WalletPop

Track your gas costs online with Fuel Frog

Josh Smith — 2008-05-14T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Simplification, Transportation

As gas prices rise, so will the importance of tracking gas purchases for your monthly budget. For some individuals tracking fuel purchases and performance is a simple exercise involving a notebook and a pen stashed in the center console. If division and receipt keeping aren't your style then I have a cool new tool for you! Fuel Frog is an online tracking service which measures not only your fuel costs but also your miles per gallon.

The service is easy to use and has a clean and user friendly online interface. Where it really shines though, is that it allows you to enter the information from your cell phone via Twitter. No more bundles of receipts or rushing to the PC as soon as you get home to record your fuel info. Its so simple you can do it in real time while you are waiting for your pay at the pump transaction to complete.

I have just started using Fuel Frog so I haven't had a chance to check out the monthly reporting yet but I expect it will come in very handy. At the least it will solidify my decision to carpool and encourage me to try and find more carpool partners. I am also a little bit scared to see how much I spend per month on gas. My only wish is that Fuel Frog offered a way to track two cars on one account so we could keep our house under one login, but two accounts will do in the meantime.

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Mother's Day idea: What she might really want is...to get away from you

Beth Wechsler — 2008-05-10T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Extracurriculars, Simplification

"It is possible to go away for a weekend and have a life changing experience," author Joan Anderson has said. "Retreat is a form of pause -- it is a time apart in solitude, a precious space in which we can see our world in a different light."

Anderson knows. Overriding both her own fears and the criticism that her venture triggered, she spent a year by herself on Cape Cod. She returned and wrote, "A Year By the Sea -- Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman." The memoir spent 30 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. While most women can't go away for a year, a day or weekend is another matter.

You might want to consider Anderson's book for a Mother's Day gift -- along with some add-ons.

If in recent months, your mother has experienced loss, a major life change or move, she may be long overdue for time when she can hear her own voice. Retreat is all about the "re" words: reflect, repair, refresh, regenerate, renew, reconnect. One can retreat for a day, a weekend, a week or longer, can retreat alone or with others, with a format and focus, or none at all. A woman can retreat with Joan Anderson at a 5-Star resort or on a very small budget. She can also retreat, though it poses special challenges, if family is away and she remains at home.

Consider offering your mom a gift basket for the day of her choice. It might include a picnic lunch, a journal or meditation tape, an appointment -- perhaps for a massage, reiki, or reflexology, maybe something she's never tried. Depending on your budget, you can assemble something as simple and lovely as a yoga class, a bottle of bubble bath and a gift-card that includes your personal services for that day.

Environmentally friendly and clutter free. Lots of moms would love a retreat.

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A magical Mother's Day without much money

Gary E. Sattler — 2008-05-09T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Kids and Money, Shopping, Simplification, Relationships

A good friend and coworker of mine was having trouble finding the right Mother's day gift for his mom. He dearly loves the lady, and wanted to get or do something very special for her. His problem was that available cash was in short supply. After careful consideration he came up with the perfect Mother's Day gift.

He shaved off his beard and cut his hair, something she had been asking him to do for a number of years. His mom is joyous about the change.

I think I'm safe in saying that most mothers couldn't care less about whether or not we spend any money on commemorating their government-declared special day. Moms want sincere hugs and kisses. They want babbling grandchildren close at hand. They want their hands held firmly as you tell them how special they are to you. They want to know how the lessons they taught you still serve as guides in your daily life. Moms invest their whole lives in their kids. The dividends of motherhood should be just as sincere.
While diamond pendants and bouquets of roses are fine, and pretty paper cards with sentimental jargon may suffice, these things seldom reach the heart in the way a facial caress might. A big envelope stuffed with refrigerator art from the kids can carry more weight than a disinterested porcelain figurine. A sip of tea over conversation about family history may be appreciated more than dinner at a fancy restaurant ever would be.

Think hard about what your mom might appreciate for Mother's Day. Think from your heart, not from your brain or wallet. When you come across that idea which puts a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye, you have probably come across the inspiration for the best Mother's Day ever.

May God bless mothers everywhere. You are all truly awesome.

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Time is money: How bargain hunting can wear a hole in your pocket

Bruce Watson — 2008-05-07T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Saving, Shopping, Simplification

Soon after my wife and I decided to move to the big city, I realized that I would have to leave my beloved washer and dryer behind. On the bright side, though, I discovered one of the wonders of urban living: drop-off service.

For a small amount of money (in my neighborhood, it's $0.65 per pound), someone else will wash, dry, and fold your clothes. Given that my wife, daughter, and I generate between 20 and 30 pounds of laundry per week, this ends up being a fairly cheap luxury.

A few months back, however, I switched to a lower-paying job and began looking for ways to cut fat out of the household budged. One of the first things to go was the drop-off service, as I realized that I could wash my family's clothes for roughly half the price that Lula, the Albanian lady at the drop-off service, charges. Feeling self-righteous and fiscally responsible, I began toting my family's clothes to the local laundromat.

While I enjoyed the extra hours of reading and got a kick out of flirting with the Dominican and Puerto Rican ladies, it soon became apparent that, between washing and drying, I was wasting three or four hours a week. With some quick calculations, I realized that laundry, which used to run me roughly $20 a week was now eating up more than $60 a week.

You see, the time that I spent at the laundromat was time away from my computer, where I can earn somewhere around $20 an hour. What's more, I am not a very good launderer, as I have a tendency to melt fuzzy synthetic fabrics. In fact, were I to calculate the value of the slippers, coats, and various other items that I destroyed, my return to laundering probably ran close to $100 bucks a week, at least before I ran out of clothes to melt.

When I realized this, I quickly returned to the wonderful Lula, who seemed to feel that my wife and I had been cheating on her, but nonetheless welcomed us back with open arms.

As I've mentioned a few times before, I'm a little...frugal. I pride myself on my knowledge of the best stores, willingness to endlessly comparison shop, and general ability to sniff out bargains. Sometimes, though, I have to wonder if my desperate attempts to shave nickels and dimes off my household budget come with a pretty heavy price. For example, when I lived in Southwest Virginia, I discovered that one of my local gas stations consistently charged about five cents less per gallon. For months, I would resolutely drive 10 minutes out of my way to buy gas at the Kroger gas plaza, cackling over my wisdom and the fact that I was such a good consumer. Finally, however, I totaled it up and realized that I was only saving between 50 and 75-cents per fill-up. When I factored in the time and stress involved, it was clear that I was probably costing myself money.

Admittedly, I get a serious thrill out of bargain hunting, so it isn't completely honest to weigh all the time that I spend searching for the best deal against any additional profit that I make. Moreover, my wife also enjoys wandering through stores with me, so this can, officially, count as family time. If you add in the joy we get out of making fun of the clothes that other people are wearing, this also counts as entertainment, which increases the profit that we reap from our bargain excursions. In fact, if I were to take this far enough, I could probably convince myself that my wife and I are, effectively, paying ourselves to shop!

Self-delusion aside, though, there are times when I just want to buy something and get it over with. While it's nice to know the best places to pick up various items, I also need to balance the cost against the savings. My new resolution is to take all the time I need in my search for the perfect leather jacket; on the other hand, the next time I need to buy cough syrup, I'm just going to go to Walgreen's and call it a day!

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He once spent six months drooling over an Ed Wood Box Set that came with a fake-angora case. It was totally worth it.

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Inside a cash register-free business

Brandon Barker — 2008-05-07T14:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Food, Shopping, Simplification

The City Café Bakery in downtown Kitchener, Ontario serves hot coffee, bagels, croissants, tarts and brick oven pizza with a quirky, outgoing staff and a neighborhood atmosphere. However, it does not have a cash register.

According to Bakers Journal, owner John Bergen, a former ceramics designer, wanted to open a bakery where he could "walk in anytime and it's a place where I can belong." For Bergen, that kind of business would involve simplicity and the honor system.

Bergen says. "What irritated me about going into [other bakeries], for example, was waiting in line for something as simple as getting a donut and a coffee. So the thought was, someone can pour his own coffee, grab his own bagel, cut it himself, throw the money in, and walk out. We don't touch 60% of the transaction."

Customers order their items, tally up the total and put their money in a fare box from an old bus. To make things simpler, prices are rounded off to the nearest quarter with taxes included. They do not take credit cards.

Every six months they check the numbers, and only once did they come up short. But, Bergen believes that customers are more likely to overpay than underpay. "Some people come in and want a $2.75 loaf of bread," he says, "but they see we're busy so they throw $3 in and walk out." The City Café Bakery also discourages tipping and they don't answer their phone, so that customers won't have to wait for service while an employee is on the phone. Woo hoo!

But, how's business? According to Bergen, every week the City Café Bakery dishes out 3,000 bagels, 1,300 croissants, 1,000 desserts, and an untold number of pizzas, sandwiches and loaves of bread.

Not too shabby.

B. Brandon Barker also writes for Political Machine.

[Thanks to Kottke.org]

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Drinking green: Just say no to bottled water

Julie Tilsner — 2008-05-07T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Saving, Simplification, Health

Drink this up. Despite what the marketers of bottled water have almost convinced us of, there remains little scientific evidence that drinking eight cups of water a day does anything more for your health than make you pee a lot.

A piece in last week's Health Section of the New York Times cites a new study in the June issue of The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, which reports that researchers can't even find where the "at least eight cups of water a day" rule came from.

"Under normal circumstances," Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a co-author and a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania told the Times, "drinking extra water is unnecessary. I want to relieve people of the burden of schlepping water bottles around all day long."
Beverage Digest, which tracks trends in the industry, reports that the amount of liquid consumed by the average American holds steady at an estimated 182.5 gallons per year. Bottled water's share of that amount is growing, while all other drinks, including milk, is declining, according to one report.

So all that water you're supposed to drink to keep you healthy? It will cost you $0.00135, or about 49 cents a year if you drink it from a New York City tap. It goes without saying that cost is probably much less in most other areas of the country.

Or you could continue to spend 2,900 times as much, roughly $1,400 yearly, by drinking bottled water. And with all that extra money you're spending, you're also piling on the karma of contributing to the nation's waste heap and encouraging more of the industrial emissions that are contributing to Global Warming.

In my town near Los Angeles, a water engineer I know laughed derisively when asked what kind of bottled water he drank. "I drink the tap water," he says, looking at us like we were idiots for doing otherwise.

But the trends in American thirst quenching continue to favor the expensive option, as overflowing trash bins suggest. Bottled water is growing at the expense of nearly all other beverages, including coffee and milk, and is closing in on beer. Only the sports drink category is growing faster.

Something to digest next time you reach for that plastic bottle of $1.50 Fiji water. Your tap is just as good, and actually a greener option.

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Industries entering a world of pain

Brandon Barker — 2008-05-06T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Extracurriculars, Simplification

Scrolling through Forbes' new slideshow of America's Fastest Dying Industries can easily get the mind wandering on a Big Lebowski tangent. Okay, maybe that's a stretch. But, the fact that our nation may suffer a dearth of bowling alleys and beer seems a little disconcerting.

As part of this new feature, in conjunction with AOL Small Business, Forbes lists 10 U.S. industries that will most likely see a drop in output, revenue and employment in the next four years.

According to Forbes, the industries that had the foresight to adjust to change and diversify are doing the best. "While technology is changing the face of many industries," writes the magazine's Joshua Zumbrun and Brian Wingfield, "the firms within them are often doing quite well." AT&T and Verizon, for instance, are not worried about their outdated "land lines" since their wireless subscriber numbers are surging.So, who's on the decline and why?

Laundry Services: President Bush's No Child Left Behind program has taught millions of children how to wash their own clothes.

Music Publishing: Music is free now. Hooray! However, concerts are not. Have you seen how much Billy Ray Cyrus tickets are going for?

Bowling Alleys: The balls are too heavy, and the shoes never got fitted with those little wheels on the soles.

Beer: I have to say, I'm not surprised. Everybody's drinking Absolut Vodka now.

B. Brandon Barker also writes for Political Machine.

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Forget about your health savings accounts!

Josh Smith — 2008-05-05T09:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Saving, Simplification, Health

Health Savings accounts are a great tool for preparing for medical expenses, both planned and unplanned. After a knee surgery last year tapped out our HSA, we bumped up our monthly contributions to try quickly build up to a useful amount. After putting the increase in place we promptly forgot about it and adjusted to the slight decrease in take home pay. Despite being forced to drop the amount contributed by the yearly caps the balance and the contributions have remained untouched and out of mind for several months.

Last week we got a bill for about $400 from the local hospital prompting me to call up and find out what our HSA balance was. To my surprise the balance was more than double what I expected! I had forgotten that we had bumped our monthly contribution months ago up and that in the meantime our employer had made a contribution which led to a significant balance. I quickly made sure the money was actually mine and faxed in the request form .

That's it, no muss no fuss and we didn't have to put the payment on a credit card or string it out for months at the hospital. As an added bonus our hospital has an incentive to pay early, so we save 5% on the total bill. When it comes to savings of any kind, the best method may be to, "set it and forget it".

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A recession fantasy

Beth Wechsler — 2008-05-01T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Home, Kids and Money, Simplification

At the risk of branding myself as a Pollyanna (does anyone still know what that is?), I think there may be a silver lining to a recession. No one wants to see people lose their homes or suffer the stresses that come with a downturn in the economy -- but some of our values are in desperate need of recalibration. Hard times can do that.

I have a fantasy. For those of you who have read my posts before and know where I come from as a child therapist, the fantasy probably won't surprise you. Imagine this.

The parent(s) have reviewed their financial situation and decided they will have to make some changes. Last summer the kids went away to camp for a month and the other month took three lessons each. The rest of the time, they mainly fought over the computer and ate cupcakes and cereal in front of the television.

They sit down with their children -- who are in this fantasy eight and 10 years old -- and break the news. It might go something like this:

"We're going to be making some changes this summer. We hope they're going to turn our really well, but you may be a little taken aback at first. We are going to be spending less money than we usually do and it's just possible that it will turn out to be a lot of fun.

"Here's the plan. You won't be going away to camp this summer. We're also going to cut back on lessons from June through the end of August. Your sixteen year old cousin will be coming to stay with us and she is going to take care of you when we're at work. She'll take you to the park and swimming when the weather is good. Sometimes she'll also take you to the kids' club and to community activities and to places like the library. You'll be taking public transportation and bringing lunch with you. You'll spend lots of time just hanging out and playing with the kids in the neighborhood. Your cousin likes to do arts and crafts, she plays soccer, and she likes boardgames. You'll be able to sleep in and - as long as she tells us you've been cooperating with her - you'll be able to stay up late.

We'll make sure there's always ice cream in the freezer and ice cream cones. Over the weekends, we'll be taking day trips together. We'll spend a week on a family vacation in August. We won't be flying anywhere, like we did last year, but we'll all decide together on something that will be fun. We hope that's good news. We don't think you're going to like the next part though. We're discontinuing cable television for the summer. We'll reconsider it for the winter though."

How does that sound to you? How do you think your children would react? If you - or they - worry about being bored then they're probably over-scheduled.

I'm not the only one wishing for a simpler, (and cheaper) summer experience. Check out Michelle Turk's and Julie Tilsner's posts on the topic, too.

It costs what?! More families request financial aid for summer camp

Julie Tilsner — 2008-04-29T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Budgets, Extracurriculars, Kids and Money, Simplification

Kids may well count the days until summer vacation, but their parents are dreading it.

That's because when school's out, camps are in. And we've got to find a way to pay for it somehow.

Time was, summer meant three months of running free, finding ways to kill hot summer afternoons at the community pool or with friends or in your backyard campsite. Those days are over.

Now the culture dictates that kids have to be stimulated 24/7. The kids expect to be entertained, and the grown-ups need for them to be elsewhere while they work. The result: Summer camp. Science camp, art camp, ocean adventures camp, cooking camp, horse camp, Spanish camp, overnight camp...etc. etc. ad nauseum.

The folks who run these summer camps know they've got us over a barrel. The costs of camps range from the painful to the improbable. The cost of one week of Lego camp at a community center near me is $170 a week. Times two (for both kids). And there's a $75 registration fee. That's $415 for one week of activity that will keep the little nits out of my hair for three hours a day while I work.

I'd better be productive then. By my estimation, there are 11 weeks to fill.

According to the L.A. Times, more parents are putting off signing up for summer camps (March and April is when you typically have to sign up your charges, lest the camps fill up without you). And more of them are requesting financial aid in order to do so.

This doesn't surprise me at all. Camps are a huge financial burden for middle-class parents. Lower-cost options like Girl Scout/Boy Scout camps and YMCA camps fill up the quickest. The costs just go up from there.

Allow me to make a modest proposal. What happens if we all agree that this has to stop? Keep kids home from camp in lieu of a good old fashioned, boring summer experience. Get a neighborhood group together and establish a sort of summer co-op, by which the parents who are at home supervise the kids (kids in a group of friends will play for hours without bothering you, it's been established.). Let them run free, play ball, swim in the pool, bury each other at the beach. Working parents can offer their services one evening a week or on the weekends.

I know, I know. This is how it *used* to work, back when kids had nothing else to do in the summer but be kids and ride their bikes through the neighborhood all day. And smaller children require more supervision than grade school kids. Still, the idea of a long, hot, boring summer is an idea whose time has come around again. Why can't it happen?

Maybe not so easy. But much easier on the pocketbook.

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Four great ways to find a mechanic

Josh Smith — 2008-04-29T09:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Simplification, Transportation

Finding a good mechanic can be a particularly daunting task. I have been trying to find a new mechanic near me for quite a little while now. This task has been a little more difficult for me as my dad used to be a full time mechanic, handling all of my repairs. Now that he has switched jobs he doesn't have access to many of the tools needed to do advanced work on our 2005 Equinox. Thisrecent purchase spurred the search for a trustworthy and loyal mechanic.

The way I see it, you have 4 options for finding a reliable mechanic in your hometown. If you disagree or want to add to the list use the comments box below.

Use reviews on Cartalk.com - Click and Clack run a weekly call in show about car problems, often spiced with laughs and a DIY approach. Their website also offers a "Find a great mechanic" feature which pointed me to several local repair shops worth checking out.
Ask your co-workers and neighbors - Have lunch with a co-worker you trust and get along with, find out where they take their car. If they seem happy with the service give the place a try. Same goes for your neighbor, though if they recommend "Cousin Jim's auto repair and taxidermy," you may want to make sure the shop is properly equipped and staffed with trained employees.

Ask your Dad - Call me sexist if you want, but in my house dad handled any car repairs or trips to the mechanic in the rare case our garage wasn't equipped to handle the problem. Before you give the go ahead on a major repair at a new shop, call Dad and see if the cost sounds reasonable. Even if he isn't a mechanic I'd venture to say he has had enough work done over the years that he'll know if a price is right!
Shop Around - Before something major goes wrong and you are too stressed out to make fiscally responsible decisions check out several mechanics. An easy way to do this is to have your oil changed at different location until you find one that fits you. You'll know you have the right place by the way you are treated and how comfortable you are dealing with the mechanic.

When you do find a mechanic you are ready to call your own, don't forget to look for certification, recent training and a tidy shop. You don't need a wall of ink jet certificates and a floor you can eat off, but you should feel like your car won't come back with a rodent hiding in the glove box. Finally be sure to ask about any kind of warranty on parts and repairs, and find out if you can bring your own parts in. Providing the parts may be cheaper in some instances, but could also invalidate any warranty on repairs, so you'll need to weigh the benefits. We just saved close to $50 on a brake job because the pads were still under warranty ,so make sure you toss the sales slip into the maintenance log you keep in the glove box. You are keeping track of your repairs and when you get new tires, right?

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Cash for junk cell phones, PaceButler.com

Gary E. Sattler — 2008-04-27T00:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Simplification, Technology, Daily Deal

The Daily Deal for Sunday, April 27, 2008

I went into work Friday and set my lunch box down next to an advertisement that caught my eye right away. It claimed that you can turn used cell phones into real money. After researching the offer a little bit, I've determined that it sure looks legitimate to me. Pace Butler Corporation claims it will buy your used cell phones for cold hard cash.

The company website is clear and simple. The process works in four easy steps. Just gather the cell phones that you want to sell, print out a prepaid postage shipping label, box the phones up and ship them, then get a check. The company states that your check will be issued within four business days.

Many of the phones on their payment list will only garner you a few dollars, and some only pay .50 cents. However, there are models which will get you as much as $50. You can check out their payment values on this list (PDF file). Just a few of the higher paying models are Motorola's Q9m and Q9h, each paying $50. If you have a Nextel i580, that model pays $30. The LG CU515 and CU575 each get you $35. There's a whole range of the Blackberry 8000 series which will net you anywhere from $10 to $50 apiece.

Nowhere on the website did I see mention of cell phone condition as a requirement for payment but I assume that they want the phones to be all in one piece. They also offer assistance with cell phone collection drives and will help you with cell phone collection fund raisers. If you just want to find out where to send your dead cell phones to keep them out of the landfill, they have a link to help with shipping 3 or more phones for recycling.

I think Pace Butler is really in step with responsible consumerism and assuming that it's completely legitimate, I believe this whole concept is an extremely timely idea.

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Recession Watch: Signs of the economic slowdown abound

Jonathan Berr — 2008-04-26T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Bargains, Food, Simplification, Recession

This post is part of a series about real-life signs we're in a recession.

The good news about the recession is that there are bargains to be had for the adventurous shopper. The bad news is that many people are not able to afford them.

Times are tough and the economy is slowing. The National Bureau of Economic Research has not officially pronounced that the U.S. is in a recession -- technically two consecutive quarters of negative Gross Domestic Product Growth. GDP rose 1.9 percent last year and is expected to decline in the first quarter by 0.1%, according to Morgan Stanley.

Yet some economists, including David Wyss of Standard & Poor's, argue that a recession is already in progress. He believes that the economy is half-way through the slowdown, which he expects to be mild as recessions go. "It's still going to hurt," he said in an interview. "Recessions always do."

Indeed, signs of a recession are all around us. People are doing without a full tank of gas. They are watching their pennies at the grocery store. They are learning to do without things that they thought, until recently, they could not do without -- including $10,000 summer camps. Many are watching their homes decrease in value at an alarming rate and foreclosures have hit records.

In WalletPop's Recession Watch series, bloggers documented some of the new trends brought about by the economic slowdown. For example, some young adults are moving in with their grandparents. Businesses of all sizes are merging to save money. Others, such as a karate dojo, are adding quirky new side businesses, such as selling balloons.

Here are some other additional signs of looming recession:

Restaurants:
Getting a reservation at your favorite restaurant has gotten a lot easier lately -- too easy for the liking of owners of dining establishments. Sales are down at chains ranging from Red Lobster to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. McDonald's and other fast-food chains are the exception -- their profits are soaring. Richard Martin, executive editor of the Nation's Restaurant News, said in an interview that there are now a plethora of promotions under way to lure diners. "It's pretty much an across-the-board situation," Martin said.

Golf:
Planning on hitting the links this summer? You may not have to worry that much about bumping into other golfers because there are fewer of them. According to The New York Times, people are quitting the sport in droves, partly because of economic reasons, such as corporations cutting back on country club memberships. This has occurred despite the popularity of Tiger Woods.

Weddings:
Even with weddings, people are increasingly watching their pennies. They are booking the affairs in off-peak times and reducing the number of guests they invite, according to the National Association of Catering Executives. People also are increasingly bargaining with caterers to keep their costs low without sacrificing the pomp of what should be a once-in-a-lifetime event. For example, don't be surprised if you attend an otherwise lavish wedding this year that does without a Viennese Table, a selection of deserts served at the close of an affair.

Gas Guzzlers:
My colleague Amey Stone recently decided against buying a new mini-van. She's one of probably thousands of Americans that are delaying the purchase of a new car this year. The auto industry, which already is hurting mightily, is trying to convince buyers to jump into a new car with lots of incentives. Growing families will find great deals on the gas-guzzler of their dreams. For instance, buyers are eligible to receive cash back of $3,500 for purchasing a Ford Expedition. Deals also are available from Hummer and Cadillac Escalade for their SUVs.

Penny Pinching:
When times are tough, people look for bargains everywhere, including eBay which recently reported a 12% increase in the value of transactions on its sites. Consumers also aren't shy about haggling at major retailers such as Home Depot and Circuit City, according to The Times. Take this trend one step further: we're seeing an increase in the lifestyle of Freegans, who say they "employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources."

Payday Loans, Cash Advances.
Shares of Cash America, a chain which operates 450 shops that provides pawn and payday loans services, have soared more than 30% this year. Christopher Tomberg recently noted in the Los Angeles Times that "before there were payday lenders, folks hard up for a few bucks had to go to an underground lender who would charge even more outrageous fees and possibly threaten bodily harm." Still, the interest rates are still pretty steep with these services (If you have to do it, here's how).

In the end, people will need to learn that in an economic slowdown, they shouldn't aim to get more with less, they should just get less. Inevitably, they will forget this lesson as soon as the economy rebounds.

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Little kids need iron, but Iron Man?

Geoff Williams — 2008-04-25T19:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Home, Kids and Money, Simplification

Nothing like feeling righteously indignant.

I read this morning in MediaPost that the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) is asking Burger King to stop a promotion where it gives away Iron Man toys with its Kids' Meals. And at first, since I had just woken up and hadn't had my cup of caffeine yet, I thought, "This is a good thing. Iron is important to a child's nutrition."

Then half a second later I remembered the 43,000 commercials I've seen for Robert Downey Jr.'s upcoming movie Iron Man and got with the program.

And then I thought: Good for the CCFC.

Now, I'm a realist. I know that if you're going to live in the real world, and if you have TV, you're not going to be able to keep your kids away from commercials, and I don't think you should, frankly. Part of childhood is practicing to be a grownup, and I figure if somehow my daughters got through life without seeing any commercials, someday they'd be 24-years-old and defenseless when watching TV. I imagine them suddenly one night going on a $35,000 infomercial shopping spree with their credit cards, buying up items like George Foreman Grills and Ron Popeil's Rotisseries & BBQs.

When my kids -- currently 4 and 6 years old -- watch children's channels like Nickelodeon and the commercials come on, whether it's for a toy or just showing scenes of a vacation spot, they're often chanting, "I want that, I want that, and, Daddy, I really want THAT."

And it's up to me to usually say, "No, no -- and where would a dolphin sleep in our house, anyway?"

And, indeed, several times, my daughters have gotten all excited about Iron Man, which they know all about because Nickelodeon runs the ads about every 11 seconds, and I've told my girls that they can see the movie -- when they're older, in about 10 years when we rent or are buying movies on our hologram DVD player.

But whether asking Burger King to pull the toys is realistic or not -- and I don't think for a second that the fast food giant will bend on this -- I think the goals of the CCFC are noble. We need groups like this to point out when corporate America is being idiotic, and no offense to whoever greenlighted this promotion, but geez, what were you thinking? You're not a parent, are you? No, it's not like you came up with an idea to have Kids Meals with action figures from Saw or The Exorcist, but you're not making it any easier for moms and dads when you try to get preschoolers and elementary school kids all hyped up on a movie more suitable for hormonal, action-oriented 17-year-old boys.

And, geez, and now listen to me! I sound like one of those uptight grown ups that I snickered at when I was 17 . Thanks A LOT, Burger King!

Geoff Williams is a business journalist, a concerned dad and the author of C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race: The True Story of the 1928 Coast-to-Coast Run Across America (Rodale).

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Getting rid of ex-boyfriend jewelry: Cash, closure, and sweet satisfaction

Bruce Watson — 2008-04-25T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Bargains, Extracurriculars, Simplification, Relationships

A few weeks ago, I wrote a short post about the return of gold prospecting; the rising value of gold has inspired would-be miners to pan for the precious metal, file prospecting claims, and generally do their best to re-create California's 1849 gold rush. Gold fever has even worked its way into suburbia, where gold parties have made it possible to convert one's own jewelry into cold hard cash, even as one sips wine and munches on cheese and many people are selling their collections of gold teeth and bridgework.

Of course, the problem with gold parties is that selling one's old gold jewelry by weight fails to take into account the artistry of the metalwork or the value of any jewels, which can greatly increase the price of a trinket. Besides, gold parties aren't all that useful if one has non-gold jewelry. While silver and other precious metals have also increased in value, they haven't enjoyed the amazing inflation that has made gold so precious.

Another problem is the fact that jewelry often has powerful emotions attached to it. We give jewelry during periods of heightened emotion, and the gifts tend to retain a lot of those emotions, even after the relationship has gone south. Good or bad, it can seem a little callous to simply throw away these relics of boyfriends and girlfriends past.

Enter exboyfriendjewelry.com. The brainchild of Marie Perry and her mother, Ex Boyfriend Jewelry is a place where people can sell jewelry and other gifts that they received while in relationships. Part Craig's List, part Post Secret, the site allows sellers to tell the stories behind their jewelry, offering a way to make money while making peace with the past. Even if you aren't interested in buying or selling a piece of jewelry, this site makes fascinating reading, letting you explore the anger, regrets, and happy memories of relationships long gone.

Having sunk more than a few ducats into jewelry for girlfriends who have long since disappeared, I think I'm going to keep checking the site. Although I know that Annie destroyed the watch I gave her (she sent me a few of the smashed shards), I still wonder what happened to the pendant I bought Jennie...

Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He gave most of his ex-girlfriend gifts to Goodwill.

This tactic to save money on gas could cost you your life

Gary E. Sattler — 2008-04-23T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Budgets, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Simplification, Transportation, Health, Wealth, Travel

Ideas for reducing the cost of driving, such as carpooling or buying smaller, more efficient cars, have gained popularity. One concept however, may be getting far too much positive publicity. It's the risk-your-own-life practice of drafting. Sure, it's used in every NASCAR race on the circuit. But while it could save you in gasoline usage, it could also kill you in a split second.

Drafting is accomplished by tucking your vehicle in behind a larger vehicle while moving at highway speed. The tactic is most often employed behind the trailers of eighteen-wheelers. By moving to within 100 feet or less of the lead vehicle, drivers take advantage of the swath that the lead vehicle cuts through the air. The vacuum pocket behind the truck reduces air resistance and the "wake" of the truck closes in behind you helping to propel you along. However, my two brothers-in-law, who are professional drivers, will tell you that there's nothing more nerve wracking for a truck driver than when a car moves in so close behind that it can't be seen in the truck's mirrors. It's simply a recipe for disaster.

The problem is, for the maneuver to be effective at all, you need to be too dangerously close to the lead vehicle. Any successful drafting attempt eliminates your safe reaction time. If the lead vehicle needs to stop in a hurry, about all you'll have time to effectively do is to open your eyes very wide and then noisily go splat. If the truck kicks up road debris, it will be on you before you can blink.

Kiplinger 's Personal Finance writer, Stacy Rapacon has provided us with five safe ways to save money on fueling your car. Stacy's ideas don't involve risking your life or compromising the safety of other drivers. Additionally, Kiplinger's can help you to get ahead of the game by steering you into cars with the best fuel economy ratings.

Remember, saving money a few pennies on gas is a foolish bargain if it puts you or others at risk. You can't spend the money you saved on gas while resting in your grave.

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Stimulate this! Spending your Economic Stimulus tax rebate check, 10 great ideas

Sarah Gilbert — 2008-04-17T23:42:00+00:00

Filed under: Simplification, Tax

While there are lots of opinions pro and against the Economic Stimulus Package checks (hitting your bank account beginning May 2!), the fact is: they're coming no matter what you think. We all have heard the prevailing skepticism as to whether $300 - $3,000 a family will do anything to help the failing dollar or to create jobs; in the end, who knows? But we have some ideas about how we could spend together to create the change we want to happen. And we'd be remiss as a personal finance site if we didn't come up with some ways you can truly stimulate your own personal economy.

Let's start with a couple of Don'ts. Don't use your rebate check for conspicuous consumption -- TVs, DVD players, large bottles of Champagne, imported Kobe beef, a trip to Cancun. Don't use it to create a greater need for fossil fuels; not as a down payment for a new car (if your very survival depends on a car, at least get a used one), or to trade up to a bigger gas guzzler, or for a power mower, or to put a new hot tub in. Do this and you'll help stimulate us into the worst possible direction.

Here's a better idea. Do try to spend it locally on something that will benefit your financial future! I've been reading a lot of smart people's musings about this (and coming up with some of my own), and have identified some areas of absolute crisis in our economy. Our country's farmland is being stripped by the wrong-headed over-production of corn and soy (in complete ignorance of sustainable farming practices). Our limited fossil fuel resources are being frittered away unnecessarily so we can continue to cling to our isolated, wasteful car culture. Our healthcare expenditures are reaching a panic point, while we are eating ever-more-expensive, ever-more-damaging food. Life as we know it is not sustainable, and no one seems to have the willpower to reverse the societal tide.

Doing something radical with your Economic Stimulus Package check can be both fun and good for your own financial bottom line. You'll end up with more money left after your pay your bills, you'll be healthier, and you may just spur a tiny bit of social change. At the very least, it can't hurt you. Here are some ideas:

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How to reach executive customer service at Sallie Mae

Josh Smith — 2008-04-17T14:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Borrowing, College, Simplification

Sallie Mae is a huge student loan company, and often times it can be difficult to get routed to the correct department to straighten out your loan issue.

Earlier this week I shared a simple plan for using your congressman to resolve student loan issues at any company, but today I'd like to share a way to get satisfaction if your issue is with Sallie Mae. The executive customer service department at Sallie Mae is known as the "Consumer Advocate Unit" and from my experience, is staffed with small group of knowledgeable and friendly people.

Both our congressman and our attorney general referred us to the consumer advocate unit, where we were given one point of contact. If this person was out of the office, whoever took our call would literally walk over to his desk and grab our file in order to help us out. On more than one occasion they called another lender on our behalf to arrange for the consolidation of loans away from Sallie Mae!

You can reach the consumer advocate unit at (888) 545-4199. Please use this number responsibly, and remember these people are empowered to help you. Treating the caller with respect and kindness, no matter your previous experiences with Sallie Mae, will greatly benefit you in the long run.

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Taxes...now death. April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions day

Chris Clancy — 2008-04-16T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Home, Simplification, Health, Wealth

Now that tax season is officially over, you may be looking forward to getting back to the business of living your life, free from the distasteful chores of searching for W2s, collecting receipts and sharpening number two pencils.

Not so fast. It appears that "the cruelest month" just got a little crueler.

Toady, April 16, marks the first-ever National Healthcare Decisions Day, a countrywide initiative wherein healthcare providers, personal attorneys, chaplains and others highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making.

What is advance healthcare decision-making, you ask? Oh, just the creation of such "advance directives" as living wills and power of attorney. Or as those in the business call it, "end-of-life planning." It makes sense, when you think about it: You've finished with the taxes, so why not turn your attention to death and dying?

Nathan Kottkamp, chair of the National Healthcare Decision Day initiative, says that most Americans are woefully unprepared when it comes to making their wishes known in the event of a tragedy.

"As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more Americans can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives," he said. "Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient; and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so."

So yeah, it's pretty important. And, fortunately, it only lasts a day.

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American economic difficulty: A slightly different perspective

Gary E. Sattler — 2008-04-16T15:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Simplification, Career, Recession

Things are getting pretty bad out there in our retail consumerist world, with businesses shutting down and people scrambling for good jobs. I hear a lot of negative sentiment regarding foreign manufacturing and how it has cost America many good paying jobs. I have fought in that camp. I'm a manufacturing veteran.

But I'm also a realist, at least most of the time I am . One thing that I think people often forget is that the importation of goods also creates many good jobs. Look at our ports. Someone has to unload all those ships. Someone also has to move those containers from the docks to waiting trains and trucks. The logistical stream employs tens of thousands of people. Shipping, tracking, warehousing and order fill all need to be done. Then there's the retail level where someone sells you the goods. They advertise, they display, they promote, then they deliver. Someone also has to service those foreign made goods in shops and garages across the country.

It just doesn't make good sense to spend valuable energy crying over lost manufacturing jobs. If you have a gripe which warrants attention, get thirty of your biggest, ugliest buddies and make a trip to visit your senator. Show him or her pictures of your kids and the house you'd like to keep. Then show them pictures of the regions where government regulation and union hard balling has sent your jobs. Any constructive suggestions you may have, we'd all be happy to listen to. But if you're just in the game to cry "woe is me," excuse me but I have some business to attend to.

Take stock America, while you're still a bit in control. You're smart, strong and driven, or at least you always were. Let someone else complain that they're ruined. Tell 'em you have something better to do. Starting over doesn't have to be anything less than an adventure. I know, because I've done it several times and now I'm writing about it too.

Gary Sattler is a freelance blogger and he knows exactly what recovering from loss is all about.

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