(Re-) Installing Google’s Tracking Code: it’s easy but Google makes it tricky!

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Here’s a frequent problem with Google Analytics that I’ve encountered on more than one occasion.

Hi,

Do you know if Google Analytics has had any problems lately? I have it in both of my sites, and they are both saying I had no visitors at all in the past month, which I know is not the case.

Craig

In fact, this happened to me several times. Once or twice it was because I changed themes and forgot to copy the code, other times the code was simply broken (I don’t know how); and other times still are a mystery. This is what it will look like.

google anal stats

You see, day after day of no traffic! So if you see that after several days your blog isn’t recording any traffic, it’s likely you are suffering the same issue.

The best solution is simply not to waste any time and go back to your Analytics account and find the code there, then copy the new code into the same location

Now in case you can’t find it, here’s a picture guide!

settings 2 for tracking

Click on your profile and hit ‘edit’ link. Then you’ll see this…

settings for tracking code

And you have two choices for your code. I’m using the new tracking code, but you can use either.

Copy and paste that code (whichever) into your blog footer. Within 24 hours you should see stats again.

Oh, and don’t believe this when you see it, I don’t know what it means, but it certainly doesn’t mean what it says it means!

receiving data

My account is ‘receiving data’ and yet showing nothing! Otherwise, voila! You’re done!

Keep tabs on your budget: send yourself notes, SMS, even email!

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In this regular feature, InvestorBlogger will publish stories and experiences that we all face everyday. This story is especially useful for those considering first time mortgages, especially those with extra frills (like credit cards, extra loans, 100%+ financing…),

When I bought my house, my mortgage company offered me a credit card that seemed like a very good deal. They would apply 1% of my purchases to my mortgage principal when that one percent reached $25. I accepted the card and I paid off the entire balance every month but found myself getting into a bit of trouble after about four months.

I paid off the balance each month and incurred no interest, but I was beginning to spend more. That end table was great and less than fifty dollars. A garden hose for next summer was on sale. I could replace my cheap microwave at 60% off and help pay down my mortgage.

One month the bill came in and I was glad I was sitting down. I’d gone from buying essentials to just buying and believe me, that was a very tough month to live through! Now I subtract charges from my checking balance, writing the amount in red. No more surprises when I treat the card as a debit card. I keep a better eye on expenses and don’t overspend. I’m still paying down my mortgage from my everyday purchases—just a little more sensibly.

Thanks

Shopper

InvestorBlogger writes:

However you pay when you out shopping, it’s always good advice to keep a track of the expenses that you incur. A little note in your notebook, an SMS, or a message on your answer machine/in your email-box… all of these are good reminders in case you threw away the credit card receipt. Of course, you shouldn’t throw them away, either. But this way you can double check your purchasing, and keep tabs on whether you are exceeding your budget or not.

More importantly, though, tying other financial products to your mortgage may not always be a good idea. Additional lines of credit, such as personal loans, 2nd home loans, credit cards, etc., may increase the loading of loans on you, increase the rates that you may for such loans, and may (as the writer found out) make repayments even more difficult on the primary mortgage, as well as other outstandings.

 

Should you pay off your balance or make a minimum payment?

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With a lot of people facing increased financing pressure, should you be paying off your balance vs. making minimum payments?

Ideally, credit card balances should be paid in full each month. Many consumers, for whatever reason, can’t always do this. If you have a financial crisis or come up short when your credit card bill comes due, you’ll most likely make the minimum payment and carry the balance through to the next month.

Consider this example: Let’s say you had to replace your water heater suddenly and had to charge the purchase to your card. At the end of the month, that $450 comes due but you can’t pay the full amount. By making the minimum payment (usually 2-10% of the balance) you may have a little more cash to spend but it will cost you. If your minimum payments are 3% of your balance you would pay $13.50 per month. That would free up a lot of cash, right?

Wrong. By making the minimum payment each month, it will take you nearly 4 years to pay off the debt and the credit card company will charge you (at an average of 14%) $165.46! It would be a little better to make a flat payment of $50 per month, extending the loan for ten months and only paying $28.26 in interest but you can see that carrying a balance on a credit card is very costly. This is why credit card issuers allow minimum payments—it’s very profitable for them!

Minimum payments can occasionally help in times of short-term financial straits but paying off your credit card balance every month is much more economical.

This calculator below should help you work out some scenarios.