tricks

The High Cost of Keeping Warm

Ashley Marcin — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 11:00:10 +0000

Feeling chilly? You're not alone. As temperatures plummet across the United States and beyond, people are reaching for their scarves and sweaters, inching up their thermostats, and finding all sorts of other ways to keep warm. How much does it all cost? Here are a few numbers to mull over while you microwave your hot cocoa.

Cost of Keeping Warm

Let's start our look at the costs associated with keeping warm close to home — in fact this starts right at home.

The Price of Home Heating

Likely one of the biggest ticket items of all is heating your home. The state of Massachusetts, for example, released projections for annual home heating costs last year by fuel type. These numbers are staggering, but — surprisingly — are down an average of 22% from the previous year.

$879 for natural gas;
$2,248 for oil;
$2,569 for propane;
$697 for electric heating.

Note: How much you'll spend on heat depends on a number of factors, including how energy efficient your home is, as well as the condition of your furnace or other heating appliances.

My husband and I learned the hard way that a new gas furnace and installation can set you back $4,000 or more. And it's not exactly one of those things you can put off until next season or even next week, especially if it dies when the temperatures are below zero and you have a newborn in the house.

The Price of Home Energy Efficiency

Many people choose to undertake big home projects to make their houses more energy efficient. Adding insulation to attics and walls is a popular choice to help keep heat inside. The average cost of installing blown-in insulation ranges from $875 to $1,897, according to HomeAdvisor.

Other insulation price averages include:

$1,000 for spray foam insulation;
$300 to $500 for fiberglass batt;
$675 to $1,075 for reflective or radiant barrier.

Thankfully, this cost is most often a one-time thing. And increasing your home's insulation can help save up to $500 (spray foam) a year in heating/cooling costs. Plus, some states even offer weatherization rebates and tax credits. To see if you apply, visit Energy.gov.

Environmental Costs

Perhaps more important than money, heating homes taxes the Earth's resources. It burns fossil fuels that are in relatively short supply. Not only that, but there's also energy and expense involved in extracting the fuels, transporting them, and — in the end — waste that is left behind when the process is done.

Currently, fossil fuels are used in the United States to power up to 81% of our energy needs. And when you're talking about global warming — a good chunk of that has to do with home heating as well. In 2014, the fossil fuels burned for heating made up 12% of overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainable and Cost-Effective Ways to Cozy Up

There's good news here: You can tweak your routine slightly and still keep warm, all while not breaking the bank or harming the environment.

Layer Up

Before you crank up the heat, look at what you're wearing. Slip on a base layer of a moisture-wicking fabric, like polyester, and don't skimp on the hats and scarves. Yes, even indoors! The folks at The Old Farmer's Almanac remind us to cover our feet as well. Consider buying an inexpensive pair of rubber-soled slippers or warming feet with a bulky pair of wool socks.

Program Your Thermostat

You can save up to 10% off your energy bill by setting your thermostat seven to 10 degrees cooler in the eight hours when you're at work. Better yet, take your own forgetfulness out of the equation and install a programmable thermostat that will automatically do the work for you.

Try the Fan Trick

Switch the direction of your ceiling fan so it will circulate warm air during the winter (usually clockwise). How it works: The air is sucked up by the fan in the center of the room and then pushed down around the edges. The result is a more even temperature throughout the room (and your whole house, if you're performing this trick in multiple rooms).

Fill in Cracks

You may want to take a walk around your home to do a mini energy audit. Basically, you're looking for drafts around windows, doors, and any other openings or cracks in your home. You can inexpensively add weather stripping to doors and windows.

You may even want to use some plastic or bubble wrap for particularly drafty windows. To do this yourself, frame the window with double-sided tape, peel off backing, and apply bubble wrap. You may want to add another layer of tape and cover the bubble wrap with plastic film insulation.

Use the Sun

Try opening your curtains and letting the sunlight indoors during the day. Alternatively, close the curtains at night to keep the warm air inside. You could also consider investing in some thermal curtains. Some claim they can help you save up to 25% on your heating and cooling bills.

Rearrange Your Spaces

Give your rooms a new look and feel by moving furniture around so it won't block vents, radiators, and other heating elements. You don't want your couch hogging all the heat and making your system less efficient. If your floors are bare, add a rug that helps insulate your space and keeps your toes warmer.

Oh, and if you have rooms you don't often use, close them up. This way, you're heating a smaller area. Just make sure you close the vents in these spaces.

Use Alternatives

There are other ways to heat your home that don't involve using a furnace or boiler. Wood heat is sustainable — if carbon intensive — because it utilizes a renewable resource. Modern woodstoves are much more efficient and produce less pollution than older models. Still, many environmentalists shy from wood because it does cause the most pollution of alternative heating sources. Pellet stoves, on the other hand, run on a similar idea, but they are friendlier to the planet.

One of the cleanest alternatives? Harnessing the power of the sun. You may want to look into a solar hot air system to supplement your primary heating source. It involves collectors placed on southern-facing walls and fans to push the air indoors. If you're building a new home, look into passive solar design, which can supply 50% to 80% of your home's heat.

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Save Money in 5 Seconds or Less With These 29 Easy Tricks

Dr Penny Pincher — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 09:00:10 +0000

Saving money often takes a lot of effort and time, but I have found some tricks you can use to save money in just five seconds or less. Some these are quick tools to help you avoid unnecessary purchases, and others are quick ways to save money on things you do decide to go ahead and buy. Finally, there are some really quick things you can do at home to save money that only take a few seconds.

5 Second Tricks Before You Buy

Saving starts before you even pull out your pocketbook.

1. Do Your Own Assessment

Before you buy something, think about how much you would pay before you look at the price tag. Only consider buying if the price is less than the number you came up with before you saw the price tag.

2. Consider Your Cash

Do you have enough cash in your purse or wallet to purchase the item? If not, leave it on the shelf.

3. Is It Inconvenient?

Imagine exactly where you would put the item after you buy it. Do you have room? Would you have to rearrange things to make a place for it? After this quick exercise you may decide not to buy the item, saving yourself not only money, but the hassle as well.

4. Sum Up the Parts

Visualize all of the materials that went into making the item. Is it worth consuming that much of the world's dwindling resources?

5. Walk Away

If you really want or need the item, you'll come back later.

6. Use the Buddy System

Text a friend (or your spouse) for a second opinion — "Do you think I should buy this?" For best results, pick a frugal buddy!

7. Do a Price Check

Pull out your smartphone, and do a quick online search. You might find a better price and save money.

8. Is It Worth the Work?

Make a quick estimate of how many hours you would need to work to pay for the item. Is it worth it? For example, if you take home $20 per hour, you would need to work three hours to pay for a $60 shirt. Considering how much time an item will cost you is a quick way to put a potential purchase into perspective.

9. Estimate Cost Per Use

Take the price of the item and divide by the number of times you will use it. Does the potential purchase seem like a good value considering how much it costs for each use?

10. Downgrade

Find a lower priced version of the item you are about to buy. For example, pick the generic or less fancy version that costs less.

11. Find the Clearance Rack

Pick up an item on sale or from the clearance area instead of your usual brand.

12. Edit

Take something out of your cart at checkout that you don't really need. It is easy to get into "buying mode" at the store and put extra things in the cart.

5 Second Tricks to Save on Purchases

Save at the point of attack with some smart buying strategies.

13. Carry Your Coupons

I keep a small file of them in my car. Coupons won't do any good if you leave them at home.

14. Use a Rewards Credit Card

If you've decided that this is a worthy purchase, and you have the cash to pay for it, use a rewards credit card to get cash back or earn travel discounts. (See also: How to Pick the Best Rewards Credit Card for You)

15. Use a Store Rewards Program

On top of rewards credit cards, sign up for your favorite store's loyalty program. When I buy 10 gallons of milk, I get the 11th gallon free. When I buy 10 pizzas, I get the 11th one free. At the grocery store, I use a fuel saver rewards program — last week I got gas for less than $1 per gallon!

16. Order Water

Skip the expensive beverage loaded with corn syrup or chemicals

17. Skip the Extended Warranty

Decline extended warranty when you check out. In most cases, extended warranty is a better deal for the store then it is for you. (See also: 4 Warranties That Aren't Worth It)

18. Decline Dealer Add-Ons

If you're buying a car, beware of the sneaky hidden costs dealers may be trying to pack on.

19. Avoid Unneeded Size Upgrades

Why not get a large instead of a medium for only 50 cents more? Because paying 50 cents extra for something you don't need is a waste of 50 cents.

5 Second Tricks at Home

Saving money starts before you leave home.

20. Hang Up

Politely end telemarketing calls or excuse yourself from sales pitches within the first five seconds. This will save you time and likely money as well.

21. Fill Up

Fill your water bottle at home and take it with you.

22. Lights Out

Turn off lights when you leave a room to save money on your electric bill.

23. Go On a Canceling Spree

Cancel an unused subscription to a streaming video service or game account. This can often be done with a couple of computer mouse clicks (or smartphone screen taps).

24. Change Your Furnace Filter

It'll increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system and you'll save money on your utility bill. Plus your system will last longer with regular maintenance.

25. Check the Air Pressure in Your Tires

Low air pressure costs you money in the form of reduced gas mileage and wears out tires faster.

26. Do a Balance Transfer

If you have a high interest credit card debt, use a balance transfer offer to pay less interest and get out of debt faster.

27. Invest in Index Funds

Direct your investment contributions into an index fund with low expenses (around 0.1%) instead of a managed fund with a 1% or higher expense rate. This can be done in a couple clicks on your investment company's website.

28. Switch to LED

Put an LED bulb in a frequently used light fixture. Here's how much you can save.

29. Tweak the Temp

Turn your thermostat up a couple degrees in summer and down a couple degrees in winter.

This article is from Dr Penny Pincher of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Frugal Hacks for Single Living

Qiana Chavaia — Thu, 05 May 2016 09:00:09 +0000

Getting a roommate may be a surefire way to save money, but sharing a living space isn’t the ideal scenario for everyone. For instance, you're in medical school or law school and need plenty of quiet time to study and rest. You're a single parent and don't want another person's influence on your kids. You're recently divorced and want to entertain friends and guests. These are all good reasons to want to live alone. However, living alone doesn't mean you must forgo frugality.

Here are 10 frugal living hacks for anyone who prefers to live alone.

1. Live, Work, and Play in the Same Neighborhood

Major city centers are ripe with live, work, and play communities, but it shouldn't matter in what area you live. You should be able to carve out the right balance to conveniently commute between work and home and find activities in your area that keep you balanced.

2. Rent a (Spacious) Studio Apartment

Save on rent by renting a studio unit instead of a conventional one-bedroom. And if you live in anything larger than that, downsize and rent it out to sock away the extra savings. I understand there are reasons one might want to purchase a three-bedroom home, but until you're ready to start using all those rooms, be smart.

3. Rent in a Building With Luxury Amenities

For an extra couple hundred bucks per month, you could rent the same apartment in a nicer building. If you're a fitness buff, rent an apartment in a building that has a gym (pool, racquetball, etc.) and save by not needing a sports club membership. The building might have a business center, which could be great if you work from home. Or, the property could have a car sharing program and other luxurious money-saving amenities. Meanwhile, it's a great way to network and get acquainted with neighbors, which could one day lead to business.

4. Cook Meals

Pizza is perhaps the cheapest dine-out meal you can buy. But it doesn’t matter how you slice it, preparing meals at home is the best way to go. Although you will be cooking for one, it still makes sense to prepare meals at home and take leftovers to work the next day.

5. Buy in Bulk

As someone living alone, it doesn’t always make sense to buy in bulk, but it may be smart to grab family packs of non-perishable foods and meats. Separate meats into smaller quantities of two to four, and freeze them in freezer bags. Now, you only need to do major shopping once per month for minor things, like fresh veggies, bread, and dairy. (See also: Save Big at These 4 Discount Supermarkets)

6. Take Public Transit

When you live and work in the same community, you eliminate the need for a car, and in the case of most major cities, the cost of a parking space. On occasions when you do need a car to visit family or weekend getaways, use a ride sharing program like Zipcar or Uber. It will give you peace of mind and save you time and money. Not to mention, some transit services offer perks that include discounts around the city. For instance, using Philadelphia's SEPTA Pass Perks includes discounts on Zipcars, attractions, restaurants, and more. (See also: Car Sharing: Why Own When You Can Just Share?)

7. Ditch Cable Subscriptions

Don't get bullied into expensive cable subscriptions that will cost at least $100 per month. Cable providers now try to rope subscribers into package deals, where at first glance it actually appears to make more sense. Really, how often are you going to be home to utilize a cable subscription? Netflix it instead. Netflix subscriptions start at $7.99 per month. For Internet, consider an Internet-only provider and don't pay more than it's worth.

8. Sign Up for Discounts

Just because you live alone doesn't mean you shouldn't be a frugal shopper and sign up for in-store discount savings programs. Also join a program like AAA and save at hundreds of merchants, including on rental cars, hotel stays, restaurants, attractions, and more. They even offer discounts with area cell phone, Internet, and cable service providers.

9. Check Out Intuit's Benefit Assist

NOTE: Intuit Benefit Assist is no longer available.

Use Intuit's Benefit Assist to find out if you qualify for discounted health insurance, reduced utility bills, low-cost cell phone service, cheap auto insurance, and/or have unclaimed money laying around. The website says you could qualify for as much as $2,000 in benefits.

10. Put Yourself on a Budget

It's easy to overspend when there's no one to think about or care for other than yourself. That can cause people living alone to overspend on activities and shopping. Be mindful of your spending habits and put yourself on a budget. Although you're on your own, you shouldn't need to spend more than $50 to $100 per week on miscellaneous things. What you save could be going towards your retirement. (See also: Build Your First Budget in 5 Easy Steps)

Live alone? What frugal tricks do you use to contain your spend?

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This article is from Qiana Chavaia of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Tricks To Make Your Brain Do What You Want

Ashley Jacobs — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 11:00:55 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some stellar articles on tricks to make your brain do what you want, taking a mental health day, and federal income tax brackets.

Best Money Tips: Don't Fall for These Black Friday Tricks

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 10:48:07 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some stellar articles on Black Friday tricks you shouldn't fall for, working part time in college, and frugal Christmas decorations.

Best Money Tips: Tried and Tested Tips for a Frugal Life

Ashley Jacobs — Mon, 27 May 2013 10:00:31 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on tips for a frugal life, free summer fun for kids, and cutting your cable bill 90%.

Save Some Cash With These 6 Clever Cleaning Hacks

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:48:36 +0000

I’m a sucker for brand-name cleaning supplies, and while it’s no crime to be brand-loyal and use what works best for you and your family, often times there are shortcuts that can cut back on cleaning time – and out-of-pocket expenses. The July issue of All You Magazine had several inspiring ways to get your cleaning jobs done for less. Here are my top picks, along with some additional ways to stretch that dollar!

1. Sanitize your Sponges

Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths are super-convenient to have on hand, but we all know that after just a few uses, they can get a bit funky-smelling. Instead of throwing them out and buying new ones (a total waste of money), or just tossing them into the wash (which doesn’t always work,) why not use this clever tip from? Fill up your kitchen sink with hot water, add one cup of bleach, and toss those stinky things right in! Bacteria will be gone for good, leaving your sponges fresh-smelling again. (You’ll also have a shinier sink to show for it!)

2. Measure it

Are you using 2x or more concentrated detergent? Chances are good that the products you use today are twice as potent as the ones we used years ago. Pay careful attention to measure out only what you need to get your cleaning tasks done efficiently (read the label and the fill lines, first.) Not only are you saving money by avoiding unnecessary over-portioning, but you can save your clothes and other household surfaces from an early demise. Too much cleaner can be harmful!

3. Sweep it up

I know a trick for using that popular sweeping tool without buying the expensive refill cloths. Simply cut old polar fleece clothing into the same size and shape as your brand-name, disposable cleaning cloths, and use them to pick up all the dirt, lint, and hair that plagues your hard-surface flooring. Toss them in the wash to use again and again! (Another snazzy trick is to try used dryer sheets in the same way – only using them once for their new purpose, of course. Talk about getting extra miles out of your cleaning products!)

4. No shoes allowed

There is a very good reason to ask your family and guests to leave their shoes at the door. Not only does it guarantee that dirt and mud won’t get tracked throughout your home, but it can give your carpeting and hardwood floors an extra lease on life (less scratches, snags, and general wear-and-tear.) You’ll rest easy knowing that you’re also contributing to a healthier environment inside your home – the soles of your shoes can carry more icky germs than a typical toilet seat!

5. Pare down your Cleaning Arsenal

There really are one-size-fits-all cleaning products on the market, one of them being my personal favorite, Oxy Clean. The all-purpose cleaner is available at most any store, and it isn’t more than $4 or so for a 1.5 pound tub (I also reuse the empty containers to store clothespins, kids’ crayons, or random nails and bolts.) Advertised with having over 100 uses around the home, I’ve really only tried about 10 or so. I can say that the best use for the stuff is removing those “impossible” stains. (Recently my daughter sat on a melted blue crayon in the backseat of our car. After letting the colored wax cool and harden, I scraped most of it off with a knife, then dampened the area and sprinkled it with Oxy Clean. After working the product into the denim with an old toothbrush, I rinsed it in cool water and threw it in the wash. You can’t see any signs of the offending crayon!) Bottom line: If you find a versatile cleaning product that fills the needs of more than one routine, consolidate – don’t duplicate!

6. Get floors spotless with the power of steam

I’m a huge fan of the steaming floor cleaner. In fact, I’ve had several models in my lifetime (not because they wore out, but because I love trying new models!) A good steam-powered floor cleaner will leave your floors sanitized, squeaky-clean, and streak-free within minutes, and the best part is that they require no chemicals or additional product: just the pure ingredient of water! Investing in a $85 – 120 model may seem like a chunk of change, but when you factor in the cost of floor cleaners over the life of the steamer and consider how much safer and environmentally-friendly your new mop is, the cost is justifiable. Most mops also come with everything you need to do several rooms with a moment’s notice – including enough microfiber cleaning heads to get you started. There is no waste, and water is the cheapest cleaner we know of!

You can find other cool household tips on All You’s Budget Home section, like how to fight tough stains around the house, effective ways to reuse household items, and the secret to streamlining your kitchen with clever storage spaces.

If you have a cleaning hack of your own please share them in the comments!

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How the rich stay rich; a lesson in lateral thinking

Paul Michael — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:04:03 +0000

A friend recently told me the story of how a millionaire thinks. Not every millionaire of course, just one in particular. It's ingenius, as you will discover. But it really made me ponder about the decisions I make every day, and if I could make better ones just be exercising that underused part of my anatomy - my brain.

The story goes something like this, and forgive me if I paraphrase but my memory is far from photographic.

The millionaire's loan...

Our millionaire, let's call him Anton, walks into a popular bank in the middle of New York City and requests to speak to a loan officer. He doesn't alert the staff to his immense riches, he simply says he's going away on business for a few weeks, to another country, and needs to borrow a small sum of money - $5000. Banks being banks they immediately asked for security on the loan, after all they're not just going to let anyone walk away with a big wad of cash.

Anton then points out of the window to the shiny new Ferrari parked right in front of the bank. He took the title, paperwork and keys out of his pocket and slapped them down on the counter like a man on a mission. The staff went to work checking out the validity of his ownership and sure enough, everything checked out. And of course, which bank is going to turn down a quarter of a million dollars in collateral for a measly $5000 loan? This was a no-brainer (an ironic turn of phrase as you'll soon discover).

Anton left the bank with his $5000 and the bank employee took Anton's keys and drove the brand new Ferrari down into the bank's underground garage. He assured Anton that it would be perfectly safe down there. Anton then left the bank and caught his flight to his faraway land, I think it was China.

Anyway, two weeks go by and sure enough the bank opens Monday morning to see Anton stroll in and slap the $5000 he had borrowed back on the counter, plus the interest which was around $15. The loan officer asked that the car be brought round to the front of the bank and then asked Anton a question. "Our bank prides itself in details and customer service" he said "and while you were away we did a background check, it's routine, and discovered you are actually one of the wealthiest men in America. Why on earth would you need to borrow $5000, it just doesn't make sense."

Anton smiled, picked up the keys from the counter and said "Can you tell me another way I could have parked my new Ferrari in the middle of New York for two weeks, for just $15, and still expect it to be in mint condition when I get back?" With that, Anton walked out of the door and the loan officer smiled a bigger smile.

My first reaction to this was "cheapskate." But then I realized this man probably made his fortune by thinking in this way; by seeing a saving opportunity around every corner. Sure, he could have stashed his Ferrari in a high-quality garage for hundreds of dollars but his mind refused to accept that scenario. There was a cheaper way, just as safe, and he probably got a buzz out of finding a new way to buck the system.

So, with this in mind, I ask all of you to think about ingenius ways that you can get exactly the same service or product for less in the coming weeks. I would love to know your stories, and I know they will help us all look at our world in a different way. The bottom line...the rich stay rich by thinking laterally. You can do it, too. We all can.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Dead car battery? Give it a glass of red wine.

Paul Michael — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:13:38 +0000

I love quick fixes for problems. Especially quick fixes that involve alcochol, and let me tell you that this one is pure genius.

If you've ever done something silly, like leave a dome light on all night, or you just happen to have a battery that's on its last legs, then you'll know the sinking feeling of a dead battery. You dashboard panel lights may not even come on, or you get that repetitive cranking that just won't turn over.

Well, a clever wine drinker has figured out that the acids in red wine are just the boost your battery needs to give it some extra juice. The video below explains it all. But from now on, you can absolutely say that drinking red wine is good for you. Maybe every car repair kit should come with a fruity Shiraz?

Car Battery Charged With... - The most amazing videos are a click away

Main photo by archival . Thanks.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 more ways to hustle free drinks.

Paul Michael — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:47:49 +0000

My favorite scammers from The Real Hustle have been busy. I know over 130,000 of you enjoyed (and hopefully tried out) the friendly scams in my last post . Well, the hustlers have come up with a whole bunch of new ways to grab some free booze. There are some great new cons here, some require props, others a little practice, but I guarantee any one of them will get you something for nothing. What I do like is the justification behind them, which I never thought of before but it works every time.

"If you lose and buy me free drinks, you can play this trick on your mates and get free drinks bought for you." Great! It's like Pay It Forward in reverse. At some point everyone in the world will get a free pint of ale or a wee dram of scotch. What a wondeful world that will be.

So, here's your new ammo. Take notes people and have fun.

1 - On a roll: The Beer Bottle and the 20

2 - Chain of fools: The escaping ring

3 - Balancing act: The impossible stack of coins

4 - Swipe it: The hand is quicker than the dough

5 - Hole truth: The note and the coins

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Giving is Better Than Blogging... or IS it?

Troy Hadley — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:22:18 +0000

Giving is better than receiving. I do sincerely believe this, as much as I like receiving. And I do like getting stuff.

You know that old saying about giving a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day... but teach him how to fish, and he'll end up going to cooking school and opening a swanky restaurant downtown that you won't be able to get reservations to, despite the fact that you taught him, in painstaking detail, how to tie flies when he was down and out?

I bring this up because of... livestock. My mom likes to donate to charities that work in Third World countries, and a recent charitable phenomenon is a Goat Gift Pack (or sheep, or cows, pigs, even fowl) for poor families that have no source of income. It's sort of a microfinance concept, that a small loan or donation put towards livelihood, rather than pure survival, is more beneficial to a poor family than, say, a bag of rice. Animals produce milk, which can be consumed and sold for profit. It's something that seems to be very popular right now in the giving world.

I'm a tad skeptical about the price tags, however. For instance, my mom recently paid $300 to a well-known religious organization to give a pair of sheep to a poor family in India. $300? I don't think a pair of sheep cost that much in the U.S., and we should have pricey sheep. I'm wary of just how much money is being skimmed off the top for these organizations. I know that there are lots of administrative costs, but we're talking about a country in which you can get a full, satisfying meal for under a dollar.

I'm not sure how to organize an investigation of whether or not Mom got ripped off, so I'll just caution anyone else who was thinking of paying $300 for livestock to shop around a bit. In my mother's case, she personally corresponds with thsi family, so I think she felt stuck in using her chosen organization to give them help.

By the way, Slate.com ran a good article on the best microfinance organizations to donate to. I found it informative, anyway.

Give without really giving

Link to Give

Greater Good runs several web sites that raise money to combat hunger, disease, and animal abuse. Greater Good is a for-profit company, but they give a portion of their profits to charity. They also started the click-to-give idea a while ago, before Google got involved, in which revenue provided by ad clicks was donated to dedicated charities. The premise is that you can visit any of the Greater Good sites once every 24 hours, and click once on an ad, which usually says something like "Click Here to Feed the Hungry". The revenue generated by that click goes entirely to charity.

I should add that Greater Good has a good price on a pair of goats for Rwandan families, too.

Urban Monk is donating $500 from ad revenue to charity, so I'm linking to him in hopes that he gets all the ad revenue necessary to write that check ASAP. You can also link to him - his preferred method is that you write a blog post as though it were the last blog post EVER - and help give without having to open your wallet. Check out his site whether you want to link to him or not - he's a good guy.

This article is from Troy Hadley of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Carnival Of Scams - Top 4 fairground cons

Paul Michael — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:06:32 +0000

Go to the fairground, get taken for a ride. Yep, those sneaky Real Hustlers are at it again. This time they've been uncovering the basic tricks and cons performed by your friendly neighborhood fairground staff.

I looked these up before going to a fair (just doing my homework, as any good Wisebread reader should) and was quite glad I did. Of course, I'm not implying ALL carnivals rip you off. No no no. That would be a terrible thing to imply (wink). But take a look at some of the 'oldest tricks in the book' and then decide for yourself whether you want to give your money away next time you fancy winning a giant teddy bear for the love of your life.

Note: All of these videos were filmed in my home country, good old England, but the same rules apply around the world. Where there's a carnival or a fairground, there's a con just waiting for a 'punter.' Here we go...

1: The Steadfast Stack of Cans
Looks easy for any eagle-eyed ball thrower. Just knock 'em down with three balls. No problem. Until you find out that three of the cans are light and three are heavy. And the way they are stacked makes all the difference. Check it out.

2: One Dart, Many Balloons...No Chance.
I can play darts. No shock there, I spent many years after work in many a public house in London. But I challenge even the sharpest of sharp shooters to pop one of these balloons. The reason...they're really underinflated, making the skin thicker, and the dart is as blunt as a butter knife.

3: Bottle Bowling BS
They were doing this trick hundreds of years ago on the streets of old London town, and it's still working today. The reason is that it looks very very easy to win, but it is in fact almost impossibe. Knocking down two bottles with one ball is simple if the bottles are set-up evenly. Bt if you offset them, one bottle takes all the energy out of the shot and the other bottle will almost always be left standing.

4: Hoops Hoopla
I'll be honest. I've tried this one a few times. Most of the time, I didn't even get close. Once I got so close I almost cheered. But it was still a failure. And that's because the way the trick is set up makes the chances of winning almost zero. The secret lies in the base...an offset bunch of blocks covered in velvet that grab the hoop and stop it from sliding down. Sneaky? You bet.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Turn brass pennies into gold.

Paul Michael — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 21:37:54 +0000

I was never very good at chemistry at school. Or physics. I'm a writing kind of guy. So I'm always in awe when I see the real power of science at work, before my very eyes. And seeing alchemy work (or look like it works anyway) is a real bonus. This clip shows you how to turn ordinary brass pennies into silver, and then, GOLD.

I have no clue of the science involved here. I'm sure it just turns nice little brass pennies into nice, gold colored brass pennies. And as yet, they aren't quite legal tender anywhere. So don't go changing all your dollar bills into pennies, dumping them in chemicals and then hauling them off to the bank, having first given your boss the finger. I suspect all these are good for is something nice to display somewhere, or a fun way to impress kids at parties. Anyway, be careful with your vats of chemicals, and have fun.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Is there a secret code to control traffic lights?

Paul Michael — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:58:14 +0000

I'm a firm believer that time is money. It really is. The more time you save on life's humdrum chores, the more time you can devote to making money. Or saving it. So when I found out a way to make the traffic stop for me, I was quite surprised. And skeptical, as always.

I'm not sure how many times you've been stuck at the side of the road waiting for the little green man to make an appearance, but for me it's a regular occurance. Usually I bide my time. But if I'm in a hurry, do I risk the archaic lawbreaking method of jay-walking? Or do I find a way around it? Usually, I just stand like a statue for five minutes in the hope that one day, one day, the little green fella will get off his bum and come guide me across the road.

Then I discovered a video that supposedly shows you how to turn that green man on whenever you want to. Really. Using a combination of clicks you can apparently turn the lights to your favor and cross the road as you pease. No wait. No nothing. And so, being someone who loves saving anything, especially time, I thought I'd give it a try.

The result? It was about as effective as mind-control. Not only did the lights not change, they probably took a tad longer to change. But I began to wonder, is this some huge April fools joke being played a few months early? Or does it work...sometimes...depending on where you are? So, here's the video. If you want to try it, go ahead. If you find out it's actually morse code for "I'm an idiot" then I can at least say I warned you in advance. Either way it's nice to think, just for a second, that there are secret ways out there to control our surroundings. Call me a dreamer.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

tricks

The High Cost of Keeping Warm

Cost of Keeping Warm

The Price of Home Heating

The Price of Home Energy Efficiency

Environmental Costs

Sustainable and Cost-Effective Ways to Cozy Up

Layer Up

Program Your Thermostat

Try the Fan Trick

Fill in Cracks

Use the Sun

Rearrange Your Spaces

Use Alternatives

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Save Money in 5 Seconds or Less With These 29 Easy Tricks

5 Second Tricks Before You Buy

1. Do Your Own Assessment

2. Consider Your Cash

3. Is It Inconvenient?

4. Sum Up the Parts

5. Walk Away

6. Use the Buddy System

7. Do a Price Check

8. Is It Worth the Work?

9. Estimate Cost Per Use

10. Downgrade

11. Find the Clearance Rack

12. Edit

5 Second Tricks to Save on Purchases

13. Carry Your Coupons

14. Use a Rewards Credit Card

15. Use a Store Rewards Program

16. Order Water

17. Skip the Extended Warranty

18. Decline Dealer Add-Ons

19. Avoid Unneeded Size Upgrades

5 Second Tricks at Home

20. Hang Up

21. Fill Up

22. Lights Out

23. Go On a Canceling Spree

24. Change Your Furnace Filter

25. Check the Air Pressure in Your Tires

26. Do a Balance Transfer

27. Invest in Index Funds

28. Switch to LED

29. Tweak the Temp

10 Frugal Hacks for Single Living

1. Live, Work, and Play in the Same Neighborhood

2. Rent a (Spacious) Studio Apartment

3. Rent in a Building With Luxury Amenities

4. Cook Meals

5. Buy in Bulk

6. Take Public Transit

7. Ditch Cable Subscriptions

8. Sign Up for Discounts

9. Check Out Intuit's Benefit Assist

10. Put Yourself on a Budget

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Best Money Tips: Tricks To Make Your Brain Do What You Want

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Best Money Tips: Don't Fall for These Black Friday Tricks

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Best Money Tips: Tried and Tested Tips for a Frugal Life

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Save Some Cash With These 6 Clever Cleaning Hacks

1. Sanitize your Sponges

2. Measure it

3. Sweep it up

4. No shoes allowed

5. Pare down your Cleaning Arsenal

6. Get floors spotless with the power of steam

How the rich stay rich; a lesson in lateral thinking

Dead car battery? Give it a glass of red wine.

5 more ways to hustle free drinks.

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