One thing I would caution is that people look at the specs before they order; the XO isn't exactly your nromal laptop, so we want to make sure people know what they're getting.
The XO is intended for use in developing countries, and because of that, it is very bare-bones. Those who order them have to understand that they aren't buying a computer that is going to be competitive with a normal system. For kids in the US & Canada (the only places you can get the XO through Give One, Get One), the system will not be able to do most of the things they're used to doing on a computer. Don't expect to be able to play games, watch movies, play music (unless you're using external storage), or any other kind of multimedia activities.
A brief rundown of the specs: a 7.5" screen, a 433mz processor, 256MB RAM, and 1GB of internal flash memory. It doesn't have a hard drive, CD/DVD drives, or floppy drives. It does have some nice things, like built-in speakers and a built-in camera. It does run Linux, so you're going to run into some of the common problems with Linux, like limited support for printers and other devices that use proprietary drivers.
I think Give One, Get One is an excellent program (I've covered it several times on LinuxJournal.com) but buyers really do need to be careful to be aware of what they're getting when they're buying
They have setup a system where you can loan entrepreneurs money in developing countries which they use to develop their business and be sustainable. The great thing is that once the loan is repaid, you can loan that money to someone else.
I'm working on a post on hedonic adjustment. As part the research for that, I've been reading papers by economists working at the BLS. By all appearances, they are sincere, hardworking, talented people, trying very hard to accurately represent changes in the cost of living. They fall short, for all the reasons we've both mentioned, but I really don't think its a nefarious plot (even though the government has obvious reasons to want the numbers to reflect low inflation rates).
Gold is one good indicator of the value of the dollar. But, if you're tracking your spending, you don't need to settle for a mere indicator--you can actually calculate your own personal cost of living.
This is cool! I think you're right. If you're going to purchase a gift, why not purchase something that supports an independent artisan? I'm purchasing a few hand tatted gifts for some family members from a friend of mine who does, in addition to heirloom pieces, hand tatted beaded snow flakes for Christmas trees, bookmarks, cool black tatted lace chokers and bracelets that teens with urban style would dig, book marks, tatted lace and crystal earings, etc. This is such an heirloom type of art, and she puts such effort and attention to detail into it.
I found your comments interesting but also contradictory. Insuring a probability vs. a certainty is really just another smoke screen. All insurance was intended and developed to protect against the uncertainty of an event. By turning the approach into a vehicle that protects a certainty makes it more a investment than an insurance product and should be measured and compared on that level. We all know that insurance plans measured from strictly an investment standpoint are a poor choice no matter how you want to compare it...bonds, stocks, whatever...based on their rate of return even when considering the "tax advantages and returns" you allude to. The fees and the adminstrative costs reduce their value when you compare them head to head with the same investment option outside of the policy (bond vs bond, etc.).
Also, as an investment advisor you are aware that most people are not even taking advantage of their tax deferred or tax free options availalble to them whether through their employers or elsewhere (401k's, IRA's, Roth's). Taking advantage of these plans first are clearly more beneficial and a much better investment option that the purchasing a plan that tries to co-mingle two approaches and fails on both levels.
The idea that after 20 years you are without insurance is easily dealt with and can be measured. Your startegy is to plan for disaster and assume the worst in the direction of a client's plan. Yes, there can be setbacks but over a 20 year period there is plenty of time to correct and adjust unanticipated issues. Also, you can purchase 30 year plans which provide an additional time frame for planning. In addition, the fear tactic that many agents use that after 20 years you may not be able to get coverage is simply that...a scare tactic. It is a possiblity but with advances in medical care and underwriting the number of poeple that are declined coverage today in our agency is less than 5% and we process over 25,000 applications a year. Yes, the insurance is more expensive 20 years later but still affordable and accessible for most in their 50's, 60's and even 70's.
I would agree that any financial plan has to plan for setbacks and challenges. That's why an emergency fund equal to 3-6 months income is an integral part of any plan and addesses the concerns you noted: " mistakes, market swings, job loss, disability, death, raising the grandkids, etc..." Emergency funds, maximizing retirement and savings option's, disability insurance, term life insurance and investing accomplish the same security you note in a more effective manner. Or that would at least be my opinion.
All I can say is that I was having an idle conversation with the sales person at a store I was buying something else at about my frustrations with the shoes I had. I brought up the conversation with no expectation of having them solve my problem. It was them, in fact, who suggested that I bring them in. They were shipping a box back to the manufacturer anyway, and said it was no big deal to include my stuff. In fact, they said since it was coming from the store and not me as an individual, I'd get quicker service from the manufacturer.
Now that's what I call retail customer service. Needless to say I am a loyal customer to that store now, and I'm sorry that having dabbled in retail you didn't see the value in extending such service to your customers.
Where I do think you have a very valid point is in the choice of store. The only stores I'd try to approach would be the smaller boutique stores, and I'd only try it with higher-value items (for which it is more worth their while to be of service). Big box store employees certainly wouldn't have any vested interest in helping or being of service to this extent.
First, it's important to know the government figures for the CPI & PPI are not to be taken seriously; essentially they are fabrications (lies). Why the subterfuge? Every administration since LBJ has massaged, manipulated & distorted these figures for good reason. Government spending on entitlement programs are tied to the CPI. Also, no administration wishes to be viewed as soft on inflation.
Government lackeys employ various strategies to shape the numbers more favorably. You mention one: substitution; as in your example of substituting hamburger when steak becomes too costly. Yes, indeed, this is what people do, substitute cheaper things for more costly things... but it doesn't make the steak any cheaper. Or, for that matter, the hamburger.
They also employ the use of hedonics. Making some things worth more because of higher efficiency. A prime example would be the computer. When calculating the CPI, the gov will value a new computer much more than a computer 2 or 3 years older. Yes, you pay about the same for a much more powerful machine today as the computer you purchase a mere few years ago (thank you Moore's Law). Since the computer might be 4 times faster, gov boobs think it will give you 4x the efficiency. I bet you can't write your opus any faster on a new one as an old one, or compute your taxes faster. Oh, I forgot, you can play better games on the new one.
Another thing gov does is leave out those things that could 'skew' the number. Little things like energy and food. Yea, I guess that would wreck the equation, besides who needs 'em!
Since the real cause of inflation is increased money, the Fed conveniently stopped reporting that figure, the M3, last March. You can, and some still do, figure it out and have calculated the figure at around 18%. Money supply is increasing at an astronomical percentage each year and most American's are ignorant of the fact. It is catching up quickly so expect higher prices all the way 'round.
If you want a better gauge of inflation than CPI, track the price of a U.S. postage stamp, a loaf of bread, a big mac or, the ultimate indicator, gold.
In regards to the question about using a cooler - certainly you can! It just needs to be big enough to house your pot plus the additional layers of insulation. In fact, many people use coolers as their hot boxes.
So far I've had success with cooking rice and lentils/beans, potatoes (for mashing), as well as braised red cabbage. I'm still experimenting, but basically anything that could go into a slow cooker would work, and especially things that wouldn't suffer if they are overcooked. I haven't tried it with any meat, and as I said in the article I'd be nervous to do so. But the starchy staples work wonderfully. I cook them on the stove for a quarter to half the time required, and throw it in the hot box to complete the process.
Suggested recipe ideas are welcome - I'll give them a shot and report back!
Another good idea is buying farm animals for people in 3-world counties though heifer international. You can give a gift in someone else's name to help end hunger.
heifer.org
Yay, another RSS cancel! Nothing warms my heart like someone pretending to cancel their RSS feed. I think it's the same guy who keeps coming back and threatening to do that, but never seems to actually LEAVE.
My mother's friend told her to put a bandaid over her navel during boat rides to prevent sea sickness. Mom says it works, but it may be purely mental. I, too, use candied ginger. But the bands might be helpful for bus rides. Nothing seems to help my motion sickness on the bus. Thanks for the tip, Amy.
you have friends who are in massive debt, unwilling to change spending habits, yet constantly *complain* about their finances. It's even worse when they it's your employee who can't manage the paycheques you sign. That's awkward with a capital A!
I find it easy enough to keep my nose out of others' business when they keep it to themselves. But I tire of complainers who claim that your own successful strategies (like not buying two of items because one is to be used and one is to be collected) "won't work for them." Sure, what works for us might not work for them, but that doesn't mean that you do *nothing* and just keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
No-one's mentioned bulk-buying meat by buying a side or quarter of an animal from a local farmer. It's the absolute cheapest way to buy organic/grassfed, humanely raised meat - usually $3-4/lb when all's said and done. It's not cheap compared to BOGO sales on factory meat, but do you really want to eat that stuff anyway?
The best part is that you can order it cut and wrapped for the freezer exactly the way you want it. I get good cuts in dinner-sized quantities and ground beef in 1-lb. packs that don't have to be defrosted to cook (unless I want to make patties or add other ingredients) - they just go in the pan to defrost and cook at the same time. Unfortunately it's vacuum-packed, which is a lot of plastic, but there's zero waste because it's all frozen there. The other advantage is that the tough plastic packaging is water-tight, so I can speed-defrost in a tub of cool water.
If you don't have the space or money for a chest freezer, some processors will also store it for you for a fee, which is still a better deal than buying the same quality of meat at Whole Paycheck. You just pick up what will fit in your home freezer when you need it.
Crisco just came out with a 0 grams trans fat shortening... I haven't tried it yet. If anyone has any thoughts on how it has worked for them, I'd love to know!
It was just something I found thrifty and helpful after I was so sick for weeks in a row from my medicine and thought it could help others! Glad you don't need 'em, but unfortunately some people do or will. They are really helping chemotherapy patients.
I've been doing a bit of research (slow day at work...), and it looks like coconut oil might be a good alternative to shortening. I'll need to give that a try. If the health nut stores don't cary it, an ethnic Thai grocery should.
Thanks for the tip. When I read some of the recall/news reports about lead, I had noticed that there were some kids who had swallowed jewelry or small items, and developed lead poisoning as a result. Thanks for mentioning that there is a way to do a label check. I also learned that you can check paints for non-toxic labeling.
Speaking of things that children may swallow, silica gel is not considered poisonous; however it is considered a choking hazard. I learned this from a call to poison control after one of my children (the one who never did unexpected things) opened a silica gel packet in a box of shoes and consumed it very quickly. Here's a link to a resource: Carolinas Poison Control.
You know, the only thing I've ever seen over the years to cut down on pie crust fat was to make something called a slurry, and from what I remember about it there was no way to do it in advance. But you might want to Google it if you really are concerned about it. Otherwise, to my knowledge (and I could be wrong) you have to basically make shortening based pie crust. As far as the Bisquick / baking mix "pie" suggestions, we've used those too, and I do have a low fat version for the homemade mix recipe if anyone's interested. But those pies would be completely different from the ones Linsey's suggesting. They are definitely cheap and a great leftover strategy, just not quite as awesome looking and decadent as Linsey's. It's personal choice.
It's important to know that appropriate daily calorie intake differs from person to person. I'm tiny - under five feet tall. I used to read food labels and take their recommendations at face value - but they're all for an "average" person whose recommended calorie intake is 2000 a day. For someone my size, 1400-1500 a day is much more appropriate, so I was eating hundreds of extra calories a day.
Counting calories all the time, for the rest of my life, would be tedious, but I'm glad I did it for a few weeks - it gave me a much better sense of how much I should eat in a day.
I'm no longer the mom of small children; in fact I'm a grandmother wannabe. I'd like to chime in about one more not-quite-toy hazard, and that's Mom's own jewelry. I make and sell jewelry, and I find that a lot of what's called "pewter" or "white metal" can be absolutely loaded with lead. We had a school-aged youngster in our city die of lead poisoning from swallowing the fob on a key ring. So watch out for those key rings, earrings, charms, necklace pendants, and other danglers. If they're not plainly labeled "sterling silver" or "gold" (with karat marking), you can't tell what's in them. They're bright, shiny, fascinating, and potentially lethal even to older kids. I've quit using anything that's not a precious metal, but these items are everywhere.
I don't have this particular brand (though I might get a set for next time), but I found these bands wonderfully effective for nausea during morning sickness as well as general anxiety. I used them for 2 solids months in my first trimester!
This blog is about saving money and if you are able to save money through cash back using a credit card to get an additional 2% off of every purchase than isn't that what we are all here to do?
I don't understand why people would come here, comment and complain about how they are victims of credit card companies. You are not victims, you are simply foolhardy individuals who demonstrated a lack responsibility and willpower.
The only ones with a valid argument against CCs are the ones who want to live off the grid, but thats a whole other issue.
I am pleased! :)
One thing I would caution is that people look at the specs before they order; the XO isn't exactly your nromal laptop, so we want to make sure people know what they're getting.
The XO is intended for use in developing countries, and because of that, it is very bare-bones. Those who order them have to understand that they aren't buying a computer that is going to be competitive with a normal system. For kids in the US & Canada (the only places you can get the XO through Give One, Get One), the system will not be able to do most of the things they're used to doing on a computer. Don't expect to be able to play games, watch movies, play music (unless you're using external storage), or any other kind of multimedia activities.
A brief rundown of the specs: a 7.5" screen, a 433mz processor, 256MB RAM, and 1GB of internal flash memory. It doesn't have a hard drive, CD/DVD drives, or floppy drives. It does have some nice things, like built-in speakers and a built-in camera. It does run Linux, so you're going to run into some of the common problems with Linux, like limited support for printers and other devices that use proprietary drivers.
I think Give One, Get One is an excellent program (I've covered it several times on LinuxJournal.com) but buyers really do need to be careful to be aware of what they're getting when they're buying
For giving in developing countries I absolutely love http://www.kiva.org
They have setup a system where you can loan entrepreneurs money in developing countries which they use to develop their business and be sustainable. The great thing is that once the loan is repaid, you can loan that money to someone else.
Very, very cool. Lots of benefits with this win-win purchase.
I'm working on a post on hedonic adjustment. As part the research for that, I've been reading papers by economists working at the BLS. By all appearances, they are sincere, hardworking, talented people, trying very hard to accurately represent changes in the cost of living. They fall short, for all the reasons we've both mentioned, but I really don't think its a nefarious plot (even though the government has obvious reasons to want the numbers to reflect low inflation rates).
Gold is one good indicator of the value of the dollar. But, if you're tracking your spending, you don't need to settle for a mere indicator--you can actually calculate your own personal cost of living.
This is cool! I think you're right. If you're going to purchase a gift, why not purchase something that supports an independent artisan? I'm purchasing a few hand tatted gifts for some family members from a friend of mine who does, in addition to heirloom pieces, hand tatted beaded snow flakes for Christmas trees, bookmarks, cool black tatted lace chokers and bracelets that teens with urban style would dig, book marks, tatted lace and crystal earings, etc. This is such an heirloom type of art, and she puts such effort and attention to detail into it.
Thanks for reminding us of this option, Sarah.
I have hated these things since I tried using them as a very carsick child and they failed horribly. Worst road trip ever.
I found your comments interesting but also contradictory. Insuring a probability vs. a certainty is really just another smoke screen. All insurance was intended and developed to protect against the uncertainty of an event. By turning the approach into a vehicle that protects a certainty makes it more a investment than an insurance product and should be measured and compared on that level. We all know that insurance plans measured from strictly an investment standpoint are a poor choice no matter how you want to compare it...bonds, stocks, whatever...based on their rate of return even when considering the "tax advantages and returns" you allude to. The fees and the adminstrative costs reduce their value when you compare them head to head with the same investment option outside of the policy (bond vs bond, etc.).
Also, as an investment advisor you are aware that most people are not even taking advantage of their tax deferred or tax free options availalble to them whether through their employers or elsewhere (401k's, IRA's, Roth's). Taking advantage of these plans first are clearly more beneficial and a much better investment option that the purchasing a plan that tries to co-mingle two approaches and fails on both levels.
The idea that after 20 years you are without insurance is easily dealt with and can be measured. Your startegy is to plan for disaster and assume the worst in the direction of a client's plan. Yes, there can be setbacks but over a 20 year period there is plenty of time to correct and adjust unanticipated issues. Also, you can purchase 30 year plans which provide an additional time frame for planning. In addition, the fear tactic that many agents use that after 20 years you may not be able to get coverage is simply that...a scare tactic. It is a possiblity but with advances in medical care and underwriting the number of poeple that are declined coverage today in our agency is less than 5% and we process over 25,000 applications a year. Yes, the insurance is more expensive 20 years later but still affordable and accessible for most in their 50's, 60's and even 70's.
I would agree that any financial plan has to plan for setbacks and challenges. That's why an emergency fund equal to 3-6 months income is an integral part of any plan and addesses the concerns you noted: " mistakes, market swings, job loss, disability, death, raising the grandkids, etc..." Emergency funds, maximizing retirement and savings option's, disability insurance, term life insurance and investing accomplish the same security you note in a more effective manner. Or that would at least be my opinion.
All I can say is that I was having an idle conversation with the sales person at a store I was buying something else at about my frustrations with the shoes I had. I brought up the conversation with no expectation of having them solve my problem. It was them, in fact, who suggested that I bring them in. They were shipping a box back to the manufacturer anyway, and said it was no big deal to include my stuff. In fact, they said since it was coming from the store and not me as an individual, I'd get quicker service from the manufacturer.
Now that's what I call retail customer service. Needless to say I am a loyal customer to that store now, and I'm sorry that having dabbled in retail you didn't see the value in extending such service to your customers.
Where I do think you have a very valid point is in the choice of store. The only stores I'd try to approach would be the smaller boutique stores, and I'd only try it with higher-value items (for which it is more worth their while to be of service). Big box store employees certainly wouldn't have any vested interest in helping or being of service to this extent.
First, it's important to know the government figures for the CPI & PPI are not to be taken seriously; essentially they are fabrications (lies). Why the subterfuge? Every administration since LBJ has massaged, manipulated & distorted these figures for good reason. Government spending on entitlement programs are tied to the CPI. Also, no administration wishes to be viewed as soft on inflation.
Government lackeys employ various strategies to shape the numbers more favorably. You mention one: substitution; as in your example of substituting hamburger when steak becomes too costly. Yes, indeed, this is what people do, substitute cheaper things for more costly things... but it doesn't make the steak any cheaper. Or, for that matter, the hamburger.
They also employ the use of hedonics. Making some things worth more because of higher efficiency. A prime example would be the computer. When calculating the CPI, the gov will value a new computer much more than a computer 2 or 3 years older. Yes, you pay about the same for a much more powerful machine today as the computer you purchase a mere few years ago (thank you Moore's Law). Since the computer might be 4 times faster, gov boobs think it will give you 4x the efficiency. I bet you can't write your opus any faster on a new one as an old one, or compute your taxes faster. Oh, I forgot, you can play better games on the new one.
Another thing gov does is leave out those things that could 'skew' the number. Little things like energy and food. Yea, I guess that would wreck the equation, besides who needs 'em!
Since the real cause of inflation is increased money, the Fed conveniently stopped reporting that figure, the M3, last March. You can, and some still do, figure it out and have calculated the figure at around 18%. Money supply is increasing at an astronomical percentage each year and most American's are ignorant of the fact. It is catching up quickly so expect higher prices all the way 'round.
If you want a better gauge of inflation than CPI, track the price of a U.S. postage stamp, a loaf of bread, a big mac or, the ultimate indicator, gold.
In regards to the question about using a cooler - certainly you can! It just needs to be big enough to house your pot plus the additional layers of insulation. In fact, many people use coolers as their hot boxes.
So far I've had success with cooking rice and lentils/beans, potatoes (for mashing), as well as braised red cabbage. I'm still experimenting, but basically anything that could go into a slow cooker would work, and especially things that wouldn't suffer if they are overcooked. I haven't tried it with any meat, and as I said in the article I'd be nervous to do so. But the starchy staples work wonderfully. I cook them on the stove for a quarter to half the time required, and throw it in the hot box to complete the process.
Suggested recipe ideas are welcome - I'll give them a shot and report back!
Hannah, do yo uknow anything about heifer? I've heard varying reports on them and would love to hear from someone who knows?
Stacie, I'd love to see your shop? How would I find it on Etsy?
Another good idea is buying farm animals for people in 3-world counties though heifer international. You can give a gift in someone else's name to help end hunger.
heifer.org
I loved the handmade items on Etsy so much it inspired me to open my shop.
Yay, another RSS cancel! Nothing warms my heart like someone pretending to cancel their RSS feed. I think it's the same guy who keeps coming back and threatening to do that, but never seems to actually LEAVE.
My mother's friend told her to put a bandaid over her navel during boat rides to prevent sea sickness. Mom says it works, but it may be purely mental. I, too, use candied ginger. But the bands might be helpful for bus rides. Nothing seems to help my motion sickness on the bus. Thanks for the tip, Amy.
you have friends who are in massive debt, unwilling to change spending habits, yet constantly *complain* about their finances. It's even worse when they it's your employee who can't manage the paycheques you sign. That's awkward with a capital A!
I find it easy enough to keep my nose out of others' business when they keep it to themselves. But I tire of complainers who claim that your own successful strategies (like not buying two of items because one is to be used and one is to be collected) "won't work for them." Sure, what works for us might not work for them, but that doesn't mean that you do *nothing* and just keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
No-one's mentioned bulk-buying meat by buying a side or quarter of an animal from a local farmer. It's the absolute cheapest way to buy organic/grassfed, humanely raised meat - usually $3-4/lb when all's said and done. It's not cheap compared to BOGO sales on factory meat, but do you really want to eat that stuff anyway?
The best part is that you can order it cut and wrapped for the freezer exactly the way you want it. I get good cuts in dinner-sized quantities and ground beef in 1-lb. packs that don't have to be defrosted to cook (unless I want to make patties or add other ingredients) - they just go in the pan to defrost and cook at the same time. Unfortunately it's vacuum-packed, which is a lot of plastic, but there's zero waste because it's all frozen there. The other advantage is that the tough plastic packaging is water-tight, so I can speed-defrost in a tub of cool water.
If you don't have the space or money for a chest freezer, some processors will also store it for you for a fee, which is still a better deal than buying the same quality of meat at Whole Paycheck. You just pick up what will fit in your home freezer when you need it.
Crisco just came out with a 0 grams trans fat shortening... I haven't tried it yet. If anyone has any thoughts on how it has worked for them, I'd love to know!
http://www.crisco.com/about/0_grams.asp
It was just something I found thrifty and helpful after I was so sick for weeks in a row from my medicine and thought it could help others! Glad you don't need 'em, but unfortunately some people do or will. They are really helping chemotherapy patients.
I've been doing a bit of research (slow day at work...), and it looks like coconut oil might be a good alternative to shortening. I'll need to give that a try. If the health nut stores don't cary it, an ethnic Thai grocery should.
Thanks for the tip. When I read some of the recall/news reports about lead, I had noticed that there were some kids who had swallowed jewelry or small items, and developed lead poisoning as a result. Thanks for mentioning that there is a way to do a label check. I also learned that you can check paints for non-toxic labeling.
Speaking of things that children may swallow, silica gel is not considered poisonous; however it is considered a choking hazard. I learned this from a call to poison control after one of my children (the one who never did unexpected things) opened a silica gel packet in a box of shoes and consumed it very quickly. Here's a link to a resource: Carolinas Poison Control.
You know, the only thing I've ever seen over the years to cut down on pie crust fat was to make something called a slurry, and from what I remember about it there was no way to do it in advance. But you might want to Google it if you really are concerned about it. Otherwise, to my knowledge (and I could be wrong) you have to basically make shortening based pie crust. As far as the Bisquick / baking mix "pie" suggestions, we've used those too, and I do have a low fat version for the homemade mix recipe if anyone's interested. But those pies would be completely different from the ones Linsey's suggesting. They are definitely cheap and a great leftover strategy, just not quite as awesome looking and decadent as Linsey's. It's personal choice.
It's important to know that appropriate daily calorie intake differs from person to person. I'm tiny - under five feet tall. I used to read food labels and take their recommendations at face value - but they're all for an "average" person whose recommended calorie intake is 2000 a day. For someone my size, 1400-1500 a day is much more appropriate, so I was eating hundreds of extra calories a day.
Counting calories all the time, for the rest of my life, would be tedious, but I'm glad I did it for a few weeks - it gave me a much better sense of how much I should eat in a day.
I'm no longer the mom of small children; in fact I'm a grandmother wannabe. I'd like to chime in about one more not-quite-toy hazard, and that's Mom's own jewelry. I make and sell jewelry, and I find that a lot of what's called "pewter" or "white metal" can be absolutely loaded with lead. We had a school-aged youngster in our city die of lead poisoning from swallowing the fob on a key ring. So watch out for those key rings, earrings, charms, necklace pendants, and other danglers. If they're not plainly labeled "sterling silver" or "gold" (with karat marking), you can't tell what's in them. They're bright, shiny, fascinating, and potentially lethal even to older kids. I've quit using anything that's not a precious metal, but these items are everywhere.
I don't have this particular brand (though I might get a set for next time), but I found these bands wonderfully effective for nausea during morning sickness as well as general anxiety. I used them for 2 solids months in my first trimester!
This blog is about saving money and if you are able to save money through cash back using a credit card to get an additional 2% off of every purchase than isn't that what we are all here to do?
I don't understand why people would come here, comment and complain about how they are victims of credit card companies. You are not victims, you are simply foolhardy individuals who demonstrated a lack responsibility and willpower.
The only ones with a valid argument against CCs are the ones who want to live off the grid, but thats a whole other issue.