Recent comments

  • Wills: The Basics   18 years 14 weeks ago

    This was a great post, and for me, really timely. I have been trying to convince my parent's to write their wills for a time now but they aren't getting off their butts to do it. My parents own a partnership business, and also my dad isn't a super healthy guy. Anyways, how should I go about convincing them to get it done?

  • 25 Things I Don't Want to Regret Once I Retire...   18 years 14 weeks ago

    I haven't used it before, but what about that at-home dry cleaning kit you can buy? It might be worth a shot to try and save some money.

    You've listed some great points here! Thanks, and I'm looking forward to part two!

  • Carnival Of Scams - Top 4 fairground cons   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Regarding your comment that carnivals should show signs stating the odds of winning are 5000 to 1 against. Thats a heck of a lot better than the 14 MILLION to 1 against winning a lottery jackpot. I noticed on buying my lottery tickit this week that the store selling it didn't advertise the odds they were offering via a big neon sign, can we take it then that all the lottery ticket sellers are con men?

    As to the statement about sights on guns. Take 10 average people off the street, let them fire the same gun and I bet they hit 10 different points on the target. The fact is setting the sights off on a gun do nothing, anyone who knows how to shoot just alters his point of aim, anyone who doesnt know how to shoot is going to lose regardless of how good the sights are.

  • Remove Car Dents Quickly and Cheaply   18 years 14 weeks ago

    The ideal gas law is actually PV=nRT, where n= amount of gas (mol).

  • Tips for Joining an Excellent Startup Company   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Must one be young to learn at a start-up? Or have fun? Drat! And news clippings? What are those? :o

    Nice article, well written. I'd emphasize the usefulness of growing one’s network more though and suggest folks try a bit harder to get a warm introduction to the companies they like. People like to hire people they know, or people that know someone they know. Ya know?

  • Impulse Shopping: A Controllable Handicap   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Oh noes! The subject of the picture is a shopaholic in Milan, the worst kind of all ;-)

  • Beyond Wrapping Paper -- Post-Holiday Bargains   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Yep! I found some lovely paper on sale at Ikea. Not xmas-related design and even double face.

  • 25 Things I Don't Want to Regret Once I Retire...   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Now I want to know how much you pay on dry cleaning!

    Is it that you don't have a washing machine, or you buy too much stuff that says "dry-clean only" (and you believe the labels)?

  • 25 Things I Don't Want to Regret Once I Retire...   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Lot's of great points here, especially the living on less than you earn. Easier said than done of course but something I'm trying to work on personally. It's amazing how much you can save just by making (& sticking to) a budget!

  • 25 Things I Don't Want to Regret Once I Retire...   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Lot's of great points here, especially the living on less than you earn. Easier said than done of course but something I'm trying to work on personally. It's amazing how much you can save just by making (& sticking to) a budget!

  • 25 Things I Don't Want to Regret Once I Retire...   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Great list, and totally in line with my personal philosophies. Looking forward to part two.

  • Walking Into The Spirit of Travel   18 years 14 weeks ago

    At my last hometown, I got a chance to play tour guide to a friend visiting who had never been there. It was an amazing way to see my own city with new eyes!

    Great post.  

  • 25 Things I Don't Want to Regret Once I Retire...   18 years 14 weeks ago

    I came across your blog today and I'm just thrilled to see how much useful information is here.

    For me in particular, as a life coach, I love finding new ideas from new perspectives/frameworks which could help my clients.

    Thank you for sharing and I'm looking forward to part two.

    Cheers, Noel

  • More than just inflation   18 years 14 weeks ago

    On that, I'm with you 100%.

  • More than just inflation   18 years 14 weeks ago

    The demand for a fair standard of living is the basis of what we memorialize on MLK day. There are more and more rich people, making more money than ever in history... and at the same time, many in our country are seeing a decline in real wages, and in some ways a real decline in their standard of living. This is an immoral situation, and must be reversed.

    Yes, if we're making less and can't afford the good cheese, definitely eat less cheese or cheaper cheese... yes, if our wine budget is too fat, slim it down. But there are people who need to see the doctor, need to pay for education, and need a safe place to live, who need to have their standard of living improved.

  • Quickly Remove Scratches From CDs and DVDs   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Nice post, I will definetely be trying this out on some of my video games and cds!

  • Tasty, Healthy Breakfast Cookies With Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans   18 years 14 weeks ago

    somehow these came out completely tasteless. Followed the recipe, I used chunky but not really sweet applesauce, added raisins and nuts, and somehow they are just tasteless. Didnt use an entire tablespoonn of sugar, could that have made such a big difference?

  • How to Travel in Style...For Free   18 years 14 weeks ago

    "This is especially apparent if you break the world down into "birthday people" and "non-birthday people"

    I always plan on getting free stuff for my birthday...going out to bars, out to eat etc. But to speak more specifically to the b-day reference...yeah, people like me are willing to ask, once in a while, what they can get for free. All you have to do is ask. There is a limit where too much asking will make you seem cheap, so be mindful. It also comes down to who and how you ask.

  • Thinking Inside the “Little White Receipt Box”   18 years 14 weeks ago

    I simply moved to a cash only basis. Once a month a transfer over enough money to last the month, put that in my "cash" account and then work really hard not to spend it all. While I may not get cash back rewards I'm not rewarding the CC company with extra purchases.

  • GYM Class: THE DIY, DIFNF Thesis   18 years 14 weeks ago

    I agree with the general point of this post. However, I think that if a lot of people don't get their "measley cardio workout" done at the gym, they just won't do it at all (but they'll still stop and get that burger on their way home from work). I realize that gyms make their money on the people that don't use their memberships. I think that people should look at their gym membership as an investment. If you don't go, it's a waste...

  • Blogs are Not Second Class   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Congrats on speaking out! Blogging has come a long way, and has a great deal to offer the average reader.

  • More than just inflation   18 years 14 weeks ago

    Whether your standard of living is falling because you're on a fixed income that isn't keeping pace with inflation, because your job has departed and isn't coming back, or because oil prices are rising and aren't likely to get cheap again: The key to surviving a falling standard of living is to let your standard of living fall. Nobody wants their standard of living to go down, but it's better than imagining that it's higher than it is, and living as if it were.

    Wise Bread is fairly bursting with ideas for living well on less money. Check 'em out.

  • More than just inflation   18 years 14 weeks ago

    All I can say is that I am worried! I'm being laid off of my programming job this month (can't find another -- all of the jobs are going to India).

    Housing prices are falling -- will I be able to sell my house so that I can move to find another job?

    I'm a COBOL programmer so you can see that I'm facing age discrimination. I can't afford to retire.

    I guess all of this makes me a typical American, huh.

    Inflation or falling standard of living doesn't make a difference to me.

  • GYM Class: THE DIY, DIFNF Thesis   18 years 14 weeks ago

    I agree with just about every assertion on here and in the end it's a choice. Your fitness goals determine what you should do. For instance, for the women who said she wanted a pool, the club is a good move and yes people the "Y," particularly the swanky ones, is awesome. I'm not discouraged by gyms, I've just had the benefit of seeing both sides and in the end, the two trips to and from, the preparation time and the whole nine, doesn't justify my personal expense, which is comprised of time and money. Having said that, fitness is not a luxury, it's not like the Internet or cable, certainly not like the former, which most of us need to participate in discussions such as these. A club membership though is not cable TV, it's an investment of considerable time and money, an intellectual, physical and emotional decision so all things should be taken into consideration. Because you don't need cable really but if you don't do some kind of excercise, you may find yourself breathing hard on stairs or panting running after your toddler and if you don't make the right fitness choices you'll smack your forehead when you realize you haven't gotten in shape and have to keep working to make up for that lost money. Keep looking good people. Thanks for the comments!

     

    Jabulani Leffall

    Monetary Gadfly, Common Currency

    00000 Broke Blvd. Kitchenette #68 & 1/2

    Lowcash, CA 90000-0000

  • GYM Class: THE DIY, DIFNF Thesis   18 years 14 weeks ago

    I also agree with many of the commenters that a gym membership is worth every cent if it is actually used. I go to the gym 6-7 days a week (while working full-time) and absolutely love it! I usually do a group excercise class (kickboxing, spinning, etc), which is great because it is not only an excellent workout, but also a way to socially interact with people who share the same fitness goals as I do. I think I would give up my cable subscription before giving up my gym membership!