I'd consult your life insurance agent, assuming you have one! As an insurance agent myself I find it fascinating that you can sell your policy to a third party.
Very good stuff! I think every college graduate should read and employ these. In regards to life insurance, another great reason to get it is to insure your insurability. As a life agent myself, I have tried to write life insurance for people who are 28-32 who are UNINSURABLE. Also, don't buy your life insurance online! Get an agent from a respectable company.
I wish I could have read this post earlier. The best gift I could possibly give to a friend is a gift certificate for a crash course on handling personal finance. The lack of knowledge in this are cost me some years of struggle. I learned a lot from the experience but my life would have been smooth sailing if I have learned it from others.
We try not to buy too many toys as my daughter gets plenty from friends and family at Christmas and her birthday. For those we feel we need to pick up, I buy used - rummage sales or second-hand stores.
You might want to update your information about CVS's generic program. Their program is for 90 day fills only at $11.99 and they charge a yearly fee of $15.00 - Not the best deal. I am a pharmacy technician working on a book I'm writing about all the ways people can save money (switching to generics is just one way).
I thought I'd point out that the Kroger list is the same for all the stores Kroger owns that have pharmacies: Fred Meyer, Smiths, Fry's, King Sooper, Ralphs, QFC, Dillons, City Maket, and Gerbes. I looked at the list at all of the websites for those stores, and it's identical at each one.
When using one of these pharmacies $4/$10 generic "programs" you DO not use your insurance. Do NOT give the pharmacy technician your insurance card when you hand them your prescription(s). Your are paying $4.00 period - out of your pocket.
If you have insurance, I would recommend doing the following first, before you go to a local pharmacy to get this low rate. Call customer service for your pharamcy benefits - the number will be on the back of your pharmacy benefits card (not on your medical card). Ask them what a 30 day supply will cost you, and what a 90 day supply will cost you through mail order - your insurance is not likely to allow 90 days at a local pharmacy. Your cost using your insurance might be less. It's worth making one phone call to see which will be cheaper. If you have no insurance at all and the meds you are taking are on the $4/$10 list, then absoleutely do it. These are great prices.
Also, those of you who have insurance - you can usually do the pricing yourself at your insurance company's website. Just be sure to choose the correct strength of the drug and the correct dosage (number of pills).
Let me give you an example of how I used the $4 program earlier this year at Fred Meyer. One day I was have some truly nasty back pain. The pain was bad enough that I left work to see my doctor. She prescibed two medications - one a pain killer, the other a muscle relaxant. She wrote both for just a small supply since this back issue was just a flare-up. I wan't going to need either of these medications for a long time.
Before I went to Fred Meyer to have them filled, I accessed my insurance company's website and priced both medications. Then I went to Fred Meyers website to see if both meds were on the generics list, since both of the medications were generic. One was on the list, one wasn't. Lucky for me, the med that WAS on the list for $4.00 would have cost me about $62.00 if I had used my insurance. The drug that was NOT on Fred Meyers list WAS covered by my isurance - a $5.00 copay. So, when I went to Fred Meyer I told the techinican to bill my insurance for one medication and to give me the other on their generics program.
I walked out of the store with two medications and the total bill was only $9.00 - no sales tax here in Oregon.
It pays to make that phone call or check website or two.
I've made these twice already. I only had old fashioned oats and they work just fine. I add fresh blueberries and walnuts and they are soooo good! Thank you so much for this recipe. I freeze them two at a time in little ziploc snack bags, bring 'em to work and eat them after they defrost. My great niece was visiting a few weeks back and she enjoyed them as well (1 and a half year old). Thank you for the recipe!
The debate over this is so heated and split. Here's my story. My grandparents are farmers from Iowa who lived through the Great Depression. Somehow, they started and maintained a whole life policy through New York Life. When my grandma died unexpectedly 2 years ago at the age of 81, she died knowing that she and my grandpa had already decided to gift her 3 grandkids 2 separate gifts of $13,000 (one in December and one in January of a new tax year for a total of $26,000). Most likely, she would not have had life insurance had it been a term policy at that age. She and grandpa had the satisfaction of helping their grandkids...for me, it couldn't have been more unexpected or come at a better time. It immediately motivated me and my wife to put steps in place to do the same for our loved ones someday. I know it is expensive, but if we blend a policy with term and whole life and add paid up additions, we have a tax free option that we can use while still alive (hopefully) if we want to. A 529 must be used for education....this we could use for anything we want. We will earn too much for a Roth starting this year, so we continue to like this as an option for us. If you go with a reputable company, and find an agent willing to do what is best for you instead of their wallet, then whole life may give you something term cannot...peace of mind for a lifetime. I'm a teacher, and my wife is a pharmacist, and we are ok with being "crazy" enough to throw our money away as so many suggest when investing in a whole life policy...we are investing in options and peace of mind having seen what it can do.
Set up a lunch, pay for it, give 3 advices, and invite graduate to ask all the questions they want about life: marriage, taxes, house, sex, love, regrets, etc. This prompts them to ask openly which very few young adults have the opportunity or courage to do.
Besides the appointments part, these same things could be said for night-owls...like me. :) I get SO MUCH DONE at night when kids are fast asleep. My productivity level skyrockets, plus they don't wake-up like they do in the morning if I am busy and noisy. I get lots of alone time with my thoughts, and I definitely have time for recreation and exercise after everyone is fast asleep. The grocery store is totally dead at midnight, plus clearance racks go up regularly just before midnight. I get the BEST deals when I am in need of something specific! It's the best time to go shopping ever. I have the most wonderful quiet shopping trips. I just love it and my night owl ways. :) If the kids are in bed by 7:30 PM, I have another solid six hours to get an insane amount of work done. Then, in the morning, the kids get up and are responsible for their independent morning chores and schoolwork, and I'm out of bed not too long after the are to get breakfast going. Works great for us! ACtually, when we had our first child, my husband worked a swing shift, so we shifted to get up around noon every day and had our toddler bedtime around 1 am. That worked great to see daddy and have family time for us. Just don't get stuck in thinking that being a morning person is the "right" thing to do. It's just not an issue that will make you a better person or a better mama. Having a good healthy routine that works best for you and your family will make you a better mama, no matter how out of the box the routine is. :)
NOT TRUE, WHEN WE GOT A SECOND CABLE FOR A SECOND TV, THE CHEAP HDMI CABLE THAT CAME WITH THE BOX WOULD NOT WORK NOT ENOUGH TRANSFER RATE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BOUGHT ONE FOR 25 DOLLARS AND IT WORKS GREAT.
sorry not shouting my cap lock was on.
This is a great article. Once you find an online opportunity that interests you...take the challenge head on. I couldn't agree with you more about taking breaks and stepping out of the home for a while. It does wonders for your motivation and helps to rejuvenate your senses for maximizing your productivity levels. I was looking for a good online business and I found one. I have grown my initial investment over 270% since I started and, although there is a bit of a learning curve, it's a fun environment and a lot of the successful affiliates are very willing to assist the newbies grow their business. I highly recommend checking into it as the income is derived from a revenue-sharing program based on a penny auction.
Aww, thanks Andrew for those very kind words. I'm glad to hear that this article helped reinforce your path of self-growth. Change can be really scary, no matter how badly we need it and even when we consciously want it.
Looking back, I probably should have added some sort of reward system in this article too as I think it's extremely important to celebrate those small victories in some way... so do something nice for yourself for sticking to your guns and pushing forward :)
by the way -- wish I had known about selling hair many years ago. You have no idea how many times I chopped off locks of hair to have them thrown into the trash. I'm a natural redhead [auburn] and never died or permed my hair and didn't do much of anything to it! It was just naturally perfect and THICK. Man , I could've sold those flaming red locks to some rich broad for probably 10k. Now, I can't stand for my hair to get barely lower than my shoulders because the weight gives me a headache!
Locks of Love isn't a fraudulent company. They are just small and receive the most donations of hair. Their main priority is for kids with Alopecia.
If someone is looking to donate to kids and adults with cancer and other medical issues then they should look into Wigs For Kids.
If someone is looking to donate for kids with cancer then they should look into Wigs 4 Kids.
If someone is looking to donate for women with cancer then they should look Pantene Beautiful Lengths.
Research all of them. Don't listen to what so and so says at the hair salon or what one person writes on a blog. Research them yourself -- read their sites -- call them etc.
There was a ruckus over that Times article and the writer [Hyat] ended up calling Coffman [pres of LoL] in tears
"apologizing for what the Times editors had done to her story and the reputation of Locks and Love."
Locks of Love is legit --- they are just not the go to for all hair donations and since they receive [or did receive back then] the vast majority of donations , of course they got the bulk of non usable hair. All of the places get unusable hair because people don't research. I mean c'mon, sending in wet hair? What do they do -- go the the beauty salon get a wash and have their hair chopped off and put into bag? Just go write a check to some local legit charity or better yet volunteer somewhere if you don't know exactly what to do, not do, how to do it and what to do it with.
so you reckon that Bestmark is not a good company for mystery shopping at all? I am currently looking for companies based in vienna and prague..any suggestions?
I'd consult your life insurance agent, assuming you have one! As an insurance agent myself I find it fascinating that you can sell your policy to a third party.
Very good stuff! I think every college graduate should read and employ these. In regards to life insurance, another great reason to get it is to insure your insurability. As a life agent myself, I have tried to write life insurance for people who are 28-32 who are UNINSURABLE. Also, don't buy your life insurance online! Get an agent from a respectable company.
Good advice. I certainly agree with number 5. It's all about being congruent. Having your ideas and beliefs aligned with your actions.
Congratulations to David, Ellen and Renee!
I wish I could have read this post earlier. The best gift I could possibly give to a friend is a gift certificate for a crash course on handling personal finance. The lack of knowledge in this are cost me some years of struggle. I learned a lot from the experience but my life would have been smooth sailing if I have learned it from others.
Best regards,
Belinda | Nextpay.com
I already like you on Facebook
We try not to buy too many toys as my daughter gets plenty from friends and family at Christmas and her birthday. For those we feel we need to pick up, I buy used - rummage sales or second-hand stores.
Isn't mouthwash also germicidal?
I use Grapeseed Oil. Disappointed I didn't see it on your list. It's very heart healthy, great to cook with, and inexpensive.
You might want to update your information about CVS's generic program. Their program is for 90 day fills only at $11.99 and they charge a yearly fee of $15.00 - Not the best deal. I am a pharmacy technician working on a book I'm writing about all the ways people can save money (switching to generics is just one way).
I thought I'd point out that the Kroger list is the same for all the stores Kroger owns that have pharmacies: Fred Meyer, Smiths, Fry's, King Sooper, Ralphs, QFC, Dillons, City Maket, and Gerbes. I looked at the list at all of the websites for those stores, and it's identical at each one.
When using one of these pharmacies $4/$10 generic "programs" you DO not use your insurance. Do NOT give the pharmacy technician your insurance card when you hand them your prescription(s). Your are paying $4.00 period - out of your pocket.
If you have insurance, I would recommend doing the following first, before you go to a local pharmacy to get this low rate. Call customer service for your pharamcy benefits - the number will be on the back of your pharmacy benefits card (not on your medical card). Ask them what a 30 day supply will cost you, and what a 90 day supply will cost you through mail order - your insurance is not likely to allow 90 days at a local pharmacy. Your cost using your insurance might be less. It's worth making one phone call to see which will be cheaper. If you have no insurance at all and the meds you are taking are on the $4/$10 list, then absoleutely do it. These are great prices.
Also, those of you who have insurance - you can usually do the pricing yourself at your insurance company's website. Just be sure to choose the correct strength of the drug and the correct dosage (number of pills).
Let me give you an example of how I used the $4 program earlier this year at Fred Meyer. One day I was have some truly nasty back pain. The pain was bad enough that I left work to see my doctor. She prescibed two medications - one a pain killer, the other a muscle relaxant. She wrote both for just a small supply since this back issue was just a flare-up. I wan't going to need either of these medications for a long time.
Before I went to Fred Meyer to have them filled, I accessed my insurance company's website and priced both medications. Then I went to Fred Meyers website to see if both meds were on the generics list, since both of the medications were generic. One was on the list, one wasn't. Lucky for me, the med that WAS on the list for $4.00 would have cost me about $62.00 if I had used my insurance. The drug that was NOT on Fred Meyers list WAS covered by my isurance - a $5.00 copay. So, when I went to Fred Meyer I told the techinican to bill my insurance for one medication and to give me the other on their generics program.
I walked out of the store with two medications and the total bill was only $9.00 - no sales tax here in Oregon.
It pays to make that phone call or check website or two.
I hope this helps.
I've made these twice already. I only had old fashioned oats and they work just fine. I add fresh blueberries and walnuts and they are soooo good! Thank you so much for this recipe. I freeze them two at a time in little ziploc snack bags, bring 'em to work and eat them after they defrost. My great niece was visiting a few weeks back and she enjoyed them as well (1 and a half year old). Thank you for the recipe!
The debate over this is so heated and split. Here's my story. My grandparents are farmers from Iowa who lived through the Great Depression. Somehow, they started and maintained a whole life policy through New York Life. When my grandma died unexpectedly 2 years ago at the age of 81, she died knowing that she and my grandpa had already decided to gift her 3 grandkids 2 separate gifts of $13,000 (one in December and one in January of a new tax year for a total of $26,000). Most likely, she would not have had life insurance had it been a term policy at that age. She and grandpa had the satisfaction of helping their grandkids...for me, it couldn't have been more unexpected or come at a better time. It immediately motivated me and my wife to put steps in place to do the same for our loved ones someday. I know it is expensive, but if we blend a policy with term and whole life and add paid up additions, we have a tax free option that we can use while still alive (hopefully) if we want to. A 529 must be used for education....this we could use for anything we want. We will earn too much for a Roth starting this year, so we continue to like this as an option for us. If you go with a reputable company, and find an agent willing to do what is best for you instead of their wallet, then whole life may give you something term cannot...peace of mind for a lifetime. I'm a teacher, and my wife is a pharmacist, and we are ok with being "crazy" enough to throw our money away as so many suggest when investing in a whole life policy...we are investing in options and peace of mind having seen what it can do.
Set up a lunch, pay for it, give 3 advices, and invite graduate to ask all the questions they want about life: marriage, taxes, house, sex, love, regrets, etc. This prompts them to ask openly which very few young adults have the opportunity or courage to do.
Besides the appointments part, these same things could be said for night-owls...like me. :) I get SO MUCH DONE at night when kids are fast asleep. My productivity level skyrockets, plus they don't wake-up like they do in the morning if I am busy and noisy. I get lots of alone time with my thoughts, and I definitely have time for recreation and exercise after everyone is fast asleep. The grocery store is totally dead at midnight, plus clearance racks go up regularly just before midnight. I get the BEST deals when I am in need of something specific! It's the best time to go shopping ever. I have the most wonderful quiet shopping trips. I just love it and my night owl ways. :) If the kids are in bed by 7:30 PM, I have another solid six hours to get an insane amount of work done. Then, in the morning, the kids get up and are responsible for their independent morning chores and schoolwork, and I'm out of bed not too long after the are to get breakfast going. Works great for us! ACtually, when we had our first child, my husband worked a swing shift, so we shifted to get up around noon every day and had our toddler bedtime around 1 am. That worked great to see daddy and have family time for us. Just don't get stuck in thinking that being a morning person is the "right" thing to do. It's just not an issue that will make you a better person or a better mama. Having a good healthy routine that works best for you and your family will make you a better mama, no matter how out of the box the routine is. :)
coupontosave.com is a great site because it has the best deals on fresh produce.
NOT TRUE, WHEN WE GOT A SECOND CABLE FOR A SECOND TV, THE CHEAP HDMI CABLE THAT CAME WITH THE BOX WOULD NOT WORK NOT ENOUGH TRANSFER RATE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BOUGHT ONE FOR 25 DOLLARS AND IT WORKS GREAT.
sorry not shouting my cap lock was on.
This is a great article. Once you find an online opportunity that interests you...take the challenge head on. I couldn't agree with you more about taking breaks and stepping out of the home for a while. It does wonders for your motivation and helps to rejuvenate your senses for maximizing your productivity levels. I was looking for a good online business and I found one. I have grown my initial investment over 270% since I started and, although there is a bit of a learning curve, it's a fun environment and a lot of the successful affiliates are very willing to assist the newbies grow their business. I highly recommend checking into it as the income is derived from a revenue-sharing program based on a penny auction.
Sometimes I have thought of myself as my own hero. It helps me to focus on my own best qualities more than the shortcomings.
You can get great quality kids toys for little to nothing at garage sales.
LOL... Oh I'm with you - I totally prefer the cake :)
Aww, thanks Andrew for those very kind words. I'm glad to hear that this article helped reinforce your path of self-growth. Change can be really scary, no matter how badly we need it and even when we consciously want it.
Looking back, I probably should have added some sort of reward system in this article too as I think it's extremely important to celebrate those small victories in some way... so do something nice for yourself for sticking to your guns and pushing forward :)
I used Brasso to remove scratches from a DVD. It worked like a charm! Thanks for taking the time to record the process.
-Charlene
Its a great article with lot of information.
Looks like somebody copied your article - see here:
https://minimalistlifestyle.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/how-to-pay-for-full...
by the way -- wish I had known about selling hair many years ago. You have no idea how many times I chopped off locks of hair to have them thrown into the trash. I'm a natural redhead [auburn] and never died or permed my hair and didn't do much of anything to it! It was just naturally perfect and THICK. Man , I could've sold those flaming red locks to some rich broad for probably 10k. Now, I can't stand for my hair to get barely lower than my shoulders because the weight gives me a headache!
Oh well!
Locks of Love isn't a fraudulent company. They are just small and receive the most donations of hair. Their main priority is for kids with Alopecia.
If someone is looking to donate to kids and adults with cancer and other medical issues then they should look into Wigs For Kids.
If someone is looking to donate for kids with cancer then they should look into Wigs 4 Kids.
If someone is looking to donate for women with cancer then they should look Pantene Beautiful Lengths.
Research all of them. Don't listen to what so and so says at the hair salon or what one person writes on a blog. Research them yourself -- read their sites -- call them etc.
There was a ruckus over that Times article and the writer [Hyat] ended up calling Coffman [pres of LoL] in tears
"apologizing for what the Times editors had done to her story and the reputation of Locks and Love."
Locks of Love is legit --- they are just not the go to for all hair donations and since they receive [or did receive back then] the vast majority of donations , of course they got the bulk of non usable hair. All of the places get unusable hair because people don't research. I mean c'mon, sending in wet hair? What do they do -- go the the beauty salon get a wash and have their hair chopped off and put into bag? Just go write a check to some local legit charity or better yet volunteer somewhere if you don't know exactly what to do, not do, how to do it and what to do it with.
Hello guys!
so you reckon that Bestmark is not a good company for mystery shopping at all? I am currently looking for companies based in vienna and prague..any suggestions?