School’s Around the Corner

They Are Becoming Their Father

What I Read to Keep Up on Personal Finance

Where do you come up with your ideas?

I thought, in response to Jimmy’s question, that I’d list all of the materials I read regularly for ideas and inspirations for The Simple Dollar.

Newspaper mistake creates controversy

An editing error in an article in Saturday’s Augusta Chronicle has resulted in undeserved criticism of Dr. Lauren Williams, associate superintendent of student learning for Columbia County Schools. 

Buddy Rich rocks the Muppets Show

Randy Pausch's famous Last Lecture

Reading is Fundamental

Here’s a rule of thumb: Make sure you always examine your receipt. Not only should you double check that you’re not being overcharged, but there might also be savings buried in the text.

My First Triathlon: Leg One

Calling All Emergency Workers

There’s no better discount than getting something free of charge. If you’re employed as emergency personnel (fire, rescue and police), a local restaurant recognizes your hard work.

No 53-year-old player will ever contend for grand slam in tennis

Greg Norman's run at the British Open was a remarkable achievement. Don't expect to see a 53-old-man pull off a similar feat in tennis.

Saving at the Pump

Parents, It's Time to Get Out Your Wallets

Ah, the joys of sending your kids back to school. Shopping for school supplies, school clothes and new shoes - extra money out of your wallet.

Your daily dose of patriotism... Muppets style

Them's Fightin' Words

Overheard: Your signature move stinks.

Canada's Apology

Let's Start Saving Money

Most people are feeling "the pinch" these days with the rising costs of gas and food. So, The Augusta Chronicle is doing its part to help consumers save a few pennies with this blog, appropriately titled, "The Pinch."

A Year of Henry

Of All The Whale Books...

I know how to pick 'em.

‘GTA: Aiken County’ announced as fifth title in controversial series

We had big dreams 20 years ago; some of them came true

How My Wife and I Got on the Same Financial Page

A look at Augusta's minor league scene

Prepare for the (really) big screen

I'm not quite sure what "due diligence" means here. It's a wonderfully veiled bit of corporate speak. According to a representative from the Regal Entertainment Group, that's what is currently going on as it applies to bringing an IMAX facility to Augusta. I've taken a close look at the tea leaves and my guess is "due diligence" means that yes, an IMAX screen will soon be part of the Regal Exchange 20 -- often referred to as the Mothership in my house -- and that the folks at Regal just aren't ready to announce quite yet. What tea leaves, do you ask? Well, both the Regal and IMAX web sites list an IMAX as coming soon. Actually, only Regal lists it as coming soon. IMAX actually says it is due in Fall 2008. More ambiguity from Regal, but I guess that's all a part of due diligence. Fair enough. It it their house.

According to Regal, the plan undergoing "due diligence" would see an existing theater at the 20 retrofitted to house an IMAX Digital system. Having hit a couple of IMAX rooms in my time, I'm curious to see how that would work. The IMAX theaters usually conform to a very specific geometry which includes, most notably, a really big screen. I'm not quite sure how that sort of size might be shoehorned into one of the the Regal auditoriums.

The good folk at Regal seem to believe this period of "due diligence" should wrap up some time in the next 30 days. Hopefully, before summer is out we'll have some concrete IMAX news to report.

Stay tuned.

Love Hurts

Gibson advances to NCAA Division III tennis finals

Quiet

Slowing down takes a ton of work

A Question of the Ages

Starting the Day Off Right

Charlie: Hey mom, wanna see a cage fight?

Shopping with the Boys

Area candidates criticized for lack of local flag pins

Who can stay up so late to watch a baseball game?

Automated paintball sentry gun

The First Steps Away from Paycheck-to-Paycheck Living

Pity the Fool

St. Lansbury

File Under: Daring Deeds, Inspirational Moves

Reader complains about child pornography article

More With The Fiction

The Great American Novel

Stranger than Fiction

BMX Brothers at Skate City

Pins and Needles

"So," my dad says walking in my back door, "the good news is that the snake probably won't come over here."

"What's the bad news," I ask.

"The snake escaped."

Bring on the pain

Local thugs discuss own economic stimulus package

Babe in Boyland

New Media

Blame Game

Paul: Don't be too hard on yourself, Elliott.

Elliott: Oh I don't blame myself. I blame Ethan.

When The Days Are Long

Embracing limits

Head down the road to a couple of contemporary art hotspots

Human Mirror subway improv trick

Why Saving Is More Important Than Perfect Investment Choices

I don’t know how to invest. I don’t know what to invest in. So I keep putting it off because I’m worried about messing it up. It’s ridiculous that this is all so complicated.

The path to financial success really isn’t that complicated, Leo, especially when you’re starting out. Your investing choice doesn’t matter much at all at first compared to the importance of simply saving that money. It’s only (much) later on that optimizing your investments really matters.

Doubt it? Let’s say the stock market returns 9% in 2009. You have three options - an investment that will end up only returning 7%, an investment that will end up returning 11%, or fear and procrastination.

If you elect to save just $10 a month and put it in the good 11% investment (compounded monthly), you have $125.40 at the end of the year.

If you elect to save that same $10 a month and choose only the 7% investment (again compounded monthly), you have $123.80 at the end of the year.

Yes, the difference between the great investment and the awful investment is only $1.60. Not much, huh?

Well, let’s compare it to fear and procrastination. That ends up with $0 in your investment account. Compare that to the “worst case” above, where you have $123.80. The “best case” is only $1.60 more than that.

Even if you’re investing substantially more, the difference isn’t that tremendous. If you’re socking away, say, $250 a month, you’ll have $3,095 in the “worst case” and $3,135 in the best case - a $40 difference. With fear and procrastination, you have nothing at all.

Even more impressive, waiting just one month costs you dearly. If you start investing now in the 7% investment as compared to waiting just one month and then starting in the 11% investment, it will take 33 months for the “good” investment to catch up in returns. Wait a year and a half and you’ll likely never catch up.

If you’re just starting out, a relatively poor investment doesn’t matter much at all. What matters is that you’re saving and building up the principal.

If you’re still afraid to take that leap and get your 401(k) or Roth IRA set up because you’re afraid of choosing a bad investment, do it as simply as possible. Choose the broadest investment you can so that you’re essentially in the average of all investments. For example, if you’re opening a Roth IRA at Vanguard, just invest in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index - you’ll be invested in all stocks and will go up and down with the market as a whole. If you did that in the example above, you’d be right in between the worst and best investments - doing right what the market does - without any worry or research.

Remember, though, starting now, even in a relatively poor investment, is far, far better than being afraid and putting it off. Don’t let fear and procrastination rule the day and keep you from retiring later on.

A direct challenge to the GreenJackets tarp crew

Still off board

Drug testing has started in golf, but it still seems like as much of a waste of time, energy and money as it did when it was first proposed.

The Saga of Peter Frampton continues (I hope)...

Below is this week's installment in the continuing tale of Peter Frampton and myself. It is, for the most part, a review of his instrumental album but also serves as a more detailed explanation of my comments a couple of weeks ago, when I deemed Mr. Frampton's solo stuff suspect. On that occasion, my writing prompted a couple of responses from the man himself. As of right now, I haven't heard from him again, but it is a holiday weekend. Check out the column and I'll keep you posted on any Frampton sightings.

A couple of weeks ago, in complimenting the music of Humble Pie, I was somewhat dismissive of guitarist Peter Frampton's solo career. Little did I know I was opening a big can of worms. 

A slew of Mr. Frampton's fans pummeled me with e-mails -- my favorite made fun of my last name -- and Mr. Frampton himself dropped me a line expressing his disappointment and urging me to listen to his latest release, the all-instrumental Fingerprints . I promised I would. I have been and will be the first to admit that I might have been wrong and still stand by my assertions.

Let me explain.

I stand firm in my opinion that Mr. Frampton's post-Pie work, the Camel material and, most notably Frampton Comes Alive , leave something to be desired. I believe that his increased interest in song structure and melody softened some of the rough edges that made him an interesting guitar player. Sorry, fans. Sorry, Peter.

That being said, I did listen to Fingerprints and was pleasantly surprised to discover that I enjoyed much more of it than not. Instead of a traditional review, I'd like to offer a track-by-track rundown of the release.

BOOT IT UP: Funky, jazzy and unexpected, it's a sort of soul song that sets the eclectic tone for the record.

IDA Y VUELTA (OUT AND BACK): An acoustic jazz tune that deftly avoids the sleepy trap, thanks in large part to a great melody.

BLACK HOLE SUN: This by-the-numbers Soundgarden cover distinguishes itself only by the addition of Mr. Frampton's famous talking guitar trick, a technique that is starting to feel a bit over-exposed. Not the strongest of tracks.

FLOAT: Ethereal, but perhaps not in a good way. This is zone-out music and while fans of Pink Floyd obscurities might approve, it never engaged me.

MY CUP OF TEA: An almost seamless transition from Float , it also streams past without leaving much of an impression.

SHEWANGO WAY: Propulsive and infectious, this is a pretty amazing track that earned more than a few repeat listens.

BLOOZE: There's a smoothness to this traditional-sounding electric blues that steals some of the done-me-wrong passion from the playing. A nice arrangement that might have benefited from just a little more edge.

CORNERSTONES: More talking guitar, but it's not bad. Perhaps pleasant is the right word. Still, it doesn't rock the way a track with two Stones (Rolling) involved should.

GRAB A CHICKEN (PUT IT BACK): Although there is some evidence of the famous aforementioned effect here, this songs turns out to be something of a creeper. A great little laid back jam that grows more appealing with repeated listens.

DOUBLE NICKELS: Sporting a vaguely Americana vibe, this track is loaded with tasteful licks, a great groove and just enough rock to really roll.

SMOKY: One of the more interesting tracks on Fingerprints , it is, on the surface, a lovely little swing. Investment in the track, however, yields rewards as this plays out to be one of the more accomplished, imaginative and courageous tracks on the record.

BLOWIN' SMOKE: A righteous rock song filled with guitar indignation. Could this have been written after the off-handed dismissal of an anonymous music writer?

OH WHEN ... : So low-key it's easy to dismiss. That would be a mistake. There's a sense of sweetness, melancholia and true emotion on this track that runs deep.

SOUVENIRS DE NOS PERES (MEMORIES OF OUR FATHERS): Part Parisian cabaret tune and part Gypsy hoedown, this is the perfect finale for this record. I would love to hear an entire album of Mr. Frampton's interpretations of this kind of music.

For all your glass-frosting needs...

Since the dawn of time, man has endeavored to instantly frost glasses for maximum beer drinking enjoyment. As usual, Ronco provides the solution to this most pressing of needs.

Finding Inspiration for Financial Change

A while back, I wrote in detail about the longest night of my life, the night when I realized that I needed to change my financial situation. That night, the best answer didn’t come from me. It came from my infant son. In short, he became my inspiration.

Augusta indoor football icon announces retirement

Only two people have served as constant faces through eight years of unstable indoor football in Augusta: head coach Bubba Diggs and lineman John Cratic.

One of those two icons has announced his retirement.

Local man plans secession for Independence Day