Recent comments

  • Ask the Readers: How Do you Save on Your Phone Bill?   12 years 40 weeks ago

    I save on my phone bill by doing Skype video calls for free from my laptop.

  • 12 Ways to Make Yourself Save More Money   12 years 40 weeks ago

    A friend of mine is always looking for spare pennies on the street. People laugh at him, because what's a penny worth? Sometimes he finds a nickel or even a quarter.

    At the end of every (calendar) quarter, he takes his cash treasure to the bank and deposits the total in his savings account.

    He probably won't get rich with this method, but he's saving free money -- and you can't beat that! No need to cut anything at all.

  • The Private Financial Information You Must Share   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Very organized, Julie, although it seems so overwhelming to pull all this information together!

    It reminds me of the process to change my last name after I got married. I listed all the bank and investment accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, magazine subscriptions, professional organizations, rewards programs (airlines, car rental, retail), house title and mortgage, etc. The list was over 100 items! Eventually I got it all done although there are a few items that creep through with the old name.

    The key to tackling the tasks you describe is the same -- do a bit at a time so you don't get overwhelmed!

  • Ask the Readers: How Do you Save on Your Phone Bill?   12 years 40 weeks ago

    No land line at all, and just a cheap $35 a month cell plan with Virgin Mobile. That gets 300 minutes and "unlimited" data. I almost never use up the 300 minutes, but if I need to make a long call, I use my Google Voice number with the Talkatone app for unlimited free calls in the U.S. I could actually do that without the Virgin Mobile plan at all as long as I was willing to only be able to access the internet when on wifi - always an option if I need to cut out the $35 expense.

  • How to Get Free or Cheap Internet Access   12 years 40 weeks ago

    I'm not a fan of promoting using free wifi at businesses.
    Once in a while is OK, especially if you are purchasing something. I think of all the times I've been to starbucks or a coffee shop looking for a spot to sit with my coffee and many tables are taken by people who are not buying anything or bought something small hours ago and are taking up space.
    Perhaps in a small town with a small population it's not as much of a problem but in major cities like NYC it is.

  • 11 Attractive Standing Desks You Can Actually Afford   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Hi Lars,

    I think the yoga ball and balance ball chair are the same thing. I have no empirical evidence that either provides any sort of physical benefit. Has it helped you?

  • To Buy or Not to Buy? Criteria for Thrift-Store Clothes Shopping   12 years 40 weeks ago

    The rubbing alcohol is part of an old wardrober/costumers trick called "Frenching." (It also has some other fun names.) We often mix rosewater with our sprays though to help mitigate the smell of alcohol.

    It's primarily used on costumes that need to be worn more than once, but can't be washed between wearings. It's still used today in a lot of theater, theme park, and film costume houses and productions.

    And I do agree that missing buttons and busted zippers, or items waaayyy too large for me to wear have never stopped me from buying them given that I took home ec when I was 16.

  • 11 Attractive Standing Desks You Can Actually Afford   12 years 40 weeks ago

    As it happens, I do sit on a yoga ball at my desk. Actually, it's a "Balance Ball Chair," which is a smallish yoga ball in plastic stand. It's got wheels like a desk chair, and a back rest. But otherwise, it promotes good posture, and one can stretch and do limited core exercises, if were were so inclined (so to speak), same as a regular yoga ball.

    Can you point to any science or studies about the health effects of a yoga ball? I'd be really curious to learn how effective this thing is.

  • Your Daily Dose of Caffeine May Be Hurting You   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Thanks for the link. I actually found several studies contradicting this, but I only found them via hard copy. I suspect that dehydration is something to be wary of with caffeine, even if not to the extent it's often been touted.

  • Your Daily Dose of Caffeine May Be Hurting You   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Thanks for the idea! I'll see if I can't add it to my queue one I get through a stash of holiday articles.

  • 6 Ways My Family Scores Free Travel With Credit Cards   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Thank you so much for the tip. I like that idea for using these tips for airline miles. I would be interested of getting their credit card. I’m specially would like to use for Star Alliance carriers like Lufthansa for example. However, it seems like a daunting task to earn 100,000 miles to transfer. I know you earn the most points by staying in their hotels, what is the average amount of time to earn these kind of miles? Is there a method you use? Mattress Run you may take part in? Staying at their cheaper locations?

  • Your Daily Dose of Caffeine May Be Hurting You   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Please don't spread bad information! The dehydration/diuretic effect has very little evidence supporting it, according to the National Institutues of Health review of studies.

    Summary: "The available literature suggests that acute ingestion of caffeine in large doses (at least 250-300 mg, equivalent to the amount found in 2-3 cups of coffee or 5-8 cups of tea) results in a short-term stimulation of urine output in individuals who have been deprived of caffeine for a period of days or weeks. A profound tolerance to the diuretic and other effects of caffeine develops, however, and the actions are much diminished in individuals who regularly consume tea or coffee. Doses of caffeine equivalent to the amount normally found in standard servings of tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks appear to have no diuretic action."

    They conclude: "The most ecologically valid of the published studies offers no support for the suggestion that consumption of caffeine-containing beverages as part of a normal lifestyle leads to fluid loss in excess of the volume ingested or is associated with poor hydration status. Therefore, there would appear to be no clear basis for refraining from caffeine containing drinks in situations where fluid balance might be compromised."

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774754

  • 12 Ways to Make Yourself Save More Money   12 years 40 weeks ago

    One thing I usually do is wait till I get home to have wine if it's just a casual meal out, as the mark up is so huge, and try to eat out in the week when it's cheaper.

    Other than that I try to arrange activities around being at home, either mine or a friend's to avoid all the added expense of drinks, snacks etc.

  • Your Daily Dose of Caffeine May Be Hurting You   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Thanks for the info! I consume a lot of caffeine and it definitely has also been shown to have some great side-effects, like huge amounts of antioxidants that are easy for the body to absorb. But it's good to know the down-sides as well, like dehydration, so that we can compensate.

    ~Emily from The Orange Slate
    @emilyamccord
    http://www.theorangeslate.com

  • Your Daily Dose of Caffeine May Be Hurting You   12 years 40 weeks ago

    You should do one on the benefits of drinking coffee to balance this out.
    A growing body of research shows that coffee drinkers, compared to nondrinkers, are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and dementia, have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes. Some studies have shown it to help lower cholesterol. It also helps concentration.

  • 11 Attractive Standing Desks You Can Actually Afford   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Hmmm, the choices are using a standing desk or siting on a yoga ball. :)

  • 15 Halloween Costumes for People Who Hate Dressing Up   12 years 40 weeks ago

    I am too lazy... I probably will go with my pajamas and with my messy hair. :-)

  • How to Avoid (and Treat) Cold Sores   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Campophinquie works wonders amd its only 3 bucks. Just like everything else start to apply at tingle

  • 3 Surprising Ways to Save on Wireless Bills   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Great tips--Nice reminder of the best deals are sometimes right under our nose!

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Have a Frugal Halloween?   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Fortunately we live in a rural area so we don't get many trick-or-treaters. We were able to find the exact costume my daughter wanted on sale this year (20% off). It's cheap, but she's already wanted to wear it several times so it'll get it's use.

  • 47 Cheap, Fun Things to Do This Weekend   12 years 40 weeks ago

    play soccer with friends or family

  • Should I Take a Job That Pays Less Than Unemployment?   12 years 40 weeks ago

    I have worked for years as an Adm. Assistant. The Company moved to Dallas.
    I have been looking for jobs of any kind including houskeer or nanny with not luck at all.
    I'm collecting benefits and is not enough, I have to support my handycap parents that do not qualify for benefits. I got a job offer of $7.00 hour we can not survive with that money, there is no way to wrogh in that Company even the suprvisors make $8.50 hourly. I have to stay in unemployment. Also, Companies are hiring reicruters to choose the personel wich makes worst to find a job.

  • Do You Really Need “Soft” Water?   12 years 40 weeks ago

    Really they use about as much electricty as a nite lite about 2 dollars a year , and salt cost for a famiy of 5 is about 16 dollars every 4 months I save more on soap than it takes to operate a softener plus I love my soft clean water

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Have a Frugal Halloween?   12 years 41 weeks ago

    My younger kids can wear outgrown outfits and buy candy on sale and with coupons and set a price limit on candy

  • How to Avoid (and Treat) Cold Sores   12 years 41 weeks ago

    I have found that if you pinch the area right after you get the tingle for a minute or so that the cold sore does not form. Has anyone else experienced this?