Does Frugality Have to Hurt?

May 21st, 2013 - 

‘consumerism + desire’ by Flickr user angies

Recently I wrote a post called “Beware false economies,” which included examples of frugality that could actually cost someone money, health or reputation. A reader said those examples confirmed that “people believe ‘frugal’ or living within or below one’s means equals doing without.”

My immediate reply: “Good point! Just as some people believe that dieting or exercise must be unpleasant if it’s to be effective.”

After some reflection I believe it’s more than the “no pain, no gain” mentality. The attitude many people have is more one of crime and punishment:

If you gain weight, you are bad and must suffer in order to take it off.

If you don’t have enough money in this Land of Opportunity, you are less than worthy and must endure privation. That is, until you can get another line of credit.

We’ve been exposed to hyper-consumerism for so long that we forget there’s another way of living in the world. Specifically, we forget that a large population of the world lives without the things we believe are our birthright: the latest tech, the hottest cars, the biggest cable package, the trendiest foods, the flashiest clothes.

Spending should be a choice

Here’s the thing: You can be frugal and still have some or all of those things. You just have to be intentional about how you obtain them. (More on that below.)

I’m not against buying. What bugs me is blind consumerism, the “See it? Want it!” attitude. I fight it myself, especially regarding gifts for others. “It’s only $2.99 and it’ll make (whomever) so happy,” I’ll think.

Sometimes I’ll spring for the $2.99. Most of the time I walk away. Or, as I tell myself, “I’m saying ‘no’ this time.”

That’s the crux of the matter: My spending has to be a choice, not a tropism. I don’t want to automatically gravitate toward a hot deal like a seedling toward the sun.

Frugal hacks that work

That said, plenty of ways exist to get what you want without spending a lot. Among them:

  • Deal-a-day sites. I’m no fashionista, so I tend to stick to sites like Eversave and MyBargainBuddy.com. Both offer a wide range of goods and services. I’ve bought gifts this way, too.
  • Thrift stores. Your mileage may vary, of course. I’m already missing Seattle’s thrift stores because their wares are based on a much bigger population. But I’ve found some decent deals and some outright steals at Anchorage segundas over the years.
  • Cash-back shopping sites. When I make planned purchases through Extrabux, Ebates, FatWallet.com or Mr. Rebates, I get cash refunds, online coupons and usually free shipping. The rebate checks are always a nice surprise – and they go directly into savings. (Note the use of the word “planned.” It’s not a bargain if you don’t need it/can’t afford it.)
  • Social buying sites. These aren’t just for massages and manicures. Groupon and Living Social offer vouchers for health care, home services and auto repair. That said, they’re also a good way to get treats/give gifts on a budget.
  • Rewards programs. Through Swagbucks and MyPoints I get gift cards for restaurants, movie theaters, department stores and Amazon.com. Some I use and some I give as gifts (which means I can redirect the money I’d planned to spend for holidays and birthdays).
  • Yard sales. Some are great, some awful. Be willing to wade through a lot of junk and you just might strike gold, either for yourself or for birthday/holiday shopping. (Hint: A whole lot of unread books and unopened gifts end up with 50-cent tags on them. Imagine taking care of half your Christmas list for $5.)
  • Discounted gift cards. I use these like cash at theaters, restaurants, department stores, pet supply warehouses and even the hair salon. Search for the deepest discount through the aggregator site GiftCardGranny.com – and when possible, buy them through one of the cash-back sites noted above for another 3 percent to 5 percent in savings.

Believe it or not, I do buy retail – just not all that often. Being intentional about my spending most of the time means less pain when I do pay full price.

This is especially true for big-ticket items. Next week my partner and I are splitting the cost of a new water heater because the old one has become incontinent.

A certain amount of sticker shock exists with any major home appliance, but once again having saved where I can lets me spend where I want. You can be frugal and still look good and give great presents – and take hot showers too.

More on DonnaFreedman.com:

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The Definitive Guide to Promo Codes, Coupons and Deals

May 21st, 2013 - 

‘Coupons’ by Flickr user jridgewayphotography

Frugality means shopping responsibly: not spending more than you can afford and NEVER paying retail prices.

Discounts are everywhere, as long as you know where to look. With that, I give you the definitive guide to promo codes, coupons and deals. With more than a dozen resources at your fingertips, you’ll never have to pay retail again.

1. Coupon sites

Probably the easiest place to find promo codes is on online coupon sites. Among them:

2. Daily deal message boards and sites

Whether created by an in-house staff of professionals or user-generated, daily deal sites and message boards scour the Internet for what’s cheap right now. You’ll find deep discounts on these sites, but proceed with caution. Limited-time sales can easily tempt you into overspending.

  • Slickdeals – deals in every category you can imagine, both in-store and online.
  • Techbargains.com – mostly online tech and gadget deals.
  • Woot – a daily roundup of super cheap offers.
  • Groupon – deals at local businesses like spas, restaurants and hair salons.
  • LivingSocial – another local deals site.
  • HauteLook – daily discounts on designer clothing.
  • Eversave.com – daily limited-time sales and printable coupons.
  • Doggyloot – limited-time sales on dog gear, toys, treats and food.

3. Online games

Playing a game for prizes isn’t a new concept, but some retail sites have embraced the idea of playing for discounts. For instance, Out of Print Clothing, a literature-inspired T-shirt shop, is hosting “The Great Gatsby” game mirrored on the old Nintendo style of play. If you win the game, you’ll get a coupon code to use on your next purchase.

4. Instagram

Instagram is a photo sharing application for iPhone and Android devices. It was designed for casual users, but businesses are coming around to using Instagram as a way to connect with their fans. Many post coupon codes and secret sales for their followers.

To find deals, download the Instagram app, search for stores you like, follow them, and keep an eye out for promotions.

5. Pinterest

Pinterest is a popular social networking site used by both casual users and businesses. You can find deals and coupons by following the Pinterest page of a retailer (they usually provide a link to their Pinterest page on their website).

Other users have created boards for deals, printable coupons and promo codes. Find them by entering key phrases like “deal,” “promo code” or “coupon” in the Pinterest search bar. For example:

6. Twitter

Following a retailer’s Twitter feeds will get you access to secret sales. Many companies also have a separate Twitter account just for deals, including:

You can also find discounts by following deal-savvy Twitter accounts like:

7. Facebook

By now most retailers (both online and off) have created a Facebook fan page. Like your favorite retailers on Facebook and you’ll get access to coupon codes, printable coupons and secret sales. Many manufacturers and retailers will also give you a discount just for ”liking” their Facebook page.

8. Receipts

My rule of thumb: Never toss a receipt without checking the front and back. Look for manufacturer’s coupons and opportunities to complete surveys. You may have to call a number and answer a few questions, but you’ll get discounts, buy-one-get-one-free offers, and other deals for a few minutes of your time.

9. Apps

If you have a smartphone, make it work for you. Numerous apps post deals, coupons and information on sales (both online and in-store). Check out:

  • Weekly – tracks local sales at department stores and other retailers. Available for iPhone.
  • Zoomingo – has a database of sales at brick-and-mortar stores. Available for iPhone and Android.
  • The Coupons App – coupons for online and brick-and-mortar stores, daily deals, plus a gas price tracker. Available for Android.
  • RetailMeNot – the app version of the popular coupon site. Available for iPhone and Android.

10. Reddit

Reddit, if you’re unfamiliar, is a massive message board of sorts where users post anything and everything they come across online. On Reddit Deals users post discounts, and ask and answer questions. Not sure what diner in your area has the cheapest breakfasts? Ask the Reddit community.

11. Magazines

Magazines are still a good source of coupons. Recently I’ve found deals on clothes, shoes, housewares, and a few local restaurants tucked into the magazines I read. Don’t subscribe? Ask your friends or family to bring you their old magazines when they’re done reading them.

12. Manufacturer’s websites

If you’re looking for something specific like toiletries, cosmetics or cleaning products, go right to the source. Many manufacturers post printable and online coupons on their sites. For example:

13. Email

Most retailers have a newsletter. Sign up and you’ll get coupons, links to private sales, and other deals. Of course, you’ll also drown in emails if you sign up for a lot. Instead, set up a new email account only for company-sponsored emails. Here are a few stores with good newsletters:

14. Money Talks News

Finally, don’t forget to check Money Talks News. Our resident deal expert, Karla Bowsher, updates the Deals page every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can also see deals on our daily newsletter after you sign up.

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Ask Stacy: Should I Lend My Granddaughter Money for Law School?

May 21st, 2013 - 

We’ve all been there: either asking for a loan from family or friends, or being on the receiving end of a loan request.

These days it wouldn’t be surprising to find the practice even more widespread. With banks paying basically nothing, lending money to a trusted friend or relative isn’t just a nice thing to do. It could be a smart thing to do.

And that leads us to this week’s question:

At dinner the other night, friends were talking about their daughter in law school. She was complaining that interest on the money she needed to borrow for the coming year would be 7 percent. Her dad said, “Talk to Grandpa. He’ll lend you the money for 3 percent.” My spouse piped up with “For 3 percent, I’ll lend her the money.” I can think of some pros (we are getting no return on our cash) and a lot of cons (we’re not a bank). What does Stacy think?

Before we get started with the answer, check out a video I did about this topic back in 2008. While some of the information in it is no longer accurate – Virgin Money no longer exists – the principles it describes are still airtight.

While Virgin Money is no longer an option, similar services allow you to formalize loans to friends and family. But let’s go back to our question.

Is lending money to family, friends or anyone else a good idea?

If I had to give a one-word answer to this question, I’d simply say “no,” for the reason offered by Shakespeare: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be; for loan oft loses both itself and friend … .”

But a full answer is more complicated, because it depends on who’s doing the borrowing, who’s doing the lending and how well the loan is documented.

Who’s doing the borrowing?

With savings rates hovering near zero, making loans to friends, family or even strangers (peer lending) can make financial sense. But to make it work, you have to think like a banker.

I’ve lent money to many friends over the years, from $50 to $50,000. Almost without exception, these loans became a nightmare. The reason? The people doing the borrowing were either unwilling or unable to pay the money back according to the terms they originally proposed.

Here’s how bankers look at borrowers, and you should as well:

  • Decent candidate for a loan — someone who doesn’t need the money all that much.
  • Good candidate – someone willing to put up collateral that exceeds the value of the loan.
  • Better candidate — someone with an extensive track record of repaying debts on time and as agreed upon.
  • Ideal candidate — someone with all three of these qualities.

So, my question to those considering a loan to our law school student: How good a candidate is she?

Who’s doing the lending?

When you’re a banker lending to strangers, you’re careful whom you lend to and you’re relentless about getting repaid. You’ll use every legal remedy available to get your money back, from dinging the borrower’s credit to suing them to court.

But if you’re an individual who is lending to a family member or friend, you’ll likely be reluctant to pursue remedies available to you. This is the crux of the family/friend loan dilemma: There’s little you’ll do if the borrower defaults, and the borrower knows it. Often, the goal is no longer getting a return on your money but rather getting the return of your money.

So if you’re a lender who’s not all that concerned about being repaid – some grandparents might fall into that category – by all means, become a family banker. Just go into it with your eyes open.

But if you’re the type who not only expects to be repaid, but needs to be, think hard. What will you do if the borrower doesn’t meet her obligations? It’s unlikely you’ll be able to threaten her credit score. Will you send her debt to collections or take her to court?

If the answer is no, you’re ultimately at her mercy.

No matter whom you’re lending to or what kind of lender you are, always do this

Write down the amount, the interest rate, when it’s due, the collateral and what’s going to happen if the terms aren’t met.

Having endured countless bad loans to friends and acquaintances over the years, I’d sooner chop off my own foot with a dull ax than lend money to anyone, family or not, without doing this.

Do anything else, and you might as well consider it a gift.

You can easily find a standard contract online. Have both sides sign it, and you’re miles ahead of a verbal agreement. If the amount is large, have an attorney do it for you.

Will a written agreement guarantee you’ll see your money again? No. Even if you properly dot all i’s and cross all t’s, legal remedies won’t do you any good when you’re reluctant to use them. But at least that agreement will let the borrower know you’re serious.

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This story is linked to with a thumbnail of ‘Dewey, Cheetham, and Howe’ by Flickr user Gerry Dincher.

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Study: Many Americans Don’t Understand Credit Scores

May 21st, 2013 - 

It literally pays to understand how credit works, but many people just don’t get it.

A good credit score can save you thousands of dollars on mortgages and other loans. Low scores can make it more difficult to rent an apartment, get a cellphone contract, or sign up for utilities.

Unfortunately, a new study released by the Consumer Federation of America shows a large number of Americans fumble with basic information about credit scores. The group commissioned a survey of more than 1,000 people, and here’s what it found:

  • Two out of five don’t know that credit card issuers and mortgage lenders use credit scores to make decisions about credit availability and pricing.
  • Two out of five wrongly believe that age and marital status affect credit scores.
  • More than a third don’t know that their credit scores could be affected if they co-sign a loan.
  • More than a third wrongly believe that credit repair services are always or usually helpful in fixing credit report mistakes and boosting scores.
  • More than a quarter don’t know that lenders are required to inform borrowers of the credit score used in their lending decision after consumers apply for a mortgage, when they are turned down for a loan, and when they receive less than the best loan terms.
  • More than a quarter don’t know basic ways to raise or protect their scores, such as not charging even close to a card’s limit and avoiding too many credit applications.

The study also found that women usually have a better understanding of credit scores. They gave the correct response to a range of questions 5 percent to 10 percent more often than men. Young adults (under 35) understand how credit works at least as well as everyone else, although those between 35 and 44 were the most knowledgeable age group.

Want to see how smart you are about credit? CFA and VantageScore have an online credit quiz. You can learn more about how credit scores work in the video below.

Please enable JavaScript to view this video.

Click to play ’5 Credit Score Myths’

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This story is linked to with a thumbnail of ‘Credit’ by Flickr user 401(K) 2013.

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Where Do America’s Poor Live? In the Suburbs

May 21st, 2013 - 

‘Suburban’ by Flickr user Geecy

Nearly 16.4 million suburban residents in the U.S. live below the poverty line — almost 3 million more than the number of poor people who live in cities.

That’s a 64 percent increase between 2000 and 2011, according to the Brookings Institution’s ”Confronting Suburban Poverty in America. In cities, the population of those living below the poverty line grew by 29 percent.

The poverty line for a family of four was $23,021 in 2011.

Authors Elizabeth Kneebone and Alan Berube say this has been a long time coming. It was driven by population growth, a shift in the locations of affordable housing and jobs, and the growing prevalence of low-wage jobs.

Overall urban population grew by 4.5 percent from 2000 to 2010, compared with 14 percent in the suburbs. Meanwhile the unemployed suburban population nearly doubled in the aftermath of the recession — from more than 3.1 million in December 2007 to nearly 6.2 million three years later, census figures show.

Suburban jobs in construction, restaurants and retail dried up when the recession hit, and many of those with higher-paying jobs also fell into poverty, CNN says.

Suburban areas aren’t well-equipped to help these people, the authors argue. Most of the $82 billion spent annually by the federal government to alleviate poverty goes to cities, the authors said.

One solution they propose is to have Congress create a competitive grant program for states.

“It would deploy a fraction (5 percent) of what is now spent on community-based anti-poverty programs and re-allocate it as a challenge to regions and states to improve low-income residents’ access to jobs, transportation, high-quality schools, or affordable housing across urban and suburban lines,” they say.

You can read a summary of the book here. The hardcover is about $26.

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Stop Advertising Prostitution Expertise, LinkedIn Says

May 21st, 2013 - 

‘LinkedIn(??????)_025′ by Flickr user TAKA@P.P.R.S

The world’s “oldest profession” is now banned from LinkedIn.

Wasn’t it already? Well, no, not exactly. And in a funny way, it still isn’t.

A recent update to the site’s privacy policy and user agreement includes language that forbids “content that promotes escort services or prostitution,” ReadWrite says. Previously, the policy only forbade “unlawful services.”

That apparently wasn’t clear enough, since prostitution is legal in some places. And, as ReadWrite found, prostitution is a skill listed on some LinkedIn profiles, as are manslaughter, larceny, forgery, drug possession and rape. However, the people listing these “skills” are generally police officers, lawyers and those who work with crime victims. Rather than skill, they actually mean ”area of expertise.”

Here’s the wording in the new policy:

As a condition to access LinkedIn, you agree to this User Agreement and to strictly observe the following DOs and DON’Ts: … Even if it is legal where you are located, [don't] create profiles or provide content that promotes escort services or prostitution.

ReadWrite still found profiles that offer services such as “all-nude, full-body massage.” It’s not clear whether LinkedIn considers those to be promoting something other than prostitution, or if it is simply unaware of them.

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Today’s Deals: iPhones, Excedrin, and ‘Free’ Eye Cream

May 20th, 2013 - 

Deal of the Day

I subscribe to the promotional emails of hundreds of companies so you don’t have to. I sift through 1,000 deal-touting emails every week. Most are worthless. But some offer valuable coupons, promo codes, sales and freebies — which I collect and organize.

Note: Expiration dates are in brackets and special instructions are in parentheses.

Home

  • Laundry detergent: $1.50 off Clorox 2 Stain Fighter and Color Booster (print first) [expiration unknown].

Office and school

  • Files and folders: 20 percent off select Pendaflex styles at Amazon.com [expiration unknown].

Personal care

  • Bath Body Works: Men’s and women’s body care items from the Signature Collection are buy-three-get-two-free in stores and online [expiration unknown]. These items include shower gel, body lotion, fragrance, shave cream and more.
  • Excedrin: $2 off a 100-count or larger product (print first) [expiration unknown].
  • Men’s deodorant: $1 off 1.7-ounce or larger sizes of Degree at Target stores (print first) [expiration unknown].
  • Origins: Free full-size GinZing eye cream – a $30 value – with the purchase of two skincare products online (use code ZING) [expiration unknown].

Tech

  • “Lincoln”: Up to 40 percent off the DVD and Blu-ray at Amazon.com [expiration unknown].
  • iPhones: $50 off an iPhone 5 or 4S at RadioShack [expiration unknown]. The 4S models do not require a contract.
  • iPhone 5 case: 80 percent off the rooCase Hybrid at Amazon.com [expiration unknown]. Instead of $30, it’s $6. It comes in six styles and even more colors, but not all are as steeply discounted.

Clothing, shoes and accessories

  • Delia’s (juniors and young women’s): Tank tops and tees are $10 each when you buy two online [expiration unknown]. Shipping is free with no minimum (use code WEEKEND) [5/20].
  • The Limited (women’s): $15 off a $30 purchase in stores (print first) and online (use code 468) [5/22].

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6 Secrets to Easy Budgets

May 20th, 2013 - 

‘Piles of paper’ by Flickr user °Florian

A friend once told me she didn’t budget because it was “just setting yourself up to fail.”

At first I was adamant: “No way! Having a budget is the only way not to fail!” But then I started to think about it. I had made more budgets than I could count and a lot of them had failed.

Mostly it worked out like this: Bitten by the get-organized bug, I’d run out and buy new notepads, pens and a calculator, assuming office supplies would naturally make me a better budgeter. The first day I’d make a budget with about 30 different categories to track all my spending, even down to hand soap.

The next week I’d save all my receipts, and add them to one of my 30 categories at night. I would also check my bank accounts online daily. So by Week 2 I’d grow tired of being hyper-vigilant, feel stressed out by my complex budget, and chuck the whole thing in the trash.

So maybe she wasn’t entirely wrong. Budgets do set you up to fail, but only if you set them up to fail. Eventually I learned the easy way to budget for myself.

Here are a few secrets to make a budget work for you:

1. Start with a goal

Not having a clear goal was a big part of why my budgets failed. At first, my only foreseeable goal was “manage money.” I’d create a budget for every category of spending and then add in a random dollar amount for saving. Those aren’t clear, actionable goals.

Before you create a budget, decide what you really want. Maybe it’s building a $25,000 emergency account, or going on a $5,000 vacation next year, or putting $40,000 down on a new house.

Whatever you want, figure out exactly how much you’ll need to save each week or month to get there and make that your goal. Then use your budget to keep your spending in check and you’ll actually reach your goal.

2. Make your budget simple

I mentioned my 30 different categories — twice, in fact – for a reason: Budgets can (and should) be simple. When you’re doing something as important as managing your money, a complex system of budgeting and tracking seems like the way to go, but it isn’t. If you spend the first hour of your day checking accounts, tracking spending and adjusting spreadsheet columns, you’ll quickly get tired of it.

Your budget can be as simple as you want. Want to limit yourself to three categories, such as “household,” “debt” and “savings”? Go for it.

3. Track automatically

Much of what I’ve read about budgeting says to track your expenses with a pen and paper. Come on now, it’s 2013. You should track your expenses. It’s the only way to know you’re staying within your spending limits and where you can cut back. But you don’t have to do it manually. There are loads of budgeting sites and software to do it for you, such as Mint. It’s free and, when you link your accounts, your spending is automatically added to the categories you set up.

4. Your budget doesn’t have to be monthly

A monthly household budget might be the most common, but that doesn’t mean you have to have one. If you struggle to keep up with a 30-day budget, or find that you overspend early in the cycle and come up short at the end of the month, why not shorten your timeframe? I know people who work best with a two-week budget, or budgeting for every paycheck.

5. Don’t lie to yourself

A few of my budget attempts failed because I budgeted for my best intentions, not reality. For example, I used to have dinner and drinks with friends every Friday night, spending about $50. Rather than including that in my budget, I told myself I’d just stop going.

Of course, that didn’t happen. Instead, I went $100 over my budget every month.

If you’re trying to increase savings, you’ll have to reduce expenses somewhere. Just be realistic about what you’re willing to do without.

6. Use rewards to trick your brain

Another problem with my old budgeting system was that it highlighted the things I didn’t want to do. For instance, I didn’t want to have to skip buying the fancy cheese to keep my grocery budget in check. I started hating my budget.

Now I do it differently. I budget three months in advance, and plan a reward at the end of the third month. As long as I stay within my budget for three months, I can buy myself whatever I want with that reward money. Because I really want those shoes, that nice dinner, or a new stack of books, I’m motivated to keep on track.

Bottom line: I use a few secret hacks to keep myself in check, but those aren’t the only methods available. As long as you come up with what works best for you, it shouldn’t be too hard to stick to your guns and keep expenses tracked and within your means.

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The Lazy Man’s Guide to Money Management

May 20th, 2013 - 

Working is tough. And then there’s the chore of having to manage the money you make as you toil in the workplace. Leaves too little time to sit around in your underwear and catch pretzel bites in your mouth, right?

Not necessarily. In the video below, Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson takes a look at smart ways lazy people can manage their money without breaking a sweat. Check it out, then read on for more details.

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Click to play ‘The Lazy Man’s Guide to Money Management’

Put your feet up and review these tips to make your money work harder than you’d ever want to:

1. Auto-pay your bills

Writing checks is a pain. Instead, let your computer do the work. Many companies that regularly bill you – like your Internet provider and the utility company — will let you enroll in automatic payment. Visit their websites to see how to sign up. Just remember to regularly review your bank statement online to be sure it’s working right.

Worried about overdrawing your bank account? Try an app like Mint.com’s, which will alert you if your bank account is falling below a certain balance. Now you can sleep right through the due date on your bills.

2. Auto-pay yourself

Thinking about how much to save this month is just another distraction from doing nothing. First, get your employer to direct deposit your paycheck. Then go to your bank’s website and allocate a certain amount to be taken out of your checking account and put into your savings account on payday.

3. Ask for more money

If you need to make more money, don’t look for additional work! Instead, ask your boss for a raise. But before that, use your lounging time to read up on how to get your boss to go along. We’ll make this easy for you by providing some examples:

  • For this post, we spoke with an expert from Broward College’s Institute for Economic Development to get some advice about seeking a raise.
  • In this article, we cover what to do and what not to do to make a good impression on your boss.
  • Here, we look at factors that, believe it or not, could cost you a promotion. For example, visible tattoos aren’t a good idea.

4. Mail order subscriptions

Going to the drugstore for prescription pills? Heading out to shop for dog food? Ugh. Do yourself a favor and handle some of your common purchases with a mail order subscription. Not only can you substitute a trip to the pharmacy with a nap, you can also save money. Check out these options:

  • Petco will send pet products to your door at a discounted repeat delivery price.
  • Walmart offers free home delivery for prescriptions on this list, and Walgreens has a similar service. Perhaps your favorite drugstore does too.
  • How about a shipment of toilet paper and beef jerky every so often? Home delivery by grocery stores is becoming more common, as are online grocery stores like Alice.com.
  • Amazon offers up to 15 percent off on eligible repeat order items with its Subscribe Save program.

It sounds obvious, but be sure to compare subscription costs. You’re not going to save money if the subscription price is more than the regular cost.

5. The buddy system

Some items you rarely use around the house really aren’t worth your precious time and effort to buy, let alone research and read reviews about first. Go in with a neighbor or friend to buy things like ladders, power tools, hand trucks or even lawnmowers. If you’re really lucky, that neighbor already knows the best brands to buy. Or, if you’re really lazy, ask to borrow it. Remember to return the item before your nap.

6. Shop generic

Eventually, you will have to go to the store. But making price comparisons to get the best deal can be such a hassle. Here’s a solution: Just buy generic when you can. Generic products are often just as good as the name-brand stuff. Even generic batteries can get the job done.

7. Skip the dump

Let’s say you have a broken clothes dryer, but you’re way too lazy to haul it in a truck to the landfill or dump. Did you know you can get someone to take stuff you no longer want off your hands for free? Put it outside on the curb and place a free notice on FreeCycle.org and Craigslist. If the item doesn’t operate properly, make sure you point that out. But in all likelihood someone will still come and pick it up.

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This story is linked to with a thumbnail of ‘Relax on Holiday Island’ by Flickr user Claus Rebler.

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McDonald’s Is Cutting Fat From the Menu (Not the Food)

May 18th, 2013 - 

‘McDonalds’ by Flickr user Sean MacEntee

The golden arches may arch some eyebrows as McDonald’s tries to shrink its super-sized menu.

Since 2007 the number of items offered at the chain has expanded 70 percent to 145, Bloomberg says. It’s slowing down food preparation and customers are complaining.

The time it takes to get through the drive-through has increased over the past five years, industry research cited by Bloomberg says. It took an average of nearly 189 seconds for customers to get in and out last year, compared with 184 seconds in 2011 and 167 seconds in 2007. McDonald’s is slower than both Wendy’s and Taco Bell, but faster than Burger King.

While a bigger menu with new items that workers aren’t used to preparing can slow things down, experts say new items are important for the chain. They help it stay competitive with rivals. McDonald’s sales were down 1.2 percent for the first quarter of the year.

So even as the company tries to scale back the menu, it’s debuting several new items — and may reprice others to improve profit margins.

It could be a confusing shuffle for consumers, so here’s a summary of the changes, as reported by Bloomberg, the Chicago Tribune and Fox News:

  • The Angus Third Pounder burgers, which are among the priciest offered at $4 or more, are going away.
  • Fruit Walnut salads and Chicken Selects are also definitely leaving.
  • Other items that may disappear include Caesar salads, the McSkillet Burrito, the Southern Style Biscuit and Steak Bagels.
  • Three varieties of Chicken McWraps were recently introduced: Chicken Bacon, Sweet Chili Chicken and Chicken Ranch.
  • A new, lower-calorie McMuffin (made with a whole-grain muffin and egg whites, no yolk) is being rolled out.
  • Two new versions of the Quarter Pounder — Bacon and Cheese and Deluxe — will replace the Angus options, and a third new Quarter Pounder option, Habanero Ranch, will be added.
  • McDonald’s is testing a price increase for the McDouble and McChicken add-ons such as bacon for an extra cost.

When these changes occur can vary widely by market. There may also be menu and price differences between franchised restaurants and those operated directly by McDonald’s.

Do you think McDonald’s is heading in the right direction? Are you satisfied with the time it takes to get your order at the drive-through?

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Like this article? Sign up for our email updates and we’ll send you a regular digest of our newest stories, full of money saving tips and advice, free! We’ll also email you a PDF of Stacy Johnson’s ’205 Ways to Save Money’ as soon as you’ve subscribed. It’s full of great tips that’ll help you save a ton of extra cash. It doesn’t cost a dime, so why wait? Click here to sign up now.


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