Password Manager and digital wallet for Pocket PC, Palm and Smartphone.

Password Manager and digital wallet for Pocket PC, Palm and Smartphone.

With all the different bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and email accounts one has there is a real challenge in remembering usernames and passwords for every site. This little piece of software solves that problem and is a "must have" in my book.

EWallet is more than just a password manager. It's like a wallet and a safe all in one. And it's much more secure that the Post-It® notes you have attached to your monitor.

There are differnt versions available for Pocket PC , Palm, Smartphones, and Windows desktops. I purchased the Professional edition so I can synch my eWallet on my desktop and my PocketPC.

There's a 30 day trial available if you want to check it out, but I trust you'll find it to be invaluable.

Million Dollar Idea

Cash pours in for student with $1 million Web idea

I attended a lecture in college in which the speaker claimed that everyone will have at least one "million dollar idea" in his or her lifetime.

"The difference between you and me," he said, "is that I'll actually take action on my ideas."

Apparently Alex Tew already found his at the ripe old age of 21.

Most of my ideas so far have been hundred dollar or thousand dollar ideas.

What million dollar ideas do you have tucked away that might alter your financial future?

The Mystery of the Three Baskets

Okay, so it's not really a mystery, but the story of the three baskets has literally changed my life.

A couple of years ago I happened upon a book called Smart Couples Finish Rich. In it I learned of three baskets (you can call them buckets or pockets or whatever you wish). Those three baskets are:

1. The Retirement Basket
2. The Security Basket
3. The Dream Basket

These baskets are essentially the primary areas of your financial life. Simple, I know, but my brain likes it when things are simple.

The Retirement Basket
This is where things like an IRA (Roth or Traditional), a 401k, or any other money or any other accounts dedicated to retirement belong.

The Security Basket
This basket includes insurance (life, medical, disability, etc.) and an emergency reserve (3-24 months worth of cash).

The Dream Basket
This is my wife's favorite. It's not that she dislikes the other baskets. She agrees they are good things. They just aren't a lot of fun! The purpose of the dream basket is to save for the fun things. Vacations, decorations for the house, scrapbooking supplies, new golf clubs...they all come out of the dream basket.

Though it's my sweetie's favorite, this is a very important basket for me as well. I'm a saver. I like to save and invest and watch our portfolio grow. If it were up to me, we'd save 10 times what we are saving now. But in marriage there are compromises. That's where the dream basket comes in. I get to save and she gets to spend, but we each benefit.

So, David Bach changed my financial view of the world with a simple metaphor that we use to this day. The purpose of this blog is to share a little about my three baskets and what goes in them. None of what is presented is rocket science, nor will this information bring world peace, but it might give a few folks some peace of mind regarding their personal finances.