Personal Finance - Lowering Your Cell Phone Costs (UPDATE)

The budget revolution is on it's way and no one can stop us from only paying for what we use and want.  The "pressure" is turned up and AT&T is getting burned by the T-Mobile offense.  AT&T is having to aggressively match the prices of rival T-Mobile who is taking customers away by the boat load from the industry.  Here is my second update in about a week on how you should demand more from your service providers:

Breaking News: AT&T DROPS IT'S 1GB DATA PLAN, and NOW OFFERS 2GB of DATA for LESS MONEY

Now for the details: AT&T's is canceling its 1GB data plan, which previously cost $45 per month. Why because the 2GB price is being cut to $40, yup $40 dollars. 5 dollars less than your previous 1GB plan and $15 dollars cheaper than the old 2GB plan. There is one catch, you must SWITCH to the plan 2GB of data yourself...AT&T will not automatically switch it for you. :) More data for less sounds like a deal to me.

The investment: I will be closely watching T-Mobile and AT&T stock news to see how this one will play out. Cutting costs for demanding customers like me means that they will be increasing costs somewhere else.

Personal Finance - Lowering Your Cell Phones Costs

I'm sharing this information with you "Because I'm Happy", kinda like how Pharrell Williams was after he penned his hit song.  I'm always happy about finding ways to invest and my #1 priority is helping you invest in yourself.  Some of my favorite ways of investing myself are: 1) Saving for a rainy day, 2) Investing for short/long term gains, and 3) Cutting Your Costs.

Today we are talking about cutting the cell phone costs that plague many people.  As important as your cell phone is, I tell people to try and be rationale where possible and save yourself a few bucks.  I personally do not have a $80+ dollar phone bill and as you read from my previous article I will not enter into a contract unless its on my terms. It turns out there are more people out there that are beginning to adopt this same strategy and its forced the cell phone companies to give us plans that we actually need, instead of paying for a plan I don't use.

Quick ways to save big bucks on your cell phone

1) Minutes - Go with the basic minutes plan and jump on a carrier that most of your friends and family are on. You will benefit from free mobile to mobile minutes.   

2) Text - Ease up on the one the word texts and pick up the phone and actually use those minutes every now and them. Or drop the text plan and take advantage of the many popular apps which let you text, talk or video message: "Whatsapp", "Viber", "Google Hangouts", "Blackberry IM", Apple Messenger", and "Skype" to reduce your reliance on carrier text plans. It's no secret why Whatsapp has 450 Million users worldwide.

3) Data - In as few words as possible, use WIFI. Its everywhere: Many people at work have access to WIFI, and don't forget to make a quick mental note of places like Starbucks, Staples, Home Depot, McDonalds, Jimmy Johns, and other retailers that offer you free WIFI when you are on the go.

Learn what you can live without and I've learned that WIFI is everywhere and I don't really need data. But cutting costs may also mean upgrading your plan if the price is right. If I can get a cheaper plan with unlimited minutes, text, and I can add data...then I might add something I want...but don't need. :)

Chart Courtesy of Techlicious.com:

Link to Techlicious Article: Cheapest Cell Phone Plans

Cell Phones Plans by Carrier – Prices & Data Allowances Valid as of Feb. 21, 2014

	AT&T	Verizon	Sprint	T-Mobile	MetroPCS	US Cellular	Virgin	Boost
Indv. Plan with some data	$45 300MB	$55 250MB	$55 1GB	$50 500MB***	$40 500MB	$80 300MB	$55 2.5GB***	$55** 2.5GB***
Indv. Plan with 1 GB data	$70 1GB	$80 1GB	$55 1GB	$60 2.5GB***	$50 2.5GB	$90 1GB	$55 2.5GB***	$55** 2.5BG***
Family Plan with some data (2 smartphones/ 2 feature)	$70* 300MB	$155* 250MB			$70 500MB/line	$180 300MB
Family Plan with 2GB data (2 smartphone/ 2 feature)	$105 2GB	$190 2GB			$90 2.5BG/line	$200 2GB
Family Plan with some data (4 smartphones)	$160 10GB	$175* 250MB	$160 1GB/line	$100 500MB***/line	$140 500MB/line	$200 300MB
Family Plan with 4GB data (4 smartphones	$160 10GB	$230 4GB	$160 1GB/line	$140 2.5GB***/line	$180 2.5GB/line	$230 4GB
Additional cost per month to use smartphone as a hotspot	$0 Included	$0 Included	$10 1GB	$0 Included	n/a	$0 Included	$15	$10

Note: Chart shows the least expensive plan available to meet the criteria set forth: unlimited text, unlimited calling and specified data package. Prices provided by carrier, with exception of T-Mobile and Sprint, whose most recent prices were pulled from their website February 21, 2014. Pricing based on you bringing your own device, where possible. Some carriers do not support feature phones.

2014 - Themes Shaping My Investments (pt 1)

I want to capture the themes that I believe are shaping the world in 2014 and for the foreseeable future.  Game changing events shape people first, then entrepreneurs react, and finally investment dollars follow.  This is important for many people to remember in my opinion when looking back and asking why is the world changing right before my eyes and how can I participate. I've heard the phrase when life gives you lemonade...and changed it to when you and the world are buying or using a quality product think about investing in it.  I have a good friend that constantly talks to me about Whatsapp and if anyone close to me knows Apps are not my thing but I find out they were bragging about what would be a 19 Billion Dollar company I was just being introduced to.

Theme 1: E-Commerce

I write about this theme often and the verdict is in, many people prefer the comfort of buying things online. I know I do and a number of entrepreneurs have responded to become mega online retailers for everything imaginable.  Continue to think about the ways our buying patterns change on the Internet and take advantage of the companies that will capitalize on it first OR do it better. This will be a combination of new and old companies changing the way we shop. Remember last year, there was a reason why so many packages were delayed during the Christmas holiday by UPS and that theme is the comfort of buying things online.

- Amazon, Ebay (Paypal), Yahoo, Google, Walmart, Home Depot, UPS, Fedex

Theme 2: Mobile /APPS

The mobile wars are heating up. Finally, most of the world is warming up to a concept I've been using for quite a while: "No Debt/No Contract".  The mobile companies have used contracts to their advantage for quite some time and this has led many people to enter into never ending contracts that change usually on the companies terms. My philosophy is don't sign it until to read it. If you don't like what you read...call the company and see if you can change the terms...or don't sign it. I buy my phones myself and never enter into a contract. Many people have not paid attention to the fine print so AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint have dominated the US market. The public is tired of this model and now enters T-Mobile and their "no contract" and "cheaper packages".  And now the big companies like AT&T must follow suit with lower prices or lose customers.

Then enter the world of Apps...I can't explain the love affair for all things FLAPPY but Apps are the favorite hobby of the world.  I personally don't use very many apps but I can't deny their staying power. 

- Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Apple, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Blackberry, Facebook, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Zynga, Candy Crush

...the remaining themes are to be continued

1st Quarter 2014: 3 PREMIUM STOCK ALERTS / 1 Free Reveal

1st Quarter 2014: 3 PREMIUM STOCK ALERTS

Please contact me directly (email_urbanomics@yahoo.com) to subscribe to this quarter’s premium stock alerts.  Find out what I have my eye on and more importantly when I will be adding these stocks to my portfolio.

1st Quarter 2014 Premium Stock Alerts

This quarter’s picks are late, but better late than never. I've been researching these stocks over the course of the last 3 months or more and found 3 stocks with margin of safety and the right catalysts.  Please see the following stocks that were recommended to subscribers receiving premium alerts. 

Stock #1: **********

Details 

Sector: Services Industry: Cable Systems Tip: Keep your eye on the clock.

Stock #2: **********

Details Sector: Services Industry: Specialty Retail, Other Tip: This stock was sold...to the highest bidder.

Stock #3: **********

Details 

Sector: Services 
Industry: Rental and Leasing Services
Tip: Turn up the radio while you rent this.

Profiting From Past

I know that we are well into this year already but Happy New Year!

Best and Worst of 2013

In 2013, we had a few that make the list of best and work performing stocks. In the following weeks, we will highlight in detail the lessons learned from these picks.

Best: Genworth Financial (GNW) – This stock was a top performer and bottomed out in the low single digits. It rebounded into the double digits and is still pushing higher.

Worst: Aveo Pharmaceuticals (AVEO) – This stock was a roller coaster. Up sharply on promising news of drugs that treat cancer, and then it came crashing down the when the FDA didn’t approve the drug after clinical trials.

Do We Learn from the Past

I often hear people say “We will learn from our mistakes and not repeat them”.  It is a great notion but how often does this really happen in society.  My few years as an amateur investor question how often this really happens.  I find it interesting how often technical investors look at charts and patterns because they have seen similar events in the past and look to benefit from it.  The government mainly uses models based on past events to address current markets, however; the ever revolving cycles of market excess and then subsequent crashes still continue.  You wonder why very few investors identify crashes before they occur and if we all are too happy to enjoy the good time to do “what is right” to prevent or cushion the crashes that are inevitably coming.  A few key subjects shine light on this very topic:

-          Income Equality

-          Immigration

-          Civil Rights

-          Public Schools

-          Stock Market Crashes

-          Regulation

-          Mass Shootings

-          Pollution

Federal Reserve Announces Taper / World Improving? / Stocks on My Mind

FED ANNOUNCES a $10 BILLION DOLLAR TAPER
The Federal Reserve has been pumping billions and billions of dollars into the US economy. Today was the first step by the Fed to say that the US economy, their patient, appears to be in steady recovery mode.  The recovery appears to be steady enough that they are starting to reduce the amount of medicine they have been giving to the patient...in the form of the stimulus they have been pumping into the economy.  This was a pivotal moment in the market and the reaction so far is very positive.  Investors believe that the Fed's view that the US is in recovery mode because stocks have catapulted higher. Stay tuned and let's look back in the next 3 to 12 months from now and see if we feel more jobs being created, houses being bought, and you and your friends spending more.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101279385

ARE ECONOMIES IMPROVING AROUND THE WORLD?
I am consistently the naysayer, as I am always looking for risks that impact the markets. But I must admit the news that I have seen recently is VERY positive.  The unemployment rates are coming down in both the US and I saw a story today about the rate in the UK and this is very positive for growth around the world.  More people working means companies are hiring and people have more money to spend in the future.


STOCKS/THEMES ON MY MIND
Lululemon (LULU)- This company continues to stumble and has recently fired it's CEO for some very insensitive comments towards women.  Not the brightest move considering women are their core target group. But I also know that the YOGA and health movement is serious and people want to look the part when they get fit. I believe they are trading around roughly $59 dollars.

Caterpillar (CAT) - A company that had been in the stuck in the mud and the stock price hasn't been doing well. But they are very much impacted by global growth and with things improving this stock may make a nice move up.  Stock price has ranged from $84 to $87. I believe it trades at roughly $87 today.

Stocks Which Support Online Businesses: International Paper (IP), FedEx (FDX), UPS (UPS)
I realize that more than 75% of my purchase habits happen online. I now buy my home goods online and have had dish soap, laundry detergent, door handles, and a host of other products delivered to my house. They always come in a brown corrugated box (International Paper) and are delivered primarily by UPS when I purchase items from Amazon.  I've recently heard that groceries can be bought online very soon...see Amazon "PANTRY".  I think more boxes and deliveries are coming to both your house and mine.

Health Care: I listened to a very interesting story on National Public Radio the other day.  For the first time, health care insurers are taking major steps to advertise their products in response to the Affordable Care Act.  I don't know many things but I do know 1 thing...when companies are spending billions of dollars to advertise it's because they see an opportunity to grow and gain market share.  Insurance is a business that seems to experience very little turnover once they've signed up a customer.  If I am an example, I have had the same auto and health care provider for as long as I can think. There will be a number of winners due to the expansion of the Affordable Care Act. Investors have already realized this a number of these stocks are up significantly this year...but the biggest change to the health care sections in decades will cause some serious gains for years to come.

Easier Said Than Done...

“It’s been a long time, shouldn’t have left you without a dope beat to step too…”  As you know I have a love for music, especially hip-hop, so when I am thinking a song will often pop into my head.  Here, I am thinking of how long it’s been since I’ve written something to the readers out there.  I admit work, life, and stuff happens but I shouldn’t have left you without a nice article to think about.

I would like to start off by simply just being honest!  One of the primary reasons I have not written anything is that in REALITY there is not that much going on in the investment world.  Maybe I should say it different, the markets have been steadily going UP and there hasn’t been much else.  If you remember, there have been a few moments in the last year or so where I wrote that the stock market indicators lead me to believe that stocks and the overall market were headed higher for the foreseeable future.  If I were a TV personality, I can say “We Predicted This Would Happen!” but the reality is it took months and months of reading, researching, and keeping my eyes and ears open to rationalize where things were logically headed.  The goal while investing is to navigate through ALL of the NOISE (family, friends, and TV people telling you how to invest) and for you to logically conclude about where things like are headed.  Once you get a good idea about that then you can determine what and how much to invest in.  I am here to simply share my thoughts on how I navigate through the noise so that I can share those with you and I can learn from the past by coming back and reading my own writings.  This is helpful in life, because you must navigate through the noise (when choosing a house, car, job, etc.) and really get down to making a sound decision.

Here I am always looking to make a sound investment and I’m going to present 1 topic to assist you on your investment journey:

Easier Said Than Done…