Wise Bread

Stay Thin and Save

Carrie Kirby — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:45:42 -0400

I am about to blog one of the most sensitive issues of our time: Fat. So before I dive in, a disclaimer. This is not a post designed to make fun of people who are obese, make them feel bad, or preach to them. Some of the people nearest to my heart in this world struggle with obesity, and I know from them that losing weight and keeping it off is not easy. And with more than a third of Americans qualifying as obese and another third considered overweight, chances are that you fall into these categories yourself or have loved ones who do.

So here goes: Being obese is expensive -- and not just at the doctor's office. We all know that overweight, like other ailments linked to modern living (heart disease, lack of sleep, addiction), costs a hefty (sorry!) amount of healthcare dollars. The diabetes meds, the damage to the circulatory system, the surgeries. Wise Bread has written about this before.

But what about the other costs of living with excess weight? When spending time with loved ones who are carrying around more pounds than they'd like, I've noticed that they end up paying more for a lot of things:

1. Parking. Obesity often means decreased mobility, especially as you age and the knees give out. When you want to take your grandchild to the museum or the ballgame, you're less likely to feel up to grabbing free parking a few blocks away or walking the same distance from public transportation. Yes, everyone tells you the walk would be good for you, but they don't have your knees. Nor do they feel the heat as intensely as you do. Which brings me to ...

2. Air conditioning. I'm not sure if decreased need for home heating in winter cancels this one out, but if you are overweight you will almost certainly spend more on air conditioning. I always knew my home was not well-cooled in summer with a few window boxes, but I never realized how bad it is for some until I saw a relative sitting in his air conditioned car outside my house to cool off.

3. Clothing. Some stores charge more for large sizes, but even worse, many large people find themselves relegated to specialty stores. Specialty = pricey. Unusually tall people or people with unusually large or wide feet find themselves in on this boat too, and it's a boat with an expensive fare. Oh, and the heavier you are, the more expensive shoes you are going to have to get. Otherwise, you'll end up forking out even more in medical bills.

4. Travel. Any obese person who can afford it, or has the miles to upgrade, will tell you they avoid flying coach. Who can blame them? Coach airline seats are already uncomfortable for those within the healthy weight range for their heights! Airlines have toyed with charging weighty passengers more even for coach. And the truly heavy passengers have to shell out twice as much to purchase two airline seats. I'm not going to rule on whether any of this is right or wrong, or get into whose responsibility the problem is. But we can agree on this: Air travel can be more expensive when you're obese. Also, once you pass a certain size, you'll have to buy a larger, more expensive car. That uses more gas.

5. Dieting. OK, this one is obvious but more than $40 billion are spent in this country every year on commercial diet plans. Yes, you can lose weight on your own, and it would seem like consuming fewer calories would cost you LESS money. But studies show that the most effective way to lose and keep it off is Weight Watchers. Which costs a monthly fee.

6. Parenthood. Extra weight lowers the chances of conception, which means that to become a parent while obese, you're more likely to end up paying for IVF or adoption. Even adoption is getting harder for the obese now that China has stipulated a maximum BMI for would-be adoptive parents. (See article in American Baby, june)

At the same time that it makes life cost more, obesity can decrease earnings potential. A New York Times article described one study that reveals that the obese accumulate half as much wealth in a lifetime than those in their healthy weight range.

Employment opportunities decrease. It is definitely wrong to discriminate against the obese, but it definitely happens. Also, decreased mobility and energy may inhibit your ability to keep up with any job with a physical component, such as nursing or waiting tables. You can be kicked out of the military for overweight, too.

While plenty of people seem to have no trouble going about their normal interpersonal lives after becoming obese, some lose self-confidence or become depressed. This will also cut into earnings ability -- if you no longer feel comfortable speaking in front of a crowd, you may have trouble holding onto that job as a corporate marketing executive or motivational speaker.

The moral of the story? There are plenty of reasons to avoid letting extra pounds accumulate, health and quality of life at the head of the pack. But as the summer draws to a close and the more sedentary seasons approach, cost is one more reason to remain vigilant about weight.

Permalink | Comments | Carrie Kirby's blog | Channel: Health and Beauty

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How good writing skills save and earn money

Xin Lu — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:53:19 -0400

By Xin Lu

A while ago an article on Wise Bread talked about how complaining via a letter works much more effectively than complaining with phone calls. This made me think about all the other ways good writing skills could be financially beneficial to a person. Here is a list of ways good writing skills could save and earn money for you.

1. You will be able to negotiate more effectively in large transactions - My grandfather told me that he saved about 30000 RMB on his condo purchase because he wrote a nice letter about why he deserved a discount. He showed me the letter and it was very concise and listed both personal and business reasons why he should get a price break. If he did not know how to write so clearly then he might not have gotten the discount. My mom also did the same thing when she and my dad purchased their first home. She wrote a clear letter detailing the issues surrounding the house and got a discount of $7500 beyond the accepted offer.

2. Good writing skills make you more desirable to employers - In many instances, the first impression you make on a potential employer is in a cover letter or resume. An interesting and well written cover letter could potentially lead to an interview and eventually a job. Even when you do not have a formal cover letter, there are often many email exchanges during an interview process. Emails that are clearly written generally makes you seem more intelligent and responsible to a potential employer. Personally, I know that my ability to write coherent emails has given me an edge in finding software engineering jobs because most software engineers are not taught to write properly.

3. It is a cheap hobby - Writing is probably one of the cheapest hobbies out there. You do not need expensive materials or equipment and you can start with a plain notebook and pencil. Writing could also take up quite a bit of time so you could be entertained for hours by your own imagination and creativity.

4. Well written content has monetary value - Many people make a living through writing. For example, even in a software company we have copywriters and technical writers. The ability to communicate useful information is worth its weight in gold. Even if you are not a professional writer, it is possible to start a blog and earn a bit of side income because there is an endless amount of content on the internet and good content is rare.

Writing is a skill that can be learned and improved. You can take a class at a local college that teaches you to write or just read articles and books about the art of writing. Another great thing is that you can practice it anywhere and any way you want. I think it is unfortunate that proper writing is not emphasized in this highly technical world and we have mainstream journalists that publishes phrases like "we wuz robbed" , but I believe that being able to communicate effectively through language will always be valued.

Permalink | 3 comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Career and Income, Making Extra Cash

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Five Frugal Tips for Perpetually Lazy People

Myscha Theriault — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:34:37 -0400

By Myscha Theriault

Are you a serious slacker? Does being frugal give you a brain cramp? Here are five ways to save money and time that barely require lifting a finger.

Go modern.

With your décor that is. The uncluttered look ensures you'll have to buy less, dust less, and pack less when you need to move. And as I mentioned in Fake it Till You Make It, streamlined can be incredibly sexy.

Live somewhere walkable.

Choose a location where you can walk to many of the establishments you frequent. You'll get there quicker, save on cab fare (or gas), and have more money left over for cocktails and traveling.

Two for one restaurant coupons.

Hate to cook? Looking for something easier? If you love to eat out often and hate the regular coupon clipping hassle, consider some of the restaurant coupons in your city's weekend paper. Many of the chains such as Sweet Tomatoes have two for one coupons, as do many of the more popular local favorites. Other coupons such as free appetizers or a certain amount off an entrée are also available. While I admit to never appreciating having coupons used when someone was taking me on a date, now that I'm married with different priorities, I don't have a problem using them, especially when we are out and about errand running and not eating out for a special occasion. I particularly like the Sweet Tomatoes coupons because we end up eating a ton of produce ingredients we would never normally buy. Bonus? They are super healthy there.

Annual memberships.

Museums, tourist attractions like Busch Gardens, aquariums, arboretums . . . the list goes on. If you live next to something you like to visit a great deal, or live next to something most people find fun and routinely have lots of company, this is a way to play host without paying the same entrance fee again and again. Some even come with free beverage options. I know the Desert Museum in Tucson did. Free coffee rocks. And you don't have to dig out the card to pay for these entertainment options more than once a year.

Salvation Army's pick up service.

Need all the tax deductions you can get? Salvation Army has an eight hundred number you can call to schedule a truck. They will come to your house and load up your donations (don't expect them to haul away garbage nobody else would want) on to the truck. They even give you a printed out itemized receipt of your donation. If you bought everything cheap to begin with, this is also a great way to liquidate and save on moving costs.

So that's it, folks. Five simple ways to be frugal with very little finger lifting. Got another lazy way to save money? Frugal minds want to know.

Permalink | 1 comment | Myscha Theriault's blog | Channel: Frugal Living

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Opt-out of the wasteful $26 billion phone directory industry

Paul Michael — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:00:32 -0400

By Paul Michael

In this day and age of the internet, free Google 411 and a host of other paperless directory services, what use do the big, fat phone directories serve? I don’t know about you, but when I get those large plastic bags filled with 3lb phone books, I usually put them straight in the recycling bin. We never use them. Now a website similar to the National No-Call registry is asking you to sign up and stop receiving these archaic books.

The facts speak loud and clear; the massive amount of money and resources the phone directory industry sucks up is phenomenal. This, from YellowPagesGoesGreen.org :

540 million directories are printed annually in the United States.
The average weight of each directory is 3.62 lbs.
1.79 directories are printed for every man, woman and child in the US.
The phone directory industry is worth over $13 billion in the US (that figure doubles to $26 billion worldwide).
It takes 24 trees to make 1 ton of paper.
It takes over 19 million trees to make half a million directories.
It takes 380 gallons of oil to produce that ton of paper (over 7.2 billion barrels per 500,000 books).
3 cubic yards of waste are taken up by one ton of paper (that equates to 1.6 billion lbs per 500,000 books).
Over 270,000 cubic yards of landfill are taken up per 500,000
7,000 gallons of water go into the production of one ton of paper.
4,000 kilowatts of energy are also needed to make that ton of paper (3.2 billion KW hours/500,000 books).

As a frugal shopper, I deplore waste (the main image at the top of this article came from someone who spotted DOZENS of yellow pages in their apartment building's dumpster). And the idea that these millions and millions of directories are being printed so that at least 90% of us can just put them into the recycling bin, well, that just burns me up. So much money, so many resources, all for nothing.

Decades ago, there was a need for phone directories. But that industry needs to face one hard fact; it is going the way of the dinosaur. And continually producing these books is merely prolonging the inevitable, but wasting precious time and money in the process. However, if we all do something about it, maybe we can speed that process up.

Simply click on this link and you’ll be directed to the opt-out page at YellowPagesGoesGreen.org, where you can opt out of both the yellow and white pages. The website’s mission statement is both clear and admirable:

Yellowpagesgoesgreen.org is an organization working to educate consumers and promote the green movement to eliminate the unsolicited delivery of Yellow and White Pages books. This site is aimed at starting a national movement to solicit the White/Yellow Pages industry to proactively stop the delivery of books or to begin moving legislation to mandate the stoppage of this activity. This movement should be similar to the National No-Call Registry that have stopped and/or decreased the number of unwanted solicitations telephone calls to consumers.

A college student who was renting a house in Liberty, Missouri founded Yellowpagesgoesgreen.org. The number of telephone books delivered to the house was overwhelming and the work required to recycle them was daunting. When he spoke with his neighbors they all told him they just threw them away. Due to the use of technology, he felt these books were now outdated. However, he understood that some people may still want them and felt the best way to limit this tremendous waste was to mimic the National No-Call Directory. Additionally, he wanted this site to serve as a depository for information and educational issues concerning the green movement.

I put my name down this morning; and unless you have a real need for these books, like in the video below from collegehumor.com , or maybe propping up a young child at the table, so that they can reach their chicken soup, I urge you to do the same. It's time to put the phone directories out of their misery.

Note: There's a tiny bit of "colorful" language in the vid...turn down the volume if you're at work or around young ones.

Thanks to The Denver Egotist (via LifeHacker) for bringing this subject to my attention.

Permalink | 9 comments | Paul Michael's blog | Channel: Frugal Living, Consumer Affairs, Green Living

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Hunting for Treasure - Frugal Fun, Rich Rewards

Mary Webber — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:58:25 -0400

By Mary Webber

Who doesn't love a treasure hunt? From the mysterious map where X marks the spot to the chest full of gold and jewels, the idea of solving a puzzle and receiving a rich reward is still tempting.

There are three kinds of modern-day treasure hunts popular now,aa letterboxing, geocaching, and orienteering. While all three involve computer, GPS, or compass use, they also get participants outdoors, and thinking!

Letterboxing

Letterboxes containing a notebook, an on-site stamp and maybe a few trinkets are hidden in your hometown, throughout the country, and even worldwide. Access to a computer, a notebook, and your own personal stamp are all that's needed to begin your hunt. Start at the website Letterboxing.org where you can search for box locations by city/town, county, state or country.

The clues to find each box vary widely. For example, to find the Pine Tree Island box in Livermore CA, you follow directions until "Under a tree you will spot a dark rock about the size of a small loaf of bread. Move rock aside and pull back the pine needles to find the box." This box was placed by the Take a Hike Club on November 18, 2006.

Using the site stamp, you mark your own notebook and make any notes about the day, the site, etc. Then you stamp the site notebook with your personal stamp, leaving comments if you want, and adding a trinket or taking one if this box offers any.

We leave Maine stickers and buttons when we visit out-of-state boxes. The notebooks offer an incredible connection as the comments usually note where the boxer is from along with sometimes more personal musings. It is clear from these notes that boxers are from all ages!

People put great care into selecting their personal stamps, and because this is a great, inexpensive travel activity, many use travel journals as their notebooks. And, you can set up a letterbox yourself just by putting a stamp and notebook in a small watertight box (plastic food storage containers are perfect), hiding the box and posting your clues on the website.

My grand-daughter Katie asked our library if she could set up a letterbox in their Centennial Garden. She donated the box and notebook, the library staff put in their stamp and posted the clues, and Katie was absolutely thrilled to be the first to stamp the new book at "Grannie's Box".

Geocaching (geocashing)

Geocaching is a little more complicated and can be much more challenging than letterboxing, but it's still an inexpensive activity. To get started, you'll need access to a GPS devise, a notebook, and a few treasures to leave at boxes that are designated treasure caches.

Geocaching is a recognized sport all over the world, and some of the caches are quite elaborate. If you plan to visit a cache in another country, try to leave something American, such as a Boston subway or San Franciso trolleycar token.

Like letterboxing, the website Geocaching.com has all the basic information and search help you'll need. Just enter your search parameters (can even be latitutde/longitude figures), then enter the given coordinates in your GPS, and you're good to go. According to the website, there are currently 635,478 active caches worldwide including one recently placed at the Beijing Olympics!

Geocaching often involves more remote locations and rugged outdoor terrain than letterboxing does, but it is an excellent teaching activity and is now part of the math curriculum in many American middle and high schools.

Orienteering

Orienteering takes the treasure hunt to another whole level of outdoor adventuring. Here you use a map and compass to follow a course, at the end of which there may - or may not - be a treasure. Equipment needed is pretty minimal: primarily a good compass and whatever outdoor gear the course location suggests. While it can be just a leisurely stroll, orienteering as a race is also a highly competitive individual and team sport, recognized worldwide, and proposed for inclusion in future Olympics.

Check out the website of the U.S. Orienteering Federation for all the information you'll need to get started or even to compete in international competitions. Following map and compass clues, participants follow a course with set stops or flags where you punch your participant's card and get further directions. It's a perfect way to teach/learn some valuable outdoor skills and is perfect for inter-generational teams.

Like letterboxing, orienteering is part of the math and social studies curricula at many middle and high schools nationwide. As a middle school teacher, I used it as a beginning-of-the-year ice-breaker, randomly assigning kids to teams.

Then at the end of the year I'd have those same teams run that same course. The kids loved that tangible evidence of all that they had learned, first about orienteering but also about their classmates.

For good books on orienteering including how to set up your own courses, look in the children's section of your library, check your local bookstore's outdoors section, or visit Amazon which has a comprehensive selection of books covering not just orienteering but also letterboxing and geocaching.

Oh, yes, there is something inherently exciting about treasure hunts, the promise of that pirate's chest of plunder at the end of the adventure. During Gram and Gramp Camp this summer, I set up a treasure hunt for Baxter (10) and Katie (7), one that started with a clue on the breakfast table.

Following more short, rhymed clues (on 3x5 cards sealed in snack-size bags and hidden around town that morning by my husband Bert), we headed first to the high school sign next door to us where a note under the flower box sent us down to the memorial green and from there to the old railway station.

That clue directed us to "in the middle of the street, a watering trough of flowers" where the final clue was hidden under the petunias. They were instructed to walk 100 steps north on Main Street, and there was the treasure. A $10 gift card for each of them at the brand new bookstore right across the street from where we were standing.

But certainly, don't dismiss letterboxing, geocaching or orienteering as just for kids or just for fun. Consider this: The New York-based company Treasure Hunt Adventures offers these activities, especially orienteering, for corporate teambuilding (ABC News Money Matters recently highlighted THA's work in that area). And, Treasure Hunt Adventures will debut The Great Central Park Treasure Hunt™ at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Any place, any time, any age or ability level, there are treasure hunts anyone can enjoy.

Permalink | 10 comments | Mary Webber's blog | Channel: Art and Leisure

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Trim Costs with Cheaper Kid's Haircuts

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:49:23 -0400

By Linsey Knerl

Let me preface this piece by saying that I'm not above cutting my own kids' hair. We often cut their hair (especially the boys') and in the summer, we prefer to shave it down for coolness and to avoid tick dangers. I have found great results with a mid-range WAHL haircutting kit, complete with all the bells and whistles. There are times when it is not appropriate to cut their hair: My daughter is entering tweendom and needs somethings stylish, my youngest needed his first “real” cut and had more cowlicks than I could handle, etc. How do you manage to keep up the coif and keep it under budget? Start with these simple tips:

Use a Coupon – This should be a no-brainer, but I'm amazed at how often I forget. Many of the larger chains offer incredible savings on cuts via clippable coupons in your local paper inserts. Great Clips, for instance, drops the cost of their kid's cut from $11 to $6 at several times during the year (right before school, for example.) You must have the coupon, however.

Get a Group Rate – Plan on bringing in all four kids and the hubby for a trim? Schedule a time in advance on a day when they don't do much business. Ask if they can give you 20% off for having all the cuts done on the same day. (Don't forget to tip.)

Use a Barber – Salons aren't the only ones equipped to handle clean-up. Our local barber has been doing boys' and men's cuts for decades, and he still charges rates from the 70's. You'd be surprised at how all that experience can translate into a gift for keeping the little ones still. (And they get to sit in that “Big Boy” pedestal chair!

Hit the Beauty Schools – You may not trust a beautician-in-training with your hair (although I've gotten nothing but fantastic results), but that doesn't mean your toddler can't take the risk. With prices at 25-50% off retail, you can get all the kids' hair done! (And if there happens to be a “mishap” just blame it on that rowdy preschool classmate. Kidding.)

Cruise the Retirement Circuit – Someone's Grandma used to be a hairdresser. The key is to finding them (ask around.) Since zoning ordinances may prevent private individuals from conducting hair business from their home, it may not become a regular thing. But for an emergency trim or for in-between cuts, that “has-been” stylist could really come in handy! Sometimes they will forgo payment entirely in lieu of a nice trade (the same goes for any private stylist – not just those who are retired.)

Stay creative and remember that you only have a few short years where the kids won't care how their hair looks... and that means a smaller hair budget!

Permalink | 13 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Frugal Living, Health and Beauty

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Three Quirky Search Tools to Help You Get Results

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:52:36 -0400

By Linsey Knerl

I’m a Google user by default. It’s the one that’s programmed into my typing hand more than any other website, and even though it fails me at times, I still lean on it in times of uncertainty. It was just recently, however, that I started to expand my search world, grabbing at new straws to help meet my research needs. These three seem very promising, and are rather fun, as well!

SearchMe Visual Search (see graphic at top of article) - I’m a visual person. I love graphics, previews, and accurate mouse-overs. Is it a surprise that SearchMe came through for some unique results with full-color, full-page results? Simply type a term and then choose the relevant category you wish to explore further. (Not wanting to limit your results? Click “Search All.“) Immediately some of the most unique website screenshots will appear in a virtual Flash-driven rolodex. Flip through them like a book or stack them like magazines for viewing later (this info is stored on your hard drive, so don’t include anything private!) Video buffs can raid the most qualified YouTube results by utilizing the “Video” search engine (the same goes for images.)

Hakia - Do you ever wish you had a personal search assistant designed to sort through the garbage in your search results? Hakia , a truly effective semantic-based search tool, does just that. While limited at the moment in its Beta version, I’ve been very impressed so far. Hakia uses three criteria to qualify its search results: 1) it must comes from a credible source recommended by librarians 2) it is the most recent information available 3) it is absolutely relevant to the query. How does it compare to Google search results? Just check out this sample for search term “Is there any remedy to tuberculosis?” The verified results appear first in Hakia (highlighted in red), followed by regular results. In Google, they are all mixed together, organized by statistical ranking. Curious to find out about others with similar searches? Just click on the icon for “Meet Others who asked the same query” for chat boards relevant to your search.

SortFix - This nifty tool came to me as a tip from Mary Ellen Bates at Bates Information Services (for updated search new, check out her monthly tip.) It’s a hybrid off all my favorite applications (search engine, thesaurus, dictionary, and comparison between websites.) How does it work? Simply visit SortFix.com and type your search term. Upon hitting “enter”, you’ll get Google results, with neat tabs for comparing results in Yahoo and the dmoz open directory project. Now it gets really cool. Using Drag-and-Drop features, you can refine your searches using their suggested “Power Words”. Not feeling the results? Add or remove search words easily by placing them in the “Add” or “Remove” boxes. (It reminds of those magnetic word poetry kits.) Use the dictionary for more fun, and if you’re really daring, you can sign up for advanced features!

Normal people collect stamps, spoons, or trading cards. I collect great search tools. Got another that I should check out? Let me know via the contact form, or leave a comment here with your best stuff!

Permalink | Comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Life Hacks, Productivity, Technology

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Book review: The Adventures of Johnny Bunko

Philip Brewer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:53:37 -0400

By Philip Brewer

The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need by Daniel H. Pink.

Do you need a career guide? And, if so, do you need one written as manga? It almost doesn't matter--Daniel H. Pink has written one, and it's got enough good lessons packed into a tiny little book, that it's worth reading whether you need it or not.

Let me begin a bit oddly (given that I'm recommending the book) to say that I've long disagreed with Pink. He's always been something of a cheerleader for abandoning the old employer-employee social contract in favor of the modern reality--that the people who used to think of themselves as employees need to think of themselves as free agents instead. The thing is, though, I've never thought that Pink was wrong, just that the changes were a poor public policy choice--I don't disagree with the analysis, just with the cheerleading.

I've talked before about the importance of finding work worth doing--I've even come up with some tips on how to do it--but I've always felt like I've fallen short when it comes to helping the guy with no clue what he wants to do for the rest of his life but who needs to earn a living now. How does he thread the needle of finding an income to pay the bills while at the same time making progress on finding his true calling? Well, Pink has a big chunk of the answer right here.

Johnny Bunko isn't a job search guide--there's nothing about resumes or cover letters (there is a bit of clever mockery of the interview process). It's about moving from where you are in your career to where you ought to be--by giving up on the notion that there's a specific path that you ought to follow, by using your strengths, by focusing on making your team and your boss a success, by sticking to it, by being bold, and by making a difference.

Johnny Bunko is aimed at young folks at the start of their career, but anyone who hasn't found his or her life's work--and even some who have--will find its advice applies to them too.

Permalink | Comments | Philip Brewer's blog | Channel: Career Building

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Fake it Till You Make It: Thrift on the Sly

Myscha Theriault — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:53:26 -0400

By Myscha Theriault

Needing to look the part, even if you'd rather not be bothered? Having to save some scones while still playing the game? I hear you. And sitting on the sidelines isn't always an option. Particularly when your network is directly related to your net worth. Here are a few suggestions to help you survive on the corporate playing field and still bank some bucks.

Dishing out a certain number of dinars is definitely necessary when it comes to this type of thing. A few tips were definitely covered in my previous article, How to Be a High End Cheapskate. Decanters were one example of the types of tips I'll be covering in this piece. So, without further adieu, here we go!

Sex up your travel mug.

Seriously. Sex it up. By losing the plastic freebies with the snap on lids and going for example with a sleek brushed steel insulated model, you'll turn BYO coffee from frumpy to fashionable. Bonus? Your coffee will stay hotter much longer. Not only will you be saving money, you'll look fabulous doing it. They hubster and I have matching frosted metallic cranberry red travel cups with stainless steel trim and black tops. When we are on walkabout with our personally pressed brew, I really feel like we're styling it. If the standard eight-ten dollars is more than you want to spend for a great looking travel mug, check out the closest available discount store. Recently at a northern Maine Mardens location (a chain similar to Big Lots), I saw some super sexy brushed steel and black coffee mugs to take on the road. I had already dug out ours from the flood salvage stash, so I didn't indulge. However, they looked great and were only two bucks a piece. A price that's easily earned back on your first day of use.

Lose the watch.

Anyone who has had to spend time on the heavy hitters' business circuit knows that a great watch is just as important as a phenomenal pair of shoes. And it had better be one phenomenal watch. While in this country Rolex is sort of known as the gold standard, there are other parts of the world where walking in with a Rolex is equivalent to having purchased your business accessories at Walmart. What's a billionaire in the making to do? Lose it altogether. Seriously. If you must glam it up, do so with a killer cell phone or Blackberry. If you are trying to close a deal where you need to be taken seriously, nothing will dry up the flow of big money faster than a cheap watch. And by cheap I'm talking about any number of brands that are considered the brands to have here in the states. I was at a business meeting (read: late night party where all the real deals are made – similar to the golf course scene) once where someone actually was brazen enough to overtly look up and down my arm and then outright ask, “No watch?” If you think investors and business contacts aren't checking out your accessories and the statement they make, think again. Interestingly enough, this same person was one I really needed a chance to pitch some ideas to, and since a well connected and loyal friend of mine really wanted me to succeed on this project knew this gentlemen, he threw the party and invited both of us. When I responded to the unveiled (and arguably rude) attempt to categorize my financial class by stating that since I had reached the point of financial stability where I could be setting my own schedule and working solely on projects of my own choosing, I no longer considered myself obligated to put something on my wrist to be able to check the time every few seconds. I further stated that if I really needed to check the time, I had my cell phone, and I had not reached the point of financial independence by frivolously purchasing unnecessary trinkets. Guess who got her meeting? True story.

Get stylish with your DIY bottled water.

Personally I like the ones that are at least a full thirty-two ounces. I know that if I consume two of them per day, I've done my part on the hydration front. If you are comfortable with the newer Nalgene ones, they come in a ton of fun colors. If you are still not big on even the improved plastics, Elizabeth at Go Green Travel Green turned me on to the stainless steel Kleen Kanteens which look fantastic. She also provided an excellent breakdown on the different types of water bottles and how to choose a healthy one. On the flavor front, if you find you prefer a little more taste, and want some help fighting the temptation to indulge in purchased varieties, check out Xin's post with several DIY suggestions.

Skip the perfume.

The good stuff is insanely expensive. Consider skipping it all together and just going natural. If you really feel a scent is necessary, try making your own. If custom blending the perfect personal scent is a little more than you want to attempt, a DIY shower spray is more than doable. You'll still smell great and spend less.

Reheel and repair.

While you can easily skip the watch, there's no way around the shoes. Find a high quality pair, even if they are gently used, and take them to a shoe shop where they are good at jazzing up an older pair of quality leather shoes. If that grosses you out, save up until you can get a good set at an outlet store or on clearance. Pick a style that's versatile and don't wear them out unnecessarily. Save them for those meetings where you know you need to make a statement. Keep them repaired and shined, and you've got an investment purchase you can get years of service from.

Travel.

If possible for long periods of time in highly coveted destinations. Think you can't afford it? Consider a long term house sit in London or Paris, or a long term trip in an exotic location like Africa or Southeast Asia via the hostel or English language teaching circuit. I've covered affordability strategies a time or two, so I won't get back into the specifics here. Suffice it to say, you can do it. And guess what? Nothing gets you in the door faster than a shared knowledge of a location, region or world known heritage site. And if you're there long term, you'll have plenty of opportunity to take advantage of the free admission days. Take lots of pictures and have them playing in a digital desk frame during your next investor meeting. Travel experiences provide a common ground for discussion. And if Mr. Big Shot can only manage to make it to London once or twice a season for a weekend at a time, and you spend every winter there and can recommend some great little cafe next to a fabulous museum, who do you think he's going to call the next time he's in town?

Celebrate the power of basic black.

Whether it's the right dress or suit, or a fresh coat of touch up paint on that pile of thrift store frames, black is classic, oh-so-Euro, and one of the most inexpensive paint treatments out there. Got a couple of freebie floor lamps that have seen way better days? Spray them with a coat of primer and either matte or textured black spray paint. Shop for some stylish discount shades and you've got a remake on the cheap.

Com is king.

This is literally our family motto, and has served both of us well professionally. You need to be able to have communication with contacts regardless of any temporary set of circumstances. You can solve your own problems more quickly and nobody will really know how much you've been thrown for a loop if you still have communications established. Being out of the loop for too long is a huge professional risk. So is changing your phone number and email too often. Even if you are transitioning to the role of stay at home parent, you can still keep up with business contacts and start an online gig or two to keep in the game.

Coffee versus drinks.

If dishing out a bar bill of several hundred dollars to court a client isn't in your budget, consider treating them to coffee at a well known stylish establishment. I have a friend in PR who has had numerous meetings in Los Angeles within the entertainment industry. One of her most common meeting spots? Starbucks. Apparently she's not the only one as The Frugal Duchess recently made the same point about record deals at a press event in New York. Just because these shops aren't the most frugal for your daily budget doesn't mean they can't be a frugal choice when trying to climb the corporate ladder.

Streamlined is sexy.

Consider some of the photo shoots from the popular design magazine Dwell. Uncluttered, low on hype, and all about the space. Bonus? Not too many extra trinkets to purchase since you won't be filling up your house with “stuff”. Keeping it simple also allows for the most efficient use of your time, and leaves loads of opportunities for extra projects, meetings, or getting it done on the golf course, so to speak.

Of course none of these ideas amount to a hill of beans without a great deal of hard work and determination. Not to mention talent. And I realize it's basically the pits that “the game” is even something you have to play. But if you are in the situation either by choice or circumstance, these tips should help ease the financial burden. Got another great money saving tip for those stuck in a high end lifestyle as part of their career choice? As always, I'd love it if you'd chime in. Come on, share the love!

Permalink | 20 comments | Myscha Theriault's blog | Channel: Career and Income

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Watching ads could be your ticket to a fortune.

Paul Michael — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:16:48 -0400

By Paul Michael

Unless it’s Superbowl Sunday, most people don’t sit around watching ads (well, I do, it’s part of my job). But what if watching ads was turned into a lottery ticket? That’s the premise of AdJack, a new site that asks you to watch ads and then rewards you with a shot at $340,000 (and growing).

The idea is annoyingly simple, I wish I’d thought of it. Marketers and corporations know that it’s tough, especially in these days of DVRs, to get their ads in front of an audience. So, AdJack gets around that by tapping into the most basic of human needs…cold, hard cash.

Rather than paying you a menial sum, say 2 cents, to watch an ad, the AdJack folks are taking the money from advertisers and turning it into cash prizes. Just watch a minimum of five ads; each ad gives you a number for your lottery ticket. And you can come back again the next day and watch another five ads and earn another ticket.

The ads aren’t run-of-the-mill either. So far I’ve seen 50 or so ads and most have been entertaining. It’s not like you’re sat watching ads for OxyClean or credit card debt solutions, these ads are much more fun. Most are 30 seconds long, so in less than three minutes you’ve earned your ticket. Not a bad way to get a free shot at a big cash prize . And there are also runner up prizes of $25,000 and $1000. The big prize, the MadJack, grows if no-one wins it, just like the Powerball.

Here’s the write-up from AdJack:

The catch? No catch. AdJack.tv is the consumers’ forum for commenting on and interacting with brands via terrific video commercials.

The site debuted on January 11, 2008. Its two main purposes are:

• to feature great commercials for consumers’ enjoyment in a clutter-free, opt-in environment, and

• to offer marketers aggregate information about buyers’ preferences and demographics without spying or invading individual privacy.

Many people love to watch clever, well-produced commercials. They talk about the best commercials they see on the Internet and TV, they even wax nostalgic when they think of the best commercials from childhood. We love commercials, too, so we created AdJack to showcase some of our favorites. Then it occurred to us that there might be a way to make the public happy, inform advertisers as to what consumers like, and everyone make a little money in the process.

When consumers click on five ads to enjoy, share, or rate, registered members may choose to enter the sweepstakes—daily. To increase AdJack community fun, each Friday registered eligible members may win cash prizes in the sweepstakes.

Creative members can win cash prizes for animations and flash programs selected to announce each week’s winning numbers. Visitors may watch as many commercials as they like. Registration is optional and free.

As a further incentive to come back to the site, contestants in the sweepstakes get to pick the numbers for the draw. And as you already know what your own numbers are, that’s helpful. Of course, I’d need a mathematician to help me figure out of that’s a good or a bad thing…I reckon it’s probably not much different than a random drawing.

Either way, I’m in. Three minutes of my time to watch new commercials is fine by me, it’s all part of my daily routine anyway. And if I win a six figure jackpot in the process, well, that’ll make one very happy Wisebread blogger. Best of luck to you all.

Note: At the time this article was published, the main prize was $340,000. This could of course grow significantly or return to the $100,000 default prize.

Permalink | 3 comments | Paul Michael's blog | Channel: Personal Finance, Life Hacks, Consumer Affairs

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We Are Our Own Worst Enemy

Xin Lu — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:52:09 -0400

By Xin Lu

Today my friend sent me an article titled "We Have Met the Enemy" by Knight Kiplinger , the Editor in Chief of Kiplinger publications. It is a blunt article pointing out that America's current economic woes are caused by none other than the American people and its elected government.

Many of the American problems with fiscal irresponsibility Kiplinger pointed out are what we have been writing about at Wise Bread for years. For example, he states that Americans "mistake wants for needs", and that is a topic Sarah Winfrey addresed in her article on how to tell the difference between wants and needs . Kiplinger also talked about how Americans would demand that the government do something whenever things go wrong, but the government "would probably make matters worse". A prime example of this is the now passed housing bailout bill .

Beyond personal overconsumption, Kiplinger wrote about the excessive borrowing of the government. America is already a country that is operating on debt that has to be paid by many future generations. Ironically, the citizens still want lower taxes and also more services, and the government simply grows larger with each passing moment. Kiplinger pointed out that elected politicians who want to control spending are "as rare as the ivory-billed woodpecker". I think that means that the national debt will continue to grow as long as Americans continue to demand something out of nothing and politicians continue to fulfill promises with our descendants' money.

Finally, I agree wholeheartedly with Kiplinger's assertion that when something goes wrong, people naturally lay blame on others and do not evaluate their own actions. For America to remain globally competitive in the future Americans must step up to the plate and stop the downward spiral of debt starting from their own households to the highest echelons of government. Each individual does not have to change very much to make a big difference as a whole and secure the financial health of a nation.

What do you think? Are you your own worst enemy in managing your finances?

Permalink | 22 comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Personal Finance, Consumer Affairs

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Best of Wise Bread: Yard Food

Lynn Truong — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:13:48 -0400

By Lynn Truong

Free Food in Your Yard - Edible Weeds

Edible Flowers Make Cheap Food Beautiful Again

Potato Ideas that Pop

Secret lawn tonic recipe from golf course groundskeeper

Urban Composting: It CAN Be Done!

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Deciding when to follow instructions

Philip Brewer — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:07:25 -0400

By Philip Brewer

Anytime someone announces that they're looking to hire, there'll be instructions on how to apply--even if nothing more than a sign that says, "Inquire within." Often, they'll want quite a bit more--resume, cover letter, samples, references, etc. There's a delicate dance involved in deciding just how completely to follow those instructions. Here are a few of the important steps.

To begin with, it's important to remember that, whatever the instructions are, they exist for at least two reasons, only one of which is to gather the information the people doing the hiring think they need for deciding if you can do the work. There's another reason, that's at least as important.

It's a test

Whether you're able and willing to follow instructions is an important thing for anyone to know before deciding to hire you.

Just over a year ago, I decided to apply to write for Wise Bread. (There's a page here on the site with instructions on how to apply. I don't know if they're hiring right now, so I won't link to it, but the page is still up and it isn't hard to find.) I followed the instructions scrupulously, because I thought writing for Wise Bread would be cool, and I didn't want to sabotage my own application. As it happens, the admins at Wise Bread hired me.

A year or two earlier, though, I'd applied for an assignment writing an article for a science fiction encyclopedia. There was the usual list of things that they wanted, several of which I blew off for various reasons. Not surprisingly, I didn't get the assignment.

Why not follow instructions?

There are plenty of bad reasons to ignore the instructions. I can only think of one good one: You only want the job if they're so desperate to hire you that they'll overlook your unwillingness to follow instructions.

In essence, ignoring their instructions turns the test around: Now, you're testing them.

You might think that knowing that they were desperate would give you an edge--in salary negotiations, for example--but I think you'd have a much bigger edge if you went at it the other way around: Follow instructions scrupulously, make the absolute best case that you're the person they want to hire, wait until they actually offer you the job, and then play hardball--on salary, or whatever terms and conditions matter to you. Once they've decided you're the number-one candidate you're in a much better position than if you've already got strikes against you for ignoring their instructions.

Bad reasons for ignoring instructions

So, why didn't I follow my own advice, when I applied for that write job a couple years ago?

First, because I didn't have what they were looking for. In particular, I didn't have a resume for myself as a writer.

Second, because what I did have wouldn't have made me look good. I could have sent my resume for myself as a software engineer, but almost everything on it was irrelevant for the position.

Mainly, though, it was because I only wanted the job if I was their only good choice. I already had a full-time job, so I wasn't in a position to offer to write numerous articles--one or two would have been all I could handle. The one article I offered to write would have been fun to do, and it would have paid well, but it would have been a lot of work to do a good job. Basically, if they wanted me, even though I didn't provide exactly what they asked for, then I'd have been pleased to write that one article. Otherwise, they were better off getting someone else to do it.

Solutions

Here are a few bad reasons for ignoring instructions, with suggested alternate steps to take:

You don't have what they want (no resume, no references, no samples, etc.)

The solution in this case is to come up with something. If you don't have a resume, write one--a crappy resume may get you dinged, but no faster than not sending one if they asked for it. If you don't have references, find some--coworkers or classmates aren't as good as someone who's supervised you, but they're better than nothing. If you need samples, make some--again, crappy samples won't get you dinged any faster than no samples will (although, if you can't come up with good samples, maybe this isn't the job for you anyway).

You'd look like a terrible candidate (even though you're actually perfect for the job)

The solution in this case is a killer cover letter. Tempting as it may be to omit something that will make you look overqualified or underqualified or just wrong for the job, you're better off following instructions. For one thing, if you don't include all the stuff that's asked for, there's a pretty good chance that no one will even read your cover letter--some secretary or HR guy may well be going through the package with a checklist and automatically dinging anything that arrives incomplete. A cover letter that explains why you're the right choice (despite what they might think after seeing what they asked for) just might work.

You don't want the job that bad

The solution in this case is simply not to apply. It's easier for everyone: You don't have to go to the trouble of putting even a partial application together, and they don't have to spend the time to figure out that you didn't give them what they wanted.

You don't want to work for the sort of people who care about nitpicky details like that

This getting close to being a good reason. After all, you don't want to work for the sort of jerk who'll ding your application because you deviated from the instructions in some inconsequential way.

A specific case of this is when they're asking for something that you hesitate to provide to just anybody. For example, there was a period in the 1980s when a lot of fiction publishers wanted writers to submit their social security number on their manuscript. (They were going to need it to pay you if they accepted the piece, so it saved a step if the number was right there.) Other examples might be fingerprints, permission to do a credit check (or security check), documents like social security cards or passports, etc. Personally, I tend to hold back information like this from an initial application, figuring I can provide it later if they seem to be considering me seriously. If it knocks me out of even being considered for the job, I figure I still come out ahead by keeping my personal information a little more closely controlled.

You need to be careful, though, not to lie to yourself--because (especially when following the instructions exactly would be difficult) it can be tempting to imagine that whatever deviation you want to make is somehow a test of their flexibility.

The fact is, that there are better ways to check on their flexibility. Probably best is just to ask about whatever it is that you're worried about: Ask the hiring manager and ask the people who would be your peers. If you can find any, ask some former employees if the place supported flexibility in that particular area.

Just as with salary, the winning move is to put together a perfect application and let them make you an offer--then negotiate for the flexibility you want. You're in a much better position to win that negotiation after they've decided that they want you than you are when all they know about you is that you can't be bothered to do what they asked.

In fact, that's most often the case. If you're at all serious about wanting the job, it just makes sense to follow the instructions. Then, if they show that they're serious about hiring you, you're in a position to negotiate for what you want.

Permalink | 6 comments | Philip Brewer's blog | Channel: Career and Income

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