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1500 questions
20
votes
9 answers
How much is a typical food budget per person?
In planning out a budget, what is a realistic amount to budget per person for food expenses per month?
EDIT: Thanks to Ether's answer, here's a clarification: What guidelines or warning signs are there that we can use when planning out the food…
Don
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votes
4 answers
When is Cash Value Life Insurance a good or bad idea?
What makes CVLI either good or bad? If you get it while young (~23 years old) and have a respectable starting salary then what are some benefits or detriments to having it?
The specific policy I'm talking about is from Northwestern Mutual.
Is it a…
Joe Phillips
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20
votes
4 answers
Does doing your "research"/"homework" on stocks make any sense?
One thing about investing has always bothered me. You constantly hear people saying you need to "do your research" or "do your homework" on a company before buying their stock. I rarely watch Mad Money but I heard Jim Cramer saying this on there…
Craig W
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20
votes
3 answers
How can I invest in gold without taking physical possession?
I want to buy gold but I do not want to physically store it. I just want to invest in the price of gold. Where can I buy electronic gold certificates? Something like putting money in the bank but instead of dollars, I'm depositing gold, for example.…
user4951
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20
votes
4 answers
Why would anyone buy a government bond?
In my country, the interest rates on government bonds are currently 2 - 3%, but I have money in a term deposit at the bank which earns 4% interest. I don't understand how this can be possible. Why are there any buyers of government bonds, either…
Flounderer
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20
votes
3 answers
What are the indicators a stock is part of a pump and dump scheme?
What are the indicators that a stock is currently being pumped for a later dump? If one were watching the market what would they need to look for in order to identify a stock as a victim of pump and dump?
OpenCoderX
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20
votes
3 answers
Should I pay off zero interest debt early?
My cash reserves are around $11k, including an emergency fund of about a month and a half, and I budget rigorously. The only debt I have is $7k at zero interest, paid at $300/month, and it's from a family member who would almost certainly defer…
Paul
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20
votes
10 answers
How can I avoid international wire fees or currency transfer fees?
I'm paid by an American company, but travel to France frequently and need to have a French bank account for various reasons. So far the cheapest procedure I've found to transfer money is
withdraw euros from an ATM with my American card,
walk to…
Shep
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20
votes
4 answers
Somebody sent me a check to deposit into my account, but I now think that it's a scam. will I get in trouble?
I am homeless and have been for the last 8 months. Finding work has been difficult as I am physically and mentally handicapped.
This girl on Facebook who was friends with somebody I know hit me up and offered me financial help, and at first…
Jedediah Cleveland
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20
votes
6 answers
What is the point of "earnest money"?
My wife and I are in the process of buying a house. We recently found a place we liked and had our real estate agent make an offer. The offer contract he drew up said that we put a certain amount of money in escrow as "earnest money," which makes…
Mason Wheeler
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20
votes
2 answers
What are "headwinds" and "tailwinds" in financial investments?
I've seen/heard these terms in various writings & broadcasts lately. What do they mean?
danludwig
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20
votes
9 answers
What would be a recommended interest rate for an unsecured loan to individuals with mediocre credit rating and income close to expenses?
I have a friend whose new wife is paying an absurdly high interest rate on her auto loan. They've asked if I was willing to loan them money at a more reasonable rate to pay off that loan and have them pay me back instead. I'm fully aware that…
dsollen
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20
votes
7 answers
How can a retail investor check whether a cryptocurrency exchange is safe to use?
In the wake of the ongoing FTX debacle, I wonder the following: How can a retail investor check whether a cryptocurrency exchange is safe to use, at least minimize the risk?
By safe, I mean no losing one's money due to issues with the exchange.
Franck Dernoncourt
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20
votes
7 answers
How is making a down payment different from getting a smaller loan?
What is the difference between these two things?
$100k loan with $20k down payment to buy a $100k thing
$80k loan with $0 down payment to buy a $100k thing
They seem effectively identical. But in that case, why are down payments even regarded as…
kloddant
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20
votes
2 answers
How do Islamic Banking give loans for housing purposes?
Islamic banks do not give loans they invest in financial activities of their clients. Am I correct?
If yes, then how can they provide loans for housings? Home loans have nothing to do with business.
Then how do they manage this type of loans?
user5800