SmartPhoneFrugal

Markporium

2020-04-13T03:00:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

My stepson recently gave me the idea for a store that has everything I care about. It would be wildly random, with these sections (that I can think of)

a) Fly fishing and hand tied flies
b) Spin fishing, maybe eventually handmade rods
c) Philosophy and HMTCA Rogue Book club books
d) Legos
e) Computers and computer parts, with a place for donations that would be repurposed for @gr8fullyfeclub
f) Math and math education
g) Computer help desk
h) Math and computer tutoring
i) Smart Phone frugality (how to use your phone to make money or save it)
j) Gardening/garden tools
k) Road and mountain bikes
l) Thule racks
m) Rock Climbing
m) Used and traded in gear for everything above

GoogleFi

2019-04-24T05:39:00.003-07:00

Hi all,

I've just learned I've been doing it wrong. My googlefi is on a Samsung note9 (unlocked from AT&T) but I'm only getting the Tmobile towers that way. I need to try googlefi on a googlefi phone to get the true measure of the service. Apparently, on a GoogleFi phone, it switches from TMobile to Sprint to US Cellular, depending on the service strength.
https://support.google.com/fi/thread/4727480

If you'd like to try it, feel free to try the link below:

https://g.co/fi/r/YMY8CK

I will say that even on a Samsung Note 9 without the tower switching capability, the data on my GoogleFi phone vastly outperforms the data on Sprint. However, the voice quality is lesser than the sprint service, and both of them aren't quite as good as AT&T (Sprint has worse data, GoogleFi has worse voice). They ALL have dead spots between Winsted and Hartford, for both voice and data.

So. Now I have to try a GoogleFi phone with GoogleFi service, even though the specs on the Pixel XL aren't as good as the specs on the Note 9. Maybe this will lead to the best service overall? I'm optimistic, but not idealistically so.

Fully sustainable life? @goalzero @Atlis @tinysolar #solar #sustainability @tesla

2019-01-10T02:30:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I've been thinking about being fully sustainable for a while now. I suppose many people go "off the grid" to prove their sustainability. I'd like to stay on the grid, but I think the product I'd like doesn't exist yet. There are a lot of van life posts on instagram and youtube, and they take a diesel or gasoline powered van and turn it sort of solar. I'd like to take an electric vehicle, make it as solar powered as it can be, and tour as much of the country as I can during my summer break. I think the right vehicle for this would be the Atlis truck with a camper on the back, powered by goal zero and a system by #tinysolar. In full sun/best situation, I think the camper could fully power itself, and (MAYBE) feed some power back to the truck itself. If my base camp has a solar bank and a solar wall from Tesla, I could get full recharges for free.

If this is possible, then road trips would be almost free! This triggers my cheap button . . . but also my sustainable button. I'm sure there are some engineering problems I haven't thought about. I also don't know what kind of camper top I'd like/need to augment the Atlis. The best option would probably be an Atlis van, if such a thing does/could exist, which is full 4wd, dually, and looks a lot like the mercedes vans.

I'd love anybody's take on this - I know somebody's thought about doing it before. It's probably a pipe dream, but it seems like a nice dream.

Have a great day all,

Mark

Two phones? Weird, but still cheaper than ATT or Verizon

2019-01-08T01:37:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

For many reasons, I left AT&T and Verizon as cell carriers. They're the largest, and therefore their towers are better, but they are cost prohibitive, the bills fluctuate too much, and their business practices leave a lot to be desired. I did some research, and found the following:

a) Sprint's voice is ok, but their data is not fast enough. I couldn't get Waze to work consistently, or send texts well, or get data, in the rural areas of CT where I live.

b) GoogleFi has some problems with voice, but their data is great! I'm getting about twice the speed in most areas vs. Sprint. I still have to do the tests vs. AT&T and Verizon in some spots, but I am satisfied with the speeds of data in most places.

So. I pay $36 a month for the sprint lines (each) with 3 note 9's and two Motorola androids (they're terrible but they mostly work), including EVERYTHING.

I have yet to get the first GoogleFi bill, but

People	Line cost	4G LTE data
1	$20	$20 w/2GB $40 w/4GB $60w/6GB+
2	$20 + $15	$20 w/2GB $40 w/4GB $60w/6GB+
3	$20 + $15 x 2	$20 w/2GB $40 w/4GB $60w/6GB+
4	$20 + $15 x 3	$20 w/2GB $40 w/4GB $60

I have 1 line, and I haven't been restricting the data. In fact, I even use it as a hotspot to support my sprint phone's data. So MAX, I will pay 96 for both phones. It will probably be less.

In contrast, I had AT&T - Same number of lines, unlimited data (but they started throttling the data speed after 2 gigs). Here's what they say they cost:

https://www.att.com/plans/wireless.html

So 48 per line, they say. BUT they will add device payments for each phone, plus fees and other things, so I was paying $500 a month for 5 lines of unlimited. I cut my bill in half (at least) and I have two note 9's for my own use.

I admit, this is a bit weird/overkill. But I like my flexibility. I get good data and good voice by the phones combined, and I still pay (MAX $240 for my 6 lines with 4 note 9's, an S8 and a motorola (it still sucks)). So far, neither google nor Sprint have been hitting me with any weird fees. They said a number and the bill has been the same as they said.

One Caveat: I did have a one time unlock fee for a few of the old AT&T phones. It cost about $30 a phone at https://www.doctorsim.com/us-en/

So even with that one time fee, and a few days wait for each phone, 3*30=$90, I'm still saving a ton of money for the same or better functionality. I get two note 9's, my fiancee gets a note 9, her son gets a note 9, her daughters get a note 9 and s8, respectively, and we still don't really use the motorola (it sucks).

So anyway, that's why a frugal guy like me has two phones. Hope this helps you, and I'll keep you updated if AT&T or Verizon has better speeds. I'm not thinking they will . . . . but I'll try it and see.

Have a great day all!

~Markspark

sustainability, solar trucks and cars, @audi, @atlismotorvehicles, @biolite, @goalzero

2018-12-28T03:25:00.002-08:00

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've written about smart phones and their frugality. I suppose that's because I think they aren't very frugal lately. I finally got my bill below $200/mo., but the service isn't as good. So I tried googlefi, and it's FANTASTIC at data, but not great at calls. So . . . dual note 9's for me. I'm a dummy, but it's kinda neat having a fast data phone and a mostly for calls phone. I also assume GoogleFi will fix their issues and team up with another carrier (they're currently on TMobile, but I think Tmobile gives their customers priority on their towers). I also assume more wifi will be available, but the tech will have to be fantastic to keep up with a driving caller. I'll reserve full judgement until then.

However - here's my solar dream. I want a solar wall from Elon Musk. I also want solar panels on my roof that are enough to power my car(s) and my home for free. The cars I want: Audi E-tron https://www.audiusa.com/models/audi-e-tron?ds_kid=43700035130525685&CSREF=SEM%7C10770960%7C3118667%7C144106565%7C315947276%7C0&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsJfhBRCaARIsAO68ZM4imF_mB5eD9bzjZXwI2dmXdC5pq_8T0fPzBwzJp0ffKTTwCaUvpqUaAnfLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

and this: and http://www.atlismotorvehicles.com/xt-truck/

I'd also like to take a cheap gooseneck trailer and solarize it, like this:
http://www.truckcamperadventure.com/2017/05/building-a-great-solar-powered-truck-camper-rig/

I'm pretty sure, that with that and @goalzero and @biolite, I can make a rig that almost never needs fueling. The regenerative braking and the solar panels on the camper will keep me going during the day, and the biolite stove will keep me going at night. Add a few wind turbines and this truck won't ever need to stop rolling.

At any rate, that seems like a pie in the sky dream right now, and of course being totally off the grid isn't what the larger companies would like for us, because it keeps us from buying more stuff - like oil, natural gas, propane, gasoline, and all the things those power. However, I'm pretty sure I will need new solar panels for this rig from time to time, deep cycle batteries, bulbs, antennae, and other stuff. I'll also keep buying computers, cameras, phones, and other things that are technologically advanced, as well as high speed, mobile data for my rig. In other words, I will consume differently, but I'll still contribute to the economy.

Anybody want to try this with me? Maybe @goalzero and @biolite?

Wireless Service . . . . #sprint all the way. #byeatt

2018-11-04T03:21:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

Before I start my rant, I should let you know that I've been a wireless customer for about 14 years. I started with ATT, moved to Verizon, then back to ATT, and am currently with Sprint. I'm very upset with ATT's business practices, for a number of reasons. I will say though, that in NW CT, where I'm from, their service is better - even than Verizon.

a) They sold me too many phones, direcTV lines, and home security systems. I didn't need anything but 2 lines and 2 lines for watches. That's it. They kept bundling and getting discounts until I had 13 total lines, a directvNOW, a samsung TabE, ipad, 2 Samsung s7 actives, an iphone 6+, 2 watches . . . and a bunch of free phones.

b) When I realized I had overpurchased, they didn't let me back out of it.

c) When I realized they wouldn't give me the money I needed for my Verizon Last Bill (which they promised) I tried to back out again. Again, they refused to pay, or to let me out of my contract.

d) Once I finally paid off all the devices and all the lines, and had whittled down from 13 and 2 watches to 6 and 2 watches (which took 2 years) - I switched a line with a device payment so that I could have my teenage stepson not get 5 spam calls a day. They promptly charged me the $400 device payment in the next bill, after not telling me they would be doing that.

e) When I asked them about it, they said there was no way they could fix it. Not even for a customer who had paid them 24*600 (approximately) over the past 2 years. For some reason, this $1000 bill was the straw that broke this camel's back.

f) I went to #sprint and fixed it. They sold me 3 Note 9s, as well as 2 free phones (for the 6 year old, basic motorola androids), reduced my bill to $180 a month, and still gave me unlimited data, without selling me DirecTV which I didn't want in the first place. Why didn't I do this 2 years ago, when ATT was charging me approximately $600 a month and not letting me kill the devices I still had payments on? I spent $14,400 on ATT's service . . . at least. Some months were higher than 600. Ugh, what a fool I have been. My data is a little spottier . . . but not terribly noticeable. But my bill was cut in thirds.

g) AT&T then sent me a bill for $2800 . . . . for closing my plan with them. Sore losers they are. In addition, they did nothing to try to keep the service. Ah well, hope this helps somebody else. I'm off to get another job to pay for my cell plan I don't even use anymore . . . . LOL.

Trickle down economics (for schools)

2017-09-10T04:20:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I work in a school. When people donate computers, or when title 1 funds give us free computers, we always put them in the computer labs, which are the first things the students break. Instead, I'm advocating that we give them to the teachers to use to project their lessons, have students print, etc. In this way, we could have student usage of the machines without the tragedy of the commons that indubitably will happen if the best machines are left in the most vulnerable, unclaimed areas. This will work sort of like trickle down economics of the 80s, but it will actually WORK.

For instance, if I get a brand new machine for my room, my teacher machine either a) replaces the computer in the computer lab or b) goes to the back of my room for a learning center/student station.

Now what, pray tell, does this have to do with smart phones or being frugal? Well, here's the connection. I have a Samsung Galaxy s8, but the way I distributed the s7 actives and such was very trickle-downy. My friends and family got all the upgrades, and their old phones went to people around them (or me) who had worse phones. All told, my plan still has: 2 s8s, 2 s7actives, a note 5, an s5 active, an iphone 6+, a J3, a Samsung tab E, and an ipad mini. I still have room for one more device, but nobody wants to give me old phones.

Anyhow, the nice thing about the trickle down is that I am able to upgrade everybody I know. My uncle has an s7 in an otterbox which charges wirelessly, my gf has an s7 active in camo which is also in an otterbox, and her son has a note 5, which was leftover after my friend got her iphone 6+. I gave the s5 to a friend of mine, who will give me his j3 to put on another unlimited data plan so I can use the 10 gigs of wifi hotspot. My girlfriend was able to give her old s7 to her daughter, who passed her old j3 to me. I then gave that to a friend of mine so she has a working phone (her iphone broke). Oh, one last thing: I traded my gold s7active for a broken gold s7active, so another friend of mine had a good one. All these things were possible because I have this stupidly large cell plan and am willing to help people with their trickle down. Speaking of which, if anybody wants to trade an iphone for a used s7active (a few scratches), I can upgrade my other friend with the J3 so she'll be happy with her iphone. If it's an iphone 5 or better, I'll trade for the s7active. Then, I can be sure I'm helping everybody the way they want, and I can use the J3 for somebody with no phone who will appreciate it.

So, I want to take this idea to the big time. I have a charity called @gr8fullyfeclub which does this with Computers, Bikes, canoes, cell phones, and (hopefully soon) cars. I just need people with funds. I can only support this on my back (and my bank account) for just so long. Every time I upgrade, I give the old stuff to people who need it or will appreciate it. In this way, my "hoarder communism" can make peoples' lives better, while not affecting my life too badly.

Have a great day, and spread the wealth!

~Mark

Buy old, quality things

2017-08-13T04:24:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

As you may or may not know, I drive an audi TT when zipping around in the summer. I also wear 2 pairs of shoes all summer long. Chaco sandals and Salomon water shoes, which are basically sneakers with no socks and lots of venting. The chacos are literally 15 years old, because I bought a good pair one time. The Audi is the same, but everybody who sees me thinks I'm rich bc old quality items like that don't lose much value, and still look great 15 years later. I think the salomons are more like 10 years, and they're finally beginning to break down, but I really can't complain about sneakers that take that amount of abuse and keep kicking. My shirts tend to be eddie Bauer travel shirts, which wick and can be worn to dressy occasions or very casual ones, and I work in them most of the summer too. Essentially, I'm dressed in stuff that can be soaking wet one minute and then dry within a half hour. I make clothes as prepped for my summer lifestyle as I am . . . able to jump in any body of water, and without changing continue my day. Everything I buy is adventure grade or very high quality, but I try for sale racks. If a pair of water shoes is $120 but will last me 10 years, I'm only paying $12 a year for them but they are quality. I'm caring for my feet and my body more than if I got walmart water shoes, even if I got a new pair every year. Similarly, the joy I feel driving my Audi with its Bose speakers and red leather interior is greater than if I was driving a new Ford or Hyundai every couple years. And, since I got it used from very fastidious people, it breaks down less than my 2013 Toyota Tacoma (which hardly breaks down at all).

You may be wondering how this relates to smart phones. It sort of does. I don't buy technology this way. I just got the new Samsung s8, with a buy one get one free offer that came with the s3 smartwatch for $50. But, I can afford to keep myself in good technology because I drive an old car and wear old clothes that are quality. My new tech keeps me able to look for good and cheap gear, and so it goes.

Have a great day!

~Mark

Banking . . . Bank Of America, TD BankNorth, Northwest Community Bank or Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union

2016-12-06T06:02:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I just managed to get a 5% checking account from Nutmeg State - Bankingawesome.com. They are great, but have some limitations because they're a small bank. So, what I've determined for my personal banking:

a) I will keep Nutmeg and have direct deposits sent there. Their online (and especially mobile) banking is a bit clumsy/clunky, so I don't want to do ebills there. However, you can't beat 5% fdic insured up to 10k.

b) I will keep TD banknorth as my online banking/billpay/day to day customer service bank, since they are big enough to have decent online features and good customer service.

c) I will discontinue most, if not all, Bank of America business, as soon as possible. They were totally unhelpful in a variety of bad situations, and have charged me at least $500 in fees.

d) Research, rinse, repeat. I'm sure Nutmeg will eventually discontinue their promotional offer, or another small FCU will come up with a better one, or the banking industry will change. As difficult and problematic as changing banks can be, it is worthwhile every once in a while.

Features I need in a mobile app:
a) mobile check deposit,
b)fingerprint access like paypal
c)easy billpay

Features I need in a bank:
a) Friendly, quick service. Every time I go to BOA, I'm greeted with long lines and unfriendly people. Whenever I go to TD, they give me a smile, a lollipop and friendly advice on how to resolve my situation.
b)Hours that are extended, or ways to still conduct business at weird hours.
c)Grace - without huge fees. This is one of the reasons BOA lost to TD - every single time I overdraft, they charge $35. Like a poor tax in monopoly, this just worsens the situation. Clearly, I've been in a hospital and unable to pay my bills. THAT'S WHY I OVERDRAFTED. OOOH, I KNOW . . . . CHARGE ME MORE AND I'LL BE MORE LIKELY TO PAY YOU. How does that make sense in a business model? If you scathe the people you are hoping to retain as customers, why would they come back to you. Once burned, twice shy. In contrast, TD nicely reminds you that you're over the limit, but still allows the purchase to go through. This allows for less public humiliation, and the ability to recover from financial hardship. It also ensures a loyal customer.

So, to sum up: Bank small and local if possible (Northwest Community Bank and Nutmeg Financial Credit Union). If they can't provide the services you require, choose a big bank that acts like a small bank (TD).

More BOA.

So. This happened to me.

I always thought that the “poor tax” in monopoly was a farce. But it’s legit. Bank of America does it to its customers with some regularity. Let me set the scene.

A math teacher is out on medical leave for several months. He tries his best to pay his bills, but has no access to billpay and therefore doesn’t see that they’ve arrived. Therefore, he is underwater. Like a lot. It must be mentioned here that he also tries to do a lot of good in the world, and that this has also hit his bank account.

Cumberland Farms has a direct link to his checking account to pay for gas. It saves a few cents on gas ($0.10/gallon) by directly debiting the bank account, bypassing the credit card companies.

On Dec. 4th, he pays for $31 of gas at Cumberland. They ask BOA for the funds, and they say insufficient funds. THEN they charge an overdraft fee of $35 (more than the gas). So Check link calls, asks for $51 because of their processing fee.

In all, one bank screwed me for nonpayment and a negative balance (how can it be BOTH?) and another place charged $20 to collect the debt incurred when the first bank refused to pay. They’re basically jerking each other off to the tune of $55 for a service worth $31.

Tech Support . . . why companies do it wrong (and linux)

2016-12-05T08:25:00.002-08:00

Hi all,

I recently had to call tech support for IBM/Lenovo for my yoga notebook. Why on earth would you employ tech support for IBM/Lenovo who cannot speak the language of the caller? I spent literally 12 minutes giving her information. We had to resort to military code instead of saying letters . . . i became india, l for lion was not understood by the support specialist, r became romeo (but said "raaaaaaaamiiiiiiiiiah"). I eventually spoke using a robotic monotone . . . but I think my android operating system does a better job with voice recognition than did this human.

I am not faulting the human. Let's be clear here - this is not a 'Merica post. I just believe that people who are hired to do tech support need to be good at communication. I am sure that to her, my accent was very difficult. Maybe the solution is that I learn to speak her language. However, to be effective at communication it is required that people speak each others' languages. Or, she should be on a chat so that we are both reading English words.

At any rate, it was a very frustrating 15 minutes. I think one of the most wasted assets we humans squander is time. I hate not being productive, or using my time poorly. Spelling my name for 12 minutes, in order to do data entry into the lenovo system, all to have a windows 10 boot disk sent was a poor use of my time. I wish IBM/Lenovo would just do it more effectively/efficiently. It makes me want to just run linux instead . . . and I might. There are none of the headaches that come pre-installed with windows if you run linux. There are also no (or very very few) viruses.

Have a good day,

P

Rocktimists, manic optimists, manops, bates

2016-11-16T04:06:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

Shameless self promotion here. I've decided to play a show in Hamden at The Space on Dec 2nd. I need to bring a wrecking crew, so please consider buying a ticket and coming. I'm hoping to resurrect the kind of situation we used to make happen for Waiting for Sully and the Manic Optimists . . . I promise that 20% of my profit from the door will go to charity (specifically the gr8fullyfeclub).

Thanks, and hope to see you there!

Mark

s'more (money at Amazon)

2016-11-15T15:27:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

I just discovered this neat app that actually pays you to add ads to your lock screen on android. I'm sure it's not much, but anything is better than nothing. So. Essentially, you install s'more, swipe up instead of sideways to enter your phone past an ad, then they send you amazon gift cards. If you get annoyed, just uninstall the app. Since I've got 2 phones going right now (one for school/nonprofit @gr8fullyfeclub and band Rocktimists, one for personal) I get twice the rewards. Theoretically, this means some cash towards Amazon in exchange for my cell phone bill (which is hefty). Anyhow, I like this and Cumberland smart pay - they give me free coffee and ten cents off per gallon, every fillup. Sometimes they throw in chocolate or sodas too.

Happy saving,

~Mark

Bottles and Cans (captain planet)

2016-11-09T13:46:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

I wish everybody would just collect garbage. I know, it's grotesque, it's demeaning, it's icky. However, if all of us did it, we'd be just a bit richer. And the countryside would be too. Instead of making America Great Again, let's make America Clean Again. That might get a bit of greatness too, but it will also get us closer to a few more bucks in our pockets. Just think . . . $0.05 per can times 20 a day is a buck in our pocket. It also leads to cleaner roadways. Then, multiply by 365. If every American who gave a damn had an extra $365 a year, we could contribute to charities or build our personal wealth. It's an example of how one hand washes the other, washes the face.

Anyway, consider recycling. Then consider how it might make our world just a bit better everyday, and your wallet a bit fatter. I'm using it this year to fund my classroom supplies. So far, we've collected about $0.30, but I've got kids collecting around the school, so we're going to keep building the funds until we can afford things that are nice for my classes (like fancy tissues, hand sanitizer, and lotion).

~Mark

#gr8fullyfeclub
@gr8fullyfeclub

Wood Heat

2016-11-07T06:47:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

It's me again. This one isn't necessarily about smart phones, but it does involve free. I use Craigslist Free quite often to make sure I get as much free wood as I can. I also pick up whatever I see on the side of the road next to state parks, land that isn't used etc. Usually this makes the residents happy, but if I'm not sure I ask the property owners first. The best are people who have already split and seasoned the wood, but don't like heating with wood anymore. Anyhow, happy reading and I hope you all stay warm this winter!
~Mark

p.s. - @gr8fullyfeclub

Free things to do that are amazing

2016-11-01T16:14:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

I've taken a break from this for a while, but I think it's a good time to get back to it. I've been working on a nonprofit called the gr8fullyfeclub (@ and #) and though it's been fun and leads me to great life experiences, it isn't generating any money yet. That's ok - I've figured out how to not have it cost a ton anymore.

Here's an example. I had a spare $200, so I went to McDonalds in Hartford, near Jennings Road. I happen to know that lots of people go there who can't afford to eat much. I got a rewards card, then put few bucks on it. Then I linked it to a few other cards, so that everybody was earning rewards. I could have eaten a really fancy dinner for 200, but instead I got lots of people some food. Everybody hungry at that McDonalds got to eat that day, and I got a lot of positive feedback. It felt a lot better than a fancy dinner. Not free, but worth it. I've spent $200 on much stupider things.

There are also lots of free things that are great fun. Many hikes, walks and drives are nearly free (excluding gas). You can also, for the price of groceries, have a bbq at a dam or on the Appalachian trail (or similar).

Happy do-gooding!

Also, the McDonalds thing is an example of two economic theories I'm positing. 1) Spending money on others like this can make you happier and 2) Trickle up economics can work when people help other people in a directed manner. It is the way we can make the middle class viable again.

Have a great day,

Mark

xmas

2015-12-25T02:19:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I hope you all are having a great holiday break. I've decided that this holiday season, I want to give thanks for the things that I have and not worry about the things that I don't. I haven't been able to get myself into the holiday spirit, which might be because it's not snowing. It might also be because my life isn't where I thought it should be. However, maybe life is supposed to be just how it is right now. Maybe I should be a member of @gr8fullyfeclub and just stop worrying about what I don't have. Instead, I can be happy that I have a warm bed, a wood stove, friends who care about me, family that cares too, cars that work and fun man toys to play with (snowmobiles, boats, skis, snowshoes, axes, chainsaws, etc.) I live in one of the best places on earth and I get to own a piece of it. Though I'm suffering with some health issues, I'm still able to walk and participate in many of the things I love. I guess life is ok.

Have a grateful day,

~Mark

BOA

2015-11-22T00:10:00.003-08:00

Hi all,

Get ready for a rant. Bank of America is the root of (most) evil. Do you remember the poor tax in monopoly? Well, BOA did the following:
a) Got bailed out by our government. You know, the same government that can't seem to properly fund education.
b) Charged me $500 in fees while I waited for a home improvement loan. I would literally have been better off taking a cash advance on a credit card.
c) Has, thus far, refused to make any restitution, despite the fact that there are connected accounts with thousands of dollars in them and I have overdraft protection.

I'm changing banks, for several reasons.

1) Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union has a 5% checking account.
2) They don't have ridiculous fees
3) They didn't need a bailout because they lived responsibly while BOA was making bad loans.
4) They seem to actually care about their members. Shocking, I know.

The cost of innumeracy

2015-08-23T03:17:00.001-07:00

Costa Rica - travel on the cheap and mistakes to be avoided by silly turisticas

2015-08-10T01:50:00.001-07:00

Hi again,

As you probably know by now if you've been reading along, I'm a frugal guy. What you might not know about me is that there are several people in my life who are even better with a penny. My friend Adam is such a person, and many of my new friends in Costa Rica are even more so. I mean frugality in the best sense of the word though - it is a quality, described by Ben Franklin as thrift, that we Americans and indeed much of the world should strive to emulate.

This trip began as a dream between two friends on a hammock camping trip in the early spring. I had just renewed my passport at the behest of my girlfriend. Her urging, with no expectation of benefit or gain for herself, was that a random beautiful stranger might invite me to Paris someday, and I'd have to decline because my passport wasn't renewed. After a few weeks of gentle nudging, I gave in to Anna and filed all the papers. That was somewhere around June 18th.

After I filed, I started thinking about what to do with my passport and then had a conversation with my college friend Adam. We met at Bates in the fall of 99 at Clason House, and he has been one of the most consistent and steadfast friends a guy could ask for. He is reasonable in many of the ways I consider myself to be, and totally cheap (oh sorry, I meant thrifty). He, like me, has blue collar roots and self describes as "salt de la terre" or salt of the earth. This is the highest compliment he pays to others, and I have been lucky enough to be a recipient. So when he said he found tickets to San Jose Costa Rica for $400 from Logan, I said that it sounded like a great adventure.

Since Adam found the tickets, I got the rental car and chose a small 4wd - Suzuki Jimny. I hadn't driven stick in a few years, but I missed the feel of absolute control over the car and the ability to pop start in the case of a dead battery (I thought it might be useful, since on trips there's so much to charge and so much to think about that it's easy to forget to turn off a light and end up with a dead battery. I made the assumption that since Adam and I are so similar in so many ways, he'd pick up driving manual transmission like he was born to it (although he hadn't had a manual since 1998).

That last bit was a mistake. I didn't realized that Adam hadn't driven stick in so long, or that he was so nervous about doing so in a foreign country with narrow roads and many one way bridges and strange intersections. In my hubris and my excitement (as well as my implied friendship/brotherhood assumption that he could do and feel confident doing anything I could do) I pigeonholed us into only one driver for the trip. I don't mind driving, but that became problematic in a few instances.

The trip began, as so many do, in a flurry of excitement and adventure. I applied for my passport 5.5 weeks ahead of the trip, and thought I could get away with not expediting because my girlfriend got hers in 3. I waited patiently for 4 weeks, then called and paid extra for the espediting service. With a few days to go, I still didn't have a passport in my hand. I researched the options, and the day I was to depart for the trip I waited rather impatiently to hear back from my postal carrier that my passport had indeed arrived. Anna advised me to check my credit card statement to ensure that the nation passport agency had charged my card for expedtion.

No passport. After several hours on hold with operators who didn't know the status and couldn't talk to the National Passport Center, they told me it might be at the processing center in Portsmouth NH. So I gathered all my paperwork and embarked on my trip, fully packed for Costa Rica just in case I got my passport that day. I probably drove too fast, but I arrived by two. They were able to find my passport, apologized for not expediting, and turn it around in less than an hour. Worth the drive. To celebrate, I had a great burger and a beer at a local hangout, and amused the bartender by telling her my story of woe.

Then I drove to Boston, after a short stop at the NH liquor store. One can't travel without cheap booze, now can they? I got to Boston for 4:30, picked up my friend and went to Boston Beer Works just outside of Fenway. We re-packed, decided to risk street parking and slept for a few hours (11-3 if I remember correctly). No ticket in the morning, and then we drove to the long term airport parking and got on our flights. It was dark and we were in a rush, so I forgot a few things (most notably my camping supplies, bluetooth headset and digital camera) but we got on the plane with no issues.

Asus Transformer Pad, Fire TV and Kodi

2015-07-01T02:18:00.001-07:00

Asus Transformer Pad, Fire TV and Kodi

gps, gas rewards and chromecast

2014-08-19T03:15:00.002-07:00

Hi all,

Back posting about being cheap (I mean frugal) with a smart phone. First off, chromecast kicks butt. I can use my phone as a remote and use my speakers and tv screen to watch pretty much anything. For just $35, you have a device that can stream nearly anything via an hdmi and a usb charging port. Way cheaper than having a dedicated media machine, an apple tv, a smart tv, playstation 4, xbox, etc. to stream your videos.

Next: gas rewards cards. These are slick. You know how many gas companies give you cheaper gas if you pay in cash? Well, that's not great to carry in huge quantities and it takes valuable time to go in and pay. Instead, install apps like cumberland farms or pride's pay at the pump app, save 10 cents a gallon, and earn free stuff. All for just registering your debit card with them. I think so far, I've earned 10 free coffees, 5 free slushies, and some other stuff. All for filling the tank, which I had to do anyway. Use in conjunction with gasbuddy to get the best deals, period.

One more thing: WAZE. This app is awesome. In many ways, it outdoes a garmin gps. Garmin users may disagree, but this app on my smartphone gives me traffic, road hazards, police, and the ability to ask another waze user a few miles ahead what's happening. Basically, it's social driving. Bye bye radar detector, this thing finds cops because other people are looking out for them. It also routes you around traffic and changes your eta based upon it. One thing Garmin still wins on - it tells your current speed based upon the satellites. We used both side by side on a trip halfway across the country, and I prefer the waze app. Most of the time, the two devices agreed upon the best route, and though stereo directions from both of them was a bit annoying at times, it was neat to see that they (mostly) sent me the same way. We avoided a cluster of cars and police in a big midwestern town and saved tons of time.

Hope these are helpful,

~Mark

Best Buy, Insurance, and To Upgrade, or Not to Upgrade?

2013-11-04T02:16:00.002-08:00

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've had time/motivation to write. However, I have a question for you all. I have unlimited data on Verizon, and I know if I upgrade I lose it. Since it seems to me that most communication soon will be data (skype, google chat, etc.) as well as the fact that I routinely use way more than my data quota, I'm unwilling to do this. Does anyone have a workaround/solution for that? I don't need a new phone, but I'd like the Samsung Galaxy s5 when it comes out. Can I win the argument with Verizon to upgrade and keep my plan? Has anyone successfully done that?

I've done some research for what I can buy at amazon/newegg/bestbuy outright, but the prices suck (probably because nobody does it that way).

On another note, Bestbuy pisses me off. Apparently, using their insurance policy (which I've been paying for a year now and can't get out of by walking in a store - you have to call a special number) DOESN'T GUARANTEE YOU A NEW PHONE - JUST A REFURB! Had I known this, I think I wouldn't have signed up. It's only a few dollars cheaper per month than the Verizon insurance, and I'm pretty sure that gives a new phone.

Be Frugal, be well :)

~Mark

Not cheap, just awesome.

2013-09-08T13:04:00.004-07:00

Hi Everybody,

From time to time, things happen in life that really make me wonder. I went on a bike ride in the woods this morning, got irrevocably lost, found multiple survivalist shelters, a bunch of great mountain biking, and eventually, my way out of the woods. I was supposed to go to a concert today, leaving sometime around 1. Instead, I got lost in the woods, found some amazing things, and was helped out of them by multiple good Samaritans.

It all began as a normal Sunday bike ride - we discussed routes, decided terrain, and then hoped for the best. The first guy we passed was a hiker who had clearly spent the last evening in the woods. He stopped us, informed us that he just had passed a bear and her two cubs, and to be careful. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGN. We didn't find a bear, but about 10 miles later, we were pretty lost with no real way of getting out. The ride borders a dam, and there used to be roads at the bottom of it before they flooded it. So, after a few hours in the woods and no signs of the outside world, we found one of these roads which led into the water. I saw a way around it, and my uncle said it wouldn't work. Having had a difference of opinions, he went his way and I went mine. I forded the stream, hiked up and down a steep gulley, and then noticed a path in the woods. I followed it and ended up at a survivalist hut, a la Bear Grylls or Les Stroud. It had a lean to made of pine branches, a tarp roof, a fire pit and a stocked woodpile. I took some pictures, marveling at how deep in the woods I must be, and then set out. I saw blazes on the trees, and followed them through a briar patch, ripping my poor legs to shreds. Eventually, this led me to the river, almost exactly where I started. Ugh. Maybe my uncle was right (but please don't ever let him hear that).

I followed the coast of the river through some of the best biking all day - mud and stone that had clearly been underwater in earlier parts of the spring. I was breaking new ground, having a blast, until I got to some rocks that were too bumpy to keep riding on. I walked my bike for a few minutes, and saw two blue herons that I had startled wing their way across the water - and over a bass fishing boat near shore.

As politely as I could, I said, "Sorry to interrupt your fishing, but do you happen to know how far up the next road is?" He replied in a slow drawl that it was at least 3 miles to the nearest road that he knew of, then another 2 or 3 to the paved road. From there, I knew I had at least 2 miles north, 4 miles west, and then 10 miles back down south to my house. I had long since given up any ideas I might have had about getting back to my car first.

He pulled his boat in to shore, and despite my protests, said he'd ferry me to the other shore. This saved me, by my rough estimate, at least 10, but maybe up to 20 miserable miles on top of my already epic 15 mile bike ride/hike/pocalypse. He introduced himself, talked about his kids and grandkids, and leisurely putted us across the previously insurmountable river/lake I'd been wrestling with for two hours at this point. I replied in kind, with great gratitude, and tried to help him with his docking procedure, but he waved me off. I explained that I believe in Karma and that he was certainly due a boatload of it, but again he modestly shrugged me off and wished me well.

I hopped back on my bike and sprinted the 5 miles left on my ride. Now I knew where I was going, and was determined to get back in time to help my uncle find his way out of the woods and safely home. A mile from home, I stopped and called my aunt to let her know what was going on, and while on the phone with her, my uncle rode in the driveway. Somehow, he had beaten me home! Against all odds, he had found the exact way out of the forest, gotten on pavement and beaten me home.

I learned/remembered a few life lessons today. I) Appreciate the grand beauty and power that nature offers, and how quickly it can win. II) Don't let disagreements force you to separate in the woods, and III) Never underestimate how kind strangers can be.

I'm always impressed when I travel with how much nicer people seem to be, but it's not just that they're nicer. It's that I have to ask them for things, and they almost never disappoint me. People are almost always nicer than you think they are, if given the chance to be and asked respectfully. My take away in terms of my daily life is that I should ask for help more often - needed or not - because it gives others a chance to shine, and reminds me how good people can be.

A Cautionary tale to those wanting to save on their electric bill

2013-07-25T03:07:00.002-07:00

Hi all,

So, Connecticut Light and Power. They're greeeat. You know, not a monopoly at all. So, when I got a cold call from a company offering to reduce my bill, I thought it was a great idea. I signed up. Then CL&P stopped sending me bills, the new company never sent me their first bill, and CL&P cut off my power. WTF? Because of their lack of communication, I lose my power? It coincided with a thunderstorm, so I figured that was the problem. It took me a couple hours to realize that it was that the company cut my power!

So, in an effort to save 30% on my electric bill (approximately $35) a month, I ended up paying $35 to reconnect my service, and I have $250 in escrow until I pay my bill on time for a year. How freaking embarrassing. Especially since I didn't do anything wrong; it was the middleman electric company who didn't pay my bill!

The best part is that I sent a $100 payment to CL&P when they contacted me. Want to know what they shut off my service for? The $3 balance. They would have needed $103.19 to make the payment and keep my service on, and my $100 just wouldn't cut it. You've gotta love big corporations and their degree of empathy.

I'm thinking I need to go to the better business bureau to get some of my money back. By my calculation, I am owed a day of electric service, an hour and a half of cell phone minutes, the money in escrow, and the $35 reconnect fee. So, $5, $10, my $250 back, and $35 is about $300.

What do you all think? Can I fight the big electric company?

~Mark

Being positive despite some dumb poopenschticken

2013-07-11T03:26:00.002-07:00

Hi all,

So, Karma's a bitch, as they say. But it's also nice to you if you pay into it. I frequently fix peoples' computers, bikes and other stuff for free, and give stuff away because I just don't need it anymore. I like to think that this means good things for me. Now, it doesn't mean I get ipads or samsung tablets falling out of the sky for me, but I did win a kindle fire last year :)

So, I've decided that when my one man, sucking at guitar band goes viral this year, the title will be "Smiling at Strangers." because it works. I just wrote a letter of recommendation for a coworker, and one of the most positive things I said was as follows: "She makes those around her happier just by smiling at them every day, for no particular reason other than that she is happy to see them." Now, she's not exactly a stranger, and full on beaming at random folks tends to freak them out. However, a gentle, contented smile tends to win people over and improve their day.

Now, what does this have to do with technology, you say? Well, not much. But I don't have another blog for karma (yet).

Have a good day, and recycle your old electronics. Maybe a samsung will fall out of the sky for you :)

~Mark