but I love Noah Kagan's "Jewgality" series and and BrokeGrad Student. I also really like Pussycat magazine's money section. As a single college student, these tips apply to me more then any of the other frugal blogs.
Paul, this is an inciteful post; you've brought up something we all need to ponder at great lengths.
I've often wondered myself how it is that certain celebrities stay in the public limelight with what seems to be to be only marginal talent. You see the same thing with athletes, managers and business people.
I'm going to take a guess on why that is--and this is a complete guess, but I think a reasonable one. In all fields there are great performers, but in every field, most of the people involved in it are less than great, maybe only average.
So you have less-than-great types who rise to the top of the less-than-great ranks, maybe even to become "near great" by default. They get to that level because they won't quit, they won't go away, and they never stop digging. They're more an irisistable force than great performers. And obviously there's a huge niche for them because there are more than a few of them.
Most people quit if they think they can't get the brass ring; these people will take second, third or fourth place and play it for all it's worth.
My sunburn has sunburn! It hurts so bad! I have it on the shoulders. I sunscreen I used was swept by the waves of our local beach.... I think I am going to use a combination of these remedies..... I hope they work!
My favorite money blog is by Pinyo at "http://www.moolanomy.com/". He has every topics ranges from credit cards, to being frugal, to increasing income, investing etc. He also does nice charts and figures to make it easy for everyone to see it. his recent ask question/answer part of the blog is superb.
10 vote for Pinyo!! his blog is the best, if you have not checked it out, do so.
Dave Ramsey, of course, and it's because he has a way of motivating people to attack their problem and not giving up no matter how insurmountable the challenge seems.
I always put containers outside during the rainy season, and save the rainwater for my outdoor plants. I also keep a small pitcher under my sink where I collect the water from cooking vegetables, the rest of my cat's water when I change it, the rest of the water from our drinking glasses, etc. for indoor plants. We have to watch our water use here in Southern California.
I agree that doing it the traditional way is way harder. That's how I started out and it nearly drove me to drink. Hell, who am I kidding, I'm sure I had a cocktail in my hand before the first day even was over.
Now I do things way differently and it's more about ingredients being prepared ahead (as you do with the lean beaf) and large batches of the things we eat the most of. In our house, this also includes dry mixes in gallon jars for things like cornbread, pizza crust mix, baking mix and dry cream of whatever soup mix.
I think it's perhaps unfair to judge Ruby Tuesdays by their most caloric and fat items. They have a wonderful salad bar that includes MANY fresh veggies, and that's what I eat there. I love it because of the salad bar. So keep that in mind when you make these judgments, okay?
Adrian at 7 years to 7 million. Regular personal finance blogs get very old hat and repetitive, but the "outside the box" thinking at Adrian's site really inspired me.
Trying batch cooking...again...is on my to-do list for this year. I bought a book, equipment, etc. many years ago but though I could set aside a weekend to cook, my family didn't bond to the recipes as I hoped they would. Getting the basic ingredients ready rather than cooking lots of the same kind of casserole ready for assembly is what I've learned from you and Myscha.
My adaptations are basic but I want to do more: make and freeze spaghetti sauce (my family can nearly always eat this); freeze fruit and veggies from the farmer, and use in at least 1 dish per month; buy the frozen cookie dough or whatever my or my kids' group is selling and break those out occasionally (I'll also try your cookies though!)
I, too, received a card in the mail without even having ever heard of Netspend. Of course, when I call them, there is no way to actually speak to a representative without agreeing to their terms. How can I reach a human being at this place without saying yes to terms I don't agree with??
In the last 5 months I had the interest rate jacked up on 3 credit cards. All of them were with Chase bank, thanks to their acquiring Washington Mutual. I could have "closed" those accounts and kept the same interest rates. That would have negatively impacted my credit score. Luckily I was able to get a zero interest loan from family and just pay the cards off. Here's the interesting part. I was never late on a payment or ever went over my limit. Chase still raised the rates on my cards and refused to even discuss alternatives. Card A) raised from 9.99% fixed to Prime rate (3.25%) plus 9.99%. Card B) raised from 10.99% to Prime plus 9.99% but card C) was raised from 13.99% (barely used just to keep the card active!) to Prime rate plus 16.99%.
My income is such that technically I'm classified as "The Working Poor" (27k a year for me)How many other people are being penalized on their credit card rates just because they don't make lots of money and don't have family who can bail them out?
It seems to me that the banks are attempting to recoup the losses they incurred (while gambling with our money!!) by financially raping the people least able to afford it. How many more families will be forced into bankruptcy by these changes?
I'm curious as to what your readers think about these changes and if the middle class is even aware of how the poor are being further brutalized. Your thoughts?
On a side note, I'm also attempting to purchase a home. The only ones in my price range are bank owned already. The only reason I haven't been able to get a house (I've already pre-qualified!) is because the banks that own the homes refuse to make the mostly minor repairs that would let the houses qualify for VA or FHA financing. Just another policy that keeps the working poor from bettering their lot in life.
Thanks for letting me vent and hopefully make more people aware that, as always, the people who already have it the worst pay a disproportionately high price for a failing economy.
I also have a friend who got this game and let me play it.
First, the game is extremely biased. You cannot make more money by getting a higher paying job or reducing your expenses, for example.
Second, there are several situations where you get a range of values when trying to decide whether to buy something, but in real life all you know is what something is for sale for now, what recent and past prices have been, what rents are now, etc. You really cannot predict whether you are buying near a peak or valley as well as you can in this game.
You do get to work with a balance sheet, which is kind of boring actually. Everyone has an accountant to double-check their math (everyone is both a player and an accountant), but in real life, there were usually only one or two people who had a clue and they would be everyone's accountant, including their own.
And after a while, you realize that you can often get lucky with certain kinds of purchases, but rarely unlucky (unlike real life) and never lucky with others.
It was interesting, but mostly I was just trying to guess what would work in the game. As for learning how to do things in the real world, I felt the game was too biased and minimized risk too much and was thus too dangerous.
I got a stack of 3 gallon buckets and lids (more useful than the larger 5 or 10 gallon and easier to move around) from a local ice cream shop. They had a hundred of them, all washed and sparkling (and, naturally, food grade) -- they begged me to take more!
And if you're seriously telling me Shatner is a great actor, I have to disagree with you 100%. I'm not saying I don't like him, I do. He's got a way with delivery. But come on, the guy is hardly a Pacino or Denzel Washington.
I have always been a big follower of Clark Howard. His frugality inspired me early on.
I have to say that Trent @ The Simple Dollar is my current favorite. His blend of wise financial input, frugality, and simple living is good for the balance sheet and the soul.
but I love Noah Kagan's "Jewgality" series and and BrokeGrad Student. I also really like Pussycat magazine's money section. As a single college student, these tips apply to me more then any of the other frugal blogs.
Also, Young Money.
Paul, this is an inciteful post; you've brought up something we all need to ponder at great lengths.
I've often wondered myself how it is that certain celebrities stay in the public limelight with what seems to be to be only marginal talent. You see the same thing with athletes, managers and business people.
I'm going to take a guess on why that is--and this is a complete guess, but I think a reasonable one. In all fields there are great performers, but in every field, most of the people involved in it are less than great, maybe only average.
So you have less-than-great types who rise to the top of the less-than-great ranks, maybe even to become "near great" by default. They get to that level because they won't quit, they won't go away, and they never stop digging. They're more an irisistable force than great performers. And obviously there's a huge niche for them because there are more than a few of them.
Most people quit if they think they can't get the brass ring; these people will take second, third or fourth place and play it for all it's worth.
We can all learn something from them...
My sunburn has sunburn! It hurts so bad! I have it on the shoulders. I sunscreen I used was swept by the waves of our local beach.... I think I am going to use a combination of these remedies..... I hope they work!
My favorite money blog is by Pinyo at "http://www.moolanomy.com/". He has every topics ranges from credit cards, to being frugal, to increasing income, investing etc. He also does nice charts and figures to make it easy for everyone to see it. his recent ask question/answer part of the blog is superb.
10 vote for Pinyo!! his blog is the best, if you have not checked it out, do so.
Zengirl
Dave Ramsey, of course, and it's because he has a way of motivating people to attack their problem and not giving up no matter how insurmountable the challenge seems.
I always put containers outside during the rainy season, and save the rainwater for my outdoor plants. I also keep a small pitcher under my sink where I collect the water from cooking vegetables, the rest of my cat's water when I change it, the rest of the water from our drinking glasses, etc. for indoor plants. We have to watch our water use here in Southern California.
I agree that doing it the traditional way is way harder. That's how I started out and it nearly drove me to drink. Hell, who am I kidding, I'm sure I had a cocktail in my hand before the first day even was over.
Now I do things way differently and it's more about ingredients being prepared ahead (as you do with the lean beaf) and large batches of the things we eat the most of. In our house, this also includes dry mixes in gallon jars for things like cornbread, pizza crust mix, baking mix and dry cream of whatever soup mix.
Good article Linsey, and thanks for the links!
Check out my various projects and services at Itinerant Tightwad. I also have a monthly education newsletter.
I think it's perhaps unfair to judge Ruby Tuesdays by their most caloric and fat items. They have a wonderful salad bar that includes MANY fresh veggies, and that's what I eat there. I love it because of the salad bar. So keep that in mind when you make these judgments, okay?
Adrian at 7 years to 7 million. Regular personal finance blogs get very old hat and repetitive, but the "outside the box" thinking at Adrian's site really inspired me.
Trying batch cooking...again...is on my to-do list for this year. I bought a book, equipment, etc. many years ago but though I could set aside a weekend to cook, my family didn't bond to the recipes as I hoped they would. Getting the basic ingredients ready rather than cooking lots of the same kind of casserole ready for assembly is what I've learned from you and Myscha.
My adaptations are basic but I want to do more: make and freeze spaghetti sauce (my family can nearly always eat this); freeze fruit and veggies from the farmer, and use in at least 1 dish per month; buy the frozen cookie dough or whatever my or my kids' group is selling and break those out occasionally (I'll also try your cookies though!)
I, too, received a card in the mail without even having ever heard of Netspend. Of course, when I call them, there is no way to actually speak to a representative without agreeing to their terms. How can I reach a human being at this place without saying yes to terms I don't agree with??
Jacob from Early Retirement Extreme.
In the last 5 months I had the interest rate jacked up on 3 credit cards. All of them were with Chase bank, thanks to their acquiring Washington Mutual. I could have "closed" those accounts and kept the same interest rates. That would have negatively impacted my credit score. Luckily I was able to get a zero interest loan from family and just pay the cards off. Here's the interesting part. I was never late on a payment or ever went over my limit. Chase still raised the rates on my cards and refused to even discuss alternatives. Card A) raised from 9.99% fixed to Prime rate (3.25%) plus 9.99%. Card B) raised from 10.99% to Prime plus 9.99% but card C) was raised from 13.99% (barely used just to keep the card active!) to Prime rate plus 16.99%.
My income is such that technically I'm classified as "The Working Poor" (27k a year for me)How many other people are being penalized on their credit card rates just because they don't make lots of money and don't have family who can bail them out?
It seems to me that the banks are attempting to recoup the losses they incurred (while gambling with our money!!) by financially raping the people least able to afford it. How many more families will be forced into bankruptcy by these changes?
I'm curious as to what your readers think about these changes and if the middle class is even aware of how the poor are being further brutalized. Your thoughts?
On a side note, I'm also attempting to purchase a home. The only ones in my price range are bank owned already. The only reason I haven't been able to get a house (I've already pre-qualified!) is because the banks that own the homes refuse to make the mostly minor repairs that would let the houses qualify for VA or FHA financing. Just another policy that keeps the working poor from bettering their lot in life.
Thanks for letting me vent and hopefully make more people aware that, as always, the people who already have it the worst pay a disproportionately high price for a failing economy.
I also have a friend who got this game and let me play it.
First, the game is extremely biased. You cannot make more money by getting a higher paying job or reducing your expenses, for example.
Second, there are several situations where you get a range of values when trying to decide whether to buy something, but in real life all you know is what something is for sale for now, what recent and past prices have been, what rents are now, etc. You really cannot predict whether you are buying near a peak or valley as well as you can in this game.
You do get to work with a balance sheet, which is kind of boring actually. Everyone has an accountant to double-check their math (everyone is both a player and an accountant), but in real life, there were usually only one or two people who had a clue and they would be everyone's accountant, including their own.
And after a while, you realize that you can often get lucky with certain kinds of purchases, but rarely unlucky (unlike real life) and never lucky with others.
It was interesting, but mostly I was just trying to guess what would work in the game. As for learning how to do things in the real world, I felt the game was too biased and minimized risk too much and was thus too dangerous.
I got a stack of 3 gallon buckets and lids (more useful than the larger 5 or 10 gallon and easier to move around) from a local ice cream shop. They had a hundred of them, all washed and sparkling (and, naturally, food grade) -- they begged me to take more!
I DID give a source. A source with references to MANY medical journals supporting it.
You are a retarded.
Best regards.
barbas.
You are a retarded.
Best regards.
barbas.
I did this while I was on the john!
I just love The Simple Dollar!
Suze Orman for her realistic advice
Ramit Sethi especially for his advice on setting up automatic saving by using ING direct
Getting a green switch will help in reducing your carbon footprint and lowering your energy bills.
And if you're seriously telling me Shatner is a great actor, I have to disagree with you 100%. I'm not saying I don't like him, I do. He's got a way with delivery. But come on, the guy is hardly a Pacino or Denzel Washington.
I have always been a big follower of Clark Howard. His frugality inspired me early on.
I have to say that Trent @ The Simple Dollar is my current favorite. His blend of wise financial input, frugality, and simple living is good for the balance sheet and the soul.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich. His writing is so down to earth, especially in his book, and he gives lots of examples and scripts to follow.