Useful tips. For some time now, I've been using cash instead of my credit card and I noted that I have saved much: no more items that I don't use in the cupboard, wardrobe... As for the fun part, my friend doesn't understand how I can have a nice time walking, hiking in the mountain or just go swimming at the beach.. And my mother who used to live in a third world country taught me how to fix things by being creative (when I was a child I just didn't understand why she wouldn't buy something new when broken instead of repairing it...): now it's really handy
I will ditto the comment about lights; I don't commute by bicycle but have a friend who does -- the front light and rear flashing light are essentials, particularly for riding before dawn and also just in case of rain, fog, or darkness created by tree cover.
Those interested in the fitness and economy of bike commuting should not be deterred by having a longer distance commute. 7 miles is a good range to ride into and from work each day compared to a commute by car with potential traffic. If you live beyond that, try a multimodal commute by parking your car in a commuter lot within that range, or find a bus route that you take part of the way if your local system has buses with bike racks. The latter solution offers the possibility of saving hundreds if you and your partner current have two cars for commuting.
Great post! I've been contemplating part-time bike commuting (I can't make it to work on a bike because they don't allow bikes in the Lincoln Tunnel and I live in Jersey and work in NY). If anyone knows a way to do it please let me know!
But I was just thinking about biking to the train at least. I'll definitely use your advice.
Update on batch mentioned 4 or 5 posts ago and a question.
9 days after starting the brew, with bubbles still coming every 30 seconds, I pulled the plug.
I dumped yeast’s product thru a pillow case into another container. The pillow case caught almost nothing, but I stopped before pouring the thicker ivory cream in. I then saved the cream, maybe for food for the next batch.
For kicks, I took some readings of the wash:
The temp of the liquid was a measured 79 degrees.
I tried the alcohol meter and it read 7 percent. Not sure what that meant. Maybe the suspended yeast remains keeps the number low.
I tried the ‘sugar’ meter and it read 0-0. It almost sank out of sight. Don’t know what that means either.
I just put part A of the KLEER product in. Will update again, later.
QUESTIONS
Is the dead stuff at the bottom of the barrel food for the next batch of yeast ?
It's hard to convey my disgust with 'quantitative easing'. Asset prices need to drop. All this easing does is delay the inevitable drop. Real wages are stagnant. Once interest rates rise, demand will drop and prices will follow. All we are doing is delaying the inevitable and making the problem worse.
I think working your way down to the smallest to the largest credit card debt is an excellent idea. My husband and I the biggest financial mistake I thought we needed a bigger car and the house to have a baby. It would have been much less stressful the first two years if he had not heard people around us who need these things. Even now, when I talk to people having a third child asks me if Im buying a bigger house. I told them I still do not own one I have.
Whatever you do...do not trust Gapbusters! My bank account is getting closed right now because of the bullshit check I deposited. I admit I was a little worried about it being a scam, and the people there treat you so rude once you start to figure it out. I called the number (something with a 646 area code) and just like on of the ladies above, it was a guy named Micheal with a British attitude. He kept telling me the financial department would call me and "they couldnt figure our why my check was being held". I figured it once he would not let me speak to his supervisor, everytime I called I spoke with him, and he even hung up in my face when I got irate. He told me the only way for them to get my account straight was to give them my account info! ARE U SERIOUS? I told that guy **** you! Im honestly pissed that I believed this was a way to make money on the side and all I got from this experience is my bank thinking I cash counterfeit checks!
It may not be a scam..... but they hide behind a chat line which has poor customer service in and of itself. Plus, they have an over usage statement that they hide behind when their their customer service can't seem to assist in solving issues with their customers. Be careful when using magic jack if you are looking for job, over usage will get you!
I received one in the mail as well. I read the terms, found out it was a reloadable debit card and not a charge card, cut it up into twenty pieces and threw it out in the trash. I think they sent one to everyone on their address list (bought from places that you do business with). If they had checked first, they would have saw that I already have a VISA and a MasterCard with sky-high limits and would not need their services to begin with. This info is available to marketers (minus your account numbers, social security number and mother's maiden name) with your name and address for marketing purposes.
Get a credit card from a local credit union that owns their accounts (not one where they immediately sell the account to a large institution for a percentage of the profits). The usual maximum credit limit is $10K, but they won't shut down your account without telling you first unless you are seriously delinquent on payments, if the account has fraudulent activity (in which another account would be opened for you upon your request), if you file for bankruptcy (even if the account is paid off at the time) or if you die.
Also, notify that credit union before you make any out of country purchases. I forgot to do that (for one purchase online, luckily) and the CU thought it was fraud and shut down the account. Since I was not home when they called to notify me, my card was declined the next time I attempted to use it (a couple of weeks later). When I called and told them that I had authorized the charge, the credit line was reopened without further incident. Other than a itchy trigger finger if they are not told of international use before the purchase, it is a lot easier to deal with than a profit-driven large bank.
If you are in the UK, look for a building society (essentially a credit union in the UK).
I agree. Our debit card racks up points throughout the year (and I'm always swiping my card.) However, we usually use the points toward gas cards and Starbucks cards. :)
@Money Reasons - I've kind of make grocery shopping with coupons a game: I try and save the amount of money off the total bill in the amount of coupons I have. For instance, if my bill after coupons was $45 and I saved $45 in coupons and rewards, then I've done a terrific job. It makes it more fun. :)
@Sam - Even with last minute decisions, you could probably take advantage of rewards points. Apply them towards airline miles throughout the year or toward statement credits. Also, quickly searching online for a coupon code only takes a few minutes of your time!
In the UK, you can pick up an older luxury car like a Lexus, a BMW or a Mercedes for a lot less money than one just a few years old. The DVLA licencing system allows you to buy a private number plate that won't show the year identifier so your car looks great for longer and no one need know just how old it is.
Oh, yes. Years ago, the "short" used to be on the menu. That was before they introduced the gargantuan "venti." The short is 8 ounces, a nice amount for a hot drink. Thanks for pointing that out, Len!
We have a 10 year old boxer mix that we adopted when she was a pup. We immediately got her an insurance plan with VPI. We have been both pleased and displeased over the years. VPI has been excellent with two surgeries, reimbursing more than 65% of the cost on each procedure (one costing over $700 and the other more than $1000) and they were also fantastic when Charlotte had to have a knee replacement ($1,800 of which we were reimbursed 70%.) So, consider our pup a little high maintenance because she also has numerous skin allergies as well. Now, that's where we've had some issues. VPI has not been very giving with the many, many tests running in the 200-400 dollar range to determine what she was allergic to and the multiple steroid shots and repeat vet visits for breakouts etc. We would get maybe 20% if that in return or nothing at all. So, we were happy about the three big claims, but then again, we didn't know anything about researching other pet insurance companies or really what we were doing or what we would actually need when signing up. What I would recommend is definitely get insurance with someone if you are adopting a pup with unknown history like we did, but do explore other companies besides the biggest one, VPI, and see what they offer. And, consider something other than just a basic plan b/c with us, a vet visit is always at least $150 or so and has been as much as $400 to %500 in a month with VPI not reimbursing ANYTHING. Insurance is worth it, but you want to make sure the company you have it with is going to hold up their end on all claims, not just the BIG ones.
As a customer service rep for an insurance company, I'd like to add a few more thoughts...Don't even think about picking up the phone to make a customer service call unless you've got something to write with, paper to write on and the documents pertaining to your call. Don't call on a cell phone if a land line is available because dropped calls and conversations that cut out because you're in a bad reception area are annoying to you and waste the customer service reps time. Never call while you're driving, cooking, eating, drinking, have your crying children or loud pets underfoot. You will have to take notes during the conversation so be prepared to do so. NEVER hang up the phone without getting the name of the person you spoke to. You don't have much credibility when you say "somebody you spoke to" told you something but can't prove what you've been told.
hey, for all u dudes and dudets who have scratched up games for xbox,wii,ps2, or ps3, what u can do is go to blockbuster or hollywood video and rent the game or even movie that u already have that is scratched up, write the code that is on the good disc onto the bad disc and put the bad disc in the good disc case and send it back to the owners and just say that the game/disc that u rented is scratched and they will say sorry and take it back. they might even give you a refund. (and its all okay if you take it back to blockbuster for them, cause they get free replacements on movies) ;)
I'm trying to find out if TNS Global is for real or not. I can find their website, but I can't find too much more info on them. I work as a merchandiser for a company and I know there are actual secret shoppers out there. I received a help wanted notice from a site several weeks ago and sent in my resume and work profile. I got an email from them last week saying I had been hired and would receive my contract by mail which I just received today. Along with it was a check with a partial breakdown as to what it was for. Check amount was $3961.50 which will be activated when I call them. It is brken down into 3 catagories as to what it's for. It has a lot of normal looking info on the contract, including an rep i.d. number just like I use for my other company I work for. Have you or any one else heard of or know if this company is real or not?? Don't want to be suckered in on this. I haven't called them yet, because I just received letter today 8/14/10 and everone is closed now.
Thanks,
Tim Davis spirit97x3@yahoo.com
After being knocked off my bike twice by cars making no indicator turns I feel a helmet is essential too.... even if they do looks silly!
Great article by the way :)
Useful tips. For some time now, I've been using cash instead of my credit card and I noted that I have saved much: no more items that I don't use in the cupboard, wardrobe... As for the fun part, my friend doesn't understand how I can have a nice time walking, hiking in the mountain or just go swimming at the beach.. And my mother who used to live in a third world country taught me how to fix things by being creative (when I was a child I just didn't understand why she wouldn't buy something new when broken instead of repairing it...): now it's really handy
WTF is a loyalty card?
I will ditto the comment about lights; I don't commute by bicycle but have a friend who does -- the front light and rear flashing light are essentials, particularly for riding before dawn and also just in case of rain, fog, or darkness created by tree cover.
I too have only used creamy peanut butter for scratches. Works great for us!
Those interested in the fitness and economy of bike commuting should not be deterred by having a longer distance commute. 7 miles is a good range to ride into and from work each day compared to a commute by car with potential traffic. If you live beyond that, try a multimodal commute by parking your car in a commuter lot within that range, or find a bus route that you take part of the way if your local system has buses with bike racks. The latter solution offers the possibility of saving hundreds if you and your partner current have two cars for commuting.
Great post! I've been contemplating part-time bike commuting (I can't make it to work on a bike because they don't allow bikes in the Lincoln Tunnel and I live in Jersey and work in NY). If anyone knows a way to do it please let me know!
But I was just thinking about biking to the train at least. I'll definitely use your advice.
Zorcy wannabe
Update on batch mentioned 4 or 5 posts ago and a question.
9 days after starting the brew, with bubbles still coming every 30 seconds, I pulled the plug.
I dumped yeast’s product thru a pillow case into another container. The pillow case caught almost nothing, but I stopped before pouring the thicker ivory cream in. I then saved the cream, maybe for food for the next batch.
For kicks, I took some readings of the wash:
The temp of the liquid was a measured 79 degrees.
I tried the alcohol meter and it read 7 percent. Not sure what that meant. Maybe the suspended yeast remains keeps the number low.
I tried the ‘sugar’ meter and it read 0-0. It almost sank out of sight. Don’t know what that means either.
I just put part A of the KLEER product in. Will update again, later.
QUESTIONS
Is the dead stuff at the bottom of the barrel food for the next batch of yeast ?
What do those readings mean that I took?
It's hard to convey my disgust with 'quantitative easing'. Asset prices need to drop. All this easing does is delay the inevitable drop. Real wages are stagnant. Once interest rates rise, demand will drop and prices will follow. All we are doing is delaying the inevitable and making the problem worse.
I think working your way down to the smallest to the largest credit card debt is an excellent idea. My husband and I the biggest financial mistake I thought we needed a bigger car and the house to have a baby. It would have been much less stressful the first two years if he had not heard people around us who need these things. Even now, when I talk to people having a third child asks me if Im buying a bigger house. I told them I still do not own one I have.
Whatever you do...do not trust Gapbusters! My bank account is getting closed right now because of the bullshit check I deposited. I admit I was a little worried about it being a scam, and the people there treat you so rude once you start to figure it out. I called the number (something with a 646 area code) and just like on of the ladies above, it was a guy named Micheal with a British attitude. He kept telling me the financial department would call me and "they couldnt figure our why my check was being held". I figured it once he would not let me speak to his supervisor, everytime I called I spoke with him, and he even hung up in my face when I got irate. He told me the only way for them to get my account straight was to give them my account info! ARE U SERIOUS? I told that guy **** you! Im honestly pissed that I believed this was a way to make money on the side and all I got from this experience is my bank thinking I cash counterfeit checks!
It may not be a scam..... but they hide behind a chat line which has poor customer service in and of itself. Plus, they have an over usage statement that they hide behind when their their customer service can't seem to assist in solving issues with their customers. Be careful when using magic jack if you are looking for job, over usage will get you!
I received one in the mail as well. I read the terms, found out it was a reloadable debit card and not a charge card, cut it up into twenty pieces and threw it out in the trash. I think they sent one to everyone on their address list (bought from places that you do business with). If they had checked first, they would have saw that I already have a VISA and a MasterCard with sky-high limits and would not need their services to begin with. This info is available to marketers (minus your account numbers, social security number and mother's maiden name) with your name and address for marketing purposes.
Get a credit card from a local credit union that owns their accounts (not one where they immediately sell the account to a large institution for a percentage of the profits). The usual maximum credit limit is $10K, but they won't shut down your account without telling you first unless you are seriously delinquent on payments, if the account has fraudulent activity (in which another account would be opened for you upon your request), if you file for bankruptcy (even if the account is paid off at the time) or if you die.
Also, notify that credit union before you make any out of country purchases. I forgot to do that (for one purchase online, luckily) and the CU thought it was fraud and shut down the account. Since I was not home when they called to notify me, my card was declined the next time I attempted to use it (a couple of weeks later). When I called and told them that I had authorized the charge, the credit line was reopened without further incident. Other than a itchy trigger finger if they are not told of international use before the purchase, it is a lot easier to deal with than a profit-driven large bank.
If you are in the UK, look for a building society (essentially a credit union in the UK).
I agree. Our debit card racks up points throughout the year (and I'm always swiping my card.) However, we usually use the points toward gas cards and Starbucks cards. :)
@Money Reasons - I've kind of make grocery shopping with coupons a game: I try and save the amount of money off the total bill in the amount of coupons I have. For instance, if my bill after coupons was $45 and I saved $45 in coupons and rewards, then I've done a terrific job. It makes it more fun. :)
@Sam - Even with last minute decisions, you could probably take advantage of rewards points. Apply them towards airline miles throughout the year or toward statement credits. Also, quickly searching online for a coupon code only takes a few minutes of your time!
In the UK, you can pick up an older luxury car like a Lexus, a BMW or a Mercedes for a lot less money than one just a few years old. The DVLA licencing system allows you to buy a private number plate that won't show the year identifier so your car looks great for longer and no one need know just how old it is.
Oh, yes. Years ago, the "short" used to be on the menu. That was before they introduced the gargantuan "venti." The short is 8 ounces, a nice amount for a hot drink. Thanks for pointing that out, Len!
We have a 10 year old boxer mix that we adopted when she was a pup. We immediately got her an insurance plan with VPI. We have been both pleased and displeased over the years. VPI has been excellent with two surgeries, reimbursing more than 65% of the cost on each procedure (one costing over $700 and the other more than $1000) and they were also fantastic when Charlotte had to have a knee replacement ($1,800 of which we were reimbursed 70%.) So, consider our pup a little high maintenance because she also has numerous skin allergies as well. Now, that's where we've had some issues. VPI has not been very giving with the many, many tests running in the 200-400 dollar range to determine what she was allergic to and the multiple steroid shots and repeat vet visits for breakouts etc. We would get maybe 20% if that in return or nothing at all. So, we were happy about the three big claims, but then again, we didn't know anything about researching other pet insurance companies or really what we were doing or what we would actually need when signing up. What I would recommend is definitely get insurance with someone if you are adopting a pup with unknown history like we did, but do explore other companies besides the biggest one, VPI, and see what they offer. And, consider something other than just a basic plan b/c with us, a vet visit is always at least $150 or so and has been as much as $400 to %500 in a month with VPI not reimbursing ANYTHING. Insurance is worth it, but you want to make sure the company you have it with is going to hold up their end on all claims, not just the BIG ones.
I just got the gold level for my Starbucks card. I limit myself to one latte a week so it took 7 months to get there!
I agree that it's all about balance.
Save money, get rid of your extortionate rental on Mobile gadgets and phones , choose a cheap model and keep it for emergencies.
As a customer service rep for an insurance company, I'd like to add a few more thoughts...Don't even think about picking up the phone to make a customer service call unless you've got something to write with, paper to write on and the documents pertaining to your call. Don't call on a cell phone if a land line is available because dropped calls and conversations that cut out because you're in a bad reception area are annoying to you and waste the customer service reps time. Never call while you're driving, cooking, eating, drinking, have your crying children or loud pets underfoot. You will have to take notes during the conversation so be prepared to do so. NEVER hang up the phone without getting the name of the person you spoke to. You don't have much credibility when you say "somebody you spoke to" told you something but can't prove what you've been told.
hey, for all u dudes and dudets who have scratched up games for xbox,wii,ps2, or ps3, what u can do is go to blockbuster or hollywood video and rent the game or even movie that u already have that is scratched up, write the code that is on the good disc onto the bad disc and put the bad disc in the good disc case and send it back to the owners and just say that the game/disc that u rented is scratched and they will say sorry and take it back. they might even give you a refund. (and its all okay if you take it back to blockbuster for them, cause they get free replacements on movies) ;)
I'm trying to find out if TNS Global is for real or not. I can find their website, but I can't find too much more info on them. I work as a merchandiser for a company and I know there are actual secret shoppers out there. I received a help wanted notice from a site several weeks ago and sent in my resume and work profile. I got an email from them last week saying I had been hired and would receive my contract by mail which I just received today. Along with it was a check with a partial breakdown as to what it was for. Check amount was $3961.50 which will be activated when I call them. It is brken down into 3 catagories as to what it's for. It has a lot of normal looking info on the contract, including an rep i.d. number just like I use for my other company I work for. Have you or any one else heard of or know if this company is real or not?? Don't want to be suckered in on this. I haven't called them yet, because I just received letter today 8/14/10 and everone is closed now.
Thanks,
Tim Davis
spirit97x3@yahoo.com