“Good Info” Archive
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I was reading my Cosmopolitan magazine… er, um, I mean, I was reading a respectable magazine, like, Smart Money. Yeah. Smart Money.
Anyway, in Cosmo – er, Smart Money – they share money saving tips each month. Most stuff is common sense like keeping your tires inflated to save gas or telling you to shop around for travel deals, but this month they recommended a website called Decide.com.
I’m not a fan of promoting other websites – I mean really, I want you to stay HERE on mine – but this one actually seemed helpful. The site is meant for folks looking to buy cameras, computers, phones, etc. but aren’t sure if a new model is coming out soon.
I tried it out by checking the iPad. I’ve heard rumors on all my tech podcasts about a release date in March. Sure enough, the website said to wait on purchasing an iPad right now and gave the rumored release date in March.
The best option is to buy a nice used model, but for those who need the latest for work, this may be a good resource to help make sure you get the greatest value at the right time in the ever changing technology world. Plus, it will also help those looking for a used gadget know when there may be a flood in the market from folks who are upgrading.
Let’s face it, there are bad people in the world. No, I’m not talking about the producers of the Real Housewives series, I’m talking about thieves. With the holidays rolling around, there are more opportunities to lose your wallet, or worse, have it stolen.
I had my wallet stolen 10 years ago when I stupidly left it in my car. Fortunately the thief didn’t use any of the debit cards but what would happen if he/she did? What would I be responsible to pay? All this time, I thought I wouldn’t be responsible for anything. But did you know that your responsibility changes with each passing day?
Reporting your loss before the debit/ATM* card is used is best. You are not liable for ANY charge. If reported within 2 business days after the theft and after the card has been used, you can keep your share of the loss to $50. Don’t realize it for more than 2 days? You may be having to pony up $500 big ones! Wait 60 days? You may be on the line for EVERYTHING.
Read HERE for more info.
In short, check your account balance often. It could save you $500!
*Rules for credit cards are different, but we all know you shouldn’t be carrying those anyway!!
If you didn’t hear, 1.4 million San Diego Gas and Electric customers as far north as Orange County, as far south as Tijuana, and as far east as Arizona lost power last Thursday. We spent 15 hours in darkness.
We made jokes a few weeks ago about the people on the East Coast talking about their ‘huge’ earthquake. Californians sleep through anything less than a 6.0 – or so we say.
Now it’s time for the folks on the East Coast to have a chuckle at our expense.
Power goes out in California and we panic. The radio DJ was talking about people running out of food… and the power had only been out for 3 hours. Our stoplights stopped working and people couldn’t quite figure out that you should treat it as a 4 way stop – NOT a green light. Every freeway was clogged with traffic when downtown was evacuated.
My grandparents, who moved here from Arkansas, laughed at the pandemonium. They went without power for a week after a winter storm. Panic at 15 hours was almost insulting.
Why am I writing about it on my debt reduction blog? Do you have any idea what silly Californians were selling emergency supplies priced at when 1.4 million people needed them?!?
Be prepared. It’ll save you money if something goes wrong.
Check out the government website to see what supplies you should keep on hand.
http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/checklist.pdf
I had 10 of the 12 items on the list. Not bad for a emergency situation rookie.
We ended up at my parents’ house because my husband was helping them with a plumbing problem. They live out in the middle of nowhere and are seemingly prepared for the apocalypse. We sat in the backyard under the moonlight, drank a glass of wine, and talked about my grandparents’ and parents’ childhood. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday night.
I took some hits when I wrote about people who choose to walk away from their underwater mortgages even though they can afford them – also known as a ‘Strategic Default’. Several readers disagreed on the idea that walking away is a moral decision and that suggestion alone evoked the most controversy.
Well, regardless of your stance on whether it is a moral decision or a financial one, if you plan to default on your mortgage despite the fact that you can pay it…
You better hurry up.
Fannie Mae is taking steps to thwart strategic defaulting.
Walk away? Sure. Want to buy a house in the next SEVEN years? No longer an option.
I excited that Fannie Mae is as disgusted with strategic defaulting as I am. I love the quote, “Walking away from a mortgage is bad for borrowers and bad for communities and our approach is meant to deter the disturbing trend toward strategic defaulting”
I doubt this action from Fannie Mae alone will work but I’m hoping others will join to curb defaults of homeowners who want out of a bad decision but don’t want to pay the price.
Yay Fannie Mae!
See the article here:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jun/23/fannie-mae-to-penalize-homeowners-who-walk-away/
My husband will, for the most part, eat anything I put in front of him. This ‘gift’ is generally bestowed only on newly married men who are still starry eyed over their freshly minted wives, but my man never seemed to grow out of it… thank God.
I told you I picked a good one.
But believe it or not, this can be a problem. My husband attends night school and at times, we barely cross paths before he has to leave for class. In the past, he would buy food at school. But on our debt reduction plan, this isn’t an option anymore. Instead, he plays what I like to call…’Refrigerator Russian Roulette.’
He opens the door, grabs a Tupperware, and eats whatever is inside regardless of age or smell.
I am not a fan of this game.
I am in favor of stretching food dollars but I have limits. Sometimes I will walk in the front door and catch him eating a dinner I made more than a week earlier. When I tell him he shouldn’t eat old food, he replies, ‘It smelled only slightly bad… and it’s free.’
At times (not often – I swear he has an iron stomach), I’ll find him reclined on the couch. ‘Something didn’t sit right’ he groans. And I lovingly reply ‘Perhaps the 5 week old pot roast?’
I love the man but sometimes I can’t help but wonder if his dedication to become debt free borders on the fanatical.
If you struggle with the same man I do, or perhaps you see that person in the mirror, read this article from the Mayo Clinic. You’ve got 4 days to eat those leftovers. Any time past that isn’t healthy – even if it is ‘free’.
I used to work for a 501(c)(3) charitable organization for several years that assisted abused women and children. It was a difficult job made more difficult by the constant instability of donations. Now that the economy has suffered, these organizations are suffering from lack of funding more than usual.
It’s easy to say no. It seems like every time I buy dog food or a bag of groceries, someone is asking for money. I’d love to help, but I simply can’t afford to donate a dollar every time I buy a head of lettuce.
Never have I stumbled over a request for donations like this…
I came home from work last week to find a 3 foot by 4 foot wood purple cow in my yard. A letter was taped to its chest notifying me about the organization’s (a local Christian high school group) desire to provide livestock to famished countries. They provided some options for the cow removal:
Pay $10 to have the cow removed.
Pay an additional $5 to have the cow delivered to a friend or neighbor.
Pay $15 for a ‘No Grazing Permit’ to ensure the cow never darkened your door again.
Or
Call the organization, tell them you aren’t interested in the game, and they will pick up the cow free of charge.
There were six hideous purple cows in total haunting our city – and everyone knew about them. The funniest part of all? No one saw the cows being moved. They would simply disappear from your yard and reappear in someone else’s. High school kids are amazing at being sneaky.
They took a serious situation, somehow lightened it, and made participating irresistible.
My husband and I have always had fairly complicated taxes. Between a home purchase, car taxes, and lifetime learning credits for school, we have been unable to prepare our own since we married.
This year, our taxes have simplified a bit and I think we may be able to prepare them using tax software. I’ve never done this before and I’m a bit concerned about my abilities. Heck, I hardly trust myself to calculate the proper tip at a restaurant – and miscalculations of tips don’t generally result in jail time or huge fines.
But I’m motivated by one thing…
$6.65
Doesn’t seem like much… until I realized that is how much we pay our accountant per MINUTE to prepare our taxes. It adds up very quickly.
Suddenly, TurboTax for $53 on Amazon or $49 at Costco seems like a steal.
How do you prepare your taxes? Have you somehow managed to prepare them yourself without a Masters in Accounting?
What do we generally report? Mortgage/taxes, student loan interest, student books and fees, car registration, etc.
About This Site
My Debt
- Original Debt: $38,495.86
- Added Debt: $1,781.50
- Total Debt: $40,277.36
- Paid: $36,084.36
- Remaining: $4,193.00
- Broken Down
- Auto Loan 1: $0.00
- Credit Card: $0.00
- Student Loan: $4,193.00
- Auto Loan 2: $0.00
- Vet Loan: $0.00
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