Recent comments

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    grow your own veggies and fruits. It can be as simple as tomatoes, which you'll probably have more than you'd actually want (lol)

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Doing more with less is easy…

    Reallocate all of your "junk" to others; you'd be surprised by how giving things you never use away lifts the burdens of owning them off your mind.

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    I get more done by using the Microsoft Outlook junk filters to see less spam.

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    I don't wear make-up, typically. Which gives me more time, more appreciation for myself, and more money. :)

  • Choosing Local Businesses   15 years 37 weeks ago

    I completely agree! If local industry would like my dollar, especially at the premiums they typically are, they need to provide an added benefit.

    For instance, there's this deli that not only has the best Rubens but the vibe of the place can't be met at a Einstein's Bagel or Kroger Deli. So occasionally I pay $10 for a Ruben I could make at home for $5.50 because there is a perceived added value. (They are big sandwiches.)

    However lets not kid ourselves, if mom and pop stores and/or farms paid their workers over minimum wage (if not under the table), gave benefits, and/or contributed to the community they would have more of a leg to stand on.

    Also let's not forget, most of our paychecks are earn from contributions nationally, or even internationally with business. For me to turn my back on my neighbors in Michigan who are paying my electric this month, because I have to buy only Ohio apples... well is silly.

  • Choosing Local Businesses   15 years 37 weeks ago

    I completely agree! If local industry would like my dollar, especially at the premiums they typically are, they need to provide an added benefit.

    For instance, there's this deli that not only has the best Rubens but the vibe of the place can't be met at a Einstein's Bagel or Kroger Deli. So occasionally I pay $10 for a Ruben I could make at home for $5.50 because there is a perceived added value. (They are big sandwiches.)

    However lets not kid ourselves, if mom and pop stores and/or farms paid their workers over minimum wage (if not under the table), gave benefits, and/or contributed to the community they would have more of a leg to stand on.

    Also let's not forget, most of our paychecks are earn from contributions nationally, or even internationally with business. For me to turn my back on my neighbors in Michigan who are paying my electric this month, because I have to buy only Ohio apples... well is silly.

  • How Parents Can Use Cloud Computing to Help With Homework   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Hi Fred,

    Thanks for the great tip. I'll bet most people assumed that if a kid as parental permission then they can use any website. We will probably follow up with another article specifically dealing with how to make Cloud Computing safe for our kids.

  • How Parents Can Use Cloud Computing to Help With Homework   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Hi guest. Thank you for checking out Paul's article. I appreciate your concern about corporate sponsors. We take our credibility very seriously. That's why:

    -- Our sponsored posts are clearly labeled.
    -- We have ultimate editorial control over the message of the posts.
    -- We don't endorse products with positive reviews that we don't believe in.

    As a result of our standards, we turn down a ton of sponsored post opportunities. The ones you do see on Wise Bread are the result of a long vetting process by our editorial staff.

    Thank you for your feedback.

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    I have six kids, so it is essential to do more with less. I watch the sale ads, use coupons, and also buy a lot of generic products.

  • Curing Warts, Removing Splinters, and 19 Other Bizarre Uses for Banana Peels   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Nora-no kidding, this really happened, no streaks worked like a charm. Up here in MN we get caught in storms quite often, so I guess I should have been better prepared. We are resourceful up here though.

  • How Long Can You Stay in Your Home After You Stop Paying the Mortgage?   15 years 37 weeks ago

    I think its freaking ridiculous! I have a court order for my ex to sell our house (court order 2008) and my ex is STILL living there - and has not made one single payment since July 2008, so he has lived there FOR FREE for over TWO years!! WTF ? Me and the kids are living in a rental house - which we pay rent, and I feel it is so unfair that people can live like that, or maybe I am just angry that I could never be a leach like that. I am unemployed, and do not receive child support BUT - I always pay my rent.
    I understand the banks are overwhelmed with all this foreclosure crap but really? you can go almost 3 years without a payment and nothing happens? If I miss my payment by the 3rd day of the month, you can bet your life that I will have a notice taped to my door... Some people -

  • Preparing for Family Emergencies with Cloud Computing   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Thanks, everyone for the comments! In this article, the "cloud" refers to internet storage, as compared to cluttering up your own PC or Mac with info. Not only can using online cloud storage services like Windows Live or Google Docs save you storage space, but it makes it easy for you to access your important family info from anywhere you have an internet connection. I hope this helps to clear up some of your questions!

  • How Parents Can Use Cloud Computing to Help With Homework   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Since when does corporate monopolies sponsor Wise Bread posts? I'm disappointed that this was allowed.

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Lately, I've been doing a low carb diet. I have looked up some great recipes to do less with more, as in less carbs and more taste. I'm enjoying my diet, and that's a rarity.

  • How Parents Can Use Cloud Computing to Help With Homework   15 years 37 weeks ago

    It should be added that when getting younger students into using cloud-based tools, one should always read the Terms of Service. Many sites limit the use of their services to children 13 years of age and above. That's with or without parental permission.

  • Choosing Local Businesses   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Using your farming community example, where does the money that farmers get at harvest come from? That's right, from outside the community. If one strictly followed the "buy local" mantra, farmers wouldn't have that initial inflow because those outside consumers wouldn't be buying from them. In fact, there would be no need for exporters because everyone, everywhere would be buying local.

    I could grow my own food and make my own clothes, but it is more efficient for me to do what I do best and then trade for those things (I get more of them and have more time to do things like read blog posts from people outside of my community). That logic scales not just to a community level but on a global scale. It's more efficient for people in Iowa to grow corn and trade it with Japanese workers who make cars and electronics. Both groups of people are better off than if they "traded local."

  • Christmas Shopping With Fake Money: Time to Get Started   15 years 37 weeks ago

    To those who have shopped with points and other "fake money," I'm now doing a column on this for the Chicago Tribune. I'd love it if you could email me to share more details about your own personal "fake money" shopping stores. ckirby at tribune dotcom.

  • Curing Warts, Removing Splinters, and 19 Other Bizarre Uses for Banana Peels   15 years 37 weeks ago

    @Sue - That's hilarious! I would never have thought to tackle my windshield with a banana peel. Guess you must have been in a real bind! Seriously? Didn't it leave streaks though? (Are you having me on)???? :-)

  • Curing Warts, Removing Splinters, and 19 Other Bizarre Uses for Banana Peels   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Funny you should mention eating the peels; I recently came across a recipe for banana peel pie. Not sure how the whole consistency thing would be like though....

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    I do more with less by cooking dinner and staying home to eat. The family gets to spend time together cooking, eating together and cleaning up. This cost less than going out, but our family gets a lot more out of it.

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    My famoly goes cheap on entertainment. We rent movies from the library 3-4 times a week. We have local cable but it was on when we moved into our house so it is free. With two litle kids we walk to the park as much as we can and play outside while it is still warm.

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    If you shop with the attitude that you can do without most of the things you see, cute, pretty or cleverly designed, you gain a feeling of freedom from these things clinging to your mind and your home. Simplicity and open space give a feeling of harmony and peace, and the ability to say no to yourself detaches you from being controlled by things.

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Doing more with less means creating a tight budget and sticking to it, avoiding impulse buys, and saving for rainy days. Peace of mind generates productivity.

  • Would You Buy Off the Back of a Truck?   15 years 37 weeks ago

    I have been approached by the meat truck before. I decided not to purchase anything because of the uncertainty. I don't like a hard sell at all. However, I might try something else.

  • Windows Phone 7 & XBox Live Gold Membership Giveaway From Wise Bread   15 years 37 weeks ago

    Removing the TV allows me to “do more with less”; the average person spends 4 hours per day watching TV and I would rather spend my leisure time with activities like participating in my community, exercising, reading, or socializing with friends. Recall your favorite TV show; name all the charters and think about how watching the show makes you feel. Your mind believes it interacted with the show and there is a sense of accomplishment, be it false. Why not feel the same type of involvement with family, friends, or a constructive project. I love TV just as much as anyone else but think about the time being wasted; 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year.