Recent comments

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Mostly Amazon, some iTunes. Used CD off Amazon for cd's that aren't available as MP3s.

  • Eat Like a King: Menus and Recipes for Royalty   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Goat Cheese Stuffed Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto

    Mmm. This one sounds heavenly.

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I usually use itunes, although lately i don't buy music. I usually listen to music via youtube, pandora, etc.

  • How to Watch Movies in the Theater for Free   14 years 38 weeks ago

    at the theatre near me, the bathroom is in the lobby, and not really near the theaters, so I just walk into the bathroom, hang out for a couple of minutes, and then walk into a movie thats already started, like i was there from the beginning and just left for a piss. from there i skip around to different movies, sometimes catching 7 or 8 in a day

  • When Should You Fire Your Real Estate Agent?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    What about a realtor who is rather "green" or new to the job? I feel as if ours is a little inexperienced and doesn't yet have the traffic to move our home. Also, I ask for feedback regarding those who view our house, but never get consistent feedback.

  • 47 Cheap, Fun Things to Do This Weekend   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I actually like the beach and ice cream idea. Put that together with a chair to sit on the beach and that sounds like a good weekend.

  • How to Avoid (and Treat) Cold Sores   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Good article - thanks! My husband won't even kiss me when he even thinks he might be getting a cold sore! Because of his cautiousness, the kids and I have thankfully been spared. We keep Abreeva on hand at all times, and a while back I found some medicated over-night "patches" that you stick on with water so that you don't rub the medicine off while you are sleeping. Because he is diligent about catching them early, he rarely gets full-blown sores anymore. I didn't know about the prescription options. Next time he has to go to the doctor for something, I will remind him to ask about getting something to keep on hand.

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I buy 6/10 of my CDs used from a local record store (Like Record Surplus). 2/10 CDs are purchased new from Amazon. Another 2/10 are purchased through Amazon's marketplace. 10 CDs purchased is about average for a month.

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I went to a record store for the first time in ages the other day. There were some things there I was mildly interesting in having, but not in plastic form. I guess I have finally moved to the entirely digital realm for new things--usually Amazon rather than iTunes.

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I buy used CDs at a local used book/music store and have found some amazing music by doing this, while also saving money over buying new and supporting local small business.

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Just "liked" your Facebook page!

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    CDs can be cheap, going for as little as 0.01 on Amazon, but I have to say that a lot of the time, Bandcamp is the best place to get music. Over 50% of the artists I've purchased music from give you a "pay what you like" option so you can either grab an album or EP for nothing or give upwards of $1 if you're feeling generous. A great idea that I'd like to see more bands use.

    Of course, small festivals and day-festivals will often give you the opportunity to grab some free promo CDs from small or unsigned bands.

    Spotify is something I use almost every day, a great free resource to listen to bands and artists. It has features to sync with your iPod and reads your hard-drive so that your Library is all of your Spotify music plus all of the music you keep on your PC. For a small fee (4.99 a month) you can upgrade and have an advertisement free experience with some other bands or albums that don't appear on Spotify Free.

    These days it is very easy to have free, legal albums. There are also sites like freemetalalbums.com that lets you download free, legal albums and EPs from lesser known but worth-a-listen bands.

    So I have many places to go for music, but I still love getting a physical CD in my hands. You can make some awesome CD racks for very little money and LPs make a great "art piece" for your walls.

  • 8 Tips for Planning a Last-Minute Wedding   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Don't forget that if the bride (or her best friend or aunt or cousin) can sew, make the dress! That way it's a custom fit, and depending on fabric and trim chosen it will be unique. The embellishments can be simple (lace trim) or if there's more time, they can be added to (sewing seed pearls and sequins onto the lace trim) and you can often purchase lovely fabrics at higher-end fabric stores right off the shelf, so there's no wait for arrival and then time needed for tailoring. I've done a formal gown in less than two weeks while working full time, so unless the bride can buy off the rack with no alterations, that may be the quickest option of all.

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I buy music online at Amazon.com {both actual cds & downloads} and I buy it thru music retailers.

  • Best Money Tips: Ways to Earn Money Quickly   14 years 38 weeks ago

    As always, thanks for all the inspiring and educational articles, Ashley.

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I can't afford to buy music, so I settle for the free songs, for example, from iTunes (3-4 songs/week) or from some Starbucks (on cards near cash register). Sometimes Amazon has promotions when you buy textbooks, which are good for a few songs also. I also use Youtube, Grooveshark, Spotify, and the radio an awful lot!

  • 8 Truths From a Mystery Shopper You Must Read Before You Get Started   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I've been mystery shopping for over a year, and I've found that the best shops are the ones that I roll right into my normal life, as Linsey mentioned in her April 2011 comment. I shop the stores and restaurants that I normally shop, or ones that are within a twenty-mile radius of my home. Spending an extra twenty minutes at the grocery store, and another half hour to report the shop, is worth twelve dollars, in my opinion.
    Another strategy that I use is to look for shops whenever we're traveling. Last summer we traveled around 300 miles each way several weekends. Since we mystery shopped while we were there, the mileage was a tax write-off, plus we saved money on meals we would have had to buy anyway.

  • What if the Mortgage Interest Deduction Went Away?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I don't buy the argument that the mortgage interest deduction only benefits the rich. The rich will buy higher priced homes, so will have higher deductions.

    My husband and I are pretty solidly middle class. Our home is nowhere near the national average, but we live in a low cost of living state. The mortgage interest deduction, combined with the deduction for real estate taxes always is greater than the standard deduction for two people.

    It's a big incentive to owning a home. It, along with building equity, was a deciding factor in my purchasing a home at the age of 24 rather than renting.

  • 10 Steps to Update Your Look on a Budget   14 years 38 weeks ago

    The September issues hit shelves soon! I like In Style the best.

  • Free or Cheap Wall Art   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I used to purchase postcards and calendars with no wording/lettering on them and frame them as cheap decorations.

  • What if the Mortgage Interest Deduction Went Away?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I'd be a hypocrite if I said it can't go away because I'm all for major tax overhaul. It would definitely drive me into bankruptcy - my mortgage interest and property taxes alone constitute about 25% of my gross pay, throw in the 10-15% that comes out pre-tax and it rises to more like 34%. If that went away overnight I simply would not be able to afford my housing payments.

    I would be amenable to phasing it out over time (10-20 years).

  • McMansion to McCottage: Why Smaller Houses Are Smarter   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I love my 1300 sf ranch. With 2 adults, 2 kids and a big dog, we can't help but spend time together and you're right on with "clutter control" and deciding what to own & why. It's a little small for all the "kid stuff" right now, and I've spent a lot of time purging what we don't need. Too bad husby doesn't share my view about what's needed - the result has been an overabundance of his stuff! LOL

  • Ask The Readers: How Do You Buy Music?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I'm old fashioned - I still buy CDs, though not many. Mostly I listen to the radio and CDs I've had for a long time.

  • 10 Steps to Update Your Look on a Budget   14 years 38 weeks ago

    The suggestions about how to organize and get rid of clothing are especially timely for me -- I'm moving in a week and a half, and I'm definitely going to try to cull my wardrobe at the same time.

  • How to Keep Bread Fresh   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I love the idea of bringing bread "back from the dead." Careful of that zombie toast! That sounds like a great trick though, and I definitely need to try it. As someone who lives alone, my bread almost always goes stale before I finish the whole loaf.