Recent comments

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Pay For Convenience?   15 years 15 weeks ago

    I'm trying to make decisions about cost vs. convenience right now. Generally I eschew pre-cut veggies and prepped meals and do chores more cheaply, even if it takes more time. However, this fall I'm going back to grad school and will have a very tight budget. I also have a medical condition which requires me to keep to a very strict sleep and eating schedule. I'm looking at apartments with an in-unit washer and dryer and a dishwasher, because, although it will be more expensive, it will allow me to manage my schedule better. For example, I can put clothes in the dryer before bed, as opposed to staying out late at a laundry mat. I'm also looking to pay extra for a garage for my car, since my medication reduces circulation in my hands, making it painful to scrape off snow in winter. I will probably incur a little more student debt this way, but I think it will be worth the peace of mind while managing a heavy course and research load.

  • You’re Fired! 20 Signs That a Pink Slip is Coming   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Great list, I wish I had read it last year! I personally went through at least half of these in the last 6 months working for my previous employer. It's very sneaky the way they set you up to essentially fail and "build up a case" to let you go. In my case, there was a paper trail, bad review, the retraining, the lack of praise even though I was performing arguably better than a lot of employees, etc. In the end I decided to take matter into my own hands and decided to quit that job before I was let go. If you see these signs though you better update your resume and start looking for a job ASAP.

  • 8 Alternatives to Cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained   15 years 15 weeks ago

    That does make me feel better. But what's NCR?

  • 8 Alternatives to Cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained   15 years 15 weeks ago

    You forgot the library! Free books, music, movies, classes, seminars and exhibits! How could you forget the library???

  • 8 Alternatives to Cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained   15 years 15 weeks ago

    If it makes you feel better about the Blockbuster kiosks, they're actually owned and operated by NCR. They only use the Blockbuster name on the kiosks because consumers are familiar with it as a movie rental company.

  • How to Get Laid Off: A Step-By-Step Guide   15 years 15 weeks ago

    I can give you several reasons why people want to get laid off...As of my reasons this is why....I have never been laid off, and because of my previous work history, I would actually come out ahead money wise, my benefits here suck the insurance is so bad more than half the places where I live do not take it, and if they do the cost is still outrageous that in the end I am better off not having it. The company I work for is a slow sinking ship that they just tug along, it should have closed a long time ago. I search for a different job every single day, and I mean every single day. I started here as a favor for family, but in the end, it was never worth it. And all the above ideas to get laid off, I have done them all. Hell this place actually keeps people around and gives them raises to people who actually do that stuff but what do you expect when the boss is lit half the time, and the other ones can't even figure that out!!....I gotta get out of here!! So yea getting laid off is my only option..Turn them in? I can't remember the family comment! I can go on for hours, but in the jist of it, one would think I could find better employment in GA, but I have tried, so please someone give me that "pink" slip...PLEASE!!

  • 8 Alternatives to Cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained   15 years 15 weeks ago

    I had a question: I've considered cutting cable for months now. I pay $120 for cable and internet, not fun. Some of these channels aren't on basic so I have to pay extra for that! I looked online to find these channels, but to no avail. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places. I like Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel, NatGeo, Science Channel, Logo. Maybe someone has a suggestion?

  • Dropping the Price of Gas to $2.50 a Gallon in a Week   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Look at the commodity price crash yesterday- now tell me that the speculators are not to blame for the high price of oil- why is this not causing outrage across America!

  • How to Make Moonshine   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Doing a little reading. Seems if you boil some spuds real hard and save the liquid, you can add to you wash. It will smooth out the final product!!

    Doing an experiment now. Had to make potatoes for the family, so I saved it. If this works well, I will add at least one to every batch.

  • Best Money Tips: Financial Strategies for Stay at Home Parents   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Thanks for the mention Ashley!

  • 14 Effective Grease and Oil Stain Removal Tips   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Finally got my first pair of Uggs and yes they are all that.

    But then - splat! Buttery eggs on my right Ugg. Ugh.

    Simply cannot get it out and am so pissed that these expensive boots are ruined. (Even though I used a $100 gift card to get the $180 boots).

    Any suggestions y'all?

  • How to Spot Counterfeit Money   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Phillip,

    I'm not sure what legalities you may be citing but most of your OPINIONS are completely misinformed. So, I'll go ahead and clear things up so you do not butcher everyone's mind too badly. It is illegal to make one customer pay for a good or service in a specific way but allow the next customer purchasing the same good or service to pay how they please. That being said, if you make a transaction to customer A, who buys product A, and refuse to make a transaction to customer B, who wants product A because you think customer B is passing counterfeit bills, then that is illegal. In fact, if you deny the transaction without giving the customer a reason, that is illegal. So, what if you tell them you believe the bill is counterfeit and give them the money back and cancel the transaction? Illegal! Any bill believed to be counterfeit is to be immediately confiscated and local authorities called, who will in-turn, contact the appropriate agencies. Because you believed the bill was counterfeit, and then released it back into circulation, you are only aiding the problem as well as making yourself liable, because you received counterfeit bills, knew they were counterfeit and then passed them back to the same person. Just because you are passing money back and forth between you and the customer doesn't seem like it is illegal but it is indeed a transaction, even if just implied or verbal. Which can also be classified intent to distribute, knowingly receiving fraudulent bills, knowingly aiding in passing counterfeit bills and if enough exchanges occur, then im sure you could classify that as laundering!

    Please get your facts together Philip. Your blog is irrelevant and cites information that is based on your opinions from reading and interpreting statistical data.

    Not to mention that you feel the need to reply to everyone else's comments! Its a comment section; not a Q and A session.

  • Are Your Finances Fragile?   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Professor Elizabeth Warren studied the root causes of thousands of bankruptcies and concluded that 87 per cent of all bankruptcies were caused by three factors : (1) job loss; (2) medical problems; (3) divorce or separation. Althoug rainy day funds and other techniques may help a fortunate few, long term unemployment or chronic medical problems (nonetheless divorce) are not always avoidable or mitigated. I respect the determination of the other people who commented but the barriers to overcoming major set-backs are growing for middle class families.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Pay For Convenience?   15 years 15 weeks ago

    I don't generally pay for convenience. I don't buy pre-cut or pre-washed fruits and veggies; I pack my lunch for work; I don't use ATMs if they have fees; etc.

    However, where I do pay for convenience is the 100-calorie food packs. I know I could very easily divide up my own 100 calorie packs, but I prefer the store bought ones.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Pay For Convenience?   15 years 15 weeks ago

    I rarely pay for convenience unless someone else can do the job better. Right now we are saving for vacations and would rather not pay someone else to clean our small house or rake our yard or do our gardening. And we have the time. For pre-cut, etc., food, it doesn't seem to taste as good as what I buy and cut up myself. (Except onions. For stews, chili, etc., I will buy frozen, chopped onions, to save from crying.)

  • Remove Car Dents Quickly and Cheaply   15 years 15 weeks ago

    ive tried this and it really doesn,t work beleave me

  • Excel: The Most Underrated Software You Already Own   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Visual basic can make you look like an ace in the workplace!

  • Remove Car Dents Quickly and Cheaply   15 years 15 weeks ago

    OK .. I tried (method 2) several times today on my Honda civic 1.4i and all i can say is it DIDNT work for me. The dent on my car was the same size as shown on method 2. Judging by the comments I see no one has been succesfull doing this. Waste of time and money. My advise, do it the old fasion way. Take it to a qualified garage who deal with dents themselves.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Pay For Convenience?   15 years 15 weeks ago

    I have to admit I often buy precut produce to save time and effort. The trade-off is that it's all ready and helps my family eat healthier, so I don't think it's so bad.

  • 14 Effective Grease and Oil Stain Removal Tips   15 years 15 weeks ago

    wow.. coke really is good for other things besides drinking.

  • Feeling Stuck? 100 Ways to Change Your Life   15 years 15 weeks ago

    This is a great post! I agree with the idea of doing simple things for a couple of minutes just to unwhine yourself and meditate about what's happening in your life and what you really want out of it. Because sometimes when we get so stressed out every day of our lives by work, relationship problems, personal dilemmas, we find it so difficult to reach out again to our comfort zone. This gives a great advice to a lot of people out there!

  • 14 Effective Grease and Oil Stain Removal Tips   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Great article on getting out oil stains! Some of these I hadn't heard of before (Cheez-Wiz? Who knew?) and I love how many options are here so that I can substitute for oil removers in case I'm out of something.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Pay For Convenience?   15 years 15 weeks ago

    For some things I pay for convenience-for instance getting my dogs nails trimmed this weekend, occasional oil changes, etc...

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Pay For Convenience?   15 years 15 weeks ago

    This is a pretty broad question. While I work hard to find ways to cut costs by doing things for ourselves (cooking rather than eating out, changing our own oil, making gifts as much as possible rather than buying), I certainly pay for a lot of convenience items. Some foods we buy are prepared partially to save time. We pay others to cut our hair. As a working-away-from-home mom, the time I save using these items gives me more time with my family. So yes...I do pay for convenience when I feel the savings I get in time is worth the cost.

  • Inside the Shady World of Cheap iTunes Gift Cards   15 years 15 weeks ago

    Apple makes a huge markup and puts a lot of restriction to the freedoms we have on our purchases with our hard-earned dollars. So who is the criminal?