Never trust the manufacturer to offer you the lowest price for a product. Whenever you purchase anything online, but sure to check out the three websites mentioned in this episode.

Cheap Chucky Podcast Episode #13 – 3 Websites to Consider Before Buying Anything Online

Read the original blog post:
3 Websites to Consider Before Buying Anything Online

You don’t have to pay to get any of the essential computer software you’ll need to keep your computer running smoothly. In this episode, I’ll tell you about five essential programs you can download for FREE!

Cheap Chucky Podcast Episode #12 – Don’t Pay for Essential Computer Software (Click to Download)

Read the original blog post:

Don’t Pay For Essential Computer Software (5 FREE Resources)

I know, I know. I’ve been gone for a while, but I’m going to do my best to focus more on the website and start producing more of the money-saving content you crave.

Cheap Chucky Podcast Episode #11 – I’m Baaaack! (Click to download)

I wouldn’t say I’m skilled at negotiating, so I’m not going to tell you that you that by reading this, you will get the best possible deal on a car purchase. What I will tell you is that if you go in armed with the information below, you can avoid getting screwed by the dealership selling the vehicle. Just remember these three important things and you can buy a new car with confidence.

1. Do your homework.

Self-explanatory right? You might be surprised. You need to be armed with more than the knowledge of the type of vehicle you’re interested in before you buy. Here are a few things you MUST research thoroughly before even stepping foot into a dealership.

• Know the model and features of the car you want. Manufacturers usually release multiple versions of the same model of vehicle. Each model will contain different features and will vary in cost. You’ll want to thoroughly research which features you want and factor those features into the cost of the vehicle.
• Know the invoice price (the price the dealership payed) and manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP, the suggested selling price of the vehicle (ie. the sticker price)) of the vehicle you want. Knowing these two amounts will give you a negotiation point. For example, if a car’s MSRP is $25,000 but the invoice is only $22,000, you will want to negotiate a price closer to that $22,000. You can find the invoice price for just about any vehicle, as well as lots of other important information at Edmunds.com.
• Are you trading in a vehicle? Find out the trade-in value of your vehicle at KBB.com to ensure you get the most from your trade.

2. NEVER negotiate based on monthly payment.

Dealerships will often attempt to begin the negotiation process by offering you a certain monthly payment. DO NOT ACCEPT THIS OFFER! I was once offered a payment of roughly $350 a month for 60 months on a car with an MSRP of $11,000. Do the math  you’ll find out that I would have paid about $21,000 over the course of 5 years for an $11,000 car. All other closing fees aside, I would have walked out with an interest rate of roughly 29% had I accepted that deal!

The best way to get the best deal is to negotiate on selling price and interest rate and start low. If the invoice is $22,000 on the vehicle you want, you may want to make your first offer at $22,500 with a 2.5% interest rate. Chances are they won’t accept your first offer, but it’s a good starting point.

Also, always get a breakdown of the numbers before any negotiations are finalized. You may agree on a selling price and interest rate, but it’s still a good idea to review an itemized list of fees before signing any paperwork. The last thing you want is to agree to pay a charge you didn’t know about until after you signed the paperwork.

3. Stay strong.

Newsflash: car salespeople work on commission. They will do an awful lot to get your business because they get a chunk of the sale. Take advantage of this by setting a limit for yourself and sticking to it. If you let yourself get sweet-talked, you’re liable to walk out of the dealership paying much more than you originally intended. If the seller doesn’t give in to your offers initially, either it’s not meant to be or they will meet your demands in order to have your business. Don’t be afraid to walk out.

First of all, I’d like to apologize for my extraordinarily long hiatus. Over the last six months I have been very busy but I plan to post more going forth.

One of the reasons for my absence is my wife recently had our third child (thank you, thank you). Now that we have three kids saving money is more important than ever. One of the things we decided to do with this baby is make our own baby food. You’d be surprised how simple it really is. Here’s what you need:

• Various non-spicy, non-acidic fruits and veggies
• A blender (we use a Magic Bullet – it works perfectly)
• Ice trays

Literally, all you need to do is steam (don’t boil… it can remove nutrients) your fruit or veggie of choice until it is nice and soft (some foods, like bananas, don’t even need to be steamed). Immediately place it into the blender. You may need to add a tiny bit of water to the blender for some tougher foods such as carrots. Be sure to blend everything until it is creamy and free of chunks.

Once blended, pour the baby food into an ice tray which you’ll store in the freezer. One “cube” of baby food equals one serving. It’s the perfect way to keep the baby food fresh and measure portion sizes. To prepare the baby food for feeding, simply stick it in the microwave for about 20-40 seconds depending on how many cubes you’re heating up.
You can even make your own rice cereal and baby oats at home by blending up uncooked brown or white rice rice and oats. Just be sure to strain the finished product to remove any chunks.

Not only will your wallet benefit from making your own baby food, you’ll also have the comfort of knowing exactly what’s going into your baby’s food. And it really is super easy.

Now if there were only a way to make homemade formula…

I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this blog, you struggle from time to time with managing your finances. You probably find it hard to pay bills or put food on the table due to a low income or because you’re unable to pay off your excessive debt. Either way, no matter what your financial detriment, it’s tough to deal with. Believe me, I know.

What’s worse is the fact that we live in a society where we are constantly exposed to those more fortunate than us. You can’t turn on the TV or read the news without seeing something about some multibillionaire or lucky mega million lottery winner. Must be nice, right? It’s not a great feeling knowing that the person in front of you on the highway in the Mercedes is living pretty while you struggled to get enough gas in your tank to make into work for the day. And it doesn’t matter how the driver of the Mercedes got to where she is today; the level of envy is still the same.

Where you live can also intensify that feeling of envy. I live in the Las Vegas area and have worked in the casino industry. Every day I would be exposed to folks who would lose the equivalent of my entire year’s salary or more in one trip to Las Vegas. If that’s not enough to make you feel like you’re on the lowest end of the monetary totem pole, I don’t know what is.

But aside from that person in the snazzy car or the instant millionaire lottery winner you heard about on the news, you should know that there are plenty of other folks which are struggling financially, just like you. Here are some interesting statistics to prove it:

• The average per person income in the United States is only $33,070.30 (nationmaster.com).
• The weighted average per person income worldwide is approximately only $5,737.28 (nationmaster.com)!
• 43% of American households spend more than their income each year (MSN Money).
• The average amount of credit card debt per person is almost $4,000 (Index Credit Cards).

What does this all mean? Well, in short (and here comes the corny title tie-in), you’re not alone. What’s more, there are numerous resources, forums, and blogs out there. Take advantage of them and don’t let yourself feel alone in your struggle any longer.

How much is your time worth? If you tend to believe time is money, I bet you have the “I’m already here” (IAH) mentality. So what exactly is the IAH mentality?

We’ve all been there. You’re out shopping and you spot an item you already plan on purchasing, but you remember seeing it on sale at another store a few miles away just a day earlier. Rather than taking the extra half hour to save money by driving to the other store to buy the item, you say to yourself, “eh, I’m already here so I might as well just buy it here.”

Sometimes the IAH mentality works to your advantage. Let’s do a little math. Imagine you’re out shopping and you spot an item that you know is $5 cheaper at another store. Let’s assume that if you decided to drive to this other store to purchase the item and save the $5, you would be driving an extra 40 miles compared to just buying the item at the current store and going straight home. Let’s also assume you drive a car that gets 20 miles to the gallon. With gas prices at around $3 per gallon, you would actually waste the equivalent of $6 in gas in your attempt to save $5 on the item of interest. Therefore, not only are you now out $1, but you’ve also lost about an hour worth of your time for the day.

To put all of this in perspective, all I’m saying is use the IAH mentality wisely. When you’re faced with one of the scenarios above, take a quick 30 second timeout to evaluate your situation and determine a plan of action which will be the most financially beneficial. If your IAH mentality works in your favor, congratulations! If not, and if taking the time to walk/bike/drive down the street will save you some much needed cash, quick being lazy and just do it!

Saving money isn’t always fun. Sometimes it’s just… necessary. My goal with this post is to pump some fun back into managing your finances. Now site back, relax, and enjoy this second installment of quirky money-saving tips.

1. Wash all your clothes with cold water:  If you’re like me, you were already doing this from the day you started washing your own laundry, but if you’re someone who washes your clothes “the right way,” try washing with cold water and take a chunk out of your gas bill.

2. Reuse common household items:  Straws, aluminum foil, paper towels, and plastic baggies are all commonly used items that could be used multiple times (assuming you’re willing to take the extra time to clean them).

3. Be a fat cat with a fat cat: This one comes from Carolyn Foster in her article titled, Funny Ways to Save Lots of Money. If you own a fat, lazy cat who just lays around takes up space, put it to work by lying it down by the base of a door to keep hot/cold air from seeping into your home and tacking on the pennies to your heating/cooling bill.

4. Don’t cancel cable:  I address this in a previous blog post. It’s amazing what cable companies will do to keep your business. Try calling your cable provider (or any ‘provider’ for that matter) and see what happens when you mention you’re interested in canceling your subscription with their service. You may be surprised at the deals they throw at you to keep you as a customer.

5. Every day is your birthday:  Next time you get a sweet tooth while eating at your favorite sit-down restaurant, tell your server it’s your birthday and get a free dessert. If you’re asked to show your ID, just claim that you forgot it. Who could turn down the birthday boy or girl on his or her special day? As long as you don’t mind an embarrassing birthday song sung by a less-than-enthusiastic group of servers, this one is surefire.

6. Buy yourself a gift card:  Christmas is coming and retailers and restaurants are pushing the sales of their gift cards. Many of them are throwing in bonuses along with each purchase. For example, CiCi’s Pizza is offering a free adult buffet whenever you buy a $20 gift card. If you eat at CiCi’s enough, you could score some free buffets by buying yourself some gift cards. Once the free buffets are used up, just use those gift cards for your subsequent visits.

7. Tailor clothes that don’t fit anymore:  Get over it. Those pants you’ve been trying to fit into for the last six months aren’t going to magically change size to fit you. Instead of paying a pretty penny for a pretty new pair of skinny jeans, take the ones that don’t fit to your local tailor. More often then not, altering the waistline on a pair of pants will be much cheaper than buying a new pair.

8. Stock up on free condiments:  This one came from an article by Steven Gillmen on EzineArticles.com and it makes sense. If fast food restaurants are willing to give away free condiments (ketchup, mustard, etc.), why not take advantage of it? Grab a handful every time you eat out and never buy store bought ketchup again! Check out the article for must funny ways to save money.

9. Bring your own snacks to the movies:  If there is one rule I think should be broken, it’s the “no outside food” rule that the movie theaters have. If you plan to go to the movies, sneak some snacks into the jumbo pockets of that oversize jacket of yours. Just say no to a $16 bucket of popcorn!

10. Lose the news: Here’s a newsflash for you – no one reads newspapers anymore! If you work in the newspaper industry, I do apologize, but there are so many FREE ways to obtain the same information that is provided in newspapers that there is no reason to continue to pay for a subscription. If you’ve got a computer and an internet connection, just head over to Yahoo! News and read all the FREE articles you want. Or, if you’re a little more tech-savvy, sign up for Twitter and start following @CNNBRK (CNN’s Breaking News Twitter account) or any informative news author you can think of. Blogs are also great for keeping you up-to-date.

I recently came across my new favorite money-saving resource. In my opinion, it’s best described as a frugal bodyguard aimed to pounce at every poor spending decision. This savior of saving is called, InvisibleHand.

What is it?

InvisibleHand is an add-on which is compatible with many of your favorite internet browsers including Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Safari.

What does it do?

Picture a ninja waiting quietly and patiently in the brush for the perfect time to pounce on his opponent. InvisibleHand works much the same way. As you shop online, it monitors the prices of the products you’re shopping for and discretely surfs the net to find a lower price. If it finds one, you’ll get a notification showing you the lower price. It even provides a direct link to the web page for the less expensive item!

This isn’t your typical browser add-on. It doesn’t take up extra space on the screen or bug you with unnecessary pop-ups or adds. Furthermore, it’s FREE and it works. Have questions? Check out the InvisibleHand FAQ page.

Recently, my wife was surfing the net for an epilator. For those of you who don’t know, an epilator looks like an electric shaver but works by pulling the hair out of the skin instead of cutting it (and yes, it hurts). While surfing the net, she found what she thought was a good price, when all of a sudden, the ninja that is InvisibleHand stepped in and displayed a link to a website which was selling the same epilator for $13 less!

I’ve worked with InvisibleHand for some time now and it’s never steered me wrong, and with Christmas (or Hanukkah, if that’s how you roll) just around the corner, I figured this would be a great time to mention it to benefit all you online shoppers out there.

What other money-saving tools and resources have you used in your online shopping escapades? Let everyone know with a comment!

Most people perceive employment as no more than a way to make money. It is a lesser known fact that many employers offer their employees lots of ways to save money as well even beyond the typical 401K.

Below is a list of many of the ways companies are aiding their employers in regards to saving money.

1. Tuition Reimbursement: If you’re a student, you should know that many companies will reimburse you up to a set amount for your tuition fees. Often times, your employer will require that your field of study is related to the work that you do within the company in some way, but this is not always the case.

2. Money Management Courses: Companies realize that these are tough times. Hell, the company you work for may be going through a tough time right now. That’s why more and more employers are offering finance and money management courses to their employees free of charge.

3. Local Discounts: The company I currently work for was able to convince all sorts of local businesses to offer various discounts to its employees. These discounts range from car care to cupcakes and new discounts are added all the time.

4. Hazard Funds: Crazy mishaps and natural disasters do happen. Not all employed individuals are financially able to handle these types of events. Many employers acknowledge this and will often provide financial aid to those who have come upon hard times.

The bottom line is this:  don’t think that a paycheck is all you deserve from the company you work for. If you are in any type of financial predicament, or if you just want to save a few extra bucks here and there, contact the human resources department of the company you work for and ask about the types of financial compensations, discounts, and courses they offer. You may be surprised what your company offers.

What kind of financial assistance does your employer offer? Let everyone know with a comment!

I don’t know about you, but I love the show, MythBusters (and I miss it dearly now that I don’t have cable). You can learn an awful lot about science on that show. If you watch the right episodes, you can also learn about how to save money.

I was able to come up with 5 frugal-minded myths which were tested on MythBusters. Most of them are related to fuel economy, but I thought they were all worth noting. Read on to find out more about those myths.

Myth #1: Temporarily leaving a light on is more energy efficient than turning it off and back on.

Claim: Light bulbs require a large surge of energy to be turned on so it’s best to just leave them on.

Result: Busted! The power surge created by turning a light on was equal to the amount of power used by leaving a light on for only a few seconds.

Money-Saving Tip: Turn those lights off when they are not being used!

Myth #2: A dirty car is more fuel efficient than a clean car.

Claim: The dirt acts like the dimples of a golf ball and makes the car more aerodynamic.

Result: Busted! The clean car was more fuel efficient than the dirty car.

Money-Saving Tip: Wash your car regularly.

Myth #3: It is more fuel efficient to drive with your pickup truck’s tailgate down.

Claim: Driving with the tailgate up will create more drag, and thus use more fuel.

Result: Busted! In fact, the opposite is true. A closed tailgate actually creates a vortex of air in the bed of the truck which allows air to pass by it more smoothly causing less drag and better fuel economy.

Money-Saving Tip: Keep those tailgates up!

Myth #4: Running the air conditioning in your car is more fuel efficient that driving with the windows down.

Claim: Driving with the windows down creates drag that reduces fuel economy so it’s better to leave the windows up and run the A/C.

Result: Partially confirmed! The results of this myth differ depending on how fast you are going. The MythBusters found that it was more fuel efficient to leave the windows down if traveling less than 50 mph. The opposite is true if traveling over 50 mph.

Money-Saving Tip: Speed demons, keep that A/C blazing and the windows up. Grandma, turn that A/C off and roll the windows down.

Myth #5: You can improve fuel economy by adding acetone to your gas tank.

Claim: Acetone aids in the complete vaporization of fuel, resulting in less wasted fuel and thus, better gas mileage.

Result: Busted! Adding acetone actually decreases fuel economy.

Money-Saving Tip: Don’t spend money on acetone in an effort to get better gas mileage. It’s a lose-lose situation.

If you would like more information about other myths which have been tested, please visit MythBustersResults.com. That’s where I found all the information for this post.

Can you think of any other money-saving tips you’ve learned from MythBusters? If so, leave a comment and let others know!

It’s not easy to get in shape. It’s not cheap either! I once considered joining a gym. I went to the gym (which shall remain nameless), took the tour, and then sat down with the sales rep to discuss pricing. I was hoping this would be one of those “wow, it costs less than I though to have a gym membership” moments. Alas, I was wrong.

The fee for the membership was a mere $18 per month. Reasonable, right? However, the down payment was $300! I wasn’t about to fork up that much money for a gym membership.

Instead, I’ve found ways to work out from home at little or no cost to me. Has it worked? I would say so. In the last two years or so, I have managed to lose 50 pounds. I even gotten into good enough shape to run a half marathon (which I plan to do again this year). You can do the same with some basic equipment and a little willpower.

Less is more. All you’ll truly need to get in shape is a weight set, a decent pair of running shoes, and yourself. You don’t have to go out and buy expensive individual barbells either. In fact, Walmart sells a $20 40 lbs weight set which will do just fine, and Asics makes a good, inexpensive running shoe. All-in-all, you can be up and running for under $100 (that’s 1/3 of the enrollment fee for that gym, AND  you don’t have to pay anything monthly).

There are tons of great resources aimed at getting you in shape on the internet. Regardless if you’re simply trying to lose weight, or if you’re looking to buff up, the information is out there, and it’s FREE. YouTube offers tons of how-to fitness videos. My personal favorite resources is ExerciseTV.tv. Exercise TV offers FREE workout videos, how-to instruction, and a fitness blog, all aimed at keeping you informed and motivated. My personal favorite workout video is one by Steve Maresca featuring a 40 minute total body makeover. It’s completely FREE to watch on your computer, and for a small fee, you can download it and watch it at any time, ad free.

All this is great, but in the end, it all comes down to you. You have to be motivated and willing to do the work—and it is work. There’s no easy way to lose weight. Believe me, I know. As always, make sure you’re ready for exercise and consult a physician before starting any workout regime.

Do you know of any other FREE online fitness resources? If so, let everyone know with a comment!

I recently decided it was time to cancel my cable TV subscription. I did this for two reasons:

1. Canceling cable TV is obviously monetarily beneficial, as we were paying over $50 per month.
2. My kids were just too glued to that TV.  They were getting a little too used to shows like Adventure Time and Johnny Test which I would hardly call “kids shows.”

An interesting thing happened when I called to cancel my subscription. The cable TV provider obviously does not like to see customers cancel subscriptions, so in order to keep my business, they offered me all sorts of lucrative deals including a big percentage discount for the next six months if I retain my subscription!

In my case, I had already made up my mind. I was getting rid of cable and that was final. But I will admit, I did have give keeping cable a second thought.

Maybe you’re not quite ready to get rid of your precious cable. I can’t say that I blame you. If you don’t want to cancel cable but wish it didn’t cost you so much every month, it may not hurt to call up your cable provider and (pleasantly) threaten to cancel just to see what sort of discounts they can throw at you. If it works for you, then maybe, just maybe you can repeat this process every so often to keep those discounts going. Give it a try!

As a bit of a side note, I must say that canceling cable was a great move; at least for myself and my family. My kids aren’t as attached to the TV anymore, I have more time to read and get things done around the house, and we still get 10 to 15 FREE HD channels. These free channels may not be available where you are, so if you’re banking on having them available after you cancel cable, you may want to double check for this first.

Do you know of any companies who are known for extending great deals in order to hold on to their customers? Let everyone know with a comment!

In a few day, I will be traveling to New Jersey to enjoy a family vacation and to do some fist pumping with Snooki (ok, maybe not the fist pumping with Snooki part). As you can imagine, I didn’t just settle for the first travel fares I came across – I did my research to find the lowest price.

Third-party travel websites such as Hotwire, Expedia, Travelocity and others claim they can provide you extra low rates for your vacation. In many cases they can, but the most noticeable savings come from bundling. Bundling refers to booking your airfare and/or rental car and/or hotel stay all at once in order to get a lower price. It’s a similar concept to how cable companies will offer you a lower monthly rate to bundle your telephone, internet, and cable TV services together.

In my case, I will be staying in a house and my airfare was covered the parentals (lucky me). That leaves me with the expense of a rental car. In this scenario, it is almost always more beneficial to reserve directly through the car rental company’s website. Why? Because I won’t benefit from the bundling discounts provided by those third party websites mentioned above if I’m only reserving a rental car. Also, whether you need a rental car, plane tickets, or a place to stay, the direct providers of those services almost always have specials going on.

That was exactly the case in my situation. No matter how much I searched on the third party sites, I couldn’t find rental car rates lower than what I found from Enterprise Rent-A-Car who was running a promotion offering 15% off weekly rentals.

Here are three tips to ensure that you too can save money when reserving your non-bundled travel arrangments:

1. Check the provider’s website for specials: Rental car companies, airlines, and hotels almost always offer specials that third party sites don’t take into consideration. You should first determine which airlines, rental car companies, or hotels are applicable to your travels. Then check each companies websites and write down the deals they are offering which apply.

2. Visit RetailMeNot.com: By typing in any website address at RetailMeNot.com (eg. “enterprise.com”), you can find out if there are any available coupon codes not mentioned on the travel company’s website which may apply discounts or savings towards your reservation. I was able to get the great car rental rate I did from Enterprise Rent-A-Car using RetailMeNot.com.

3. Cross Reference with third party sites: Ok, so I never said you will ALWAYS find a lower price through the provider’s website. It’s still a good idea to research various third party travel sites before making your final reservation. Watch out for booking fees though!

What other money-saving non-bundling travel tips can you provide? Tell us with a comment.

Recently, my wife and I found out we will be having another baby! That’s number three for us. This is great news for us, but accidental pregnancies happen all the time. Almost all of them are followed by mental, physical, and definitely financial hardships.

When you think about all the expenses tied into having a baby, it really adds up. Diapers, formula, baby food, clothing, doctors visits, and toys are all very expensive. If you ask me, if you’re not ready to have a baby, the purchase of that box of condoms is well worth the money spent compared to the money you could be spending raising a child (unless you’re having as much sex as Gene Simmons used to, in which case you’d have quite a large condom expense).

Now, I’m not trying to preach about safe sex here. This is a personal finance blog, and my point is simply that having sex can have significant financial consequences, but this philosophy can be applied to so many other scenarios as well.

Let’s say you’re at a bar and some punk across the way looks at your girl all wrong. Do you disregard him and go about your night or do you run over and punch the guy in the face? Sure, the latter may seem like a good idea at the time, but think about the possible financial repercussions. You could get arrested for battery and receive a hefty fine. The assaulted could also sue you for everything you’re worth. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Maybe you’re a Steven Slater wannabe and decide to flip out at work. I know work can be stressful. It’s not always easy to get along with coworkers or customers, but sometimes it’s simply easier to weather the storm and play by the rules (at least while you’re on the clock). If you get fired from a job, you cannot file for unemployment, it will be harder to find a new job, and those bills will start piling up. It’s just better not to risk it.

The lesson: Consider the consequences of your actions before making any rash decisions. They say bad decisions make good stories, but they can also cost you. They also say that rules are meant to be broken. If that’s true, just be careful which rules you choose to break. Cue the “The More You Know” music.

Do you have any other helpful insights? Let everyone know with a comment!

So, you’re looking to make a purchase online. Sure, the manufacturer of the product you’re looking for probably sells it directly from their website, but I would bet my late grandma’s broccoli and rice casserole that you could find it cheaper elsewhere.

For the purpose of this post, we are going to use the Emjoi Soft Caress Rechargeable Epilator (model #AP-10R) as an example. For those of you don’t know, and epilator is a device (primarily for women) which looks and functions much like an electric shaver, only instead of cutting the hair, it uses many tiny tweezers to pull the hair out of the skin. Sounds painful if you ask me. Nevertheless, my wife is in the process of purchasing one of these contraptions and I thought this would be a great time to do some price research.

The Emjoi AP-10R retails for $69.95 on the manufacturer’s website. I’m going to use the three websites below to find the same item at a lower cost. However, before reading on, keep these following points in mind:

• Prices are always changing (especially on eBay). If you’re reading this post a few weeks from when it was published or later, you will most likely find prices which are different from the ones I was able to find.
• Shipping was not considered here. For the sake of simplicity, I chose to quote only the lowest prices I could find. You will want to consider shipping prices when doing your own research because some online stores charge more for shipping than others.

Ok, let’s get started.

1. Froogle.com:  Froogle.com, also known as Google Product Search (but Froogle is more fun to say), is always my first source when buying anything online. By doing a simple search for the item you are looking for, Froogle will scour the internet and reveal just about every online store which is selling your item. The search results will appear in order of relevance, however you can also sort them by price. I almost always find lower-than-retail prices for items when using Froogle. Did it work for the epilator? Let’s find out.

• By searching for “Emjoi Soft Caress Epilator” on Froogle, I was able to find the epilator for only $42.22. That’s a savings of 39.6%!

2. Amazon.com:  Who hasn’t heard of Amazon? You can find just about everything you’re looking for on Amazon which is “America’s largest online retailer.” If I’m not satisfied with what I find on Froogle, this is my next stop. Let’s see what kind of prices Amazon can offer for our epilator.

• By searching for “Emjoi Soft Caress Epilator” on Amazon, I was able to find the epilator for only $47.94. That’s a savings of 31.5%!

3.  eBay.com:  eBay is an online auction website. For a small posting fee, website visitors can post their items on eBay for others to bid on. Items can also be sold for a set price if you so choose. You can find new stuff at low prices, however eBay is especially great if you’re looking for cheap used goods. For the sake of sanitation, I think I’ll stick with new epilators only. So what does eBay have to offer? Let’s get bidding.

• By searching for “Emjoi Soft Caress Epilator” on eBay, I was able to find the epilator for only $56.99. That’s a savings of 18.5%!

As you’ll notice, searching on Froogle.com yielded the lowest prices for our epilator. This isn’t always the case though, so research each of these sites every time you make an online purchase.

What other sites can you recommend for price research? Leave a comment and let others know!

Recently, I had to purchase a new laptop PC. If you’ve ever done so, you’ll know that new computers these days come with tons of great, and FREE preloaded software such as anti-virus and word processing programs. The catch? Most of it is only FREE during a short trial period. After that, you have to purchase the software to continue to use it. Some of that software can be very expensive.

Whether you’ve purchased a new computer or you’re simply looking to tune up your existing PC, you should know that you don’t have to pay for essential software. No, I’m not going to teach you how to steal computer software. I’m simply going to show you where you can find effective, FREE PC software to handle all your essential computer functions.

Anti-Virus Software: Instead of paying for Norton or McAfee anti-virus programs (which don’t get great ratings anyway), download AVG FREE; a FREE anti-virus program. AVG offers a FREE and a paid version of its anti-virus software, however I find that the FREE version provides all the anti-virus functionality I need. You can customize all sorts of options and settings, the software is updates almost daily, and AVG gets much better ratings than many other paid anti-virus programs.

Office Software: Microsoft makes a great bundle of office software, but it sure is expensive. If you do not have the luxury of enjoying a full version of Microsoft Office, there is another option. OpenOffice.org offers FREE open source office software, such as word processing, database management, spreadsheet, presentation, and graphics software, which has most of the same functionality as the Microsoft Office software bundle.

File Cleanup Software: Disk Cleanup (a default junk file cleanup program found on any Windows operating system) isn’t always enough when it comes to keeping your computer FREE of junk files which can fill up your hard drive and slow your PC’s performance. CCleaner is a FREE program by Piriform designed to keep your computer FREE of unnecessary files. It also helps to clean up your system’s registry as well. CCleaner is easy to use and works in seconds to remove junk files from your PC.

Tune-Up Software: There are tons of FREE system optimization programs out there. Some are better than others. My personal favorite is Advanced SystemCare by IObit. With one click, Advanced SystemCare will completely optimize your system with features such as disk defragmentation, tracks removal, junk file removal, registry cleanup and optimization, and much more.

Malware Removal Software: Malware (short for malicious software) can accumulate on your computer over time and impair your computer’s performance. Some malware is even used to steal personal information from your computer. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software is a fast and FREE program aimed at keeping that ugly malware from invading your computer . Like AVG Anti-Virus, there is a paid version of Malwarebytes, however the FREE version should handle all your anti-malware needs.

By maintaining your own computer, you can avoid having to buy a new computer, or paying top dollar to have someone fix it when something goes wrong. The key is understanding that you don’t have to pay for the essential software needed to do this (and you don’t need to be a computer genius either). Download all the programs mentioned above so you don’t have to see that blue screen of death ever again!

Can you suggest any other great and FREE computer software? Let everyone know with a comment!

This economy is tough. So many jobs have been lost, and finding a job is definitely not easy. With fewer jobs being available as a result of corporate cutbacks and layoffs, job seekers are forced to compete more fiercely to fill the empty positions.

If you’re currently searching for employment, you need to be at the top of your game to ensure you can beat the competition and land that job you so desperately need to support yourself and your family. By following the steps and utilizing the resources listed below, you’ll be back in the workforce and earning a paycheck in no time.

1. Determine your desired career path: In order to improve your chances of getting a job, you’ll want to apply for jobs in which you will excel and prosper. Some of you may already have previous specialized work experience and know what type of job you’re looking for. In that case, feel free to skip to step 2.

For those of you who need to be pointed in the right direction, visit CareerPath.com, a website designed to assist you with making the right career decision. Take a few minutes to complete their FREE career test, and you should have a much better idea of which career path will best suit you.

2. Build a resume: One of the most important resources you will need when looking for a job is a professional-looking resume. Now that you’ve determined which type of employment you’re looking for, it’s time to put that resume together. Resumetemplates.org offers over 250 resume templates to choose from, tips for crafting the perfect resume, and other great information such as how to write a cover letter.

3. Set up a job profile: Not only is it important to proactively pursue jobs by filling out tons of applications, it also doesn’t hurt to give employers the opportunity to discover you. Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com allow you to set up FREE job profiles. In about 20 minutes per website, you can set up a personalized profile highlighting your resume and career path of choice.

Hiring employers often search these sites looking for qualified candidates to fill their available positions. If you meet their criteria, there’s a good chance these companies will contact you and invite you in for an interview. Just be wary of scams. If you are contacted by an employer whom you’ve never heard of before, be sure to research the company before responding or providing any personal information.

4. Start your job search: It’s now time start looking for jobs. Indeed.com is a search engine for jobs and is a great starting point for job seekers. By simply typing in a few keywords related to your job of choice and your zip code, Indeed.com will search all sorts of websites for jobs that fit your description. You can even find information regarding the typical salary for your career path of choice. Check out Indeed.com and APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!

5. Nail that interview: Ok, so you’ve put in the work and you’ve locked in an interview. Steps 1 through 4 will have meant nothing if you aren’t prepared to knock your interviewer’s socks off with a great interview. HowToNailAnInterview.com lists 20 great tips accompanied with video geared towards ensuring you ace that interview. Some of the tips mentioned are self-explanatory (make eye contact, bring resumes, etc.), and others are a bit unconventional but very important (don’t talk bad about a previous boss, set your social network profiles to private, etc.).

Now get out there, go through these steps, and land that job. It may take you some time, but stay strong and don’t give up.

Do you have any other job hunting suggestions? Let others know with a comment.

Podcast – #10-5 Steps to Landing a Job

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I personally believe that creativity and passion are all you need to make a success out of yourself in some way, shape, or form. All other personality characteristics or skills are incidental. For example, you may think you are the greatest song writer of all time, but if you do not possess the passion and the drive to create unique and consistent content, no one will know or care who you are.

Gary Vaynerchuk is a great example of someone who used his creativity and passion for wine to create quite a career for himself. Vaynerchuk is best know as the star and director of operations for Wine Library TV; an eccentric video blog all about wine. He has a passion for wine and was able to become successful by finding a creative way to educate and inform others, thus gaining credibility and growing his business as a result. Now-a-days, Vaynerchuk has made quite a name for himself even outside of the wine business. For example, in 2009 he has released his book, Crush It!, in which he shares the secrets of his success. All this is the result of an intense level of passion and creativity.

I also consider myself to be a passionate and creative person, however I have not (yet) experienced the level of success as Vaynerchuk (at least from a monetary standpoint). I’ve attempted to utilize my passion and creativity plenty of times over the years. For instance, I once thought I could make a few extra bucks by sporting a magnetic sign on the side of my car which read, “Advertise Here.” For a fee, I would allow businesses or individuals to advertise on my vehicle. Did it work? Absolutely not! But with every failure, there is a lesson learned. It is passion that keeps me from giving up on my ideas.

I consider this blog to be a work of passion and creativity as well. Although it does not bring me any great deal of monetary wealth, I keep doing it because it is fun and because I get the opportunity to spread my knowledge and learn new things along the way as well. Success doesn’t always have to come in the form or a large paycheck.

So how does one become the next Gary Vaynerchuck? There is no one simple answer to that question, but here are 3 steps accompanied by various tips, suggestions, and examples that may point you in the right direction:

1. Uncover your passion: You ARE passionate about something whether you know it or not. They key is to first uncover what it is you are truly passionate about. Think about your interests. Maybe you’re an avid movie-goer with a passion for a good story plot. Maybe you’re an animal lover with a strong disposition against animal cruelty. Maybe you love to knit and have a desire to share your garments with the world. Those are all passions.

2. Determine your goals: Are you looking to make millions or simply share knowledge and ideas because it’s fun (like I do with this blog)? Regardless what your intentions are, you need to make them clear to yourself up front. By doing this, you set your goals and expectations and you give yourself some direction.

3. Find creative ways to exploit your passion: Now that you’ve determined your goal, it’s time to start thinking about how to turn your dreams into reality. This is the part that takes time. Depending on your your passion and how you plan to exploit it, there will be many directions you can go here. Blogging is an excellent starting point. Blogs are a great way to spread knowledge and build credibility. It is simple to start a blog. Just head over to WordPress.com, sign up for FREE, and get blogging. Where you go from there is up to you. If you simply have great content to share, try charging a download fee for some of your video content or ebooks. If you’re that knitter mentioned earlier, why not set up an online store where you can sell your creations? Maybe you’re not interested in making money and want to simply make a difference. If you’re that animal activist, why not try to form a group of other animal activists and together find ways to fight animal cruelty? An important part to this step is truly believing in your passion and not being afraid to put yourself out there. In the end, just make sure you do what makes you happy.

I know this post was a little vague in terms of specifics; it wasn’t meant as a how-to. There is no one right path for every individual. The steps above are simply guidelines. If you want to learn more about turning your passion into a way of life, try reading Gary Vaynerchuk’s book, Crust It!.

Can you provide any additional input? Share your opinion with a comment!

Podcast – #9-3 Steps to Prosperity Using Passion and Creativity

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I’d like to make an important distinction up front. For the purpose of this post, junk mail and spam mail will have different definitions.

Spam mail: An unsolicited email advertisement. These emails usually come from people or companies who have purchased your email address from another person or company and often contain vulgar content or even computer viruses.

Junk mail: A solicited email advertisement from a company you are familiar with. Junk mail is received as a result of opting-in to a company’s email newsletter or other email distribution. I still refer to this type of email as junk mail because many of these emails contain information in which I am not interested. However, some messages contain other valuable content and savings.

Companies love to get a hold of your email address. They use it as a way to advertise their products or services. They also use it to extend valuable discounts and coupons to those willing to give up their email addresses. Sure, some companies do sell email addresses to make an extra buck (that’s where the spam mail usually comes from), but typically, opting-in to receive a company’s email distribution can be beneficial.

A great example of this comes from Fresh & Easy, a grocery chain located in the southwest US. If you are familiar with the chain, you probably already receive physical mail pieces from them on a regular basis highlighting weekly specials and coupons; usually $3 off a purchase of $30 or $5 off a purchase of $50 (up to a 10% savings). What you may not know is that by signing up for their email distribution, you will receive weekly emails from them which usually contain a coupon for $10 a purchase of $50 (up to a 20% savings).

Even better is the fact that you can use multiple Fresh & Easy coupons for one purchase. For example, if you are purchasing qualifying goods at a local Fresh & Easy store subtotaling $80 or more, you could use a $10 off $50 coupon AND a $3 off $30 coupon for a savings of $13 (up to a 16.25% savings).

Now, I know what you’re saying. “I don’t want my inbox filled with all this excess junk mail.” I understand your concern, however there is a way to avoid this.

If you currently have only one or two email addresses which are used for specific purposes, why not set up an additional email address which you can use exclusively for junk mail? With only a few clicks of the mouse and a couple minutes of your time, you can set up a FREE email account with Yahoo!, Gmail, or many other email providers. Once you’ve done that, head on over to the website of your favorite retailer or grocer and sign up for their email distribution using that junk mail email address. I promise you, the saving will add up.

Which companies have you come across that extend great value through their email distributions? Comment below and let everyone know!

Podcast – #8-Junk Mail for Savings and Discounts

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1. Go on a diet: Drinking water instead of soda and reducing calorie intake can cut inches off your waist and the length of your grocery receipt.

2. Cut the cable and hit up Hulu: Lots of people are canceling their cable and satellite TV subscriptions and using Hulu.com to watch their favorite TV shows and movies for FREE. You just need to know how to hook up your computer to your television (unless you don’t mind watching from your computer screen). If Hulu’s free selection doesn’t suit you, for only $9.99 per month (still less than the average cable or satellite subscription) you can view even more of the shows you love.

3. Cut your own hair: What does a typical haircut cost these days? Maybe $15 for guys and up to a few hundred dollars for girls?! Instead, why not go buy a $25 set of hair clippers and cut your own hair? The buzzed look is coming back for the guys. And ladies, I think it’s time to bring back the GI Jane look.

4. Freeze your credit cards (literally): This tip comes from Clark Howard, a personal finance radio show host, who suggests that placing your credit cards in a plastic bag with water and freezing them will help you avoid making unnecessary purchases. The time it would take for those credit cards to thaw would give you plenty of time to think about whether or not you REALLY need that new Louis Vutton purse.

5. Don’t tip the waiter: I don’t want any nasty emails or comments about this one. I’m simply saying that you can avoid paying a lofty 18% in gratuity by eating at less expensive self-serve restaurants.

6. Brew your own wine/beer (21+ only): This is a personal favorite of mine. I brew new batches of homemade wine all the time. Granted, it’s no top shelf Pinot Noir, but it’s a great hobby (for those of age) and it’s cheap. All you really need to get started is a gallon jug, your favorite non-citrus juice, yeast, and sugar. Want to know how to get started? Download my homemade wine recipe! PS, drink responsibly.

7. Roll your own cigarettes (18+ only): Have you seen the price of a pack of cigarettes lately? Outrageous! I used this nifty tip back in college when I was still a smoker. With a half-decent cigarette roller (~$40), some cigarette tubes (~$3 for a carton’s worth), and your favorite rolling tobacco ($20-$30 for a carton’s worth), you can save lots of money per carton and that roller will pay for itself in no time. PS, don’t smoke, it’s bad for you.

8. Double-up uses for household items: This tip comes from a post from The Save Money Blog titled, “Save Money By Making Your Own Products.” It’s  a short post with a big message. Many household items can be used for multiple purposes. A suggestion from the post is to save money by making your own spaghetti sauce if you grow your own tomatoes. You can also try using paper towels to make baby wipes. Be creative and have fun with this one.

9. Stop being lazy: It little extra effort can save a lot of money over time. Do your own dishes instead of buying disposable plates and silverware. Walk or bike to the store instead of taking a car.

10. Need food storage containers? Buy cottage cheese: I’m sure that Glad makes a great product, but I’ve found that empty margarine or cottage cheese containers work just as well as food storage containers. Just don’t wash ‘em on the bottom shelf of your dishwasher.

What other quirky money-saving tips can you suggest?

Podcast – #7-10 Quirky Ways to Save Money

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Store credit cards, such as those provided by Walmart, JCPenny, and many other retail establishments, are most commonly known for their high interest rates and low credit limits. Normally, this would not be a good combination when you’re looking to save money, however, I intend to inform you how that is not always the case.

Many common store credit cards offer discounts and coupons as a reward for being a store card holder.The Kohl’s charge card is a great example of this.

Kohl’s, a discount clothing department store, offers some pretty significant discounts on a fairly regular basis for their card holders. I quite frequently receive mailings from Kohl’s offering me savings ranging from 15-30% off my entire purchase when said purchase is made using my Kohl’s charge card. These savings can add up over time.

There are tons of other store cards out there from which to choose. Not all of them offer the same benefits though. Here are a few things to consider when choosing the store credit cards for which you would like to apply:

1) Be sure to read the fine print. Always read the terms and conditions and be aware of any fees that may be associated with the credit card.

2) Check out the benefits. Most of the time, there will be a description of the benefits which are provided with the card. If you are unable to find this information, you may want to refrain from applying for the card.

3) Organize your finances. This is, by far, the most important point to take note of. Because these store cards can have higher than typical interest rates, it is imperative that you pay off these cards in full each month (this should be the case with all of your credit cards). If you fail to do this and let the interest pile up, you won’t be saving any money, now will you? Organizing your finances means knowing your credit limits, keeping track of your account balance(s), knowing when your payments are due, and making your payments on time and in full.

Which store credit cards do you recommend based on the benefits they provide? Be sure to leave comments so everyone else can benefit!

Podcast – #6-Using Store Credit Cards to Save Money

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So first of all, what the heck is social media? You may not be familiar with the term, but chances are, if you’re reading this blog, you know what social media is. According to John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing, “social media is the use of technology combined with social interaction to create or co-create value.” You many more affectionately know social media as Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare, just to name a few examples.

Some of you may have even already figured out how social media can save you money without even knowing it. More and more these days, the common consumer is finding ways to tune out traditional outbound marketing such as television or magazine ads and is now using Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare to learn more about the businesses in which they are interested. These business are becoming aware of this and are taking advantage of this trend by using social media to expand their reach. Some of their techniques include using social media as a way to pass on special savings that you may not find elsewhere.

A great example of this comes from Old Navy. If you navigate to www.oldnavyweekly.com, an application on Old Navy’s Facebook fan page will appear before you. This app allows you to ‘dig’ for in-store savings in the form of a printable coupon. I’ve used this resource many times and frequently ‘dig up’ savings such as $10 off a purchase of $50.

So what’s the lesson here? Well first of all, sign up for Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare if you haven’t already. Doing so is incredibly simple, the sites are easy to navigate and setup, and best of all, it’s all FREE. Once you’ve done that, do some searches for some of your favorite businesses. More often then not, those businesses will have a social media presence. If they are playing their cards right, they’ll be using these sites to their benefit by providing some sort of value to you, the customer, whether that be in the form of awesome content or money-saving coupons.

What deals were you able to come across? Add your comment and let other readers know! 2NRYSBJ9ECRF

Podcast – #5-Using Social Media to Save Money

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It’s happened to all of us, and if it hasn’t, it will. That is, unless you read this blog post, of course. I’m talking about missing a credit card payment or being overdrawn on your checking account. These scenarios happen all too often and I believe it’s due to a lack of financial organization.

I bet if I asked you when payday was, you could tell me right away. But what if I asked you when your credit card payment was due? I’m guessing many of you would have no clue. It’s always more fun to think about money coming in rather money than going out.

In order to keep your finances from getting out of hand, you need to be aware of your various financial obligations including credit card, vehicle, and utility payments. This is accomplished by setting up a system of organization which will allow you to keep track of all these obligations.

Below I have listed two helpful resources which I have used quite successfully in the past to maintain control of my finances.

Resource #1 (Rainlendar):  Rainlendar is a free and incredibly easy-to-use calendar program you can download to your computer (Windows, Linus, or Mac) and use to stay up-to-date on your financial obligations. I use it similar to the way you might use a sticky note; to act as a constant reminder for tasks that I need to accomplish.

Rainlendar can be set up to be visible at all times on your desktop. Every time you log into your computer, a list of upcoming events and tasks will be shown keeping you on your financial toes. To enter new tasks (money-related or not), simply right click on the date for which the task or event needs to take place and enter the details. It’s so simple!

If you use your computer frequently (at least once a day), this is definitely a must-have. However, if you rely more on  your mobile device to keep up-to-date, almost all devices these days are equipped with some form or calendar or scheduling application. I know my Blackberry has this feature, however I simply find it too cumbersome to enter information on the small screen. I also find that it is much easier to enter information incorrectly making those applications unreliable. Either way, you should be using some form of calendar oriented program to keep you up-to-date on all your financial responsibilities.

Resource #2 (Accounts):  This helpful resource is only applicable to iPhone or iPod Touch users (but if you don’t have an iPhone or iPod Touch, check out my video tutorial below). Accounts is best described as a mobile checkbook register, but it does so much more than simply keep track of the balance in your checking account.

You can find the Accounts app in the App Store for $1.99. There is a free version of this app, but you are only allowed to enter 15 transactions which won’t be very helpful if you plan to use the app long-term.

Instead of rambling on about this awesome app in the post, just check out my video review of Accounts below.

If you don’t have an iPhone or iPod Touch, check out my tutorial below which will show you how to create a transaction register using Microsoft Excel. You can also use this tutorial to create a register with the free office software available at  OpenOffice.org if you don’t have Excel. Click on the link below the video to download the Excel register template and follow along with the video.

Download the register template.

Podcast – #4- Organize Your Finances

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I came home the other day only to notice the newest phone book sitting at the foot of my front door. I have no idea why these companies are wasting their money printing and distributing these giant books when it is so much easier and faster to find a phone number on the internet.

Nevertheless, I will continue to welcome the arrival of each and every new phone book forced upon me. Why? Phone books are packed with tons of coupons!

Next time you receive that new phone book, take a look through it before you chuck it in the dumpster on the way inside your home. You may find a lot of relevant, money-saving coupons. But remember, don’t let the coupons write your shopping list. Coupons can be evil!

Any thoughts? Comment below.

Podcast - #3 – Phone books are good for one thing, coupons!

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I was recently faced with a conundrum. My parents came in town for a short weekend visit not too long ago. Anticipating their arrival, I went to the grocery store to stock up on a couple food items I knew they would enjoy. My mother, in particular, is partial to Diet Dr. Pepper (which I will refer to as DDP for the remainder of this post).

There were many packaging options available as always. Knowing that my mom enjoys drinking from the can, I naturally directed my eyes to the location of canned DDP. Here’s where the conundrum begins.

Displayed before me were cans packed in cases of 12 and cases of 24. If I were to buy a case of 12 cans, it would cost me $3.00, however if I were to buy a case of 24 cans it would cost me $4.00 (actual prices may vary; I don’t remember the exact prices). Doing simple math, I realized that the case of 24 cans was a much better deal from a quantity standpoint considering that if I bought two 12-packs, I would be spending $6.00, when instead I could just spend $4.00 for a 24-pack and get the same amount of product.

The problem is that no one in my household drinks DDP. Even though my mom loves her some DDP, there was no way she was going to drink 24 cans of it over a 3-day span. In purchasing the 24-pack, my mom may drink 5 or 6 cans over the weekend leaving the rest to age over time and eventually get tossed out. Therefore, it would make no sense for me to pay the extra $1.00 to purchase the 24 cans even though it is a better deal (if you are a DDP drinker).

Granted, this is obviously a small scale example of where sales, coupons, and discounts can mislead you. However, many small decisions like this can add up to a lot of wasted money over time. This scenario can also be true of larger purchases as well. For example, if you’ve ever purchased a new car, you’ll know that the salesperson always tries to upsell and trick you into buying something you know you don’t need.

The lesson: It’s worth the time to put some thought into every single purchase you make; big or small. Just because you found a 50% off coupon for your favorite clothing line, it doesn’t mean you have to use that coupon when you already have a closet full of clothes. Buying the jumbo bucket of pretzels doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a better value if you only intent to consume the size of a smaller, cheaper container. If you listen to talk radio, then there would be no reason for you to pay an extra $500 for an upgraded stereo system when buying a new car even if that same stereo would cost you $1,000 to have it installed later on.

The solution: Make a list and stick to it. It’s all about discipline. Don’t base your list of the various coupons and sales you’ve come across. Base the list on items that you need. If it so happens that you manage to find some sales, coupons, or discounts related to something on your list… Great!

Do you have any additional feedback? Please comment below with any thoughts.

Podcast - #2 – Sales, Coupons, and Discounts are Evil!

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This post is merely an introduction to what you can expect from this site going forward. At the time of this post, you won’t find much more on the site other than a little information about yours truly. Should you feel the desire, you can also click on the link titled “Who is Cheap Chucky?” to find out who this mysterious character is. The answer may surprise you!

Anyway, this blog has been designed as a way for me to share with you the knowledge of personal finance I’ve gained over time as a result of being raised under the care of money-conscious parents. I’ve also come up with my own tricks and tips which I’ve successfully utilized in the real world which have kept me from going financially under water.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a professional money manager or finance expert. I simply consider myself a reliable source of information as a result of learning and successfully utilizing various money management techniques over time. If you are an average person looking for average (but not necessarily common) advice as to how to keep more money in your wallet, then you are in a safe place.

This is a brand new site, so at this point, content is lacking. I don’t want to leave you empty-handed, so while you wait patiently for the first REAL blog post, head on over to the website for the Network of Money Makers podcast (you can also subscribe to this podcast on iTunes and Zune). This was a ‘money-saving knowledge transmission’ project of mine from over a year ago. The podcast has been inactive as of April 10, 2009 as a result of my second child being born. Even still, the content in the nine podcasts currently available (there are actually ten podcasts, but the first is only an introduction) is relevant and worth a listen.

I thoroughly enjoyed doing the podcast, however my heightened familial responsibilities hindered my podcast progress. With this blog, you can expect the same great (and more up-to-date) content, and I will have more time for my family and job as well.

Also, please do not hesitate to comment on this or future posts. If you have a specific question for me, feel free to contact me at any time. I WILL reply to your emails.

I look forward to progressing this blog and receiving feedback from you, the reader.

Podcast - #1 – An Introduction

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