Recent comments

  • Self-Made Billionaires: Investment Lessons From Their Success   12 years 51 weeks ago

    We don't hear as much about those who made big bets and lost everything, esp. on the Forbes list though Kerimov's story was interesting to me as he lost big and then recovered. But as I think you have surmised that is part of the point: though there are many who take measured risks (especially those who buy at low valuations) and succeed, getting rich often involves taking large risks and making big moves. Most of these folks studied the market, economy, legislation, etc. first and then moved, rather than jumping in with little study or analysis.

  • Best Money Tips: How to Negotiate Your Rent Payment   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Nice roundup. I enjoyed the rent negotiating one.

    I think many people sometimes forget that just about everything is negotiable if you can get out of your comfort zone to ask for it!!!

  • Self-Made Billionaires: Investment Lessons From Their Success   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Great article. I need to work on taking on more financial risks. It sounds like a lot of these guys bet it all on a couple of deals and it ended up working out.

    I wonder how many others there are that bet big and lost it all?

  • 8 Financial To-Do's for College Freshmen   12 years 51 weeks ago

    These are great tips! Please stay away from credit cards unless you know what you're doing. They're like fire!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    We usually don't bother. I find that you can get cheaper deals on almost everything if you get in the habit of routinely going to yard sales.

    If a backpack is normally $40 and on sale for back to school for $30, why should I bother when I can buy someone's gently used on for $1 at a yard sale?

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    I go both ways -- I shop during the year when I see special prices on items I know my daughter will need or does need and when the back to school sales hit, I look over my inventory of stuff to determine what is still needed. I find this way of shopping the best fit for me so I can budget the cost of school supplies and clothing over the year instead of on big expense hitting late summer.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Do you shop back-to-school sales? Yes, I do almost every year.

    Do you buy supplies specifically for school or just everyday living? I buy anything that I will use either at school or for everyday living for most of the next year.

    What great deals have you come across this year? The best deal was a money making deal by combining a rebate and coupon at Staples. It was a net of about $30!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Back-to-School Sales?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    I shop the back to school sales just to load up on pencils, crayons, etc. We need them all year but they have obviously the best supply in the stores right now.

  • Will A Dental Discount Plan Save You Money?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    try 1dental.com that is the discount plan I am using and it have great savings for tooth extractions but my dentist are in SC that may be a big difference.

  • Will A Dental Discount Plan Save You Money?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    I signed up with 1dental I need a lot of work done and my teenage daughter who is 18. They have a list of providers in the network and I called several of them until I found a general practice that will do root canals. with the plan on her molar tooth including filling will be $500 + the temp filling of 120 the cost could have been easily 900 -1000. So I'm thankful for the savings and my daughter get to keep her tooth. I have two teeth in the front that will cost me $339 per tooth for root canals. There is no waiting period and you can save with the right discount program. I took my 11 year old and 15 year old for full xrays, cleaning, office visit, flouride for $300 don't know if this is the best plan out there or not but it did save me some. My providers are in Columbia. SC. You really have to call around to check prices. If you know of a better plan let me know as well.

  • The 5 Best Toaster Ovens   12 years 51 weeks ago

    These toaster ovens have a non-stick coating in the interior which off-gasses toxic fumes into your food. Better to get a Waring toaster oven which has no non-stick coating inside. Healthier.

    I'd never buy anything with non-stick coating.

  • 15 Wonderful Uses for Witch Hazel   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Whenever I scraped my knee or whatever (which was quite often, I was always climbing trees/fences but I am also notoriously clumsy) My mom had a bottle of Witch Hazel capsules in the house and anytime I was bleeding, she's pull apart the two pieces of capsule and sprinkle the contents onto my wound- instant scab.

  • Psychology of Money: How We Secretly Want People to Make Us Buy Things   12 years 51 weeks ago

    I can definitely relate, and in truth it is why I love gift cards so much. I HAVE to spend $25 at Barnes and Noble. Sometimes I figure out a way to buy a needed gift for someone so I can pocket the "real money", but it is often fun to be given permission to spend money on a frivolous category that I normally wouldn't. I especially feel that way when the budget has been especially tight.

    That said, I would love new living room furniture but it will be several years before that happens. Unless I somehow win a $5000 gift card to a furniture store... I certainly wouldn't complain! ;)

  • 30 Signs That You Were Raised by Frugal Parents   12 years 51 weeks ago

    I love this! I guilty of 98% of these. I grew up shopping at thrift stores and to this day a great percentage of my clothing is purchased at thrift stores. Another thing we do is dilute dish soap and hand soap with water to make it last longer. We also wask dishes and clothes with the same soap. :)

  • Why Index Funds Are the Best Choice for New Investors   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Thanks for chiming in Robert. Good luck with your active funds.

  • Will A Dental Discount Plan Save You Money?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Hi Guest! Have you considered a discount dental plan? Their monthly fees are very reasonable for a single membership, and the savings can really add up and make a difference. With a discount dental plan, you can save on routine and preventive dental care as well as more costly services and specialty treatment. I think it may be worth the time to see what's available to you and how it may help you save on the dental care that is so important to your overall health.

  • Will A Dental Discount Plan Save You Money?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    gee, everyone isn't young with a family so this article says nothing to me. Since insurance companies ream single people to the tune of $38/month for singles while charging whole families only $45/month this article is painfully useless to me. Most dental insurance plans hardly cover anything more than the basics so if you need serious work finding a dentist who discounts could save you tons of dollars. My retiree dental plan only covers 25% for crowns and root canals and you pay a $50 deductible for each visit - and they decide what they will cover. They treat your oral health like it's not even part of your healthcare while science is showing that dental health is crucial to overall health. So much for healthcare reform in my lifetime. It's all about the insurance companies isn't it?

  • Capital One 360: A Competitive Banking Option   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Until they were purchased I was an ING customer for 7 years. In general the 360 banking is fine, but gaining access to my account is a real chore. If you forget your pin, they have to mail it to you and you have no access for 5 days - sorry , no easy reset with DOB, Soc. Sec#, home address, phone, last deposit/withdrawl amounts. My latest experience had the rep suggesting he transfer money to a linked account and I use that bank until the new PIN arrived. My advice to Capital One - embrace technology and balance security and convenience.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Vouchers?   12 years 51 weeks ago

    I've bought vouchers in the past, but I haven't for a while. Sometimes they have helped me save money, and sometimes they have expired before I remembered to use them. A few businesses even went out of business before I got to use the vouchers for the business, but I've been able to get my money back or transfer the voucher.

  • Jobs That Offer Free Room and Board   12 years 51 weeks ago

    How would Courthouse Title Examiner get a free room and board??

  • The Pros and Cons of Paying Cash for a House   12 years 51 weeks ago

    I looked at a house yesterday that the bank bought back at sheriffs auction. the bank is selling it for $23,000. Tax assessors had the 100% value at $63,000 or so. If I had about $23,000 I would buy it. Doesn't need a whole lot of work. And what I would save in rent/mortgage I could put into the house. We are paying $800 in rent. So imagine putting $800 in the house for the next 1-2 years.

  • 5 Best Amazon Deals for Friday 08/16   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Thanks for sharing these Amazon deals! I'm a huge fan of Amazon shopping because of their quick and free shipping (most of the time).

  • Psychology of Money: How We Secretly Want People to Make Us Buy Things   12 years 51 weeks ago

    I think by having someone make us buy things we are able to place blame on another person if people starting questioning our actions. Say someone tells you to go buy a car that is way over your budget. You get in over your head they you can always say Philip told me is was a good deal. I agree that I probably has to do more with the wants in life since we cant justify buying something just as a want since it can always lead to being questioned if it was a good choice or not.

  • How to Travel Full-Time for $17,000 a Year (or Less!)   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Thanks for the tip. I like. You make traveling seem so easy on that kind of budget...

  • 21 Disposable Products You Can Reuse   12 years 51 weeks ago

    Yes, there is a reason to use a swim diaper rather than a regular disposable diaper, especially in pools. A regular disposable diaper will get completely saturated quickly, and when it does, you will notice little gel beads in the diaper. Leave the baby in the pool a little longer and the diaper will explode ( not violently!) and these beads and diaper material will be in the pool water and get into the filter which causes huge problems. Do not use regular disposable diapers for swimming! If you are environmentally conscious and/or frugal, get the reusable diapers made specifically for swimming.