Great story in the Wall Street Journal today about how 20 and 30-somethings are changing giving through social networking and other ways to connect.

It seems to me that giving is a topic that resonates strongly with many young adults, who sometimes get into the habit of giving to others before they save for themselves.

Each year, I’ve aimed to set a giving goal and find organizations I’d like to support early on the in the year so that I can tell doorknockers that I have a giving plan. But this year I’ve lacked the time to research new charities, which in my experience can be as work-intensive as scoping out new investments.

There are groups such as Guidestar and our homegrown Charities Review Council to help.

Young philanthopists may also wish to check out the L.E.A.D. Project, started by Gen X and Y Minnesotans to give back to the community while having cocktails at the pretty places.
Where else have you gone to learn about nonprofits and to create a giving goal?

I need to establish a plan pronto.

Evidence that the savings scenario in this world is turning around? The personal savings rate announced by the Commerce Department today was positive: 0.7 percent in June.

This comes shortly after the Employee Benefit Research Institute and the Investment Company Institute revealed the results of their annual 401(k) trends study which found that the average 401(k) balance for an investor in the market from 1999 through 2006 increased an annual rate of 8.7 percent. The median balance grew by 15.1 percent during the same period. For workers in their 20s, accounts grew the fastest, since they’re most likely to start with smaller balances. Average account balances for consistent participants within this age group grew 40.9 percent in the past seven years.
Think it’s a long term trend?

Perhaps we can all retire richer if we can only convince David and DJ to share their secret for saving 39 percent and 22.5 percent of their gross incomes, respectively, with two kids. I am impressed.

I like to think my family is frugal, but we only manage to put 12 percent of our combined salaries towards retirement. That doesn’t count my pension or cash balance plan. Neither of us get company matches because of our pension benefits.

My guess is that David and DJ earn more than we do and keep expenses about as low, perhaps lower depending on when they bought their house and if day care is in home or center, and full or part time. I’ve also seen friends who own a duplex and live in the other half saving exponentially more than we do. If I had to do it over again I’d most definitely consider duplex life.

Am I right guys? Or am I way off base? Help your fellow Ka-Bloggers!

After seven days on vacation, one begins
to lose track of the number of credit card hand-offs made for everything from gas to swim diapers.

So when I got home, I tallied up the rough amount we spent on our summer vacation and was stunned at how it all added up. Without throwing airfare into the mix– which we paid for in March– we spent about $1,200.

At first glance that seems like a steal. But we only paid for one night at a hotel in that time, relying on the generosity of family for the rest.

Where did it go?

• $316 for the rental car (we picked up and dropped off at different locations, although we did get a free upgrade minivan)
• $100 for gas
• $110 for airport transportation/parking
• $144 for tickets to an amusement/water park
• $50 for tips of all sorts– for drivers, luggage handling, room cleaning, etc.
• $50 on souvenirs and gifts

That means the rest was spent on food and we’re not talking a couple great meals out. We’re talking overpriced airport slop and beach boardwalk fare.

At least we were able to charge most of it on the card that currently offers 6 percent back in the form of reward points on dining and gas.

Add the $800 spent on plane tickets and it’s hard to believe we spent $2,000 for a pretty modest adventure.

A recent Visa survey found on average Americans plan to spend $1,654 on summer vacationing.

Visa also just launched a travel budgeting site that includes a rough travel calculator. It didn’t allow for staying some nights with friends and others at hotels or for renting a car.
It does have an activity screen that lets you add expected activities and their cost, so you could put the rental car right there.

It also has tips on travel budgeting, such as:

Expect the unexpected. Even short trips can be plagued by unanticipated expenses, so if you’re not careful, you might end up paying for your vacation for months afterward. Add 10 to 15 percent to your budget for unanticipated events

One of my colleagues recently stopped me in the hall to ask about a rumour he’d heard about my wedding. He wanted to know if I was really buying everything for the wedding on eBay. I had to laugh, because it’s actually not too far from the truth. Except I prefer Craigslist and Freecycle.

We want

Note: It’s all about weddings this week on Ka-Blog. Business writer and bride-to-be Aimee Blanchette is filling in for Kara, who’s away at a wedding.

As soon as I got engaged six months ago I embraced the