Recent comments

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    We dine out at least twice a week. After doting on my family the whole work week, I feel I deserve to be waited upon, myself!

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    I typically eat out one day at work for lunch with my coworkers and once on the weekend for dinner.

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    once every couple of weeks.

  • The $40 Hidden Inside a 12V Battery   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Poor and misleading.

    1. 394 batteries can be purchased as Silver Oxide or Alkaline. The Silver Oxide version will last about 40% longer. The ones you get out of an A23 will be alkaline.

    2. The pricing claims in this article are a crock. They claim that the 394 will cost $5 and that the A23 pack only costs $2, but they are comparing on-line A23 prices to in-store 394 prices! If you buy your 394's online (the way they bought the A23), you can get them for about $1 each. So a $1.66 A23 online will provide you with 8 $1 batteries. You get $8 from one A23, not "40" dollars. When you account for the 40% shorter battery life, you get $5 worth of 394'a for a $1.66 A23. That's about a 3 to 1 savings.

    3. But wait, now you have to cut open a case, and you have to change your batteries 3 times as often
    I don't know about you, but that's just not worth the savings.

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    I don't dine out too often. Probably less than once a month. Beside the cost factor, I like my cooking better, and I know it's healthy!

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    My husband and I go out to eat about 1-2x a month. Generally we save up our credit card rewards points and are able to use the points to dine anywhere we want for "free". We like to go to locally owned restaurants rather than chains. We don't do takeout much at all...perhaps twice a year?

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Usually about once every few months, more in the summer as we take advantage of our beautiful summer days and great seasonal restaurants. (I have to say though, I am a good cook, enough that my family would rather eat at home. We are renting an apartment on vacation so I can cook dinners because my kids would rather not go out!)

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    We eat out maybe once or twice a month unless we are on vacation or have a special date night or something. I always order water to save money and will just take sips of whatever bottomless beverage my husband orders.

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    I dine out 2 times a week, mostly to grab lunch-- just on days I don't pack. I try to pack as often as I can, but life sometimes get in the way, you know!

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    My wife and I eat out once or twice a week. It gives me an occasional break from cooking, and there always seems to be at least one special occasion every month that calls for dining out. I usually order water instead of soda or alcohol to save a few bucks, and I pay with my Amazon Rewards card to earn points. It also helps to order entrees that can become two meals (tomorrow's packed lunch) at a decent price.

  • Curing Warts, Removing Splinters, and 19 Other Bizarre Uses for Banana Peels   12 years 49 weeks ago

    the inside of a banana peel can be used to remove scratches from cd's, dvd's and glasses. softly rub and then buff. I know that it works on dvd's have not tried on my glasses.

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Growing up, we ate out once a week - on Sundays. I try not to eat out any more than twice a week when possible.

    I typically like to eat out only when I probably could not successfully make the same meal at home.

    To lower costs when dining out, I like to eat family style with friends.

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    We rarely ever eat out. From the food sources to the food preparation, I personally have difficulty trusting anything not prepared by myself. If I want something cheap and easy, I can make it! If I want gourmet I can make that, too!

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    My fiance and I eat out two to three times a week. Usually on Friday and Saturday nights, and sometimes for lunch after church on Sunday. Also, Special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries are usually spent dining out.

    One way that we lower the cost of dining out at a nice restaurant is to split the entree. We will usually order an appetizer and each order a side salad, but the entrees are usually too much food for one person to eat and full of calories. We are both watching our weight, so it's nice to occasionally dine out, but eat only half of the meal. Neither of us are big drinkers, so we order ice water to cut down on the dinner bill, as well.

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    There was a time where I was dinning out daily, and sometimes multiple times during the day. I weighted the most I ever did at that time, and my pocket book hurt doing it... I've now switched and dine out at most once a week. My health has gotten better, I've lost quite a few pounds, I can't eat like I used to (Pizza hut and McDonalds make me sick) but I feel WAY healthier. You can cut your cost in half by replacing those $5 footlongs for $2.50 Healthy Choice frozen meals.

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    We used to dine out a lot. Now it's about once a week or less.

  • Top 6 Reasons Why Using Cash-Only Rocks   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Credit card companies charge the retailers 3% in processing fees. There is a gas station in my neighborhood that offers 3% discount when paying cash. Also many small businesses will give a cash discount if you ask. Instead of giving Visa the 3% and having them split it with you, paying cash helps keep the money in your community.

  • 6 Options if You're Underwater on Your Mortgage   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Kelja; You are incorrectly and unfairly lumping everyone who is upside down on their mortgage into one basket. I purchased a home 9 years ago, just prior to the real estate fallout. Once the fallout snowballed, my property became worth less than what I paid for it. I was not irresponsible, I did not ask for a handout nor did I buy a home that I couldn't afford. Additionally, I had one neighbor default and foreclose on their home, not because of irresponsibility but due to overwhelming medical bills when his wife became sick. Another neighbor also foreclosed on thier home due to a death of their spouse...a third neighbor foreclosed due to a divorce. All three of these foreclosures were on the same street as my home. All unfortunate but not one of them due to being irresponsible, sometimes life happens. Because of these foreclosures, the market value of my home went down. The value went down so far that I cannot sell my home for what I owe on the mortgage. I cannot refi it because of the appraisal value being below the current mortgage. So, before you start judging someone for things you don't know and/or understand, I would suggest you step back for a moment and realize that any one of these situations could happen to you.

  • 6 Financial Mistakes We Don't Make Anymore (and 2 We Still Do)   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Great article. Add to the list "Thinking I am rich because my house appreciated". Too many people get into trouble with this. Your house appreciating doesn't help like you think. If you want to access the money, you have two choices: 1) Refinance (now you pay interest on "your" equity) 2) Sell the home (now you have to find a new place to live...which means you are likely buying another home that also appreciated). Unless your real estate is an investment property, appreciation isn't all it is cracked up to be. Although if you own in California and have $200k equity, you can sell and buy a house cash in many other parts of the country. At least then you don't have a payment...

  • Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Dine Out?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Once or twice a week.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Save on Gas?   12 years 49 weeks ago

    We save on gas by carpooling and using Gas Buddy on my smartphone. We also save by earning rewards at Fred Meyer for cents off per gallon. I try to keep my tire pressure correct to help as well. I also consolidate shopping trips instead of leaving the house for each little errand.

  • 15 Refreshing Ways to Use Mint   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Mint is great for all the reasons given. But this summer it's gone to the top of my list because it has caused raccoons who have been making a home under our front porch nigh these many years to pack up and disappear. So add raccoons to the mice and rats who don't appreciate it! We'll have to see what winter brings - but mint has made the summer even better since I transplanted it to that border garden!

  • 6 Financial Mistakes We Don't Make Anymore (and 2 We Still Do)   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Glad you were able to make lasting changes that have made a big difference in your wealth! Thanks for sharing.

  • 10 Fantastic Facts About Eggs   12 years 49 weeks ago

    I would do proper research before promoting something like number 4 - feeding raw foods. The suggested 'benefits' of feeding raw are often HEAVILY outweighed by the risks of disease - sometimes very serious disease in the very young and very old!

    http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2011/11/articles/animals/dogs/raw-diets...

  • Jobs That Offer Free Room and Board   12 years 49 weeks ago

    Where I rented a storage unit (a national company) they have a couple with nice living quarters adjacent to the office. Could be worth investigating.