500th Post on Personal Finance Blog

This is my 500th Post on Personal Finance Blog. My Blog is only 200 days old and is growing speedily to catch up with the John Chows or ProBloggers. I've decided that after every 100 posts I will summarize my blog statistics encompassing my kingdom in blogosphere, so is this post. So far I have 531 feedburner subscribers, and as a token of appreciation, I will give away a free ad spot to the 600th subscriber for a whole month.

1. Feedburner RSS feed

2. http://feeds.bidvertiser.com/PersonalFinanceManagementAndPlanning

3. http://www.pheedo.com/f/personal_finance_management_and_planning

4. Feedblitz RSS version

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27. Google PageRank on homepage of http://ghostrider30.blogspot.com


28. IZEA Real Rank


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Go paperless with Chase and qualify to win $100,000

I hope you have already availed the $175 offer and NY commuter cash offer from Chase, and now here is another chance for you to win $100,000 from Chase.

Chose Paperless Statements from Chase and enter for a chance to win $100,000. Every account you enroll between May 1 and Jun 30, 2008 is another chance to win. Here are the official rules for an entry to win $100,000.

1) From 12:00:00 a.m. EST 5/1/08 through 11:59:59 p.m. EST 6/30/08, new and existing Chase customers :
(a) if you have already activated Paperless Statements for one or more of your accounts; or
(b) if you log onto Chase.com/GoPaperless and activate Paperless Statements, you will receive one (1) entry for each account for which you receive Paperless Statements (subject to limitations on entries noted herein);

OR

2) If you are not a Chase customer or do not wish to enroll in Paperless Statements, on a 3" x 5" card, handwrite your name, address, daytime telephone number including area code, and birth date, and mail in an envelope to: Chase "Paperless" Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 3014, Rogers MN 55374-3014. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by 6/30/08 and received by 7/8/08. Limit ten (10) entries per person, regardless of method of entry.

PRIZES/ODDS: Grand Prize : One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive $100,000 (to be awarded in the form of a check). Prize is not transferable. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. TOTAL AVERAGE RETAIL VALUE (ARV) OF PRIZE IS $100,000. Prizes will be awarded in a random drawing to be held on or about 7/25/08.

18.4¢ Gas Tax Holiday Scam

Dear Senator Clinton and Senator McCain,
Please stop insulting the intelligence of the American people with pointless gas tax scams.

Soaring gas prices are not something we can solve with a cheap gimmick. Gas prices are high because people around the world are using lots of gas including rising demand in developing nations like China and India. Prices are high because oil is a limited resource and production is limited, because of speculation on Wall Street, and instability in the Middle East. Gimmicks won't change any of that.

Eliminating the federal gas tax all summer would only save American consumers about 30 dollars, send more money overseas, reduce our ability to invest in infrastructure, and encourage even more driving and pollution contributing to global climate change. At the end of the summer, gas prices would be as high or higher than before and no problems will be solved.

The only way to save Americans from spending huge sums on gas is to reduce the gas Americans use. We need to invest in alternative sources of energy. We need to build more fuel-efficient cars. And we need to make it easier for more Americans to accomplish everyday tasks without having to drive.

Real estate values are strong in walkable communities while they plummet in exurbs which require long, expensive commutes each day. Our federal policy can encourage more housing near offices and schools, and support more transit lines that get people to work without having to pay for gas. We also need to transport more of our freight by rail, a method that consumes far less energy and makes everyday goods cheaper for consumers.

Experts and commentators agree that your gas tax "holiday" proposal is naked politics and bad policy. No matter whom we support in the Presidential race, we want a race about serious ideas instead of cheap scams for votes.

Sign the petition here
http://www.gastaxscam.com/letter.html

How to get a FREE stay at Wyndham

Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses nearly 6,500 franchised hotels and more than 542,000 hotel rooms worldwide under the, Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Wingate® by Wyndham, Travelodge®, Howard Johnson®, AmeriHost Inn® and Knights Inn® brands. All hotels are owned individually and operated independently or by a Wyndham Hotel Group subsidiary.

Now is your opportunity to get a FREE stay at Wyndham just by matching their hotel rates. If you book Wyndham WEBRATES on Wyndham.com and then find a better rate that is viewable and bookable on another Web site for the same hotel and accommodations, and for the same dates, contact Wyndham within 24 hours of booking your reservation to ask for your WWW Guarantee.

To get your WWW Guarantee, complete the online Wyndham.com WEBRATES Webmatch form through the "How to Submit a Claim" link on the site.

Before submitting a claim, please ensure that your claim meets the following requirements.

1. You booked your original Internet reservation for a Wyndham property in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, or Mexico on one of the following Wyndham-branded Web sites:
http://www.wyndham.com
2. It has not been more than 24 hours since you booked your original Internet reservation.
3. The Internet rate must be available to the general public and may not be an unpublished rate.
4. The Internet rate must be confirmed as available. One way to confirm availability is to provide a screenshot of the Web site with the lower Internet rate that proves availability.
5. Internet rates that are "available upon request" must be confirmed for availability through a call to the Internet rate provider. Wyndham will confirm the availability of the Internet rate with its property before honoring a claim, and Wyndham will not honor claims on Internet rates that are not available at that time.
6. Your original Internet reservation was not booked within 72 hours of arrival. Because Wyndham must check the availability of the Internet rate before honoring a claim, Wyndham cannot guarantee reservations booked within 72 hours of arrival.

Exclusive Invitation from WSJ.com Editors

Get Day-by-Day Election Coverage! Complete election commentary from respected WSJ.com Opinion editors. Start reading Political Diary for less than $1 per week.

"Whether it's politics, business or foreign affairs, Political Diary is a must-read each day for pundits, investors, government officials or main-street voters. Insider tidbits, great analysis, spicy quotes -- don't leave home without it." - Larry Kudlow, "Kudlow & Company".

Want the inside story on Election '08? Try Political Diary and get commentary from WSJ.com Opinion editors, campaign trail reports and political gossip. With your subscription, enjoy:

1. A unique perspective —from WSJ.com opinion editors on the important campaign issues of today.

2. Comprehensive information —about the presidential, state and local level elections.

3. Delivery to your inbox —five days a week for only $3.95 per month.

Just open the link below to sign up now for this limited time exclusive invitation:

http://ets.dowjones.com/trk/click?ref=zp91d7vhu_2-85d0x37909x1259462&

Win a $20,000 home makeover with Renuzit® TriScents™ freshners

Often the smallest changes, such as incorporating a new scent into the home, have the biggest payoffs. Renuzit® TriScents™ products and Tanya Memme, host of the A&E Emmy-nominated hit show “Sell This House,” teamed up to challenge Americans to transform their home using Renuzit® TriScents™ air fresheners and win a $20,000 home makeover. In addition to the $20,000 grand prize, a second place prize of $3,000 and a third place prize of $2,000 will also be awarded.

It’s was easy to enter. From January 28 to March 30, 2008, people registered and uploaded video or photo and essay showing three ways they've incorporated Renuzit® TriScents™ products into your home. Entries will now be judged on three criteria: Integration of product, Creativity, and Overall Presentation. Although the date has passed you can still win a $20,000 home makeover.

Just check out the semi-finalist gallery and vote for your favorite entry. You can vote for your favorite submission with up to one vote per day through June 7, 2008. The winner with the most votes will receive a $20,000 home makeover with Tanya Memme, who is on right here with one of her rare sexy photos back in the good old days when she did the Direct TV "ad" show.

Among the 10 semi-finalist entries, I liked the Suburban Renewal's video which is the very first in the list. It is very simple video and yet shows that transformations with the product don’t have to be limited to scent and affects your surroundings as well. The product is fully integrated into the story submission. The video clearly demonstrate how Renuzit® TriScents™ freshener has transformed their home for the better in the before and after scenes.

Get off the ground fast with SkyMiles Dining and the 5,000 Mile Express Bonus offer

Act now to earn up to 5,000 bonus miles by dining out! Earn 1,000 bonus miles when you spend $50 dining out at participating restaurants—plus 1,000 extra bonus miles for every additional $100 you spend (including tax and tip) until 6/30/08. These bonus miles are on top of the miles you normally earn with SkyMiles Dining.

Here's how to earn:

SPEND Total Bonus Miles Earned

$50 1,000 Bonus Miles

$150 2,000 Bonus Miles

$250 3,000 Bonus Miles

$350 4,000 Bonus Miles

$450 5,000 Bonus Miles

SkyMiles Dining is the free and easy way to earn miles at thousands of participating restaurants nationwide. The more you dine, the more miles per dollar you earn on everything you order: food, drinks, even the tax and tip. That's it. No numbers to remember. No coupons to clip. Whether you travel for business or pleasure, or just want a tasty meal in your own neighborhood, SkyMiles Dining is the way to go!

Don't miss out on the 5,000 Mile Express Bonus—register now on skymiles.rewardsnetwork.com!

Low Price Car Rental that can sponsor your Vegas Trip

Have you rented with the most dynamic rent a car company in the industry that has 150 U.S. locations and 130 locations in 33 countries internationally ? Advantage is your car rental that can help you, let it Sun or Ski. They have always low prices. Members of certain organizations and industries receive special rates on providing proof of their membership.

Some of the featured specials are:

1. Special rates on SUV’s are usually difficult to find. But at Advantage, you’ll always find the best rates available on all vehicles including brand new SUV models

2. Business or pleasure, you're budget will go much farther with Advantage -- with rates starting at just $19.99/day

3. Sun Country Airlines and Advantage Rent A Car have partnered to give Sun Country passengers a great deal on Advantage car rentals! Fly Sun Country and receive a FREE day on your next rental of 2 or more days.

4. Starting at only $60 per day, with NO DROP FEE and unlimited miles, the one way program let's you pick up the car and return between any two Advantage U.S. locations.

Their reward program gives you free rental days in return for your rentals with Advantage. You may choose to receive credit on a rental between the Advantage Frequent Rental Club OR a separate Frequent Traveler Program in which Advantage participates.

I had personally used their car rental service last month and was please with the customer service offered to me. I encourage you to try their great specials and also visit their site to enter to win a trip to the 43rd Annual Acadamy of Country Music Awards at the MGM GRAND, Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, 2008.

Tune up for summer & save

Whether you would enjoy a full-immersion spa, a fabulous resort with spa services to complement your vacation, or simply a day spa visit, welcome to Spa Escapes.

It's an exlcusive collection of spa offers and vacation packages from some of the world's best spas and resorts brought to you by American Express in partnership with Travel + Leisure magazine.

Some offers include

1. $50 - $300 Spa, Dining & Shopping Credits
2. Complimentary Spa Treatments
3. Free Day Passes, Welcome Spa Gifts

Save when you book with any American Express Card

Link given below for all related offers from American Express:

http://email.americanexpress.com/a/hBIIBFHAQB6AAB7Q$p1Bba24J$y/axp3

Make Money from Microsoft Socializing With Zune Update

Users of the portable media player can now download friends' nine most recently played songs, as well as nine tunes flagged as favorites.

Microsoft tried to narrow the gap against Apple with the release of new technology that enables Zune users to share more of their music libraries with friends.
The latest update to the Zune software that synchronizes the player with a person's music library on the PC and Microsoft's online store reflects how Microsoft is hoping to grab market share from the Apple iPod by encouraging Zune users to build online social networks. Microsoft last November launched a music community Web site called Zune Social, where users could browse each other's playlists and share opinions on songs and bands.

The upgrade takes the community element a bit further by letting Zune users download each other's nine most recently played songs, as well as nine tunes flagged as favorites. The playlists are updated each time a person connects their Zune to the PC.

In order for people to trade tunes, they have to subscribe to Microsoft's mobile music service called Zune Pass. The service costs $14.99 a month and lets subscribers download onto their Zunes any of the 3.5 million songs in Microsoft's library.

Make Money with Kontera’s New WordPress Plugin

WordPress bloggers, making money with ContentLinks™ has just become easier than ever. With the new WordPress plugin, you will be able to easily customize ContentLink ads to accommodate your preferences.

This plugin enables you to:

-Add the ContentLink tag to all your pages in one click
-Block ContentLink ads from appearing on particular posts or categories
-Determine when ContentLink ads will begin appearing on new posts- you can choose to block ads for a particular number of days
-Display ContentLinks only on posts
-Display ContentLinks only on comments
-Change ContentLinks color

Here’s how you set it up:

1. Unzip the plugin file to your local hard drive.
2. Copy the Kontera folder to your blog’s WordPress content/plugins directory.
3. On your WordPress administration pages, navigate to Plugins.
4. Click Activate next to the Kontera ContentLink plugin entry.
5. Navigate to the Options page and choose the newly created submenu Kontera Settings.
6. In the top field, enter your publisher ID number. This is your personal ID which appears on your ContentLink tag:

Now it’s time to make your selections. Try the different capabilities this new plugin offers and see what works best for your blog.

Make money with IZEA SocialSpark Innovative Network

SocialSpark is a Social Marketing Network that connects advertisers and bloggers through an online advertising marketplace. Advertisers are able to target blogs based on conversational topics and make cash sponsorship offers to the bloggers who publish them. Bloggers can make money by either placing display advertisements on their blog or by writing sponsored content. The sponsorships offered through the SocialSpark marketplace allow advertisers to build buzz, generate traffic and maximize social media exposure.

Some features about this network are summarised below:

1. Advertiser Profiles -Browse through lists of advertisers and find sponsors for your blog.
2. Blogger Profiles - Submit a blog and have advertisers make you cash offers.
3. Campaign Reporting - Understand important metrics like CPM, CPC as well as impact on buzz.
4. Blog Analytics - See what type of traffic is coming to an individual blog.
5. Content Summaries - Quickly understand what an individual blog is about.
6. Search - Find advertisers, blogs and opportunities that meet your criteria.

I invite all my readers to view my profile on SocialSpark. I joined SocialSpark on 19th April and have been benefited in reciprocal visits to my blog from my SocialSpark profile. In fact my profile has helped me to boost my IZEA rank up 200%. I meet a few fellow bloggers sharing the same blogging interests and been in touch with them on new projects. It is really helpful for social networking. I strongly encourage you to visit and join this innovative social network.

Why 23-cent pizza and not FREE pizza Thursday (May 8) in the Northeast Ohio area?

Papa John's Pizza has issued an apology to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cavalier LeBron James for making T-shirts with LeBron's number and the word "crybaby" under it, T-shirts that appeared at Friday's playoff game with the Washington Wizards in Washington. "They were being stupid," Dan Schuler said. "That shirt was an insult to all of Cleveland."

Papa John's is offering 23-cent pizza Thursday (May 8), the day the Cavaliers play the Boston Celtics in Boston, to fans who may have had a "bad taste" left in their mouths after the T-shirt incident. Why 23-cent pizza and not FREE ? Because Lebron James is "The Number 23".

As part of the apology to Cavs fans, Papa John's corporate public relations Director Tish Muldoon said Monday that all 44 Papa John's shops in the Northeast Ohio area will provide one large, one-topping pizza for carry-out/pick-up only, for customers.

The stores open at 10 a.m. and customers can call or come in to a shop to get the deal. However, no home delivery of the special "apology" pizzas will be made on Thursday.

The 23-cent deal is limited to one per household or one per person and all proceeds from the 23-cent pizzas are going to the Cavaliers Youth Fund.

"At Papa John's, we are huge fans of Cleveland, the CAVS and LeBron James. We have more than 40 restaurants throughout the Cleveland area that are operated by managers, pizza makers and drivers who grew up and live in Cleveland. These team members and Papa John's are committed to Cleveland, the CAVS and LeBron," the corporate statement read.

Papa John's will also donate $10,000 to the Cavaliers Youth Fund. Late Monday, the managers of the Washington, D.C.-area Papa John's also will donate $10,000 to the cavaliers Youth Fund.

The shirts appeared after LeBron complained about hard fouls from the Washington Wizards, and Wizards' center Brendan Haywood called him a crybaby.

As Papa John's found out, there are a couple of things you don't do. With apologies to Jim Croce, "You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't pull the mask of the ole Lone Ranger," and you don't mess around with James, Lebron James, that is.

A FREE offer worth $179.88 from Buzzfuse

Buzzfuse has a special offer for early users: a free upgrade to a Premium account for a year. Valued at $179.88!

What Are You going to Get?

Access to our Premium toolkit and its enhanced reporting, marketing, and payment tools. The ability to earn real money for your content, based in its relative performance. A saving of $179.88 on a year's premium account!

How to Qualify:

1. Publish at least 2 items using Buzzfuse
2. Have at least 30 active contacts in your circle (this helps you market your work)
3. Keep publishing at least 1 new item each month for the balance of the year.

Please note that this offer applies to the 1st 1000 people to fulfil these criteria only. It's that simple - and all of these things will help you market your work better.

What You Need To Do?

1. Register another item
2. Invite your friends to be your initial market
3. Keep on producing the great stuff!
4. Once you qualify, we'll upgrade you automatically.

Amnesty International Joins Bloggers Unite

We have great news! All eyes will be on Bloggers Unite For Human Rights this May 15th because Amnesty International, a worldwide movement that campaigns for internationally recognized human rights, will be joining, supporting, and drawing attention to participating bloggers and that could mean you!

In addition to promoting the campaign to its hundreds of thousands of members, Amnesty International is providing BlogCatalog source material for bloggers. Topics range from the wrongful imprisonment of journalist Shi Tao in China to the continuing murder, rape, abduction, and displacement of people in Darfur, Sudan.

You can find some of these resources on our new Amnesty International resource section at http://unite.blogcatalog.com#amnesty. Of course, you can write about any human rights topic you want. Some BlogCatalog members may even write about topics that have yet to gain international attention.

You might also be interested to know that Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA has some great things to say about our campaign.

"Amnesty International is thrilled to be a part of Bloggers Unite for Human Rights," he said. "Bloggers Unite for Human Rights is a great way to harness the power of the Internet to fight injustice and make the world a better place."

There are any great human rights organizations all over the world, but if you would like to know something about our Amnesty International, please visit http://www.amnestyusa.org for more information. Currently, Amnesty International is working to stop the abuse of internationally recognized human rights in over 150 countries and territories. The organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961.

Thanks so much for your continued support! More and more people are taking notice of your efforts. On behalf of the entire BlogCatalog team, thank you and we look forward to reading your posts on May 15!

$3.55 Off with Donatos Instant Gas Rebate

At Donatos and everywhere we are fed up with rising gas prices. So they decided to do something about it. Come in now and fill up with Donatos Instant Gas Rebate!

Get the price of a gallon of gas taken off your next large pizza order.

Just give them your gasoline receipt, and they'll deduct the price you paid for 1 gallon off your order. (Gas receipt required. See store for details.)

As a member of the What Pizza Should Be Movement, its even easier. You don't need to find your gas receipt. Just print this post and use it to get today's regular unleaded average price as reported by the GasBuddy website off your order.

Orders using the gas rebate must be placed via phone or in restaurant. Online ordering cannot process this rebate at this time.

Please present gas receipt or this post at time of purchase. Valid at participating locations. Not valid with any other coupons or offers.

Use this post to get the per gallon price off your next order that includes any large pizza.

Gas receipt or this post required to receive the discount. Mention gas rebate discount at time of order. Offer is good for one rebate per order. Valid at participating locations. Not valid with any other coupons or offers. Offer valid through 5/26/08. See store for details.

Make Money by Predicting Future Events

Predictify.com is a prediction platform where users can predict the future and build a reputation based on their accuracy, and marketers can post questions to collect actionable, forward-looking data “from the crowd”.

1. Submit a Prediction
2. Browse or search for questions that interest you
3. Predict the outcome - it's free, no points or bets required
4. Build a reputation based on the accuracy of your predictions
5. Earn real money - payouts increase as you achieve higher levels of expertise

Tap Collective Wisdom - Ask a Question

1. Compose a question about the future that will have an objective, verifiable outcome
2. Submit your question for approval - it's free (or select Premium to get demographics for $1 per response)
3. View the interactive, graphical results as users submit predictions

Participate in the featured question:

Apple iPhone- Reduced Price
Fortune Magazine suggested that AT&T is prepared to subsidize the iPhone by as much as $200, cutting the purchase price to as low as $199 for customers who sign a two year contract. What will the price of an 8gb iPhone be on June 5th, 2008 per AT&T? Note: On June 9th, Steve Jobs will take the stage at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference where he is supposedly unveiling the new iPhone.

Beat the Market and WIN with MSN CAPS Contests

Put your best investment ideas to work and you could score an easy $2,500 in MSN CAPS Beat the Market competition. Pick one stock or a bundle, and add more along the way. The highest ranked player (determined by 2/3 score rank and 1/3 accuracy rank, based on CAPS rankings) takes home the top prize. Also up for grabs is an Xbox 360 Elite System and a Zune digital media player. Good Luck! (Must be US resident 18+)

You must have between 1 and 99 picks at all times to be eligible for this contest.

http://msncaps.fool.com/Contests.aspx

Step 1. Players make stock predictions
At the heart of CAPS are thousands of predictions. Players predict whether stocks will outperform or underperform the S&P 500 and over what time frame this will happen. We compile the data, showing all the picks you have made and all the picks for individual stocks.

Step 2. We keep score
As stocks change in value, we evaluate players' predictions. Players receive an accuracy percentage, indicating how often they make correct predictions and a score, which is the percentage by which their picks beat the S&P 500.

Step 3. Players receive CAPS ratings
Based on the performance of their picks, CAPS players receive a percentile rating (from 1 to 100). This rating indicates the percentage of people that player is outperforming. The higher the rating, the better!

Step 4. Stocks receive CAPS ratings
A stock's CAPS rating is the aggregation of every prediction for that stock. The rating indicates whether or not players think that stock will outperform the S&P 500.
Important concept to follow... pay attention!! Here it is:
Players with higher ratings have more influence on a stock's rating. If you're a great investor with a great track record, we think what you have to say is very important. So, we give you more weight. However, if you don't know the difference between a stock and a parking ticket, we're not going to allow you to affect the company rating very much.

Step 5. CAPS gets smarter
Every CAPS rating is updated every five minutes. And with each additional prediction, CAPS recalculates and recompiles the data, constantly refining the community sentiment. Over time, the best investors will naturally work their way to the top and will gain more influence over the stock ratings. Conversely, the less successful players will have less impact. And then the cycle repeats. Players make more predictions, which affect their player ratings, which affect the stock ratings, and so on. The result is a service which will help you find better stocks and follow the best investors.