Plugging something into a power strip will not save power. If it’s got a surge protector built in, it might save your stuff from power spikes and surges (e.g. lightening strikes) but power strips don’t regulate whether or not appliances get power.

Bob

I’ve found that my debit card actually has rewards! This is fantastic for me as it is a business debit card, and a lot of purchases go through it. No need to worry about on-time payments or the like – I get the rewards for basically spending cash.

What’s also cool about it is that it can be used for non-airline stuff as well – from kitchen gadgets to plasma TV’s. My favorite part, though? The fact that the purchases I am making are basically expenses, so my rewards are coming to me tax-free.

Only once did I forget to pay my bill early. I tried paying for it the day it was due. My luck, the system was down for some sort of upgrade. Made the payment via phone, which posted late, but the rep told me that if I was charged a late fee to call back & have it reversed. As soon as my bill came, I saw the late fee, called Customer Service, told them what happened & the fee was reversed.

Granted many folks are not disciplined to pay off the card in full or on time, but often-times these rewards card are well worth it, and way better than using a Debit Card (bye-bye money if the card is stolen & pin number compromised).

Oh, here’s the best – I recently read that people like me, who pay our credit card bill in full each month are called ‘deadbeat debtors’ because the companies make no money on interest from us. I never thought being a deadbeat would give me such a positive, warm & fuzzy feeling. Makes me laugh every time I think about it.

When you wash your car in your driveway, all the water (which you waste, compared to an efficient commercial wash) and the soap go into your storm sewer, which goes into your watershed. Soaps are TERRIBLE for the watershed. Most commercial carwashes, either do it yourself, sit in it, or get out and watch ones recycle or treat their water in a greywater system so it does not go into the storm sewers.

Also, home dishwashers do not reach a high enough temperature to sanitize dishes – even the fancy Boschs. It’s against housing codes in most residential areas, you’d burn yourself and then sue the dishwasher manufacturer. You need a commercial high temp, non-chemical dishwasher to heat sanitize.

Dishwasher hot water (usually anywhere from 110 – 140 degrees) is useful in removing grime and food as it softens it up, but it does not aid in sanitizing your dishes.

The only problem is the time it takes to make them. But if you have something else you can do while the potatoes are crisping, then its really not that bad.

Glad people liked the article…keep the comments coming.

I put EVERYTHING on my credit card. EVERYTHING. Cable, phone, cell phone, tivo, groceries, etc. It makes it really easy to track where my money is going and as an added bonus, I end up getting $100 back from the cc company every few months or so.

I like these ideas, but making my own potato chips sounded like it would be way more expensive than buying one bag!

@Baglady – While I agree with paying them off if you use them, there is an element of risk you have to throw in. For example, forgot to pay one month, boom your rate goes up or even worse I’ve read of situations where people payed on time, and the payment was posted late….boom, up the rate or charge a service fee. Regardless of whether they are payed off or not, when you use credit cards, you are using other people’s money to buy you items, whether it’s for 30 days or 2 years. Just pay cash or use a debit card, no late fees, no annual fees, no worry. Remember, credit card companies can and do change the rules constantly and don’t ever forget, they are in business to make money, but give free rewards and cash bonuses.

Proverbs 22:7 – The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is servant to the lender.