Adventures by Disney: Worth it or not?

While at the local American Automobile Association office to renew a car registration, I saw a video on these guided tours targeted for families.  They are run by Disney and I recently checked out their website.

Most of the trips are around a week in length and run in the thousands per person and usually do not include airfare.  If you review the itineraries they look like outstanding "adventures" and great family experiences.  I think there probably is some minimum age for the kids to enjoy this (maybe somewhere between six and eight years of age?).

Even though these look tempting and I am sure the service is superb, with a family of six and the cost per person in the thousands, some of the trips may reach the tens of thousands in overall costs.  It would probably best to review the itineraries and develop your own similar (and likely less expensive) experience.

Click here to go to Adventures by Disney.

Incremental costs: iPad example of fighting the rationalization game

Here's a great article about how a slippery slope can be started by starting with a basic purchase for a low-end model and then "rationalizing" yourself into buying something that costs much more.  I am sure we all do it whether it is something small like food purchases at a grocery store or larger items like appliances (microwaves, refrigerators, etc) and electronics (think TVs, cameras, computers).

Click here to read the Consumer Reports example. (How My $499 iPad Purchase Became a $1,170 Credit Card Bill)

Pandora's "Music Genome Project"

I will admit that sometimes I jump on certain technologies quick, but more often, I drag my feet because I just do not know what to do with it.  For example, I do not own an iPod and I do not sync my MP3s with my phone.

The website and company called Pandora (www.pandora.com) has about 25 musicians rate music on up to 400 characteristics.  Then, depending on what a user asks to listen to (IE Elton John), Pandora will recommend music that is similar to what you are listening to.  Similar to TIVO, if you give certain songs a thumbs up or down, it will tweak your own preferences and suggest music according to what it "learns" by your ratings.

The best part is it is free for the users.  They make their money off of advertisements and their commission on iTunes and Amazon MP3 sales.  They pay the recording artists and labels about $0.02 per hour to play their music for the users.

I have not joined for probably a variety of reasons including:

• Yet another user ID and password to remember
• Most of the time, I concentrate better and can get more accomplished in a music-free environment
• Most of the time, I have a ton of stuff to do
• I have not even checked to see if my phone can stream it

Well...maybe sometime later...  Maybe it will help me "broaden" my music tastes.

Remember that you can support me by buying your MP3s through Amazon.  Click here to: search Amazon.com for mp3 downloads or click on the Amazon Searchbox on the right side of my blog.

A Nice Flag Database

In case you are looking for what each country's flag looks like, I found this website that may be able to help you out.

Click here for www.flags.net

Major indexes are yet even more overbought

Last week, I thought the major indexes (such as the ETF symbol DIA) was overbought.  I continue to feel so.  On the flip side, the market has been overbought much of of the last 12 months.  

Support is around 102.5 to 103.

Yahoo! Finance "How to Be Your Own Financial Regulator"

In this article by Laura Rowley she discussed the recent proposals for financial reform.  It is 1,300 pages long!  I know there are debates back and forth "For" or "Against" reform.

She makes the following points where if you adhere to them, the chance that you making a bad decision is low:

• Thou shalt not live beyond thy means.
• Thou shalt set aside cash for emergencies.
• Thou shalt not carry a revolving balance on they credit card.
• Thou shalt not use a financial product without searching for the best deal.
• Thou shalt save early and often for expensive goals.
• Thou shalt not be overconfident whilst demonstrating financial ineptitude.

Click here to view the article and more details about the above recommendations.

Market Summary and Targets

Just looking at the current DIA and USO prices.  USO support is around 37.50 and DIA could be around 102 to 103.