Recent comments

  • netSpend: The Story of the Visa Debit Card We Did Not Apply For   13 years 46 weeks ago

    how can this be considered a scam? they are straight forward & unambiguous about what the card is. until you activate it & deposit money in the card (which is actually a bank account) it is nothing but a piece of plastic with your name on it...worthless to you or anyone else. I'm sure the AG in Washington state has better things to do than be bothered with your paranoid over reaction.

  • Wardrobe Staples Every Man Should Own   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I couldn't agree more that a white shirt is a crisp versatile classic for business formal as well as casual style. If you don't feel confident in stark white then consider fine checks or stripes in white and black as this combination can still include the crispness of white that makes it so popular.

  • Do You Need a Disaster Survival Kit?   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Being prepared is a mind set. My family and I just started getting our food storage ready. WE just do a little every month and we are starting to get a good little stash going. Just a little at a time.

  • Forgiven Debt Isn't Really Forgiven At All   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I wish what you wrote was true in all cases. My bank forgave half my SBA loan but now the US Dept of Treasury is trying to collect 100% of the debt taking money from my tax returns. I filed a dispute but they tell me it is up to the SBA. The SBA tells me that a 1099-C is just a formality used by the banks to get debt off their books. They expect to get paid on 100% of the loan even though they only paid out 50% of the loan!

    This is government at it worst ignoring laws that are honored by private companies!

  • Real Estate Agents: Do We Really Need Them?   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I understand...but guess what? Those thousands of dollars were still given to the listing agent because if you are not represented by a Realtor the sellers Real Estate Agent just gets BOTH sides of the transaction for doing absolutely nothing for you. Also, you are now in a transaction where the seller has someone looking out for their best interest but you are all alone doing research and an easy pray to take advantage of on things that you would never even think to research. I understand having personality clashes with a Real Estate Agent, as I know first hand some Real Estate Agents are definitely not very helpful or even enjoy working with people...But it does not mean they are ALL like that. Some of us actually like educating our buyers and sellers so that they can make informed decisions...an love I build relationships where their clients feel so at ease with us that they keep in touch with us even after the sale is finalized. *just giving a little perspective*

  • How to Avoid (and Treat) Cold Sores   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I get cold sores atleast about 4 times a year and of course I hate them. So in my research I have learned that arginine in our body helps to exacerbate outbreaks and that certain foods that are high in arginine can encourage an outbreak. So I've had to research which foods that I've been eating contain arginine. For me that mainly is peanut butter and chocolate. Been real careful and have been staying away from it. Though recently I bought a chocolate flavored coffee not thinking about what chocolate does and after about a week or less of drinking it got an outbreak. So needless to say I realized what I was drinking and stopped drinking it. I've also been taking l-lysine and as I understand it has to be a fairly high dose but I don't know exactly how much so I just take 2000 mg a day. It's suppose to block the arginine. I think in principle it's sound. The cold sores erupt when the arginine in our body is high so we have to cut back on what foods have arginine in them and add l-lysine which blocks the arginine so if we are doing both we theoretically should have atleast fewer outbreaks. Anyone understand this more than I please feel free to share.

  • White On! 9 Alternative Uses for Bleach   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I'm astounded, I cannot believe what I've just read, that you are advocating the wide spread use of chlorine based bleach!
    Don't you realise that bleach poses a significant risk to the environment.In many more enlightened countries chlorine bleach has been banned. When it reaches water, it reacts with other minerals and elements to form a host of dangerous toxins. These toxins, including dioxins are referred to as persistant organic pollutants because they linger in the water and soil and take many years to disappear. Studies by the West Virginia University Extensions, also links chlorine based compounds with low sperm counts, testicular and breast cancer due to their ability to mimic human hormones.

    All the above can be achieved without using chlorine based bleach, just a little more thought. Using bleach is just lazyness and complete disregard for our earth.

  • Ask the Readers: What Are the Best Gifts for Men?   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Most men like to eat. Food gifts are usually welcomed in our family. Either homemade goodies or store bought assortments of meat and cheese or gift cards for a nice restaurant.

  • The cost of a free ride - why not to use a buyer's agent   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I am completely agree with that. Why do you need to pay the agent if you can search house in RealityLink call to the agent see the property, ask for all Sells for the last year and give your own price.

  • 10 Surprising Ways to Negatively Affect Your Credit Score   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I've got a bunch of unused credit cards that I never bothered to close, so I guess I have been unwittingly improving my credit score for many years now. :) That's good to know.

  • How to Clean Your House in One Day   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I love this! Our rule is to have a get-together once each month to ensure our house doesn't get too bad. It still looks like crap most of the other time, but it looks less crappy as each month goes by!! Great article, thanks!

  • 10 Surprising Ways to Negatively Affect Your Credit Score   13 years 47 weeks ago

    This is interesting. I didn't realize that improperly closing your gym membership - I simply thought if you stopped paying, you just couldn't use their services anymore. Duly noted. Also, traffic tickets?? Ignoring them in the first place would be enough hassle - I guess that's just another incentive to drive safely! Thanks Miranda.

  • Frugal Gluten-Free Living: Flour Tortillas that Taste Great!   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Hi Joice,

    My intolerances are exactly the same as yours, although I only run to eczema as opposed to psoriasis. The only thing I can suggest is look at the content of your shampoo - I had been off wheat for about 6 years when I started to feel rough - it turns out I was absorbing wheat proteins through my scalp and the ingredients in my shampoo! You don't have to just eat for it to cause a problem :(

    Other than that, there may be something else you're intolerant too, but hang in there please, it's so worth persevering!

    Namaste,
    Helen :)

  • 5 Ways Self Storage Units Are More Sad Museums Than Savvy Solutions   13 years 47 weeks ago

    My sister uses her Ocala self storage to store all her home decor she is not using while she lives with us and looks for her own home. I think there are certain reasons you should use storage and reasons you shouldn't. If you are just going to use it like a garbage can to throw unwanted items in than you should definitely just think of giving unneeded objects to charity or something like that.

  • 10 Surprising Ways to Negatively Affect Your Credit Score   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Our electric company account actually shows up on our credit report when we do our every four month checkup available through the free reporting site. So, yeah, you definitely don't want to miss that one :)

  • 10 Surprising Ways to Negatively Affect Your Credit Score   13 years 47 weeks ago

    This was a great article. Your number 10 which reads: “Unfortunately, closing those unused credit accounts can have a negative impact on your credit score”. I have a credit card that is fully paid and instead of getting rid of it I still have it, I just do not use it. I always thought that by cancelling your credit card you were better off and that it look better on your credit. Now in case of an emergency and I ever do need to use my credit card I will have it.

  • 10 Surprising Ways to Negatively Affect Your Credit Score   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Does the 30 day rule that applies to credit accounts apply to the other accounts mentioned in this article that could damage your score? Also if anyone was wondering what jurisdictions report tickets to credit agencies I know for a fact that DC does because it happened to me.

  • Best Credit Cards for (New) Parents   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Wow, very good advice. I'm not a parent but all of this makes sense (especially the details about the dress in the bottom of your closet and/or ruined by said newborn). The most beneficial it seems to me would definitely be the Target or Amazon cards- both staples to necessity items for cheap.

  • A Frugal Resource: The Community College   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Just try getting into the classes you need at a community college in California. It would take me 4+ years to get a 2 year certification for a job that pays $15 an hour, only hires through contractors (no benefits) and is usually limited to part time.

  • Beyond Goodwill: The Different Types of Thrift Stores   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Some thrift stores that use the name of a charity are often actually for-profit. In Dayton Ohio there is a Vietman Vets store that uses a phone bank to solicit donations for pick up. It is actually a for-profit store, and returns 5% of it's NET profit to a veterans' organization in return for use of the name.

  • Beyond Goodwill: The Different Types of Thrift Stores   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Re Target merchandise at Goodwill: GW BUYS discontinued and returned goods from Target. Target sets the sale price as part of their agreement. The items are usually marked for more than the final clearance price, so not such a good deal.

  • Ask the Readers: What Are the Best Gifts for Women?   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Just like gifts for men, I think it all depends on the woman. Me? I'd love anything related to yarn, knitting/crocheting or some other craft supply.

  • 9 Make-Ahead, Freezable Hot Breakfast Recipes   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I haven't been able to swallow the cost of a waffle iron. I just don't want to buy one unless I can remove the trays and put it in the dishwasher. Those are expensive ones. For pancakes, I usually just pre-mix the dry ingredients and add the wet when ready. It isn't as fast as described in this article, but good enough.

  • netSpend: The Story of the Visa Debit Card We Did Not Apply For   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Just got a netsoend card today. I looked it up online and saw all these negative reviews. Glad I didn't go for direct deposit. Cards has been destroyed. Thanks for the heads up

  • Ask the Readers: What Are the Best Gifts for Women?   13 years 47 weeks ago

    The gift of TIME is a great present. It can be personal time for the woman to do something she wants to do or to relax and destress. It can be time that is given by others to free her up by taking on a chore or it is time that you share just being together.