Niagara Falls, NY Trip Report

We embarked on an 8-day/7-night trip to the East Coast mid-July. Unlike the week-long Eastern Canadian road-trip we did last year this time around the trip was more detail oriented as we had company. Grand parents and a great aunt and uncle added to the merriment. The flight tickets from Oakland to Buffalo with Southwest came to around $195 per person each way – Southwest’s “Wanna Getaway” fares varied between $109 and $189 (plus around $34 in taxes and fees) but given our inflexibility in flight schedule this was the best we could net.

Getting good accommodation on the American side of the falls for a reasonable price for one night is an exercise in futility. Our group was a party of eight and reserving a suite was not easy. The imposing Seneca gambling resort is the only newer hotel in the area. If gambling is in the plans (even slot machines) then Seneca Niagara is the best option. The rooms are nice and the pricing especially the week-nights are pretty good – they are the only game in town and hence payouts and service are just average. Some hotels have a two-night minimum stay restriction in place which they were not inclined to waive in favor of a larger group size. Most of the hotels, even the well-known brands, are located in really old buildings and are saddled with age-related problems. Our reservation was at the Crowne Plaza – the location was ideal (few blocks away from the falls), but everything else was below par -

• The elevators and the lobby area were constantly jam-packed with teenagers and luggage (as one of the few available options, this is a popular choice for youth soccer and other teams),
• The suite itself fit six people with two of us having to use portable beds (subject to availability),
• The almost $600 per night tab was lofty for our frugal standards.

In fact, if there is no visa problems (US citizens need to show passport, others need visa) in getting across the border, our overwhelming recommendation would be to find accommodation on the Canadian side even though there are interesting attractions on the US side.

A quick run-down on the naming of the three different falls for the novice:

• What the world identifies as the Niagara Falls is the Horse-Shoe Falls (aka the Canadian Falls) and it carries more than 90% of the water that cascades down into the gorge. The brink measures at 2500 feet and sits about 170 feet high.
• The American Falls that carries less than 10% of the water sits 180 feet high, and the brink measures around 1200 feet.
• The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest with brink measurement under 60 feet.

The view of the waterfall from land is undeniably better on the Canadian side, but there are a few things that make a trip to the American side worthwhile. We visited the Observation Tower, Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, and the Niagara Falls State Park areas. Here is a description of the attractions:

1. Observation Tower: It is a platform that extends over the Niagara Gorge and provides a great view of the falls. Granted this view is not comparable to the one from the Canadian side its beauty is that both the Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls, the two narrower falls on the American side can be observed. Admission to the observation tower is a dollar from April through October and free the rest of the time – the Maid-of-the-Mist boat tour (a must in our opinion), includes in its price the admission to the Observation Tower.
2. Cave of the Winds: This tour, located on Goat Island, takes one down to the Gorge. The entire-tour is open May through October and the Gorge-only tour is available in April. A 175-foot elevator gets the visitors to the permanent deck located about 75 feet from the base of the Bridal Veil Falls. The walkway that leads up to the Hurricane Deck, the proximity of which is 20-feet close to the Bridal Veil falls, is reassembled every year in April to avoid damage to the deck due to inclement winter weather. The deck is aptly named for it does simulate tropical storm conditions. This unique experience lets one appreciate the wonders of nature in all its triumphant glory - in our opinion a far better value for money compared to the ‘Journey Behind the Falls’ attraction on the Canadian side as the Hurricane deck gets you closer to the falls. Admission is $11 for adults and $8 for kids over 5 and includes the souvenir yellow poncho and sandals.
3. Maid of the Mist: This world renowned boat-tour takes tourists to the front of the falls. The tour is offered both from the Canadian side and the US side April through October and is priced reasonably at $13.50 for adult and $7.85 for kids over 5 (the US side pricing includes admission to the Observation Tower, Canadian side pricing is slightly higher).
4. Niagara Falls State Park: The most underrated attraction on the US side is the Niagara Falls State Park area around the falls (see the green area in the map). The all-day hop-on/off trolley service that covers the 3-mile loop is again affordable at $2 per adult, $1 for kids 6-12, and free for under 6 (Service Hours: 9AM-10PM, subject to change). The service starts from Prospect Point conveniently located very near the Visitor center. If time and spirit allows, walking the scenic park is a great alternative - compared to the Canadian side, the park area is far less crowded and one gets to appreciate the beauty of the place – American Rapids Bridge, the scenic walk by the side of the rapids in Goat Island, the Terrapin point with one of the best views of the Bridal Veil Falls, and the Three-Sisters Island all make the experience memorable and will be cherished for years. And the icing is, the entire experience comes free and at one’s pace…
5. Others: There is an IMAX 40-minute movie offered at the lower level of the visitor center on a 45-foot screen about Niagara Falls Explorers, Settlers, and Dare Devils. It is $11 for Adults and $7.50 for kids between 6 and 12. For visitors interested in geology, this is a great option, otherwise it can be given a miss. Tickets are affordable ($3 adults, $1.50 kids 6-12). The place is located on Robert Moses Parkway at the tip of Bath Avenue. It also has the Trailhead center which is the starting point for hikes – the trails vary in difficulty and can take anywhere between one and three hours.

If the plan includes all six major attractions on the American side (Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Scenic Trolley, Adventure Theater, Discovery Center, and the Aquarium), taking advantage of the discount using the Discover Pass is recommended. But, keep in mind that only the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds involve the Falls per se...

Last Updated: 02/2011.

Added Plum Creek Timber (PCL), CPFL Energia S.A. (CPL), and BP plc (BP)

As twittered previously, we added three new names to our portfolio over the last month. We also did a round-trip on ConocoPhilips (COP) which realized a small gain along with dividend capture. The purchase details follow:

1. Plum Creek Timber (PCL) on 7/23/2009 at $30.50 with around 8% of our overall portfolio. This was a long-term holding in our portfolio until last year when the shares were called away at $35. The dividend of around 5.5%, timber business fundamentals, and its status as the company with the largest holder of land (close to 7.5M acres) should make this a good defensive holding.
2. CPFL Energia S.A. (CPL) on 7/28/2009 at $50.45 with around 7% of our overall portfolio. The purchase simultaneously fills the slot for an energy utility and exposure to Brazil. The company is one of the largest distributors of Electricity in Brazil. Here again, the company’s commitment to distribute at least 50% of its net income in dividends (current yield is around 7.5%), electric utility business fundamentals, and the chance that the investment will act as a hedge against weakness on the dollar should make this a good defensive holding.
3. BP plc (BP) on 8/5/2009 at $51.49 with around 7% of our overall portfolio. BP is an oil & gas major with a current dividend yield of close to 7%.

With these purchases, our cash position has gone down to just under 10%. Below is our updated portfolio – it is about 18% in the red:

Stock	Buy Date	Buy Price	Current Price	Current % Of Portfolio	Unrealized % Return	Yield as % of Portfolio Value
Altria (MO)	Various	16.69	18.04	3.57	8.12	0.38
Philip Morris International (PM)	1/4/2005	32.19	46.87	7.38	45.59	0.45
Kraft Foods (KFT)	Various	24.03	28.81	3.80	19.87	0.23
Pfizer (PFE)	Various	24.37	16.64	5.49	(31.71)	0.30
ICICI Bank (IBN)	5/18/2006 and 08/01/2008	25.28	31.07	10.25	22.92	0.30
Advantage Energy Fund (AAV)	11/2/2006	11.22	5.60	1.85	(50.11)	0.17
Central Europe & Russia Fund (CEE)	Various	39.23	28.06	6.48	(28.46)	0.03
Patni Computers (PTI)	8/10/2007	20.85	16.65	5.49	(20.20)	0.08
Itron Inc. (ITRI)	11/07/2007	85.01	53.38	3.52	(37.28)	None
Anthracite (AHR)	11/09/2007	7.97	0.70	0.23	(91.22)	0.00
Harvest Energy (HTE)	11/28/2007	21.01	5.86	1.55	(72.11)	0.22
iRobot (IRBT)	12/18/2007	18.65	12.70	3.35	(31.32)	None
LDK Solar (LDK)	01/22/2008	30.49	8.94	1.77	(70.68)	None
Aegon N.V. (AEG)	04/28/2008	15.99	7.66	1.52	(52.08)	0.00
TD Ameritrade (AMTD)	05/21/2008	17.68	18.72	4.94	5.85	None
Costco (COST)	08/01/2008	62.28	48.56	3.20	(22.03)	0.07
Frontline Limited (FRO)	10/06/2008	36.95	23.83	2.36	(35.51)	0.17
DryShips Incorporated (DRYS)	02/09/2009	6.96	6.02	2.78	(13.56)	0.00
Plum Creek Timber (PCL)	07/23/2009	30.50	31.37	8.28	2.85	0.46
CPFL Energia S.A. (CPL)	07/28/2009	50.45	54.32	7.17	7.67	0.55
BP plc (BP)	08/05/2009	51.49	52.25	6.90	1.48	0.45
Cash				9.32
Total Portfolio					(17.42)	3.80

• 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
ClickSoftware (CKSW)	11/09/2007	4.61	07/01/2009	6.84	48.37	1.95
ConocoPhilips (COP)	7/29/2009	43.08	08/05/2009	44.44	3.16	0.24
Realized Gain/(Loss) YTD	-	-	-	-	-	3.54

• % 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.

Australia Stamps Profile

Australia, a country in the Southern Hemisphere is comprised of the main island, the Island of Tasmania in the South East, and several other smaller islands. Neighboring countries to the North include Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea - Australia is pretty much isolated otherwise with only New Zealand to the South East and few other smaller Island nations as neighbors. Indigenous Australians (Aborigines) are known to have inhabited the place as early as 40,000 years ago. The eastern part of Australia was claimed by the British in 1770 and population has grown at a rapid pace ever since – it is estimated that the whole country which is slightly smaller than the size of the 48 contiguous states of the United States was less than 500,000 before European settlers came in – by 1900, the population had grown to almost four million. Even now, despite an aggressive immigration program over the years, the population stands at just under 22 million, making it one of the most scarcely populated countries of the world (~eight per square mile). The commonwealth of Australia was formed on 1 January 1901, when the six colonies (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania) became a federation. The colonies issued their own stamps and these stamps were used until 1913.

The first stamps of Australia were a definitive set of 15 stamps with a “Kangaroo and Map” design with denominations from half-penny to two pounds (Scott #1 to #15) released on 2nd January 1913. The issue is significant in that the design does not incorporate any reference to the Monarch as the Fisher government at the time was opposed to the idea. The set is very valuable with the lower denominations valued at a tens of dollars to a few hundred dollars and the higher denominations valued in the 1000s. The two pound stamp in rose & black (Scott #15) in MNH condition catalogs for almost $9000 – Used copies catalog for about one-third while hinged unused copies go for about half that price. The change of government in June 1914 promptly resulted in the issue of short set of two stamps with a KGV & Kookaburra designs (Scott #17 & Scott #18). The KGV stamp catalogs for around $5 for either Used or MNH while the Kookaburra stamp catalogs for almost $200 for MNH and a one-fourth that for Used. From 1914 to 1927, Australian stamp issues consisted of just two designs – the “Kangaroo and Map” design and a slightly different version of the KGV design. Most of the “Kangaroo and Map” stamps from this period are highly valued especially in higher denominations. Many of the KGV designs and certain varieties also fetch a heavy premium.

On May 9, 1927 Australia issued their first commemorative stamp to mark the opening of the first parliament house in Canberra (Scott #94). The stamp catalogs for under a dollar for either MNH or Used. Vertical & Horizontal Imperf Pairs of this stamp exists but is very rare. Those catalog in the 1000s. Australian flaura & fauna along with the Monarch theme dominated the Australian stamp issues for several years. One significant issue outside of this theme was the “Nurse, Sailor, Soldier, and Aviator” design issued on July 15, 1940 in a set of four stamps (Scott #184 to #187) to represent Austalia’s participation in World War II. The set catalogs for around $20 for either MNH or Used. A set of three stamps with a Peace theme followed after World War II (Scott #200 to #202). This set is fairly common and catalog for around a dollar for either MNH or Used.

Australia issued an Arms set of four high-value stamps in 1949-50 with denominations from five shillings to two pounds (Scott #218 to #221). A MNH copy of this set is valued fairly high at around $200 while a Used set catalogs for just $20. Other significant issues over the years include:

1. A set of two stamps issued in September 1950 to mark the hundredth anniversary of stamp issues in Australia – the stamps (Scott #228 & #229) have the same designs that were used in 1850 by the colonies of Victoria & New South Wales (Queen Victoria & Seal of the Colony respectively). The pair is very affordable and catalogs for about a dollar for Used or MNH.
2. Two separate issue to mark the Melbourne Olympic Games of 1956. The first was a single stamp issued on December 1, 1954 with a design that combines the Olympic Circles Emblem & the Arms of Melbourne. The issue in dark blue (Scott #277) catalogs for less than $3 for either MNH or Used. The second was a set of four stamps (Scott #288 to #291) in three different designs issued on October 31, 1956. The designs were Melbourne Coat of Arms, Olympic Torch, and a beautiful multi-colored design of the Collins Street in Melbourne across the Yarra River. The issue was significant also by the fact that this was the first multi-colored stamp issue of Australia (production was outsourced). This set is also fairly affordable and catalogs for a few dollars. A lithographed miniature version of the set also exists and that has very little philatelic value, as they were not valid for postage and was of private origin.
3. The September 5, 1962 issue to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Australian Inland Mission founded by Rev. John Flynn. This stamp (Scott #346) is also very affordable at under a dollar. The stamp is significant also by the fact that it was the first multicolored issue that was printed in Australia. There is a very scarce error variety of this stamp (Red omitted) and that catalogs for around $400.
4. A set (Scott #375 to #379) of 5 stamps issued in two designs between 1963 and 1965 to honor early European explorers of Australia. The first design incorporates a portrait of Abel Tasman & his ship - the Dutch explorer is credited to have led the first known European expedition to reach Tasmania. The second design incorporates a portrait of George Bass and his Whaleboat – a British surgeon who explored Victoria & Tasmania in 1797. The high-value set (denominations from five shillings to two pounds) catalogs for around $150 for MNH and around $100 for Used.
5. The Foods set of 1972 (Scott #519 to #522) depicting different basic foods (Apple & Banana, Rice, Fish, and Cattle). The set catalogs for around $10 for MNH or Used. A similar set showing themes of Australian Economic Development was released in 1973 (Scott #550 to #553) and this set also catalogs for around $10 for MNH or Used. The designs show Iron Ore & Steel, Truck Convoy, and Aerial Mapping.
6. The animals set of 1981-83 (Scott #784 to #800) depicting 17 different animals. The beautiful set is very affordable at around $10. A sister set depicting sea life was also released 1984-86 (Scott #902 to #920) and is similarly valued.

Australia has a well-developed philatelic community and Australia Post issues several philatelic souvenirs and related items to cater to this community. Within philately per se, such items have limited value.

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Last Updated: 07/2011.

Economy, Business, Credit, and Debit at the Roundup #10

Welcome to the August 19, 2009 edition of Economy, Business, Credit, and Debit #10.

Debbie Foster presents Essential Tips For Optimizing Your Google Adwords Campaign and Lowering Costs posted at Internet Income - The Journey.

Ace presents I Have My IM Product Now How Much Should I Charge? posted at Internet Marketing Ace.

Jack Schmidt presents Albert Einstein and Your Personal Economy posted at SectorMatic Money Journal, saying, "SectorMatic Money Site - Personal Finance | Everything for the Big Spender on a Budget. Now you can live like a fat cat, even if you're on a money diet. Laugh all the way to the bank with Jack Schmidt and SectorMatic. It's for you!"

Olivia Hamilton Montgomery presents The Trick to Traffic Is Getting Some posted at eCommerceGal's Blog, saying, "eCommerceGal.com - Your best Internet marketing resource. Thousands of great articles for your Internet business success!"

Chris McClelland presents Credit card perks that you might be missing out on posted at Lucrative Investing.

kathryn presents International Unemployment Rates posted at Out of Debt Christian, saying, "The US unemployment rate hit 9.5% in June, a 26-year high. It’s predicted to go even higher in the coming months. But how does that compare with other countries? Check out this list of International unemployment rates collected by the Central Intelligence Agency. These are countries with higher unemployment rates than the US."

Deposit Accounts presents Where to Save Your Money During a Recession posted at Deposit Accounts.

KCLau presents The only financial company who knows the power of social media posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "there are always many methods to get free traffic and leads to your website. Beside search traffic, another major source of traffic is social media. There is one company who knows how to make use of social media – ROCKWILLS"

Simon Stapleton presents Why Don’t Graduates Get Jobs? posted at Career & Personal Development for CIOs, Technical Professionals and Self-Professed Geeks, saying, "The Recession has created massive competition for the fewer jobs that become available, and it’s graduates that are paying the price. Lack of experience in industry seems like an obvious reason why graduates are not offered job placements, but surprisingly, this is not the primary reason (according to a survey of 200 recruiting managers in the US, UK and South Africa)."

kristen ellis presents Behold The Almighty Raincheck! posted at Frugality In the Making.

Savings Toolbox presents How to Shop for Savings Accounts posted at Savings Toolbox.

James Williamson presents Instant Approval Unsecured Credit Cards posted at Spare Dollars, saying, "For those of us who have bad credit, finding an unsecured credit card can be difficult, and unsecured cards even more difficult. This article takes a look at some of the pitfalls of finding a credit card with bad credit."

Dave presents Unconventional Money Saving Techniques - Vox posted at Cheapo Groovo.

MatthewPaulson presents Saving Your way Through College posted at Fine-Tuned Finances.

Raymond Weiss presents A Financial Habit That Will Guarantee Success posted at Genyweath.com.

Justin Hall presents How to Walk Your Own Road posted at Justin Hall.

All Others

Chris presents Tax time: 8 house-related expenses you can claim. posted at Home I Own, saying, "Tips to maximize your tax return - nothing beats the free money!"

Matthew Overstreet presents Increase Web Traffic: Leverage Popular Culture To Increase Web Traffic posted at My Road to Financial Freedom.

Roy Jones presents 6 Steps to a Successful Business Hoax posted at Itinerant Lifestyle.

jim presents Is FreeCreditReport.com A Scam? posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Jim DeSantis presents Why Fixing Your FICO Credit Score Should Be Your First Priority! posted at Emotions and Credit at On Line Tribune, saying, "The loan officer said: 'Sorry, we cannot grant the loan. Your FICO score is just too low.' FICO? What is a FICO credit rating score? How can I fix it? Repairing your FICO credit report is easier than you imagine, once you know what you need to fix."

Mrs Bankrupt presents No insurance. No doctor. You?re screwed. (part 2) posted at Mrs. Bankrupt, saying, "This is a story (in parts) of my medical condition and not being able to get health insurance and how that will not lead you to financial independence."

Toni Graybill presents tonig.net: Welcome to My World of Wealth posted at Maximize Health and Wealth, saying, "To achieve financial independence, take a hard look in the mirror. There may be a side of you that you need to learn more about before you can succeed."

Super Saver presents A Gift of Retirement Funds posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, "A relatively small lump sum investment of $10,000 can lead to a significant sized nest egg at retirement."

Buck Weber presents How to Make Money With a Booth posted at THE BUCK LIST, saying, "If you have ever wondered about opening a booth at an antique mall as a way to make some side money, or even as a full time occupation, but didn’t know where to start or how it works, look no further."

Michael Bass presents Helpful hints for Debt Settlement posted at Debt Prison, saying, "Today a reader asked me how she should go about beginning the debt settlement process with collection agencies and creditors she’s avoided for three years. I thought it would be a good idea to give her a short ‘duty’ list of how to handle talking with bill collectors."

Eldon Sarte presents This is My Night Job posted at Wordpreneur.com, saying, "Writing is everything. Or is it? Sometimes, even with the best laid plans, it needs to take second place. Temporarily at least."

nissim ziv presents How to Negotiate a Job Offer: Salary Negotiations tips posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, "One of the major aspects of a job interview is the job salary. With the changing times and attitudes, discussing job salaries are sometimes overlooked or even ignored. However, this is one of the biggest blunders that a person looking out for a job commits during the job interview."

Bob Brooks presents Nightline Busts these Debt Settlement Scams posted at Deceptive Money, saying, "“You Can Get Out of Debt in less than 3 years and only owe 50% of your Debt.” These are the outrageous claims coming from debt settlement companies. Desperate consumers flock to these companies hoping that they will be saved from their escalating debt problem. These companies instruct you to stop paying on your debt and let all of your debt go into default. NEVER let your accounts go into default."

Investing School presents What is Net Working Capital? posted at Investing School, saying, "Net working capital is one of the most important asset to have."

Raj Patel presents Credit Card Issuers Pile on the Fees posted at DebtGoal, saying, "Credit card lenders are preparing a new wave of fees to ensnare consumers given the recent federal constraints passed through Congress."

NtJS presents PF Advice from Rabbi Daniel Lapin posted at not the jet set, saying, "Candles or Cake? Is your view of money holding you back?"

Don presents The Essence of Making Money posted at How to Make Money 202.

Sell It on the Web presents Starting A Business with No Money: A Bootstrapping Manifesto posted at Bill Hazelton, saying, "How to bootstrap your very first online business with very little to no start-up capital."

Caleb Roberts presents Top Rated Online Schools posted at Online School Reviews - Online College Reviews, saying, "If you are tired of visiting countless websites to compare Accredited Online Colleges, check out Online School Reviews from current and former students now."

FMF presents What's It Take to Be Rich? posted at Free Money Finance, saying, "How much does it take to be rich?"

ChristianPF presents Will Social Security be around when we retire? posted at Money in the Bible | Christian Personal Finance Blog, saying, "Will Social Security be around when we retire?"

Silicon Valley Blogger presents What Are The Best Credit Card Rewards Programs? posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Here is a discussion of the best credit card rewards programs that are out there. A big help to those who want to earn rewards even as they spend. But note that card rewards are only good if you can manage your credit card debt well."

Banker Saver presents Compare Auto Loan Financing Options Before Buying A Car posted at Banker Saver, saying, "On shopping for an auto loan"

Dominic Joseph presents Credit Cards for College Students: A credit card review for first timers posted at MadHubber, saying, "This post details the pros and cons of credit cards for college students. Find out how the new credit card laws will affect students beginning on February 22, 2010."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
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Carnival of road to financial independence #10

Welcome to the August 18, 2009 edition of road to financial independence.

Frugal Living

Kinigirl presents $$ Financial Freedom $$ - Words on Wendhurst posted at Words On Wendhurst.

oneadvice presents What is Good Debt? What is Bad Debt? posted at One Advice, saying, "What is Good Debt? What is Bad Debt? - Understanding the key difference between the two types of debt could help you sort out your finances..."

Stingy Student presents Best Amazon.com Discount Sale - 90% off for Back To School Shopping posted at Stingy Students, saying, "Get up to 90% off at Amazon.com for back to school shopping!"

Finance Tips 101 presents Saving Cash With Coupons ? Three Tips To Keep More of Your Money posted at Finance Tips 101.

PFCreditCards presents How to Save Money With 0% Balance Transfers posted at PF Credit Cards, saying, "0% balance transfers are a great way to save money."

Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents Unexpected Ways Having a Baby Changed Our Budget posted at Cash Money Life, saying, "Having a baby changes your budget in many ways - some of which are unexpected and difficult to plan for."

Renee V. Rouse presents Frugal Business posted at Frugal-Living-Skills Blog, saying, "First, we don’t know how to do math today… People will often spend money to save money
(which is a paradox) or spend money to make money
. We seem to forget that every penny spent has to be earned back. If you spend $1000 to save $500, you’re in the hole for $500."

Mr Credit Card presents Walgreens Online Savings ? Get 5% Off posted at Ask Mr Credit Card.

Barbara Williams presents 100 Money-Saving Hacks for Living Large on a Student Budget posted at Online Courses.

Tyler Tervooren presents Improve Your Water Heater Efficiency And Save $125 A Year posted at Frugally Green, saying, "Don't let your electricity bill get you down. If you spend the next weekend implementing a few really simple changes to your water heater, you could improve its performance by 25% or more. That's cash in your pocket, bank account, or investment portfolio, not to mention less carbon in the atmosphere."

Annette Berlin presents Quick & Frugal Ideas For Summer Fun posted at Craft Stew, saying, "Here a couple of quick and easy ways to keep both you and the kids entertained and satisfied till school starts back again."

Swiftkickinthe.com presents 7 Ways to Save a Little Money Now posted at Swiftkickinthe.com, saying, "I have been doing a little cost cutting on our wedding budget in the last couple of days. And I started thinking about ways to save a little money in our every day budget as well. So why not share the love and write a post on 7 ways to save a little extra money now."

Passive Income

Jimmy Adames presents List Building Tips ? 3 Effortless Ways to Grow a List of Active Subscribers posted at Internet Business Building, saying, "Earning an income using the Internet is much simpler if you have a list of active subscribers. The key to making sure you succeed is to have reliable marketing tools and quality content to provide your customers and prospects. What is holding you back from building a list of active subscribers?"

Online Dividends presents Are Bank Bonuses an ethical way to make money? posted at Blogging Banks.

Pieter presents Introduction posted at FOREX NEWBIE, saying, "The Quest For The Best Automated Forex Trading System"

Patrick @ Military Money presents Is REDUX Retirement Worth it? posted at Military Finance Network, saying, "REDUX is a military retirement option that offers military members a $30,000 Career Service bonus in return for a lower monthly pension. But is it worth it?"

Arthur Pledger presents Blogging as a Side Hustle posted at World Domination with Arthur Pledger.

Rohit presents Dump your savings account..! posted at eMoneyLog, saying, "Thoughts on how High Yield checking accounts have made savings account obsolete."

Outshined presents The Power of Passive Income and Work Ownership posted at Personal Web Guide, saying, "An article that discusses the power of work ownership and passive income. It discusses the most important skills necessary to succeed from the ground up, as well as the mentality needed to start living and working for yourself."

Ray presents Blogging To Make Money Online posted at Money Blue Book.

Reducing Expenses

Ky presents How to Get a Collision Estimate posted at richmond car insurance, saying, "When you car needs service or has been involved in a collision, it can be an anxiety filled process to repair the damage. The price of a collision estimate varies significantly depending on where you get an estimate from, and your insurance company will likely be involved in the process as well. But either way it could be costly, and it's important to do some research to figure out how to go about getting the best deal possible on an estimate."

Wenchypoo presents Wenchypoo's Health Care Proposal posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket.

Four Pillars presents 2009 Cash For Clunkers Program - Trade In Your Old Junker For Money posted at Quest For Four Pillars, saying, "A comprehensive look at the new Cash for Clunkers trade-in program."

Miss Bankrupt presents My Deadbeat Television posted at Miss Bankrupt.

BrandonLaughridge presents Credit Scores: How Important Are They? posted at Mortgage Loan Place Blog, saying, "Learn how to improve your credit score and why it matters."

CreditCardAssist.com presents Calculate the Length of Your Credit Card Debt posted at Credit Cards Blog | CreditCardAssist.com, saying, "Post that discusses how to conservatively accelerate paying down the balance on your credit cards to avoid any and all finance charges."

SpendOnLife.com presents College Students: Are You Spending Money Wisely at University? posted at SpendOnLife.ca, saying, "This Canadian post provides tips to college students in on how to pinch pennies during their college days."

Pinyo presents A Game That Will Teach You To Be A Cash Flow Maven posted at Moolanomy, saying, "Learn how to reduce expenses and improve your income with these three classic board games."

Bouch presents My Wife's Spending is out of Control posted at MoneyStance - Money Making Opportunity Reviews.

FIRE Getters presents New Money Rules for Financial Security - #4. Handling Debt posted at FIRE Finance.

Coupon HoundDog presents Simple Savings Rebate Codes posted at Coupon Hound Dog.

My Cool Mommy presents Meals for a month, 30 days of savings! posted at MyCoolMommy.

Stock Investments

MoneyNing presents 401k Plans and My Contribution posted at Money Ning, saying, "The good and the bad of 401k plans and how you should contribute your retirement savings."

Jae Jun presents 2009 Top 40 Best Stocks to Retire On: Part 4 | Old School Value posted at Old School Value, saying, "Analyzed all 40 of Fortune's Best Stocks to Retire on list of 2009. View the results now."

Mike smmrs johnson presents Trading System Intro posted at System Trading | Stocks Trading Systems, saying, "A good trading system is about much more than just selecting stocks. Certainly that is important as well. However, a good trading system will provide the ability for you to protect against losses, manage your money, add proper leverage when necessary, and also select a stock selection maximizing your reward and minimizing your risk."

Vahid Chaychi presents Money Management Is the Critical Part of Forex Trading posted at Forex Signals | Forex Market Analysis | Online Currency Trading Education, saying, "Money management is the most important part of forex trading. Without following the money management rules, forex trading will be nothing but loss."

Stock Trading Brokers presents Investing Basics - Work With an Online Broker For The Right Reasons posted at Stock Trading Brokers, saying, "Remember to know why you are using an online broker."

Darwin presents 14 High Yield Large Caps with Steady Dividends posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "A perfect list of large caps yielding over 5% with steady dividend histories - a potential way to beat inflation - and the market!"

James Williamson presents Growth Stock Mutual Funds posted at Inside Mutual Funds, saying, "Despite being one of the best forms of investment available, mutual funds are a very confusing topic to many people. In this post we will take a look at growth stock mutual funds and explain the risks and benefits of investing in them."

The Smarter Wallet presents Online Stock Brokers With Cheap Brokerage Fees posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, "On stock brokers and investing."

Investing Toolkit presents Forex Trading Basics: What Is Foreign Currency Trading? posted at Investing Toolkit, saying, "It's part of finance and can be complex, but it's an interesting topic -- foreign currency trading."

ABC presents Investment Real Return posted at ABCs of Investing, saying, "A simple explanation of investment real return."

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Ascension Stamps Profile

Ascension is a small isolated island nation in the South Atlantic (Lower Antilles) about 1000 miles away from the African Northwest coast and about 1400 miles from South America. Its land area totals less than 40 square miles with a population of just over 1,000. The country is of volcanic origin with a barren landscape predominated by remnants of lava flows and craters. The island was first discovered in 1501 by the Portuguese but remained unpopulated till 1815 when the British military used it as a precaution against the chance of Napolean I trying to escape from his imprisonment in Saint Helena. In 1922, Ascension became a dependency of the British Crown Colony of Saint Helena. Its location makes it a great interim point for communication, ships, and even aircraft – the British installed an under-water cable system from Ascension that connected UK to its colonies in South Africa as early as 1898.

The first stamps of Ascension were a set of 9 stamps of Saint Helena (Scott #61 to #64 and #66 to #70) overprinted “Ascension” in Red or Black released in 1922 (Scott #1 to #9). They were KGV designs showing the KGV head & crown on top. The two designs varied only in the picture at the bottom which was either a Government House or The Wharf in Saint Helena. The original set of Saint Helena issued between 1912 and 1916 are valuable at close to $150 for MNH and twice that for Used. The Ascension overprints are even more so at around $600 for MNH or Used. Forged cancellations exist for all denominations and so collectors need to be careful before paying up for a used set. The first original issues were of very similar design with a “Seal of Colony” and KGV design in similar format. The set consists of 12 stamps (Scott #10 to #21) in single or double colors with denominations from 1/2p to 3sh. This set again is very valuable at around $600 for MNH and close to $700 for a very fine used set. Three other sets and several Common Design types dominated the issues during the early period till 1958 – a set of 10 stamps (Scott #23 to #32) released in 1934 in three different designs (View of Georgetown, Map of Ascension, and Sooty Tern Breeding colony), a set of 16 stamps (Scott #40 to #49 and a few varieties) released between 1938 and 1958 as definitives, and a set of 13 stamps with many local scenes of similar design issued in 1956 (Scott #62 to #74). The sets are valuable with the first cataloging at around $200 MNH and about $150 Used, the 2nd cataloging at $350 MNH and around $200 Used, and the last cataloging for around $125 for MNH and around $75 for Used.

Ascension did not issue any stamps during the period from 1958 to 1963. On May 23, 1963 Ascension commenced issuing stamps again but this time with a dual purpose – a) as a source of income for the islands from the sale of postage stamps to collectors all over the world, and b) for postal use. The first issues were a bird set of 14 stamps (Scott #75 to #88) with denominations from 1p to £1. This set is valued at around $75 for MNH and around $50 for Used. Ascension issued close to one thousand different stamps in the last fifty years, a figure comparable to the current size of the population – it is clear that the vast majority of Ascension stamps issued was for philatelic purposes- as such, most of these stamps have limited catalog value. Some prominent sets include:

1. A set of four stamps issued December 1, 1967 to mark the opening of the BBC’s (British Broadcasting Company) South Atlantic Relay Station in Ascension Island. The gold impressed set (Scott #111 to #114) is very affordable at less than $1 for either MNH or Used.
2. The aircraft set of 1975 in four different designs. The set (Scott #185 to #188) catalogs for around $10 and the souvenir sheet for a few dollars more. The aircrafts in the designs were the US Air force C-141A Starlifter, Royal Air force C-130 Hercules, Vickers VC-10, and US Air force C-5A Galaxy.
3. The 40th anniversary set of the US Wideawake Airfield released on June 15, 1982. The set of four stamps (Scott #309 to #312) catalogs for around $5 for either MNH or Used. The Wideawake Airfield was used as an interim point by American aircrafts crossing the Atlantic on their way to Africa & Europe during World War II.
4. The ships set of 15 stamps released on October 14, 1986. The set (Scott #401 to #415) catalogs for around $30 for MNH or Used.

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Last Updated: 07/2011.