Recent comments

  • 11 Smart Uses for Sheets   15 years 14 weeks ago

    While at University sheets can in very handy for Toga parties! :)

  • Best Money Tips: Save Money Around the House   15 years 14 weeks ago

    You are welcome! :)

  • 11 Smart Uses for Sheets   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I wouldn't use sheets for quilt backing. I have in the past, and they wear out more quickly then the quilt front.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    Having owned both new and used cars, I think I'm going to stick with new cars from now on. I take very good care of my cars and they tend to last quite a while, but if a previous owner wasn't as careful, then it's just good money after bad.

  • 11 Smart Uses for Sheets   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I use an old sheet as a 'drop cloth' in the bathroom when I color my hair. I cover the bathroom floor as much as I can with the sheet. It has saved me from trying to get hair color stains/marks out of the floor many times!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I buy certified cars coming off lease. I try to choose cars which have a reputation for holding value and for reliability.

  • John Cummuta: Transforming Your Debt Into His Wealth   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I completely agree. I tried doing some research because I was wondering how he could get away with stating that you could pay your mortgage off in 3 years. Yes, it can be done BUT like you said, it's going to take a lot of money, even if you make a healthy amount of money. While I haven't tried his program, I was thinking about attempting it.

  • How to Make an Easter Basket for a Grown Man   15 years 14 weeks ago

    Kites are great. LOL I think everyone loves candy.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    This is tricky. I've always heard to buy used which is what we did for my first car. It was in good shape when we bought it but about 6 months in, it started to have one problem after another. And very costly problems too.

    After the last time it broke down and the repair costs were estimated at another $1500, we decided we put too much into it already and decided to sell it as is and got $500 for it. We could not go through that again with the expensive surprise costs of a used car, so we went with a new Kia.

    I'd be very hesitant to buy used again because of what we went through with my first car. I guess most people are luckier than us since many people have already commented that they've had little to no issues with used cars.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    Used, but still on warranty.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I have never bought a new car. They lose their value too quickly.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I have never purchased a new car. They lose their value too quickly.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I always buy new, take good care of it, and drive it until it will drive no more. Only one new car was a bad experience, and that was a Hyundai Accent that came from a terrible dealership and had a TON of problems all along. I love my current car (Toyota Camry) which was purchased new. I put on too many miles to lease, and everyone I know who has bought used has so many issues with their vehicles.

  • John Cummuta: Transforming Your Debt Into His Wealth   15 years 14 weeks ago

    Great article. I do know people who have done something sort of like this, but they only had a mortgage (no other debt) and did many things that seem sort of extreme to me (rented out every bedroom in their house+sleeping in the basement; almost always eating just rice&beans or the equivalent; having virtually no social life, etc.). For some people, it could be worth it, but most of us want to have a life that doesn't feel like prison.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    Used. I can always scrape up the money for a decent used car; new cars cost too much for me to pay cash.

  • 11 Smart Uses for Sheets   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I keep old sheets to cover the back seat of my car when I am toting my dogs to and from our favorite park. It keeps the beige fabric hair-free and slightly less than disgusting. :)

  • 11 Smart Uses for Sheets   15 years 14 weeks ago

    When I was a kid, I made swings by tying old sheets to trees. I'm sure it wasn't the safest thing, but it was a lot of fun.

    Sheets can also be great ground covers in the park or at the beach.

  • 11 Smart Uses for Sheets   15 years 14 weeks ago

    if you needed an even stronger solution you could also use a paint drop cloth for most of these

  • 7 Pitfalls That Can Bloat a Home Office Budget   15 years 14 weeks ago

    The work-life barrier is definitely key if you can manage it. My first home office was in the bedroom I shared with my boyfriend at the time, and we kept different work schedules.

    Does anybody have other pitfalls to warn about or home-office mistakes they made?

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    Both. It depends on the situation.

  • Fresh vs. Frozen: 5 Dinner Comparisons   15 years 14 weeks ago

    Loved the article! Thanks for going to the work to reproduce the frozen product. Confirming what we always thought - fresh is best; but nice to know there are a couple of tasty frozen choices! I have to try the ones you recommend, as well as the one recommended by others who commented, because my experience has always been that frozen glop tastes like frozen glop!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    New. But I try relying on the bus or train rather than drive!

  • Save Money on Appliances at any Time of Year   15 years 14 weeks ago

    My boyfriend has been repairing appliances for over twenty years, and he swears that no one should ever buy a newer appliance. They just don't make them like they used to. The appliances that were made 15-20 years ago are often still chugging along if the owners didn't toss them out for something that looked nice and shiny. The newer appliances often need expensive repairs only a couple of years in. At his house, he has only older appliances.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I'm only 23, so I don't have many years of experience to discuss. The first car I bought was a 7-year-old Hyundai with over 100,000 miles for $5k cash. Well, I saved money and the car had nice amenities, but I did end up paying $1,000 in repairs about a year and a half later (before someone totaled it). The next car I bought was a 4-year-old Toyota with 70,000 miles for $8k cash. I liked this purchase more since the car was old enough to to have evened out its yearly depreciation but also young enough and from a brand of reputable quality that I didn't have to worry about expensive repairs just yet. I've been driving it for two years without issue. So I think I like this "sweet spot" of buying a car that's about 4 years old from a good brand.

    I can't imagine ever buying a new car. The first few years of depreciation seem to be such a waste of money.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy New or Used Cars?   15 years 14 weeks ago

    I have always bought new. I've gotten great deals through employee purchase programs (my dad worked for Ford, now my employeer has deals with some of the automakers). This brings the price a new car very close to the price a lightly used car. And, since I keep my vehicles for 10+ years, not having to worry about how the car was cared for by the previous owner is enough to make up for the small price difference.