Recent comments

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I hope to make a dent in my debt this year!

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I'm going to pay off my car loan and credit card debt in 2012!

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    My financial goal for 2012 is to pay off credit card debt and at least double the emergency fund.

  • How to Watch Movies in the Theater for Free   14 years 39 weeks ago

    What about if you live in Hollywood? O_0

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    My 2012 financial goal is to spend more frugally and help others do the same.

  • The Two Biggest Mistakes People Make When Starting to Live Frugally   14 years 39 weeks ago

    There are some things that you should never sacrifice quality for just to save since it becomes 'hazardous' to your safety or health. As you mentioned, these are usually the bigger or more important things in life (including items indispensable in the home) such as appliances, vehicles, food (in terms of it being safe, i'm not telling you to spend a LOT on this) and education to name a few. It is usually the added up little things and habits that you spend on that makes the dent in your finances. Movies, eating out, regular salon or spa treatments, shopping sprees every payday - these are the things that one should cut back on or try to get cheaper...

  • AD&D Insurance: No Good, No Bad, Just Ugly   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I had a life policy at work that included AD&D insurance. Then I had an accident and lost an eye, resulting in a large payout. I can still work -wouldnt count as disabled, but not as much and probably not as long, plus I need to get help for some things. All in all, the insurance basically means I don't have a financial loss to go along with the non-financial loss. Seems like a good use for insurance to me. I didn't even know I had the policy and probably wouldn't have paid extra for it, but it worked, they paid out like they were supposed to.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I Plan to pay off bills and be debt free in 2012.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    One of our goals for 2012 is to eliminate using credit cards -- we've been doing ok the last few months, but some big expenses this month have necessitated shifting some expenses to next month's xmas bonus.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    My goal is to restore my emergency fund and then begin saving regularly for house projects.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I want to make extra payments on my mortgage.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    My biggest financial goal for 2012 is to save for Christmas shopping all year long so that I don't blow my budget like I'm doing this year.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    My financial goals for 2012:

    - Pay off my 2 remaining credit card balances
    - Bring my emergency fund savings up to 3-6 months worth.
    - Contribute as close to $5000 as I can to my ROTH IRA.

    I hope to get my Money Planner to help along the way!

  • The Best Credit Cards for Hotel Deals and Rewards   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I thought it was against the rule to use credit cards with annual fees?

  • 10 Tasty Ideas for Leftover Turkey   14 years 39 weeks ago

    You have got to add some dressing to that cranberry roll up!

    Here's my favorite:

    Turkey and Dressing Casserole

    1 box Stove Top stuffing
    1 to 1 1/2 lbs. shredded turkey meat
    1 can cream of chicken soup
    1 lb mixed frozen vegetables, thawed and drained (optional)

    Make stuffing according to directions. Combine remaining ingredients to the prepared stuffing and pour into greased 13 x 9 dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

    If that's not enough for you, here is my other leftover turkey:

    BBQ Turkey Sandwiches

    3 cups shredded turkey
    1/4 cup diced onion
    1 tablespoon butter or margarine
    1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
    6 Kaiser rolls
    1 pint of creamy cole slaw

    Saute onion in butter until tender. In a pot combine BBQ sauce, shredded turkey, and sauteed onion. Bring just to a boil. Serve on rolls and top with cole slaw. Great with leftover mashed potatoes.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I will buy a house in 2012.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    My boyfriend and I are having a contest - from January to December 2012, we are both saving half (or more) of our post tax income. Whoever comes out with a higher percentage saved wins!

  • Debit Or Credit? Which One Should You Choose At The Checkout?   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I'll always choose my credit card over debit. The rewards are much better and as you mentioned, you can't beat the protection with a credit card.

  • 5 Awesome Easy to Freeze Meals   14 years 39 weeks ago

    There may be good reasons for needing to make meals ahead of time. Working hard on a law degree is a bit different from wasting time watching TV. Personally, I came across this article because I am going to be without an oven for a short period of time due to building work. I want ideas for tasty, healthy meals I can make, freeze & reheat to feed my family so that we don't have to resort to shop-bought ready meals or takeaways.

  • Say Cheese: How to Look Great in Photos   14 years 39 weeks ago

    Wow. That's a pretty shallow stance to take: You won't be in a photo with someone poorly groomed? If you care about someone, what dif does it make what they look like? And if you don't care about them, why are you hanging out with them? If someone cared enough about me to want to be in a photo with me, I would grant their request. Who am I to hurt their feelings by saying no? I would be flattered and would be thinking of them, not myself.

  • The 25 Best Things to Buy on Craigslist   14 years 39 weeks ago

    A secondhand plastic dog kennel needs to be washed out with hot soapy water with a little bleach in it, just in case the former tenant had ringworm or Giardia. Both are highly contagious, and when our dog picked up a case of each (several months apart) walking on the neighborhood dog trail, it was very expensive to get cleared up. And the vet recommended bleach cleaning his house, toys, and bedding.

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I hope to be ready to retire on December 31, 2012

  • Win a 2012 Money Planner Workbook!   14 years 39 weeks ago

    My biggest goal for 2012 is to eat out less and cook more at home. We spent a lot on restaurants in 2011. Also, I would like to contribute more to my children's 529 accounts.

  • Ask the Readers: To Shop or Not to Shop?   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I generally try to buy clothes or other small ticket items but this year I bought a car! I needed one within the next month and found the deals to be worth it so I pulled the trigger. Hopefully I have some money left for Cyber Monday!

  • Ask the Readers: To Shop or Not to Shop?   14 years 39 weeks ago

    I get stressed out by shopping at the best of times. No way could I enjoy shopping on Black Friday. I usually pick a snowy evening and go into all the small local shops rather than the big stores or the mall. Any other gift shopping I try to do online.