Recent comments

  • Fitness For People Who Hate Exercise   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I'm glad to see Yoga on yoru list. It's a lot better work out than most people realize!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I subscribe to Groupon's daily emails, though while I've been tempted by many, I haven't actually bought anything...yet.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I love Groupon! I'm selective about which offers I purchase. I've saved 50% or more on local restaurants, and I recently got a fantastic deal at a local spa that I've been wanting to try.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I love Groupon. It's my favorite. Good deals and they remind me periodically of purchases I have not yet used. Great feature!

  • The Fallacy of Multitasking   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Yes. Seriously. I wouldn't presume to answer for the author, but I can respond to your examples.

    Waiting on hold and watching TV are passive. You are not actually doing anything. You are present, but not active.

    I suspect that cleaning the kitchen actually happens in the gaps of time it takes for the food to be cooked by the stove. It is when cleaning takes precedence that dinner gets burned. That's when cleaning happens outside of the gaps between cooking activities. I've been there.

    I think the point is quite sound. I am proud of my ability to follow two conversations simultaneously. However, if I'm honest, I will admit that I am just switching back and forth rapidly. I miss parts of each conversation and have to fill in the rest.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I do purchase Groupons and Living Social deals from time to time. My rule of thumb is I only get something if it's something I really want, not just because it's a good deal. I also try to stay away from restaurant Groupons that are several miles from my home. I've found I'm much more likely to use Groupons in my neighborhood. Overall, it's been a great way to try new restaurants as well as get discounts and places I already frequent.

  • How to Win Big in Online Sweepstakes   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Great to hear the tips are working! Thanks for the feedback. Sadly, I did not win the HGTV Dream Home 2011 - but I'm still going to try for other prizes!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Groupon (and Living Social) is awesome! Every now and then I have to remind myself "Even though this is a great deal, you don't even LIKE tae kwon doe," but it is fantastic as long as I use it to save on stuff I would be spending money on anyway - like getting my hair colored or favorite restaurants. And it makes massages affordable, which is the greatest.

    Sweta - I didn't know you could use ebates with groupon! Awesome!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    no, I do not use Groupons

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Yes, I have purchased 3 Groupons since September. One was for a 2-for-1 deal to go to the AZ Science Center, the other was for hiking yoga, and the third was purchased today for a 2-for-1 deal to go to the Body Worlds exhibit. I've been dying to go to that, but $50 for two tickets was ridiculous. I ended up getting 2 tickets for $22.56 thanks to the deal, plus a Groupon buck in my account, plust 6% cash back from E-Bates. Woot! A lot of the deals aren't anything I'd be interested in, but once in awhile, a really good one comes along.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I use Groupon and Living Social occasionally, and only when I see something I really need. Not a big fan of spending money just for the sheer fact that things cost less than usual, so I don't spend TOO much time on those kinds of sites, but they do serve a pretty decent function when the time calls for it.

  • 4 Steps to Absorb the Cost of an at-Home Lifestyle   15 years 9 weeks ago

    A cell phone with a data plan and Skype is a lot more flexible than a Magicjack.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I use Groupon, TeamBuy, Snaggies, LivingSocial, WebPiggy, DealFind and a few others consistently. I'm a foodie and love finding great deals on new places to try. It's addictive!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I do, and other sites like LivingSocial as well. I'd say I've spent around 100 dollars total among all my deals (I got the recent LivingSocial Amazon deal for free for referring people to it)... almost always, they're on offers and places I was already in need of or considering going to, so it's really just extra savings. I've been tempted to splurge many times, but it's all about self-control!

  • 4 Steps to Absorb the Cost of an at-Home Lifestyle   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Just keep in mind that MagicJack requires a powered computer to work. We dumped our land-line in favor of cell phones.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I keep an eye on groupon, as well as a bunch of other local daily deal sites. They are a great idea, but it does kind of get old when the same zip line company gets offered every other weekend. Hopefully more businesses will get into the fray.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    We have used Groupon for two or three deals. We also signed up for Living Social when they did the half off Amazon gift card deal a couple of weeks back. So far, so good, though I don't think these companies are worth tens of billions of dollars as many market analysts seem to be suggesting!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I use it occasionally, and some of the other similar site occasionally, but I try to limit it to only things I would normally buy anyhow, but they can be a huge temptation to overspend since everything seems like a great deal.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I subscribe to their RSS feeds for the cities around me. I think they are a great way to try out new places that I have been interested in. I may not normally purchase them a lot of the times, but I keep a check on what I do purchase from Groupon and make sure that they are something that could be worthwhile.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Yea- I've used Groupon a few times! Especially for things that I know I will use at some point in the future- like salon services and restaurants!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use Groupon?   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Though comes rare, I love Groupon and Living Social for credits to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks - for stuff I can actually use. Combine with my credit card's rewards program for bonus points to really maximize savings. Recently, I managed to get $20 worth of books and toys for a just $3, net of all promotions.

  • Best Money Tips: Winning Habits of Successful People   15 years 9 weeks ago

    As always, an excellent compilation of practical advice.

    Thank you. ;-)

  • The Best Frugal Office Party Foods   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Debbie, have you ever tried mixing chocolate chips with sour cream instead of milk? It makes an amazingly creamy frosting!

  • How to File Your First Tax Return   15 years 9 weeks ago

    I filed my taxes this weekend for the first time, after my mom got tired of it. Super simple (I was 1040-EZ)--I used the H&R Block Free File program to file both state and federal, and will definitely use them again next year.

  • How to Win Big in Online Sweepstakes   15 years 9 weeks ago

    Just came to say I started doing these last week after seeing the article, and I've already won twice! Neither were very big (probably worth $100 total), but both were things I needed but were holding off buying! Sweeeeeet! Thanks for the article!