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Five Frugality Hacks Straight Out of the Great Depression

Thursday Bram — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:33:21 +0000

During the Great Depression, simple frugality was the only way to get by. There was a saying that everyone lived by: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." There's a lot we can learn about frugality just by looking at how folks managed during the Great Depression — and those old-fashioned ways are starting to come in handy again as we all face this financial crisis.

Go In Together: If you can pool your money with someone else, you have more buying power. In many cases, that means you can get something cheaper. For instance if you can buy food in bulk, it's less expensive. If you need a tool or something else that you won't need every day, you can often go in together with someone else that needs the same thing, effectively halving the cost.
Do It Yourself: Pretty much anything is cheaper if you do it yourself, from home repair to cooking meals. Of course, the trade off is time, but if you have the time, it's worthwhile to learn to do as much as you can for yourself. I've been working on this one myself — I still probably shouldn't be trusted with any car repairs, but I no longer have to call someone in to do some of my minor home repairs.
Barter: Just because you don't have cash for a certain expense doesn't mean that you can't cover that cost. Instead, you can barter. Trade your skills for someone else's — maybe you need a babysitter and your favorite babysitter needs a professional haircut (or whatever your specialty happens to be). You can work out a deal where you both get you want without having to bring cash into the matter.
Go to the Source: Buying anything from its source is cheaper — food is especially so. If you can purchase from a farmer or through a farmer's market, you often pay less for your food because there is no middle man getting a cut of the cost. Prices are even better if you can become your own source — if you grow your own garden, the cost of your food can be minimal.
Reuse: We're used to throwing away all sorts of things that can be easily reused. From packaging materials to broken items, there's almost always some way that you can repair, reuse or repurpose anything that you're planning on sending to the dumpster. Clothing is a key example — it can often be repaired, handed down, altered, made into a quilt or even used as rags. There's rarely clothing that really ought to be thrown away.

There are far more approaches to frugality that were crucial not so long ago. There's plenty of room in the comments if you'd like to add your own.

Permalink | 1 comment | Thursday Bram's blog | Channel: Frugal Living

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Frugal Fashion: Look Chic All Year Long with Post Season Holiday Wear

Myscha Theriault — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:00:41 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Ever taken an objective look at the holiday wear items that hit the market starting in October?The truth is many of them are a decent deal even before the clearance sales start. In fact, I once scored a fantastic flouncy crepe tank sheath for ten bucks by combining a department store pseudo sale with an exceptional newspaper coupon to the same store. Right now though, the clearance deals still going on at many of the major first run stores just may be too good to pass up. What if you miss out? Well they should be hitting the Marshall's, Ross and TJ Max circuit shortly thereafter. Want a peek at my ten favorite “use them all year long” items? Read on.

I have to admit, chances are that black velvet pantsuit is only going to get you through the holiday season itself. You might get several seasons out of it, but it will in fact be a seasonal outfit. There are a fair number of other fashion staples however, that can be outrageously expensive to pick up during other times of the year. A few of my faves?

Multitudes of little black dresses.

This time of year means cool shopping opportunities for women of all sizes because the industry as a whole realizes that most people dress up for at least one holiday event. And while I find the good old LBD to be more than flexible as a wardrobe item, I've rarely found one that suits every single occasion. I generally have two-three at any given time.

Evening gowns in general.

Let's face it, spring only brings out the best in teeny-bopper prom styles and pastel bridesmaid dresses. Shop the sales at this time of year though, and you've actually got a shot at picking up some items you can wear to semi-formal dinner events throughout the year. I've even seen some great things in beaded ivory crepe that would make a stunning statement for a second or later in life wedding.

Glitzy pantsuits and skirt – jacket combos.

Everything I just stated above applies here. Darker colored women's suits with tastefully accented lapels look great at evening events and hot dates throughout the year. Just toss on some pearls and whip your mane into a French twist. You'll have it covered.

Strappy sandals and other girly footwear.

Black works for me, but I have found cream, silver, gold and certain hard to find jewel tones for that special outfit before. No tacky plastic looking items here, ladies. I'm talking about seriously nice stuff. In fact, if you blow through froo-froo footwear easily, this is definitely an affordable time to snag a back up pair. (Guess who should be following Andrea's advice on heel saving strategies more than I do? I always mean to remember to swap out shoes, but rarely do. At least in the summer time, I can manage to kick off my sandals and drive barefoot.) Another thing that's cool about shopping for dress shoes at this time of year is that I usually notice a wider selection of styles during the holiday retail season, as everyone has that specific outfit that needs a certain type of shoe. It's one of the few times a year when the clothing industry accommodates my fashion needs, so I roll with it.

The perfect clutch purse.

Gold, silver, red, multi-colored or black satin with sexy beaded trim and other details. You can spend six bucks now, or sixty dollars later. Your call.

Jewel toned and other shimmery dress blouses.

Want to look fantastic on that after work date without having to pack an entirely separate outfit? These things look great all year long, and you'll have just one extra item to take to the office that morning. Pick a color that accents your eyes, and you'll knock him dead on a major budget.

Winter accessories.

With the popularity of the hat, scarf and gloves combo gift, you can pick up something in a neutral tone that will be suitable for either a man or a woman. Bonus? A fresh set of toasty and stylish accessories will make that lasts forever classic coat you bought eight years ago look fresh as well as timeless.

Hair jewelry.

Those in major metropolitan areas have access to the mall resources throughout the year. Those who live in less developed areas can really use this season to snag faux versions of the following: pearl encrusted hair scrunchies, diamond and pearl hair sticks, glittery hair combs and pins, etc. These are great for special evenings and dress up events throughout the year.

Lounge wear.

Not wanting to spend your couch cuddling time in long-johns, but finding lace teddies a tad inappropriate for in-house toddlers and unexpected guests? Check out some of the shimmery or velvet two-piece lounge or pajama sets you can still find now. You can look great for your significant other and participate in family board game night at the same time.

Patterned hosiery and trouser socks.

I love having some nicer nylons that I don't have to break my neck putting on. Trouser socks with moderately dressy pants and some slip on boot-style mules work it for me if I have to pull off a professional look in a pinch or rush.

These are my favorite frugal fashion picks for this time of year. How about you?

Permalink | Comments | Myscha Theriault's blog | Channel: Health and Beauty

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Leave Marley in the Movies: Why Buying a Trendy Pet Makes No Sense

Tisha Tolar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:35:37 +0000

By Tisha Tolar

Who doesn’t fall in love with the many animals featured in hit movies of today and years past? You may be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t want to adopt 101 cute spotted dogs or wish to cuddle with a little, talking Chihuahua but the reality is the animals we see in the movies or on television are simply not reality. As the movies continue to bring us “insight” into different types of lovable pets, parents are more inclined to run out and buy the same kind of animal to appease the kids without much thought into the expense, care, and time needed to truly love and nurture the real deal.

Every time a lovable critter makes it big in Hollywood, impulsive consumer demand causes a frenzy that often turns out bad for the real life "stars". As quickly as they're scooped up from stores, they're abandoned at shelters. These fads aren't just made up of four-legged Hollywood stars. The colorful clownfish of Finding Nemo is facing extinction due to soaring demand.

With the new movie, “Marley & Me” already in theaters across the country, there is little doubt that many families will go on the hunt for an adorable Labrador Retriever with hopes of recreating scenes from the movie in their own homes. However wonderful a pet a Lab is in general terms, they will not be a perfect fit for every family. Beyond the expense of feeding, grooming, and providing appropriate medical care (insurance and vet visits), there are also other unforseen financial costs. For instance, what if your sweet-faced brand new puppy has a taste for your shoes, clothing, or furniture? Or needs a facelift?

Owning a pet is a serious responsibility, and there are many things to consider before bringing one home. You need to be fully prepared to invest in a pet and this includes time spent with said pet. If you do not do your research and buy an animal on a whim, you will likely be unhappily surprised at what happens to your life. Research will tell you plenty of information such as what kind of animal associates well with small children. Also, consider alternative pets that are low cost and low maintenance. For the cost of not doing proper research, you could have just took the whole family to the movies several times over to see a well-trained actor dog on the big screen instead of the brand-new puppy that ate your living room sofa.

If after taking the time to research and consider the cost of adding "Marley" to your family, or any other Hollywood star, wait a few weeks after the movie’s release date to head out to the shelters. Chances are very good that a number of other families thought they wanted a “Marley” dog too but things didn’t work out well, and the once-adorable puppy ends up at a shelter with several others who now desperately need homes.

Permalink | 7 comments | Tisha Tolar's blog | Channel: Budgeting

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Getting it Done at Dollar Tree

Myscha Theriault — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:39:37 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

While dollar-priced retail chains are nothing new, the Dollar Tree stores in particular have caught my attention as having a few categories of coolness. So what do I find there that I can't necessarily put my hands on at some of the other stores? Read on.

Crafting supplies, including glass pebbles and river rocks to create your own spa candles or table-scapes.
Children's art materials to celebrate creativity in your home, classroom, or homeschooling environment. We're talking paint brushes, craft sticks, colored art foam, pipe cleaners and more.
Square storage baskets with handles. I found these in fun colors and a size that is actually conducive to storing things in an organized fashion. Great for organizing your shelving or pantry.
Very affordable manicure items. OK, so the selection isn't going to rival Sally's Beauty Supply. But there are still a fair number of decent quality cheapies to help you create that at home spa bathroom affordably.
Various sizes of affordable scrub brushes (including bottle brushes for any canning jars you use to store leftovers) for easy housework hacking.
Dirt cheap personal care products, including Pepsodent and triple antibiotic ointments. (Remember, this brand of toothpaste scored well on the EWG toxicity scale. Here's the article, for your reference.)
Decent gift wrapping supplies. If you weren't able or interested to stock up on this stuff during post season sales you can easily get the gift wrapping job done at this store throughout the year.

Got another great bargain idea you can pull off at the Dollar Tree? Clue us in with a comment post!

Permalink | 34 comments | Myscha Theriault's blog | Channel: Deals, Shopping

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Best Deals for Wednesday 01/07/09

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:19:22 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

While there are lots of deals to be had this week, today is a fabulous day for freebies! Check out all the complimentary samples, and maybe you’ll find a new product to love. (And those of you who are not watching what you eat may enjoy the amazing 75% off sales at gourmet and specialty food retailers!)

1. 75% off Hickory Farms, plus an additional 15% - Supplies are limited on gifts of sausage, cheese, chocolates, and more. With baskets starting at under $5, this is great for stocking up for Super Bowl parties! Use code 849358 to get the additional 15% savings.

2. Complimentary full-size Suave products on January 14th – Come back to the website on 01/14/09 to get your free coupon redeemable for a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, styling product or body wash. Limit one per household.

3. Free Haunted Hotel Game Download from Big Fish Games – Register your email address and get the download code electronically. Valued at $20, this game is reportedly fun and addictive!

4. 3 Free Pampers Gifts to Grow Points – Use code HAPPYHOLIDAY089 to get 3 free points towards gifts from Pampers. Prizes start at 40 points; Program ongoing until March 2010.

5. Complimentary sample of Barbara’s Bakery cereal – Fill out the form and uncheck the opt-in box, if you don’t want to receive further communications. One per household while supplies last.

6. Free 2-liter of Diet Dr. Pepper in People Magazine – Check your recent issues (the one with the ladies who lost weight on the cover) for a coupon valid for the soda. Both home-delivered and newsstand issues contain the coupon.

7. New Balance Sesame Street Infant/Toddler Sneakers only $14.89 – These adorable sneakers (in select styles and sizes) are a huge savings over the original price of $43. They also come in Cookie Monster! Via Deal News.

8. Save 25% on Used Games at GameStop – Download the printable coupon and use in-store. Offer ends 1/8/09, and is good for up to 5 Xbox, PS2, or Gamecube games. Via The Barganist.

9. 75% off Jelly Belly Holiday Candies – Take advantage of the after-Christmas liquidation, and score some malted milk balls or other tasty treats starting at $3. Get an additional $10 of your order of $50 or more with code 10off. (Now that’s a lot of candy.) Via Deal News.

10. Get 50% off the Top 50 Books at Walmart.com – Titles include Twilight, Tales of Beetle the Bard, Warren Buffet and the Business of Life, and more!

Book Review: Rich Like Them by Ryan D'Agostino

Xin Lu — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:27:24 +0000

By Xin Lu

Rich Like Them: My Door-to-Door Search for the Secrets of Wealth in America's Richest Neighborhoods by Ryan D'Agostino - Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (January 5, 2009)

One summer my mother showed me a series of articles in Money magazine by a reporter named Ryan D'Agostino who knocked on the doors of expensive homes to find out how the occupants became rich. These articles were quite memorable for me because I thought it was hilarious how the author literally invaded the private property of rich people. Now a couple years later, D'Agostino has collected the entire experiment along with his personal stories into a book called Rich Like Them.

I read this entire book in one four hour sitting since it was funny yet serious. Each chapter is divided into small sections headlined by words of wisdom that are often a bit cliche. For example, the author details the importance of networking in "Connect the people you meet", and the power of patience in "Perseverance doesn't take forever". If you have read any kind of self help book you would probably have heard these mantras before. What really made the book fun to read were the personal stories of the strange and wealthy people D'Agostino met after he knocked on hundreds of doors. My favorite two characters from the book were Harvey Jason, a first edition book seller in Beverly Hills, and Arthur Tauck, the chairman of Tauck World Discovery. Harvey Jason was an actor before he became a bookstore owner and he utilized his Hollywood connections to create a very success niche business. Tauck is a septigenarian who thought of interesting tours for the tour company his father founded. One of his most crazy and popular tours is helihiking for seniors. These people's innovative and sometimes wacky ideas and visions for their businesses were absolutely fascinating.

This book is also somewhat familiar to me because I live just a few blocks away from Atherton, California which happens to be the richest neighborhood in the United States according to the book. I have driven through the town several times and most of the homes there are hidden behind trees or gates. Once you cross the border into my neighborhood of Redwood City you would have no idea that such an exclusive pod of extreme wealth is so close by because the entire scenery changes. The closest I have gotten to "socializing" with Atherton residents is when they drive their expensive cars through the Taco Bell across from the Ferrari-Maserati dealership on El Camino Real. I have spotted a Ferrari, Porsche, and a Bentley with a driver at that particular Taco Bell late at night. I always found that pretty funny because these folks can definitely afford something fancier, but instead they favor greasy semi-Mexican fast food . With that said, D'Agostino's book appropriately ends with a chapter on humility. He found that quite a few of the people that chose to speak with him were humble even though they have "made it" so to speak. He profiled one Athertonian named Heidi Roizen who was a powerful venture capitalist in the Silicon Valley who would gladly grab a cup of coffee with a college graduate just to see if there is a good idea. She also owned her own company at one time and worried about her employees when there was a bad quarter. Her humility brought her positive relationships and opportunity and thus the author calls humility "the secret ingredient" in becoming rich. After reading this, I felt a bit ashamed of myself because the wealthy people I see at Taco Bell probably would not laugh at me for grabbing a few Gorditas in my Honda, but I am the one mocking their humble hunger.

In conclusion, this is probably a good book if you want to be entertained and enlightened by the personal stories of a group of wealthy people who are also surprisingly down to earth. However, I would not use this book as a guide to becoming rich because it is nearly impossible to replicate any one person's strategy to attaining wealth. This book repeats a lot of the basic principles to becoming successful such as working hard and being patient, but those are not exactly secrets. I recommend this book for people who like to read memoirs and personal blogs, but I do not think anyone would become "rich like them" just by reading this book.

Permalink | 3 comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Personal Finance, General Tips, Lifestyle

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Bouncing Back When There's No "Bounce" Left

Kate Luther — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:17:48 +0000

By Kate Luther

We all have our ups and downs. We've all faced some pretty depressing odds and come out on top.

But sometimes, it feels like you just can't get ahead, no matter how hard you try. So what do you do?

Here's how to bounce back when the "bounce" is all gone.

Breathe. When stress rears its ugly head, we tend to hold our breath, figuratively if not literally. We tense up, we dig in, and our body kicks into survival mode while our mind races in sheer panic. What will we do? How will we survive? When will we see the light at the end of the tunnel? But what you need to do, above all else, is breathe. Just breathe.

Breathing allows you to think, it allows you to focus and it helps combat anxiety, something that more and more of us are claiming as an affliction. So, when you feel that "holy #&@*%" starting to set in, stop. And then breathe.

Count your blessings. A very old friend of mine used to say "so what... they can't take away my birthday." I've come to live by this motto. Before you try to analyze your situation, count your blessings, be it your good health, your loving family or your close network of friends. Do you still have a job? Do you have a roof over your head? If the entire world went to pot, could you go home again or join forces with a friend?

Seriously... what's the worst that could happen? Would you survive if it did? Its much easier to face your impending disaster when you've got all your "good stuff" backing you up.

Get Real. We all know the serenity prayer - change what you can, accept what you cannot, and be able to know the difference between the two - and its good advice to live by. Life is what it is. Yes, that's one of those "easy to say" statements but make it your mantra and you'll find it much easier to face problems with a clear head and a calm heart.

Figure out what options are available and then focus on those that will actually "better" your situation. We can all rant and rave for example, but will that really bring us closer to a solution. Anger, fear and doubt will never serve you. Instead, keep your head and look for viable options to turn things around.

Play Offense. If you watch football then you know that the offense's primary objective - besides actually scoring - is to dominate the ball and there's a reason for this strategy. One of course is that if we have the ball, the other team's offense doesn't but more importantly is that running around chasing offensive players makes a defense very, very tired.

Why?

Because the offense knows what play they're about to run - the defense on the other hand is simply "waiting to see what happens" and then reacting as the play unfolds. This can get exhausting very quickly and its equally tiring when its your approach to life.

Instead of reacting as events unfold around you, try taking the offensive approach. There is nothing more motivating than coming up with a new idea or plan that will make things better. If money is the issue - and isn't it always - then perhaps now is the time to start putting that new business idea of yours into action or take that second job that you've been tossing around. The point is, take control. Get the ball back and start driving down the field.

Formulate a plan. There is nothing more supportive than having a plan of action that you believe in. Pool your resources. Get back to basics. Implement a new budget or start sending out resumes. Whatever it is that you need to do, write it down and start putting things into action. When you have a gameplan, then you have a much better idea of what to expect.

Yes, the collection calls may still come or the layoff might still happen but you'll be "expecting it" instead of cringing in that "wait and see what happens" mentality.

And last but not least, remember to hang in there and look on the bright side. This isn't after all the first time you've hit a roadblock and I'm willing to bet that it won't be the last. Did you know for example, that we've had around nine recessions (including our current one) plus the Great Depression and that's just in the last one hundred years? And what do you know... somehow, we managed to pull through. I'm not saying its always easy and I'm not saying we shouldn't be concerned, but the reality is that everything works in cycles... And if you're "down" now, then there's no where to go but up.

Permalink | 10 comments | Kate Luther's blog | Channel: Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Life Hacks, General Tips, Lifestyle

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Book Review: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Lynn Truong — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:42:58 +0000

By Lynn Truong

Malcolm Gladwell's most recent book, Outliers, is a fascinating look into the stories of people who seem at first glance to be Outliers, those who rose to the top through an extraordinary talent, vision, and intelligence. It is the American Dream that any one with enough ambition and talent can succeed, but Gladwell's argument is that ambition and talent alone is not what made the Bill Gates of the world. These Outliers may not be so by their own right, but by a convergence of events entirely out of their control. They came across extraordinary opportunities that they were able to take advantage of, and had it not been for those opportunities, they may never have become Outliers.

Gladwell uses several case studies to show how success resulted directly from outside events and opportunities. He points to popular studies that support his claims, including the idea that cultural legacy is an integral part of the success formula. Cultural legacy is not something Americans like to dig into, especially when it comes to explaining success. But Gladwell asks us to look at the evidence and the conclusion is apparent. One cannot separate the success story from a host of events both in a person's lifetime as well as his ancestors'.

In Outliers, I want to convince you that these kinds of personal explanations of success don't work. People don't rise from nothing. We do owe something to parentage and patronage. The people who stand before kings may look like they did it all by themselves. But in fact they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot. It makes a difference where and when we grew up. The culture we belong to and the legacies passed down by our forebears shape the patterns of our achievements in ways we cannot begin to imagine. It's not enough to ask what successful people are like, in other words. It is only by asking where they are from that we can unravel the logic behind who succeeds and who doesn't.

From airline crashes to the birthdates of the best athletes, Gladwell uses studies that show an astounding significance of language, leadership, and cutoff dates. He cites The Matthew Effect:

It is those who are successful who are most likely to be given special opportunities that lead to further success.

This doesn't sound particularly unusual, since in any meritocracy, those who do better should be given more attention to cultivate the talent. But what if that success early on is a result of a random advantage? Like the month you were born? It seems that the best players have birthdates that are overrepresented to be random. Those born earlier relative to cutoff dates start out with an age advantage. For young kids, the difference of 6-9 months can be significant. In sports, that translates to relative size. Coaches will select the bigger, stronger ones. These boys will get more training, more time on the field. Not because they were lucky enough to have genes that make them larger, but because they have a 6 month lead in growth than the younger boys. In school, the few months of maturity lead translate into quicker comprehension, better behavior, and more likely to stand out as "brighter" than the rest, when really they're just older. But the proof is in the numbers, and Gladwell shows plenty of them.

Throughout the book he shows time and again that factors beyond the person's control offered advantages that created a better chance for extraordinary success. He explains why certain countries have better pilots. Why Asians are good at math. Why The Beatles became a success. Why students from upper middle class schools do better (it's not better schools and teachers). And why the smartest man alive wasn't able to finish college, and have still yet been able to convince the intellectual elite of his amazing mind.

Gladwell is not saying that talent, hard work, and determination is not needed to become successful -- he's saying that those only make up half of the formula. The other half, and perhaps the larger predictor of success, are opportunities, cultural legacies, and social class that are happenstance, but that were ultimately turned into advantages that were only available to them. He stresses that it's important for us to drop the conventional wisdom that talent and hard work alone determines success, because if we can recognize the impact of something as small as having a random cutoff date for sports teams, we can make changes in the system that would lead to twice the number of great athletes. He makes the claim that there is currently wasted talent.

It was a fascinating read, and changed the way I see the road to success.

Permalink | 8 comments | Lynn Truong's blog | Channel: Career and Income, Life Hacks

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Special Price for Wise Bread Readers at SoupBase.Com!

Myscha Theriault — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:56:13 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Love to create restaurant quality food at home? Looking for an inside track to how the professionals pull it off? David Sievers at SoupBase.Com is stepping up to help. Read on.

Those of you who caught my recent post regarding Seafood on the Cheap will already be somewhat familiar with SoupBase.Com. They sell among other cool things, the Minor's brand professional flavoring bases made by parent company Nestle. Ready for the discount details?

The discount code is SEAFOODBLOG .
It apparently needs to be entered on the first page of the checkout, prior to anything else.
It's good for a 15 percent discount on any order over twenty-five dollars.
This code is good until midnight, February 8th, 2009.
If you have any problems or questions, the folks at SoupBase.Com want to give it their personal attention. In fact, David requested I provide their stateside number: 1-800-827-8328.
Also, if browsing offline is your thing, you can request a pdf catalog via return email.

A few of the neat tidbits about the Minor's flavoring bases? They are one hundred percent natural paste-style concentrates of freshly cooked meat, poultry, seafood or vegetables. They contain no artificial ingrdients, chemical preservatives or color. Most contain less than one gram of fat per serving, and they have up to half the salt of bouillon cubes, depending on the type of base.

One teaspoon per cup of boiling water is the recommended mixing ratio. And the cost? The data I received on the chicken stock was nineteen cents a cup, way less than canned or boxed stock. So if making your own doesn't appeal to you, or even if you stick to the seafood and clam stocks alone, the savings is significant. Free recipes for the Minor's bases are available here. For other ways to cut down on cooking costs, check out these articles on poultry and meat suggestions. Happy saving!

Permalink | 6 comments | Myscha Theriault's blog | Channel: Coupons

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Back to Reality: Coming Down after the Holidays

Sarah Winfrey — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:55:41 +0000

By Sarah Winfrey

Whatever holidays you celebrate in November, December, and January, they're over now. The special food is eaten and the decorations are probably back in their boxes. The new year has come, though whether you see it with hope or fear is up to you. My point is, in most of the western world, January is a month of coming down. We spend November and December gearing up, getting ready, anticipating days off from work, travel, good food, and good times with people we love. Then January hits, and that's all over. Not only that, but the bills for all that hope and anticipation start arriving and we go back to our normal daily routine. It's no wonder if we sometimes look up and ask if the holidays really meant anything after all.

Seasons of letdown are difficult for the human spirit. They just are. There's not any way around that. But there are ways to lessen the impact of a letdown, any letdown, has on you.

Life Cycles

The truth is, our lives cycle and recycle all the time, though we don't often notice because we're too busy experiencing the feelings of wherever we are in the cycle. On every level--personal, professional, spiritual, financial, emotional--we are constantly going through ups and downs. We cycle as individuals, as family groups, as business groups, as friends, as a culture, as a country, and as a world. It's no wonder the patterns are hard to notice, what with all these cycles intersecting and influencing each other. But the cycles are true.

Sometimes, just knowing that we're at a particular part of the cycle makes being there easier. It's almost a relief to say, "It's January, and I'm on the downward side of the holiday season cycle. It's normal for me to feel tired, a little overwhelmed with everyday life coming back at me, and even a little sad. This will pass." While it can be hard to deeply embrace the truth that statements like these offer, there's some comfort in acknowledging, at least cognitively, that they are true.

Take Some Space

Take advantage of the lull in planned activities that often comes on the downward side of a cycle (like January) and even of any restricted financial resources you might have from your celebrating, find a quiet place, and hole up for a while. Part of what causes the downward side of the cycle is the onslaught of sights and sounds and people and experience that comes with the upside. Our minds get overstimulated, whether we're aware of it or not, and after a while they can't continue processing so much input without some rest. So taking some quiet time to meditate, journal, or read a good book helps our tired, taxed minds and puts us on the road to getting out of the downward part of the cycle.

Getting some personal space can also help us cement memories of the good times we've just had. Writing a memory down, looking through pictures, or even replaying something special in our minds cues our brains to remember it. And when we remember good times, it's easier to feel contented in the present.

Focus on the Present

Most likely, the tasks in front of us are not as loathesome as they seem when we're coming off a fun, exciting season like the holidays. Once we have memories cemented, the best thing we can do at the bottom part of a cycle is to focus on what is in front of us without longing for what we just had. Those times were good, maybe extremely, excessively good, but they aren't what's in front of us right now. In these January moments, we have tasks that need doing and people who need caring for. Focusing on these allows us to find contentment in our lives because we're not wishing for or straining towards something that isn't true in the present.

Actually focusing like this can be difficult, especially when we're so close to what was exciting. The key is to develop what I call a Meditation Mind. In meditation, practitioners are asked to focus and relax. When they find their minds wandering, they are asked to simply recall themselves to the focus. This kind of mindset can also serve well in focusing on the present, If you find your mind wandering, simply bring it back to the task at hand. Repeated practice allows our minds to attain focus easier and hold it longer.

Whether you're down or not after the holidays, I hope these thoughts and tips help you out whenver you're in the downward part of a cycle. Is there anything else you do when you're in that place? Let me know in the comments.

Permalink | 2 comments | Sarah Winfrey's blog | Channel: General Tips

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For Women Traveling to India: A Book Review and Free Copy Contest!

Myscha Theriault — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:58:24 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

Looking for an informative travel read? Need some hot tips to make your next trip flow smoothly? Hoping for something that addresses your unique needs as a member of the O.G.C? (Official Girlfriends Club) Help is on the way.

The latest in the Wanderlust and Lipstick collection, this title by Beth Whitman provides loads of tips for women who will be navigating the subcontinent solo. Bonus? Many of her tips are applicable to travelers in general and can be used in numerous developing countries. She covers such issues as working around festival schedules when booking tickets and accommodations, how to avoid harassment in movie theaters and tips and hacks for dealing with India's vast train system. She even covers some of the inside scoop on the emerging health care system in India via some of the women she met there, including Wise Bread's own Amy Scher. Wanna grab a sneak peek at some of the hot tips you'll find in this book?

Not only will you want to carry your own TP in India, but your own disposable tote bags for it as well. Since the waste water infrastructure often can't handle the extra bulk, you'll frequently need to put your used toilet tissue in a knotted bag and toss it later if a waste receptacle is not available.
Use the overwhelming number of people vying for your business to your advantage. This is your chance to get the absolutely best price possible. Basically, bargain your ass off.
Find a quiet retreat that is not your hotel room. The hustle and bustle of India can be overwhelming. While it's perfectly understandable to need a reprieve, nobody wants to spend their whole trip alone in the hotel room. Consider a temple, park or university library.

Beth Whitman is also the author of Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, founder of the Wanderlust and Lipstick web site, and a blogger for the Seattle Post Intelligencer. She's also a kick butt tour guide. Can't wait check out this title for yourself? Here's a link. To enter the contest, simply post a comment sharing a funny travel anecdote, a trip you've been dreaming of taking, or a hot tip for life on the road. The deadline is January 13th, at 9:00 a.m. EST.

Permalink | 23 comments | Myscha Theriault's blog | Channel: Art and Leisure, Freebies

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Inside the shady world of cheap iTunes gift cards

Torley Wong — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:04:08 +0000

By Torley Wong

It all started so innocently: I recently purchased an iPod Nano as an Xmas present, and also wanted to include the gift of music. A casual search on eBay led to attention-alarming auctions shouting at me, tantalizing me with the possibility of getting iTunes gift cards for CHEAP! How cheap? Apparently, if I shelled out US$5-8 dollars, I could get a "guide" with info telling me where to purchase these cards for up to "80% Off!!", one listing yelled. Yet another auction cautioned me while hawking its own ware, "How to NOT get scammed w itunes gift card code auctions". What was going on here?

I had to admit, the in-your-face attitude and numerous typographical errors turned me off — and I'm too thrifty to plunk down a few bucks to be told what URL to type in. (Nevermind the fact that some of these discount cards are listed on eBay… duh, how obvious.) So I did the most natural next thing: a Google search, and soon dove deeper into the dubiousness.

Several minutes later, I collected numerous pages pointing to iOffer, sort of like eBay, but a rockier road in terms of usability. Searching for "itunes 200" yielded numerous matches for $200 gift cards as low as $38. Alas, that seller was on vacation, so I had to settle for a $47 one. I placed an offer and watched the screen anxiously, refreshing the page and also checking my email. I noticed this seller was quite an inconsistent replier, attending to the newest offers bidding on his quantity of 50+ cards while not getting to first-come offers until much later. At last, I was served up an invoice, and PayPal'ed it through. A few minutes later, I received an email with the code. Terse, cryptic, and from a Chinese email address, it read:

Hi , here is the code .
$200
[CODE REMOVED]
pls use it asap.
and pls leave me a feedback.
thanks!

Too good to be true? I pondered. Why the urgency to use it? Only one way to find out. After I refreshed the page again and noticed the hotbed of activity piling up, I mused "They must really want their music!" and booted up the iTunes Store myself. I plunked in the code, and without hesitation, it was credited. My account balance now stood at $200.00, and as any music fan would naturally do, I began snapping up tracks.

But is there a darker side to this? Some would say yes. Feeling ethically conflicted, my curiosity got the better of me and I dug deeper. More info-nuggets were just a google away, such as:

US iTunes gift certificates bought with stolen cards
People on Ebay are selling itunes gift cards for %40 off? – Interesting behind-the-scenes report.

For a brief moment, my pupils dilated as wide as Dramatic Lemur's. Was I now linked to criminal activity? I don't want to be a knowing participant in the cycle of identity theft and fraud. Alas, it's hard to say.

I contacted over a dozen of these gift card bulk sellers. A few replied with unhelpful or cryptic answers. I chalked part of it up to their non-native English (a disproportionate amount claim to be Chinese or Eastern European), and the other part up to wanting to keep a tight lid on their profitable secrets. The most "comprehensive" response I got, after asking "How did you get such a great deal on these iTunes gift cards?", was:

Hi, I bought it from my friend . hehe
its price is realy low .
if you like, you can buy from me and then selll it on ebay.
I saw they sell about $100 for $200 card on ebay
hehe
thanks!

No shortage of "hehe" in the responses I received, that's for sure. Like the myths behind virtual gold farming, they add color to the tales, but that's where my trail went cold. Wherever there's riches, you can count on not just greed to be present, but bizarre human behavior.

Returning to eBay, I scoured around some more. I rummaged through the gift card auctions, and was hard-pressed to find any as popular or as below-expected-price as iTunes. I even found some big names that went substantially above their value, like this $530 winning bid on a $500 Amazon.com gift card. (What's the point?) But iTunes ones can be consistently, suspiciously found for much lower. Since the majority of these sales are digital codes, not actual cards (as one seller made sure to remind me he couldn't send the card), a physical object isn't necessary to use them. Which makes them harder to trace.

What's Apple's gospel word on this? None. Apple's Gift Card FAQ says nothing about the matter yet, but it's been happening for years. This has been bubbling beneath the surface and hasn't gotten broader attention. There's been articles about iTunes phishing, but that's not the same as the underground gift card/code phenomenon.

This is especially ambiguous because we can't rule out that there is a legit channel for these cards, or that they're so affordable for another, non-criminal reason which isn't understood by all parties involved. True, the factors I mentioned above make them look very shady. And even if you don't have a tight budget which strangles luxuries like music, the goal is always to buy low… so how low is too low? Branding someone as a crook just because they don't speak fluent English is unfair, considering that they may've genuinely gotten the codes from an associate and are genuinely unaware if it's unlawful. I'll understand if Apple gets in touch with me about my account, as they apparently have with some others, and in the meantime, I'll continue to use my store credit — and ethically, look for better ways to reward the artists directly. (Which is a discussion for another time.)

The moral of the story: from "it fell off the back of a truck" to gift codes in cyberspace, there can be more than meets the eye when it comes to an unbelievable deal.

Permalink | 9 comments | Torley Wong's blog | Channel: Shopping

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