Recent comments

  • Ask the Readers: Are You Planning a Summer Vacation?   13 years 47 weeks ago

    We're going camping in Jekyll Island, GA. Looking forward to going to Savannah for the day. Hope to relax, go kayaking, horseback riding, and fun in the sun and water!

  • Ask the Readers: Are You Planning a Summer Vacation?   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Absolutely! This year will be the first year we've been able to afford a getaway, so we're heading for our favorite place, Niagara Falls, ON! We purposefully chose a hotel with a substantial breakfast, and are taking some simple nonperishables for dinner (bread, pb, jelly, chips, fruit, jerky, etc), to keep costs down. Combine that with prepurchasing tickets where we can and using our credit card to pay for everything (better exchange rate) only to pay it off as soon as we get back. We're very excited!!

  • Why Saving Money Is a Gift to Your Future Self   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I'm very glad you pointed out that it's still worth making contributions now. The rule of 72 depresses me because my investments haven't fared well over the past three years. It's really hard to see now how it will pay off in the future. I feel like I'm losing all those early in years towards the compounding!

  • And...Breathe: Become More Patient in 9 Easy Steps   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Thanks for your comment. When I was reading what other people on the web described as "patience," I noticed that what many of them referred to was what I would consider "anger management," which is a form of patience. My definition was more along the lines of having perseverance and not bugging people to hurry up for my convenience only.

    So, I wouldn't consider calling out someone else for breaking in line being impatient; I would consider complaining about the long line and the wait as being impatient though.

    I think that is why people liked those bakery lines where you pulled a number and waited until your number was called rather than jockeying for position.

    And, now that I think of it, it helps if the folks serving move things along! I was at an end-of-the-year banquet last week and it took an hour to serve about 150-200 people, and I was one of the last groups to be called. That called for extreme patience, esp. when the time announced was half-hour earlier than the actual dinner start time. I will be on the board of this group next year, and things should go faster -- just stage the salads (they're all the same so you don't have to customize anything) and prep the drinks (people can pick them up, rather than tell you their preferences and wait for you to pour) etc. to move things along. So, there are times when being too patient isn't in the best interest of everyone and times when it is extremely helpful.

  • Why Saving Money Is a Gift to Your Future Self   13 years 47 weeks ago

    +1 for framing this with a Back to the Future reference.

  • 6 Ways to Vet an IPO Before You Buy   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Good post - some valid points here.

    Recently heard it said that many of the high frequency traders have been keen that facebook has released its ipo - because it's a "brand name" in a volatile buinsess - and one that many retail "main street" investors will likely hop into and out of quite often in the next few years...

  • Laid Off? You May Have to Fight for Unemployment Benefits   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Actually, if you had read any of the articles that are linked to in this blog post, you would realize that employers are regularly challenging unemployment claims due to performance reasons.

    You might also do a little research regarding unemployment rights.

    "When you are fired for misconduct (also known as terminated for cause) you may not be eligible for unemployment compensation. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, stealing, lying, failing a drug or alcohol test, falsifying records, deliberating violating company policy or rules, and other serious actions related to your employment. "

    http://jobsearch.about.com/od/unemployment/f/unemployfired.htm

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

    I try to keep mine moisturized but dry, if that makes any sense.

  • 13 Natural and Easy Ways to Lower Your Blood Sugar   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Brown rice is not any better than white rice. It may have more fiber and nutrients, but it comes in at around 55 on the glycemic index, which is roughly the same as long-grained white rice.

    Cooking pasta al dente only makes it marginally less carb-intensive. Unfortunately, the ADA encourages diabetics to continue eating pasta and rice. Eating this foods, in any form, are guaranteed to raise blood sugar.

  • When It's Time to Destroy Debt, Start With a Goal   13 years 47 weeks ago

    very important it is to educate people to get rid of loans, and better is to avoid taking loans at first...
    a loan should be the last option, or should be taken if a person is sure of paying it off on time...

  • Simple-Living Lessons I Learned From "Hoarders"   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I'm the same as Monica - watching this show always motivates me to give my apt a once-over, either for cleaning or to get rid of junk I just don't need. It's quite upsetting to watch regularly, though!

    P.S. One of the captcha words for submitting this comment was "cleanness". Go figure.

  • Secret Lawn Tonic Recipe From Golf Course Groundskeeper   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I have been using this formula in combination with a regular maintenance routine for three years...the results are stunning....I recommend this to everyone. Eastern Canada.

  • 12 Side Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Hey I am a stay at home dad, and to get some sort of income to feel some sense of pride I looked everywhere. I was scammed time and time again. Eventually I figured it out, and would like to connect others to this awesome resource, That really helped me. Dont be afraid to try new things and earn an income. My girlfriend is happy now, I take care of my son, and bring in quite a bit of cash. If you are interested go to:
    http://stayathomecash.cjb.net/
    It really does work, but also does take some hard work, check it out!

  • 10 Awesome Money-Making Hobbies   13 years 47 weeks ago

    i think any hobby can make money. if you spend any money on your hobby, someone is making money off you. what better side business to enter than something you know a lot about. i've always started a company or side venture with whatever my hobby was. it was fun that the hobby would pay for itself. so my advice is, stick to your hobby and what you enjoy and then find a way to insert yourself in the value chain. thats how i became a 1%er.

  • Frugal Gluten-Free Living: Easy Pizza Crust   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Can this dough be frozen, so I could make several batches ahead of time?

  • And...Breathe: Become More Patient in 9 Easy Steps   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I used to be really, really patient when I was younger. There was a time when even when someone would cut me in line, I wouldn't mind. But I've noticed that as I got older, my patience seems to be wearing out. I mean, I can still be patient.. there'd be times that I'd still let someone cut me in line, and I'd be seething in anger quietly. But unlike when I was younger, there are now occasions when I'd let other people know that, Hey, I was here first. Go back there and wait for your turn..

    Perhaps, as a child, I've been too patient enough.. and now, I demand a serving of the pie.. NOW.. ;)

  • Seven Tips for the Newly Unemployed   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I just wrote a book that deals with Job loss in this economy. How to survive, reinvent yourself, and attain new opportunities.

    The book is free for one more day @ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085QZIJE

    It's called: Surviving and Making Money in a Down Economy: A Guide to Coping with Unemployment and Finding New Opportunities [Kindle Edition]
    Percy Kwong (Author)

    Download it for free while you can! My goal is to help people with this book / guide. It's literally a step-by-step on how to make things happen for you.

  • 50 Great Things to Do With $50   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Fund two Kiva entrepreneurs! Plus, once your loans are paid back, you can fund two more!

  • How Baking Soda Took My Bathroom from “Yuck” to Yes!   13 years 47 weeks ago

    just wanted to add..i use h2o2 to get rid of the "smell." it works everytime! just use the cap several times and pour it on the edges of the toilet and leave until the you are done cleaning the rest of the bathroom and rinse or mop up whatever is your preference.I love it!!

  • 10 Kicky Drinks Without the Caffeine   13 years 47 weeks ago

    • There are lots of studies that show caffeine is bad for you. But here’s the paradox: there a lot of studies that show that coffee and tea have great health benefits. Would that be because of the caffeine or in spite of it? A study showed that de-caffeinated tea did not have the anti-cancer effects of fighting tumors of tea with caffeine. In the case of tea, there is a substance that moderates or neutralizes the acute effects of caffeine. Unlike coffee, it’s hard to overdose on caffeine in tea because it has a unique amino acid, L-theanine, that actually relaxes you and relieves anxiety, and it does it without causing drowsiness. (You can even buy L-theanine supplements.) L-theanine moderates the acute effects of caffeine, and actually increases alpha brain waves. So, there you have it – unlike with coffee, you get the best of both worlds (energy, increased mental alertness and focus, plus relaxation and feeling of well-being) with tea.

  • 10 Reasons to Drink Tea   13 years 47 weeks ago

    • Probably no surprise: tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. But here’s something that may surprise you. Your wake-up reason to drink tea is a great reason. But it’s better than coffee because the caffeine in tea increases mental alertness and focused attention (like coffee) but without the acute effects of coffee -- it won’t make you jittery. Unlike coffee, it's hard to overdose on caffeine in tea because it has a unique amino acid, L-theanine, that actually relaxes you, and it does it without causing drowsiness. (You can even buy L-theanine supplements for this purpose.) L-theanine moderates the acute effects of caffeine, and actually increases alpha brain waves. So, there you have it – unlike with coffee, you get the best of both worlds with tea. P.S. I drink my tea with stevia and lemon juice, so it also lowers my blood sugar. I used to like it with milk, but now I avoid milk ever since I found out that most milk is A1 harmful type, not to mention full of hormones – but that’s another topic.

  • Best Money Tips: Controversial Moves That Will Save You Money   13 years 47 weeks ago

    One easy way is www.mysettlementclaims.com It's a class action lawsuit settlement database and makes it really easy to claim money from class action settlements.

  • Make Money Recycling: Get Paid to Recycle by 15 Websites   13 years 47 weeks ago

    I have some old pool motors with copper windings sitting in my garage with an old fridge and clothes dryer. I am also getting old AC replaced and will have to get rid of the whole system. Any ideas as to where and who takes these appliances?

  • Ask the Readers: Are You Planning a Summer Vacation?   13 years 47 weeks ago

    Going to hit up the Gulf shores!

  • 5 Things Other Grocery Stores Should Steal from Trader Joe's   13 years 47 weeks ago

    @"Some Trader Joes Guy" - You need to know that your answer is not helpful in the context of her comment.

    TJ does a decent job of labeling it seems and we appreciate that. But there are an ever increasing number of TJ products that did not have warnings before that now say "may contain nuts."

    That has nothing to do with TJ or their providers' manufacturing process - it has to do with products that contain allergens. So again, we appreciate the labeling, but if there's a MAY CONTAIN on the package, even if a manufacturer has the best cleaning process in the world, an allergic person should not eat it.

    Sad, because we are TJ fans in our house.