“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Ah, but yes we are, Dorothy. Well, kinda. Today, we’ll take a look at the next state in line in our quest to peruse every 529 college savings plan in the country.

Kansas, home to the Jayhawks and a lot of flat, open land, offers up three plans to aid those wanting to save for college: the Learning Quest 529 Education Savings Program, the Learning Quest Advisor, and the Schwab 529 College Savings Plan.

Fees, Residency and Contribution Level Info

When I think about wraparound anything, the first thing that comes to mind is a wraparound porch. My grandmother had one, and it was a thrill as a child to chase my younger cousins all the way around the house to end up right where we started. Ah, memories…but I digress. What we’re talking about today is wraparound financing, not wraparound porches. But I promise, the porch will come in handy as an analogy. Got you hooked? Well, let’s take a look!

Wraparound Financing at its Finest

As the weeks wind down to baby time, my nesting instinct has kicked into high gear. In fact, my nest-preparation may be hinging a little (or a lot…) on the crazy side. Why? Well, because I’ve turned my entire house upside down in search of items that we no longer need or use, all so that I can sell them.

My husband is an excellent gift giver. It amazes me each holiday how spot-on he is in his gift choices, and this past Christmas was no exception. Among my bounty in December was a brand-spankin’-new Kindle. I love it, and what makes me love it even more is finding all kinds of freebie reads to download to it. In fact, I think I’ve only paid for three books since Christmas (and two of those only cost a quarter each!). Here are some of the tips I’ve learned along the way to find free books for your e-reader of choice.

Mass Retailer of Choice

With all the ups and downs of the stock market, many people tend to envision that trading on the market is a terrifying, heart-palpitating experience. One in which you could lose every dime to your name. One in which you might be swindled by a smooth-talking, tailored-suited crook. One in which the fears outweigh any potential good.

However, the stock market doesn't have to be so scary. In fact, it can be a little fun. Let's look at some ways to begin to invest on the market without fearing for your life savings.

Research and Learn

When I learned recently that my sister is moving to Florida, I was so excited that I almost peed my pants. After the screaming subsided, my sis asked what all the commotion was about, and I proceeded to respond incoherently, mumbling, laughing and hooting like a crazy person. She hung up.

One of the more important stock terms to read up on is the debt-to-equity ratio. This ratio can tell you at a quick glance the general financial practices of the company, and it is one of the ratios used most often in stock analysis. For that reason, the debt-to-equity ratio is pretty darned important, and we should spend a little time going over the details.

What Exactly is the Debt-to-Equity Ratio?

All this baby stuff is really taking up a lot of time, so I apologize for being lax on Friday Round-up. I have managed to get around to all y'all's blogs to read and comment on them, and your posts were wonderful the last few weeks. But this is my first post about the best of the best for weeks!

Without further adieu (…because I have to run to the airport to pick up my sister…), here’s the Friday Round-Up. Enjoy my picks for the week!

We’ve passed the midway mark for the school year, and while students are starting to gear up for final exams, many parents are starting to face the question of where their children will be going to school in the fall. For private schools, re-enrollment forms are going out and open houses are planned, and parents must decide now whether to go public or private.

My Personal Schooling Story

Sure, I've done it. I think everyone has. It's a dirty little secret that we often don't discuss in polite company. Yes, I'm talking about rolling credit card balances. It's dirty. It's frowned upon. It's a financial no-no. But does it have to be so cut and dried? No. Not really. Let's look at when rolling credit cards can be positive...and when it can be negative.

Rolling Cards: The Positives