Financial Diary
Weekly Roundup: Big Screen for the Big Game Edition
With the Superbowl teams set, how many of you are rushing out to pick up a big screen television for Superbowl Sunday? I suspect not many of you will actually do this, but judging from the number of ads I’ve seen in the last week or two, I’d bet this is a popular thing to do.
Sure, prices of plasmas and LCD televisions have come down a bit, but at the upper end of the market they still cost as much as a small, used car. Is it really worth laying out a few thousand bucks just to see four hours of football in higher resolution? What’s worse is the rent-to-own shops that will really be pushing the big screens over the next couple weeks. If you are in the market for a high-def television, at least considering paying cash, else you may be still making payments when next year’s Superbowl rolls around!
The Frugal Roundup
Don’t Fall Into the Minimum Payment Trap. Stop paying only the minimum payments on your credit card. With the high rates that credit cards are charging these days, most of your minimum payment is going towards interest charges. Paying only the minimum means you may be paying for that pizza for years to come! (@ Gen X Finance)
7 Ways to Control Spending When You Have Out-of-town Guests. This happens to all of us. You let people stay at your place and end up heading out on the town with them. You feel almost obligated to spend time (and money) with them. Use these great tips to break the habit. (@ The Sun’s Financial Diary)
How Conan O’Brien Wants You to Succeed. Flexo has another great guest post which talks about what Conan O’Brien’s ouster from The Tonight Show can teach you about life. (@ Budgets Are Sexy)
7 Money Lessons From Monopoly. Here is a cool list on lessons that the game of monopoly can teach you. I think some of my favorites are that you can’t avoid taxes and cash is king. (@ Financial Highway)
Best of the Rest
- 5 Creative Ways to Upsize Your Life By Downsizing
- Money In Our Life: 5 Personal Finance Basics to Work On
- Going Three Rounds With the Credit Bureaus
- How to Chose a Retirement Strategy – Or Not
- 10 Biggest Credit Mistakes to Avoid
- Saving for College – An Exercise In Depression
- Common Myths About Stock Market Risk
- How To Donate Your Used Car
Post by Frugal Dad
Weekly Roundup – Coinstar Bonus Edition
I mentioned a while back that we enjoy gathering up loose change around the Frugal household, and the holidays are a great time to round up coins to put towards a little Christmas shopping. Because I’m lazy, I usually stop by Coinstar and dump my change to cash it in for a small fee.
After that post, Coinstar contacted me to let me know about the eCertificate option offered by Coinstar, and a special promotion running through December 6th that offers $10 to users who redeem $40 worth of change for a retail gift card. Naturally, I took them up on their offer to try out this option – especially when they were nice enough to send me $40 in change to try it out!
I waited for the last-minute shoppers to vacate our local Kroger grocery store and took my change cup with $45.53 in coins to the nearest Coinstar machine. After following the on-screen prompts I dumped in the change and Coinstar generated a receipt including an Amazon.com (the retailer I chose) gift card code.
The only bummer was that I now have to mail off a little rebate receipt to claim my $10 bonus gift card. But hey, it’s worth a little effort to earn a 25% return on my change! If you’re interested in a little Cyber Monday online shopping, now would be a great time to dig through the sofa cushions for extra coins.
The Frugal Roundup
Is Coupon Clipping Worth It? Here is an interesting spin on coupon clipping. It really makes you think about clipping coupons online. (@Suns Financial Diary)
Put Your Finances on Cruise Control, But Stay Alert. With all of the talk about automating your personal finances, it’s always a good idea to keep your eye on what’s in front of you. (@Consumerism Commentary)
Banks Can Manipulate Your Transactions, Then Charge You 1750% Overdraft Fee. Ever wonder how they calculate your overdraft fees? (@Wise Bread)
College Students Arrested For Refusing to Pay Tip. What would you do if you had a mandatory 18% gratuity and your server was horrible? (@The Consumerist)
Best of the Rest
- My Up Close Look at Health Care
- Blockbuster vs. Netflix: Online DVD Rentals for Less
- 5 Reasons Why You Will Retire Broke and Unhappy
- Why I Don’t Buy Digital Media
- How Lease Payments Are Calculated
- Cleaning Out the Garage
- How to Score Big on Cyber Monday
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Don’t overdo the turkey, or the Black Friday shopping.
Photo by Clean Wal-Mart
Post by Frugal Dad
Weekly Roundup – Loose Change Edition
We have moved and settled into our home – well, at least we’ve moved! It will be a while before we unpack the last box, especially since I went back to work today and left a house full of boxed up stuff for the family. Pretty sad when you go back to work to rest up!
Over the weekend, while packing, I came across a handful of change. With my coin jar already packed, and time running out to move, I felt like tossing the change in the trash bag and moving on. But that would have really hurt me! After all, the $1.30 I collected under sofa cushions represented about a year’s worth of interest on a $100!
Can you believe some people actually throw money away? Don’t believe it? Check out the fifth article below.
The Frugal Roundup
7 Critical Ways You Need to Take Your Life Off Autopilot. Here is a great list of things that you should really focus on. (@ My Super-Charged Life)
Redbox Testing $2 Per Night Rentals. Redbox has started testing $2 per night rentals. Will you still rent from them with that type of increase? (@Your Money Relationship)
A Little Food Planning Goes a Long Way. It’s always a good idea to plan your meals ahead. You can save a ton of money and always have what you need. (@Million Dollar Journey)
Master Your Money with a Financial Health Day. When you have your financial health day, make sure you involve you spouse in the decision. (@ Get Rich Slowly)
Why Throw Money Away? Yeah, this person really throws money in the trash. Seriously. (@The Suns Financial Diary)
How to Become a Successful Secret Shopper and Supplement Your Income. Need some extra cash to beef up your budget? Become a secret shopper! (@Generation X Finance)
Best of the Rest
- The Productive Art of Positive Thinking
- How to Find More Time During the Day
- The Bucket List
- Why Lottery Winners Go Broke: Prospect Theory at Work
- My Grandfather In-Law: A True Veteran Hero
- House Hunting Tips For Busy Parents
- Frugal Ways to Celebrate the Holidays
- Have You Ever Taken Risks to Try and Improve Your Career?
- What’s Luck Got to Do With It?
- 31 Days of Organizing for a Better 2010
- Interview Your Interviewer
Post by Frugal Dad
Weekly Roundup – Moving Edition
We are in the midst of the dreaded packing, sorting, selling, tossing phases of moving. Nothing reminds you of just how much stuff you have like the process of packing and moving. Fortunately, we don’t have far to go, so we have looked upon the move as a positive opportunity to simplify our household by clearing it of clutter.
Just yesterday we rounded up all our old clothes, jackets, etc. that we no longer wear and plan to give them away to shelters, and other charitable organizations in our area that may need them (there is particularly high demand in the winter months). I’d encourage you to go through your closets and find an old jacket, or set of blankets that you no longer use, and find someone who could use them. A good place to start is with churches, missions, shelters, and organizations such as The Red Cross and Salvation Army.
The Frugal Roundup
The Argument Against Frugality. Not on the frugality bandwagon yet? These reasons for not being frugal may change your mind. (@The Sun’s Financial Diary)
100 Goals. I came across this site the other week and thought it was pretty cool. It chronicles a guys attempt to complete 100 goals he has for his life. Check it out! (@Hundred Goals)
“What Works For You” Can Be a Trap. The personal finance theory of “do what works for you” comes into question. (@Consumerism Commentary)
Ditch Productivity For A Day: 12 Great Sites To Kill Time & Have Fun. Sometimes it’s OK to sit down and unwind. (@Dumb Little Man)
Avoid a Financial Holiday Hangover This Year. Great steps for avoiding the dreaded holiday credit card bills in January. (@Generation X Finance)
Best of the Rest
- How Working Overseas Helps Your Career
- How One Homeless Person Lives: Coping With Homelessness
- Adventures in Dallas (How We Saved Money There)
- Why Canadians Don’t Redeem Coupons
- Year End Tax Tips 2009
- Understanding Health Savings Accounts
- Choose Your Words Carefully… You May Have to Eat Them
- Survive a Financial Crisis: 12 Tips For Married Couples
Post by Frugal Dad
Weekly Roundup - College Football Picks Edition
Late night tonight, and I have no energy to think of something witty to write here. I would normally come up with something fun to share related to money, but it’s approaching midnight, and I need sleep. When all else fails I turn to another subject near and dear to me - college football.
With fall practices well underway, who is your pick to win it all this season? Realistically, it is hard to count Florida out considering all the players they return from last year’s team. Note, I am not a Florida fan, but recognize they are a solid football team, top to bottom.
I’m an Auburn man myself, and this year with a new coach, a new (old) quarterback, and new coordinators all around, it should be interesting. My prediction for Auburn’s season sounds like most years - we’ll beat a team or two we shouldn’t, but we’ll lose just as many to teams we should beat. And so it goes with my Tigers.
Feel free to share a prediction for your favorite team in the comments section.
The Frugal Blitz
Stress-Free Back to School: Setting Up a Homework Zone. An excellent idea for those of us with kids heading back to school. I know I always work better with a clean, organized environment free of distractions. Even more important for kids. (@Organizing Your Way) Side note: Mandi is the newest member of The Life Skills Network!
Spend Time to Save Money. It’s true what they say, “time is money.” But the opposite is also true. Investing a little time can go a long way towards saving you money, as this article points out. (@Mrs Micah)
AMEX To Raise Late Fee and Rates on My Cards. The same thing happened to me with an AT&T Universal card. I know credit card companies have the right to jack up rates as high as they want, but I also have the right to put a sharp pair of scissors to their increasingly inferior products! (@The Sun’s Financial Diary)
The Get-Started-Now Guide to Becoming Self-Employed. If you have ever thought about venturing out on your own, read this. If you have never thought about venturing out on your own, read this. Either way, it will affect your opinion on being self employed. (@Zen Habits)
The Myth of Stable Employment. Gone are the days of 30-year retirement ceremonies, complete with a gold watch and a pension statement. No such thing as a “stable job” these days. (@Brip Blap)
How You Can Prepare For A Background Check. Most people feel pretty helpless when they discover a position requires a background check. However, there are a number of things you can do to improve your chances of passing with flying colors. (@The Wisdom Journal)
9 Really Weird Ways to Make Money. Trust me, there are some really weird ones listed here, but for good reason. Sometimes extreme circumstances require desperate measures, and if you really need the money, these are nine quick ways to generate extra cash. (@Moolanomy)
Personal Finance Basics: Key Purposes of Budgeting Systems. An excellent post on the seven key purposes of a budgeting system. (@My Super-Charged Life)
Pedal Your Way to Health, Wealth and Happiness. An excellent guide for those planning to become a bicycle commuter. This is something I have tried in the past, but never stuck to. Maybe the cooler weather will motivate me to put these notes to use this fall. (@Wise Bread)
The Library Still Rocks! Yes, I Like The Free Movies And More. My kids love to go to the library to check out books, and recently discovered movies there, too. Libraries are a great source of free entertainment for both children and adults, and the educational opportunities are endless. (@The Happy Rock)
Overtime - The Best of the Rest
- How To Be The Best You Can Be
- Certificate of Deposit Basics: How Do Bank CDs Work?
- 5 Tips to Avoid Overdraft Fees
- ING Direct Review and $25 Referral (Orange Key) Bonus
- Feeling Good About Feeling Old
- How to Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits – Eligibility Requirements
- 7 Ways to Save Money on Back to School Shopping
- The Carnival of Savings - 2nd Edition
Post from: Frugal Dad
Weekly Roundup - Almost Frozen Tomatoes Edition
Something told me to hold off on potting our tomato plants. Last year the square foot garden sprouts were nearly wiped out by a late-April freeze. Since the tomatoes eventually grew to take over more than their allotted square we’ve decided to grow them separately this year in containers.
Good thing we held off. Last night it got down to 30 degrees and there was a decent amount of frost covering the yard this morning. I’m sure we could have covered the plants up with sheets or plastic and they would have survived, but it was nice to see my procrastination finally pay off!
With the cold weather behind us for good, I’ll be spending some of Easter weekend getting our tomato crop up and running. Maybe this year I can grow enough to enjoy salads and a jar or two of homemade salsa!
Fab Five
Saving Strategy: Bank your Raises/Extra Income. An excellent reminder with some people receiving mid-year raises soon. Most of us suffer from what economists refer to as a marginal propensity to consume. As our disposable income increases, so does our spending. Don’t fall for the same trap. Hold you spending in place and bank than raise. (@Million Dollar Journey)
Can You Pay Federal Taxes with Credit Cards? The short answer is yes, but as Sun walks you through the various costs associated you begin to wonder who would want to! I suppose if you were desperate it might offer some reprieve from owing the IRS, but there might be cheaper options. (@The Sun’s Financial Diary)
Is Suze Right? Do Emergency Funds Now Trump Debt Repayment? I rarely agree with Suze on anything related to credit management. While I agree with the premise of her argument, people should be saving more instead of piling everything onto debt, I also agree with Trent that you can take this too far. (@The Simple Dollar)
How to Beat Popular Carnival Games. Ever unloaded $26 at a carnival game to win a $10 teddy bear? Who hasn’t? Read up on some tricks for winning at the most popular carnival games. You might even impress someone in the crowd, or make the carnival game worker angry - either way, you win! (@Smart Spending)
The Art of Negotiating - A Crucial Skill For a Frugal Lifestyle. I’ve never been good at haggling, but after reading these five negotiating rules I now have some ammunition for the next time I need to negotiate. (@Simple Mom)
Best of the Rest
- The Final Decision on Downsizing
- What Makes a Good Stock Investor?
- March 2009 Was a Perfect Example of Why You Shouldn’t Try to Time the Market
- When Should You Do It Yourself?
- Save Money on a Diamond Ring
- Networking is Never About You
Site of the Week
“Go Frugal” at FreeShipping.org. A little shameless self-promotion included in this week’s selection. The site Freeshipping.org, home to tons of free shipping offers and coupons from major retailers, has started up a “Go Frugal” blog where a group of contributors from across the frugal landscape will share ways to save money. I’m honored to be one of those writers, and plan to post there on a weekly basis. Hope you’ll follow!
Carnivals
Carnival of Pecuniary Delights. A new favorite in the blogging carnival world!
Spring Has Sprung - Carnival of Personal Finance #199 Bonus: beautiful photography included!
Post from: Frugal Dad
