Fed Cuts Rate — 25 Basis Points

Although many hoped they would pause the Fed opted to lower rates by 0.25% today.? This brings the Fed overnight rate down to 2.00%.

I believe these rate drops are really prolonging the pain.? Mortgage rates have not dropped in kind with the Fed Rate.? And as the banks actually seem to be properly assessing risk, mortgage rates have not come down all that much.? So it doesn’t like the rate drops will slow the foreclosures.

The low rates are allowing the banks to fund at cheap levels, but that is a big part of what got us into this mess to begin with.? The bail-out message is also being given to the big players.??This?could lead to another round of risky investments. ?Quick profits and large bonuses were partially part of the problem.

The low rates may make the car makers happy.? They can offer 0% financing again and it won’t cost them much.? However, it will take more than car sales to turn this thing around.

Lower rates just aren’t going to do it.? We need to drive less, spend less, and save more.? If we?quit buying things we don’t need, with money we don’t have prices will come down.? If we drive less, engery prices will come down.? If we save more, we will have funds to cover the expected, unexpecteds (like new tires, new wash machine, etc.) and we won’t have to put those on a credit card.

The power is in our hands, we just need to flex our muscle on a nationwide scale.? A nice rebate from the gov’t might give you a quick warm fuzzy, but the gov’ts?bail-outs will make us all worse off in the long-run.

Will that is enough ranting from me.? cd :O)

No More NoFollow

For many, this post may not mean much, but for others it will.? Search Engines, especially Google, have encouraged bloggers and webmasters to label links as “nofollow” if they are paid.? This basically tells the search engine to not give weight to that link.

Many blogging software programs also incorporated it when people leave comments.? This was mainly because blogs became suspectible to lots and lots of spam and the SEs didn’t want those links to miss with their ranking algorithms.? Most blog software now, though, has good spam filters.

Since, I feel good about our spam blocking, I found a plug-in that removes the no-follow.? Now, if you leave a comment, your site-link will receive some link love.

Here is a link to the tool.? Remove Nofollow Tool.? I don’t get anything from that link except for the satisfaction of knowing others may join the revolution.

cd :O)

Best CD Rate – 4/10/08

Updated: 5/15/08.

Our best shorter-term personal CD rate is 4.15% APY for 1Y. We also have a 3Y at 4.64% APR / 4.75% APY.? There is also a 10Y at 5.35% APR / 5.50%.

Our highest Corporate rates are 3.92% APR for 1Y (Fee) and 5Y at 4.55% APR (No Fee).

Visit our?Certificate of Deposit Rates?to get started with our process. We do have a fee for our service.

Are Your Funds Insured?

I’ve scoured the Net and found another blog with great information on potential ways to configure your accounts and maximize your FDIC/NCUA coverage.? Check it out.

Recession Proof Your Savings

cd :O)

What Do You Need To Retire?

I was reading through some of my favorite blogs and found this great post.? It gives some great food for thought on what questions we should be asking as we are facing retirement.? I’m a long way off, but it certainly gave me some things to think about.

Retirement Planning.

cd :O)