I challenge everyone to do one positive thing for your finances this weekend. It doesn’t have to be big. Here are a few ideas: Shop around for your cable, cell phone, insurance or other services and see if you can get a better rate Take your change to the bank Post some things for sale [...]
Archive for May, 2008
Weekend Challenge
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Business, Challenge, Personal Finance on May 16, 2008 | 3 Comments »
The Drugstore Game; Depression and Finances
Posted in Frugality, Spending, tagged CVS, Depression, The Drugstore Game on May 14, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Back when I was interning as a bank teller (Is that the “This one time at band camp…” line of this blog?), my co-worker Patsy used to go through the Walgreens ads methodically and then show us all the things she bought for “free” after mail-in rebates. At the time, I thought this was a [...]
High School Reunion Drama
Posted in Spending, tagged Events, High School Reunion, Spending on May 14, 2008 | 1 Comment »
My 10-year high school reunion is next month. There is going to be a barbeque on Saturday, an evening event with dinner, a DJ and possibly a mechanical bull (!) on Saturday night and an afternoon outing at the lake on Sunday. People are ticked though because the evening event is $50 per person with a cash [...]
Snowflaking on the Side
Posted in Debt-Reduction, tagged Craigslist, Debt-Reduction, Entrepreneurship, Snowflaking on May 13, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I know I’ve already mentioned this once, but I just have to point out Antishay’s great series on Building a Snowflake Business. This is really helpful for me since I don’t have the hours for a part-time job, haven’t been getting large bonuses/raises at work lately and have cut the budget as much as I [...]
Home Improvements Are Tempting Me!
Posted in Spending, tagged DIY, Home Ownership, Spending on May 13, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I knew that stopping the debt snowball to replace our heat pump and hot water heater was necessary, but also dangerous. You see, once I get started on a home improvement project, I want to keep improving! Here is my list of things I currently want to do to the house: Install a storm door [...]
I’m Taking a “Staycation”
Posted in Travel, tagged Staycation, Travel on May 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Who knew that taking a vacation in your own city has its own buzzword? Staycation! According to the Urban Dictionary, a staycation is defined as follows: 1. staycation A vacation that is spent at one’s home enjoying all that home and one’s home environs have to offer. Even though I live and work [...]
Finance Girl: Reluctant Patriot
Posted in Spending, tagged Economic Stimulus, Home Ownership, Taxes on May 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
On Friday, we received our $1,500 economic stimulus payment and a $213 state tax refund. So, being proud Americans, we spent $3,467 on a new heat pump and $674 on a new hot water heater before the deposits even had a chance to hit the bank. No need to thank us, America. We’re just doing [...]
What Do You Get a Man Turning 100?
Posted in Spending, tagged Cars, Experience Gifts, Family, Gifts on May 8, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Why, a Mustang rental, of course! I was looking through a friend’s scrapbook last night and there was a picture of a very old man sitting in the seat of a car. It was her husband’s grandfather, who was turning 100. Apparently he’d always wanted a Mustang (he still jokes that someday he’s going [...]
Reminder: Submit Your Diamond Claim by May 19
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Diamond Settlement, Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings on May 7, 2008 | 2 Comments »
If you or your fiance/spouse purchased any diamond jewelry or loose diamonds between January 1, 2004, and March 31, 2006, be sure to get your claim in for a piece of the $295 million class-action lawsuit against DeBeers. You can read more about the lawsuit here. Although there’s no telling whether you’ll get $10 or thousands, [...]
Overheard: Kids Discussing Cell Phone Companies
Posted in Children, tagged Business, cell phones, Children, kids and cell phones on May 7, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Wow, I feel super old. This morning when I dropped my stepson off at elementary school, there were some fourth or fifth grade boys outside discussing which cell phone company they would choose if it were up to them. “Sprint’s OK, but I think I’d pick AT&T.” Crazy! But consider this: According to a study from [...]
I’ve Never Been So Happy About Not Taking a Week’s Vacation
Posted in Personal Progress, tagged Painting, Personal Progress, Vacations on May 6, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Yippee! We got our first bid for house painting today and it’s only (ha!) $2,600! I was expecting something more in the neighborhood of $5,000. Needless to say, we will not be taking a week’s vacation later this month to paint the house. Yeah, I know, I shouldn’t just use the first company that quotes [...]
Give Your Mom an Experience This Mother’s Day
Posted in Spending, tagged Experience Gifts, Family, Gifts, Mother's Day on May 6, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Every year at the beginning of May, websites and newspaper ads offer Mother’s Day gift ideas. These oh-so-helpful lists always include a version of the following list: Flowers (or alternately, the hanging basket of flowers – my mom’s Mother’s Day present for 15 consecutive years) A spa gift certificate / massage An iPod (yes, this is [...]
Why is Buying Something Always a Good Thing?
Posted in Spending, tagged Consumerism, Spending on May 5, 2008 | 2 Comments »
When you tell someone you are buying a car, a house or even a new pair of shoes, do they ever express worry? Or do they say they’re “so happy for you,” “jealous” or offer, “congratulations!” (that must be one great pair of shoes, by the way…). Now that I’ve become a personal finance geek, [...]
My Co-Worker Debbie’s Old-School “Keep the Change” Program
Posted in Saving, tagged Bank of America, Keep the Change, Saving, Snowflaking on May 5, 2008 | 7 Comments »
Back in 1999 – long before Bank of America’s Keep the Change program - my bank teller supervisor was filling us in on her sneaky snowflaking technique that worked much the same way. For every check she wrote or debit card transaction she made, she would write the amount in her checkbook register as an even number. [...]
Having Second Thoughts About Painting
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged DIY, Home Ownership, Painting on May 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Speaking of emergencies, I’m concerned we’re going to have one if we attempt to paint our house ourselves. No, this isn’t our house, but it’s about the same height. Yikes! We are definitely in over our heads, and we haven’t even started yet. Last night we watched “10 Things You Must Know About Exterior Painting,” [...]
Buy an Emergency Kit Tax-Free
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Emergency Preparedness, Flexcare Spending Account on May 1, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I was really looking forward to the new episodes of my favorite shows tonight, but My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock and Grey’s Anatomy were all partially upended by tornado/storm coverage, so I’m going to have to watch them online (my computer is getting too old to work this hard!). Not that I’m [...]
Thursday: My Favorite Day of the Week
Posted in Uncategorized on May 1, 2008 | 3 Comments »
I love Thursday! The anticipation of the weekend… Payday is close enough that I can gas up my car without guilt (I’m on E!)… I can start looking online at clothes I want to buy with my $60 personal spending money… New episodes of The Office, My Name is Earl, 30 Rock and Grey’s Anatomy [...]
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