Recent comments

  • Bar Stool Economics   17 years 50 weeks ago

    the guy paying $59.00 for his one beer likely charges the poor guy $1,000 per hour for his services (lawyer? doctor?)
    the question is, in hours of work, I suspect the rich guy gets his beer a whole lot cheaper than the poor guy

  • Healthy, frugal eating   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Good article. I just finished "In Defense of Eating", an excellent book along the same lines. It is certainly possible to eat decently and frugally, though as you point out, the skills are not being taught. Part of it is simply the perception of what we 'need', like the lad with an apartment, a truck and still eating out. How poor is he really? It's all comparative, what everyone else in his circle is doing. I bet he felt pretty put-upon, rather than blessed for his abundance. All perception...

  • The Gasoline Pump "Y2K" Problem   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Funny how what we think of as common sense has changed so drastically. If only it was 1995!

  • Should You be Ashamed to be on Public Assistance?   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Since most people on here are talking about welfare and food stamps what about the Wic program? My Husband and I use this program but don't qualify for the others. It's nice for us because of the rising prices of milk and eggs. I like to see it as a "Hand up" not a hand out like some. Oh and here is some more food for thought... My husband is active duty. Now I'd like to hear someone tell me the Army gets paid too much. *Sigh* Anyway, we try our hardest to save as much as we can. Our tax rebate will go right into our savings so we can try to get ahead.

  • How the subprime lending boom hurt everybody   17 years 50 weeks ago

    I saved 7 years for the house I bought in Plymouth, MI, and put down $40,000 (10%) at signing. I also went for a 30 year mortgage even though I was presented with 5 options that included subprime lending practices. I had to actually request a 30 year mortgage.

    According to the prices houses are being sold for in my neighborhood, I can expect my house to sell for $100,000 less than I bought it for. What about the people who acted responsibly? What is the government going to do for us? If homeowners who were irresponsible are bailed out, what are they going to do for me? I will need to move to another state in a year and I will most likely end up in an apartment owing money on this house. I am so angry right now. I feel as though I am going to lose everything.

  • Your stimulus check is on its way!   17 years 50 weeks ago

    I am a single working mom who just graduated nursing school and I am struggling too. I also agree that the president has royally screwed up but guess what!!!!! That's life and you sound really bitter!

  • Are You a Yawn?   17 years 50 weeks ago

    I am too old to be a Yuan, otherwise, I would like to be one!!!

  • Score Free Comics For One Day Only!   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Thats very cool, there are every few things better then free comics. I am a big fan of HellBoy btw.

  • Special offer: 250GB online storage account for free - UPDATE   17 years 50 weeks ago

    No worries about that.
    Let me know - thanks!
    --Brian--

  • I Bond rates go to zero   17 years 50 weeks ago

    I was just debating whether to continue with I bonds, and you have just helped me make the decision.

    Fortunately for Bush, Chinese investors will pick up any slack the loss of my modest contribution made.

  • How Haggling Taught Me About Life   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Another article with some good haggling tips can be found at:

    http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-haggle/

    The tips are mainly for traveling in foreign countries, but they are applicable in other haggling situations.

  • Have you ever seen such amazing junk?   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Though less impressive to the eye than the art above and probably less environmentally conscious, I read this article recently and plan to check it out as soon as I make my way up to Austin one weekend (reside in San Antonio, TX): http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/TXAUSjunk.html

  • The many uses for empty plastic bottles   17 years 50 weeks ago

    It's neat how the guy can heat (not boil) the plastic bottle of tea in a wood fire without it melting and all, but I would suggest that you don't do it. . . Ever.

    I'm not a doctor or anything, but I imagine that heating your drink in plastic with an open flame probably puts toxins into the liquid.

    Also, if you are camping and you need to boil water in order to sanitize it, you're not going to be able to do it efficiently in a sealed container.

    Unless you find a way to believe that this method of heating your drink doesn't cause any chemicals from the cooking plastic to be released into your beverage, there is no reason to do it.

  • How to turn an $1800 stimulus check into $1980.   17 years 50 weeks ago

    ...as a Brit living in America, I can't imagine why the UK readers would need to know anything other than the status of the rebate. It's like me telling you that in the UK right now, there's a great clearance sale on at ASDA or Tesco. It's not realy much use.

  • Bush's economic stimulus package; What will you get back?   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Can anyone direct me to where I can have my rebate check mailed if my old address (a PO Box) was canceled? My new address is not able to be updated with the post office, because I let the P.O Box lapse. Now all my mail is being returned, including my soon-to-come rebate check.

    The last think I need is to have my check returned to the gov't, because they'll likely never give it up again.

    Is there some sort of website where I can register my new address for any government document?

    Thanks for the feedback

    Scott

  • Healthy, frugal eating   17 years 50 weeks ago

    I recommend a cookbook called "More with Less Cookbook" It is an excellent menonite cookbook that shows you how to cook using less of the worlds resources, and make healthy affordable meals.. Pretty cool..

    B

  • Bush's economic stimulus package; What will you get back?   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Yeah,

    God forbid the government give money to help it's poor and downtrodden.. much better to give corporate welfare to people like Walmart, and bail out savings and loans and Bear Stearns, or give Farm subsidies to land owners who don't grow anything..

    I am sorry, but if we are going to be taxed as heavily as we are.. Let it help the commons!!!!!

    Why are we getting an economic stimulus package to begin with?.. Oh yeah!! The Bush administration has ruined our economy, and are selling the farm to Red China!!

    XOXO

    A Proud Independent

    Barry

    b

  • Have you ever seen such amazing junk?   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Really appreciate that. We all do this in our spare time, so good feedback is always welcome. If you ever need to get in touch, just use the contact  section and label it for Paul Michael. I will be happy to reply with a personal email, I just wouldn't want to give it out here for obvious reasons.

  • I Bond rates go to zero   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Yeah, none of these changes have been much good for the ordinary frugal person who's a saver rather than a borrower.  And, frankly, it doesn't even help borrowers much.  (Except for the Treasury and the banks--they're the ones who get to borrow at the new low rates.)

  • Special offer: 250GB online storage account for free - UPDATE   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Their promotion was way more popular than they expected, so they cut it off early. As I mentioned, even the 5G would help me out (my whole documents directory is only 15G), but I am disappointed that by sleeping on it overnight I wasn't able to take them up on it. They'd have done better to say "up to X number of accounts," but I don't think they anticipated word of mouth very well.

  • Have you ever seen such amazing junk?   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Hi Paul, some really cool stuff here - the footy boots are seriously cute!

    I wanted to shoot you an email to tell you how much I enjoy your writing, but couldn't find any contact details?

  • Have you ever seen such amazing junk?   17 years 50 weeks ago

    put your own unique spin on it Beth. There's nothing wrong with taking an idea and making it your own. Plus, you're helping the environment and creating a functional piece of art.

  • Score Free Comics For One Day Only!   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Thanks for the tip!

  • I Bond rates go to zero   17 years 50 weeks ago

    Note that the EE bonds are also down to 1.4%, after being at 3.0%. This is really disappointing for those of us who were trying to give them as gifts.

    Also note that the Fed cut interest rates another .25% recently, landing at a benchmark of 2.0%. This is good news for those who want to take out loans, but not so good for those of us who are trying to save up money.

    I haven't been able to buy I bonds online yet, so I may just wait it out. (Long story involving they don't like the looks of me, who knows why, I have to get a signature guarantee, my local CU couldn't do it, the banks in town wouldn't do it for non-account-holders, so I had to open a bank account elsewhere and am now doing the wait-30-days-to-become-an-"established customer" game. Lucky for me, I'm smart and have infrastructure....)

  • Have you ever seen such amazing junk?   17 years 50 weeks ago
    WOW

    This makes me want to create! Does it count as cheating if I copy the bean bag chair idea? I have so many plastic bags under the sink in my kitchen that they are about to start to overflow!