Greg Go's blog

Zen To Done: Your fieldguide for getting a handle on your life

Posted 19 weeks 4 days ago by Greg Go

Productivity

I just finished reading Leo Babauta's productivity book Zen To Done, and it's inspiring me to tackle my overflowing email inbox. Leo has spent the last year honing his own productivity system that distills the best from the gurus into 10 habits that will serve you for life.

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Open Mic Week for Readers

Posted 26 weeks 4 days ago by Greg Go

Announcements

microphone

Wise Bread just got a design makeover and we want to know what you think! But not just about the new look. We want to know what we're doing right and where we can improve. Ask us your burning financial questions. Point us towards topics you'd like to read about. Tell us how to make your life easier. Share your thoughts in the comments and automatically be entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

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$10 billion tax refund for long distance phone

Posted 1 year 16 weeks ago by Greg Go

Taxes

If you paid for long distance phone service in the last 3 years, you are eligible for a refund of the U.S. federal taxes paid on that service. The government estimates that up to $10 billion will be refunded to consumers.

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Ramen, miracle food

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Food and Drink

Nissin ramen

Ramen inventor, Momofuku Ando, died last Friday at the ripe old age 96. (Yahoo story) That's older than any US president has lived. Maybe the instant ramen has more nutritional value than we previously thought.

Regardless of what you think of ramen, it certainly deserves a place among the greatest inventions of humanity. According to the New York Times,

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Ends in 4? It's the final markdown

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Shopping

Target dog

According to Atwater Village Newbie, savvy shoppers can tell when an item at Target has been marked down to its lowest price based on the last digit:

Full prices end in 9. Every time Target discounts, the final digit of the price drops. The lowest the final digit will go is 4. If you see something you want and the price ends in 4, buy it. You won't get it for less.

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Amazon's secret 30-day price guarantee

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Shopping

Wise Bread reader Bob M. submitted the following tip about shopping at Amazon:

I came across this [Slate.com article] that talks about how Amazon offers a refund of the difference should any item you buy on Amazon decrease in price within 30 days of your purchase (and how Amazon doesn't publicise this policy). I found this link from the article useful because it's a site that automates the checking for you. I'll have to get in the habit of doing this every time I buy something from there.

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Best free software packaged in one CD

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Life Hacks

computer discsSoftware for Starving Students (SSS) is a non-profit organization that takes all the best open source and/or free software that college students might need, and makes them available as one downloadable CD.

Each included program is available for free download from the Internet, but SSS has done the legwork of putting the most useful apps in one place.

The latest edition (2007.01) is available for Mac or Windows. (Software for Starving Students download page)

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Alternatives to drunk driving

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Life Hacks

drunk driving

Party hardy tonight, but don't drive drunk!

Not only could you die (bummer) or kill someone else (unforgivable), but it could cost you financially big time (not savvy living).

MSN Money says the fines are just a fraction of a DUI's real cost:

A driving-under-the-influence conviction is a financial wrecking ball. A typical DUI costs about $10,000 by the time you pay bail, fines, fees and insurance, even if you didn't hit anything or hurt anybody.

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Easy savings in 2007

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Personal Finance

pennies in a jar

If you're trying to build a nest egg in '07, some of these links may help.

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Successful New Year's Resolutions

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Life Hacks

fireworks

Now that the Christmas festivities are over, the next order of business is the new year. That means resolutions.

Frankly, I'm tired of New Year's resolutions. I make them every year. I break them every year, often forgetting the resolutions by Martin Luther King day.

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Take amazing party pictures

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Life Hacks

Cranberry shortbread cookies Capture the holiday spirit and get the most out of your newfangled digital camera with these 16 Digital Photography Tips for Christmas from Darren at Digital Photography School.

There are some practical photography tips (11. Fill your frame), great advice (9. Fresh group photos), and creative ideas like setting up a Do-it-yourself photo booth!

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YOU are Time's Person of the Year

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Extra Commentary

Time magazine's annual Person of the Year award recognizes individuals who have made an impact on the world in the past year. In 2006, that person is you, me and that guy in the corner. This year, more than any other in the history of humanity, individuals like you and me have the power and voice to make a difference. And what a difference it is!

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Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3 locator

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Shopping

Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3Running around frantically searching for the Nintendo Wii or Sony PlayStation3? Save yourself some time and hassle by checking out XPBargain's Nintendo Wii locator first. They also have a Sony PS3 locator.

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Discount your cellphone bill using work email

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Life Hacks

You might be able to get a discount on your personal cell phone bill simply by using your school or work email address. Nearly all cellular providers have deals with businesses that extend discounts to their employees and their families, according to MyMoneyBlog.

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Free entertainment all over town

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Art and Leisure

 Downtown on IceFor the LA natives in the crowd, don't miss the free Downtown on Ice events at Pershing Square, going on until January 12.

Enjoy a movie under the stars on Wednesday nights, starting at 7:00 pm. Or you can pay the $6 to get in the rink and watch from center ice. Upcoming flicks:

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Best of the week

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Life Hacks

Here are the can't miss reads from Wise Bread this week.

The Business of eBay

eBay powerseller Amy covers 7 potential pitfalls new eBay sellers should know before getting started.

The most powerful weapon against debt: Your mind

Don't underestimate the effects negative thinking has on your bank account. Will turns common negative thoughts into contructive positive thinking.

Frugal is More than a Way to Spend Money

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Micro-donations for Darfur

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Life Hacks

I lit 196 at DarfurWall.org Even with limited funds, you can make a difference in the lives of people far worse off than you. Micro-donations enable us to give what we can. Even as little as $1.

One issue that fires me up is the mass killing and raping currently happening in the Darfur conflict. I can't believe it's 2006 and there is genocide in the world, and nobody seems to care about it. Humanity's apathy saddens and amazes me.

We can help by giving what we can and spreading the word.

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Holiday shipping deadlines coming up

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Shopping

Start shopping now if you want to get your stuff before December 25 and use free or standard shipping. Deal Hack reminds us that holiday shipping deadlines are fast approaching.

This year, Christmas falls on a Monday, so in determining the deadlines, we assumed delivery on Friday 12/22 (unless Saturday delivery is specified). As a result, the deadlines are earlier this year.

Several deadlines for standard shipping have already passed, and a few biggies are coming up fast.

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101 ways to save money this month

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Frugal Living

Christmas tree at Daley Plaza in ChicagoCredit Cave has a Santa sized post up called 101 ways to save money this Christmas. Here are a few that I'll be applying this month:

Gift certificates are great! I personally love them because I know what I need/want. Plus bundling gift cards to Best Buy to get something bigger always makes me happy.

#63 clocks in with a tip about gift giving -- give gift certificates.

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40+ interviews of personal finance bloggers

Posted 1 year ago by Greg Go

Filed Under: Personal Finance

Today I've got a big helping of podcast goodness coming your way. With 40 episodes on the air and more on the way, Scott at Money Blogger Podcast is the place to get interviews of popular personal finance bloggers. You can listen to the interviews directly from the site or download them to your podcaster.

There's gold in each interview. Here's a chance to hear from the bloggers you usually read.

The one gripe I have is the blinding lime green redesign. (Sorry Scott.)

For easy scanning and bookmarking, here's the complete list of podcasts. The links go to the post of the interview. In addition to the audio, there are liks to sites mentioned in the interview.

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