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May 09, 2008
March 20, 2007
Free Iced Coffee Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Wed. March 21st, is free 16 oz. iced coffee day at Dunkin. Visit their website for details and a "send to a friend" e-vite.
January 13, 2006
Save on Video Rentals
It’s the weekend and my husband and I will head to Blockbuster at some point to rent a couple of flicks. We received a coupon in the mail earlier this month for unlimited rentals for $2.99 each. Blockbuster is really trying to hold onto the movie store market in the face of fierce competition from Netflix, who will deliver DVDs to your mailbox. Here is more information about Netflix and Blockbuster’s attempt at offering the same service to survive, written by Relevant intern, Omote Ekwotafia.
“Usually, services that offer convenience also require an extra handful of your money. Many people have found this is not the case with monthly subscriptions to video rental services. In a recent article, movie enthusiast Jason Vocque said, "You couldn't pay me to go to a video store right now.” And why should he when he could walk to his mailbox? Blockbuster and Netflix are two services that allow you to rent three movies at a time. Once you’ve finished viewing them, just mail them back and your next three will be sent. You don’t have to rush them back to the store, because you can mail them back whenever you are finished. If renting DVDs is a part of your weekly routine, paying one fixed price might just be better than spending four bucks a movie at your local video store.”
January 10, 2006
Twentysomethings: Quit Yer Complaining
Here’s a great editorial from Slate's Daniel Gross about two books that embody the “It Sucks to Be Me” mantra the twentysomething generation seems to be crying. The books, Generation Debt and Strapped say rising college tuition, a post-recession economy, the rising housing market and budget deficits are working against twentysomethings looking for a regular life and financial stability. Gross says these books are annoying because they lack perspective. This generation has more hope and opportunity and live in a healthier economy than many generations before. “Today's twentysomethings, by contrast, have their whole lives in front of them,” Gross writes. “Want a cheaper house? Quit Manhattan and move to Hartford, Conn. Want to make more money? Pick a different field.”
January 06, 2006
Cheap Ways to Buy Food
Chances are food is one of your biggest daily expenses. An easy way to save $10-$15 a week is to limit and/or eliminate your visits to convenience stores. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores often charge the highest price.
Have you ever thought about the price of bottled water in these stores when compared the price of gas? A bottle of water at a gas station typically costs about $1.20. Gas is about $2 per gallon. If you were to buy a gallon of Dasani, you could pay about $7.68 before tax. That makes high gas prices look like the deal of the week.
Spend less on food by reducing the times you eat out. The average person spent $2,276 a year on eating out in 2002. When do you do eat out, try to order water instead of a $2.25 beverage. When you shop, take a list and come armed with coupons and knowledge of that week’s sales from the store’s flyer. Websites including www.couponcart.com and www.coolsavings.com have free coupons you can download—double your pleasure by shopping at stores that honor double-coupon days.
Avoid buying prepared and packaged goods. Compare price-per-ounce costs of other units on the shelf. Stock up on items with lower per-unit costs (two pounds of carrots can cost $1.29, compared with $7.16 for the same amount of precut carrot sticks). When you find a great deal (like turkeys that are slashed in price after a holiday), freeze it until you can use it.
January 05, 2006
Assessing the New Year
It's that time of year to take inventory of your life, to look back at what you've accomplished and experienced in the past year and to look forward and proactively at the coming year. Here is an adaptation of some self-assessment questions a friend sent to me. Use it to get motivated about making this year your best financial year ever.
1. What is the biggest lesson I've learned over the last year about my finances?
2. What is my most important financial need at this stage of my life?
3. This time next year, what would I like to see different in my finances? In other words, what's my vision?
4. What have I been procrastinating about?
5. How could I make more of a positive difference in the lives of others with my wealth in the next 12 months?
December 30, 2005
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Clearance Season!
I love to receive gift cards for my favorite clothing stores for Christmas. Instead of my mother or mother-in-law picking out a sweater I may or may not like (and will most likely not wear in the Florida heat), I get a little piece of plastic that allows me to spend it on whatever my little heart desires. Unfortunately, gift cards burn in my hands like hot potatoes—I cannot wait to spend them. Fortunately, end of the season clearance happens right after Christmas. The clearance season is the most wonderful time of the year (not Christmas). The clothes that I’ve longingly looked at in catalog after catalog now become attainable—not just because I have a gift card to the store, but because they’re finally marked down to semi-reasonable prices (don’t just buy clothes on sale, but them on clearance, which should be 50% to 75% or more off retail). The Christmas gift card always comes at just the right time. Happy Holidays, indeed.