Wealth does not equal money but we often mess both. We say “make money” instead of “make wealth” and we use the work for money, not for wealth. This is probably the reason why very few people think about do-it-yourself projects as a source of alternative income.

Photo by M J M at Flickr

Why Doing Things Yourself IS Alternative Income

Because when you create or fix things you are adding to your wealth. If you grow vegetables in your garden or fix your car, you are adding to your wealth. Since you are not earning money directly it may be harder to measure your income, but it’s still there.

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Another hot month is gone - let’s see what are the must-read posts within the financial blogs during that time.

Trent at The Simple Dollar warns about the problems that addiction causes to personal finance.

The Silicon Valley Blogger suggests how to increase the value of your home.

Along the same lines goes Lazy Man And Money asking Have You Decided To Be Rich?

There is a good guest post on Generation X Finance - The Connection Between Your Brain and Credit Card Debt. No, I am not sending you to my guest post there *grin*

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In the first investor’s profile - The Silicon Valley Blogger - I got a pretty interesting conversation with the SVB. If you have not read that, better check it out. Now it’s time for the second one.

Pinyo is the cool guy writing one of the most popular blogs about personal finance - Moolanomy. He is 34 years old, married and yet another IT-mate. Besides his blog Pinyo rules the personal finance field with few other projects. To the best of my knowledge the most popular of them is also the freshest one - PF Buzz - a Digg-like personal finance network. If you have a PF related blog, make sure to submit your articles there and get targeted traffic. Unlike on Digg, you have the chance to get your content promoted even if you don’t write about Windows Vista or Paris Hilton.

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I had a dispute with people about frugality and business. Most people seemed to think that if you are successful in what you do you should spend a lot of money on items that can demonstrate your success. Many still think that if you want to make a business deal, get a good job or lucrative consulting contract you need to impress the other side with expensive car, cell phone or laptop.

Photo by Roadsidepictures at Flickr

That’s so outdated. It’s not the cell phone that can impress your potential partners anymore (was that ever really working?). It’s Google* that can do it.

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Many times I write about various investment opportunities or about how regular saving can impact your financial life I feel the need to illustrate it. So we came up here with a handy investment calculator which lets you play with the numbers and see the magic of compounding in action.

Have A Personal Finance Or Related Blog? Look Here

I know many other bloggers have similar needs so I won’t keep this work for myself. There is investment calculator Wordpress plugin that you can download for free and install on your blog. Its usage is as simple as including one special tag in your blog. It can be embedded in a post or page.

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Few weeks ago I got am interesting question on my mail. I’m publishing it here with the permission of the author. In fact his situation appeared a bit specific, so what I want to discuss here is only the general question from the first email:

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Do you know what is the wholly grail of investing and financial freedom? It’s the thing that everyone is seeking and very few are able to find and obtain. Well, except the owners of few million scam websites which offer you the secrets to it for only $97 (if they can be believed). The wholly grail is automated income of course. Who refuses to make money while lying on the beach? (Not me for sure).

Photo by Dan Pupek at Flickr

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Whatever field I have been working or exploring so far, I have found out that the fastest and most exciting way to learn something - besides breaking the wall with your own head of course - is through exploring how the others are doing in that field. So if we all want to learn more about investing and personal finance, let’s see what the other fellows are doing it. I am starting a new section called “Investor Profiles” where I’ll present you fellow investors, bloggers and all kind of people from the “business”.

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My guest post has just been published on My Two Dollars blog, so I wish to welcome the fellow readers coming from it.

If you just arrived here, let me shortly introduce you The Shark Investor. This is an investment and personal finance blog with a stronger focus on aggressive investing.

Do you want to know more? Please visit the About page clarifying what this blog is all about. If you like it, you can subscribe by email or RSS reader.

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Do you trade forex? Do you consider trading forex? Do you consider learning how to trade forex? Don’t do it. I like the profit opportunities that currency trading carries. I like also the risks involved, it wouldn’t be fun otherwise. But I don’t like the idea to trade myself. Where is why:

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1. Trading forex is work

If you want to make your money work for you, trading forex is not an option. You will have to work for your money. Day trading may look exciting for someone who never tried it, but once the initial excitement is gone you’ll realize it’s just a computer based work like any other.

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