I would agree that rush processing is definitely not worth it at newegg. I tried it once and since I ordered in the evening, it didn't help at all. They usually process orders very quickly anyway.
You can follow suit with 80% of the CEO's if you are in their income level. Otherwise, affordability, tax benefits, and other factors will blow your argument out of the window right away.
Stay-at-home spouses (I'm sure the children have left the nest by retirement age) don't really reach "retirement age" - what are they retiring from? Wouldn't they just continue living off of the working spouses income through their retirement? It doesn't make sense to open a joint IRA if you're using the working spouses income during retirement, it's all going to the same place.
Hopefully the working spouse has planned for income for 2 people during retirement.
Nothing seems more a part of human nature than sibling rivalry and the inevitable comparisons. I am interested to see how these two handle the subjects of both that rivalry/comparison, finances and sprituality. Can't wait to read the book!
I had never thought about this - I used to think calendars were completely useless because you just throw them away after a year. But now I need to plan out schedules with work and family life. And now I think I will start keeping them - will be awesome to see one year, what I was doing the other year, on that day. Oh how life could be so different!
I ran hot and cold on coupons until I decided to bank the savings. Now I no longer stray from my food budget to afford the more expensive item with a coupon. I stick to my budget, buy with a coupon when I can, get cash for the coupon I've redeemed and bank it.
My "coupon fund" bought us a Blu-Ray DVD player for Christmas and I'm on track for a cruise to Alaska for my 25th wedding anniversary.
If I needed an item that fast, I'd go to a 'brick & mortar' store. I do a lot (i mean A LOT) of shopping online, and I generally use free shipping coupons with the understanding that it may take a little while before my items arrive.
I've never had the need to use expedited shipping. For me, as a quasi-frugal fannie, it's just a waste of money.
I don't think I've ever paid shipping at amazon, so this amazon prime business is totally not for me.
It's been stated that FEAR is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. It is worth chasing a goal and fail at it than to live a safe, easy life and end up right where you did not want to end up. Your direction will determine your destination, and your destination should determine your direction.
Look at it this way:- Person one tries his goal, fails at it, and moves on, knowing he gave it his best shot.
Person two never attempts his goal, and at the end, still has failed, cos he never reached his goal.
Person one has the chance, no matter how small to get to his destination/goal. Person two, well, will never.
I'm especially interested in reading this book because I would like to learn more about Buddhist simplicity and focus. Some years back I attended a weekend meditation session at a Zen monastery and I can still remember how sparse and simple the furnishings were, not only in the zendo (meditation hall) but in the public rooms and kitchen. Emi's and Robert's life paths souind like they make an interesting contrast, and I would like to know more.
I consider next-day service or buying at a B&M store at inflated prices an "Instant Gratification Tax"; you pay more, but you get your item immediately/sooner. Some people are ok with that.
My mom is a coke-o-holic. She just got out of the ER for kidney stones. Guess #45 has been myth busted! But what a fascinating list! Thanks for the info.
I'm not a huge fan of coupons either, mostly because I can rarely get money off on things I actually use (and because I don't get a Sunday paper...and 'cause I'm lazy).
My mode of operation instead is to use my savings club card (Kroger's). I just check the flyers online, make a list of stuff that's on sale that I actually use, and plan a week's meals out around that.
I still make out usually saving $25-30 a trip, so to me it's worth it. When you're at the bottom of the corporate food chain, thirty bucks is a lot of money.
I have used Amazon Prime since they offered it. My reasoning is simple. I order most of my holiday gifts through Amazon. The savings in free 2-3 day shipping on those items pays for the Prime service for the rest of the year. So, all the books I buy are shipped for free then. I almost never pay for the 1 day shipping -- 2 days is fine. I then also shop Amazon first for many other purchases and as long as Amazon's price is CLOSE to the best deal, I'm fine with it.
I'm not sure that it works out to a money savings in the long run. If I didn't have Prime, I probably wouldn't buy so many books however, it does improve my quality of life.
I'm waiting for my Kindle to arrive. It will be interesting to see if it is still worth it to pay for Prime now that my books are arriving directly to my Kindle for free.
I sell stuff on eBay. Before Christmas they were giving discounts on listing fees if you offered free shipping.
However shipping does cost money. So of course it would be built into the price. If you don't want to pay shipping buy locally. In most cases it can be cheaper.
I tried selling on Amazon but stopped. They set the sipping fees and in most cases it did not cover actual shipping costs.
Don't know when couponing got such a bad name. When we had kids at home we routinely saved $25-30 per week on our grocery bill - and we ONLY used coupons for items we were buying anyway. Usually cereal, juice, toilet paper and lunch treats for variety.
Now, with just the 2 of us, we still use coupons occasionally but still only for items we were going to buy. My best deals are on the store's BOGO deals - bought 4 BOGO deals on coffee for $4.99 each deal, used 8 $1 off coupons so coffee cost a total of $12. So saved $28. Can't beat that. Have done it for Celestial Seasonings tea with a BOGO and $.50 coupons. And, no, we do not buy out all of the item - usually enough for 2 months. Even boxed or bagged items will get stale and go on sale again.
Again, be careful to buy what you use - it's not a savings if you don't use it.
Wow, for a WiseBread post, this is sad to read. I'm a huge fan of coupon shopping. I score so many freebies and items for pennies on the dollar, and I'm not talking about packaged pre-processed foods. I purchase multiple papers and make out like a bandit every week. Perhaps you've never been schooled in the fine art of proper coupon shopping. It is not little time spent for little savings as you and so many people deem. When it comes to wise use of resources, I suppose we all have our tricks and tolerances, but I would never throw in the towel on coupons.
I don't waste time with most grocery store coupons. They are usually for brand name processed foods. Those are not a good value for your money to begin with. I try to buy as few brand products of food or health items anyway, but those that we do buy brand names of I try to go find coupons for them and combine with a sale at Target. I was able to get Mitchem anti-perpirant sticks for $.99 each so I stocked up. Smart source online coupons perpetually has a coupon for that brand. Target puts that brand on sale every few months.
I look for larger coupons rather than wasting my time with piles of grocery coupons. $10 off, 20% off, buy one get one can be more of a savings. That is as long as I was going to buy that item anyways. The first thing I do though is read the fine print.
We use Amazon for some specialty grocery items, supplements and some soaps and such. Since I keep these things stocked up I reorder before we run out so ship time isn't an issue. I also frequently find things on Amazon I can't find locally. My only issue with Amazon is that some of their resellers are not so great, others are and you don't have much of a way to tell.
So far in the last year I have been able to get free shipping on everything I have bought online with the exception of eBay purchases and one Amazon purchase. I would only use expedited shipping if the item was holding up the ability for someone to work or otherwise be properly productive.
I loved Lost Boys, even though my snob friends who know movies think I'm crazy for it. As far as calendars go, this is a great news. I've had great calendars that were a score, only to toss them out (albeit with a broken heart) at year's end. Now I'm going to save them. The only problem is, what to do about all those notes and messages that I've scribbled on them. A bottle or two of white-out, perhaps?
Sometimes I'm amazed that credit card companies make money when they take such huge chances on people with bad creidt, but obviously it pays off for them because they keep doing it. Even though the decision lies with us, they seem a bit sneaky and immoral in the way they suck people in, but such is the way of the world.
I agree with you, the key is to moderate and decide what is necessary what is frivolous. Sure, it's not as fun, but tough times call for tough measures.
The only coupons we get are the ones we get in the mail (we don't read the paper), and they can generally be helpful because they are targeted to us since we've given them access to our shopping tendencies. I agree, however, that there is a social stigma, especially when you use a coupon on a first date. For the record, I've never done this, though I did once finish the uneaten food on my date's plate. She never went out with me again.
Good advice. I'm a sucker for free shipping, but since I'm generally not pressed for time and am patient when it comes to spending money, have had nothing but good experiences with free shipping on Amazon, and for that matter, most retailers. I, too, did Amazon prime, but didn't really buy enough to warrant it and when it expired I did not renew it.
I personally loathe shopping, so comparing gas costs is not an issue since I refuse to go to the mall. Then again, when you have kids, you often have not choice.
Great piece, when are you going to have your own advice show on TV? It's cold here in Vermont, and good de-icing tips can save time and money. And I agree, when it's this cold outside and you have children, you have to bring the temp up to a liveable temp, or get an earful for the first ten minutes of the drive.
Besides, and mind you, I'm a newbie when it comes to cold climates having grown up in So Callifornia, but I can't for the life of me scrape the ice off our windows sometimes. I have to warm it up, and then it peels right off.
I love when that happens. Thanks for once again enlightening us in the ways of getting by.
I would agree that rush processing is definitely not worth it at newegg. I tried it once and since I ordered in the evening, it didn't help at all. They usually process orders very quickly anyway.
You can follow suit with 80% of the CEO's if you are in their income level. Otherwise, affordability, tax benefits, and other factors will blow your argument out of the window right away.
Stay-at-home spouses (I'm sure the children have left the nest by retirement age) don't really reach "retirement age" - what are they retiring from? Wouldn't they just continue living off of the working spouses income through their retirement? It doesn't make sense to open a joint IRA if you're using the working spouses income during retirement, it's all going to the same place.
Hopefully the working spouse has planned for income for 2 people during retirement.
This is just a strange article.
Nothing seems more a part of human nature than sibling rivalry and the inevitable comparisons. I am interested to see how these two handle the subjects of both that rivalry/comparison, finances and sprituality. Can't wait to read the book!
I had never thought about this - I used to think calendars were completely useless because you just throw them away after a year. But now I need to plan out schedules with work and family life. And now I think I will start keeping them - will be awesome to see one year, what I was doing the other year, on that day. Oh how life could be so different!
The old platitudes about true riches are right! I'd love to be inspired by this book.
I ran hot and cold on coupons until I decided to bank the savings. Now I no longer stray from my food budget to afford the more expensive item with a coupon. I stick to my budget, buy with a coupon when I can, get cash for the coupon I've redeemed and bank it.
My "coupon fund" bought us a Blu-Ray DVD player for Christmas and I'm on track for a cruise to Alaska for my 25th wedding anniversary.
If I needed an item that fast, I'd go to a 'brick & mortar' store. I do a lot (i mean A LOT) of shopping online, and I generally use free shipping coupons with the understanding that it may take a little while before my items arrive.
I've never had the need to use expedited shipping. For me, as a quasi-frugal fannie, it's just a waste of money.
I don't think I've ever paid shipping at amazon, so this amazon prime business is totally not for me.
It's been stated that FEAR is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. It is worth chasing a goal and fail at it than to live a safe, easy life and end up right where you did not want to end up. Your direction will determine your destination, and your destination should determine your direction.
Look at it this way:- Person one tries his goal, fails at it, and moves on, knowing he gave it his best shot.
Person two never attempts his goal, and at the end, still has failed, cos he never reached his goal.
Person one has the chance, no matter how small to get to his destination/goal. Person two, well, will never.
As they say, chance favors the prepared mind!
I'm especially interested in reading this book because I would like to learn more about Buddhist simplicity and focus. Some years back I attended a weekend meditation session at a Zen monastery and I can still remember how sparse and simple the furnishings were, not only in the zendo (meditation hall) but in the public rooms and kitchen. Emi's and Robert's life paths souind like they make an interesting contrast, and I would like to know more.
I consider next-day service or buying at a B&M store at inflated prices an "Instant Gratification Tax"; you pay more, but you get your item immediately/sooner. Some people are ok with that.
My mom is a coke-o-holic. She just got out of the ER for kidney stones. Guess #45 has been myth busted! But what a fascinating list! Thanks for the info.
I'm not a huge fan of coupons either, mostly because I can rarely get money off on things I actually use (and because I don't get a Sunday paper...and 'cause I'm lazy).
My mode of operation instead is to use my savings club card (Kroger's). I just check the flyers online, make a list of stuff that's on sale that I actually use, and plan a week's meals out around that.
I still make out usually saving $25-30 a trip, so to me it's worth it. When you're at the bottom of the corporate food chain, thirty bucks is a lot of money.
I have used Amazon Prime since they offered it. My reasoning is simple. I order most of my holiday gifts through Amazon. The savings in free 2-3 day shipping on those items pays for the Prime service for the rest of the year. So, all the books I buy are shipped for free then. I almost never pay for the 1 day shipping -- 2 days is fine. I then also shop Amazon first for many other purchases and as long as Amazon's price is CLOSE to the best deal, I'm fine with it.
I'm not sure that it works out to a money savings in the long run. If I didn't have Prime, I probably wouldn't buy so many books however, it does improve my quality of life.
I'm waiting for my Kindle to arrive. It will be interesting to see if it is still worth it to pay for Prime now that my books are arriving directly to my Kindle for free.
I sell stuff on eBay. Before Christmas they were giving discounts on listing fees if you offered free shipping.
However shipping does cost money. So of course it would be built into the price. If you don't want to pay shipping buy locally. In most cases it can be cheaper.
I tried selling on Amazon but stopped. They set the sipping fees and in most cases it did not cover actual shipping costs.
Don't know when couponing got such a bad name. When we had kids at home we routinely saved $25-30 per week on our grocery bill - and we ONLY used coupons for items we were buying anyway. Usually cereal, juice, toilet paper and lunch treats for variety.
Now, with just the 2 of us, we still use coupons occasionally but still only for items we were going to buy. My best deals are on the store's BOGO deals - bought 4 BOGO deals on coffee for $4.99 each deal, used 8 $1 off coupons so coffee cost a total of $12. So saved $28. Can't beat that. Have done it for Celestial Seasonings tea with a BOGO and $.50 coupons. And, no, we do not buy out all of the item - usually enough for 2 months. Even boxed or bagged items will get stale and go on sale again.
Again, be careful to buy what you use - it's not a savings if you don't use it.
Wow, for a WiseBread post, this is sad to read. I'm a huge fan of coupon shopping. I score so many freebies and items for pennies on the dollar, and I'm not talking about packaged pre-processed foods. I purchase multiple papers and make out like a bandit every week. Perhaps you've never been schooled in the fine art of proper coupon shopping. It is not little time spent for little savings as you and so many people deem. When it comes to wise use of resources, I suppose we all have our tricks and tolerances, but I would never throw in the towel on coupons.
I don't waste time with most grocery store coupons. They are usually for brand name processed foods. Those are not a good value for your money to begin with. I try to buy as few brand products of food or health items anyway, but those that we do buy brand names of I try to go find coupons for them and combine with a sale at Target. I was able to get Mitchem anti-perpirant sticks for $.99 each so I stocked up. Smart source online coupons perpetually has a coupon for that brand. Target puts that brand on sale every few months.
I look for larger coupons rather than wasting my time with piles of grocery coupons. $10 off, 20% off, buy one get one can be more of a savings. That is as long as I was going to buy that item anyways. The first thing I do though is read the fine print.
We use Amazon for some specialty grocery items, supplements and some soaps and such. Since I keep these things stocked up I reorder before we run out so ship time isn't an issue. I also frequently find things on Amazon I can't find locally. My only issue with Amazon is that some of their resellers are not so great, others are and you don't have much of a way to tell.
So far in the last year I have been able to get free shipping on everything I have bought online with the exception of eBay purchases and one Amazon purchase. I would only use expedited shipping if the item was holding up the ability for someone to work or otherwise be properly productive.
I loved Lost Boys, even though my snob friends who know movies think I'm crazy for it. As far as calendars go, this is a great news. I've had great calendars that were a score, only to toss them out (albeit with a broken heart) at year's end. Now I'm going to save them. The only problem is, what to do about all those notes and messages that I've scribbled on them. A bottle or two of white-out, perhaps?
Sometimes I'm amazed that credit card companies make money when they take such huge chances on people with bad creidt, but obviously it pays off for them because they keep doing it. Even though the decision lies with us, they seem a bit sneaky and immoral in the way they suck people in, but such is the way of the world.
I agree with you, the key is to moderate and decide what is necessary what is frivolous. Sure, it's not as fun, but tough times call for tough measures.
The only coupons we get are the ones we get in the mail (we don't read the paper), and they can generally be helpful because they are targeted to us since we've given them access to our shopping tendencies. I agree, however, that there is a social stigma, especially when you use a coupon on a first date. For the record, I've never done this, though I did once finish the uneaten food on my date's plate. She never went out with me again.
One big thing to remember is not to just buy something because you have the coupon, get a coupon for something you already want to buy.
Great post!
- Gregg
Good advice. I'm a sucker for free shipping, but since I'm generally not pressed for time and am patient when it comes to spending money, have had nothing but good experiences with free shipping on Amazon, and for that matter, most retailers. I, too, did Amazon prime, but didn't really buy enough to warrant it and when it expired I did not renew it.
I personally loathe shopping, so comparing gas costs is not an issue since I refuse to go to the mall. Then again, when you have kids, you often have not choice.
Hey Linsey,
Great piece, when are you going to have your own advice show on TV? It's cold here in Vermont, and good de-icing tips can save time and money. And I agree, when it's this cold outside and you have children, you have to bring the temp up to a liveable temp, or get an earful for the first ten minutes of the drive.
Besides, and mind you, I'm a newbie when it comes to cold climates having grown up in So Callifornia, but I can't for the life of me scrape the ice off our windows sometimes. I have to warm it up, and then it peels right off.
I love when that happens. Thanks for once again enlightening us in the ways of getting by.