Pin-Striped PJ's

President Obama's Credit Card Law to Protect Cardholders

2009-05-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

Both cardholders and credit card issuers are to blame for credit card debt problems. Many cardholders overspend and are careless about sending in timely payments. Many credit card companies have been sneaky and unreasonable about increasing rates and charging fees and penalties, making it even more difficult for their customers to get out of debt.

At a signing ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, President Obama signed into law a bill that will help protect credit card holders from the card companies' bad behavior. (Unfortunately, Obama is unable to protect cardholders from themselves. They'll just have to grow up and become responsible adults).

President Obama spoke out against unexplained fees, changed payment deadlines, increases in interest rates, and applying payments toward low rate balances rather than high rate balances. Card holders with excellent track records as well as those who are delinquent have all been victimized by the companies' greedy tactics.

“We’re here to put a change to all that,” President Obama declared. He set some new rules for the card companies which will become effective in early 2010:

People under 21 cannot receive credit unless they can prove they have the ability to repay the debt or if a parent or guardian co-signs.
Rates on existing balances cannot increase until the cardholder is at least 60 days delinquent.
Once a delinquent cardholder has paid at least the minimum for 6 months, their card's rate must return to it's original percentage.

All cardholders must receive 45 days' notice and an explanation before any rate increase.

Increased rates are not retroactive on previous balances for people who pay their bills on time and have been sending in at least their minimums.

Warning - the credit card companies will find other ways to improve their revenue. In danger of extinction are cards with no annual fees and cards with freebies and cash back. Basic interest rates and fees might go up for everyone. The top issuing companies will probably survive this change but smaller banks might decide to get out of the business, giving the surviving companies less competition and a bit too much power for my taste.

For now, I will continue to pay my one and only card in full every month and brace myself for what comes next.

Related articles you might be interested in:

Debt - How to Avoid, Get Out and Stay Out

Credit Scores- Understand and Improving Yours

Cash Back Credit Cards

How to File Bankruptcy Without a Lawyer

How to File For Bankruptcy Without a Lawyer

2009-04-21T08:10:00.001-07:00

Individuals are allowed to represent themselves in bankruptcy court. One doesn't need an attorney but be warned - success is not easy! There is so much to know and do. Do something wrong, forget to do something and one might may mess up their rights and success. Second chances are not often given.

Having a good lawyer who specializes in bankruptcies is highly recommended. Some people qualify for "pro bono" (this means free) legal counseling. Contact the state bar association, court websites, and/or local law schools for more information on getting assistance or at least some advice. Check out the American Bar Association the Legal Services Corporation, or the web site of the bankruptcy court where you intend to file.

One needs to be familiar with the US Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and the rules of the local court in which the case is filed. One can find "local rules" and other useful information at the local courthouse and on its website.

Debtors (that's the person trying to get out their debts) must list all property and debts in their bankruptcy schedules. US Goverment Form B200 lists documents and schedules you will need.

Be thorough - debts not listed will not be discharged!

Be honest - if you are caught with one tiny indescretion, the judge can deny the whole case. No destroying, manipulating, distorting, hiding or lying!

Cases are audited. If you are caught cheating, you are guilty of a crime (bankruptcy fraud) which means going to jail. Um, hmmm!

Individulas who want to file for bankruptcy must get credit counseling from an approved provider within 180 days before filing their case. One must also file a Statement of Compliance and a Certificate of Credit Counseling (given by the counselor).

If you do not know where you are permitted to file a case, check the Official Bankruptcy Forms page to see the box on Form B1 (Voluntary Petition) entitled "Information Regarding the Debtor - Venue" and the part of the Instructions relating to that box.

If you are filing or involved in a bankruptcy case and do not have an attorney, check out the web site of the bankruptcy court where the case has been or will be filed as well as the Bankruptcy Resources page.

Non-Attorney Petition Preparers type up information on Bankruptcy Forms (forms are free, available at this link). They must sign every document they prepare; print their name, address, and social security number on the documents, and give copies to the debtor. They cannot sign a document on the debtor's behalf or receive payment from the debtor for court fees. They are barred by law from providing legal advice, telling debtors what to say in court, or helping out during court.

Credit Scores - Understanding and Improving Yours

2009-04-09T06:52:00.001-07:00

Your USA credit rating is very important. It will decide whether or not you get approved for a loan. It will influence your interest rate. It might also influence whether you are hired at a new job, your car insurance rates, and your utility rates. Think of interest as money flushed down the toilet - avoid it as much as possible.

Different ways to obtain your credit report:

* If you recently applied for a loan, the lender/bank did a credit check on you and got a score. They must tell you, for free, what that number was. My bank mailed me a letter.

* You are entitled to a free report once every 12 months, thanks to the Fair And Accurate Credit Transitions Act of 2003. This is great for finding out your credit history and credit score. You might uncover items on your history that are wrong or not you. You might discover you are the victim of identity theft. You will receive reports from each of the "Big Three" credit reporting companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

* Bankrate.com offers an online credit score estimator. It's free and quite fast. I did it and the result matches what my bank recently told me. It's a good starting to point to see if your credit is bad, good or great.

* There are many different companies that monitor credit. To "join" one of these companies you have to pay a monthly fee and in return you receive updates on your credit report, alerts when something new has occured or your score has changed, as well as helpful financial information. Next Advisor has a wonderful online chart comparing several different companies, their costs, and benefits.

The following items affect credit scores:

* Payment history - All payments should be on time. Minimums or more than the minimum should be sent in for auto, personal and mortgage loans. Credit cards should be paid in full each month. Never, ever skip a payment - send in at least something to show good faith. Bankruptcy is bad - it'll be on your credit report for 10 years. Avoid it at all costs - try to work something out with your creditors. You can get loans after bankruptcy but the interest rates will be sky high and will eat like a cancer into your bank account.

* Amounts owed -

The total monthly minimum owed is compared to monthly income. This shows the lender whether you are living beyond your means (and have spending control issues or just aren't ready to be financially independent).
The balance is also compared to the credit limit. Lenders like a big gap between these two numbers because this leaves room for paying for unexpected bills (car repairs, home repairs, sudden health issues etc). When your credit card is new and the limit is low, try to keep under 80% of the limit and pay in full each month. When your card limits get higher, stay under 30%. Carrying a balance into the next month is okay but avoid it when you can.

* Age of your credit history - The older the better. Get started as soon as possible. A simple gas card is a good first step - it's something you will use regularly and can pay off in full each month. A seasoned credit history gives the lender a very good idea of who you are as a borrower. Some lenders will not give out loans to people with little or no credit history.

* Types of credit - Different types is good. It shows experience which lenders like. One car loan, one mortgage loan, one personal loan, one credit card = good mix. All credit cards and nothing else = bad.

* New credit:

This is almost like no credit history. You haven't proven yourself so you are considered a risk. It's a "fear of the unknown" that scares lenders.
The other kind of "new credit" is when someone with a longer history takes out new loans or gets new credit cards all of a sudden - this makes a lender nervous - why does this person all of a sudden need money?
Never apply for multiple loans/credit all at the same time. When the lenders see your credit report, they will see that everyone else is checking you out at the same time. What might happen is everyone will scare each other away and you will end up with nothing.

Your job history will also affect whether or not you get a loan as well as the interest rate. Don't be a job hopper. Find a good paying job and stay there. If you are new at a job, hopefully you were with your previous employer for many years. Lenders like stability. They feel it reflects good character which is less of a risk to them.

Having a well-paying job is important, too. Lenders will compare your loans to monthly income to determine your ability to stay financially healthy and repay them.

Hopefully, the above information is helpful.

How I established my credit score of 811 (which is excellent):

After 6 months at my first part-time job, I got a "secured" credit card from my bank. I did this for two reasons: I needed a credit card to get a rental car for my uncoming vacation (rental companies do not rent to people without credit cards). I also wanted to establish my credit because, one day in my distant future, I would eventually apply for a car loan and a mortgage - a credit history will be a must.

After 6 months of charging necessities only on my credit card and paying the bill in full every month, I applied for one gas card and used that card every week for fill-ups. I paid those bills in full.

After being at the same job for 12 months, I applied for one department store card and used it once a month only, just to keep it active. I paid my bill in full every month. I also closed my secured credit card account and got a regular account with a higher limit (thru the same bank).

When I moved into my first apartment, I was able to get the utilities in my name because I had a credit history already. Having utilities in my name now contributes to my future credit history. Always paid those bills in full. I want good credit and I want heat!

I applied for another department store card to pay for my refrigerator and couch only. I paid those two purchases off in three months. I did not do any decorating or fun spending because I consider money to be "tight" until all credit cards balances are zero.

When I applied for my first car loan, I paid extra each month, paying it off in 3.5 years, avoiding flusing interest money down the toilet. I also bought what I needed, not what I wanted.

The rest of my life follows that pattern. No fun spending until the credit card can be paid in full each month. Shop around for rates for car and mortgage loans. Refinance into lower rates if possible.

Update: Just applied for a 2nd mortgage to build another room onto our house. My credit score was 890. That's kick ass great!

Tax Write Offs for Your Cat - Video

2009-04-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

Sheba and her owner discuss various tax write offs. I think they need to get a second opinion!

Chase Bank Lawsuit - Monthly Service Fees

2009-04-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

A California class action suit claims that Chase Bank has violated, among other things, the Truth in Lending Act when it began charging its customers a $10 "monthly service fee" on "balance transfer checks." This fee was applied to existing transfered balances as well as the new ones.

Many cardholders became irate because this fee was not disclosed to them at the time they used their transfer checks. Many people refused to pay the fee. To make matters worse for themselves, Chase Bank then upped the interest rate and minimum monthly payment on these particular account holders. This is another action, not in the original terms of the transfer contract, that is part of the lawsuit.

Many people who used the balance transfer checks were struggling to keep control of their finances. They were consolidating high interest loans into a single low interest loan. The monthly fee and raised rates ended up making finances more difficult. Some cardholders would have been better off not doing the transfer when the new terms are considered.

AIG Executives Giving Back Bonuses

2009-03-23T18:31:00.000-07:00

The US government paid AIG about $170 billion in bailout money so far this year. Then AIG turned around and doled out $165 million in bonuses and retention bribes. Some of the money even went to former employees.

To say this outraged the public and it's customers is an understatement. Mediums saw angry mobs with pitchforks and torches in their crystal balls.

So far 15 AIG executives have agreed to return their bonuses which comes out to about $30 million. A few lower ranking employees have also agreed to return their bonuses, another $20 million. Employees have been asked to return their bonuses. Some have, some are still thinking about it and some refuse to do so. There have been some high level resignations.

Bonus information is being collected by Governor Rell, hoping to invalidate them under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. Go, Rell, go!

The House of Representatives tried to put a 90% tax on bonuses of the higher-earning employees just at AIG but the President said it was unconstitutional. Now the Senate is thinking of something similar to pass.

If you look at how much money AIG lost, this bonus amount is tiny in comparison and not the cause of their financial problems. It's the higher up muckie-mucks pilfering the vast coffers of their employer. However, companies should never hand out bonuses unless the company does well. AIG is not doing well and should not be paying anyone bonuses.

Besides, I think bonuses should be handed out from the bottom levels up - where the money is truly needed and matters.

DEBT - How to Avoid, Get Out, and Stay Out

2009-03-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

So many of us spend more than we earn each month. Our lifestyles are beyond our means. And we are in total, 100% denial of this fact. We are clueless and stupid. No disrespect intended.

How much money that is spent each month should be based upon income, not on what is wanted or desired or anything else that one's Id has a hankering for. We are humans and we are adults - we must rise above this lack of self-control.

It's time to grow up and be a responsible adult that makes smart decisions. Time to put on your big girl panties or big boy boxers!

First of all, destroy every single credit card and ship them back to the banks, asking that your accounts be closed immediately. Don't give me any whining or I'll get out the world's smallest violin and play "My Heart Bleeds For You."

You are allowed to have only one phone. If you have a cell phone, cancel your landline completely. Now contact your cell phone provider and get into the cheapest package you can. Get rid of texting. A call is cheaper than a text. Texting is for teenagers - it's like passing notes in class.

Drop all memberships - the gym, the museum, clubs, everything!

Stop paying people to do things you can do yourself - manicures, lawn mowing, cleaning service.

Stop eating out at restaurants, clubs and bars, and going to movies, plays and concerts...at least for the next 2 months to see how able you are at meeting your "needs."

Now let's look at your income because that's our starting point for figuring out what you can spend.

What is your gross (before tax) income per month?

Figure out 10% and tag it for retirement. This can be a 401K, an IRA or savings account or combination of the three. Just make sure you are saving 10% every month for when you are old and gray. This is NOT vacation or fun money! You must put this much away every month or you will be living in a cardboard box and visiting soup kitchens during your golden years.

Figure out 25% and tag it for housing. This is the MAXIMUM that you should be spending to put a roof over your head. Homeowners should count mortages/equity loans. Renters need to count their rent. Add in any association fees. If this monthly amount is under 25% then do a happy dance because you'll need this extra cushion to help you out in the next step. If it is above the 25% limit, then refinance your mortgage or MOVE SOMEWHERE CHEAPER!

Figure out 35% and tag it for housing + long term loans. Use the money you figured out in the previous step and add to it: homeowner/renter insurance (calcuate a monthly average), private mortgage insurance (PMI), car payments, car insurance, student loans, personal loans, property taxes (figure out a monthly average).

If you are under the 35%, good for you! If you are over the 35% limit, then you need to reduce one of the variables: Move somewhere that doesn't have association fees or has lower property taxes. If your loan balance is 80% or less of the original loan amount, you can get out of the PMI by writing to the lien holder. Trade your car in for one that'll give you lower monthly payments and cheaper insurance or even go for a motorcycle. See about refinancing your student loans. Sometimes Bank of Dad comes in handy. Make up a contract that details monthly payments and penalties for late payments and be faithful in your payments! Never send in nothing. Always send something no matter how sad your excuse is. I don't want to see the two of you on Judge Judy!

Some people like to bring in room mates to help out with income. That's a nice idea but remember that room mates come and go. Those times between an old and new room mate are going to be tight. If there's a falling out or something unforseen comes, you may not receive that last month's rent or a 30 day notice. Don't put yourself in this position. It's a vulnerable place to be. Be a roomer rather than the main person on the lease.

Now on to the subject of food. In the beginning, allow yourself to eat out only once a month and it has to be somewhere cheap. It'll be painful, but you'll get used to it. I promise. One idea for you - dump your change into a jar at the end of every day. After the end of each month, however much change you have dictates how much you can spend eating out. Here's another idea - invite friends over. You treat to pizza (using your accumulated change), one friend brings drinks, another brings salad, and another brings dessert. Make it once a month get-together.

At home you need to buy the basic ingredients and make your own meals. No boxed, ready to cook meals. One of my pet peeves is boxed macaroni and cheese meals. OMG - it is so cheap to buy your own macaroni and use some Cheese Wiz or cubes from a block of cheese you cut up yourself.

Do not be brand loyal! Become a Benedict Arnold and hold your head up high! Use coupons but beware - some brands are still more expensive even with the coupon applied. Don't get tricked.

For fruits, get fresh or canned. You have your favorites so buy the one that's the cheapest per pound that week. Applesauce is cheaper than fresh apples per serving. If canned or jarred fruit goes on sale, buy a bunch of it.

Go frozen with veggies. Canned is high in salt has has a funny metallic taste. Frozen veggies are just as nutritious as fresh but cheaper. Again, compare your favorites and buy whichever one is the cheapest per pound. Get the size of bag that's the best price per pound. It's not always the largest bag.

Meat is a touchy subject. The cheapest meats are usually high in fat and bad for you. You don't want to be eating high fat meat every day! Try to get low fat, healthier cuts of meat but only eat meat three times a week. Figure on a quarter pound of meat (or less) per person. Avoid super size servings. On the other days, eat macaroni, spaghetti or soup. Soup is real cheap.

Forget about buying snacks, desserts and booze. Maybe allow yourself one big bag of pretzels per week. They are cheap, low in fat, and tasty.

About paying your bills - always pay the full amount requested on items that can be taken away from you like your home, utilities and car. Then pay the minimum on your other monthly payments.

Clothes - never pay full price. Wait for sales. Ask yourself whether you need it or want it. Replacing worn out sneakers is a need. Wanting shoes to match an outfit is a want. Thrift shops are misunderstood. If you take the time, you can find nice clothes that fit properly. Don't settle for clothes that are ill-fitting, stained or in bad repair. Be patient and picky. No one will ever know if you do this right.

Decorating - don't do it right now.

Go through the above crash diet on spending for at least 2 months to see just how much money you have left over for "wants." Write down every expenditure to give yourself an idea of just how much you can spend on stuff, movies, eating out and such. Write down how much money you will allow for fun or shopping each month.

If you want to buy something big, like a couch, you need to start saving and pay for it in full with cash. This is how Ross Perot worked his way up. Seriously!

Freebies - Free Stuff on Your Birthday and Throughout the Year!

2009-03-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

Lots of restaurants and stores give you freebies on your birthday. Food, fun, games, all kinds of free stuff! You might have sign up first. Some places let you sign up online but others need you to fill out a form in person. Please contact the businesses first (website, phone call or personal visit) for details. Not all locations are participants - sometimes it's up to the manager or franchise owner. Not all employees know about the clubs, so you might want to talk to a manager.

This list is still under construction...

Alfy’s Pizza - Free personal pizza for kids 12 and under.

Amato’s Sandwich Shop - free food and/or gift

Applebees - Free kids meal

Arby’s - coupons

Atlanta Bread Company - free cookie on your birthday.

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels - coupons.

Austin Grill - coupons

Bakers Square - coupons

Bandido’s - $12 coupon toward entree.

Baskin Robbins - Get a free ice cream plus discount on birthday cake

Bear Mountain/Snow Summit - (SoCal) - lift tickets

Belleayre Moutain - (NY) - lift tickets (off season birthdays can come during ski season)

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream - free ice cream!

BD’s - Join Club Mongo

BJ’s Restaurants - Free Pazookie

Black Angus Steakhouse - free steak dinner when you join and again on your birthday.

Blimpee's Subs - Free 6 inch sub

Bob Evans - Free kids meal

Bob’s Big Boy - contact your local restaurant

Bonanza/Ponderosa Steakhouse - contact your local restaurant

Border's Bookstore & Cafe - coupon and dessert

Boston Market - coupons

Brunswick Bowling - lots of freebies and discounts

Buca di Beppo - treat for joining and on your birthday and anniversary

Buffalo Wild Wings - click on the tree house in the upper left corner on their site to join. Free dessert.

Burger King - free kids meal

California Pizza Kitchen - Free kids meal during the month of their birthday

Captain D’s - Join their D’s Club and get a coupon for $3 off any meal, among other freebies.

Caribou Coffee

Carrows - free dessert for signing up and again on your birthday

Cattlemen’s Steakhouses - Free dessert

Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse - Sign up and get a free dessert plus points for every dollar spent.

Cheesecake Factory - Free dessert

Chevy’s Fresh Mex - "free gift"

Children's Place - Free gift coupon on your birthday and on your child's birthday

Chili’s - Free chips and queso when you join plus a coupon for your birthday.

Chips N Giggles - Free meal

Chuck E. Cheese’s - Free gift on child's birthday plus email coupons throughout the year

Claim Jumper - Free dessert.

Coldstone Creamery - free ice cream

Country Buffet - coupon on your birthday

Cracker Barrel - Contact your local restaurant

Culvers - offers and coupons when you sign up and on your birthdy.

Dairy Queen - Free ice cream coupon.

Damon’s Steakhouse - coupons

Dave And Busters - free games, coupons, discounts

Del Taco - two free soft tacos when you sign up and a free shake on your birthday.

Denny’s - Free kids meal and sundae.

Disneyland or Disneyworld - Free admission on your birthday in 2009

Don Pablos - Join their Habenero Club and get free dip sampler when you sign up, plus $10 coupon on your birthday, club anniversary and every 10th visit.

Einstein Brothers Bagels - coupons throughout the year

El Chico Cafe - coupons throughout the year

Famous Dave’s Barbeque - Free meal (not all locations have the P.I.G. Club)

Farrelli’s Pizza - Join their Fire Club and get coupons when you sign up, on your birthday and on your club anniversary. You also get "cash back."

Fazoli’s - coupons throughout the year

Fire Mountain - free Mega Bar Meal when you join plus coupons on your birthday, club anniversary and throughout the year

Firehouse Subs - free sub on your birthday

Flat Top Grill - freebie when you sign up and on your birthday

Friendly’s - Free ice cream cone if you join their birthday club.

Frosty Paws - free stuff for your dog

Fuddruckers - kids club

Glory Days Grill - Free sundae on your birthday if you sign up in advance.

Gold Star Chili - Get a free dessert on your birthday, free treat on your anniversary of joining, and a free appetizer when you sign up.

Golden Corral - check with your local restaurant

Gordon Biersch - coupon for joining and on birthday

Grillfish - Free meal

Hard Rock Cafe - discounts, freebies and priorities

Hollywood Video - Free video rental if you sign up in advance.

Hometown Buffet - coupon on your birthday

Hooters - Free song & T-shirt (Pretty soon here I’m going to have an entire outfit!) If you live on the west coast, there’s even a Hooters Club for you to join up with.

Houlihan’s - Free coupon for an entree during your next visit up to a week after b-day (Kinda complicated…but free!)

Joe’s Crab Shack - Free cake if you join their club.

Juice It Up - They promise to give you a “birthday gift” but their website doesn’t say what it is. Might be worth signing up for though.

Keg Steakhouse and Bar - Hiffer Jospeh reports they’ll give you a 10oz. prime rib dinner with Caesar salad during your birthday month, Sunday-Thursday only. You might want to call ahead to confirm this though.

Keva - The Keva Klub promises free coupons around the time of your birthday.

Krispy Kreme - Free half dozen glazed donuts and a coffee mug with either coffee or soda in it! You might want to sign up ahead of time.

Logan’s Roadhouse - Free song and slice of cheesecake.

Lotus - Free meal

Macaroni Grill - Free dessert plus an OPERA-style “Happy Birthday” song, which is always different.

la Madeleine - coupons for free food around your birthday.

MACARONI GRILL - free dessert + OPERA-style "Happy birthday" song

Maggianos - $10 off purchase of $20 if you sign up in advance.

Mainstreet Ventures - Up to 50% off your meal.

Marble Slab Creamery - free ice cream cone on birthday up to age 12.

Marie Calenders

MAX AND ERMA

MELTING POT - Club Fondue The Melting Pot

Memphis BBQ - Coupon good for a free Rack of Ribs & strawberry shortcake, but you must sign up on their website 24 hours in advance.

Mexican Village - Free meal

Moe’s Southwest Grill - coupon for a free burrito. They also have a birthday club for kids under 10.

Mongolian’s B.B.Q. - coupon for a free birthday meal.

MY LITTLE PONY BIRTHDAY CLUB - mylittlepony - Entertainment/Parties/BirthdayClub

Noodles & Company - Signup for their newsletter and they’ll send ya a coupon for a free meal right around our birthday!

O’Charley’s - I remember getting quite a few free desserts over the years from them! They have an E-News club that you can sign up at to get the coupons.

Old Country Buffet - coupon on your birthday

Olive Garden

On The Border - Free appetizer if you sign up.

Outback Steakhouse - Free dessert or appetizer

P.B. Loco - Sign up for their newsletters and you’ll receive coupons periodically for free stuff, as well as coupons for free stuff when your B-day rolls around.

Perkin’s - Free bakery goodie on birthdays for kids under 12.

P.F. Chang’s - Free cake or cheesecake via their e-mail list.

Poncho’s - Free meal, dessert & pictureProvino’s Italian Restaurant - Free $10.99 meal and ice cream dessert

Qdoba Mexican Grill - Join their eClub and get a free burrito on your birthday, as well as free chips n’ salsa just for joining up.

Quizno’s - Join their mailing list and get a free birthday gift

Red Lobster - Free slice of cake if you join their Overboard Club.

Red Robin - Free Hamburger if you sign up for Eclub.

Ringling Brothers Circus

Rock Bottom - Free appetizer for Mug Club members.

Round Table - Free personal pizza

Ruby Tuesday - Sign up in advance and they’ll send you something!

Ryan’s - coupon on your birthday

Safeway Grocery Store

San Francisco Over - Sign up in advance and you’ll get a coupon for a free birthday treat.

Schlotzsky’s - Get a free sandwich if you sign up ahead of time.

Smoky Bones - Members of the Bones Club get a free meal or appetizer, not sure which.

Snow Summit/Bear Montain (SoCal) - Free skiing/riding

Spaghetti Warehouse - Signup for a free meal & possibly free appetizer?

SONIC - Wacky Pack Kids' Birthday Club & one for adults too

Souper Salad - Join their Souper Salad Club and they’ll e-mail you a coupon for one free birthday meal which can be used within a week or your birthday.

STEAK AND ALE - free mini choco cake

Steak-N-Shake - Free dinner for “birthday club” kids.

Swiss Chalet - Get a free appetizer just for joining the Rotisserie-mail plus a free birthday surprise.

Taco Bell - Free combo meal of your choice.

Target - They send you a free Birthday Mailer, full of free gifts, tips, and coupons. You sign up to six of your children who will all receive a mailer on their birthday!

Ten Ren - Hiffer Bethany sent in a tip that her local Ten Ren has a sign offering a free Bubble Tea on your birthday with photo identification.

Texas De Brazil - Sign up for their e-club and they’ll send you a $40 gift certificate! This place can be pricey, but it’s soooo worth it.

TGI Friday’s - Join their Stripes Club and receive an appetizer/dessert just for joining. Earn points throughout the year every time you dine.

The Children’s Place - Register to receive coupons on your birthday and again on your child's birthday

The Fox and Hound - Free appetizer when you join and an entree on your birthday

The Old Spaghetti Factory - free kid's meal

The Palm - Join the 837 Club and earn points every time you dine. Rewards vary by location.

The Pasta House and Pronto - Free dessert. Check with your local restaurant.

The Vine Tavern & Eatery - Free lunch

Todai Seafood and Sushi Buffet - several coupons and freebies

Tony Roma’s - sign up and receive a dessert

Toys R Us - card, gift and balloon on your birthday

Uno Chicago Grill - free appetizer for joining and coupons on your birthday

Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop - Free coffee club. Check directly with shop for details on coupons.

Wendy’s - Receive coupons for joining, on your birthday and throughout the year.

Wingstop - Get free buffalo wings on your birthday.

Zaxby’s - Join their Z-Mail club and you’ll get a coupon for a free meal, whether or not it’s your birthday! Kids can sign up here for their Kid Club and get not only a free meal, but a free cookie on their birthday!

Z’ Tejas Southwestern Grill - Join the Z'Club and receive a coupon for the month of your birthday.

Save Money on Insurance - Auto, Homeowner, Renter, Life

2009-02-27T04:57:00.000-08:00

Auto Insurance-

You can save money by calling at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage. Shop around again every few years to make sure your company is still the best deal.

Raise your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage. Make sure whatever amount you choose is something can can afford just in case you do have a claim. I don't want to hear you say "I didn't fix my car because I couldn't afford my deductible." You can also opt to drop this coverage completely if there's no lien holder.

Each state has it's own rules on minimum liability coverage (for the other guy's car and medical bills, if you are at fault). You might want to lower your liability closer to this dollar amount.

Make certain that your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Buy your auto and homeowner/renter policy from the same company - many gives multiple policy discounts.

Homeowner/Renter Insurance-

Contact at least four insurers to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage.

For homeowners, the "dwelling" coverage needs to be enough to cover rebuilding your home as it was. This is a construction price. It is not necessarily what your house is worth on the real estate market. These are two different numbers.

"Contents" is the coverage for your stuff inside. It's the things you'd pack into a truck and take with you when you move. Basic policies pay "Actual Cash Value" which is the used value of an item. A 2 year old tv is worth more than a 10 year old tv, assuming similar technology and features. "Replacement cost" is the reasonable cost to replace something. Most policies will advance you the Actual Cash Value. Do you want Replacement Cost? Or are you willing to settle for Actual Cash Value?

Make certain your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Life Insurance-

If you want insurance protection only, and not a savings and investment product, buy a term life insurance policy. Term policies are cheaper.

Contact several companies for quotes first.

Whole Life, Universal Life, or other cash value policies are more expensive. Get them only if you plan to hold onto them for at least 15 years. Once your policy is canceled (you switch to someone else) all those extra investment dollars are lost.

Check the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website (http://www.naic.org/cis/) or your local library for information on the financial soundness of insurance companies.

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Save Money On Automobile Gas, Repairs, Purchase and Insurance

2009-02-24T05:20:00.000-08:00

Here's how to save money on gas, repairs, purchase/lease, and on insurance:

New Cars-
You can save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a car by selecting a model that combines a low purchase price with low depreciation, financing, insurance, gasoline, maintenance, and repair costs. Consumer Reports and other magazines usually have charts with this information. Once you have selected a model and options you are interested in, you can save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping. Get price quotes from several dealers (over the phone or Internet) and let each know you are contacting the others. Also get written offers on your trade-in. Many years ago I went to three different dealers to buy the same car. Their selling prices were very close to eachother but my highest trade-in offer was $3500 more than my lowest offer! Remember there is no "cooling off" period on new car sales. Once you have signed a contract, you are obligated to buy the car.

Used Cars-
Before buying any used car, compare the seller's asking price with the average retail price in a the Kelley Blue Book, Redbook or other guide to car prices which can be found at many libraries, banks, and credit unions. Check your potential car out in Consumer Reports. Does it have a good history in reliability and average upkeep cost?Have a mechanic you trust check the car, especially if the car is sold "as is." Consider purchasing a used car from an individual you know and trust. They are more likely than other sellers to charge a lower price and point out any problems with the car. Outright ask the seller to divulge any problems encountered in the last 5 years and what was done to fix them. Ask what shop they took their car to and visit that shop - ask to see a history of work done on that car.

Auto Leasing-
Don't decide to lease a car just because the payments are lower than on a traditional auto loan. The leasing payments are lower because you don't actually own the car.
Leasing a car is very complicated. You must consider the price of the car (known as the capitalized cost), your trade-in allowance, any down payment, monthly payments, various fees (excess mileage, excess "wear and tear," end-of- lease), and the cost of buying the car at the end of the lease. A valuable source of information about auto leasing can be found in Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide, which is published by the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission.

Do a side-by-side comparison of buy vs. lease on the same car. What is the difference in monthly payments? Is it a big difference or a small one? What is the final cost if you keep the lease as compared to buying it outright. Your interest rates of buy vs. lease might make a difference. Call a few banks to get their loan rates. You usually get a discount from the bank you already have an account with but that's not a guarentee you'll get the best rate from them. Bring this info with you when you car shop. The dealer probably does business with a bank as well and might be able to beat your best rate, but not always.

Do compare what you'll spend on gasoline in a year. Miles per gallon is important to consider if you do any distance driving! Also ask your insurance agent to give a rates for each of your options. One choice might cost you $1000 per year more than the other choice. Avoid surprises when it comes to insuring your new vehicle!

Gasoline-
You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing prices at different stations, pumping gas yourself, and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner's manual. You can save up to $100 a year on gas by keeping your engine tuned and your tires inflated to their proper pressure. Some grocery stores are now giving out discounts if you buy at their gas stations. The store keeps track of dollars spent on food shopping. You swipe your grocery card at the pump to get the discount. I shop at Giant. My last fill-up got me a 70 cents per gallon discount!

Car Repairs-
Consumers lose billions of dollars each year on unneeded or poorly done car repairs. The most important step that you can take to save money on these repairs is to find a skilled, honest mechanic. Before you need repairs, look for a mechanic who, is certified and well established, has done good work for someone you know, and communicates well about repair options and costs. If something needs to be replaced, tell the mechanic you want to see the faulty/broken part first. Make them show you the crack (or whatever it is). There are some things you can do yourself and you'll pay alot less for the part and not have to pay labor - oil changes, air filter, and toping off anti-freeze, oil and wiper fluid. Just make sure you check them every month!

Auto Insurance-
You can save several hundred dollars a year by purchasing auto insurance from a licensed, low-price insurer. Call your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different companies. You can also get comparisons from Progressive. Then call at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage. Talk to your agent or insurer about raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage to at least $500 (if you can afford $500 should an accident happen) or, if you have an old car, dropping this coverage altogether. My car is old but my comp/collision is only $50 a year, so I'm keeping it. This can save you hundreds of dollars on insurance premiums.
Make certain that your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one. If you have renter's or homeowners insurance, you might get a discount on that or the auto policy if you go through the same insurer for both.
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State Beer Taxes Going Up!

2009-02-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

Here's just the facts on beer taxes-

Oregon law makers want to raise the beer tax from $2.60 per barrel to $49.61 which is an 1,800% increase. That will cost beer drinkers 15 cents more per 12-ounce glass but the beer industry says it would more likely be $1.50 per glass.

Idaho's plan to raise the tax on beer from 15 to 52 cents as well as the tax on wine has passed its initial committee review.

New York Governor David Patterson wants to raise the state tax on beer from 11 cents to 24 cents per gallon. Now there is speculation that Anheuser-Busch would close its Lysander brewery if this goes through.

A total of 24 states are considering higher alcohol taxes.

Here's some info on the flip side:

Wisconsin's beer tax hasn't gone up there in 40 years and will stay that way. There is no talk of increasing it's beer tax.

Missouri beer drinkers also seem safe for an increase.

Wyoming has the lowest beer tax of all the states.

The beer industry is lobbying for a reduction in the federal beer tax, jumping on the "stimulus" bandwagon.

In Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Alabama and Minnesota, the "blue laws" that ban the sale of alcohol on Sunday might be dropped.

A Nebraska legislator suggested that tourism could increase in his state if people could legally drink beer in state parks. Of course, public drunkeness in state parks will increase , too.

Utah is contemplating changing its unique liquor laws by dropping the "club" system in bars.

Obama's $75 Billion Help for Foreclosures

2009-02-19T07:17:00.000-08:00

Obama's plan is an attempt to stop the wave of foreclosures and allow homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth to refinance. The plan was announced during his stop in Mesa, Arizona.

Obama wants to make it easier for people to rework or refinance their mortgages. The President said the plan, "will give millions of families resigned to financial ruin a chance to rebuild … prevent the worst consequences of this crisis from wreaking even greater havoc on the economy. And by bringing down the foreclosure rate, it will help to shore up housing prices for everyone."

This plan will allow up to 5 million people to refinance their mortgages through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both of which are privately held companies but under government control. The plan has three points: to help homeowners refinance; to help stabilize the housing market aimed at reaching up to 4 million at-risk homeowners; and to drive down mortgage rates. Government money is offered to entice homeowners, mortgage companies and mortgage investors to rework loans.

"This will allow millions of families stuck with loans at a higher rate to refinance," Obama said, "and the estimated cost to taxpayers would be roughly zero; while Fannie and Freddie would receive less money in payments, this would be balanced out by a reduction in defaults and foreclosures."

The White House also wants bankruptcy judges to rework the terms of mortgages in court. The banking industry has fought bitterly against such a law for years but Obama wants that attitude to change. The President's plan is not meant to help speculators. It is for keeping "hard pressed homeowners" in their homes.

The lending industry needs "clear and consistent guidelines for loan modifications" which are necessary to speed up the process of making loans more affordable and fair. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will use these new guidelines for the loans they own or guarantee. Also, companies receiving government money "will be required to implement loan modification plans consistent with Treasury guidance."

The plan offers incentives to get banks to modify at-risk loans before the homeowner gets behind in payments. They will receive an up-front payment of $1,000 for each eligible loan modification and $500 to banks and mortgage investors $1,500 if at-risk loans are modified before borrowers fall behind. The government said it would also help pay down the principal of certain mortgages by up to $1,000 a year for up to five years if the borrower hasn't missed any payments. This, of course, doesn't help homeowners who are already in trouble.

For a loan to qualify for modifications, lenders would need to bring the monthly mortgage payment down to 38% of a borrower's monthly income. Do the math - see how your monthly mortgage payment compares to 38% of your before-tax monthly income. The government would also match further reductions in the interest rate down to 31%.

How to Save Money on Your Phone Bill

2009-02-17T06:30:00.000-08:00

If you still have a landline plus also have a cell phone, call your landline provider and drop the toll and long distance coverage asap. From now on, use your cell phone for these calls. I did this - it saved me $25 per month just for the "honor" of having the service plus another 30 cents a minute whenever we called our friend Mike who only lived 10 miles away. Also, some of my friends' cell phone numbers were considered "toll" by the phone company.

Now call several phone companies that provide landline service in your area to find the cheapest BASIC calling plan (no toll or long distance coverage). Also consider a bundled package that covers your internet connection.

You might want to opt out of inside wire maintenance, caller ID, and use of the phone company's answering machine. Compare the cost of their answering machine vs. using your own. How much do you pay in a year for that feature. How much does it cost to buy a new, inexpensive one? You do the math. For caller ID, I just listen to the voice that starts to leave a message. I pick up if I am interested - alot cheaper than paying for caller ID. Besides, you run to the run to see who's calling anyway!

Some people get rid of their landlines completely. Just make sure you are on top of keeping your phone charged. One thing to remember - if you are at work, don't answer your cell phone. If the call is important, the caller will leave a message that you can check on your lunch break or when you get home. Don't become become a slave to your ringing phone. A true emergency can be phoned into the business's main desk.

How often do you use your cell phone? Prepaid wireless plans have higher per minute rates and fees but may be a better option (compared to monthly connection fees) if you use the phone only occasionally.

Review your cell phone bill for the past few months. How many minutes are you allowed to make? How many did you actually use? Perhaps calling the provider for a plan that offers fewer minutes can save you some money.

Text messaging is expensive. Consider a plan that allows less TM or try to wean yourself off of it. Go for something that cuts you off rather than surcharges super amounts of money for going over your minutes allowed.

Do not ask the operator to make a call for you. Do not agree to allow the phone company to dial a number after you've called information to get a number. They will charge you. Do not fall for this convenience. Using an operator to place the call can cost you up to $10 extra. To save money on information calls, look the number up on the Internet or in your phone book.

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Toyota Cuts Production and Executive Compensation

2009-02-15T13:12:00.000-08:00

Toyota is cutting North American production, cutting executive compensation up to 30 percent and offering buyouts to about 18,000 workers. They will cut production days at some U.S. factories in April — from two to eight days according to the amount of inventory at the particular plant. The change will begin in April at its auto assembly plants in Indiana, Kentucky and Texas, as well as auto-parts factories in Alabama, Missouri and West Virginia.

Toyota is also starting shorter work weeks at some plants. Hourly employees would work four hours less per week. Unionized plants in the U.S. and Mexico will not be affected, however.

“We’ve taken responsible, step-by-step actions to address this issue in recent months, and we hope the new measures will help us adjust while protecting jobs,” said VP Jim Wiseman for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America.

The 30 percent pay drop for executives includes a 5 percent salary cut and the eliminated bonus. Bonuses will be eliminated for all salaried and executive employees which accounts for about 10 percent of Toyota’s 30,000 manufacturing jobs in North America. Production team bonuses will be reduced rather than omitted.

The buyouts also will not be offered to workers at a Canadian plant, nor unionized plants in the U.S. or Mexico. The buyout package consists of 10 weeks of pay, plus two weeks of pay for every year of service, plus $20,000. It will be the company’s first North America-wide buyout offer.

Toyota will also eliminate salary increases for the “foreseeable future.” Toyota expects its first annual net loss since 1950. The company is in the process of eliminating 5,300 contract jobs in Japan.

Toyota is grappling with plunging demand worldwide, especially in the U.S., and a strong yen, which cuts overseas profits of Japanese exporters like Toyota.

Hot Naked Chicks of All Colors With Guns!

2009-02-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

Do you think the title of this post will increase my traffic? Just having some fun...

Come see naked, hot chicks, chicks of all colors, chicks with guns, chicks with mouths open, threesomes and more. Color photos! Young chicks in groups:

Obama's 2009 Stimulus Bill - Update Feb 12th.

2009-02-12T05:32:00.000-08:00

Lawmakers agreed on a $789 billion plan for government spending and tax cuts. It was a compromise between everyone, hoping to save/create 3.5 million jobs. Hopes are that President Obama will sign it by Valentine's Day.

“We had to nip and tuck and cut here and cut there and modify here and shape there,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. “We had a long way to go to get to $789 billion, believe me.”

One of Obama’s proposals, a plan to provide a $500 payroll tax cut to individuals and $1,000 to families, got pared down. Under the compromise, there will be $400 for individuals and $800 for families in tax cuts. Retirees and disabled veterans who don’t pay payroll taxes will receive a one-time only payment of $250.

Lawmakers had to compromise a proposed $35 billion plan to increase home sales. The Senate wanted to double a $7,500 tax credit for homebuyers but under the compromise plan, that credit would only be increased to $8000. This, of course, does not help people already in homes.

A proposal to boost the auto industry through tax breaks to new car buyers, to write off interest on their loans, stands at $9 billion. I think auto and homeowner interest should be write offs, but only one each.

A proposed business tax cut that would have allowed companies to convert losses into tax refunds was almost entirely axed because it would have cost $67.5 billion over the next two years. Too much money.

Lawmakers dropped provisions that required companies accepting money from the government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program to repay the cash portions of bonuses topping $100,000. Too bad. That should have stayed.

The bill will spend $59 billion to increase aid to the unemployed by extending unemployment benefits by 20 weeks and increasing weekly benefits by $25. The subsidy to help unemployed people continue buying health insurance from their former employers will be increased.

There is $29 billion for highway construction projects, $7 billion to expand access to broadband and $11 billion to renovate the nation’s electrical grid. There will also be $15.6 billion for Pell college tuition grants, $8 billion for rail projects, $5 billion to weatherize low-income homes (to save money spent on heating and cooling) and $4.5 billion to make federal buildings more energy efficient as well.

There will be “Buy American” rules for materials used in construction that are able to avoid violating existing international trade agreements.

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Cheap Date Ideas

2009-02-06T06:28:00.000-08:00

Visit a museum or art gallery or show, especially a free one. Bring your own lunch, eat outside if weather permits.

Pick out two movie DVD's, pop a huge bowl of corn and get some soda so that you can spend all night cuddled up on the couch without spending a dime.

Invite your chocoholic friends over for a poker game. Admission is one unopened bag of Hershey's Kisses (to make sure everyone brings fresh ones). Once everyone is there, open your bags and each candy is a poker chip.

Go for a scenic drive through the mountains, along the beach, across farm land. See the leaves change, look at Christmas lights, watch the first spring flowers.

Visit a Saturn dealership on a Saturday. Most have free barbeques going - hamburgers, hot dogs and/or chicken plus chips and soda. All free. Call ahead to confirm the one you've chosen is having a cookout and what time they start up the grill. Then look at cars and have a free lunch.

Drive to an unusual or historic town you've never been to and walk around, visit the old section, pop into quaint little shops. My picks - Solvang and Santa Barbara in California, Peddler's Village and New Hope in Pennsylvania.

If it is nice out, spread out a blanket and look for stars. Bring a map of constellations to help you identify what you are looking at. Check online to see when special events occur such as comets or meteor showers. Get away from city lights.

Visit open houses in a wealthy neighborhood, even the new constructions. Have fun looking at the opulent and extravagant houses and steal their decor ideas.

Go swimming in a lake, river or the ocean. Don't forget the picnic lunch and music for afterward!

Go people watching at the mall. In advance, make up a list of unusual things and compete to see who sees more mohawks, fashion faux pas, age groups, crying babies etc...

Go to a playground and try out the swings and the merry go round. Perfect opportunity for a picnic lunch and kite flying.

Watch the sunrise or sunset together. See if you can be at the beach or on a mountaintop or somewhere the sun touches the natural horizon (not buildings). Bring your cameras. Breakfast on the beach is awesome! Bring some fruit, bagels and a thermos of coffee.

Visit a public garden, botanical garden, or even a very well stocked nursery. Bring your cameras and take lots of pictures of flowers and butterflies.

Visit an old cemetery and do grave rubbings. Visit the one that has your own relatives, too.

Go for a bike ride or rollerblading together. Go kite flying.

Go fishing. Kiss each fish before you throw it back! A great camera opportunity.

Go to the pet store and look at the dogs and cats together. Some PetSmart stores have cats and dogs from local shelters displayed on Saturdays. Give them some of your lovin'.

Arrange a group potluck date where each couple brings a dish they prepared together. Meet at someone's home, the beach, a park.

Take your date on a tour of your hometown. Show where you lived, pop in and say "hi" to neighbors, swing by your schools.

If it is snowing, have a snowball fight, build perverted or comical snow people and critters, go sledding.

Find a puzzle that you really like, put it together and then use puzzle glue so you can keep it!

Take your boom box somewhere and dance! Visit a beautiful place like a park or botanical garden. Invite friends to come along. Slow romantic music and faster tempo ones, too!

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Free Coupons - Food & Grocery

2009-02-02T05:23:00.000-08:00

The below links are to grocery stores that give out online coupons. Check them out!

Specific Stores:

Basha's

Kroger

Safeway

Product Coupons:

Anniston Star Coupons

Coupons dot Com

Grocery Saving

My Savings

Penny Pincher Gazette

Free Coupons - All Kinds of Stuff!

2009-02-02T05:21:00.001-08:00

Here's a list of sites that give out free coupons. Check them out!

Budget Mom

Cool Savings

Coupon Album

Coupon Cabin

Coupon Mom

Coupon Surfer

Deals Plus

Entirely Coupons

Eversave

Fabulous Savings

Free Coupons

Free Flys

My Coupons

Shop at Home

Use Less Gasoline and Save Money!

2009-01-30T21:13:00.000-08:00

Stop doing jackrabbit starts. Proceed slowly and gently. Let the weight of your foot push down on the accelerator rather than using your muscles. Drive like you're in no hurry. Sudden starts ruin fuel economy.

Slow down. Besides avoiding speeding tickets, slowing down from 65 to 55mph can squeeze out an extra few miles per gallon.

Come to gentle stops. Take your foot off the accelerator and glide awhile before having to use the brakes. The stops should be gentle, not hard.

You will find that you will feel more relaxed after a week of practicing the above hints.

Lighter weight cars get better gas mileage. Don't use your car as a storage bin. Get rid of the weight.

Don't waste time and gas on unnecessary trips. Combine two or more errands into one loop rather than separate trips. Make sure your stores are open. Make sure you know where you are going. I live by Mapquest. My husband lives by his GPS.

Carpool with a friend or neighbor to the grocery store, work or school. Take turns.

Don't work your airconditioner so hard. Do things to help lighten it's workload. Windshield reflectors will keep the inside temperature down while your car is parked. Towels thrown over the dash, seats and steering wheel will protect them from absorbing heat. Regularly replace the AC air filter. A clogged filter increases the load on your system and thus your fuel efficiency.

Get regular tune-ups, oil changes and tire rotations. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. All affect how much gas your car eats up. Taking care of tires maximizes their life, too.

Solar Electric Vehicles manufactures solar panel systems that can be installed on the roof of your hybrid. Gathering sunlight and converting it into electricity, the panel lets a hybrid run for up to 20 miles per day in pure electric mode, netting a purported 29 percent increase in fuel economy.

If you already own a hybrid vehicle, conversion kits are available that add a battery pack and some extra computing power and can be plugged into a home socket. Fully charged, they will run on electric power alone for up to 40 miles.
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Make Money Blogging With Chitika Advertising

2009-01-30T05:34:00.000-08:00

Founded in 2003, Chitika (pronounced CHIH-tih-ka), is a full-service on-line advertising network serving over 2 billion monthly impressions across more than 30,000 websites. They are 100% compatible with Adsense.

When someone does an internet search and then clicks on your website or blog, an ad related to the search will pop up on your site. Your regular readers, who visit your site directly, do not get the ad. Only the people who do searches get the ad - this is because they are statistically more likely to click on ads. Click HERE for a short video tutorial from Chitika.

The best websites and blogs for Chitika are ones related to products. If you are interested in applying for Chitika advertising, click HERE and get started. Good luck!

USA Postage Rates Might Increase in May 2009

2009-01-28T14:31:00.000-08:00

The US Postal Service is having money problems, the worst ever in their history. Stamps are allowed to go up in May 2009 by a maximum of 2 cents. If you are buying stamps in April or May, don't buy too many at the current rate or you'll find yourself back at the post office having to buy a bunch of 1 or 2 cent completer stamps.

They are also considered cutting mail delivery to 5 days a week instead of the current 6 days.

See the attached msn.com news link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28897426/?GT1=43001

UPDATE 2/15/09 - Told ya so! Stamps are going up 2 cents in May!

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De Beers Diamonds Class Action Lawsuit

2009-01-27T05:20:00.000-08:00

If you bought any diamonds or jewelry with diamonds in it between 1994 and 2006, read this:

In 2001, lawsuits against De Beers were filed in state and federal courts claiming that De Beers unlawfully monopolized the supply of diamonds, conspired to fix, raise, and control diamond prices, and issued false and misleading advertising.

The Settlement Agreement provides that $22.5 million be distributed to the Direct Purchaser Class, and that $272.5 Million will be distributed to the Indirect Purchaser Class. It is not possible to tell how much, if any, each claimant will receive before the Claims Administrator finishes processing all claims.

Here is a link to the lawsuit's website: https://diamondsclassaction.com/

Cash Back Credit Cards

2009-01-27T05:09:00.000-08:00

I have a VISA card from Chase Bank. My interest rate is very low, there's no annual fee and I earn cash back. I pay my bill in full every month, not paying any interest. So they aren't making any money off me. Besides regular purchases, some of my utilities are automatically charged onto my card. Because of the cash back, I haven't had to visit an ATM in a few years!

There are lots of credit cards out there that give cash back but you have to be careful. Some have you pay an annual fee. Some charge high interest rates which is a problem if you carry balances into the next month. Try to find one that doesn't cost you anything.

That being said, here's a website that lets you compare credit card terms. Pick the one that's best for you and start earning your cash back.

http://www.credit-cards-resource.com/consumer/rewards/cash-back/browse/?path=ceg-cbkg-mps-103e1a&r=1

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Ebay and Barbie

2009-01-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

My daughter cleaned out her movie collection over the weekend. There's a pretty decent market for Barbie items so I decided to put her Barbie DVD's up for auction on Ebay. Rather than bother with listing them individually, I set them up as a collection. By doing this my target market is the younger girls who don't have very many or no Barbie movies yet. Moms and grandmothers will be the ones who are most likely to buy so I put the listing of titles in pink and purple to appeal to the little girl in them. (I would never use such colors for something manly like a jackhammer!)

I did some research - these movies go for $15 to $20 at the stores. Obviously I am not going to get new prices but I put this info in the item description to remind people of how much value they are getting. I also did Ebay research and found out that the average Barbie DVD goes for $9. I mentioned that in my listing to show people what to expect once the bidding (knock on wood) starts.

To hopefully cause some excitement to the first few bidders, I started the bidding at $20 which is only $2 per DVD. Much cheaper than the historical average selling price and way cheaper than buying new. Even when you factor in the shipping, it's a deal.

Speaking of shipping, I like to give my winning bidders a choice of shipping options. The cheapest and slowest is Media or Parcel Post. Media is for books, movies, music etc. The fastest is Priority Mail. The winning bidder pays for the shipping, not the seller.

I recycle boxes, packing peanuts and bubble wrap. There are also gift shops that I can visit that will give me boxes and excess packing peanuts for free. The only things that I end up buying are packing tape and bubble wrap.

I took a few pictures of the movies against a neutral background. The photo came out kind of dark so I lightened it, then saturated the colors back to being pretty close to the original. The first picture on an Ebay listing is free. I would never put something up for auction without a picture. Bidders need something to see which helps pique their interest and most bidders are wary of buying something sight unseen.

The fee I am paying Ebay is 35 cents for the listing which is based upon the initial bidding price that I set. If my DVD's sell, Ebay will also get a very small commission. There are different percents for different final selling prices so I can't say what they would be until it's all over.

Nowadays, Ebayers have to have Paypal accounts which is fine with me. I have an account and have been Ebaying for a few years now with no problem.

So, if you happen to be in the market for Barbie DVD's, check me out on Ebay - my ID is 4mervlygurl and the item number of this auction is 190281744039

I will add to this article once the excitement (again, knock on wood) begins!

Progress of auction:

Weds - put item up for auction, bidding will be open for one week

Thurs - got one bid already plus 3 more potential bidders are "watching." Right now the winning price is $20.

Fri - a second bidder has joined in. The price is now up to $26. Still have 3 "watchers."

Sat - no new bids but the number of "watchers" has increased to 6.

Sun - there are now 3 bidders and the price is up to $31. There are now 10 "watchers."

Mon - no change

Tues - up to 4 bidders, price is now $33, and "watchers" has increased to 14

Weds - ended up with 8 bidders and the final selling price was $71.00

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Get Paid to Answer Online Surveys

2009-01-20T18:23:00.000-08:00

I am a member of American Consumer Opinion which is a company that pays you to complete online surveys. They are members of the Better Business Bureau Online.

Every now and then ACO will email me some questions to see if I qualify to do one of their surveys. Sometimes they'll send me a very short survey without any screening. By answering the short survey or screening questions, my name is entered into their monthly drawing for $10,000.

The questions are usually about the products I buy, shopping habits, where I eat out, and, once, it was about pest control.

If I qualify for a longer survey, ACO will email me a list of questions which takes 10 to 20 minutes to complete and I get paid, usually $5 to $10. A check is mailed to me.

If you are interested in doing this, too, click on the link below and get signed up. Your emails will be from Anne Parks - remember the name so you don't accidentally delete her email to you - it's not junk mail.

http://www.acop.com/Default.aspx

Good luck to you!
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WORK FROM HOME & HOME-BASED BUSINESSES

2009-01-14T09:23:00.001-08:00

The following links are to help you find work-from-home jobs, home-based businesses, home party plans and jobs where you make your own hours.

If you are interested in a company, check them out thoroughly. Are they with the Better Business Bureau? Have you heard of them before? Do you know anyone who already works or worked with them? Check this company out on the internet (not just their website) and search for articles, blogs, news releases, and complaints or kudos.

Never give anyone money to find or give you a job. Never use your own money to buy products to resell them - taking orders and having the buyer pay is much smarter and safer for you. Know exactly what you are selling and that it's legal and bona fide. Avoid the pyramid schemes (you give someone money, then you ask other people to give you money) - they are highly illegal. Sometimes pyramids are based on sales of products where you depend on other people's sales for your promised riches. HA! Don't do it! Get everything in writing before you sign up!

SEVERAL HOME PARTY PLANS - CHECK OUT http://www.directsellingbusiness.com/business_search

BECOME AN AVON REP - http://www.youravon.com/REPSuite/static/BAR/become_a_rep_avon.html

CAREER BUILDER.COM - http://www.careerbuilder.com/

ADVICE AND OPPORTUNITIES ON HOME PARTY SALES -http://www.directsellingbusiness.com/work_at_home

ABOUT.COM - http://jobsearch.about.com/od/workfromhome/a/workathome.htm

VARIETY WORK AT HOME - http://www.varietyworkathome.com/workathomejobs

BE A REP FOR PRINCESS HOUSE CRYSTAL - http://www.princesshouse.com/join_us/joinus.aspx

WORK AT HOME MAGAZINE - http://www.work-at-home-magazine.com/

SELL MARY KAY COSMETICS - http://www.marykay.com/sellmarykay/default.aspx

WORK AT HOME - http://www.work-at-home.org/

High Paying Adsense Words - Attorney/Legal & Insurance Words

2009-01-08T05:56:00.000-08:00

Your blog content will determine what kind of ads you receive from Adsense. Some of these ads pay you by the click and some pay you just for showing up on your blog. The advertisers themselves compete financially to be on your blog...they pay different amounts.

The following list of words are what some of the higher-paying companies are looking for in a blog. If any of these words can fit your blog in a natural way, then write an article and make sure you use your chosen words and tag them.

I have written several lists, each with a theme for the words so make it a little easier for you to find words that fit your theme.

See http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-health-words.html#links for words that have to do with the body and health.

Click on http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words.html#links for words that have to do with computers/technology/software/internet.

For money, finance and banking words, check out http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-money-words.html#links.

This list is for attorney/legal and insurance words:

lawyer attorney in las vegas
lemon law wisconsin
lemon law ohio
temporary medical insurance
lemon law illinois
personal injury solicitor attorney
car accident lawyer attorney
lemon law california
criminal attorney orlando
vioxx lawsuit
compare life assurance insurance
criminal defense lawyer attorney
federal criminal defense attorney lawyer
fortis health insurance temporary
personal injury lawyer attorney miami
life insurance quotes
lemon law
dui lawyer attorney san diego
lemon law indiana
los angeles criminal defense
class action lawsuit vioxx
term life assurance insurance
celebrex lawyer attorney
lemon law attorney
personal injury lawyer attorney new york
auto insurance quotes
lemon law georgia
structured settlement
vioxx attorney
car auto accident lawyer attorney
investment fraud
asbestos lawyer attorney
criminal attorney
tax attorney
medical malpractice lawyer attorney
california divorce lawyer attorney
fraud
term life
mesothelioma attorney lawyer lawsuit
car auto insurance quotes
austin dwi dui
austin dwi dui attorney
term life insurance quote
insurance car
life insurance quote online
cash settlement
life quote
www mesothelioma
instant insurance quote
san diego dui
accident and sickness insurance

High Paying Adsense Words - Health Words

2009-01-04T16:38:00.000-08:00

If you want to monetize your blog, blog for pay, one strategy is to know which words attract the higher paying advertisers and write articles that include some of these words.

My master list of high-paying Adsense words is very long so I have broken it down into catagories.

Find words from these lists that fit the theme of your blog, write an article and try to use your words in the title, text and labels/tag words. If you gather lots of words, break it up into several articles, instead of one super long one. A combination of high traffic and words that attract higher-paying advertizers should increase your Adsense earnings. Remember to write quality articles and write once a week if not every few days.

See http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words.html#links for words related to computers/technology/internet/software.

Visit http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-attorneylegal.html#links for insurance and attorney words.

For money, finance and banking words, check out http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-money-words.html#links

Listed below are words that have to do with the body and health:

first aid kits
home air purifiers
home sauna
acne
laser hair removal
hair removal washington dc
hair lazer removal virginia
peritoneal mesothelioma
mesothelioma information
insurance medical temporary
mesothelioma symptoms
los angeles drug rehab
personal injury
hair laser removal chicago
laser hair removal maryland
mesothelioma
vioxx lawsuit
compare life assurance
laser hair removal manhattan
fortis health insurance temporary
malignant mesothelioma
primary pulmonary hypertension
life insurance quotes
symptoms of mesothelioma
laser hair removal new york city
class action lawsuit vioxx
term life assurance
celebrex lawyer
vasectomy reversal
drug rehab
asbestos
cord blood
cerebral palsy
medical malpractice
forex
gastric bypass
lower cholesterol
acne
contact lenses
diet
dna testing
drug test
hair loss
HGH
scooter
lasik vision institute
mesothelioma diagnosis
lasik dallas

High Paying Adsense Words - computer/internet/software/technology Words

2009-01-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

I typed up several separate articles, each with a theme for high-paying words. This article lists high-paying Adsense words that have to do with computers, the internet and software.

See http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-health-words.html#links for words that have to do with the body and health.

Visit http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-attorneylegal.html#links for attorney and insurance words.

For money, banking and finance words, check out
http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-money-words.html#links.

Here are the computer/internet/software words:

search engine optimization companies
digital asset management software
epson ink
crm software & solutions
help desk software
dedicated hosting
maximum cpc
average cpc
keyword
tag word
domains yahoo
domain name yahoo
domain registration yahoo
domain registration yahoo
yahoo web hosting
google affiliate
anti spam appliance
anti spam lotus notes
anti spam exchange server
google adsense (ain't that ironic)
improve broadband connection speed
google open social
social applications for Orkut
top paying medical keywords
search engine submission do's and dont's
blogging vs. microblogging
trick to increase ecpm for adsense
search engine marketing
help desk
web hosting
seo optimization
data recovery
document scanning
domain name
hosting
tape data recovery
website hosting
mac data recovery
satellite TV
direct TV
dvd duplication
hard drive recovery
online degree
web site design
accounting software
computer chair
pay per click
people pc
satellite phone
yahoo web hosting
software escrow

High Paying Adsense Words - Money, Banking & Finance Words

2009-01-02T14:01:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to find Adsense words that are high paying. First I googled "high paying adsense words" and got alot of hits. Many of the sites want money for their lists but some don't. This article relays to you the words I gathered from the free sites. It's a huge list so I am breaking this into separate articles, according to subject matter. This article is for the money-related words.

What I recommend is to find some words that have a natural fit to your blog's theme and write an article around them. Use them within the text, title and as key/tag words if possible. If you choose quite a long list of words, then write several shorter articles instead of one big, giant article because you are limited as to how many tag words you can list.

See http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-health-words.html#links for words related to the body and health.

Check out http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words.html#links for words related to computers/software/technology/internet.

Visit http://pinstripedpjs.blogspot.com/2009/01/high-paying-adsense-words-attorneylegal.html#links for attorney and insurance words.

Here are the money-related words:

home improvement loan
low interest credit cards
credit card debt
equity loan
home loan
merchant accounts
best buy gift card
adverse credit remortgage
home equity loan
adverse remortgage
student loan consolidation program
uk homeowner loans
refinance with bad credit
best consolidation loan student
refinance with poor credit
employee leasing
student loan consolidation center
buyer mortgage note
federal student loan consolidation
refinancing with poor credit
e loan
mortgage rates refinancing
consolidate student loans
home equity loan rates
homeowner loans
equity loan rates
egg credit card
student consolidation loans
structured settlement
note buyers
donate a car
investment fraud
cash advance
payday loan
california refinance
refinance
california marketing
oregon mortgage
debt consolidation
tax attorney
debt management
cash advance
credit report
refinance mortgage
wisconsin mortgage
christian debt consolidation
fraud
personal loan
mortgage life insurance
stock broker
accounting software
cash drawer
casino
charity
home insurance
pay per click
reverse mortgage
adverse credit remortgage
software escrow
refinancing
donate to charity
401k rollover
all about mutual funds
beginning investors
bonds
cd or certificate of deposit
coverdell education savings account
derivatives
estate planning
financial news
financial planning
full service brokers
how to pick a discount stock broker
investing in bonds
money market funds
mutual fund expenses
mutual funds basics
retirement advice
retirement plans 401(k)
retirement plans 403(b)
retirement plans 457(b)
retirement plans keogh
retirement plans Roth IRA
Retirement plans SEP IRA
retirement plans traditional IRA
Section 529 Education Savings plan
stock market research
stocks - American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)
target stock price
tax code estate and gift tax
tax code gifts of stock
tax code uniform gift to minors act (UGMA)
us savings bonds
bankruptcy
estate planning
school loan consolidation
college loan consolidation
school consolidation
consolidation student
student loan consolidation rates
sell structured settlement
federal consolidation
consolidation loan rates
private studen loan consolidation
plus loan consolidation
federal loan consolidation
private loan consolidation
bad credit equity loan
student loan consolidation programs
student loan consolidation calculator
structured settlement company
equity bad
consolidate loan
chase credit cards
mortgage loan refinancing
equity line of credit
college loans
best mortgage rates
loan refinancing
us mortgage rates
best mortgage
business credit report

Please check my other articles for more high-paying Adsense words. Maybe one of the other lists has words that fit the theme of your blog.

The 10 Worst Employees of 2008

2009-01-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

CareerBuilder.com has released their list of the 10 worst employees of 2008. You might remember some of these from the news. Click here to see the list of names and misdeads!

BE PAID TO TEST PRODUCTS, TASTE FOOD OR BE IN A FOCUS GROUP

2008-12-28T08:12:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, this is not a paid post. I just needed something to write about that had to do with fun ways to earn money without having to go out and get a job. This is something that I personally participate in...

Imagine a hot, summer day and you drink down a delicious, cold, iced super-chocolate mocha latte. You paid nothing for it. It's a tall cup, not a sample size. As you drink it down, you answer a few questions on a piece of paper. It's so good that you and several other people ask for more. When you are finished they pay you $80 in cash!

Oh, yeah! This is the good life!

You are probably familiar with those annoying people at the mall - the ones with clipboards that want to ask you questions and maybe pay you a dollar, if anything. I always avoided eye contact with them and rushed quickly by. They weren't on my schedule of what I was trying to accomplish that day.

Well, one day I got cornered, but I got out of it by getting a business card from one of them. I visited the website, just for the heck of it, and got signed up.

Every once in awhile I receive an email from JRA (J. Reckner Associates) and answer a few questions to see if I qualify for a product testing or focus group. Sometimes I qualify and sometimes I don't. If I do qualify, the email tells me more info and what it pays. If I am interested I pick a date and time to show up at their office (not the mall) and do product testing and get paid in cash at the end.

I think the lowest pay I ever received was $10 and that $80 latte story I told you about is TRUE! Last month they paid me $40 to eat yogurt. A few years ago they paid my daughter $10 to taste strawberry milk.

So, if you are interested in testing products, tasting food or being part of a discussion/focus group for pay, here's the info you need:

JRA
Offices in:
Montgomeryville and Philadelphia, PA
Mt. Laurel, NJ
Milwaukee, WI
White Plains, NY

You can sign up on their website: http://www.jraopinions.com/

If you do sign up, please re-visit this article and share what you did for your first assignment!

Earn Cash for Your Writing - poems, stories, articles, ads

2008-12-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

If you are into poetry (traditional and free verse), Strongverse pays $10. See http://www.strongverse.org/submitform.html for their submission form.

Thanks to MadameX, a community member of Blog Catalog, here is a link to a long list of places that pay for non-fiction writing: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1489.asp

A good, comprehensive listing of online magazines is at Every Writers Resource: http://www.everywritersresource.com/bestonlineliterarymagazines.html

Write miscellaneous articles, usually promoting products, on your blog for Snapbomb http://www.snapbomb.com/ or for Blogvertise http://www.blogvertise.com/. You'll earn cents to dollars, depending upon the project. The age of your blog and higher traffic can up the payout.

For traditional publications, visit Writer's Market (you can also buy their huge reference book at the bookstore) at http://www.writersmarket.com/. You can get a monthly, annual or biennial subscription. Your first 30 days are free and you can cancel during that time. The annual cost is about the same as what it costs to buy the book that comes out every year. They list publishers, addresses, contact names, what each publisher is looking for and requirements.

Getting Rid of Your Stuff - Donate or Sell?

2008-11-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

At some point in everyone's life they come to the realization that they have too much stuff. First you need to decide whether you want to donate or sell. There are several options to consider:

1. Donate to a charity. If you give to a nonprofit charity get a receipt for a tax write off next year. Some thrift shops accept donations at their store but others won't. The Salvation Army near me accepts drop offs behind the store while our Goodwill doesn't. There are also thrift shops run to fund shelters and soup kitchens. Give them a call before driving out. If you have large items that are too heavy for you or won't fit in your car, some places come to your home. The charities that come to my home are Purple Heart and ACRC (American Cancer Research Center). If you want to donate something large to a non-chain charity just give them a call. Perhaps an employee can swing by your home with their pickup one day. That's how I unloaded my old couch.

2. Donate directly to a needy family or cause. Perhaps you know a family on a tight budget that could benefit from your contribution of outgrown clothes for their kids. Ask them if they could use something that's still good, but about to be tossed because you've outgrown it. Your church might know of someone in need. Make some calls. I ended up donating a perfectly good, but old and now too small, refrigerator to the local fire department to use in their lunch room.

3. Sell it on Craigslist.com. This is free to you. Choose the city in their listing that's closest to you and get started. It's your option on how interested parties contact you - phone or email or confidential via craigslist channels. I use the confidential choice. I highly recommend you put up at least two photos of different angles and maybe any details that make your items look appealing. Give good descriptions and measurements. Mention whether several strong people are needed to pick the item up and whether they might need a pickup truck or SUV. See what everyone else is doing for similar items on Craigslist and be better than your competition! I sold an IKEA loft bed for $100 recently. I got 4 emails in the 1st day. My advantage - I had photos when the competition had none, and my price was a little cheaper.

4. Sell it on Ebay. This is not free. There is a charge to list your items and they take a commission off the final sale price. Because of these two charges, the system doesn't work very well with small ticket items. If you can, bundle small items together as a lot. For example, instead of selling my daughter's outgrown clothing piece by piece, I put all the fall/winter clothes of the same size together as a 30 pc lot and scored $101. Do a search for similar items to see what opening bids and final selling prices are. Sometimes it's emotionally difficult to start something at a low price but that's what sparks the excitement in bidders. The clothing auction I mentioned started at $10 (yes, I prayed it wouldn't sell that low and was very nervous at first). What's great about Ebay is that it's like a yard sale that isn't ruined by bad weather and the whole world is your market. I have sold to the USA and Canada. My friend sold a lot of clothing to a lady in Spain. Regarding shipping - that's paid by the buyer in addition to the final purchase price. You just type in the weight (don't forget the box) when you set up the auction. Ebay is linked to the post office's chart of zones and shipping speeds and the shipping price automatically comes up to you and the bidder when they check out your listing. By the way, you will need a Paypal account to buy or sell on Ebay.

5. Post a flyer with tear-off tags listing your phone number, the item and cost. There's the bulletin board at the grocery store, gym, lunchroom or bulletin board at work. Ask friends to post at their work, too. I sold my 82 Datsun 210 by handing out homemade flyers to my coworkers. Ends up the cousin of one of my coworkers needed a car! Also try the bulletin boards at the local colleges. I sold a table to the mother of a soon-to-be college-bound girl who needed dorm furniture on the cheap. That one was posted at my gym.

Good luck to you!

Get Paid to Write for Snapbomb

2008-10-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not you can get paid for writing advertisements - all in the comfort of your home, while wearing your jammies! Remember those short essays you wrote back in high school? It's that easy (or hard) but this time around you get PAID. You won't get rich but with a few projects under your belt you can fill your pockets with some spending money and I know we can also use more of that.

Back in the "old days" advertising was done in the newspaper or on TV. There was also word-of-mouth aka "buzz." Did you know that the very first Star Wars movie (Episode 4) that came out in May 1977 used "buzz marketing" only! There were no tv trailers, no commercials, just word-of-mouth.

Thanks to Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, we now have PC's and, eventually, got the Internet. Companies now use blog marketing and blog advertising. If you have a blog, these companies need you to be their advertising media. They need you to get the word out about their products, services and events and they are willing to pay you.

This is how it works- a company contacts SNAPBOMB with assignments. All you have to do is write a little diddy for them and get paid. The money varies and what you get paid depends upon two things - the value of the article itself...and your blog's value as a source of advertising.

Newer blogs or ones with few readers/hits earn less than blogs are more established and get higher traffic. Having a good, strong match between your blog's theme and the ad are in your favor. As your blog matures and gets increased traffic, your assignments will generate higher pay. If you are a newbie, don't get discouraged. Everyone has to start somewhere!

If you are interested in some extra money, visit http://www.snapbomb.com/bloggers.html?acp=7551 and get yourself set up. Tell them about your blogs and start writing! Soon you can tell everyone you are a paid writer!
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