We bought the extended warranty for my 06 Honda Civic when we bought it new. I have put about 55,000 miles on it and recently had to put it in the shop for repairs. We discovered the issue when I took it in for an oil change, apparently some place that I had gone to punctured the CV boot causing oil to leak and damage the axil. We had to pay total of $600 but this included 2 fluid flushes that are not covered by warranty. I asked how much it would have cost and the estimate is upwards of $1,500. We still have app. 45,000 miles to go and have put this amount to the extended warranty. As my husband is not handy with cars, it makes sense for us to get the warranty.
I use Mint.com & to be honest, good old-fashioned paper & pencil, but then again, I'm also one of those die-hards who still balance their checkbook by hand.
My favorite tool is Excel I use it for writing notes, budgeting, to do lists, sorting any data.
Office 2007 is really cool. At first I couldn't find any of the stuff I usually use. But once you get used to it, it is so easy to find things. They are all at the top in icons.
I downloaded an excel budget template from office.microsoft.com and customized it to suit our needs. Works really well.
We also use Bank of America's online banking options. They recently introduced a 'My Portfolio' section where you can track expenses by categories as well as combine all your financials, even from other institutions, into one screen. Very nifty and easy to use. Plus, it's all free! What more could you ask for?
I am really glad I did this article because your additional tips are awesome! I am always looking for ways to salvage food. My daughter loves fresh veggies and fruit but it is so hard to keep for long and too expensive to waste or keep buying.
One thing I started doing that I am so glad I started it - chopping onions and green peppers and freezing them. Now I use them in so many things because they are handy. My daughter will eat them frozen as a snack because they are not as strong in flavor. Not sure what else freezes well - shredded cheese is another one - but would love to know what you guys think!
Skim organic milk has better taste and creaminess than regular skim milk, and I am amazed by the expiration dates. They are often more than a month later than when you buy them and they live up to that expectation. Unlike some other milk brands that start to taste gross maybe a week after you buy the it. If you don't go through much milk per month organic milk actually saves you money because you don't have to worry about it going bad.
good luck getting the girl, David! I am sure it is appropriate to eat at the parties but you have to pitch in! Surely a dishwashing or clean up guy position is available in most clubs. I wouldn't plan on succesfful date dinners in this capacity tho!! But it may be a great way for you to learn how to cook for yourself!
The other ideas are great. I regret that my busy schedule and small child doesn't allow me to create such a club myself right now - but I surely am contemplating it for the future.
And as a last point of note - I have a friend that has canning parties. At the end of the summer - the clean out the garden and make salsas and other kinds of canned and preserved foods to last thru the winter!
high quality grocery stores won't go near the less fortunate neighborhood becuase the people cant afford its products, BUT, taxing food from the mcd's, wendy's and popeyes and using that money locally to provide an incentive to open a Harris Teeter might work. And where should the govt get the money to educate people on better food choices, well how about a tax on mcd's, wendy's and popeyes and using that money locally? hmmmmm.....
We rely on a national defense system, social security, medicare, FDA, and many other federal government services for so much, yet we have so many people who argue that "big government" will take away our choices and freedoms, when in fact so many aspects of our day to day lives are owed to the same. We have freedoms BECAUSE we have a national defense system, you think Rhode Island could protect itself if neighboring states or England wanted it to take over? Senior citizens who aren't working can get medication and housing for less because of GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. Don't all these "horrible taxes" go to pay for these government programs we so easily take for granted? What happened to caring for our neighbors, and taking care of our country? Wake up people, we won't be the greatest and most powerful country in the world if our children remain obese and are dying in their 20's of heart attacks. This isn't just about fat people, you don't have to be fat to be a diabetic or have a heart attack,its about the health of future generations, its a crisis that has to be dealt with. The revenue should go to subsidizing healthier foods and educating those who don't know the difference.
To the poster complaining about $4 gas - blame the greedy oil execs not the govt. as we get charged at the pump waaaaaay before that $100 barrel of oil ever gets processed into gas for our vehicles. That's right, blame the capitalist who takes advantage of the American Dream and sticks it to whoever they can. The "stupid government" as you put it the REASON you can choose get up and go to work in your city without fear of being kidnapped and beheaded or stoned to death for being a woman with a job, and if you are taxed at 30% you must make more than 75K annually so learn to manage your money better!!
I think the reason they aren't being utilized too much yet is that many people are just starting to realize they exist. My primary doctor left the practice to work in clinical research, and since then I've used them twice. So convenient, their prices are upfront, and the quality of care is great. The staff is knowledgable, and friendly.
Obviously I wouldn't go there for an emergency such as a broken foot, or for more complete bloodwork or anything like that, but for your regular sniffles, rashes, and flu shots, they can't be beat!
It is downright silly to love Aldi because of their super low prices then whine that they never have enough cashiers. Of course they don't! Why do you think that gallon of milk is such a low price? Because they don't have to pay for more cashiers, they don't pay for muzak or bags, and don't pay for extra stockers because they can leave the items right in the boxes they came from.
The reason why people are liking Aldi better now is because most of their old stores are being renovated and all of their new stores are starting to look more like normal stores. They also have better hours now (open on Sundays in most places). If you used to think Aldi was a dirty place, that's because it was! They have done a great job at adding more cooler space and real shelves, while keepig the prices low.
I would still be cautious about the produce. They used to just leave all the produce out in boxes all day. Now I think they're supposed to change them every few hours (since most places they aren't in a refrigerated/sprayed) area but it still makes me nervous.
Also, while Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same parent company, they are completely separate. The stores, policies and warehouses are totally separate.
I'd also be careful of some of their Special Purchase items. They were selling Medion computers for a while. These computers were also in the district offices. Unfortunately, after just a year or two, the hard drives started going and the offices replaced them with Dell's. I'm not sure if the store still sells the brand, but I'd just watch out for amazing deals on lesser known brands there.
You also can't call an Aldi store directly. Again, this is to save costs. The only phone numbers publicly accessible are to the district offices. So if you wanted to check on an item, you have to call the district office who will then put you on hold to call the store, talk to the manger at the store, then get back and tell you the answer. Many people get confused and think they are actually talking to the store. So just a heads-up.
Guest, again, I will beg to differ a potato to reduce the saltiness of a dish does work. You can show me untold studies, I base things on if they work for me, not studies. Try it, it is not all in my head either!
As far as sugar that is an acid reducer. When I can my homemade spaghetti sauce I add a pinch of sugar to each batch to reduce some of the acidity. This does not work for say cream sauces or soups, it would only add a sweetness to the finished product.
I believe that the retail model has potential, but I've seen the positive impact of non-profit models. There's one in Ohio that's doing amazing work in Ohio while serving nearly a million people. http://cli.gs/23yYaM/
No, not fatigue, but like the original author and others, some postponed expenses are coming due. Necessary clothing purchases (like replacing last year's falling-apart boots), minor household repairs, other preventative maintenance (like car and vet bills). And, realistically, I'm anticipating catastrophic failure of either my computer, my sofa, or my car (hopefully not all three!) sooner rather than later.
Still, I've been able to save plenty this year while still having more than I need and being able to help those who don't, so I can only be grateful. Also, I've already finished all my holiday shopping on the cheap. :)
Yodlee.com
Love the charts, graphs, and how it keeps all of my accounts together (including things like airline miles and rewards points!)
We bought the extended warranty for my 06 Honda Civic when we bought it new. I have put about 55,000 miles on it and recently had to put it in the shop for repairs. We discovered the issue when I took it in for an oil change, apparently some place that I had gone to punctured the CV boot causing oil to leak and damage the axil. We had to pay total of $600 but this included 2 fluid flushes that are not covered by warranty. I asked how much it would have cost and the estimate is upwards of $1,500. We still have app. 45,000 miles to go and have put this amount to the extended warranty. As my husband is not handy with cars, it makes sense for us to get the warranty.
I use Mint.com & to be honest, good old-fashioned paper & pencil, but then again, I'm also one of those die-hards who still balance their checkbook by hand.
I use the most basic of them all... an Excel spreadsheet. :-)
I would love to win!
I use Google Docs spreadsheets to track my finances. It's available at work or at home, which is nice.
I've been a loyal Quicken user for years. I use it to balance accounts and export spending reports to Excel for budgeting.
(and I sure could use Office for my new Mac!!!)
My favorite tool is Excel I use it for writing notes, budgeting, to do lists, sorting any data.
Office 2007 is really cool. At first I couldn't find any of the stuff I usually use. But once you get used to it, it is so easy to find things. They are all at the top in icons.
Mint.com. I've been using it since it debuted on TechCrunch andI'm hoping the acquisition will make for a stronger site.
GnuCash does everything I need for personal finance.
I downloaded an excel budget template from office.microsoft.com and customized it to suit our needs. Works really well.
We also use Bank of America's online banking options. They recently introduced a 'My Portfolio' section where you can track expenses by categories as well as combine all your financials, even from other institutions, into one screen. Very nifty and easy to use. Plus, it's all free! What more could you ask for?
My favorite tool is simply MS Excel. I have one main worksheet with various tabs. Tabs include Budget, Networth, Retirement, and Goals.
for those who can't cut out dry cleaning expenses, it's good to know there is a way to reduce them.
Tisha Tolar
http://www.genxthenovel.com
http://www.trifectallc.com
I am really glad I did this article because your additional tips are awesome! I am always looking for ways to salvage food. My daughter loves fresh veggies and fruit but it is so hard to keep for long and too expensive to waste or keep buying.
One thing I started doing that I am so glad I started it - chopping onions and green peppers and freezing them. Now I use them in so many things because they are handy. My daughter will eat them frozen as a snack because they are not as strong in flavor. Not sure what else freezes well - shredded cheese is another one - but would love to know what you guys think!
Tisha Tolar
http://www.genxthenovel.com
http://www.trifectallc.com
Skim organic milk has better taste and creaminess than regular skim milk, and I am amazed by the expiration dates. They are often more than a month later than when you buy them and they live up to that expectation. Unlike some other milk brands that start to taste gross maybe a week after you buy the it. If you don't go through much milk per month organic milk actually saves you money because you don't have to worry about it going bad.
good luck getting the girl, David! I am sure it is appropriate to eat at the parties but you have to pitch in! Surely a dishwashing or clean up guy position is available in most clubs. I wouldn't plan on succesfful date dinners in this capacity tho!! But it may be a great way for you to learn how to cook for yourself!
The other ideas are great. I regret that my busy schedule and small child doesn't allow me to create such a club myself right now - but I surely am contemplating it for the future.
And as a last point of note - I have a friend that has canning parties. At the end of the summer - the clean out the garden and make salsas and other kinds of canned and preserved foods to last thru the winter!
Cook on, frugalites!
Tisha Tolar
http://www.genxthenovel.com
http://www.trifectallc.com
high quality grocery stores won't go near the less fortunate neighborhood becuase the people cant afford its products, BUT, taxing food from the mcd's, wendy's and popeyes and using that money locally to provide an incentive to open a Harris Teeter might work. And where should the govt get the money to educate people on better food choices, well how about a tax on mcd's, wendy's and popeyes and using that money locally? hmmmmm.....
We rely on a national defense system, social security, medicare, FDA, and many other federal government services for so much, yet we have so many people who argue that "big government" will take away our choices and freedoms, when in fact so many aspects of our day to day lives are owed to the same. We have freedoms BECAUSE we have a national defense system, you think Rhode Island could protect itself if neighboring states or England wanted it to take over? Senior citizens who aren't working can get medication and housing for less because of GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. Don't all these "horrible taxes" go to pay for these government programs we so easily take for granted? What happened to caring for our neighbors, and taking care of our country? Wake up people, we won't be the greatest and most powerful country in the world if our children remain obese and are dying in their 20's of heart attacks. This isn't just about fat people, you don't have to be fat to be a diabetic or have a heart attack,its about the health of future generations, its a crisis that has to be dealt with. The revenue should go to subsidizing healthier foods and educating those who don't know the difference.
To the poster complaining about $4 gas - blame the greedy oil execs not the govt. as we get charged at the pump waaaaaay before that $100 barrel of oil ever gets processed into gas for our vehicles. That's right, blame the capitalist who takes advantage of the American Dream and sticks it to whoever they can. The "stupid government" as you put it the REASON you can choose get up and go to work in your city without fear of being kidnapped and beheaded or stoned to death for being a woman with a job, and if you are taxed at 30% you must make more than 75K annually so learn to manage your money better!!
I think the reason they aren't being utilized too much yet is that many people are just starting to realize they exist. My primary doctor left the practice to work in clinical research, and since then I've used them twice. So convenient, their prices are upfront, and the quality of care is great. The staff is knowledgable, and friendly.
Obviously I wouldn't go there for an emergency such as a broken foot, or for more complete bloodwork or anything like that, but for your regular sniffles, rashes, and flu shots, they can't be beat!
It is downright silly to love Aldi because of their super low prices then whine that they never have enough cashiers. Of course they don't! Why do you think that gallon of milk is such a low price? Because they don't have to pay for more cashiers, they don't pay for muzak or bags, and don't pay for extra stockers because they can leave the items right in the boxes they came from.
The reason why people are liking Aldi better now is because most of their old stores are being renovated and all of their new stores are starting to look more like normal stores. They also have better hours now (open on Sundays in most places). If you used to think Aldi was a dirty place, that's because it was! They have done a great job at adding more cooler space and real shelves, while keepig the prices low.
I would still be cautious about the produce. They used to just leave all the produce out in boxes all day. Now I think they're supposed to change them every few hours (since most places they aren't in a refrigerated/sprayed) area but it still makes me nervous.
Also, while Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same parent company, they are completely separate. The stores, policies and warehouses are totally separate.
I'd also be careful of some of their Special Purchase items. They were selling Medion computers for a while. These computers were also in the district offices. Unfortunately, after just a year or two, the hard drives started going and the offices replaced them with Dell's. I'm not sure if the store still sells the brand, but I'd just watch out for amazing deals on lesser known brands there.
You also can't call an Aldi store directly. Again, this is to save costs. The only phone numbers publicly accessible are to the district offices. So if you wanted to check on an item, you have to call the district office who will then put you on hold to call the store, talk to the manger at the store, then get back and tell you the answer. Many people get confused and think they are actually talking to the store. So just a heads-up.
Guest, again, I will beg to differ a potato to reduce the saltiness of a dish does work. You can show me untold studies, I base things on if they work for me, not studies. Try it, it is not all in my head either!
As far as sugar that is an acid reducer. When I can my homemade spaghetti sauce I add a pinch of sugar to each batch to reduce some of the acidity. This does not work for say cream sauces or soups, it would only add a sweetness to the finished product.
I will definitely try the trick with celery. I've recently had two bunches of celery go soft on me and I can only use so much in soup. Thanks!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentI... This was a blind test. Your tastebuds are probably fooled because you expect the potato to work - a sort of placebo effect.
Sugar to balance it out helps (or Splenda if you're concerned about sugar and calories), though.
I believe that the retail model has potential, but I've seen the positive impact of non-profit models. There's one in Ohio that's doing amazing work in Ohio while serving nearly a million people. http://cli.gs/23yYaM/
No, not fatigue, but like the original author and others, some postponed expenses are coming due. Necessary clothing purchases (like replacing last year's falling-apart boots), minor household repairs, other preventative maintenance (like car and vet bills). And, realistically, I'm anticipating catastrophic failure of either my computer, my sofa, or my car (hopefully not all three!) sooner rather than later.
Still, I've been able to save plenty this year while still having more than I need and being able to help those who don't, so I can only be grateful. Also, I've already finished all my holiday shopping on the cheap. :)