Here are some of my recent posts about money for Credit.com.
Charts to Help You Succeed in Online Dating: "If you're investing your time and money in an online dating service and want to increase your chances of getting a reply from someone you're interested in, don't tell them they're "hot." Instead, tell them you dig zombie movies."
Strategies for Happiness: "The shift from being a rat racer to pursuing happiness is not about working less or with less fervor but about working as hard or harder at the right activities -- those that are a source of both present and future benefit."
New Boom on Metal Detectors: "A 55-year-old metal detector enthusiast discovered a cache of Anglo-Saxon treasures earlier this month, estimated to be worth $10 million, in a farmer's field in Birmingham, England."
Big Spenders Living in Denial: "Mark is a 41-year-old executive who makes a six-figure salary but fell into debt because he doesn't believe in self-sacrifice: 'I have a sort of moralistic self-righteousness that I deserve good things,' he says. 'And because I'm surrounded by luxury all day, I know what's good quality and what isn't.'"
Higher pay equals worse performance: "Money is a motivator as well as a stress-inducer. With so much at stake, the volunteers had a harder time concentrating on the assignment."
Consumerism Commentary Podcast: "Flexo and his colleagues are interested in the same kinds of money-related topics that I am: the psychology of money, personal finance tips, investment strategies, life hacks (like haggling tactics), and various fun observations (like how the frequent redesign of US coins is a bad thing). In a blogosphere overcrowded with personal finance blogs, they are one of the best."
Going Minimal: "Leo Babauta at Get Rich Slowly and Trent Hamm at The Simple Dollar are both fans of a minimalist approach to personal finances. Monetary minimalism involves taking stock of the ways you spend your money and your time, and then streamline them so you have 1) more money, 2) more time, and 3) a more rewarding life."
How money affects the "moral molecule" in your brain: An interview with Neuroeconomist Paul J. Zak: "When you receive money denoting trust your brain releases a chemical called oxytocin. Oxytocin motivates you to reciprocate. It makes us feel empathy for others. It connects us to others."
Learning to resist anchoring cues: "When it comes to buying diamonds, which most people won't do more than once or twice in their lives and have no idea what diamonds are really worth, people will grab any anchor given to them. And De Beers is only too happy to provide one: 'two months' salary.'"
Nifty Chart and Web App to Help You Find a Better Cell Phone Plan: "BillShrink's Cell Phone Advisor is a useful Web app that helps you search for a cheaper cell phone plan. You enter your current monthly bill, the name of your carrier, and other information, and the Cell Phone Advisor presents other plans that could save you money."
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So that's what Bill Wyman is doing these days. Looks relaxing...and fruitful!
I read Bill Wyman's Rolling Stones bio-opus ("Stone Alone") this past summer. Wyman not only has a knack for remembering life's major details, but in the book he also recalls every single solitary financial transaction he and his bandmates have ever made, down to exact tabs for business lunches and rent paid on every flat he's lived in.
It's not surprising that Wyman would enter the soothing parts of his life with a metal detector in his hand. He has a way with money! More power to him.
Funny enough, I had just contacted (and later bought) a White's Electronics Quantum XT from someone when the story broke about the treasure cache. It seems that metal detecting in Europe ("where the history comes from") is much simpler because of the long history of metal-using civilizations, where in the US, you have to be where people were or are currently and won't find too much that is older than 1800s.
Just because someone else already brought up Bill Wyman (indeed, of the 10 articles listed, all comments so far), I had to share this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiBBs_MogAc
So far, I've only been able to take mine out 3 times thanks to the weather and have determined that there is a lot of buried trash in my front yard. Still learning!
Also, the minimalism, happiness and anchoring articles were great. I'm sure it's been posted before, but there's always weird new stuff being posted at the 4 hour work week blog: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/
re: Strategies for Happiness
What a uniquely American way of looking at things:
"pursuing happiness is ... about working as hard or harder at the right activities".
Hard work is the answer to everything, right?