I don't like the low flow shower head neither. I'd rather take a shower for less time , but with more power. But, I agree that you have to fix your leaky toilet, because that's a big problem in many household and people just don't pay attention to it.
DirecTV offered me 3 free months of Starz back in November and I accepted. I was NOT told that I would have to cancel it once the 3 months passed. Well, last Thursday was 3 months and on Friday I noticed I was still receiving the channels. Lo and behold my most recent bill (dated 02/11) contained a charge for the service. I called DirecTV immediately but was only given a $9.03 credit (for a $12.99/month service). I questioned the amount, (seeing I only had it for one day over the 3 month time), but was told that's what the credit was.
ALSO, even though the service was free (a $12.99/month value), the taxes were NOT. What DirecTV does is charge you the $12.99/month (which gets taxed - in CT, that's 6% sales tax and a 5.25% gross earnings tax) and then credits you $12.99 on your bill...BUT THE CREDIT DOESN'T remove the taxes on the charged/credited amount! Sure, it's only $1-$2, but still, it's not free.
The key to this approach is making sure you don't get yourself stuck in something you do not want. I know some of these deals offer you six months free as long as you sign up for a minimum of two years. So, while this can be a very useful approach, make sure you are clear about the terms of the deal, such as whether or not you will be able to cancel after the trial period.
These are great suggestions and I also enjoyed the dollar estimates. However, some of these suggestions might not be worth their possible savings. For example, I highly dislike low-flow shower heads and if it weren't for the constant watering of my lawn, it would be brown year-round. A pretty lawn is important enough to me to sacrifice the savings.
I have a friend who had her baby late at night on Dec. 31 (naturally). She has a degree in finance, and all of us joked she pushed that baby out just in time for the tax deduction. Knowing her, this might actually have an element of truth to it.
Hi, everyone, and thank you for your comments and product suggestions! A winner was picked randomly from the group and has been emailed. If the winner doesn't respond within 72 hours, we will pick another winner.
Please feel free to continue sharing your product recommendations, but please note that any comments left after the cut-off date of Sunday, Feb 21 (12:00 Pacific Time) won't qualify for the drawing.
I'm not jumping on the low flow showerhead bandwagon until I actually take a shower with one that doesn't feel like it's just dripping water on my head.
I do the hand dish washing sometimes out of necessity(i dont have a dish washer). but the beauty of it is that i get some alone time to work out problems because with a part of my mind being occupied with a mundane task, the rest is freed up to work out pressing problems.
Great detective work and number crunching in this one! Really helpful to see the exact return on investment that you can get from doing each of the things listed. Love your blog, glad to see you on Wisebread!
Total Debt Elimination! Don't we, who are burdened by so much debt, all want that? Lolz
I was in that deep hole of debts for a good number of years. It wasn't easy, but I realize now that it had to happen. I needed the nightmares & restless moments that my financial woes gave me; otherwise, I wouldn't have learned my lesson. I wouldn't have changed and would have been stuck to being the materialistic person that I was before.
I'm more frugal now, more matured and wiser coming out of that experience. ;)
I get far more rewards with cash (or check card) using coupons and other discounts far exceed any rebate system a credit card returns. This weekend alone I had a return of around 50% using cash, pulled out the coupons. Didn't have to spend near the amount to save $300 during the course of a year.
This is good advice. Sometimes a property can be on the market for a long time. Especially in a poor housing market and recession, like we are in at the moment, it can be difficult to sell a house fast. Your video nicely sums it all up.
i knew that accountants were important to small businesses but i didn't know that they were this important. i am for the opinion that the business owner should also be very good particularly with the accounting of the business and so i have been studying this area so that financial speak my not be gibberish to me. Nice post by the way very informative but this should in no way make business owners ignore accounts because he has accountants. on the contrary he should study it very well because business owners should be very familiar with every facet of their businesses
Meant the bad airbags in some of their vehicles exploding.
I've never had a car with one yet but I still drive 90's cars. Hondas have viable life until past 300k miles.
Lynn you are so right regarding accountants. I am an accountant so I know first hand the frustrations that follow with, finding an accountant that you can trust one that is honest up front about the expert knowledge they may or may not have and the most important part what the accountants fees are.
I have been an accountant for more than 25 years and I have also ran other business's before. So finding an accountant that has first has experience running a business other than working for an accounting firm is hard to do. I on the other hand have many years experience owning my own business, worry about how I am going to pay the payroll to my employees, how to market my business, and how to make a profit.
Knowing both sides has been and continues to be a great combination for me and my staff at First Tax Solution. http://firsttaxsolution.com
After years of $100 vacuums that seemed to emit as much dust as they were picking up, I finally resolved to get a good vacuum cleaner. A Kirby sales rep had shown up at my door one day with their usual hard sell and a price that began at around $2400 dollars but had magically dropped to around $1300 by the time we pushed her out the door. I was impressed by the product though, and ended up buying a slightly used one for substantially less soon afterwards and totally love it!
I have been lusting after a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for a long time. After so many positive comments, I think I'm going to have to break down and get one.
I would have my 1977 Ford F-150 finished being fully restored, new paint job and all, and have a nice stereo installed in it, car alarm put in, pay a reputable shop willing to take it on and restore it for me and find and put a fully rebuilt 351 Cleveland motor and c5 tranny in it and pay each one of the guys that works on it for me very handsomly. I finally got the truck I wanted ever since I was a little kid, my dream before I die someday is to see it fully restored and on the road, its what my dad would have wanted for me. I dont have much in this world, but I love my old truck and it has been faithful to me for a long time, couldnt ask for a better vehicle if I tried in my humble opinion, thanks.
@Gay - Sorry for your troubles, that stress sounds tough to deal with. Assuming you have made the arrangements to repay the loan, you shouldn't receive further calls from debt collectors, from what I can gather. The banks pay debt collectors to chase up unpaid debts; once the customer starts paying back the loan, it would behoove the bank to pull the account from the debt collector's desk.
Great ideas. Not quite sure what all the fuss is about the low flow shower head from your other readers.
I have used one for years. My kids don't even know what a "high" flow shower is.
Most of us have over consumed the last 10 years ... and a simpler life saves you money, and the environment at the same time.
Then you can invest your money, time and resources on things that are more important.
I don't like the low flow shower head neither. I'd rather take a shower for less time , but with more power. But, I agree that you have to fix your leaky toilet, because that's a big problem in many household and people just don't pay attention to it.
I just discovered the Frugal Duchess blog and signed up for email. Was that in vain???/
I wish you well in your new location - is there an email version? Don't use Twitter often, so that's no go.
Cheers!
I just discovered the Frugal Duchess blog and signed up for email. Was that in vain???/
I wish you well in your new location - is there an email version? Don't use Twitter often, so that's no go.
Cheers!
DirecTV offered me 3 free months of Starz back in November and I accepted. I was NOT told that I would have to cancel it once the 3 months passed. Well, last Thursday was 3 months and on Friday I noticed I was still receiving the channels. Lo and behold my most recent bill (dated 02/11) contained a charge for the service. I called DirecTV immediately but was only given a $9.03 credit (for a $12.99/month service). I questioned the amount, (seeing I only had it for one day over the 3 month time), but was told that's what the credit was.
ALSO, even though the service was free (a $12.99/month value), the taxes were NOT. What DirecTV does is charge you the $12.99/month (which gets taxed - in CT, that's 6% sales tax and a 5.25% gross earnings tax) and then credits you $12.99 on your bill...BUT THE CREDIT DOESN'T remove the taxes on the charged/credited amount! Sure, it's only $1-$2, but still, it's not free.
So be leary and watchful with how it's done!
The key to this approach is making sure you don't get yourself stuck in something you do not want. I know some of these deals offer you six months free as long as you sign up for a minimum of two years. So, while this can be a very useful approach, make sure you are clear about the terms of the deal, such as whether or not you will be able to cancel after the trial period.
These are great suggestions and I also enjoyed the dollar estimates. However, some of these suggestions might not be worth their possible savings. For example, I highly dislike low-flow shower heads and if it weren't for the constant watering of my lawn, it would be brown year-round. A pretty lawn is important enough to me to sacrifice the savings.
I have a friend who had her baby late at night on Dec. 31 (naturally). She has a degree in finance, and all of us joked she pushed that baby out just in time for the tax deduction. Knowing her, this might actually have an element of truth to it.
cool link, thx.
Hi, everyone, and thank you for your comments and product suggestions! A winner was picked randomly from the group and has been emailed. If the winner doesn't respond within 72 hours, we will pick another winner.
Please feel free to continue sharing your product recommendations, but please note that any comments left after the cut-off date of Sunday, Feb 21 (12:00 Pacific Time) won't qualify for the drawing.
I'm not jumping on the low flow showerhead bandwagon until I actually take a shower with one that doesn't feel like it's just dripping water on my head.
I do the hand dish washing sometimes out of necessity(i dont have a dish washer). but the beauty of it is that i get some alone time to work out problems because with a part of my mind being occupied with a mundane task, the rest is freed up to work out pressing problems.
Passed this article on to a few small business owners I know of. A lot of resources I was unaware about.
Great detective work and number crunching in this one! Really helpful to see the exact return on investment that you can get from doing each of the things listed. Love your blog, glad to see you on Wisebread!
Total Debt Elimination! Don't we, who are burdened by so much debt, all want that? Lolz
I was in that deep hole of debts for a good number of years. It wasn't easy, but I realize now that it had to happen. I needed the nightmares & restless moments that my financial woes gave me; otherwise, I wouldn't have learned my lesson. I wouldn't have changed and would have been stuck to being the materialistic person that I was before.
I'm more frugal now, more matured and wiser coming out of that experience. ;)
I get far more rewards with cash (or check card) using coupons and other discounts far exceed any rebate system a credit card returns. This weekend alone I had a return of around 50% using cash, pulled out the coupons. Didn't have to spend near the amount to save $300 during the course of a year.
Uchatome
I would say trust would have to be the main factor above all.
I would place it almost above experience and everything else.
If I am going to "bare" my business soul to someone, I want to be able to trust them
This is good advice. Sometimes a property can be on the market for a long time. Especially in a poor housing market and recession, like we are in at the moment, it can be difficult to sell a house fast. Your video nicely sums it all up.
i knew that accountants were important to small businesses but i didn't know that they were this important. i am for the opinion that the business owner should also be very good particularly with the accounting of the business and so i have been studying this area so that financial speak my not be gibberish to me. Nice post by the way very informative but this should in no way make business owners ignore accounts because he has accountants. on the contrary he should study it very well because business owners should be very familiar with every facet of their businesses
Meant the bad airbags in some of their vehicles exploding.
I've never had a car with one yet but I still drive 90's cars. Hondas have viable life until past 300k miles.
I will never by any other vehicle brand except for Honda high end Lexus or 4wheel sport vehicles.
Lynn you are so right regarding accountants. I am an accountant so I know first hand the frustrations that follow with, finding an accountant that you can trust one that is honest up front about the expert knowledge they may or may not have and the most important part what the accountants fees are.
I have been an accountant for more than 25 years and I have also ran other business's before. So finding an accountant that has first has experience running a business other than working for an accounting firm is hard to do. I on the other hand have many years experience owning my own business, worry about how I am going to pay the payroll to my employees, how to market my business, and how to make a profit.
Knowing both sides has been and continues to be a great combination for me and my staff at First Tax Solution.
http://firsttaxsolution.com
After years of $100 vacuums that seemed to emit as much dust as they were picking up, I finally resolved to get a good vacuum cleaner. A Kirby sales rep had shown up at my door one day with their usual hard sell and a price that began at around $2400 dollars but had magically dropped to around $1300 by the time we pushed her out the door. I was impressed by the product though, and ended up buying a slightly used one for substantially less soon afterwards and totally love it!
I have been lusting after a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for a long time. After so many positive comments, I think I'm going to have to break down and get one.
I would have my 1977 Ford F-150 finished being fully restored, new paint job and all, and have a nice stereo installed in it, car alarm put in, pay a reputable shop willing to take it on and restore it for me and find and put a fully rebuilt 351 Cleveland motor and c5 tranny in it and pay each one of the guys that works on it for me very handsomly. I finally got the truck I wanted ever since I was a little kid, my dream before I die someday is to see it fully restored and on the road, its what my dad would have wanted for me. I dont have much in this world, but I love my old truck and it has been faithful to me for a long time, couldnt ask for a better vehicle if I tried in my humble opinion, thanks.
@Gay - Sorry for your troubles, that stress sounds tough to deal with. Assuming you have made the arrangements to repay the loan, you shouldn't receive further calls from debt collectors, from what I can gather. The banks pay debt collectors to chase up unpaid debts; once the customer starts paying back the loan, it would behoove the bank to pull the account from the debt collector's desk.