). The shorter animal set (Scott #362 to #381) is much more affordable (less than $50 MNH and around $10 used) as the denominations go only to 20a while the birds set go to 50a.

Angola’s stamps from the 1950’s are remarkable for their beautiful colors and designs. Catalog Values for many of these stamps are low making it easily affordable. As yet, as interest level is low for stamps from Angola many dealers opt for fixed pricing instead of an auction format. Patience can prove to be a virtue as occasionally good deals are seen at auctions. Some collectible sets worth acquiring, in spite of their low catalog valuations include:

1. The arms in original colors set of 1963 (Scott #448 to #488). The whole set catalogs for under $50 for MNH and around $35 for Used. Fixed pricing can far exceed these values although auction pricing can be a lot lesser.
2. The beautiful sea shells set of 1974 (Scott #573 to #592). The whole set catalogs for around $25 MNH and about $10 Used. Again, fixed pricing approach these values but rare auctions hold an edge.

Surprisingly only one stamp was issued to mark Angola’s independence from Portugal in 1975. The design is that of a yellow star and a black hand holding a rifle. The stamp can be easily acquired and it catalogs just 20c for either MNH or used. Angola issued a set of five stamps for the first independence anniversary with a design of President Agostinho Neto. These stamps along with other independence anniversary issues from the following years catalog for a few dollars and can be easily acquire. A set of five earlier designs (Scott Numbers: 393, 588, 589, 592, and 438) overprinted with bar over inscriptions stating Portuguese republic issued in 1976 and 1977 have a slight premium at around $10 (Scott #604 to #608).

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Last Updated: 07/2011.

Cherry Picking in Brentwood – A Frugal Take

The Brentwood area has a substantial farming community which helps turn out most everything from corns to nuts and fruits. We visited the Lopez Ranch farms (22011 Marsh Creek Road, Brentwood, CA-94513) in Brentwood during the Memorial Day weekend. Many of the farms partake in the U-pick program (where the visitor picks the produce right from the tree). The season kicks off early May with cherry picking. Cherry picking, the most popular U-pick option, is available till early June. Other U-pick options include Apricots, Berries, Grapes, Nectarines, Pluots, Walnuts, Pumpkins, etc. Availability and farms offering specific fruit vary and calling in advance or using the Harvest Farms brochure are the best options.

The two options available are

• Pick on your own from the farm or
• Purchase already picked produce from the fruit stands that dot the region.

Whichever way, the price is comparable to the local grocery store (chain stores are way more expensive). For e.g., the cherries at Lopez farms are priced at $2.50 a pound while at Safeway, they go for between $4.99 and $9.99 depending on the type of cherry and sale pricing. Rainier cherries usually command the most premium while Bing cherries are the most economical. In local grocery stores, cherries can be purchased in the $1 to $3 price range depending again on the variety and sale pricing. It does not make economic sense to purchase them from the fruit stands available at the farms, unless there are sentimental reasons.

U-pick offerings are a wonderful alternative with the hidden benefits of a picnic atmosphere and the ability to eat your way to a bargain. Farms allow for mindless consumption while on the location and the tab is only for the fruit picked and carried away from the premise.

Lopez Ranch is a relatively big popular farm and a great option for Cherry picking as they have different varieties. As with all popular farms aiming for the early bird advantage is recommended. Low hanging fruits disappear by the end of May. The folks at the check-out counters are friendly and flexible and in spite of their busy schedule are willing to give a good deal if you ask nicely. Bing cherries are the more common variety although other types can also be found. For the connoisseur it pays to “try” samples from many different trees before deciding on the ones to pick from to purchase.

A couple of caveats worth mention are:

1. It is a farm and as such there are minimal facilities.
2. The farm is located off the main road (around 200 feet) and parking is along the dirt road. Parking along the main road and walking to the farm spares the vehicle from a dirt layer.

Another good choice for cherry picking in the Brentwood region is DC’s extraordinary cherries (532 Sarah Street, Brentwood, CA-94513). Our plan is to visit there next year.






Last Updated: 05/2011.

Andorra Stamps Profile

Andorra, a diminutive country in Western Europe landlocked by France and Spain, is spread over 180 square miles and supports a population close to ninety thousand. Andorrans enjoy a per-capita GDP just under $40K benefitting mostly from their tourism industry and the country’s status as a tax haven. Andorra sports a unique nominal duumvirate standing, whereby it is ruled by both the President of France and the Bishop of the Diocese of Urgell. In reality, the Andorran prime minister has de facto power as the head of the government. Correspondingly, Andorra has Spanish and French postal administrations each issuing stamps of their own designs.

The first stamps of Andorra were issued by the Spanish Administration in 1928 which were the Spanish stamps from 1922-29 (King Alfonso III Scott #331 to #344 and #358 to #370) with “Andorra” overprinted in red or black. The higher denominations of both the Spanish and the Andorran issues are valued in the 100s. Among the lower denominations the uncommon color varieties (5c vermillion and the 25c dark blue) are also valued in the same range. Imperforate and color variations/errors exist for many of these stamps in this series and they catalog slightly higher for genuine copies. Also, of the two Perf varieties (12.5 & 14) – the latter variety catalogs about 30% higher.

The first stamps designed and issued (first original designs) by the Spanish Administration were designs of prominent structures and the General Council. The higher denomination General Council design issues are valued between $10 and $125 while the others are valued much lower. Also, those stamps with control numbers printed along the back have somewhat of a premium compared to their counterparts with no control numbers. The same designs continued through 1948 until the design shifted to the Coat of Arms, Map, Edelweiss, and other local scenes. Most of these are valued in the $10 to $25 range. One theme that dominated Spanish Andorran stamps over the years is Christian designs reflecting the predominantly Catholic population (over 90%). Most of the later stamps issued by the Spanish Administration are valued modestly with less than 500 different stamps overall. Thus it is relatively easy to acquire a complete set of these stamps.

The French Administration stamps first issued several designs of the stamps from France (A16, A18, A20, and A22) from 1900 to 1929 with ANDORRE overprinted in black. Of these the higher denomination “liberty and peace” design of France (A18) is especially valuable. The whole set (Scott #1 to #22) is valued at almost $1000 for used and a little less for MNH.

The first original designs of the French Administration were a large set of 40 stamps (Scott #23 to #63 and certain varieties) issued and used between 1931 and 1943. The whole set in mint or used condition catalogs for around $500. The designs were centered largely on prominent local buildings and scenes. One very highly valued color error stamp in the series ($19000) is the 20c ultra with the “Bridge of St. Anthony” design (A51). The regular corresponding item is the 20c light rose which catalog in the $10 range. The Coat of Arms set of 1936 to 1944 (Scott #65 to #84) that catalog in the $50 range completes the classic period issues of the French Administration.

From 1943 to 1962 the French Administration issued only three relatively large sets of stamps:

1. Four designs issued till 1955 depicting local structures and pictures (A57 to A60) (Scott #85 to #123). These catalog in the $100 range for the complete set in mint and about half that for used.
2. Two designs (A61 and A62) one representing the spa in Des Aldres, a small town near the nation’s capital, Andorra La Vella and the other of the 12th century church of Santa Coloma with its circular bell-tower (St. Coloma Belfry). This set of 19 stamps (Scott #124 to #142) catalog for around $150 MNH and around $100 used.
3. Two designs (A63 and A64) of the Coat of Arms and the Gothic Cross of Meritxell issued in 1961. The set of 11 stamps (Scott #143 to #153) catalog for around $60 for MNH and around $40 for used.

The number of issues accelerated in the early 60’s with varied themes such as art, tourism, Christianity, sports, and flora and fauna. Issues of significance and good collector interest from this period include:

1. A design of Charlemagne (Charles I regarded as the father of Europe) crossing Andorra (Scott #155 to #157) that catalog for around $25 for either MNH or used issued in 1964.
2. The co-principality confirmation issues of 1964 (Scott #159 and #160) that catalog between $10 and $20 either MNH or used.
3. The 1974 issues of the Virgin of Pal and Santa Coloma (Scott #232 and #233) that catalog in the $30 and $50 range respectively for MNH and about one-fourth that for used. Certain common design Europa themed issues from the 60s and 70s are also fairly valuable.

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Last Updated: 07/2011.
 

Trina Solar (TSL) June 22.5 Calls Exercised

The Trina Solar (TSL) June 22.5 covered calls we wrote on 5/27/2009 were called away following options expiry as the shares closed above 22.5. Also, as we twittered previously, we liquidated our position in Direxion 3X Bull (FAS) and the covered calls we wrote against it were bought back. The net effect of these transactions is a slight overall gain. The returns from all our transactions this year total around one percentage point.

Trina Solar (TSL) rallied more than 200% from its March lows following a surprise Q1 profit. We decided to liquidate the position as we felt the forward PE of around 20 is high for a low-margin business. With Direxion 3X Bull (FAS), we felt that the easy money in financials has already been made and holding a leveraged position in the sector won’t be beneficial as we expect volatile range-bound trading in the near-term. We are selling into this rally in anticipation of a near-term correction. Below is our updated portfolio - it is about 22% in the red. Our cash position is about 28%:

Stock	Buy Date	Buy Price	Current Price	Current % Of Portfolio	Unrealized % Return	Yield as % of Portfolio Value
Altria (MO)	Various	16.69	16.41	3.53	(1.65)	0.38
Philip Morris International (PM)	1/4/2005	32.19	42.15	8.38	30.93	0.45
Kraft Foods (KFT)	Various	24.03	25.41	3.64	5.72	0.23
Pfizer (PFE)	Various	24.37	15	6.31	(38.44)	0.30
ICICI Bank (IBN)	5/18/2006 and 08/01/2008	25.28	29.83	10.68	18.02	0.30
Advantage Energy Fund (AAV)	11/2/2006	11.22	4.89	1.75	(56.43)	0.17
Central Europe & Russia Fund (CEE)	Various	39.23	22.68	5.69	(42.18)	0.03
Patni Computers (PTI)	8/10/2007	20.85	10.42	3.73	(50.06)	0.08
Itron Inc. (ITRI)	11/07/2007	85.01	56.59	4.05	(33.51)	None
Anthracite (AHR)	11/09/2007	7.97	0.77	0.28	(90.34)	0.00
ClickSoftware (CKSW)	11/09/2007	4.61	5.48	3.93	18.87	None
Harvest Energy (HTE)	11/28/2007	21.01	5.91	1.69	(71.88)	0.22
iRobot (IRBT)	12/18/2007	18.65	13.06	3.74	(29.37)	None
LDK Solar (LDK)	01/22/2008	30.49	11.01	2.37	(63.89)	None
Aegon N.V. (AEG)	04/28/2008	15.99	6.25	1.34	(60.90)	0.00
TD Ameritrade (AMTD)	05/21/2008	17.68	17.36	4.97	(1.84)	None
Costco (COST)	08/01/2008	62.28	46.11	3.30	(25.96)	0.07
Frontline Limited (FRO)	10/06/2008	36.95	26.60	2.86	(28.00)	0.17
DryShips Incorporated (DRYS)	02/09/2009	6.96	6.19	3.10	(11.12)	0.00
Cash				27.93
Total Portfolio					(22.62)	2.54

• For Altria and Philip Morris International, assumed spin-off ratio of 30.83:69.17. Altria is yet to supply the cost-basis info

Below is a summary of transactions during the year:

Stock	Buy Date	Buy Price	Sell Date	Sell Price	% Gain (Loss)	% Portfolio Return*
DryShips (DRYS)	Various	11.66	01/29/2009	8.96	(23.29)	(1.39)
DryShips Feb 15 Calls (OOCBC)	01/29/2009	0.20	01/16/2009	2.50	922	0.58
Companhia Siderugica Nacional (SID)	Various	11.03	01/29/2009	16.01	44.86	1.73
Taiwan Semi Feb 7.5 Calls (TSMBU)	Expired	NA	01/09/2009	0.90	NA	0.77
Taiwan Semi (TSM)	7/27/2006	8.70	03/03/2009	7.76	NA	(0.78)
Direxion Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS)	03/16/2009	5.09	03/19/2009	6.53	28.31	1.26
Direxion Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS)	03/23/2009	5.94	03/23/2009	6.22	4.63	0.19
Direxion Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS)	03/24/2009	6.45	03/24/2009	7.12	10.30	0.44
Direxion Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ)	03/26/2009	19.67	03/27/2009	19.91	1.22	0.05
Direxion Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS)	03/30/2009	5.49	03/31/2009	5.20	(5.35)	(0.23)
Direxion Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ)	04/09/2009	10.47	04/13/2009	11.03	5.40	0.22
RQCDU – Ericsson April 7.5 Calls	1/21/2009	NA	04/18/2009	7.50	NA	0.65
Ericsson ADR (ERIC)	5/5/2008	11.83	04/18/2009	7.48	(36.80)	(3.04)
FASEB – May 10 calls on FAS	4/27/2009	0.58	04/22/2009	0.90	NA	0.14
FASEJ – May 8 calls on FAS	5/01/2009	0.93	04/30/2009	1.47	NA	0.14
Direxion Financial Bull 3X (FAS)	4/13/2009	9.86	06/18/2009	8.78	(10.95)	(0.47)
FASFI – June 9 calls on FAS	6/18/2009	0.28	05/18/2009	1.52	NA	0.54
Trina Solar (TSL)	Various	24.90	6/20/2009	22.50	(9.65)	(1.05)
TSLFX – June 22.5 calls on TSL	6/20/2009	0	05/27/2009	2.77	NA	1.21
Realized Gain/(Loss) YTD	-	-	-	-	-	1.36

• % Gain/Loss Relative to Portfolio Value at Beginning of Year + Deposits
• The table assumes realization of profits associated with selling options only after the option is exercised or expiry.

Algeria Stamps Profile

Algeria spanning almost a million in square miles of land area is the second largest country in Africa (behind Sudan). Located in Northern Africa and bordered by Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, and the Mediterranean Sea to the North it has a population over 33 million people. By African standards Algeria’s GDP of around $7000 (PPP) is very respectable but the disparity in wealth distribution is immense as the subsistence of close to 25% of the population is under $2 per diem.

The first stamps of Algeria were the French ones issued in 1900-29 (Scott #109-115) symbolizing liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality, and fraternity) the national motto of France. The same with overprints “ALGERIE” were issued during the period from 1924 to 1926.

• Both the French issues and the ones with the overprint (Scott #1 to #4 and #6) are easily available.
• Double overprints are known to exist and legitimate copies of those are valued in the 100’s.
• Imperforate stamps in this series catalog in the $50 range.
• Between 1859 and 1924, Algeria used special stamps of France issued for French colonies and many of those are valued in the 100s (French Colonies Scott #1 through 59).

In the first set of stamps issued by Algeria in 1926 one depicts a street in Kasbah, Algiers the nation’s capital. Another design is that of the Marabout (tomb) of Sidi-Yacoub located in the small city of Blida about 30 miles south-west of Algiers. Completing the collection is a couple portraying the famous mosques - Mosque of Sidi Abd-er-Rahman and La Pecherie Mosque in Algiers (Scott #33 to #67). The set catalogues for $100 mint and at about half for used.

Many of the stamps in the classic period (before 1940) had designs of famous mosques or tombs of Muslim saints called marabouts as Algeria is predominately a Muslim country (~99%). Among other themes are the 1937 “Taking of Constantine by the French” set (Scott #113 to #116) and the semi-postal set commemorating the 20th anniversary of armistice (Scott #B28 to #B31). The former set catalogs for under $10 while the latter one under $35. Also around are a pair of global themed sets of 1937, one issued for the Paris International Exposition (Scott #109 to #112) and the other for New York World’s fair (Scott #126 to #130). The sets catalog for about $5 and $10 respectively. Scenes from Algiers, Constantine, and Oran, the three provincial departments of the French, were another common theme for Algerian stamps during the early period.

The modern history of Algeria is predicated on the Algerian independence movement from 1954 to 1962, a guerrilla war also known as the Algerian War of Independence. Of particular significance is the issue in July 1958 illustrating the Algiers Arms Type of 1947 with the inscription “Republique Francaise”. This stamp is valued at around $20 used or mint (Scott #285 6fr red and green). In September 1958, Algeria became an integral part of France and from then on till July 1962, stamps of France were used in Algeria. The first issues after Independence were French stamps (Scott #939, #968, #945, #946, and #1013) with an “EA” overprint (Scott #286 to #290). These are valued at around $10. Genuine copies of the hand stamped overprints are valued much higher than the more common typographic overprint varieties.

Stamps of Algeria before independence in 1962 have the inscription “ALGÉRIE” while the ones after independence read “REPUBLIQUE ALGERIENNE”. Algerian stamps enjoying collector interest are

• the 1963 Flag set (Scott #296 to 303) which catalog for around $30 Mint and about half that for used,
• the miniature paintings set of 1966 by Mohammed Racim, the father of Algerian miniatures (Scott #362 to 364) which catalog for around $15 Mint and one-third that for used, and
• the sister set of wall paintings from Tassili-n-ajjer (Scott #365 to 368) also similarly valued.

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Last Updated: 07/2011.
 

Carnival of road to financial independence #8

Welcome to the June 19, 2009 edition of road to financial independence.

Beating Inflation

FIRE Getters presents What is the Current Inflation Rate? posted at FIRE Finance.

Relax presents Do we have to worry about inflation? posted at The Wise Curve, saying, "What if a hamburger costs about 20 Euro?"

SwissTgallery presents Qualities of an Effective Business Analyst posted at Companies Improve ROI in Software Development, saying, "Business Analysts are responsible for facilitating requirements analysis, requirements validation and business process improvement. Below are some qualities and traits of a good Requirements Lead and Business Process Improvement Facilitator that a Business Analyst should develop to be effective."

Frugal Living

Steve Faber presents Cheap Car Insurance for a Woman Driver posted at Cheap Car Insurance.

Raag Vamdatt presents How to use a credit card the financially prudent way :: RaagVamdatt.com :: Financial Planning demystified posted at RaagVamdatt.com.

SpendingIt presents The Three Biggest Opportunities to Save Money posted at Spending It.

Darren Collins presents My Chest Fridge Conversion posted at Green-Change.com, saying, "Converting a chest freezer into a super-efficient fridge that uses 1/10th the electricity of the fridge it replaced."

MoneyNing presents How to Save Money on Your Wedding posted at Money Ning, saying, "We go through the big day at least once but many people think it's one of the most expensive days of our lives. Here are some tips that will help reduce the expenses of this important day."

Lazy Man and Money presents Save Money with Yard Sales posted at Lazy Man and Money.

Woman Tribune presents How Newlyweds Can Minimize Financial Stress posted at Woman Tribune.

KCLau presents Why Robert T. Kiyosaki is a best-selling author? posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "Robert T. Kiyosaki is the best personal finance author I follow. I started reading his books back in 1999. Although some reviews you found written by readers on Amazon say that he keeps repeating most of the points, I still find them interesting every time. It works as a revision whenever he repeats."

Renee V. Rouse presents Frugal-Living-Skills Blog: Family Meals for Under $5 - Tater Tot Casserole posted at Frugal-Living-Skills Blog, saying, ""...Weekly grocery circulars often read “feed a family of 4 for under $10!”. I’m sure most of you have laughed at this as I did. As a result, I began to wonder what does dinner really cost for my family of 8? So I set a challenge for myself and I figured if I kept it under $5, I was doing good...""

Gregory E. Rouse presents Raised Bed Garden Mounds posted at Raised-Bed-Gardening Blog, saying, "Raised beds are one of the best ways to garden for the home gardener. They allow you to do concentrated gardening, square foot gardening, companion planting, mulching, etc... They're easy to build and relatively cheap. But if you're looking for the cheapest and easiest way to do raised beds and you have the room for it, then raised bed mounds are the way to go."

Darwin presents Going Out of Business Sales a Scam or Worthwhile? posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "This article highlights the dangers of thinking you'll save money at the "Going out of Business" sales popping up all over and how to actually get the best deal."

SpendOnLife.com presents How I Saved $652 on Car Insurance: My Geico vs. Esurance Story posted at SpendOnLife, saying, "Personal story about shopping around and saving $652 on insurance."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Balance Transfer Credit Card Tips, Facts and Traps posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Thanks!"

Susan presents 4 places NOT to cut the grocery budget posted at Practicing Thrift, saying, "Cutting the budget doesn't mean cutting everything."

Abigail Perry presents Mixed marriages: When savers and spenders unite posted at i pick up pennies, saying, "It's rare that you find someone with your exact financial goals and priorities. So, in a financially mixed marriage, how do you find your way?"

Raj Patel presents What to do for a vacation… posted at DebtGoal, saying, "Some valuable ideas for summer vacations that cost very little."

Passive Income

EE presents 5 Things I’ve Learnt About Making Money on the Internet posted at Web Career Girl, saying, "Some things I've learnt on my road to making extra money on the internet through writing and blogging."

BankMan presents $250k FDIC Deposit Insurance Extended to 2013 posted at High Yield Savings Accounts, saying, "The FDIC has extended the additional insurance until the end of 2013, which will add stability to the banking industry and instill more consumer confidence in our economy."

Tyler Tervooren presents My Journey to Become a Green Investor - Part 4: The Final Decision posted at Frugally Green, saying, "This is the final installment of my journey to become a green investor. After copious research, I have finally selected the best fit for me, explain my decision making process and reflect on the month of research done to allow myself the peace of mind in selecting an investment that I won't need to fret about."

Reducing Expenses

Jim DeSantis presents 3 Keys To Self-Control and Saving Money posted at On Line Tribune | Family Life, saying, "Lack of self-control when it comes to money is a common pitfall for most people. Often, when people come into an extra amount of money, they have this tendency to rush out and instantly satisfy the irresistible urge to splurge on anything they lay their eyes on. This is a very costly mistake from a number of aspects. Sometimes people fail to recognize the idea that the future has to be considered, too, whenever spending and saving enter the picture."

Wenchypoo presents The Protectionist Plastic Police posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket.

nickel presents How to Find the Best Mortgage Rates posted at fivecentnickel.com.

Super Saver presents Saying Bye Bye to our Mortgage posted at My Wealth Builder.

RateNerd presents New Dating Question Revealed: I Love You, How’s Your Credit? posted at Rate Nerd, saying, "Don’t get caught carrying your relationship’s financial baggage . How many credit points is your relationship worth?"

Nancy Miller presents 25 Simple Tricks to painlessly cut $100 /mo from Your Spending posted at Online University Lowdown.

JJ presents Practicing Frugality with Finesse posted at Investing and your Future, saying, "Frugality is the blending together of quality without wastefulness to make the most delicious combination of consumption."

jim presents Cash For Clunkers Program posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents Best Zero Percent Balance Transfer Credit Cards posted at Cash Money Life, saying, "Make or save money with a 0% balance transfer credit card offer."

Stock Investments

Silver Investor presents How To Buy Gold Through Your Brokerage Account posted at Gold Investing Info, saying, "Many want to buy gold but do not want to own the physical bullion."

Mike presents The Collapsing Treasuries Market Is Signaling Change posted at Bear Market Profits, saying, "The yields on government bonds are rising and this will alter the markets."

Praveen presents Three Stock Picking Ideas From Forbes Magazine posted at My Simple Trading System.

Debt Wizard presents The Best Credit Card Is A Check Card posted at Money Help, saying, "It is better to get used to using check cards than credit cards for your everyday spending."

Jae Jun presents The Art of Selling Stocks | Old School Value posted at Old School Value, saying, "Buying a stock is only the first half of the equation. It is the easy half. Knowing when to sell and having a strategy to lock in gains is even more important."

Ray presents SmartMoney 2009's Best Online Brokers posted at Money Blue Book.

The Smarter Wallet presents Investing In Stocks and Bonds: Some Investment Basics posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, "Thanks!"

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
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Frugal Options for Families with Kids during Summer Months

In the United States planning summer activities is a necessity for families with kids during the months of June through August. Researching activities for the summer break is indeed taxing and some families start the preparation process in January. Come summer break, the populous can be broadly categorized as:

1. At least one or both parents are available to be home with the kids during the weekdays, or
2. Neither parent is around - kids need day care during the time parent(s) are at work.

We were in the latter group for a number of years through 2007. From last year we graduated to the first option on a semi-basis, as one of us works out of home now.

Summer provides the ideal setting to channel energy into developing a close-knit family. It is also the time to bond with your extended family – siblings, grand-parents, etc on both sides. Working parents can opt to use their vacation hours during this period and spend time with the entire family. Siblings usually enjoy getting their kids to develop strong bonds with their cousins under one roof and warmly appreciate the return favor. Grandparents in close-knit families look forward to inviting their grandkids over at least for a short stay. These options are great for the emotional development of kids too, as they realize the iron hand and velvet glove are universal in parenting.

For people with a frugal mind-set, this setup can be a big cost-saver compared to signing up for activities and/or day camps provided the family members are a hop skip and jump away. Certainly, this is not practical for all as airline tickets could prove steep. However, when the side-benefit of nurturing a close-knit extended family is factored in, most will come ahead in spite of the flight tickets. Some consider this approach with close friends as it is usually more convenient, but there are pitfalls:

• unless you know the “friends” inside-out and who they hang out with, there are risks associated in arranging for kids spending time at the “friends” place, and
• Chances are low for friends to reprimand another’s kid as needed, although there are exceptions.

Generally the extended care provided in conjunction with the school is very likely to offer summer programs. Compared to outside choices these are usually more palatable to the wallet. Also, many parents opt out of the regular extra-curricular activities the kids are engaged in through the school year, during the summer months. The oft cited reason is that the summer schedule conflicts with set regular commitment. The drawback with this approach is that it hinders improvement - it is important that the kids are in touch with whatever activity they are registered for. Also, most instructors are willing to prorate if given advance notice – although, it might cost slightly more per class than the usual.

A lightly structured day with fillers and outlets amply suffice an elementary kid’s summer break day. Library reading programs, pursuing hobbies or discovering new ones, outdoor activity that packs in exercise, communing with nature all qualify as excellent choices for fillers. Many business giants such as Starbucks, Borders etc., also offer free kids reading programs or similar activities. Summer is also a good time to take advantage of any yearly membership programs such as the zoo, or science/art museums. Such places also offer special summer programs that are either free or discounted for families with an annual membership.

The local community center is a great resource for the whole family, especially if the facilities are great (pool, tennis, ping-pong tables, etc.). Many businesses offer heavily discounted summer deals. Chief among them are local cinema chains and/or video/game rental centers.

Our plan over the years has been to do a combination of the above things as we aim to give the kids and ourselves a great summer experience while minimizing the expenses. The kids generally get to stay two weeks with each of their grandparents abroad. We also ensure they spent quality time with our siblings. Most of our vacation days are used up during this period as we indulge in family trips. A daily agenda is in place for the kids (with their buy-in) to help facilitate the progress of the day. This is indeed a time saver for the parent working from home as the kids are responsible and accountable for honoring their end of the bargain. The family trips and other associated expenses are not exactly pocket change, but by combining our vacation plans, visits to our extended family, and choosing activities that are light on the wallet yet pleasing, we keep it manageable.

Albania Stamps Profile

Albania, a small South Eastern European country spanning 10,600 square miles of land area and with less than 4 million in population, is bordered by Greece, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, and the Adriatic Sea. Though it ranks high in poverty among the countries in Europe with a GDP of less than $7000 (PPP) its literacy rate is outstanding at close to 99%.

The Albania of today was once part of the Ottoman Empire that stretched all the way from 1385 to the 20th century. The Balkan wars marked the end of the domination of Ottoman Empire in the Balkans soon after which Albania declared independence. Many of the stamps issued in the Ottoman period by the Austrian offices in Albanian coastal towns and also by the Greek consular post in Epirus are extremely valuable – in the 1000’s for used on cover and around half that or lower for off-cover stamps and mint stamps.

The Turkish stamps of 1908 (Scott #132-138) and 1909 (Scott #151-160) depicting the “Tughra” monogram of Sultan Abdul-Aziz with an overprint of the double-headed eagles are the first stamps from Albania and were released in June 1913 (Scott #1 through 19). The catalog value of these issues run from the high 100’s to the low 1000’s. Excellent counterfeits make it tricky for an average collector to ensure what is available from a dealer or online marketplace is legitimate.

The double-headed eagle seal, which also appears in the flag, the coat of arms, and the first stamps of Albania, is a representation of the seal of Skanderbeg. Double-headed eagle seals are a familiar symbol used by the Holy Roman Empire and by the Byzantine Empire during the middle ages. Many early stamps and newer anniversary issues celebrate Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, Albania’s valiant national hero, who resisted the Ottoman Empire from 1443 to 1468. Significant among them are the first anniversary of Albanian independence issues (Scott #35 - #52, Scott #41 - #46 and the ones with inverted surcharges – Scott #47a - #52b). The catalog values for these stamps are in the range of a few dollars to a few tens of dollars. Most other early stamps depict the double-headed eagle seal in different designs. The first significant design shift from these two themes occurred in the panoramic view of Gjirokastër, the historic town constantly occupied by Greece during early independence until the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 recognized it as part of Albania. The stamps (Scott #147 to 153) were issued in 1923 and they are valued fairly inexpensively at around the $10 range for the set. Several issues with different overprints on the same design were issued till 1925.

The country name Albania is inscribed in the stamps in Albanian as Shqipëria, but the variations in the spelling of the name can be complicating (roughly 10 exist). The similarity stops after the first three letters ‘Shq’.

The classic period (till 1940) also saw issues of President Ahmed Zogu and King Victor Emmanuel III. Significant other themes include the “Albanian Eagle in Turkish Shakles” design of 1937 (Scott #278 and #279) that can be obtained in the $10 range and the architecture set of 1939 (Scott #320 to #323) for around $50 for MNH.

World War II themes dominated the issues in the 40’s. Noteworthy among them are the set of the 2nd anniversary of Albanian National Army of Liberation of 1945 (Scott #354 to #360), People’s Republic Issues of 1945 and 1946 (Scott #361 to #378), and the Souvenir Sheet of 1947 depicting the World War II martyrs and Qemal Stafa the founding member of the Albanian communist party (Scott #391 to #393). The former two sets both catalog for around $100 used while the latter for around $60 used – Mint copies catalog for roughly half these amounts.

Albania started issuing CTOs (Cancelled to Order) in bulk to dealers’ in1950 and these are not collectible. The designs from 1950 mainly revolved around communist themes as the country was strongly aligned with both Russia and China. Certain color varieties and imperforate versions of some of these issues have significant value. For example, the tourism issues of 1962 (Scott #630 to #633) has a catalog value in the $30 range for mint and double that for used (not CTO). Also, the imperforate versions of the space exploration issues of 1962 (Scott #621 to #624) in changed colors go for around $50 for mint or used.

From mid 60’s onwards, though stamp designs turned increasingly colorful, catalog values continue to stay low because of the mass production for the philatelic industry. Mint or postally used stamps sport a relatively higher catalog value. An example of a recent issue with significant catalog value (close to $30) is the 2004 paintings set of icons by Nikolla Onufri (Scott #2743 to #2745).

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Last Updated: 07/2011.

Best Value in Flip Camcorders – A Comparative Review

Flash camcorders are an excellent choice for most consumers, as discussed in the comparative review of the best values in flash camcorders. Cisco Systems, through its strategic acquisition of Pure Digital the maker of Flip Video camcorders, clawed its way into this very competitive market earlier this year. Pure Digital deserves laurels in carving a niche in the extremely competitive camcorder market where giants like Canon, Sony, and Panasonic welded power. Flip Video camcorders hold their own with these distinct features:

• Unique design that reinvented few fundamentals: 1) The simplified hand grip design blew away the concept of requiring some sort of an operating handle, and 2) An integrated approach replaced the snap-out LCD design.
• Flip-out USB design allows connectivity to a computer without entailing a USB chord,
• Functions on just two AA batteries (Ultra models).

A few intelligent design compromises in reducing form-factor were necessary for this feature-set:

• Fixed-focus lens: This is the single-biggest design compromise that helped shape the end-product with its enviable form-factor. The decision was fairly risky as at that time as web-cams were the only products employing fixed-focus lens with success,
• Internal Flash Memory: This risky design compromise panned out only because the integrated USB design simplified connectivity. The capacity of this flash memory can do with tremendous improvement as otherwise it mandates having a computer handy to transfer videos whenever capacity limit is reached.

Below is a spread-sheet that compares the most popular Flip Video Camcorder third generation models:

Product	Flip UltraHD (60 minutes)	Flip UltraHD (120 minutes)	Flip MinoHD (120 minutes)	Flip SlideHD (240 minutes)
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List Price	$149.99	$199.99	$229.99	$229.99
Best Price	$129	$179	$199	$199.99
Date of Release	09/2010	09/2010	09/2010	04/2010
Storage Media	4GB Internal Flash Memory – 60 minutes	8GB Internal Flash Memory – 120 minutes	8GB Internal Flash Memory – 120 minutes	16GB Internal Flash Memory – 240 minutes
Video Recording Format	MPEG-4	MPEG-4	MPEG-4	MPEG-4
Lens & Focus	F/2.4 Fixed Focus	F/2.4 Fixed Focus	F/2.4 Fixed Focus	F/2.4 Fixed Focus
Optical Zoom	None	None	None	None
Digital Zoom	2 x – smooth	2 x – smooth	2 x – smooth	2 x - smooth
Image Stabilizer	No	Yes	Yes	No
Resolution	1280 x 720, 30fps	1280 x 720, 60fps	1280 x 720, 60fps	1280 x 720, 30fps
Battery Type	Rechargeable AA battery pack (NOT included) or regular 2 AA (included)	Rechargeable AAA battery pack (included) or Lithium 3 AAA	Li-ion recharged through USB	Li-ion recharged through USB
Size & Weight	4.25” x 2.19“ x 1.17”, 5.7 ounces	4.16” x 2.11“ x 0.88”  inches, 4.5 ounces	3.94” x 1.97“ x 0.63”, 4.1 ounces	4.13" x 2.17" x 0.98" , 5.9 ounces
Screen Size	2.0”	2.0”	2.0”	3.0”
Others	Easy Press Buttons, HDMI Mini	Easy Press Buttons, HDMI Micro	Touch Sensitive, HDMI Mini	Touch Sensitive, HDMI Mini

• * The 30 minute versions of Flip are older models
• * A 60-minute version of the Flip MinoHD is also a current model and retails for $147.99.

The following three key attributes make it consumer friendly:

1. Diminutive form-factor. Flip Camcorders fits easily in one’s pocket. The integrated LCD and grip design causes very little delay from retrieval to the commencing of video capture.
2. Ease of use: Flip has just three main buttons for Record, Play, and Delete. Around the central bright red record button are the +/- zoom button and a Forward/Backward button. The slide-switch for on/off is on the side. This design is not intuitive at first when switching over from a conventional camcorder interface and then it becomes second nature.
3. Excellent low-light performance: The low-light performance for this low-end camcorder, achieved through a combination of a larger CCD (Charge Coupled Device, a chip that determines the quality of pictures) and a larger pixel size, is exceptional. The larger pixel works well with videos on the web.

The buying decision boils down to whether the price difference justifies the incremental value obtained for the additional feature-set. Flip UltraHD (60 minutes) is priced $50 below the 120 minute model but lacks the following key features: Frame Rate is 30 vs 60 and does not have image stabilization. With MinoHD, the key advantage is form factor, but otherwise the feature set is similar but UltraHD has the advantage of lithuim AAA batteries as opposed to internal battery pack. SlideHD introduces the concept of 'Shoot & Show' by have a 3.0" screen that can be tilted at a good viewing angle. It earns points for the cool factor and has double the capacity compared to other models. All this additional feature set can be had for the same price as MinoHD - the catch is that the new Image Stabilization and higher frame rate (60fps) are missing in this product. Even so, the pricing makes this an outstanding deal.

Best overall pick: Flip SlideHD (240 minutes) - $199.

Last Updated: 12/2010.

Related Posts:

1. Best Values in Shoot & Share HD Camcorders - A Comparative Review.
2. Best Values in Flip Camcorders - Comparative Review.
3. Best Values in Flash Camcorders - Comparative Review.