Posted 21 hours 52 min ago by Paul Michael
Recently, someone from "behind enemy lines" came forward to give us all invaluable tips on dealing with those harassing calls from telemarketers. Learn the secrets you need to know to protect yourself.
Posted November 2, 2009 - 08:00 by Paul Michael
With the exception of Christmas, Halloween is the most lucrative holiday for retailers. But as a frugal shopper, you can still be the star of the show next year, and you can spend a lot less money on costumes and spooky supplies.
Posted October 23, 2009 - 07:00 by Paul Michael
It seems ironic in this economy, and with a high unemployment rate, that anyone would want advice about getting kicked from a job. But last week a question was posed to me, and it was genuine — “How do I get laid off?” Here is some advice to follow, and even more advice to avoid.
Posted October 15, 2009 - 07:00 by Paul Michael
Yes. Well, that's just my humble opinion, but I really don't see why this has so many people throwing their arms up in the air with shock. We tax liquor and cigarettes, neither of which are essentials in life. Why not tax something that is bad for our health, preventing more people from buying it and generating much-needed cash in the process?
Posted September 24, 2009 - 07:22 by Paul Michael
I recently became a member of my wife’s gym. I had always hesitated, being a frugal person I preferred to work out at home with a few weights and some exercise DVDs. But, when I did join, I found out that my membership gives back in more ways than just my health. Cha-ching!
Posted September 21, 2009 - 07:00 by Paul Michael
As a writer for Wise Bread, I get a fair number of emails that actually offer advice, rather that asking for it. Most of the time that advice is sound. Usually, I will either already know about it, or feature it in an upcoming article. But occasionally I get stuff that makes me scratch my head. This is one list you do not want to miss.
Posted September 8, 2009 - 13:01 by Paul Michael
If time is money, and I sincerely believe it is, then these five remote control hacks will save you a little of both. Some are time savers, others money savers, and some do both. They're all quick, easy and require very little, if any, extra materials.Posted September 2, 2009 - 06:00 by Paul Michael
I heard an interesting story the other day. A radio DJ was annoyed because when he went to pick up his boarding passes from the check in counter, he was handed them without any kind of ticket wallet to keep them together. The reason: “It’s our effort to save the environment sir.” But was it really just an effort to save money?
Posted August 26, 2009 - 08:00 by Paul Michael
When I was a young lad, eating out was something of a luxury for my family. Most of our meals, at least 95%, were prepared and eaten at home. This was the model for most people my age or older. But these days, society has migrated to eating out of the home way more often. The result is that we’re spending a lot more on food than we used to. So, are there ways to chop the bill and eat out for less? You bet.
Posted August 18, 2009 - 11:00 by Paul Michael
Aging a photograph used to be quite a skill. In fact, only the best retouchers could pull it off convincingly. Computers made the process easier; and programs like Adobe Photoshop have "actions" that can make it happen ever quicker and easier. But now, all you need is your digital photo and one Japanese website that can do the conversion in seconds.
Posted August 14, 2009 - 12:00 by Paul Michael
They say a change is as good as a rest. Well, they're right. My wife and I have had the same living room layout since we moved into our home. As our home is small, we just assumed it was the best arrangement for the space we had to work with. Then, one night as I steam-cleaned the carpets, my wife had a moment of inspiration that made all the difference.
Posted August 8, 2009 - 06:00 by Paul Michael
In advertising, my chosen career, there is an unwritten rule for working with clients that makes everyone’s lives just a little better. It’s the three F rule. But when I explained it to people outside of my industry, they immediately saw ways that it could apply to their own lives. And so, I’m sharing it with you.
Posted August 5, 2009 - 09:00 by Paul Michael
Here’s a question for you that has been bugging me for years; why can’t home-builders follow the auto dealer’s classic model of old for new, and let people trade-in their old homes for new ones?
Posted August 4, 2009 - 08:00 by Paul Michael
Some people have great talent. Some don’t. And then, there are those people who are OK at something and yet, through smart thinking and ingenuity, create a niche for themselves that brings with it considerable fame and fortune.
Posted July 31, 2009 - 11:00 by Paul Michael
Can a simple board game teach you the secrets of the wealthiest people alive? Is it possible to change your mindset, and your attitude to money, by playing a game? And can a board game really make you rich? That's what I wanted to know.
Posted July 27, 2009 - 12:00 by Paul Michael
I despise paying the ridiculous prices Gillette and the like charge for razor cartridges. It seems as though the prices are directly aligned with the number of extra blades they put in the cartridges. First two, then three, then four, now six blades. And, of course, we’re paying big bucks for these things. I have even resorted to bulk buying them on eBay. But could I save money by going back to the old-fashioned straight razor?
Posted July 24, 2009 - 06:00 by Paul Michael
There’s one fact that is undeniable in America; we just don’t walk enough. A dependence on automobiles, elevators and escalators, coupled with a growing lack of interest in exercise and a healthy diet, has made walking something of a rarity in most parts of America. And it’s costing you, in so many ways.
Posted July 16, 2009 - 12:00 by Paul Michael
Despite the coupons and the special offers, the major supermarket chains are not cheap. You find a deal now and then, but on the whole they really don’t give you great value for money. Farmer’s markets are good for deals and fresh produce, but they only appear once a week in my area. But for great produce any day of the week, at silly prices, my local Asian market is unbeatable.
Posted July 14, 2009 - 04:00 by Paul Michael
It’s not a fun feeling. You’ve reached the checkout at the grocery store, you feel into your pocket, or purse, and realize that your wallet is missing. You heart stops, you walk out without your shopping and proceed to panic. But there is one way you can significantly increase the chance of your wallet being returned intact.
Posted July 9, 2009 - 08:35 by Paul Michael
Don’t worry, this is not an exposé on bad equipment or faulty products; I’m no expert on exercise machines and products. But I do know a little about human nature and after many chats with friends and family, I’ve come to one conclusion – most people don’t buy exercise equipment to work out; they buy it because they think it will motivate them to work out, and make working-out easier and more fun.
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