Weekly Roundup: Penny Wise, Pound Foolish Edition

The other day I was talking with someone about rolling over their 401(k) into a Rollover IRA and they asked how they should mail the check. They were debating whether it was “worth it” to mail the check by regular mail or if they really absolutely had to mail it via certified mail. I told them that when I did it, I mailed it by certified mail because I really didn’t want to deal with the headache of getting another check if the first one was lost. It makes sense to use regular mail for some things and certified for others, conserve when it makes sense and don’t when it doesn’t make sense.

Tip of the day for all you frequent mailers, there’s no point putting something into a Priority Mail package unless you really just want to use that package because it isn’t treated any differently. Since there is no guarantee, unlike Second Day or Next Day, the package travels just as quickly as your typical First Class package; except you’re paying more for no reason. The only way you can win by using Priority Mail is if you use the Flat Rate boxes, then you can potentially save yourself some cash.

• NCN has a new will, a new life insurance policy, and a new mini-van. Busy busy!
• Nickel shares another reason to value your credit score.
• FMF shares some advice on how to get a raise.
• JLP talks about when you should dump a bad money manager.
• JD talks about building wealth with a “virtual employer.”
• MightyBargainHunter talks about how eBay is cracking down on inflated shipping prices and Lazy Man wonders if it’s better if you “win it” (meaning eBay auctions).
• Golbguru hates how overused the words clearance, sale, and discount are.
• SVB looks at the absolute worst mortgage in the world.
• GenX needs help coming up with some retirement trivia questions.
• Sun wonders if the do not call registry is really necessary.
• Ben talks about sales tactic #8 - the bait and switch. It’s technically not the fraudulent type of bait and switch, where you advertise one product and get another one. This was more like he made a mistake and didn’t consider the consequences of his decision (and Comcast wasn’t benevolent enough to share it with him at the time he agreed to it). Oh well, live and learn!
• Countrywide is refinancing $16B in loans, it’s a good chance for those looking at higher rates to lock in something better now… while Countrywide is still reeling.
• Check out my thoughts on Money’s 13 retirement myths at My Retirement Blog.
• Want a free subscription to Alternative Medicine Magazine? How about a subscription to Ode Magazine?