Wise Bread (Will Chen)

Proof That IRS Agents Are Human

Will Chen — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:35:28 +0000

The good folks at the IRS might be as human as the rest of us.

Need evidence?

Check out this IRS agent's response to a couple of very tired parents from San Francisco:

We have reviewed your correspondence regarding the penalties that were charged based on your explanation that the 'adult brain turns to jello those first few months raising a baby', we have decided to remove all penalty charges. A total of $2,522.00 in penalty charges has been removed.

(story continues below the image)

This letter was originally posted on Erica Firment's Facebook wall on January 31, 2012. Erica has since provided additional background on Facebook:

What proceeded their response was my a very formal letter explaining the mistake and asking to forgive the penalties. However formal the rest of the letter was, I added an asterisk and this bit at the bottom:

"* I am not above groveling and mentioning our only child was six months old when we made our extension mistake. If you have children, you understand the adult brain turns to jello those first few months raising a baby." (Source: ThatGuyChuck via Reddit)

Erica, the founder of the popular librarian blog Librarian Avengers, was very pleased with the outcome.

"The IRS really surprised us with great customer service," said Erica on Twitter. "A human even picked up the phone immediately!"

"Our IRS letter just hit the top of Reddit. I think people are hungry for a human voice from government institutions."

Many people on Reddit are chiming in with their own positive experiences with the IRS. One Redditor claiming to be a taxpayer advocate from the IRS pointed out that it never hurts to challenge a tax penalty:

I actually work for the Taxpayer Advocate's Office, (which is part of the IRS) and I have to say that this is pretty awesome!! We get cases for all kinds of hardship reasons, and we fight for all taxpayer's, not just the ones who ask for our assistance. It makes me glad to see other employee's are doing what they can as well! I will share this info with the other Advocate's in my office, as I know they will get a kick out of this too.

Also a tidbit for penalties-you can always ask for them to be removed. The worst they will say is no. The first time you get penalties, you can get them removed just because you have a good history and you asked. And if you ever need Taxpayer Advocate's assistance, call 877-ASKTAS1, or look at our website for your Local Taxpayer Advocate Office and maybe see some of the services we provide or check out our annual report to congress. (Emphasis added. Source: Mostlywrong via Reddit.)

Personally I've had pretty good experiences dealing with the IRS. When we first started Wise Bread, I had a lot of tax questions regarding the tax implications of setting up various legal entities. I called the toll-free hotlines at IRS and their representatives were extremely knowledgeable and courteous.

If you have general questions, here's a list of IRS numbers you can call (following info provided by IRS website):

Telephone Assistance
When calling, you may ask questions to help you prepare your tax return, or ask about a notice you have received. Please be aware that when you conclude your discussion, our system will not permit you to return to your original responder.

Telephone Assistance for Individuals:
Toll-Free, 1-800-829-1040
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. your local time (Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific Time).

Telephone Assistance for Businesses:
Toll-Free, 1-800-829-4933
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. your local time (Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific Time).

Telephone Assistance for Exempt Organizations, Retirement Plan Administrators, and Government Entities:
Toll-Free, 1-877-829-5500
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Local Time.

Telephone Assistance for people with hearing impairments:
Toll-Free 1-800-829-4059 (TDD)
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. your local time (Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific Time).
For further information, see Tax Topic 102.

Telephone Assistance for Individuals who believe they may be a victim of Identity Theft: No Tax Administration Impact - Did not receive a notice from the IRS. Toll-Free 1-800-908-4490 (Automated and live assistance)
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. your local time (Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific Time). For additional information, refer to our Identity Theft and Your Tax Records page.

Telephone Assistance for people who live outside the United States
Hours of availability vary by location. Please see our International Services page.

Face-to-Face Assistance
In certain areas, IRS also has local offices you may visit to receive assistance

What kind of experiences have you had with the IRS? Please share them in the comments!

Thank you to Redditor Missstar for helping with this story.

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

ZipList Giving Away $600 to Lucky Wise Bread Readers!

Will Chen — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:48:17 +0000

Editor's Note: The contest has ended! We're picking the winners right now. Please keep an eye out for a prize email from Wise Bread or KillerAcesMedia (our parent company). Congrats to comment winners Addrienne Mertens ($150), Anne Mostella ($150), Cynthia C ($50), and Kelsey ($50). Congrats to Twitter winner @Shawnamichelle2 ($100). ZipList User registration winner is Brenda B.

To help us celebrate Thanksgiving, ZipList is helping us give away $600 in prizes!

ZipList is a free online and mobile shopping list and recipe organizer that lets you save all your favorite recipes and automatically organizes your grocery lists. I'm a big fan of this service because:

You can create and share lists with your family, and allow them to add items or check them off in real time. No more duplicate dishes on Turkey Day!

ZipList has over 300,000 recipes from hundreds of popular food websites, like Woman's Day, Martha Stewart, and $5 Dinners.

You can access your list online or via free apps from iPhone or Android. You always have your list with you so no more wasted trips to the supermarket.

3 Easy Ways to Enter $600 Giveaway

1) Comment Entry: $400 Prizes

Simply leave a comment below before end of 11/23/11, answering the question: What's your favorite Thanksgiving budget dish or comfort food? (Answer must be at least two sentences long.)

We'll randomly select 4 comment winners. Prizes are 4 Visa Gift Cards: $150, $150, $50, $50 -- perfect for your holiday grocery shopping spree.

2) Twitter Entry: $100 Prize

To enter, simply do this before end of 11/23/11:

Tweet this message: Retweet to win $100 from @Ziplist & @WiseBread giveaway http://bit.ly/ziplist2 #zipwin

Follow @ZipList and @WiseBread so we can contact you if you win.

We'll randomly select 1 Twitter winner. Prize is 1 $100 Visa Gift Card.

3) ZipList User Registrant: $100 Prize

To enter, simply click this link - http://zipth.is/@ztq8dy to save The Ultimate Budget Thanksgiving Dinner checklist to a ZipList account, where you can then create a grocery shopping list, search for personalized recipe recommendations and discover other helpful checklists.

One lucky person will be chosen at random to win a $100 Visa Gift Card.

General Rules

Limit to one comment or tweet per day per person. You can enter all 3 contests to increase your chances but you can only win 1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years or older. Ends at 11:59 pm Eastern on 11/23/11. Winners will be randomly selected and announced on Wise Bread before December 15. If winners do not respond to prize notification within 3 days we reserve the right to select another.

5 Ways to Save Big on Thanksgiving

While Thanksgiving may be the biggest meal of the year, with a little simple planning you can have a stress-free and budget-friendly Turkey Day!

1) Use Checklists to Keep Track of What You Need: Save a checklists to help you make sure you have all of your Turkey Day essentials, like stuffing mix, sweet potatoes and green beans. No need for extra, costly trips to the supermarket. Check out this budget dinner checklist created just for the holidays:

Ultimate Budget Thanksgiving Dinner Checklist Get the most out of your budget by opting for some pocket friendly Thanksgiving grocery items.

2) Make Less Than You Think You Need:

Take a headcount, but then make less. There are so many must-have side dishes - mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole - that guests won't be taking their usual helpings. Make less of each dish and you should still have plenty of food.

3) Save on Side Dishes

It's easy to modify traditional favorites to save money. For green bean casserole, mix frozen green beans with frozen corn. Once cooked, top with Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. You can also see big savings by opting for brown-and-serve rolls over crescent rolls.

4) Buy a Frozen Turkey

Believe it or not, you can save 30-40% (or more) by choosing a frozen turkey over a fresh, organic or free range turkey. Just be sure to give yourself 4-5 days for the turkey to thaw in your refrigerator. If you choose to thaw your turkey in cold water, allow 30 minutes per pound.

) Bake Your Own Pies

Pumpkin pie is cheaper to make than to buy (and it's so easy to make!). Plus, frozen pie crusts can often be found on sale. Here are a couple of our favorite pumpkin pie recipes to add to your recipe box:

Double Decker Pumpkin Caramel Pie Recipe This pie took first place in a local Fall Harvest Festival pie contest!

Traditional Pumpkin Pie Betty Croker Recipe A traditional favorite made fuss-free with an easy pat-in-the-pan crust!

Good luck with the contest! I look forward to reading all your yummy entries.

To enter simply leave a comment telling us your favorite Thanksgiving budget dish or comfort food!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Share Your Favorite FinCon Moments and Win $100!

Will Chen — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:17:22 +0000

Editor's Note: The contest has ended. Congrats to Kay Lynn of Bucksome Boomer for winning this giveaway!

We just came back from the amazing Financial Blogger’s Conference hosted by Philip of PT Money. We had the pleasure of meeting over 270 bloggers, authors, and financial professionals. You can download our presentations and bonus action plans here:

1 Million Pageviews on a Small Budget (Bonus Action Plan now available) - Will Chen
SEO Secrets of Wise Bread - Greg Go
Advanced Monetization Strategies (With 60 Advance Monetizing Strategies from top bloggers) - Lynn Truong

Check out the Flickr photo pool and more coverage from other bloggers.

How to Win $100

Leave a comment below sharing your favorite memory or lesson learned from the conference before 11:59 pm on October 24^th. A random winner will be announced on October 25^th.

You can leave as many comments as you like, but only your first comment will be counted in the drawing.

My Favorite Memories

Meeting Tess Vigeland of Marketplace—one of my public radio heroes—and finding out that she thinks our chart of top personal finance bloggers is a really great list.

Giving Donna Freedman the biggest hug in the world for all the homemade jam she’s been sending me all these years. (That’s right Karen, you missed your hug!)

I felt pretty nifty picking up two Plutus Awards from Flexo—for Best Design Blog and Best Deals Blog—but was humbled when Budgets are Sexy walked by with his four trophies.

Partying it up with Yes, I’m Cheap—we love her and have dubbed her an honorary Wise Bread member.

Observing the clockwork precision of PT's crack team (Jessica, Justin, and more) at work. Everything was on time, reasonably priced, and convenient! Maybe he should stop wasting his time blogging and just run for president. (That's PT in the title photo loading up for the conference.)

Watching MoneySmartLife, The Military Wallet, Bible Money Matters, and GenXFinance grade our waiter’s marketing skills. It was like Boiler Room with cake.

Meeting the faces behind the Twitter accounts of MoneyCrashers and LifeTuner—two of our favorite Tweetchat buddies.

Confirming that Jeff Rose does indeed look and sound like The Rock. I knew it!

Finding out that Bucksome Boomer, Free Money Finance, Stop Buying Crap, and Digerati Life are just as chill and generous in real life as they are on their blogs.

First time meeting Kelly Whalen, JD, and Flexo in person. What do I talk about? How cat blogging is the way of the future!

Reading Ramit’s twitter stream while he walked right by me. It was surreal. (By the way his twitter stream offers a lot of unique info you won’t find on his blog, make sure you check it out!)

Getting dating advice from Jim and Stacy of Money Talk News. I think I'm their new pet project.

Overhearing Linsey and Lynn chat about cute guys. I coughed several times but they didn’t bring up my name. They were probably using a code word to refer to me, so i don't get embarrassed.

20 and Engaged started this ugly rumor that I did my presentation without my pants on. This is only partially true.

My airline screwed up my flight so I didn't get any sleep the night before the conference. I'm still recovering from everything so I apologize if this list is not as complete as I'd like it to be.

Coverage of FinCon11 from other bloggers

Financial bloggers build community as they share their stories (Millionaire Corner)
A meeting of minds: Financial blogger conference 2011 (Get Rich Slowly)
Moving beyond blogging at the Financial Bloggers’ Conference (The Centsible Life)
Financial blogger conference 2011: Meeting up with the personal finance blogosphere (Bible Money Matters)
LoveDrop’s FinCon11 Service Project (LoveDrop)
A gathering of financial minds: FinCon11 a smashing success (Cash Money Life)
How to handle hundreds of colleagues (Consumerism Commentary)
The Financial Blogger Conference saved this blog (The Jenny Pincher)
Recap of the Financial Blogger Conference (Fiscally Chic)
Financial Blogger Conference 11--meeting the PF blogger world and more (Free From Broke)
Financial Blogger Conference 2011 Video Recap (1099 Mom Linsey Knerl)
2011 Financial Blogger Conference Roundup (Blogthority)

If you wrote a roundup please share them in the comments and I’ll post them up here!

Thanks to Peter of Bible Money Matters (pictured top left) for sharing these photos with us. Check out his photoset or the entire Fincon11 Flickr pool. If you have set of photos not included in the Flickr pool, please let me know and I'll link to them here.

We had a blast at the Financial Blogger Conference. Please come share your stories!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Just 2 Days Left to Enter Our $500 Giveaway!

Will Chen — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:00:24 +0000

Our $500 giveaway sponsored by HP's new Input/Output blog ends this Friday, September 23, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Entering this contest is easy. Simply leave a comment on the original contest post answering the question: What is the smartest investment you’ve ever made? (Answer must be at least two sentences long.)

It can be any kind of investment—business, personal, or family investment. What is an investment that has yielded a solid return for you? Perhaps a degree, office equipment, cooking lessons, or a new suit?

Be sure to leave your name and email so we can contact you when you win!

Click here to enter the contest.

This reminder is brought to you by HP. For more information on HP and HP products visit us at Inputcreatesoutput.com.

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader

Will Chen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:05:07 +0000

Editor's Note: The contest is officially closed! Congratulations to Wise Bread reader Ben Marvin for his winning comment!

HP is launching a new blog for lifehackers, work-from-home entrepreneurs, and small business owners called Input/Output. It has a lot of relevant tips for savvy Wise Bread readers, such as 5 Tips to Cutting Hidden IT Costs, How Not to Blow Your IT Job Interview, and 3 Ways to Print From Your Mobile Phone,

To celebrate the launch of Input/Output, HP is giving Away $500 to Wise Bread Readers!

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment below answering the question: What is the smartest investment you’ve ever made? (Answer must be at least two sentences long.)

Prize is a $500 Visa gift card.

Be sure to leave your name and email so we can contact you when you win!

Comment must be entered before September 23, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Contest Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years or older. Ends 9/23/11. Winners will be randomly selected and announced on Wise Bread before end of September. See Official Rules. Void where prohibited.

More About INPUT / OUTPUT

One of the best ways to achieve success is to emulate successful people. HP's new blog features original articles from the industry’s most respected writers and exclusive interviews with technology leaders.

You can learn life and business lessons from the top business minds of our time. Some of my favorites include:

Chris Anderson (Editor-in-Chief, Wired Magazine)
James Surowiecki (Author of Wisdom of Crowds)
Tony Hsieh (CEO, Zappos)
Jason Fried (37 Signals)

Enter the contest now by leaving a comment!

This post is brought to you by HP. For more information on HP and HP products visit us at Inputcreatesoutput.com.

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

5 Effective Sleep Tips You Haven't Tried Yet

Will Chen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:00:16 +0000

This post is sponsored by Tempur-Pedic because we think you deserve to get your best night’s sleep every night.

I hate the person I become when I don’t get enough sleep. The entire day is covered in a brain fog—my decisions come slower, my temper flares, and I stop checking email for fear of picking up more work. And while I’m dead tired at night, I’m so worried about the unproductive day I’ve had that the anxiety keeps me up.

I’ve spent many sleepless nights researching sleep remedies, and I’ve heard of all the same ones you have: establish a bedtime routine, sleep in complete darkness, don’t drink coffee or alcohol at night, keep your bedroom cool, reserve the bed for sleeping, etc. These are all good tips that can help. But if you’ve tried them all and still can’t sleep, here are five lesser-known strategies I’ve tried that have done wonders for me.

Control Your Light Environment

As I mentioned above, sleeping in complete darkness can help insomnia. But the light we experience when we’re awake plays a big part in controlling our sleep rhythms as well. The morning’s sunlight promotes good moods and wakefulness, while the night’s darkness tells our bodies to relax and rest. Unfortunately, in the modern world we don’t spend enough time outside in the morning and spend too much time in front of computer monitors at night.

The best way to fix this problem is to take long walks in the early mornings and stop surfing the web in the evening. That doesn’t quite fit into my schedule, so I was really excited when I read about the Philips goLITE in Tim Ferriss’ new book, The 4-Hour Body. The goLITE is a palm-sized box that generates a soft blue light that mimics the natural spectrum of sunlight that triggers wakefulness in our body.

I’ve been using the light for over six months. At first I felt uncomfortable shining this blue light in my face for 15 minutes every morning—while the light is soft enough to be unobtrusive, it is definitely noticeable and takes a bit of getting used to. After about the third week, though, I started seeing the positive effects. Now after every session I feel energized and excited, ready to take on the world. I liked it so much I also bought an extra goLITE for my parents.

As for controlling your light environment at night, the best solution is to turn off bright lights and avoid watching TV or using computers. But if that’s not possible, make sure you dim down your TV and install f.lux. It’s free software that changes the color of your computer screen at night to a soft, orange hue. At first I thought it looked ridiculously ugly, like an orange Popsicle threw up all over my desktop. But the softer color is really easy on the eyes and doesn’t affect visibility. I got used to it very quickly and now when I use other people’s computers at night, I’m shocked by how bright their screens appear.

Wake Up to Fun

Most people associate mornings with hectic schedules and going into a job they hate. It is no wonder people don’t get excited about getting out of bed. But what if your mornings are filled with exciting activities instead?

Now I try to wake up one hour earlier than I have to and use that hour as my personal “play time.” Some of the things I treat myself to include:

Finding a pickup basketball game, playing online video games, or watching a good episode of my favorite TV show like Buffy or Community (or both at once when I’m in a daring mood).

Taking a walk around the block while listening to a favorite audiobook or music.

Adding a scoop of ice cream and two strips of bacon to my otherwise healthy breakfast.

Now I can’t wait to get up! I jump out of bed with a smile on my face, and the physical activities raise my metabolism for the rest of the day. Before you object that you don’t have time in the mornings for shenanigans, just remember you probably already have a “play time”—except you’re doing this at night right before you go to sleep, which probably keeps you up way later than you would like.

Take Melatonin at the Proper Dosage

Melatonin is a popular sleep aid, but when I first tried it, I had very mixed results. For the first two or three days it would knock me out completely, but after the third day I noticed a steep drop in the melatonin’s effectiveness. After some extensive research I found out that I—like most Americans—was taking melatonin at too high of a dose.

According to MIT neuroscientist Dr. Richard Wurtman, the optimal dose of melatonin is 0.3 mg, and taking higher doses will cause the hormone to stop working in a few days. Unfortunately, the most popular melatonin brands usually market tablets in 3-5 milligrams, which is 10 to 16 times stronger than the optimal dose. Dr. Wurtman explains that manufacturers market higher-than-optimal doses of melatonin because MIT holds a patent on melatonin at doses of up to 1 mg.

Melatonin worked wonders for me when I started using it at the correct dosage level. I take it about an hour before sleep and usually wake up feeling very refreshed. Please keep in mind, though, that melatonin is not a long-term solution to insomnia. I only use it as a last resort and never use it more than a week at a time.

Always Reset Your Internal Clock When You Travel

When you travel, it can take you up to a week to fully adjust to a new time zone. Two years ago I learned a neat trick that allows me to adjust to the new time zone in only one day—I stop eating 16 hours before the time I want to wake up. When I wake up, I have a large breakfast, and my body recognizes that time as my new “morning.”

For example, if you want to start waking up at 5:00 am in the morning, you should start fasting at 1:00 pm the day before. When you wake up at 5:00 am, have a huge breakfast, and your body will adjust to 5:00 am as your new morning wake time.

According to the Harvard Medical School, we’ve developed this food-dependent clock because:

…it is adaptive for animals to have a secondary “master clock” that can allow the animal to switch its behavioral patterns rapidly after a period of starvation to maximize the opportunity of finding food sources at the same time on following days…. The shift is a survival mechanism in small mammals that forces them to change their sleeping patterns. One starvation cycle is enough to override the traditional light-based circadian clock.

This strategy has worked so well for me that not only do I use it when I travel, but I also do it every time when I need to re-sync my sleep schedule after it gets disrupted. For example, if I partied all night on Friday and slept in on Saturday, I’ll use this trick on Sunday to reset my schedule so I can get back to my regular sleep pattern for the rest of the week.

Track Your Sleep Habits

I get a lot of flak from my friends when I tell them I keep a sleep journal. No, it doesn’t have pictures of rainbows or unicorns. It is a very manly notebook where I record when I go to sleep and wake up, the environment I’m sleeping in, and the type of sleep remedies I’m trying.

By carefully tracking the details, I’ve learned a great deal about myself. For example, I’ve learned that I sleep better when I take a cold shower 30 minutes before bed, and if I talk on the phone within an hour of bedtime, I have trouble falling asleep later.

The sleep journal is also a great place to jot down thoughts. When I wake up in the middle of the night with a great idea, a weird dream, or a problem my brain can’t solve, I write it down in the sleep journal. The act of writing down my thoughts purges them from my mind and allows me to go back to sleep.

Recently I’ve supplemented my sleep journal with a Fitbit tracker—a small motion sensor that tracks when I fall asleep and how often I wake up at night. Here’s a recent report about my sleeping habits from Fitbit:

Fitbit then compares my data with the average user:

I’m pleased to learn that my sleep efficiency is 90%. (This means 90% of my bedtime is spent in restful sleep.) However, Fitbit did point out that it takes me about 14 minutes to fall asleep, which seemed longer than usual for me. I checked my sleep journal and realized that this was the week I switched from listening to classical music before bedtime to listening to NPR News (I wanted to get an update on the debt crisis). The sleep journal and Fitbit let me know that listening to the depressing news might be keeping me up later than I expected.

I really enjoy the process of recording my sleep and trying to figure out which of my activities affected my sleep pattern. Not only does it help me identify good sleep remedies and sleep habits, but it also makes me feel like a scientist! Instead of feeling anxious about my insomnia, I now treat the rogue sleepless night as an opportunity to learn more about my body and psyche.

Don’t feel like you need to try all these tips at once—consider starting with one suggestion and keeping a sleep journal to see how it helps. Hopefully you’ll be back to bed in no time!

What keeps you up at night, and what are some of your favorite remedies to get a good night’s sleep?

If you enjoyed this story please share it on StumbleUpon!

Editor’s Note: Will is not a physician. Nothing in this post should be considered medical advice.

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Meet Our New Social Media Managers

Will Chen — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:56:17 +0000

Starting this week, our Twitter and Facebook accounts will be managed by our Senior Editor Meg Favreau and Community Coordinator Ashley Jacobs (who writes our Best Money Tips and Ask the Readers columns).

Our current social media manager, Kelly Whalen, has been a wonderful voice for Wise Bread. We're big fans of Kelly's talent and charisma. Unfortunately, so is the rest of the world! Kelly has been offered a ton of awesome opportunities, and she'll have to stop the day-to-day social medial work with Wise Bread to pursue them. In August Kelly is launching Splash Creative Media, an exciting new social media agency. She’ll also be speaking at several conferences, including BlogHer, The Financial Blogger's Conference and BlogPaws.

The Centsible Life will continue to be Kelly’s home on the web, where she’ll focus on living the life of your dreams on a budget. She’ll continue to tweet from @centsiblelife chatting about money, social media, and motherhood.

“It's been my a great pleasure to get to know the fans and readers of Wise Bread since they are such savvy people when it comes to spending smarter and living on less,” said Kelly. “I've learned so much from them, and from working with Wise Bread and am grateful I got to be a part of such an amazing team.”

We wish Kelly the best of luck!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Marketplace & NYT Want to Interview Financial Consultants in Their 70s

Will Chen — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:14:23 +0000

Do you know someone who is an active or retired personal financial consultant in their 70s? If you know someone who fits the description, please leave a comment below (don't forget your email address) and I'll forward your info to the show's producers. The deadline is this Wednesday, 3/9.

The interview will be for a new Marketplace and New York Times joint series called Money Through the Ages. The series will tell stories about financial issues as they play out throughout different decades of life. How do things look in your 20s as you get your first job and try to pay off your student loan? During your 30s how will you navigate the mid-career years and deal with a growing family? What's it like in your 70s, living on a fixed-income and little time to change financial directions?

Each story segment will feature one person from a specific age group (from teenagers to someone in their 90s). That person will be paired with a financial expert of the same age group to help them organize their financial lives.

The stories will be released as NYT articles and Marketplace radio segments on the weekend of March 25th.

This sounds like a wonderful series. Wise Bread's very own Kelly Whalen was interviewed by Marketplace earlier this year. It was a great experience. So when the Marketplace producers contacted us about this opportunity we knew we wanted to share it with our readers. Please note they are only looking for a personal financial consultant in their 70s (they have already found the subjects for the other age groups). If you can help out please leave a comment.

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Announcements articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: What's On Your Bucket List?

Will Chen — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:10:07 +0000

Editor's note: Congrats to @hippie_mom, David, and Therese Roth for winning this week's contest!

A bucket list is the list of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket." Such lists remind us to rise above the hustle and bustle of everyday life, so we can set our sights on loftier goals.

What is on your bucket list? Do you want to do something grand like becoming a millionaire or finish a novel? Maybe you want to climb a mountain or go skydiving. Perhaps you cherish the simpler things, like having grandchildren or falling madly in love.

Share your bucket list with us and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Enter 1 of 3 Ways:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, then "Like" the update mentioning this giveaway (you can comment, as well — but you don't have to for entry), or
Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, January 24th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after January 24th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email, Facebook, and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Share your bucket list with us for a chance to win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon gift certificates.

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: How Did You Spend Your First Paycheck?

Will Chen — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:46:04 +0000

Editor's Note: Congrats to @darastar and comment winners Eric and BRIANM. We gave out no Facebook prize because due to a technical glitch beyond our control, this story was not properly published on Facebook. So instead, we gave out an extra commenting prize instead.

The first paycheck is one of the most important rites of passage into adulthood. It is a symbol of your financial independence, a declaration of your readiness to become a productive member of society, and probably the beginning of your life-long hatred of the payroll tax.

How did you spend your first paycheck? Did it go straight to a college or car fund? Did you give some if it to your parents? Did you learn any special lessons?

Share your story with us and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Enter 1 of 3 Ways:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, then "Like" the update mentioning this giveaway (you can comment, as well — but you don't have to for entry), or
Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, January 17th at 11:59 pm Eastern. Winners will be announced after January 10th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email, Facebook, and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: Are You Optimistic About 2011?

Will Chen — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 05:41:03 +0000

Editor's note: Congrats to @KeriRitenour, Roechell, and Susie for winning this week's contest!

According to a recent CNN article, a growing number of economists think 2011 will finally bring what we've been hoping for: More jobs and a self-sustaining recovery. But on the other hand, we all know friends and family members who are still struggling in this economy.

Are you optimistic about 2011? Do you feel we're on our way to an economic recovery or do you see another tough economic year ahead?

Share your thoughts with us and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Enter 1 of 3 Ways:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, then "Like" the update mentioning this giveaway (you can comment, as well — but you don't have to for entry), or
Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, January 10th at 11:59 pm CST. Winners will be announced after January 10th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email, Facebook, and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: What Is Your New Year's Resolution?

Will Chen — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:04:46 +0000

Editor's note: Congrats to @kdkdkd, Kristin Kaufmann, and Nancy Sloan for winning this contest!

I love New Year's resolutions. The idea that you get to reinvent yourself is such a wonderful concept.

What are your resolutions for 2011? Are you going for big changes or setting smaller, more realistic goals? Will you be tackling a health problem or try to be mindful of your finances?

Share your ideas and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below,
Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, then "Like" the update mentioning this giveaway (you can comment, as well — but you don't have to for entry.)
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, January 3rd at 11:59 pm CST. Winners will be announced after January 3rd on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)
Only those who have "Liked" both our Facebook page and the contest update will be entered.

Good Luck!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: What's Your Favorite Discovery of 2010

Will Chen — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 04:18:33 +0000

Editor's note: Congrats to Nicholas, Joel, and @1bets1, for winning this contest! We gave out no Facebook prize because due to a technical glitch beyond our control, this story was not properly published on Facebook. So instead, we gave out an extra commenting prize instead.

Thanks to the recommendations of many good friends and readers, I discovered a lot of awesome things this year. I fell in love with NBC's Community, LastPass, Radiolab, Kim Palmer's Generation Earn, and Youtube Music Channels (hipster versions of Lady Gaga? Yes please!)

What is your favorite discovery of 2010? Did you find a new favorite blog, tv show, or Twitter account? Did you learn a new lifehack or discover something interesting about yourself or the world around you?

Share your ideas and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below,
Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, then "Like" the update mentioning this giveaway (you can comment, as well — but you don't have to for entry.)
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, December 27th at 11:59 pm CST. Winners will be announced after December 27th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)
Only those who have "Liked" both our Facebook page and the contest update will be entered.

Good Luck!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: Share Your Favorite Frugal Holiday Tradition

Will Chen — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 06:54:42 +0000

Editor's note: Congrats to Angela, @oshkoshbgosh123, and Dale for winning this week's Ask the Readers!

The commercialization of the holidays can be overwhelming. But you don't have to spend big bucks to spend meaningful time with your family.

Do you have a favorite frugal holiday tradition? It can be something you're already doing, or an idea you always wanted to try out. Perhaps you use the same plastic tree every year, or go caroling instead of shopping around Christmas season.

Share your ideas and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below,
Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, then "Like" the update mentioning this giveaway (you can comment, as well — but you don't have to for entry.)
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, December 20th at 11:59 pm CST. Winners will be announced after December 20th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)
Only those who have "Liked" both our Facebook page and the contest update will be entered.

Good Luck!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: Name Your Favorite Moment of 2010

Will Chen — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:37:12 +0000

Congrats to Shymom, Karen Jaffe, and @amccrenshaw for winning this week's contest!

We live in interesting times.

While some waited in unemployment lines, others queued up for iPads. Inception boggled our minds while Glee rocked our worlds. Conan found a new home and Chevy joined a Community. BP boiled the sea and NASA redefined the meaning of life.

What is your favorite moment of 2010? It could be any news event or personal moment. Tell us what touched you and made your life memorable this year.

Share your ideas and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below,
Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, then "Like" the update mentioning this giveaway (you can comment, as well — but you don't have to for entry.)
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, December 13th at 11:59 pm CST. Winners will be announced after December 13th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)
Only those who have "Liked" both our Facebook page and the contest update will be entered.

Good Luck!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

Linking to Wikileaks Will Hurt Chances of Landing Federal Jobs

Will Chen — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:43:56 +0000

Linking to Wikileaks documents or commenting on them online may affect your chances of getting a job with the federal government, warns a recent email from Columbia University's Career Services Office to its students.

The advice came from a Columbia alumnus who is working at the State Department.

A Columbia University student forwarded me the following email:

From: Office of Career Services <sipa_ocs@columbia.edu>

Date: Tue, Nov 30, 2010 at 3:26 PM

Subject: Wikileaks - Advice from an alum

Hi students,

We received a call today from a SIPA alumnus who is working at the State Department. He asked us to pass along the following information to anyone who will be applying for jobs in the federal government, since all would require a background investigation and in some instances a security clearance.

The documents released during the past few months through Wikileaks are still considered classified documents. He recommends that you DO NOT post links to these documents nor make comments on social media sites such as Facebook or through Twitter. Engaging in these activities would call into question your ability to deal with confidential information, which is part of most positions with the federal government.

Regards,

Office of Career Services

(Emphasis added by Wise Bread)

Wise Bread does not have an official position on this subject. I'm not saying you should or should not link to Wikileaks. But if you do so, just know that it might negatively affect your government job application.

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Job Hunting articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: What's Your Favorite Toy/Gadget? (Win $100)

Will Chen — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 04:09:19 +0000

Editor's note: Congrats to Elizabeth (@Superfrugalettefor) winning this contest!

I love the holiday season. It is the only time of year when I don't look weird hanging out at toy stores. ("Just picking up stuff for the kids!")

Not only do I love my iPhone and Starcraft games, I am also a nerd for classics like Connect Four and Oregon Trail. Please tell me I'm not alone.

Tell us your favorite game or gadget for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift certificate!

It can be any game or gadget--board games, iPhone apps, video games, kitchen helpers, Sharper Image gadgets, etc. If you don't have a current favorite, feel free to share one from your childhood.

How to Enter:

Check out Linsey's great article, Experts Share Their Favorite First Gadgets.
Simply leave your comment on that article and you'll be entered to win! Just 1-2 sentences will suffice.
Remember, leave the comment on My Life Scoop, NOT on Wise Bread.

Contest ends Monday, December 6 at 11:59 pm Pacific. (Note this is a two week contest, not our usual one week contest.)

Winners will be announced after December 6 here on the original post. Must be 18 or over to enter. Void where prohibited.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

Ask the Readers: How Would You Balance America's Budget?

Will Chen — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:27:15 +0000

Editor's note: Congrats to our comment winner (Christine), Twitter winner (@BeforeYouInvest), and Facebook winner (Diana MS)!

The New York Times recently released an interactive game that puts you in charge of balancing our nation's budget. While not everyone will agree with all the assumptions made by the Times, this game is an interesting starting point for discussion.

How would you balance America's budget? What items would you cut? Would you raise taxes? Lower foreign aid? Rollback healthcare? You can list just one change you'd make, or give us your entire plan. Please keep the discussion civil!

Share your ideas and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below,
Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, then "Like" the update mentioning this giveaway (you can comment, as well — but you don't have to for entry.)
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, November 22nd at 11:59 pm CST. Winners will be announced after November 22nd on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)
Only those who have "Liked" both our Facebook page and the contest update will be entered.

Good Luck! And don't forget to also check out our Windows Phone 7 Giveaway.

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Giveaways articles from Wise Bread.

We're Hiring: Community and Social Media Managers

Will Chen — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 04:56:10 +0000

With our recent media exposure and the launch of our new Top 100 Chart, we're getting a ton of new readers and media attention. We're looking to add several community and social media managers to help engage our growing community.

People who worked with us have received great opportunities like nationally syndicated columns, top ranked iTunes podcasts, book deals, consulting gigs for top brands, blogger conference speaker invitations, and interviews with magazines, newspapers, radio, and TV shows.

You'll be working on a site that gets over a million pageviews a month and followed by over 15,000 Twitter fans.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious blogger or marketing associate to make connections, expand her personal brand, build an impressive writing portfolio, and learn the business of online publishing and marketing.

This is a telecommute contract position. We're looking for 20-30 hrs/week, but we're open to more hours or full-time for the right candidate. Bloggers and WAHM/D welcome!

Main Requirements:

Minimum 1 year experience working for any of the following: a marketing/ad agency, blog (your own blog counts if it is a good one), forum, or other online publication.
Excellent writing skills. Able to write compelling, ready-to-publish blog posts and press releases quickly.
Loves chatting with people in forums or blog comment threads. A real people person.
Strong personal interest in frugality or personal finance.

For more details on full requirements and how to apply, please check out this job posting. Good luck!

What People are Saying About Wise Bread

One of the best Web sites to help you scrimp through the recession.

Slate Magazine

Top 100 Website of 2009.

PC Magazine

One of the best friends of the unemployed.

PC World

Top 100 most useful Web sites.

MSN Money

On the Money's Sites of the Day.

CNBC

“With the Dow below 7,000 right now, there may be a growing audience for Wise Bread’s ‘Cornmeal: Fresh Ideas for a Frugal Family Staple’ and its tips on removing car dents with a cigarette lighter, aluminum foil and an air duster.”

New York Times

Best Blog for Frugalistas.

Kiplinger

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Wise Bread’s Top 100 Chart Just Got Better

Will Chen — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:00:06 +0000

We started the Top 100 Personal Finance Blogs chart because we love discovering and recognizing talented bloggers. You helped us build this chart, with hundreds of emails and tweets suggesting new blogs, correcting errors, and offering your encouragement.

Thanks to your support, this chart has enjoyed a lot of exposure. We've been featured by authoritative sites like Mashable, CBS Money Watch and Nolo Press; bloggers refer to the chart on their blogs and social media profiles; Trent from the Simple Dollar calls our chart “my favorite guide to personal finance blogs;” and the Get Rich Slowly editors say we have "THE list" for best personal finance blogs.

Today the chart has snowballed into a database of over 650 blogs, with more being added every day! To keep it useful for our readers, we’ve added several new features.

Introducing the New WiseScore

The blogs are now ranked by WiseScore—a comprehensive composite score that takes into account four key factors:

Traffic: Using Compete and Alexa stats.
Authority: Measured by how often other credible sites link to the blog, using Yahoo Inbound Links and Google Page Rank.
Social media influence: Using number of Twitter followers and Klout' social influence score.

Readers' loyalty: Using number of RSS subscribers provided by Feedburner.

Each factor makes up 25% of the final WiseScore. Of course like the old chart, you can still sort the list by any individual statistic by clicking on the top of each column. If you have any additional questions, check out our FAQ page.

Blogger Profile

You can find lots of interesting information about each blogger by visiting their blog’s profile.

Dig into each of the seven stats that makes up the WiseScore, and see how the blog compares to the rest of PF sphere.

Most recent and most linked-to content: This is great for finding most popular articles for any given blog.

Demographics: Check out who else is reading your favorite blog.

Traffic drill down: Get the specific unique visitors and pageview data. See if a blog's traffic is trending up or down.

Latest tweets by and about the blogger and Klout score: Is your favorite blogger an influencer or a follower on Twitter? What are people saying about her?

Help Us Make it Better!

We are releasing a lot of features in the near future, including badges, achievement scores, readers ratings, private forums, extended profiles, and a contact system to connect bloggers with journalists, publicists, and advertisers.

Please contact us here if you have any suggestions, want to receive updates, or would like to be a leader in the new top 100 community. If you see a blog missing from the list, please submit the blog for inclusion.

Now for the fun part. Check out the new Top 100 chart and see if your favorite blogger has moved up the list!

Written by Will Chen and published on Wise Bread. Read more Personal Finance articles from Wise Bread.