I know nobody cares, but they should
I made an exciting decision yesterday. As you may or may not know, I have recently discovered personal finance blogs. These blogs are awesome in ways I can't even begin to describe. Anyway, most of these blogs at some point refer to online savings accounts with ridiculously large interest rates - ING Direct, Emigrant Direct and HSBC being the big three.I have a lot of money in savings that needs to be better invested. Unfortunately, as that money is an emergency fund, it needs to be in an easily accessible and low risk/high yield account. I started by trying to put my money in short term six month CDs so every three months, a CD would mature and I could access the money. Now I have a better option.
Yesterday, I made the jump to HSBC. They are currently offering 6% APY on new money through April 30. Their standard (variable) interest is 5.05% (much higher than the national average on CDs and MMAs). These are accounts with no minimum balance and work only online - you link them with your checking accounts and voila, instant access to your online money. Okay, it might take a day or two for the bank to verify that the money is there, but still, it's a fantastic way to keep my money available and make several hundred dollars a year in interest.
Also, I switched yogurts yesterday from Yoplait to Dannon - Fruit on the Bottom. It was and excellent decision.
posted by E @7:30 AM