Recent comments

  • 16 Ways to Make Your Clothes Last Longer Without Spending Big   17 years 32 weeks ago

    Be careful with the deodorant- it could actually make your clothing wear out faster!

    Take it from the chemists

    There's also some anecdotal evidence that antiperspirants create worse stains than deodorant. Living abroad in a country without air conditioning has taught me that whatever personal care item you apply, it will have a much greater impact on your clothes the more you sweat or do any kind of strenuous physical activity. A basketball coach I know actually says it's better not to use antiperspirant at all if you're planning on sweating. If you sit at a desk, it doesn't matter nearly as much.

  • Financial Peace in Hard Times   17 years 32 weeks ago

    Hi Catherine,

    This article is very touching. You are absolutely right: nothing is more important than taking care of the people you love. I hope the upcoming months will be more peaceful for you. I wish the best for you and your family.

  • Now It's Easier than Ever to Cut the Cable   17 years 32 weeks ago

    Getting ready to move back out on my own (again) and I'd like to know how all of you get such good internet service w/o having cable?

    Is DSL as good? Good enough to watch streaming video?

  • What's the big deal about banks refusing to lend?   17 years 32 weeks ago

    As a freelancer and hopefully, soon, small business owner, this is the kind of issue that's in the back of my head at all times. For the most part I've preferred to earn and live and work within my means and I've managed to slowly but surely expand my business without having to resort to credit to upgrade my equipment (as an animator, that's pretty much just my computer and office supplies). Luckily I've been able to earn more with minimal upgrades because of my own increase in skill and productivity, plus just knowing better clients.

    However, I've definitely hit points where I really wished I was able to sink money into expanding my business, which right now is localized in my apartment. It makes me look less attractive to higher profile clients who are incredulous at such a business' effectiveness, even if I have past results to show for it. I've had to turn down larger projects just because I needed more than one person to get it done, but I can't afford the overhead of even having a freelancer work on site (I'm not crazy about outsourcing or having someone telecommute for me).

    Anyway, I guess I'll just be staying here as a self proprietor and build up my client base and savings, slowly but surely expanding until I (and the economy) reach a point in which borrowing is worthwhile again.

  • Make Your DVD Player Region-Free in Seconds   17 years 32 weeks ago

    I cannot find an unlock code for this model...can you direct me to a sight where it might be available?
    Thanks, Richard

  • What's the big deal about banks refusing to lend?   17 years 32 weeks ago

    So ... would this be a bad time to start a business that may require a loan for capital investment?

  • Faster Free Shipping on Amazon With No Minimum Order -- Free Prime Trial   17 years 32 weeks ago

    Buying books new, even with free shipping, isn't very frugal.

  • What's the big deal about banks refusing to lend?   17 years 32 weeks ago

    @ Philip Brewer

    "Don't rely on credit for your emergency fund"

    I think that about covers it..

  • What's the big deal about banks refusing to lend?   17 years 32 weeks ago

    @ TheDepressingTruth:

    Suppose there's a farm.  Six hundred forty acres of corn and soybeans, ready to harvest.  Land owned free and clear--and the farmer also owns appropriate tractor and combine, debt free.  However, the farmer has sunk every penny of cash he has into this year's crop.

    Because the banks are afraid to lend to anybody, when he has a large unplanned expense due to a mechanical problem with the harvester, he tells his farmhand to take a few weeks off, and spends the money budgeted for payroll to buy parts.

    Do you really think the farmer is bankrupt?

    The fact is, lots of businesses are in that sort of situation.  They have invested all their capital in productive assets.  They didn't need to--they could have kept a large cash reserve that made borrowing money unnecessary--but then the business would have been smaller and less profitable.  A business with assets of millions of dollars, that spins off profits of hundreds of of thousands of dollars a year, could nevertheless be in a position where a total lock-up of the credit markets can make it impossible for them to pay their bills.  Under normal circumstances--even under most abnormal circumstances--credit is readily available because of their assets and profitability.  But if the bank itself can't get credit (which is the case right now for far too many banks), they may not be able to lend.

    Not bankrupt--except that a credit crisis might well spell the end of them.

  • What's the big deal about banks refusing to lend?   17 years 32 weeks ago

    I don't know how I will pay for college next year. Student loan lending has gotten tight as well and my parents have bad credit and I have limited credit. :/ Bad times for students as well

  • Faster Free Shipping on Amazon With No Minimum Order -- Free Prime Trial   17 years 32 weeks ago

    I went through all the motions, but it denied me after offering me the trial, because I had previously done a trial.

    For those it didn't work for, the link is after you enter a credit card, and when you're finalizing your shipping options. It's kind of wedged in there among the existing shipping options, but it's definitely there. Just too bad I don't get to use it. Back to super-saver shipping for me.

  • Faster Free Shipping on Amazon With No Minimum Order -- Free Prime Trial   17 years 32 weeks ago

    I followed your instructions exactly and it never gave me an opportunity to get a 3 month Prime. And, no, I have never been a prime member before, never used a trial of prime either.

  • What's the big deal about banks refusing to lend?   17 years 32 weeks ago

    If a Business Has To Borrow to Meet Payroll..they're BANKRUPT...

    They just don't know it yet..

  • Seven Tips for the Newly Unemployed   17 years 32 weeks ago

    I totally hear you!!! I have been so damn depressed and have lost all my confidence. It is hard to stay positive, actually its become a battle. With the economy the way it is-- geez! sure finding a job will be easy. Stay positive. Um....yeah right.

  • Seven Tips for the Newly Unemployed   17 years 32 weeks ago

    This is what I've resorted to. I have lost all my confidence in myself and my skills. I was laid-off from a job I had twenty years!! I did get a severance package. I've been looking and can't find anything, I hope theraphy will work..

  • How Baking Soda Took My Bathroom from “Yuck” to Yes!   17 years 32 weeks ago

    Caereful with bleach - we used to do that on our grout - thenI had to retile an area where the grout was bleached into disintegrating LOL!

    I'm trying the baking soda asap - thanks for breaking trail Linsey

  • Why do Facebook Ads not take me seriously?   17 years 32 weeks ago

    I only have that I'm 24, female and engaged and all I get are wedding ads. I may have to go put in an interest or two so I can get some variety! Not that I ever click on the ads, but it would be nice to see something different.

  • Faster Free Shipping on Amazon With No Minimum Order -- Free Prime Trial   17 years 32 weeks ago

    That's the only thing i can think of. it's worked for everyone else who i've had test it. 

    I blog at www.shopliftingwithpermission.com.

  • Faster Free Shipping on Amazon With No Minimum Order -- Free Prime Trial   17 years 32 weeks ago

    Tried it exactly as you said. Got all the way out to the place your order page and never once was given a chance to register for Amazon Prime.

  • Faster Free Shipping on Amazon With No Minimum Order -- Free Prime Trial   17 years 32 weeks ago

    My year of Prime subscription ended about 3 weeks ago. I did not renew for two reasons.

    1) Prime makes you much more likely to spend money. Compound with credit card vs. cash purchases and it's like walking through a candy store as a 6 year old saying "I want that, and that, and that" and getting it (you get the bill a month later).

    2) Amazon discontinued the 30-day post-order price guarantee, which means the price could drop $20 tomorrow and you can't get the difference (it can and does happen). I watched each of my purchases for price drops so I did use this many times. Ultimately this means Amazon does not price match *anyone* (not even themselves except the 30-day pre-release price guarantee).

    Since Prime led me to more carefree purchasing I was mostly fine with it knowing I didn't really have to "sale hunt". No more price guarantee means I don't want to be so carefree in purchasing: no more Prime for me.

    I have since written a program that pulls down the prices for my wishlist items and keeps tabs on the prices. You would be *amazed* at the price volatility (one item has changed price 203 times in the month of September). I now price hunt and buy when it's cheap which *drastically* has cut down my spending. Bad choice on Amazon's part for (2).

  • Financial Peace in Hard Times   17 years 32 weeks ago

    And you're right on about the financial stability thing. It's stressful enough to deal with these family situations when they come up. If the money can just "be there", it helps tremendously.

  • Supermarket Shopping for Savers: 6 Ways to Avoid Their Tricky Traps   17 years 32 weeks ago

    I just read this (on frugal dad??) about how products were shrinking and still keeping the old upc symbols from when there were larger amounts?

    check the upc prices for the products and calculate whether or not they're deals.

  • Supermarket Shopping for Savers: 6 Ways to Avoid Their Tricky Traps   17 years 32 weeks ago

    One of my best money saving tricks is to leave my husband at home. He rarely shops for groceries, so (a) he has no idea what a "good" price is, and (b) he wants to buy everything that looks appealing.

  • Faster Free Shipping on Amazon With No Minimum Order -- Free Prime Trial   17 years 32 weeks ago

    Cool! Ours is about to expire, so I'm wondering if we'll get the three month offer too. Worth a try. Regardless, this is great info for everyone else, Carrie.

    Great tip.

  • Cracking the Infamous McDonalds Monopoly Game   17 years 32 weeks ago

    you are so wrong. There is not regional distribution. Park place and boadwalk are distributed together so there is no trading needed.