Xin Lu's blog

Get Paid for your Psychic Skills at Predictify

My ex-coworker told me that he is applying to a new startup called Predictify. He showed me their website and I was intrigued. Basically, the company lets people predict events t

Why You Should Donate a Blood Sucking Timeshare

My parents always told me that buying a timeshare is a bad idea because of the inflated upfront cost and perpetual maintenance and exchange fees the timeshare companies pile on.

Save More Gas by Safely Following Trucks

I have been trying to drive at 55 miles per hour to save gas, and I am doing it by driving behind big trucks in the slow lane so that I do not get honked at or pulled over by the h

Seven Ways to Get Free Shipping Supplies

Once upon a time I sold a lot of stuff on eBay and Amazon, and I always needed envelopes, boxes, and padding. The costs of these shipping supplies could really add up when you mai

The Man Behind the Bargains - An Interview with Ben Chui - Founder of BensBargains.net

Ben's Bargains is one of the oldest deal and coupon sites on the internet. The man behind this awesome frugal shopping destination is Ben

Eight Natural Ways to Make Water More Flavorful

The main reason that people don't drink water is that it is tasteless and not very "fun" to drink. On the other hand, water is considered more healthy than sodas so

Could a Divorce Improve Your Finances?

When I was single, I thought that getting married would reduce my expenses greatly, and after I got married I realized that in some instances

Search Online for a Fix before You Toss that Broken Gadget

My husband and I often search online for fixes to our electronics problems because if a gadget is out of warranty it often costs quite a bit to get it fixed. When we find a soluti

How to Sell Your Hair for Cash

There is a huge market for sourcing natural hair. Here are some tips and information on how to sell your tresses for cash.

Could Your City Go Bankrupt?

I never knew that cities in America could file for bankruptcy until recently a Northern California city named Vallejo made the news for being on the edge of bankruptcy. So how doe

For the Love of Ramen: An Interview with Ed from RamenRamenRamen.net

When I brainstorm for cheap eats I often think of packets of ramen. Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Ed from rame

Do You Always Keep the Money You Find?

I am pretty short so I am close to the ground, and oftentimes I spot a coin or two and keep it. However, there are times when we find larger sums of money laying on the ground. W

Why is Gasoline So Cheap? A Cost Comparison of 40 Common Household Liquids

Do you know which is more expensive: one gallon of gasoline or one gallon of orange juice? How about one gallon of glue? Read on for a comparison of the price gasoline and other f

Dissecting "Gift Guilt" - When Does Receiving a Gift Make You Feel Bad?

Ever since I was a child, I have been taught that when you receive a gift you should be happy about it and then give something back in return. To this day I still believe that is g

Chinese Money Habits - How My Culture Influences My Attitudes Toward Money

I moved to the United States when I was a child from Yangzhou, China. After sixteen years, I could easily pass as an American because I speak English without an accent, and I am w

Five Reasons Why I Love Public Transportation

When I lived in Berkeley I loved taking public transportation, and since I was such a bus aficionado I did not learn to drive until I was 20. Right now I live in San Mateo where t

Tips for Increasing Your Financial Literacy

A recent CNN article titled "Americans are 'financially illiterate'"

Join America Saves Week February 24 to March 2nd

This week is officially America Saves Week 2008. This is a campaign started in 2007 by many government agencies and private entities to encourage Americans to save because the per

When Should You Say No to Those Who Want to Borrow Money from You?

I think most of us have been asked to lend money to someone we know. No matter how close you are with the potential borrower, there are certain situations when you just have to sa

More Free Television Online - Hulu.com - UPDATE: Invites Available for Wise Bread Readers!

Introducing Hulu.com, a joint effort of Fox and NBC that aims to be the one stop hub of all free and legal online television. Today I took it for a spin. Read on for my experienc