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  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    The best investment I ever made was not just applying to graduate school, but rather marketing myself as an applicant. While hundreds applied, I didn't just send e-mails to department heads. I made the effort to call each of the 15 top-ranked programs to which I applied. In speaking with each department chairperson, I was able to choose the best program for myself, and I established a connection that ultimately got me full funding in the midst of a recession.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    best investment has been my hand tools. i buy them used most of the time so i get a great price too. company pays a tool allowance every year if i own my own tools instead of using theirs. also do side jobs to make extra cash

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    My smartest investment? Getting an engineering degree. Although my current job has no direct correlation to engineering, I've found that my degree has given me a broad range of knowledge applicable to a variety of areas.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    My most solid investment was in a new set of custom printed business cards. These weren't actually costly, but I recognized the difference it made in the eyes of my clients when handing out a polished, professional business card. It then spurred me on to be more professional in my side-business, raising the standards I set for myself and, hence, the standards my customers could expect from me.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    One of the smartest investments I've ever made has been my dedication to study and learn music. I started in elementary school, like a lot of people, and have never stopped learning. In my lifetime [so far] I have learned to play seven different instruments, played handbells for church, and sung in two church choirs (including singing as a soloist). I've never made any money with my music but, it is always with me. The best part though, is that I'm able to pass the love of music on to my children. All three of them are involved in music to some capacity, and every time they perform, I feel as though I've been given a small piece of heaven . . .

  • How to Make Moonshine   14 years 43 weeks ago

    ....to clarify on the above- I said I made about 10 gallons of wort (or whatever you call it when you're making shine) and only 1.5 liters of product. To clarify, that 1.5 is just a small part of what I ultimately will make.....when I get the SS rig put together. The 1.5 was just to start to see how it went.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    The best investment that I ever made was the purchase of my first home at a young age. The mortgage wasn't much more than rent would have cost and the value went up quickly over the years.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    My best investment was to buy good shoes. Not only do they look great, last a long time, but the best thing that they support my feet and back. I stand on my feet all day long. Before I bought my Clark shoes, I would go home with back aches and very tired feet. I wouldn't have the energy or desire to enjoy my evening.

  • Our high, high standard of living   14 years 43 weeks ago

    You need to do more research before you write such an article. There is a very high population of homeless in this country that never existed in such numbers before the early 1980's. The numbers are much higher than the stats they have as most middle class newly homeless, live in their cars and eat at the Shelters. There is a very large number that are hungry in this country as well. This is happening all across America and continues to get worse as I write. The Middle Class is living from paycheck to paycheck and all they need to have is a catastrophic illness or a catastrophic blow from nature and they are homeless and not even able to live in a shack. It's a no-brainer that health care has improved as it will continue to do, however, that does not mean that "people are living better". Please do your research.

  • Quickly Remove Scratches From CDs and DVDs   14 years 43 weeks ago

    Extra fine rubbing compound for your car works really well too. we always had a bottle of 3Ms product in my computer shop. Got us outa a lot jams when customers would drop of their broken computers, and their data disks were damaged.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    The smartest investment I've ever made was buying several textbooks online and waiting until the next semester to sell them. I saw fliers of other students selling textbooks for significantly more than the cost of them online, and I thought this was a great way to make some extra cash. I made five times my initial investment selling these textbooks, and now I have enough money to buy a laptop for my first year in college. Now only has this investment helped me earn some extra money, but it has also allowed me to use that money to invest in my education and future.

  • Ask the Readers: Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster?   14 years 43 weeks ago

    You guys love you some comments, eh? Le tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Nim/status/109023875194568704

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    The best investment I have ever made was in my education. After graduating from college I worked multiple temporary assignments for five years. I then returned to college and received two additional degrees. Those degrees launched me into an IT career than has been emotionally, intellectually and financially rewarding for twelve years.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    I'd have to say my best investment to date is the military thift savings plan i signed up for about 5 years ago. We decided that once I leave the military we would pursue buying our first house. Throughout the years, I've had a small percentage taken out of my military pay and by the time I'm relieved of duty, we'll have a hefty down payment. The best part is that it was such a small amount that I never noticed the money NOT being a part of the check.

  • Ask the Readers: Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster?   14 years 43 weeks ago

    Also, just "liked" you on FB. :)

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    My first PC was the best investment I ever made. Not because it was so useful to my work. On the contrary, it had a hardware problem with the CD ROM that I sent it in for repairs from where I bought it. They took three months to fix it, or replace it rather, since they couldn't fix it. I swore to never take my computer in for repairs again. Since then, I chose to fix my computer myself every time there was a problem, which was frequent; this was Windows 98. I googled every problem I had and researched and documented all possible fixes, and over the years got pretty darn good at it. Because of that, my company decided to give me new IT duties, thus more pay. Not to mention respect and thanks I get too. I've never taken a computer class, but I've learned to fix, upgrade, clean, and troubleshoot computers all because of that first one I had.

  • Ask the Readers: Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster?   14 years 43 weeks ago

    Also, just "liked" you on FB. :)

  • Ask the Readers: Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster?   14 years 43 weeks ago

    After braving Irene I certainly feel more prepared. I know what we need if we're waiting out the storm at home. I also have all of our insurance documents stored in our fire proof safe with electronic copies available online!

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    The smartest investment I ever made was going to the Humane Society and getting my baby/best friend, a Jack Russell mix named Cooper. For around $300 (the adoption fee which included his neuter surgery, initial shots, free first time vet exam, free bag of food, etc.) I brought home a smart, affectionate, loyal companion. I bettered his life and mine for not much money. Shelter dogs are wonderful! The second smartest investment I ever made was training classes for him. :)

  • Ask the Readers: Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster?   14 years 43 weeks ago

    Nope, not even close. I'd like to think I could survive "offline" in a disaster, and I often point to my special hiding places "come the zombie apocolypse", but aside from some awesome wildcrafting skills, I'd probably last only as long as the charge on my smartphone. Like it, I'd spend my days aimlessly searching for WiFi.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    Our smartest investment has been our house. It has provided a home and happiness for ourselves, our kids, and our grandkids.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    The best investment I've made, and the best investment (in my opinion) that anyone can make is an investment in self. For me, it was all about learning a new skill set that has increased my income and allowed me to eliminate a large portion of my debt. Learning is a lifelong thing, and doesn't stop when you graduate high school or college. Learn something new every day, and see where it gets you!

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    The smartest investment I ever made was in myself. The way things were going, I was going nowhere fast. It took a lot of self-discipline and some important tools along the way (smart phone to keep up on the best blogs and email on the go so I'm always connected), but I've succeeded.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    Smartest investment was a personal decision I made back in '03 to rid myself of personal debt. I had racked up a fair amount of credit card, school and car loan debt that I was sick of. Although I wasn't making a lot of money during the time, I was able to pay off the debt in about 5 years.

  • HP Giving Away $500 to a Lucky Wise Bread Reader   14 years 43 weeks ago

    The smartest investing type thing I ever did was to Sell my company's stock at a high in early 2002 before it tanked and has barely gotten any higher than the tanking point. But the smartest investment IN something was to adopt my great-niece and nephew who would have been in dire circumstances without coming to live with us. They bring us (and our natural born son) who is almost the same age as them great joy.