I am the “nerd” in our family, so I pay our bills and manage our investments.
(Here’s a post about how I avoid arguing with my spouse about money. My wife is awesome, but she’s not all that interested in the “mechanics” of our finances.)

Every three of four months, I create a Financial Inventory Worksheet for my wife. I keep one copy at home and one copy at my office. The worksheet allows me to keep track of various accounts, balances, and passwords. I print out the inventory worksheet and fill it out by hand. If something were to happen to me (injury, death, etc.), my wife would have access to all account information. I always “date” the worksheet and include an estimated balance for each account.

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Oh yeah. I make sure that I don’t just leave this piece of paper lying around the house. Seriously, a piece of paper with bank account numbers and passwords could potentially be misused.

Here’s a post I wrote a few months ago, entitled “What If I Die?”. Not my favorite topic, to be sure. But, these are things for which we must prepare.

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I just went to login to my ING Direct account and I noticed that they have updated their “Tips & Tools” section. If you are interested in checking out their selection of FREE on-line (and printable) personal finance tools, follow these directions:

(You DO NOT have to be an ING Direct customer to access these free tips and tools!)

1. Go to www.ingdirect.com

2. Click “View My Account”

3. On the left-hand side, you will see a button labeled “Tips & Tools”. Click it.

4. You will now see several resources, including resources for parents and teachers. I suggest clicking on the middle selection, labeled “Customer Corner”.

5. You will be taken to a page with TONS of FREE worksheets, on-line calculators, and printable resources. I suggest clicking on the selection labeled “Calculators/Worksheets”.

6. Check it out! ING provides a whole page of budget worksheets, inventory worksheets, and financial calculators.

I really like my ING Direct account. I think that it is cool that they have decided to provide these free resources. (By the way, I’m not getting paid to talk about ING Direct. I just like their site.) A nerd like me could spend several hours clicking through all of this free personal finance fun! Worksheets rock!

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One of my fellow podcasters, Scott from the Money Blogger Podcast, recently interviewed Janine Bolon, author of Ditching Debt. Before the interview, Scott asked me to submit any questions that I might have for Janine. Two of my questions were used.

In what order should you pay off your debts? (I paid off my debts LOWEST BALANCE to HIGHEST BALANCE.)

Can you/should you pay cash for automobiles and homes? (My thoughts…)

I strongly suggest that you check out the interview. Plus, if you fast-forward to the 15:00 mark, you can hear Janine’s answers to my questions. (Hint, hint: Janine sounds a LOT like little old NCN (without the souther accent!)

I love people who talk in PLAIN ENGLISH and who have REAL, PRACTICAL ADVICE! Scott does a great job of conducting an interview. (He interviewed me way back in February of 2006!)

If you decide to buy Janine’s book, think about clicking on this link and buying it from Amazon. I’ll make a referral fee and you’ll get a great book! Ditching Debt

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I have posted the latest episode of the No Credit Needed Podcast. Episode 39 is a “return” to the “basics”. Topics include emergency funds, checking accounts, debt reduction, and budgeting.

I have decided to purchase a new scale. My current scale is about 10 years old and I just don’t trust it! Read all about it over at No. Calories Needed.

The No Credit Needed Network has 4 New Members and 6 Updated Charts. Also, work is being done to make the NCN Network even MORE awesome!

As for No Credit Needed, I’ve made the Elite Eight over at Free Money Finance and I’ve made my decision about my Roth IRA contributions.

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Free Money Finance has been running a “March Madness” style match up
of personal finance posts. One of my posts made it through to the ELITE
EIGHT! Yes! Please take a second to read all eight awesome posts over at Free Money Finance. My post is Avoid 10 Common Debt Reduction Mistakes. To be honest, all of the posts that remain are great. To vote, leave a comment at Free Money Finance. Props to my “friendly” competition, Five Cent Nickel, who has THREE posts listed in the final eight. (Two of his posts come from Five Cent Nickel, while the other comes from his site, Raising 4 Boys.)

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Speaking of the “real” March Madness, I had UCLA and Texas in the finals, so half of my bracket is dead. (Oh yeah. I only fill out ONE bracket. Integrity people, integrity.)

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If you have not done so already, may I suggest that you read this week’s Carnival of Personal Finance?  It is being hosted by Lazy Man And Money, and he was kind enough to post my submission, even though I was late with my submission.  Thanks, Lazy Man!

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