Recent comments

  • Car Buying Part 1 - Going For Broker.   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Please contact me if you are in need of a new or used auto.

    Thank you.

    James

  • ‘Tis The Season To Get A Speeding Ticket! Are You Next?   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Sorry, my bad. I have corrected the error. Thanks for the eagle-eyes.

  • Book 'Em This Season   16 years 19 weeks ago

    I particularly like the suggestions you have for personally starting off the various book introductions. That really makes it personal and intimate. It also elevates regifting in this instance to the level of classy and elegant, sort of like passing down an heirloom only not necessarily inside the family.

    You can also follow me on Twitter and Trek Hound.

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    I don't go shopping at the after Christmas sales. First, I hate the crowds. Second, I feel there is pressure to grab and buy before the person next to you gets "it". I think I would make too many impulse purchases that I just don't need, or will purchase too much of something. Third, I shop at yardsales and auctions year round and find great Christmas stuff for dimes not dollars. For me the thrill is in the hunt!

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    I bought my queen sized double pillow top mattress with 3 pillows for $400!!!

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Anything non-specific to Christmas -- I get really sweet deals on things like crimson fabric or jewelry boxes that were packaged to be sold as gifts (and go on clearance as such) but are perfect to use!

  • ‘Tis The Season To Get A Speeding Ticket! Are You Next?   16 years 19 weeks ago

    # The average raise in insurance costs for one speeding ticket over the course of 3 years is $900.00.
    # 41,000,000 x 900 = $36,900,000,000 in extra insurance money in just 1 year!

    Shouldn't that be # 41,000,000 x 900 = $36,900,000,000 in extra insurance money in 3 years?

  • Book 'Em This Season   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Excellent suggestion! I regularly visit my local library, and enjoy browsing the shelves to discover the perfect, new book. Your article has inspired me to look through my personal library and "loan" a book to a friend or two this season. :) Or, I will visit a half-price book store and purchase copies of a particular book. Happy holidays and happy reading.

  • Don't Go to College to Learn   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Most professors are absent from classes whenever they can be because they really don't want to be there. As for networking the Dog Eat Dog mentality is more so now then in the 90s.

    I have the opportunity to go back to school but I feel any profession I choose, I will not be able to find work in.

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    I love buying Christmas cards at a big discount, I save some & use other to make homemade postcards. I also love discounted wrapping paper, I make pretty envelopes out of them.

    following on twitter @pelletposy

  • Gifts for the Person Who Has Everything   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Meh. I still have to leave my casa to purchase most of these. I'm extremely lazy and cold weather doesn't sit well with me. (Why was I born in the midwest?) If you're interested in giving last minute gift cards, I recommend the website that my work was using for holiday gifting this year -- GiftZip.com .. the website offers eGift cards that can be printed or sent virtually, reducing that carbon footprint in the process. It has over 300 retailers and is free to use. Anything that allows me to do my holiday shopping in my pajamas gets high marks with me. Plus, no shipping hassles :)

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Target, in the past, has had 50% off holiday items beginning the day after Christmas. I still have tons of gift wrap, candy, bows, etc. But, I do find some usable items such as tissues or paper towel with holiday prints that are half off. I've also snagged Soft Soap body wash too 50% off. One other tip, prior to Christmas, Kohls has its holiday dishes, towels, ornaments, and frames 70 - 75% off (right now). My mom had a 30% off card (if you use your Kohl's card and don't have a coupon you can get one at the register for 15, 20, or 30% off). Then, you also receive $10 Kohl's cash for every $50 spent. So, I purchased Christmas themed gifts for next year (my child's teachers, friends, etc.) at 70 - 75% off, used the 30%, and spent $65, so I got $10 in Kohl's cash. I won't list everything I got, but it was a LOT including candles, dishes, coaster, bowls, towels, and four cute throw pillows!

  • ‘Tis The Season To Get A Speeding Ticket! Are You Next?   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Beth, literally anyone who can afford a car can afford a Porsche. o_O I'm not lying, I just never said it would be a new and shiny 997.

    Besides, the only doctor I'm fairly good friends with owns two Subarus.

    The issue here is that there are people speeding recklessly. Naturally, I speed -- 5 MPH over the limit, sometimes 10. (Because where I live, if I don't I'm going to get run over. I am not kidding.)

    For my age, 21, I'm also a much better driver than your average kid. I have a full year of autocrossing experience and track time under my belt... That's a lot more than most people twice my age. I take my driving very seriously... As evidenced by my clean driving record. I save it for the track, as I wouldn't disgrace the clubs I'm affiliated with by driving stupid on the streets.

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Two years ago I splurge on several rolls of wrapping. I usually buy whatever is cheapest, but the sale encouraged me to buy the paper I really liked. This year I may hit the sales to buy reusable bags and boxes, a better eco-option.

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Holiday scented candles from Yankee Candle... put them away and "suprise" yourself next year when you unpack your Christmas decorations :)

  • Book Review - In CHEAP We Trust: The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue by Lauren Weber   16 years 19 weeks ago

    This makes perfect sense! Thrifty families potty train their children early so they can end the expense of diapers. Who thought it could be linked back to Freud?

  • Gift-Giving Ideas That Can Change Lives   16 years 19 weeks ago

    Charity gift cards give the gift of charity but allow the recipient to choose which charity gets the money. Check out http://wwww.tisbest.org TisBest Philanthropy. They're beautiful.

  • Gift-Giving Ideas That Can Change Lives   16 years 19 weeks ago

    You are so right, Linden. I encourage you to check out TisBest Philanthropy's charity gift cards. They work just as you suggested: you give the gift (donation) in the form of a gift card, but the recipient chooses from among 250 charities on the TisBest website. The cards can be customized with your own image and greeting.

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    I ALWAYS ship the after Christmas sales. I shop for clearance toys to use for birthdays and other gifts during the year plus for next Christmas. I also shop for gift wrap and decorations. I love to buy baby's first Christmas ornaments and stockings to use for shower gifts, etc.

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    more than 10 years ago, my BF & I went to the day-after Christmas sales and I found a brand new artificial Christmas tree for something like $10. I knew I'd be moving to the big city within the next little while and living in small apartments. So, grabbed this deal for a 7 ft by 2 ft Christmas tree. I still have that tree more than 10 years later. The box has some wear & tear, but the tree itself is still in perfect condition and has been put up 9 out of the last 10 years. (A huge trip before Thanksgiving wiped me out of energy to decorate for Christmas this year)

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    I do of course always check out the various marked down Christmas items, wrapping paper, baking items, cosmetics etc.

    One year after we had hosted Chritmas get together for 25 or so family members I decided to check out a local crystal outlet store. My hodge podge of glassware was a sad sight!

    I ended up finding crystal stemware for $1.99 per glass! Needless to say I bought wine, water and other glasses. I have used these at least twice a year for over ten years. And at less than $2.00 each if one does break it's not such a big deal.

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    The best post-holiday purchase I got was on New Year's day. Most people are home sleeping off a party, so it's a great time to go shopping.

    A major department store had 50% off clearance items, including winter apparel. I saw a beautiful pair of leather gloves, lined with cashmere, with a fur cuff. Normally I don't treat myself to items like this. The gloves were $70, marked down for clearance at $35, and I got them for $17.50! I still have them five years later! Happy New Year!!

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    After the holidays is the best time to pick up kids clothes

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    I used to pick up wrapping paper, gift tags, baking sets, and gifts, but found that through the year they either got misplaced, ruined, or the gifts didn't fit the occasions needed. I am still throwing out special cocoa mixes I forgot to make, and even at 90% off, it is money in the garbage. I might buy sheets this year, since the holiday theme works all winter.

  • Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Post-Holiday Purchase? (Chance to win $10!)   16 years 19 weeks ago

    One year I was loooking for reduced Christmas cards and instead found rowafter row of sympathy cards on sale for 50 cents each. I bought several dozen---the frightening thing is how few I have left!