Taiwan

Feeds on InvestorBlogger: Dollar Travels, Blogging Travails, Taiwan, and much more…

Posted by

With the new software I’m using and a couple of plugins, I have been endeavouring to bring both summaries and full-posts to my readers as they wish. However, recently things went awry. I was able to spot the situation before it got out of hand! But it resulted in double posting in the main feed.

What feeds can you find on InvestorBlogger?

There are a number of sub-blogs on this domain now, each of which as its own feed.

1. The main feed: URL = https://www.investorblogger.com/feed/

This feed is the front door to the other blogettes, and is intended to feature the ‘best of…’ each of the other blogs for readers. It will also contain ‘lighter material’, basic information, and so on.

2. Dollar Travels Feed: URL = https://www.investorblogger.com/feed/

Dollar Travels contains the posts related to Personal Finance, and the remit is WIDE open. All topics are subsumed under “Just how far does your dollar go? Read on…”

3. Blogging Travails Feed: URL = https://www.investorblogger.com/feed/

Blogging Travails covers all the material on tech, blogging, making money online and much more. It’s off to a strong start.

4. Sticky Rice Feed: URL = https://www.investorblogger.com/taiwan/feed/

This sub-blog features picture posts, life in Taiwan, Politics, and all the other posts that don’t fit in anywhere else.

And …

… there is a whole site feed which includes ALL posts on the website. If you would prefer a higher frequency feed, then subscribe to that feed:

5. Whole InvestorBlogger and NOTHING BUT Feed: URL = https://www.investorblogger.com/?wpmu-feed=posts

Notes: I’m planning to publish both the main site feed and the Whole 100% Feed with one being summaries and the other full posts at some point, but my first attempts didn’t work properly at all. There are another few sub-blogs hosted on this URL, but I will feature them as time goes by. It’s likely that you may not wish to subscribe to all the posts, esp. if the volume of posts picks up. If so, please subscribe to the appropriate channel only.

Should I blog about my own finances?

Posted by

One of the reasons I set up my blog on DollarTravels was to encourage me to put more effort into my financial life. While I’ve been very succesful as a blogger, and earned not a small amount of money!, I haven’t really posted any personal financial details on any of the blogs I write before. I do share my credit card spending from month to month, but I don’t share my expenses, my cashflow or my investment holdings at all.

I’ve already settled part of this discussion in my mind: I’m resolved to start posting my investment holdings at some point, but my own financial situation: somehow that seems like a whole new ballgame.

Privacy: is it that important?

Unlike Flexo who writes fairly anonymously, a lot of people in Taiwan actually know me, and they know where I live and work. So this would be highly personal reporting and attributable to some they know. I’m not yet convinced that this is a good thing. An article in Business Week that featured another Money Blog actually has a source that is attributable, known and trackable. I don’t know if this is something I would like to be. Part of me urges caution, part of me wants to celebrate success and share failure with EVERYONE! I’m torn.

Breaking Taboos

Coming from Britain, where I grew up and with friends, personal financial details were rarely shared amongst even the closest relatives. We were brought up such that you didn’t talk about death, sex, politics, religion, health, and money! While some of these seem obviously inappropriate at certain times, such proscription seems so intolerable that it’s a wonder anyone was able to learn anything about any of these sensitive topics. So for me to discuss some aspects of our financial situation, it’s definitely running counter to my experience as a child or younger person.

The Power of the External

Having seen my blog help me focus my mind more on generation money through the number of routes that I choose, I can see how having an external pressure, a barometer, an audience, etc.. can help me keep on the straight and narrow. Perhaps it will stop me splurging on a third 28″ monitor or a brand new BMW when I can ill afford, perhaps not. Even the failures will provide a good lesson: I’m ever hopeful that our ‘shared experience’ online will help others develop their own self-discipline, goals and means, even when I have demonstrably failed.

So what should I do? Reveal ALL my personal financials, lift the veil on some of finances (e.g. Net Worth and Investments), or keep them away from prying eyes? Comment your answer if you dare. I’ll be making a decision by September 1st. I’d like to say that some from my audience helped me gain perspective whichever outcome I decide.

Testimonial: InvestorBlogger Dot Com – interesting, informative site that offers realistic advice

Posted by

I stumbled onto Investor Blogger the other day while researching some investments I’ve been thinking about. I never did finish what I’d intended to do because this website grabbed my attention and kept it! The first page I came across was Asus Eee PC News that introduced the new Asus Eee 900 PC. I’ve been looking for a laptop so I read the article and began browsing the index and clicking on the categories there.

The first that I clicked, of course, was Making Money. What a treasure trove! There were links to some very fine writings on finance, business and investing as well as articles by the blogger himself on a variety of business concerns. The business tips weren’t the same old run-of-the-mill unrealistic words aimed at big business but good, solid advice that the small business owner can use. The writing was relaxed and casual, almost as if you were sitting down and talking face to face, a welcome change from the formality of most sites dealing with investments and financial matters. I’ll be going back to that category frequently; you can find it in the money making section.

Next up was the NewsBites section at . This was another fine page full of the latest news dealing with the economy, finding markets for your products, ideas for improving your business and making money. I particularly liked the article that addressed how to survive and thrive during the recession we’re in and got a few good ideas for my own business.

Then it was time for something a bit lighter. I’d spent the better part of the evening reading some fine articles and following the links to fascinating financial information so it was time a change. I clicked on the Little Pleasures category and was greeted with not only an amusing clip from a popular movie but a truly magnificent photo of the Tamsui river in Taiwan that rivals anything you could find in a commercial photographer’s portfolio. There was an article about tea shops competing with Starbucks and accompanied by a video clip, a review of a Sony MP3 player and an account of a visit to San Francisco complete with photos. What a great way to add a little beauty and humor to the dour subjects of money and finance!

InvestorBlogger is an interesting, informative site that offers realisticadvice and a wealth of resources not only for investors but for anyone who wants to manage their finances intelligently. My only real gripe about the InvestorBlogger was the pop-up ad on the first page but it was a minor irritation and after all, someone has to pay the bills!

By Anuj.

Anuj, Thanks for your testimonial. I did remove the popup on the front page. It wasn’t worth the hit on the server or the irritation of my readers.