Wise Bread

Best of Money Carnival #8 Eagle Has Landed Edition

Will Chen — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:41:04 +0000

Neil Armstrong's moon walk 40 years ago represented one of the pinnacles of human achievement. In the spirit of honoring excellence, I'm proud to present the 8th edition of the Best of Money Carnival -- a celebration of the 10 best personal finance articles of the week. Here's the countdown from #10 to #1:

How to Become a Millionaire

"Becoming a millionaire is clearly an achievable goal: A June 2008 New York Post article reported that there were 3,028,000 millionaires in the United States, defining a millionaire as someone with investable assets of at least $1 million. And in the world as a whole, there are around 10.1 million millionaires.

If 10.1 million other people can do it, why shouldn’t you?"

Amy Fontinelle presents How to Become a Millionaire posted at Two Pennies Earned.

69 Amazing Resources to Help You Plan Your Dream Wedding

"We’ve covered just about everything you’ll need for your wedding, from the flowers to the wedding cake, as well as tips on organizing your budget and planning the big event. These 69 top online wedding resources are designed to make every bride’s life a little easier, and we hope they do the same for you."

Nui Loa presents 69 Amazing Resources to Help You Plan Your Dream Wedding posted at Love Hacks.

Should You Refinance Your Student Loans?

"As of July 1, 2009, variable rate Stafford and PLUS loans have been reduced to the lowest rates in history. There is no better time than right now to determine if consolidating your student loans makes sense for you. Here are some tips to consider if you are thinking about consolidation."

Jason @ Redeeming Riches presents Should You Refinance Your Student Loans? posted at Redeeming Riches.

Lessons Learned From My First Job

"Sometimes the hardest of jobs can be the best from a learning standpoint. That was certainly true for my first job after college. This post details that job and lists what I learned from it."

FMF presents My Jobs, Introduction to the Real World posted at Free Money Finance.

8 Reasons Credit Cards Beat Debit Cards

"This may be sacrilegious to say, as a personal finance blogger, but I’ve never been a fan of debit cards. Here are eight reasons why I think that credit cards are better than debit cards."

Jim presents 8 Reasons Credit Cards Beat Debit Cards posted at Bargaineering.

7 Cash in on the Cash for Clunkers Program

"If your old, gas-guzzling auto is about to take a dirt nap, you may be interested to know that the US Government will soon be offering an incentive up to $4,500 to buy a new, more efficient vehicle. Read this article to find out more about program and what you'll need to know to take advantage of it."

Tyler presents Cash in on the Cash for Clunkers Program posted at Frugally Green.

Breaking Free From a Culture of Temptation

"Prior to January 1st, 2009… On any given weeknight, you would’ve been just as likely to find my wife and me out at a restaurant, taking in a movie, or simply shopping as you would have been to find us at home. We were what some advertisers might call The Perfect Consumers. And then it happened… Approximately six months ago, we experienced a financial rebirth. So what has changed in the time since then? Most everything!"

nickel presents Breaking Free From a Culture of Temptation posted at fivecentnickel.com.

10 Ways to Improve Financial Intimacy in Marriage

"Here are some of the common complaints about money in marriage: 'My husband and I are never on the same page with money.' 'My wife wants to tithe, but I don’t think we can afford it.' 'My husband keeps doing business deals that cost our family a lot of money.' 'My wife keeps buying things for our kids even though we cannot afford it.'

Not surprisingly, money fights are one of the leading causes of divorce. I believe financial tension in relationships can be improved if not alleviated if couples commit themselves to following these ten suggestions on how to improve the financial intimacy in their marriage."

Craig Ford presents Ten Ways To Improve Financial Intimacy In Marriage posted at Bible Money Matters.

Save Your Money By Paying Yourself Last

"Here's an unconventional way to save money. We all think about paying yourself first, but what about the "pay yourself last" strategy. The idea is never to save unthinkingly, never to save automatically, never to Pay Yourself First but instead always to Pay Yourself Last."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Save Your Money By Paying Yourself Last posted at The Digerati Life.

And here it is, the #1 post of the week!

Median vs. Mean: Know the Difference or Risk Being Manipulated

"This article takes aim at politicians, professors and others who selectively cite means, medians and other statistics in an attempt to fool you and advance their agenda. By mastering literacy on these topics, you can discern their motives and decide if what they're saying is legitimate."

Darwin presents Median vs. Mean: Know the Difference or Risk Being Manipulated posted at Darwin's Finance.

Darwin's post is not only important from a personal finance perspective, but it should be required reading for every voter in America.

We had over 100 articles submitted this week and it was tough just narrowing the field down to 10. A big thanks to Free Money Finance for the opportunity to host this carnival. If you like what you see, I encourage you to sign up for next week's carnival.

Permalink | Comments | Will Chen's blog | Channel: Personal Finance

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Will "forced frugality" last?

Xin Lu — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:00:02 +0000

By Xin Lu

Lately I have been hearing about the concept of "forced frugality" from the media and my peers. Many colleagues and family members say they feel a need to be frugal in this economic climate due to job loss and investment losses. With this shift to frugality it seems that shopping at thrift or dollar stores is suddenly trendy. However, will this new wave of frugality last?

Right now some households have no choice but to be frugal. With job losses, credit card companies aggressively cutting credit lines, and home equity lines drying up due to the drop in real estate prices, many are forced to be conservative with their cash.

If these households were not particularly thrifty previously, this new financial reality may be painful. There is definitely a learning curve to spending less. You have to research cheaper alternatives to everything in life and find creative ways to cut expenses. Another issue with a sudden conversion to frugality is that many things that were taken for granted may become luxuries. Several friends have told me that they are eating out less, and some are buying less entertainment. It is understandable that this sudden onset of forced frugality can cause quite a bit of anxiety because people feel that they have to work harder to live on less.

In contrast, those who were already living a frugal lifestyle are enjoying this recession in many ways. Many retailers and restaurants are cutting prices to attract customers, and the frugal folks are seeking these deals out and stocking up. A lot of them are also quite happy that their frugal habits are now more accepted by others.

But will the newly frugal carry their current survival tactics past the current economic malaise? Will they realize that living on less is easier than they once thought? Can they learn to enjoy saving money and living a simpler life? Or will forced frugality continue to feel painful and restrictive, so that they'll jump right back to their old lifestyles once they could afford it again? How long will it take until forced frugality becomes a habit that can't be kicked even when it's no longer necessary?

Are you being forced to be frugal right now? Will you stick with a frugal lifestyle once the economy recovers?

Permalink | 15 comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Frugal Living, Lifestyle

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How I Averted an Emotional Spending Binge: My Six-Step Program

Frugal Duchess — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:50:07 +0000

By Frugal Duchess

It was a blue Monday and I was headed for a blue-light special driven by emotional spending. Fortunately, I detoured from the frivolous spending path with this six-point strategy.

Face check

As I was toting a pair of brown Nine West shoes -- reduced to $10 -- I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I was not a happy shopper. My eyes were glazed with dollar signs and my energy was as sluggish as the economy. The sight of my tired face was a wake-up call. That reality check had me bouncing out of the shoe aisle.

Thrift-store counter-attack

As I pushed through rows and rows of marked-down items, I realized that none of the shirts or skirts impressed me. In fact, if those same items were on sale at a thrift store, I would have turned up my nose. My new anti-shopping query: Would I buy this same item at a thrift store?

Need-based questions

Of course, I evaluated each item with the classic question: Do I need this item or do I just want it? But I also started to think of what I really needed in my life, and that wish list does not include new clothes.

Billable hours

Utility, medical, food and education bills flashed through my eyes as I eyed the flashy merchandise. How many hours would I have to work to pay for a shopping spree? The numbers did not work for me.

The Children's Network

After all my talk about tough economic times and sacrifice, how would I have justified bringing a shopping bag of impulse purchases into my home? What would my children have learned from that example?

Re-directed energy

From the emotional-spending department, I pushed the cart into the emotional debt aisle. I owed baby gifts to two friends and I found cute outfits for $4.88 each. And I located a discounted copy of a Twilight book (number #3 in the series) to replace the copy that my kids had borrowed from a friend, but lost. I'll collect the replacement tab from the kids, and I'll wrap the baby gifts.

Editor's note: Sharon Harvey Rosenberg (The Frugal Duchess) will be joining Wise Bread as a full time blogger in August. In the mean time, she'll be dropping by with a few guest posts a week. You can find more great tips from Sharon in her book Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money or in Wise Bread's new book 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget.

Can't wait until August? Here are other great posts by Sharon on her blog The Frugal Duchess. Enjoy!

Selling the Car, Jewelry & Other Stuff to Raise Cash

Sell the Coach Bag? What I'm Willing To Give Up for Financial Security

Shocking Results from My Free Energy Audit

Tips for Preparing for Home Ownership

How to Save Money on Hair Coloring (Sorry Jamie Lee!!)

Permalink | 9 comments | Frugal Duchess's blog | Channel: Shopping

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Best of Personal Finance: Cold Shower Edition

Andrea Dickson — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:00:08 +0000

By Andrea Dickson

You know how your mom said that if you crossed your eyes for long enough, they'd get stuck that way? She was probably right. We don't know, we haven't tried it. But here are 35 other things she probably told you that aren't true about your health, so go ahead and do whatever you want. (Health Theory)

Same ways to keep cool in the summer heat that might seem a bit kooky but actually work pretty well. (Care 2)

It's OK to love your money. Go ahead. Give it a hug. (AARP via Dual Income No Kids)

If you are pregnant in this kind of heat, you might be thinking twice about your choice to reproduce. But if you're having a baby shower for the first time, here are some tips on registering for gifts, and what you need and don't need for your little bundle of screaming joy. (Parenting Squad)

After a few days of rallies, stocks start to fall because of stupid CIT and their stupid financial problems. Also, Chrysler Financial paid the government back for its 1.5 billion dollar loan. Yay, money? (Wall Street Journal)

Once you've come to the realization that you are deeply in debt and need to struggle out of it, you might want to consider these tips for becoming a debt-murdering ninja. (Frugal Dad)

Some people seem to have time to get everything done, unlike you, who barely has time to eat or sleep between errands. Learn some productivity tips from an expert, and clean out your garage while you are at it. (Unclutterer)

Thinking of buying a house? That's a big step, eh? Why don't you try out the mortgage payments in Imaginary World first and see how you like it? (Bargaineering)

Debt is a form of slavery. That might seem harsh, but think about it for a second. (Millionaire Mommy Next Door)

Saving Advice discusses debt as an obligation rather than indentured servitude. Both of those things suck, though. Obligations and slavery. (Saving Advice)

Are you an afternoon snacker? Does that bother you? You can do something to stop it, it turns out. (Dumb Little Man)

Permalink | Comments | Andrea Dickson's blog | Channel: Personal Finance

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Location Independent Career Basics

Nora Dunn — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:00:03 +0000

By Nora Dunn

Would you like to have the ability to work from anywhere you wish? The backyard? The café down the street? Your bedroom? Or even on the road…a tropical island somewhere, perhaps?

A location independent career is your ticket to workplace freedom. More and more people are striving for this freedom themselves. We’ll look at the basic qualities (good and bad) of a location independent career, and in so doing, you may come up with a few ways to make your own career location independent.

What is Location Independent?

As it sounds, location independent refers to a career that does not require your presence in any one place for your job to be done. You may still opt to attend meetings or networking events here and there, but for the most part you are free from any geographical commitments.

The Basics – How it’s Possible

Location independence is enabled by technology. Without telephones and cell phones, the Internet, virtual offices and conference functions, scanners, faxes, and express postal services, most location independent careers would not be possible.

So although you don’t need to be a technological wizard with an ability to speak three different computer languages, you will need a basic understanding of computers, the Internet, and the various modalities of communicating.

Many location independent careers do indeed require a high level of proficiency in all things Internet, but this is not always the case. As you will see further on, there are many people out there who have the ability to be location independent; some may not even know it!

Advantages of a Location Independent Career

You save money, time, and resources since you don’t have to commute to work.
It’s more casual. Most location independent people don’t wear suits. Heck – you can work in your PJs if you want to (just turn the video off on those conference calls).
You make your own hours. Are you a night owl? Then feel free to work until 3am. Would you prefer to take time off in the afternoon to be with your kids? Go ahead; you’ll make up the time when you need to.
You can explore the world slowly with long-term travel, since you can work from the road.

Disadvantages of a Location Independent Career

You must be very self-disciplined. Rarely is anybody holding you accountable.
It is easy to become distracted if you work from home. You can potter around the house all day in the name of “working” without actually getting any work done.
It can be very lonely. Depending on your line of work and the degree of social contact that it entails, location independent careers can be a touch lonesome. Sometimes office banter is refreshing.
It can be easy to lose yourself in your work and be at the grindstone for longer hours than you should be. (Again, this is a matter of self-discipline).

Three Types of Location Independent Careers

Location independent careers tend to fall under three main categories: entrepreneurs, freelancers, and telecommuters.

Entrepreneurs

As an entrepreneur, you are your own boss, and have complete freedom to call the shots. But simply being an entrepreneur does not give you a ticket to location independence; many industries or business structures require your physical presence.

Where entrepreneurialism enters into the location independent realm is in the entrepreneur’s intrinsic ability to see (and act on) business opportunities and market needs. Successful location independent entrepreneurs tend to be inventors of items or technology, import/exporters, or pioneers of business ideas that can be marketed virtually.

Freelancers

Any location independent career involves a degree of organization and self motivation; qualities which most entrepreneurs and freelancers share. Where freelancers differentiate themselves from entrepreneurs is in the nature of their work and who they work for. Freelancers usually juggle projects for multiple clients, and in the location independent business, frequently work across different industries.

I have met any number of location independent freelancers who wear multiple hats, such as online marketing, PR, writing and copywriting, business strategizing, virtual assistance, and publishing. Many will package up their repertoire as “business services” and take whatever work comes their way, outsourcing what they cannot do themselves.

I am location independent myself, and although I boast a mean entrepreneurial streak, I am solidly planted in the freelance category, with multiple clients and publications that I write for in the realm of personal finance and travel.

Telecommuters

Rounding out the spread of location independent career categories is the telecommuter. This is somebody who (usually) works for one boss or company, but has the flexibility to work from home (or anywhere that has the technology available for the telecommuter to keep in touch with the office).

Some companies are incorporating “flex hours” into their employee incentive programs, which allow employees to do some of their work from home. It saves the company paying for dedicated office space for all employees, in addition to the advantages of location independent careers, listed above.

As more and more companies look into outsourcing to reduce their expenses and increase productivity, I believe that telecommuting will become even more prevalent. In fact, the gap between telecommuting and freelancing is easy to bridge; if your company cuts your hours or responsibilities as a result of these hard financial times, you might complement your work with another part-time telecommuting job, and whamo: you are a location independent freelancer before you know it.

And just in case you still think that location independence is solely for computer geniuses, here are a handful of wacky location independent careers that I’ve come across in the last week alone:

Jewelery Designer
Hand Analyst
Professional Barterer
Coach (this encompasses a lot, since you can coach within many areas of specialty)
Lawyer
Industrial Designer
Voice-Over Artist
Airport Services
Game Designer
Financial Planner
Sales

If you have a pressing desire to embrace a location independent lifestyle but aren’t sure where to start, there are plenty of online resources for you to check out. For starters, you may want to take a peek at the Web Site whose address says it all: locationindependent.com.

Permalink | 5 comments | Nora Dunn's blog | Channel: Career and Income, Small Business Resource Center

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Best Deals For Friday 7/17/09

Paul Michael — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:22:57 +0000

By Paul Michael

Today's WISEBUY. The FRIDAY AMAZON SALE.
Always great deals with prices slashed on shoes, DVDs, electronics and more.

1. FREE After Rebate - Backpack From Staples (Valid July 19th - 25th)
Purchase price paid for backpack will be credited to customer’s Staples Rewards® account. Must be a member of Staples Rewards®. Valid for purchases 7/19/09–7/25/09. Valid in store, staples.com®, or by phone. Staples Rewards® will be mailed in October.

2. FREE National Park Admission This Weekend
To make the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors on this summer’s fee free weekends with the their own special offers.

3. FREE High-Quality Eagle Ballpoint Pen
To receive this offer without making a contribution today please call 1-714-971-4000 or write to: Crystal Cathedral Ministries, PO Box 100, Garden Grove, CA 92842.

4. FREE Ashley Tisdale Party Pack
We have Ashley Party Packs complete with enough goodies for you and your friends! Each pack comes with 5 Ashley Berry Lip Glosses, 15-20 Guilty Pleasure posters, 5 sticker packs, 1 Guilty Pleasure CD, and 1 Note from Ashley!

5. Banana Republic Final Sale - Up To 70% Off
Banana Republic takes up to 70% off select men's and women's apparel as part of its Final Sale. Shipping adds $7, or spend over $100 for free shipping.

6. DRV Remote Control SUV and Plane Set - $12.99 + s/h (Was $39.99)
Fly or drive? With this SUV and plane set, your remote control enthusiast can do both.

7. Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted To Sin - Complete Album Download For Just $2.99
Released in May 2009, the the album includes 17 tracks. $17 if songs purchased separately.

8. HUGE Aeropostale Clearance - Up to 75% Off Plus 30% Off (dealnews)
Aéropostale cuts up to 75% off select items in its clearance section. Plus, apply coupon code "TAKE30" to slash an extra 30% off. Shipping starts at $5.95.

9. Overstock Backpack Roundup - Between $10 - $15.
Overstock.com has several backpacks on sale, as listed at dealnews. Pay just $2.95 for shipping.

10. Salamon Shoes 69% - 80% Off! Footwear now just $19.95
Amazing deal from 6PM.com. 13 styles reduced to just $19.95, most were originally $85.

8 Ways Great Service Prevents Chargebacks

Julie Rains — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:00:06 +0000

By Julie Rains

A couple of months ago, I talked to a business associate who was rightly frustrated with her boss, the owner of a specialty manufacturing company. The owner believed that landing a sweet deal with a top-tier customer was the solitary key to success; getting the order exactly right was at the bottom of the company’s to-do list. Such an approach can threaten customer-vendor relationships and lead to insidious charge-backs, with customers deducting seemingly random amounts from vendor invoices. A simplistic focus on sales may not be typical for most entrepreneurs, but even savvy business owners may falter when faced with complex vendor compliance programs. Here are steps to avoiding charge-backs.

1. Define what’s been promised to the customer.

The dialogue between your company and a major customer may start with a conversation between you and the customer’s buyer, but later involve discussions with merchandising, design, product development, engineering, manufacturing, and logistics. In the vendor’s ideal world, a contract will be negotiated that clearly defines all requirements months prior to service or product delivery dates. In reality, however, customers may communicate their needs haphazardly and then detail these requirements in a purchase order with a short lead time, making it difficult and costly to comply with customer requests.

Keep track of all communications and make sure you know what the customer is expecting.

2. Look at the vendor manual.

Customers may publish a document that communicates requirements for all vendors in addition to requirements specific to a product or program. This document might be called a vendor manual, compliance manual, or terms of engagement.

The manual may cover vendor approval or vendor certification procedures. Your work site, human resource policies, etc. may need to meet certain standards before your company can ship product or provide services to the customer.

In addition to maintaining business operations compliant with customer standards, you may need to follow certain procedures in order to get paid in full, on time. These procedures may relate to the use of certain EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) interfaces; product testing and reporting protocols; and methods of submitting invoices.

Investigate these policies and begin the compliance process before making commitments.

3. Know industry standards.

Customers expect vendors to comply with industry standards, not only those relating to government regulations but also standards relating to safety, care and use labels, etc. These things might not be specifically stated in the customer's order but implied or assumed. If you don't clairfy and confirm all relevant specs and conditions, the customer has a right to refuse payment if you are the one not aware of current standards.

4. Develop and maintain a relationship with the compliance manager.

Initiating contact with the compliance manager may seem as (un)reasonable as calling up the IRS and asking for an audit. However, the compliance manager is likely to scrutinize the performance of new vendors and search for violations by all vendors, whereas the IRS may review the activities of just a few businesses based on certain criteria or random selection.

A relationship with the compliance manager can help open lines of communication. Conversations can provide insights into the practical application of documented specifications, unexpressed but expected requirements, and approaches for implementing internal processes to achieve compliance.

In many cases, compliance managers participate in vendor performance ratings, contract reviews, and price negotiations so that a good relationship in the compliance area can have a profitable impact on your relationship with the customer.

5. Visit the customer’s facility.

A corporate office meeting may be helpful but practical insights can come from talking with employees at manufacturing, distribution, and retail sites. Learn why what-seems-to-be quirky requests are essential to efficient processing, servicing the end-user, inventory control, and more. Armed with this information, you can more readily articulate customer needs to your employees.

Understanding the customer’s business and plans for expansion, new technology adoption, etc. can also inform your decisions for major purchases such as new systems.

6. Design and implement processes that support compliance.

You may need to adjust your company’s processes to assure compliance with customer requirements. Before making major changes to your operations, evaluate the cost of compliance along with the potential for gaining new business, sustaining current accounts, and commanding higher prices. If customer requirements are standard or fast becoming standard industry-wide, then investments may be essential to staying in business; if a customer makes oddball requests, consider asking for free expertise in implementing new processes or declining the order if the costs seem out of line with the account’s potential profitability.

7. Plan ahead.

Figure out how customer requirements impact your order-to-delivery throughput times, and make adjustments to your schedules to assure timely delivery. You might also need to contact third-party providers (trucking companies or overseas shipping lines, for example) and make arrangements for their services in order to meet all customer specifications.

8. Document what you’ve done to prove compliance.

Keep records of all activities relevant to compliance such as customer approvals, product test results, and shipping dates. This information will be valuable in discussing any charge-backs that may occur. You’ll find that either a customer doesn’t play fairly or that your systems and processes need re-working in order to achieve compliance.

Sealing the sales deal is the key to opening the door to success. Getting in compliance can be cumbersome but can mean fewer charge-backs and more cash in your pocket now. More disciplined, documented business practices should also yield long-term benefits in dealing with major customers.

15 Low Cost Ways to Beat Stress

Frugal Duchess — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:00:05 +0000

By Frugal Duchess

Emotional spending and expensive junk food binges -- budget busters -- are often triggered by stress. Here are a few ideas for diminishing stress without spending a lot of money.

1. Cup of tea

A hot cup of tea is a low-calorie comfort food. Additionally, the process of fixing a cup of tea is a ritual that can halt negative worry cycles. Even sipping coffee can have a calming effect. A Harvard study about coffee drinking habits is quoted in a February 2008 issue of Woman's World magazine. The survey findings: coffee drinkers are "less likely to be seriously depressed than non-coffee drinkers," according to Woman's World.

2. Repetitive Activities

Sewing, knitting, puzzle solving are a few activities that lower blood pressure and liberate us from the stress chamber. Boggle, jigsaw puzzles and other problem-solving puzzles can provide short-term relief from anxieties. Sometimes, I stumble upon the answer to a pressing problem while tinkering around with a puzzle or a word game.

3. Housekeeping

Washing dishes, sweeping the floor and other house-cleaning chores release pressure. Ironing out wrinkles from a shirt or skirt can also release tension. Cleaning can be a form of meditation. Deleting email files also has a soothing effect.

4. Music break

Classical music, in particular, can be very calming, according to Woman's World magazine: "Oxford University scientists say listening [to classical music] can decrease your heartbeat to a meditative, relaxing rate almost instantly."

5. Write

Picking up a pen to write a letter, a journal entry or a short note may help to break the negative spin cycle.

6. Exercise

Dancing, walking, running and stretching release tension stored in muscles.

7. Make a list

Creating a list (blessings, groceries needed, tasks to be completed or other agendas) gives me a feeling of control. With a greater sense of control, I feel more relaxed and more productive.

8. Do a good deed

Doing something nice for someone else helps me to be less self-centered and in the process, I move far beyond inner circles of worry.

9. Take small steps

Breaking a large project into smaller goals can make the task seem less overwhelming and more do-able.

10. DIY aromatherapy

Small bottles of fragrant essential oils --lavender, grapefruit and other scents -- provide an anti-depression lift.

12. Toss out clothing

Purging the wardrobe provides a mental purge as well. It's like clearing space on the computer hard drive. Donate the extra clothing to charity and get a tax deduction.

13. Color or doodle

Test-phobic children should doodle a bit to relax before taking a test, according to one research report. The process may also work for adults.

14. Read

A novel or a poem can provide a lift into a stress-free zone. Even a short reading break helps me snap out of a funk.

15. Take a short nap

Fatigue is often the enemy. Many corporate rainmakers use short daily naps --5 to 20 minutes -- as a profit-producing tool. The logic: a well-rested mind is a revenue-producing mind.

Can't wait until August? Here are other great posts by Sharon on her blog The Frugal Duchess. Enjoy!

Selling the Car, Jewelry & Other Stuff to Raise Cash

Sell the Coach Bag? What I'm Willing To Give Up for Financial Security

Shocking Results from My Free Energy Audit

Tips for Preparing for Home Ownership

How to Save Money on Hair Coloring (Sorry Jamie Lee!!)

Permalink | 4 comments | Frugal Duchess's blog | Channel: Health and Beauty

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Save a Bundle on Your Groceries: Consider Your Local Asian Market

Paul Michael — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:00:10 +0000

By Paul Michael

Despite the coupons and the special offers, the major supermarket chains are not cheap. You find a deal now and then, but on the whole they really don’t give you great value for money. Farmer’s markets are good for deals and fresh produce, but they only appear once a week in my area. But for great produce any day of the week, at silly prices, my local Asian market is unbeatable.

I’m a huge fan of cuisines from all over the world, and I usually pop into my local Asian market for rice (20lbs for just $12.99), Aloe drinks, Kim Chee, dumplings, good soy sauce and some fresh pork buns; but this time my wife and I did a full shop there. And wow, what a difference.

Frugal Produce
For a start, the produce was outstanding. We found over six different types of plums, including Dragon Plums and a delicious mango/nectarine plum combination. We found so many fruits and vegetables we had never seen before, with wonderful smells and textures. And then, we saw the prices. A pound of Dragon Plums was just 79 cents! Regular black plums were $1.29/pound. And in Safeway, the same plums were over $3/pound. Big, big difference. We also found fresh ripe blueberries for 99 cents/pound, over four times less than in Safeway. Onions, potatoes, carrots, leeks, melons, broccoli, cabbage, they were all at least a third cheaper than Albertsons or Safeway. We were shocked. We filled up the cart.

Cheap Meat Treats
When we went onto the meat section, it was vast. Asian cooking is the ultimate in frugal food; no part of the animal is left behind, and as such, the variety on offer was mind-blowing (vegetarians, you may want to skip this next part).

I grew up on liver, steak and kidney pie and black pudding, so I’m all for different tastes (I’m a big fan of Bizarre Foods). A look around the meat and fish section left me wide-eyed. There were the usual cuts of meat, but there were also things I’d never seen in a regular grocery store, including duck heads and feet, fish roe, octopus, sea cucumber and so much more it would take a book to jot it all down. Again, the prices were way less than in our local Safeway and King Soopers, and all of this meat was freshly butchered and packaged in front of us.

Although not quite adventurous enough to cook duck’s heads, yet, we did appreciate the massive variety. And the freezer section was just as prolific. There were so many different types of frozen dumplings and buns that we didn’t know where to start. And there were a host of Asian ice-creams, alongside the usual Dreyer’s and Breyers.

More Savings
In the canned food aisles, we explored a host of amazing foods from around the world. We bagged authentic Ramen noodles and some great sauces and condiments. And we also grabbed some great drinks, including Mango Ramune.

When it came time to check out, our rickety old cart was straining under the weight. And the final tally for all of our 12 bags of groceries and fresh produce was just $120. We will of course be going there again. On the way out, I said that I was surprised more people don’t shop at their Asian markets. Luckily, this blog gives me the chance to get the word out. So go, check out what’s on offer at your local asian (or any ethnic market generally) and pick up some great food and supplies for much less than you’d pay at a chain supermarket.

Permalink | 22 comments | Paul Michael's blog | Channel: Food and Drink, Shopping

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Watch Out for Surge in CPI

Philip Brewer — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:00:08 +0000

By Philip Brewer

Just to be clear, I'm also worried about a surge in inflation, but that's not what I'm talking about here. I don't know the future, so I try to stay away from predictions. But you don't need to know the future to "predict" a surge in the Consumer Price Index. All you need is to know the recent past.

I distinguish between inflation and the CPI. Inflation is the money becoming less valuable. The Consumer Price Index is an indicator of recent prices based on the prices of a standard basket of consumer goods.

The CPI is just a number. The number for June (reported July 15th) was 215.693 (versus a base of 100 in 1983).

Most people, though, don't really care about the number--they care about changes. And that makes sense--rising CPI values are an indication of rising prices, and rising prices are an indication of inflation.

(As an aside, rising prices don't necessarily mean inflation. Lots of things, such as changes in styles, tastes, and consumer preferences can change relative prices. Some things, such as taxes, technological change, and resource depletion, can change absolute prices. But none of those things are inflation, even if they result in rising prices.)

Almost all the attention to the CPI focuses on two things:

The change from last month
The change from last year

And it's that second one that prompts me to warn of a surging CPI.

After peaking in July last year, energy prices fell for months. From July 2008 to March of 2009, energy prices fell 37%. (Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics.) Energy prices amount to about 7.5% of the index, so that fall, all by itself, has had the effect of subtracting something like 3 percentage points from the overall CPI change from a year ago.

The thing is, most of the recent fall occurred in the last three months of last year. In the CPI index values published in the coming November, December and January, those big declines will "drop off" the year-ago comparisons--which will produce the surge I'm talking about. The "change from a year ago" values reported for the CPI for those months is going to be much higher--pretty much regardless whether there's any inflation.

Does it matter? Well, it matters to some people--people who invest in TIPS, for example, care a lot about the reported value of the CPI. (People on Social Security also care a lot, but as it happens the base year for figuring Social Security cost of living adjustments ends in September, so the effect of this spike won't show up until 2011.)

In fact, though, what really matters to real people is how their own cost of living changes.

I just wrote a post making fun of another economist's prediction of inflation, so I want to be really clear about the distinction here: What I'm talking about is a statistical artifact of the way the CPI gets calculated. For the past year, falling energy prices have made the inflation numbers look artificially low. For the next few months, CPI calculations of "changes from a year ago" is going to show inflation numbers that are artificially high--even if the value of the money were stable, we'd still see a spike in the CPI simply because the base month for comparison is going to have lower and lower fuel prices.

Last October I wrote a post called Inflation is going away for a while. Despite my general reticence about making predictions, things seemed clear enough to risk that one. This post is my official announcement that "a while" is just about over.

With that in mind, I'll direct you to a post of mine from earlier last year: How to live with inflation. Everything old is new again.

Permalink | 6 comments | Philip Brewer's blog | Channel: Personal Finance

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Best Deals For Thursday 7/16/09

Paul Michael — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:48:15 +0000

By Paul Michael

Today's WISEBUY. TEVA CLEARANCE! Up To 85% Off Men's And Women's Shoes (dealnews)
Teva.com knocks up to 85% off select men's and women's footwear listed in its clearance section. Shipping adds $5.95, or spend $75 or more to receive free shipping.

1. FREE Herbalife Protein Bars Sample
These rich and chewy bars are packed with essential vitamins and 10g of healthy protein to keep you feeling full while helping build and maintain lean muscle. Three popular flavor combinations covered in rich chocolate coating satisfy your cravings.

2. FREE Measuring Tape
Monthsofpregnancy.com is giving away a free Measuring Tape to keep you and your baby's health under control, as you know all the ages of baby and all the terms of pregnancy have their growth norms. And a tape measure has many other uses.

3. FREE - SIX Magazine Subscriptions
Bassmaster 2 yrs; Weight Watchers 1yr; Muscle & Fitness 1yr; Field & Stream 1yr; Latina 1 yr; ESPN Magazine 1 yr. Choose one or all six if you want.

4. FREE Native-American Themed Stationery Kit
Includes note cards, writing pad and address labels.

5. Slot Machine Drink Dispenser Just $9.99 plus $5.98 s/h (Was $59.99)
Holds any liquid beverage. Pull the lever, hear the bells, a winner every time! A great novelty gift.

6. High Peak Simex Sport Sleeping Bag Just $12.99 with FREE s/h
Lightweight sleeping bag for summer activities; Ridge hood; Zip cover-up on top of zip.

7. J. Crew FINAL Sale - Up To 70% Off Select Items (dealnews)
J. Crew takes up to 70% off select men's and women's apparel during its Final Sale. Shipping starts at $5.95.

8. 3-Foot Custom Vinyl Banner For FREE, Plus $6.74 (dealnews)
VistaPrint.com offers a custom 18x36" vinyl sign banner for free with $6.74 for shipping. Choose from 36 ready-made templates. A VistaPrint ad will be present in the bottom left-hand corner. (You can remove the ad for an additional 50 cents.)

9. Decker's Flip-Flops Just $12 Plus FREE s/h (Was $65)
Richly tanned leather provides the ultimate breathability in this go-anywhere, do-anything flip. You might not want to take these into the water, but what other sandal can you wear to the office without anyone batting an eye?

10. Size 5 MITRE Soccer Ball 66% Off - Just $9.99 with FREE s/h
Mitre football Platinum series gives you an 18 panel construction with advanced PU soft touch yet durable PU surface. A True Match Ball with great abrasion characteristics. Internal lattice effect and lens outer effect.

Carnival of Pecuniary Delights: Sweet 16 Edition

Will Chen — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:21 +0000

By Will Chen

Welcome to the Carnival of Pecuniary Delights, the Sweet 16 Edition. This nifty carnival is the creation of Penelope Pince from Pecuniarities (aka Hermione from our forums). We had the honor of being one of the first hosts of this carnival. It is really gratifying to see this carnival blossom into a wonderful personal finance resource.

A big thanks to all the contributors. I loved reading your stories and was delighted to add several new blogs to my RSS feed.

Editor's Picks

MLR from My Life ROI presents Tax Records You Should Save & For How Long. Some people shred too much. Some people file away too much. Either way, both groups are doing it all wrong! A look at how long we actually need to keep those tax documents filed away for!

Baker from Man Vs. Debt presents Negotiation Tips For Beginners.

Ray from Financial Highway presents Calculating Retirement Needs- A Step by Step Guide. Calculating savings and retirement needs can be complicated, here is a step-by-step guide to calculating retirement needs. You can download the FREE excel calculator.

Olivia from MooMama presents 100 Fun, Frugal Things to Do With the Kids. #28 is my favorite.

FMF from Free Money Finance presents What I Learned From My Jobs in Graduate School.

A Toast to Hosts

Before we start the other sections, I would like to feature entries from some past hosts of the carnival. This carnival wouldn't be possible without their amazing support!

Penelope Pince from Pecuniarities presents Resisting the Urge to Splurge. A guide to curbing the impulse to spend.

J. Money from Budgets Are Sexy presents Control Lifestyle Inflation Before it Controls You. When your spending starts to catch up with your income, you've got yourself a case of lifestyle inflation.

Kyle from Suburban Dollar presents Protect Your Identity - It Starts at Home.

Kate Kashman from The Paycheck Chronicles presents Stolen Wallet? Four Steps to Take.

Career & Business

Writer's Coin presents Not Enough Experience? Get Some. A lack of experience is what we're usually told stands in the way of a promotion or new job. There's only one solution: get some.

Pinyo from Moolanomy Personal Finance presents 5 Ways To Dramatically Improve Your Business Profitability.

Emily from Mama's Bloggin presents How a part-time worker can afford Health Insurance.

Frugal Kitchen

This is my favorite section of the carnival. Every entry in this section was a close contender for Editor's picks.

Carrie Rocha from Pocket Your Dollars presents What Kind of Shopper Are you?

Nicole Morton from Being Frugal Is Fabulous presents Frugal Tip: Make Your Own Pizza. Don't read this story on an empty stomach. Nicole's pizza looks amazing. You have been warned.

RC from Think Your Way To Wealth presents 30 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Shopping or Food Bill.

Coming and Going presents Savings are always in season. Strategies on how to get time on your side to save money, particularly (but not limited to) groceries

Sarah Eliza from Devastate Boredom presents The Ultimate "Cheat Sheet" for Finding Organic and Local Produce... CHEAP!. The frugal lifestyle can be healthy and environmentally friendly too... without having to break the bank.

General Frugality

Jason from Redeeming Riches presents 9 Tips to Save on Gas Without Buying a Hybrid. Many people assume they need to buy a hybrid or an extremely fuel-efficient vehicle to save money on gas. There are ways to save money regardless of the kind of car you drive. Take a look at these tips to find out ways to put some money back in your pocket at the gas pump.

Frugal Dad presents Living Off the Grid.

Christina from Northern Cheapskate presents You Can Be Generous When You're Broke.

Shawanda Greene from You Have More Than You Think presents The Case for Frugality. Shawanda's website is a beautiful implementation of the Thesis Theme. Go check it out!

Buck Weber from The Buck List presents How to Camp on the Cheap.

Studenomist presents Building Confidence When You Have No Money. A look at how young people with a tight budget can improve their confidence with a few easy steps.

Personal Finance Anecdotes

Carlos M. Sera from Finacial Tales presents A Tale of Duty - Common Sense The Least Common of the Senses. "My father-in-law was a wise old Yankee from Massachusetts when I met him at the ripe old age of 63. He was 17 years older than my mother-in-law and since he had spent most of his career as a State Department diplomat, I would listen closely to what he had to say since his world and perspective was so alien to the one I knew. He was born in 1915 and like many of his generation his thinking was shaped by the events of the Great Depression and then World War II. His formal education was cut short due to financial hardship but that didn’t mean he stopped learning."

Mark Collins from The Debt Hawk presents My Student Loan Debt. Like me, Mark got tricked into going to law school.

Deonne Kahler from Life on the High Wire presents Financial Freedom in One (Not) Easy Step.

Kelly Whalen from The Centsible Life presents Fraud Alert!. "This post is all about being honest with myself, and my readers. I own up to not sharing everything, but more importantly I admit that I'm not always honest with myself." I love confession posts.

Denise "London" Codia from "My Passions" presents No Cash for a Year.

Investing

The weakonomist presents What Happens When a Mutual Fund Goes Out of Business? Mutual funds are companies. And sometimes companies go out of business. So how exactly does this work with a mutual fund?

Silicon Valley Blogger from The Digerati Life presents Can Stock Trading Software Make You Money?

Eric from Narrow Bridge presents Investment Options: Stocks, Bonds, and Funds. Oh my!. This post discusses the wide variety of investment options. It is helpful for veteran investors and new investors alike.

Mike Piper from The Oblivious Investor presents Asset Allocation Pyramid. An adapted version of the food pyramid, used to visually explain the concept of asset allocation.

Mike S. from Your Personal Finance Source presents Introduction To Investing In Stocks. What type of investor should you be and when is the best time to invest?

The Smarter Wallet presents Fibonacci Retracement: A Technical Stock Tool To Predict Market Direction.

Darwin from Darwin's Finance presents The Riskiest ETFs on Earth - 3X Sector ETF Short/Long.

Money Management

Jim from Bargaineering.com presents How to Hard Reset Your Financial Life. Jim had 12 bank accounts and decided it is time to stop the madness.

Matt Jabs from Debt Free Adventure presents Emergency Fund Is For Emergencies ONLY - 6 Ways To Leave It Alone.

Craig from Money Help For Christians presents Getting Out of Debt: One Simple First Step.

Brad Chaffee from Enemy Of Debt presents The Benefits Of Saving.

Madison from My Dollar Plan presents Microsoft Money Being Discontinued.

Jason R Fisher from Improve the Quality presents Spring Cleaning Your Finances.

Simon from Realm of Prosperity presents The Miser Story: Magic of Compounding.

Personal Finance

David from Money Under 30 presents How to Create a Five-Year Financial Plan. Learning to go beyond a monthly budget and plan your finances up to five years out will help you reach your goals faster by influencing decisions you make today.

Wojciech Kulicki from Fiscal Fizzle presents Resources for Buying Used Cars.

Joe Plemon from Personal Finance By The Book presents How Does a Debt Snowball Work?

CPF from Christian Financial presents Jitterbug cell phone review. Is the simplicity more important than iPhone's awesome new features?

PT Money from Prime Time Money presents AnnualCreditReport.com and Your Free Credit Score.

DR from DoughRoller also had a great post on this topic: Freecreditreport.com Versus Annualcreditreport.com – Where to get your free credit report.

Dave from Do You Dave Ramsey? asks Does Your Money Even Like You?

Toni Graybill from Maximize Your Health and Wealth presents What is Wealth?. Before you can truly say you are wealthy, you have to know what wealth means to you.

Thanks for visiting the Sweet 16th Edition of the Carnival of Pecuniary Delights. Next week’s edition will be hosted by Budgets are Sexy, so be sure to get your submissions in by Wednesday July 22nd, 6:00 PM EST.

Wise Bread is also hosting the Best of Money Carnival next Monday. You can still submit entries! Deadline for that carnival is Saturday July 18th, 6:00 pm EDT.

Permalink | 13 comments | Will Chen's blog | Channel: Personal Finance

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Which Baby Products are a Waste of Money?

Xin Lu — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:00:04 +0000

By Xin Lu

My husband and I are expecting a little baby boy this Halloween. Right now I am in the process of researching which baby products are necessary and which are a waste of money. Here is a list of things that I would not be putting on my shopping list.

1. Too many tiny baby clothes - Baby clothes are awfully cute, but babies grow out of them very quickly. I have learned from a few friends that their babies were given so many onesies that some of them where not even worn before the baby got too big. I think a few outfits of each size would be enough.

2. Baby shoes - These are also very cute, but the baby is not going to be walking for about a year so they are not practical at all. These can also be quite expensive and I think it is better to save the money in the baby's college fund.

3. "Educational" DVDs for babies - The American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends that babies under two should not watch TV. I have seen some of the popular Baby Einstein videos and I think that they make very little sense and their educational value is somewhat questionable. I could probably put on a better puppet show for my baby with a couple socks and some colorful construction paper.

4. Changing table - I do not really understand the purpose of buying another table just for changing. I see my friends change their kids on the floor, bed, or couch. They put down a little blanket or mat and change their kids very quickly.

5. Wipe warmer - I saw this product on the Babies R Us website and I thought it was funny that such a thing exists. Is it really bad to wipe a baby's bottom with a room temperature wipe? I certainly do not warm my toilet paper, and I am fine.

6. Nursery decoration - I have seen some very expensive designer mobiles for sale online. I think these things are actually a hinderance if you hang them above a crib. We are also keeping the baby in our room so we will not be doing any wallpapering or painting since the baby will not care about the decor anyway.

7. Swing - Most of the swings I have seen are quite small so I think the baby will grow out of it very quickly. It also takes up a lot of space and can be expensive. Other moms have also told me that some of their babies do not like swings.

8. WhyCry Baby Crying Analyzer - This is a fancy baby monitor that supposedly analyzes if your baby is hungry, bored, annoyed, tired, or stressed. This is really another product that made me chuckle a bit. Babies seem to usually cry due to hunger or discomfort so if this analyzer just displays "hungry" all the time it would be correct for a good percentage of time.

9. Diaper Genie - Some people swear by this product which is a plastic container that compacts diapers and seals them in. It seems like it would be much more economical to just walk the dirty diaper to the outside trashcan and dump it there.

I am sure there are many more frivolous products for babies. Carrie (who just had a baby boy a few days ago!) wrote up a great list of baby registry tips. Right now my husband and I are really trying to keep things down to the basics, and this baby basics list from Consumer Reports is very good. Even with this list it is quite overwhelming to step into a store like Babies R Us and seeing the plethora of products there are. Even the basics have huge variances in prices. In the end I think babies definitely need love and care more than things.

What baby products have you found to be completely unnecessary? Which baby related purchase did you regret the most?

Permalink | 65 comments | Xin Lu's blog | Channel: Shopping

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No Limit, No Interest: What’s the Deal with Charge Cards?

Julie Rains — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:00:11 +0000

By Julie Rains

Charge cards, like their credit card cousins, allow cardholders to use plastic cards to make purchases and then pay at the end of a settlement period, typically on a monthly basis. The main features of charge cards are no revolving credit (the balance must be paid in full each month) and no pre-set credit limit (this does not mean no limit at all).

There are some features specific to charge cards that could instill financial discipline for consumers and business owners. If you want the convenience and security of credit cards, without the risk of incurring debt and paying finance charges, a charge card may be for you.

No revolving credit. A true charge card, such as the ones offered by American Express, Diner’s Club International, and MasterCard International (Eurocard), allow the cardholder to pay with plastic but require payment of balances in full for each statement cycle. Because credit is not extended, there are no finance charges, no APRs to consider. However, late payments may incur flat fees and charges calculated as a percentage of the outstanding balance.

Business owners have additional flexibility. American Express, for example, has an “extended payment option” for travel expenses or capital equipment purchases; finance charges are applied to outstanding balances associated with these transactions. Additionally, their Plum Card allows cardholders to defer payment up to 60 days.

No pre-set limit. Another charge card feature is the no pre-set spending limit. There are limits, just not numbers that show up on card offers (which often mention the highest possible limit) or on monthly statements. Charge card providers may authorize card charges based on criteria such as credit scores, income, and payment history. According to American Express, “No pre-set spending limit does not mean unlimited spending. Purchasing power adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit card record and financial resources known to us, and other factors.”

The charge card, then, could help instill discipline in cardholders as they may be less apt to overspend if they realize that balances must be paid in full every month. And, not having to pay finance charges could reap cost savings. Similarly, though, a well-disciplined credit cardholder could use the same pay-in-full tactics and also avoid finance charges.

In researching types of charge cards, I noticed that Kohl’s offers a Kohl’s Charge Card, which is really a credit card that finances Kohl’s store transactions only (its name may distinguish it from an affinity credit card that can be used with other merchants, such as L.L. Bean’s credit card). Balances can be carried over from month to month, and interest is charged on these balances. So, check the terms of the agreement rather than relying on the card’s name to understand its uses and your obligations.

So, why bother with a charge card? Being required to pay balances is a great incentive to keep spending in check while enjoying the convenience of plastic. But consider all features and your planned purposes before signing up for a new card.

Charge Card Summary

Essential features

No finance charges
Balances must be paid monthly or every statement cycle
No funds are automatically taken from bank account*

Typical features

No pre-defined spending limit
Late charges billed for late payments*

Possible features

No annual fee*
Discounts on certain products or services*
Specialized insurance (such as travel insurance)*

*These features may also be found in a credit card.

Permalink | Comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Credit Cards

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Zero Waste Lunches: How to Make Your Own Executive Style Supply Kit

Myscha Theriault — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:00:03 +0000

By Myscha Theriault

With all the talk about zero waste lunches I've been hearing these days, I decided to lake a closer look at the behavior in my own life when it comes to eating on the road. While my husband and I knew we wanted to start reducing our impact when we eat out, we also knew the solution had to be something that fit seamlessly with our lifestyle. Since the way we have to move and groove has been known to change drastically on a dime, whatever we came up with had to be extremely versatile. Ready for a make-it-yourself zero waste lunch kit you can take from backpack to briefcase in the blink of an eye? Read on.

First of all, whatever we came up with had to fit compactly in the front briefcase sections of the rolling laptop case / mini office / business travel luggage pieces we have. We specifically chose these his and her pieces because we can fit a few toiletries and clothing items in the back when necessary, yet still leave the front part set up every day with office supplies, files and room for the laptop sleeves. This way, if we need to run an unexpected errand or want to get out of the house for the day, snagging some free productive wi-fi time at Whole Foods or Panera Bread becomes doable without feeling discombobulated. It also meets international carry-on standards, so hopping on the plane at the last minute isn't a big deal either. The point is though, that whether you have one of these pieces of luggage or a standard briefcase, these kits will still fit.

Second, we wanted to make sure they could easily clip on to our backpacks or sections of the seat covers in our Jeep. This way if we were taking an adventure vacation, or packing up the Jeep to go camping, we'd also have our lunch kits with us. Our answer?

Zippered canvas pouches with caribiner clips attached. These particular zippered pouches come in sets of three for around seven bucks. There are three sizes in the set. The largest is what fit our needs for the lunch kit. The other two are great for incidentals you don't want rolling around in your backpack, such as bobby pins, sewing kits and safety pins. Other pouches I looked at were a similar price for only one pouch and looked a little flimsy. These had a review from a contractor about how he used them for tools and bits with great success and durability. What did we put inside to start reducing our plastic and other waste?

Stainless steel drinking straws. There are several types of reusable straws on the market, including bamboo and glass. We chose these because they were antimicrobial, tough as nails and available in a package of four for around ten bucks. Other brands were twenty dollars for the same number of straws, or even higher in some instances. We clean them with our flexible camel back tube cleaner, but you could use a fuzzy pipe cleaner.

Our own flatware. There are systems of lunch flatware you can buy, but we already have our own sets we use on the road. They're attached to metal rings, and we each store an extra gadget such as a vegetable peeler or corkscrew. If you also like the idea of having one set of travel flatware you can use day to day or on vacation, they are available at Amazon.

Reusable chopsticks. We happen to have a boatload of coconut wood chopsticks that I picked up years ago in Bali. You can purchase your own however, and keep them in your lunch kit. Here's an affordable set of reusable chopsticks from Amazon, or you can wash off a set of disposable chopsticks and use those.

A set of squishy bowls. Often, you may just choose to go with the value meal at your local fast food chain and skip the plastic cover and straw. However, if you are brown bagging it or going for a traveler's picnic based on a local grocery store run, squishy bowls rock. They also squish (hence the name) down flat, making them perfect for the compact storage necessary in our rolling briefcase luggage.

Squishy travel shots. OK, these aren't particularly necessary for zero waste lunches. They are fun to have on the road however. Sometimes you just want a cocktail at the camp site or in your hotel room, and carrying a breakable shot glass in your bag isn't always the best idea. When driving down the coast last summer to Florida, we enjoyed being able to mix up a cocktail at the camp site using spirits we'd picked up at the local shopping plaza, our squishy travel shot glasses and coffee mugs. You can also use the smaller size of the squishy bowls mentioned above to mix drinks.

Fabric napkins. We happened to have an extra two napkins hanging around the house. If you don't however, bandanas are great for both home and travel.

Folding plates. These are the one item that didn't actually make it into the zippered pouches. However, since these folding plates store flat, they fit neatly into back pack sections, the rolling briefcase pockets or into the back pockets of our vehicle's seat covers along with the clip on zipper pouches.

These are the items we've chosen to include in our zero waste lunch kits. Structured as they are, these kits can easily be pulled from the briefcase and transferred to backpacks or seat back pockets. Since we have holding spots in our vehicle and multipurpose day packs for both water bottles and traveling coffee mugs, we don't really consider them part of the “kit” although they are part of our eco infrastructure.

The only item we haven't really found yet that meets our space concerns is something to carry extra food home in when we occasionally eat out. That isn't a huge concern however since it doesn't happen that often. Also, if a restaurant packages their leftovers in waxed paper boxes I wouldn't have a huge problem with it. Plastic and styrofoam are our main concerns. Since this system easily goes from backpack to briefcase, I trust it will be of help to those struggling with the transition. Bonus? These are so space efficient that those keeping kosher can easily make this happen on the fly by putting together two sets and labeling them for both dairy and meat.

Other related articles include Thirty Ways to Use Less Plastic, the Update on Plastic Packing Reduction, and Going Green on the Road.

Permalink | 16 comments | Myscha Theriault's blog | Channel: Green Living

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Best Deals For Wednesday 7/15/09

Paul Michael — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:57:02 +0000

By Paul Michael

Today's WISEBUY. Up To 85% Off SIMPLE SHOES (dealnews)
Simple Shoes cuts 50% to 85% off select men's and women's shoes, as listed below. With free shipping.

1. FREE 10-Day Supply Of Estee Lauder's NEW Advanced Night Repair
Estee Lauder is offering a free 10-day supply of their new Advanced Night Repair Cream. Go to any Estee Lauder counter on Thursday July 23rd from 5-9pm for the free sample.

2. FREE Books - Download from over 1 million eBooks FREE From The World Book Fair
July 4th to August 4th Download Your Selections From One Million Total eBook Files Available.

3. FREE Rachel Ray Nutrish Premium Dog Food Sample
Switch to Nutrish Premium Dog Food...Get your free sample or a Coupon if you can't wait .

4. FREE Splenda No-Calorie Sweetener Sample
Choose the product and fill in your details to receive your complimentary sample(includes two packets). Flavor Options (any one): Fiber; Flavor- Mocha; Flavor- French Vanilla.

5. Blue Argyle King Size Comforter Set - $14.99 with $4.99 s/h - USe Code bhnshopnow
Soft, soothing blue and sand tones update the Argyle diamond design. Includes polyfilled comforter, bedskirt and 2 std. shams (2 king with king). Polyester/cotton. Machine wash. Imported.

6. ZALES Summer Sale - Up To 70% Off
Head over to shop the Zales Summer Sale where you could save as much as 70%! Shop for pendants, earrings, rings, bracelets and more.

7. Up To 60% Off Oakley Sunglasses (dealnews)
Paragon Sports takes 30% to 60% off select Oakley sunglasses, as listed at dealnews. All carry free shipping.

8. Up To 75% Off Pens And Writing Instruments At Cross (dealnews)
Cross takes up to 75% off a selection of pens and leather goods during its Summer Sale. That's the best sale we've seen from Cross since January. Shipping starts at $8.95, or get free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Food, Inc. and the Origins of Your Food: 3 Reasons to Remain Ignorant (Plus Free Movie Screenings)

Elizabeth Sanberg — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:00:02 +0000

By Elizabeth Sanberg

Food, Inc., a movie detailing the origins and production of food, came to theaters last month and it's already ruffled some feathers in the food industry. (Pardon the poor pun.) Several groups have put up websites combating "misinformation" in the movie. (See, for example, Monsanto's "Facts" and GreenUpgrader's take on those facts.)

I haven't yet watched Food, Inc. (though I'm planning on seeing a free showing tonight, see details below), but a year ago I read In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto by Michel Pollan. Pollan examines what we eat and concludes that we should live by this mantra: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Philip wrote a review of In Defense of Food previously.

Even though I was already a healthy eater, In Defense of Food dramatically changed the way I eat -- and I highly recommend it for those interested in healthy eating and food production. For instance, up until last weekend when I binged on s'mores, you wouldn't have found any high fructose corn syrup in my house. (And no, the HFCS was not in the chocolate or marshmallows -- it was in the graham crackers.)

While I'm glad I've become more knowledgeable about food, in light of Food, Inc.'s release, I think it's worth examining the hidden costs of being an informed consumer. [Of course, in spite of the downsides I list in this post, I strongly believe that the pros of being an informed consumer far outweigh the cons.]

Costs of Being an Informed Consumer, or Why Not to Learn about the Origins of Your Food

1. Money. Once you learn where your food is coming from, you're likely to spend more money on it. You'll look for organic produce for its environmental and health benefits. I've never seen organic produce that's cheaper than conventional. It may not be significantly more expensive, but organic produce will cost more. What's more, upon seeing graphic images and hearing stories of the animals' plights, you'll likely start buying free range meat and eggs -- again, more expensive than conventional products. (However, in learning about the origins of your food you may decide to become vegetarian or vegan. Doing so will arguably save you money.)

2. Time. Once you're knowledgeable about the origins of your food you're going to start reading labels. If you haven't looked at a list of ingredients on your bread lately take a look today. You'll be surprised at how many ingredients there are -- thus requiring a lot of time to read when you're perusing the grocery store aisles. But what takes even more time than checking to see if high fructose corn syrup in your food? Cooking healthy food. Once you start learning about food production and stop buying pre-made items you'll spend far more hours in the kitchen.

3. Guilt. The immeasurable cost of being informed is guilt. If you learn about the origins of your food you may begin to feel guilty about biting into your hamburger, even if it is free range.

While I am a huge advocate of eating "real food" -- we belong to an organic farm share CSA (community supported agriculture), shop at our local co-op, and limit our consumption of meat -- sometimes the old saying really is true. Ignorance can be bliss.

Free Showings of Food, Inc.

As previously mentioned in Best Deals, Chipotle is sponsoring free showings of Food, Inc. in the next few weeks. Check here for locations and times.

Permalink | 15 comments | Elizabeth Sanberg's blog | Channel: Consumer Affairs, Food and Drink

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Mommy I'm Bored: 25 Frugal Ways to Beat Summer Boredom

Frugal Duchess — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:07:57 +0000

By Frugal Duchess

My 9-year-old daughter does not go to camp until later this month. That's when her drama camp begins. But the plot has already thickened in my house with a steady chorus of: Mommy, I'm Bored!

Here's what we're doing to cure the summer blues:

25 Frugal Things to Do with Kids.

1. Write a book. My daughter has written a how-to-manual for kids. It's a short guide about fixing everyday problems. She has typed up the book and I want her to create pictures. Meanwhile, a close friend suggests another project: Mommy, I'm Bored.

2. Crafts at the library: In addition to story hour, one of our local branches offered a free craft hour. My daughter made a bookmark and decorated a small wooden box.

3. Dissect old machinery: With tools and light supervision, my daughter and a friend spent hours investigating the guts of an old machine. They learned a lot and enjoyed the process.

4. Start a reading club (with other children)

5. Go to the Beach, the playground or a park.

6. Check out free programs at public buildings, museums and malls.

7. Visit botanical gardens. We found a $5 yoga class and low-cost art instructions at one of the local (public) gardens.

8. Play Neopets.com. There are lots of games and money-related activities at Neopets.com. My daughter has actually learned a lot about commerce from this site. Kids adopt electronic pets and then are responsible for feeding, housing and entertaining their pets. Kids can play games or set up a store or shop. I like to play the slot machines in the game arcade. It's a frugal way to gamble. I get the thrill of the casino without the expense.

9. Go for a walk.

10. Cook.

11. Shop for food. We went to the grocery store today. My daughter put together her wish list: ice cream, berries, whip cream and cookie crisp cereal. We had fun.

12. Write a letter: My daughter has written a cute, cute letter to my folks. I have to remember to mail it.

13. Start a craft project

14. Go to a yard sale, flea market or estate sale

15. Surf the Internet for vacation ideas.

16. Looking for old-school games on the Internet. My daughter Googled "marbles" and found a lot of marble games. She and a friend printed out the instructions and played marbles.

17. Watch Disney.com. Also try crayola.com, and familyfun.com

18. Free movie camps. I've written about this in the past (last June) and here is the link to my story. Basically, many of the major movie chains have free movie mornings for families.

19. Create a "summer buddy program." My daughter called around looking for play dates and friends to share in new activities.

20. Co-worker program. I gave my daughter an assignment to interview my parents about how they paid for college expenses. It was a win-win-win. I really needed the information; she pretended to be a reporter and the grandparents were happy to chat with her. (She enjoyed herself also.)

21. Rent videos from the library. The children's selection of our local library is great.

22. Start a parent-child summer book club. I am reading the same book as my 12-year-old son. We've had some insightful short chats and I will take him out for pizza and we'll really discuss the book in depth.

23. Find them a job. For one afternoon, my daughter worked as a mother's helper for a friend who had an active toddler. My friend was able to finish a project and my daughter had an afternoon of fun while playing with a toddler. She also earned a few dollars.

24.Make a list of summer activities. "Wow, I have done a lot," my daughter said as we worked on this list together.

25. Get ice cream: It's free; it's cheap. It's cool.

Can't wait until August? Here are other great posts by Sharon on her blog The Frugal Duchess. Enjoy!

Selling the Car, Jewelry & Other Stuff to Raise Cash

Sell the Coach Bag? What I'm Willing To Give Up for Financial Security

Shocking Results from My Free Energy Audit

Tips for Preparing for Home Ownership

How to Save Money on Hair Coloring (Sorry Jamie Lee!!)

Permalink | 12 comments | Frugal Duchess's blog | Channel: Art and Leisure

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What Does the Word "Recession" Mean to You? (Answer for a Chance to Win $10!)

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:11:47 +0000

By Linsey Knerl

Economists have it defined. News anchors provide ample commentary on what it is and how it affects us. But what about the "real" people living in today's economy? Do they "feel" the recession? What do they think a recession really is? Tell us for a chance to score some quick Amazon cash!

This one is easy. Just share your comments on what you think the word "recession" means. It can be your own personal experience, what you learned about it in college, or what you wish the media was really telling us about how it works (or in this case, doesn't work.) Do you have extra commentary on when it will end? Or are you just completely fed up with the use of the word altogether? We'd love to hear your thoughts for a chance to win!

Those of you who aren’t familiar with the “drill,” read below for full details:

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate

We're doing two giveaways -- one for random comments, and another one for a random tweets.

How to Enter:

Post your answer in the comments below, or
Tweet your answer. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBTrivia" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

At the end of the drawing, we'll update this post to include (and link to) all of your helpful responses.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Thursday, July 16th at 11:59am CST. Winners will be announced after July 16th on the original post and via Twitter. Winners will also be contacted via email and Twitter Direct Message.
You can enter both drawings -- once by leaving a comment and once by tweeting.
Only tweets that contain both "@wisebread" and "#WBTrivia" will be entered. (Otherwise, we won't see it.)

Good luck!

For additional "recession" related reading, try these articles:

Preparing for a Recession

How Your Small Business Can Survive the Recession

DIY Entertainment - A Recipe for Recession

Permalink | 53 comments | Linsey Knerl's blog | Channel: Giveaways

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Personal or Business? Parameters for Choosing a Credit Card

Silicon Valley Blogger — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:00:03 +0000

By Silicon Valley ...

We've all got our different reasons for making a particular product choice, and it's no different when it comes to shopping for a credit card. These days though, many people are probably just happy they're able to qualify for any credit card at all, given just how much stricter card companies are these days about signing up new customers.

So what is it that draws you to any one card? Some people are attracted to certain credit cards because of their design and appearance. But some are very practical and look at the bottom line: they check the interest rates, APR, card fees and other terms that come with the card. And in my particular case, I look at a couple of things: the rewards and the annual fees. Since I pay my credit card in full each month and don't carry a balance, I'm after maximizing cash back rewards and minimizing those annual fees and grace periods. The best cards for me are those with $0 annual fees with decent terms and sign up bonuses (free money, why not!) and for this reason, I am partial to Discover card rewards programs and American Express rewards cards.

Differences Between a Personal and Business Credit Card

Now the aforementioned parameters are some of the more obvious reasons for picking a card. But there's something else you may want to consider before you fill up that credit card application. If you own a business, and would like to enjoy the benefits of a business card, there are a few considerations you may want to be aware of. Some people may not be aware of the differences between business and personal credit cards, which I'd like to clear up. Here are a few tips to consider when making a decision between these different cards:

1. Your personal credit standing is still on the line with a business credit card.

What a lot of people don't realize is that if you're a small business owner, you can still be personally held liable for how you handle your business card. If the card company asks for your social security number to open a card account, then you know you're on the line for it, and you'll remain liable for how you manage this credit line. Thus, any late payments on a business card will affect your personal credit score. In fact, many people confuse a "small business credit card" with a "corporate credit card." With a corporate card, the main cardholder's personal credit won't be affected with its use; any defaults on such a card won't affect the business owner's personal credit. But note that corporate cards are only available to big business entities and that the criteria that defines such businesses varies by card company (e.g. A card company might declare that a big business enterprise must have at least 20 million in sales and at least 200 employees, for instance).

2. Compare the rewards of carrying a small business credit card with those from consumer cards.

There are certainly benefits to getting a business card; just not what you may automatically assume. As a small business owner you may want to have a separate card for your venture to make financial planning easier. Also, some vendors only take business cards exclusively. And finally, there may be much better rewards available to you that are pertinent to your business if you use such cards.

Here's a case in point: many rewards business cards pay you extra points or cash rebates for so-called "business related items" (like buying your stationery at Staples). If these are huge expenses for you, this is something to think about. Amex business cardholders receive benefits like getting 5% discounts from Hyatt hotels or Fedex. Discover small business cards offer 5% cash back on office supplies and 2% on gas. These are things to consider when you are doing your research.

3. Your card statements may be presented differently.

Unlike consumer credit cards, business credit cards tend to give cardholders a monthly breakdown of expenses in categories. For those who like this feature, this might be a reason to lean towards a "small business credit card." While many consumer card statements have this feature as well, they tend to give you an annual statement summary rather than a monthly one.

4. Watch out for additional fees for employees.

Beware of any extra fees that a card company charges for additional cards. Some cards won't charge you any fees. Some have no fee for the first few additional business cards. But certainly, do some proper research on this point. If you have just a couple of employees whom you want to give cards to, perhaps even a personal card will do.

5. Most travel rewards are the same.

By this, I mean that there's really no difference between the frequent flier miles perks for personal vs business cards. Whether you get a United Airlines personal or business card, you will still be earning the same United Mileage Plus Miles.

6. Some business cards report to Business Credit Bureaus.

If building a business credit score is important for you, ask if a credit card issuer reports to bureaus like Dun and Bradstreet. But bear in mind that whether or not they report to D & B, any default (or other problems) will also show up on your personal credit score and report.

7. Leverage 0% offers when it makes sense.

Many personal and business credit cards offer teaser 0% APR for purchases for some extended time (the introductory period). I wouldn't recommend that consumers go on a 0% financing spree on a plasma TV, but for a business, 0% financing for some start up costs may make sense and may provide some breathing room.

8. Find out whether vendors will accept American Express or Discover cards.

Visa and Mastercard are the most popular credit cards. But you may want to get an Amex or Discover card if you find it more appropriate for your business spending habits. But before you do that, check with your vendors to see if they accept these cards (some don't).

9. Ask the right questions before applying for a card.

Here are a few questions to ask in order to find out whether a business card is something you should get:

What kind of expenses do you plan to put on your card?

Does your business require travel?

Will your business carry a balance on the card (do you need lines of credit)?

How many employees should your card be distributed to?

What kind of cards will your vendors accept (will they take Discover or Amex)?
Can you get better trade terms from a vendor?

You should take into account these concerns even as you look at each card's general terms, such as interest rate, fees, grace period and rewards program. For those interested, here's a sampling of some of the best business credit cards out there today.

Permalink | 1 comment | Silicon Valley Blogger's blog | Channel: Credit Cards, Entrepreneurship

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