Most people think haggling is for street fairs and yard sales. But according to CBS Money Watch, you can get a better deal on a lot of things if you just ask. Here are six things you should always negotiate a better price for . . .
#1.) Credit Card Rates. After the economy tanked in 2008, and the credit card reform bill went into effect in February of last year, it was a lot harder to get a good rate on a new credit card. --But in the third quarter of last year, 1.2 billion credit card offers were mailed out, which is three times the number sent out in the third quarter of 2009. --And since there's more competition now, credit card companies are more likely to give you a better rate, because they want your business. All you have to do is say you have another offer at a lower rate, and ask them to beat it. --According to a study done a few years ago by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, more than half of the people who ask for a lower rate get one. And their average APR drops from 16% to 10.5%.
#2.) Mortgage Rates. Mortgage lending is a lot harder than it used to be, so lenders are more willing to reduce certain fees, or even waive them completely. --So the best thing to do is compare the rates at a few different mortgage lenders, then ask each one to beat the best price you found. And you can spend less out-of-pocket money if you ask for discounts on all the fees they make you pay up front.
#3.) Home Improvements. According to the executive director of Consumer Reports, business is still slow for contractors, and they're willing to do more work for less money. --In a survey done last year, 80% of contractors said they were willing to lower their prices to get a job, compared to 43% in 2008. Of that 80%, half were willing to drop their prices by 10%, and almost one-quarter said they'd drop prices by 20%.
#4.) Major Appliances. According to a study by Consumer Reports, 75% of shoppers get a better deal if they negotiate the price on appliances, and the average savings is around $100 per appliance. --But don't go in the middle of the day when it's busy. If other customers can overhear you, the manager is less likely to offer a good deal because he'd have to offer it to everyone else who asked too. --And if they won't budge on the price, you can still negotiate a better deal by asking for free delivery.
#5.) Medical Tests and Procedures. The price varies depending on where you go. For example, a recent study revealed that having an MRI done on your knee in Washington D.C. costs between $400 and $1,500 depending on where you go. --And if you know what one hospital charges, you can use that to negotiate a better deal with another hospital. Sometimes, you can save 50%.
#6.) New Cars. Negotiating the price of a car isn't just acceptable, it's expected. And you can save over a thousand dollars on a new car if you do it right. --All you have to do is shop around and find the best deal you can, then ask dealerships to beat it. --And instead of negotiating down from the sticker price, ask what the INVOICE price is . . . which is the price the dealer paid for it . . . then negotiate UP. You can find the invoice price for most new cars at the website Edmunds.com.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Cool Website: Snow Day Calculator
If you're tired of waiting until the last minute to find out whether or not your kids have a snow day, I've got an awesome website for you. It's called the 'Snow Day Calculator.'
You enter your zip code, your type of school, the number of snow days you've had so far this year, the leniency of your school's administration, whether there's a special event the next day, and whether you're in a mountainous region.
There's also something where you enter the level of 'hype' for a snow day . . . meaning how much kids, teachers, administration, and the media are talking about a possible storm. Then click 'Calculate,' and the site grabs data from weather.gov.
The site was built by a 16-year-old 11th-grader in Watchung, New Jersey named David Sukhin. He came up with the algorithm when he was in the sixth grade . . . and he says it's never failed him once.
You can check out the site here: http://imsoweird.com/predict.php
You enter your zip code, your type of school, the number of snow days you've had so far this year, the leniency of your school's administration, whether there's a special event the next day, and whether you're in a mountainous region.
There's also something where you enter the level of 'hype' for a snow day . . . meaning how much kids, teachers, administration, and the media are talking about a possible storm. Then click 'Calculate,' and the site grabs data from weather.gov.
The site was built by a 16-year-old 11th-grader in Watchung, New Jersey named David Sukhin. He came up with the algorithm when he was in the sixth grade . . . and he says it's never failed him once.
You can check out the site here: http://imsoweird.com/predict.php
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Traci and Jay's Stauffers of Kissel Hill Big Game Binge Recipes
The big game is next weekend and Jay and I teamed up with our facebook friends and Stauffers of Kissel hill Supermarket to cook up and test out some recipes to serve to the football fans in our lives.
BBQ Franks recipe from Renita Marshall
Ingredients: package of little franks, package of bacon and brown sugar.
Directions: wrap franks with 1/3 slice of bacon, place in baking dish, cover with brown sugar and bake at 350 degrees until bacon is as crisp as you'd like.
Buffalo Chicken Dip from Danielle Fink
Ingredients: 2-10 ounce cans of chunk chicken drained, 2- 8 ounce packages of cream cheese softened, 1 cup of ranch dressing, 3/4 cup of hot sauce, 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 bunch of celery cut into 4 inch pieces, 1 box of chicken flavored crackers.
Directions: heat chicken and hot sauce in skillet over medium heat until well heater. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing and cook until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese and transfer the mixture to slow cooker. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over top. cover and cook on low until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery and crackers.
Southern Caviar recipe from Valerie Hobbs
Ingredients: 1 can of corn, 1 can of black beans, 1 can of chick peas, 1 can of black eyed peas, 1/2 cup of onion, 2 chopped tomatoes, half cup parsley, 2 cloves of garlic, 8 ounces of italian dressing.
Directions: chop and mix all. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and serve with tortilla chips.
Loaded Potato Skins recipe from Heather Barthold
Ingredients: potatoes, bacon, green onions and cheddar cheese.
Directions: bake potatoes in tin foil for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Let cool. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out middle. Set middle aside in a bowl. Deep fry potatoes at 350 degrees for about 2 minutes or until crispy. While potatoes are frying, mix together all ingredients with center portion of potato that you set aside. After potatoes have deep fried, let cool and then scoop mixture into skins. Serve with a side of sour cream.
In honor of the big game, Jay and I decided to make a sandwich native to Pittsburgh and one native to Wisconsin.
Pittsburgh Ham BBQ Sandwich
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, 1 small onion, finely chopped, 2 cups ketchup, 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard,2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 pounds chipped chopped ham, 8 Kaiser rolls, split, 1 cup pickle relish
Directions: Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir the onions in the butter until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir the ketchup, vinegar, water, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce into the skillet with the onions; simmer about 10 minutes. Stir in the ham; cook until heated through and the sauce is bubbling, 5 to 7 minutes more. While the ham simmers, heat the Kaiser rolls in the preheated oven until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Assemble the sandwiches by dividing the ham mixture among the toasted Kaiser rolls, topping the ham with pickle relish. Serve hot.
Wisconsin Corned Beef Sandwich
Ingredients: 1 can of corned beef hash, 2 tablespoons mayo, 1 table spoon basil pest sauce, ½ teaspoon hot sauce, bacon and frozen Texas toast.
Directions: cook corned beef to desired doneness. Combine mayo, pesto and hot sauce and add to corned beef mixture. Cook bacon and Texas toast according to package directions. Lay a piece of Texas toast in frying pan that’s been coated with cooking spray. Put bacon on toast and then cover with corned beef mixture. Place slice of tomato on top and cover with another piece of bread. Heat until toast is golden brown.
BBQ Franks recipe from Renita Marshall
Ingredients: package of little franks, package of bacon and brown sugar.
Directions: wrap franks with 1/3 slice of bacon, place in baking dish, cover with brown sugar and bake at 350 degrees until bacon is as crisp as you'd like.
Buffalo Chicken Dip from Danielle Fink
Ingredients: 2-10 ounce cans of chunk chicken drained, 2- 8 ounce packages of cream cheese softened, 1 cup of ranch dressing, 3/4 cup of hot sauce, 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 bunch of celery cut into 4 inch pieces, 1 box of chicken flavored crackers.
Directions: heat chicken and hot sauce in skillet over medium heat until well heater. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing and cook until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese and transfer the mixture to slow cooker. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over top. cover and cook on low until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery and crackers.
Southern Caviar recipe from Valerie Hobbs
Ingredients: 1 can of corn, 1 can of black beans, 1 can of chick peas, 1 can of black eyed peas, 1/2 cup of onion, 2 chopped tomatoes, half cup parsley, 2 cloves of garlic, 8 ounces of italian dressing.
Directions: chop and mix all. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and serve with tortilla chips.
Loaded Potato Skins recipe from Heather Barthold
Ingredients: potatoes, bacon, green onions and cheddar cheese.
Directions: bake potatoes in tin foil for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Let cool. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out middle. Set middle aside in a bowl. Deep fry potatoes at 350 degrees for about 2 minutes or until crispy. While potatoes are frying, mix together all ingredients with center portion of potato that you set aside. After potatoes have deep fried, let cool and then scoop mixture into skins. Serve with a side of sour cream.
In honor of the big game, Jay and I decided to make a sandwich native to Pittsburgh and one native to Wisconsin.
Pittsburgh Ham BBQ Sandwich
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, 1 small onion, finely chopped, 2 cups ketchup, 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard,2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 pounds chipped chopped ham, 8 Kaiser rolls, split, 1 cup pickle relish
Directions: Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir the onions in the butter until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir the ketchup, vinegar, water, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce into the skillet with the onions; simmer about 10 minutes. Stir in the ham; cook until heated through and the sauce is bubbling, 5 to 7 minutes more. While the ham simmers, heat the Kaiser rolls in the preheated oven until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Assemble the sandwiches by dividing the ham mixture among the toasted Kaiser rolls, topping the ham with pickle relish. Serve hot.
Wisconsin Corned Beef Sandwich
Ingredients: 1 can of corned beef hash, 2 tablespoons mayo, 1 table spoon basil pest sauce, ½ teaspoon hot sauce, bacon and frozen Texas toast.
Directions: cook corned beef to desired doneness. Combine mayo, pesto and hot sauce and add to corned beef mixture. Cook bacon and Texas toast according to package directions. Lay a piece of Texas toast in frying pan that’s been coated with cooking spray. Put bacon on toast and then cover with corned beef mixture. Place slice of tomato on top and cover with another piece of bread. Heat until toast is golden brown.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The four most satisfying jobs...
If you're thinking of changing careers, Yahoo has a list of the four most satisfying jobs in the United States, based on opportunity, salary, flexibility, and how easy it is to advance your career. Here's the list.
#1.) Freelance Graphic Designer. It's creative, and you can work from home. And according to the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the average freelance graphic designer makes around $55,000 a year.
#2.) Critical Care Nurse. According to a survey done by the University of Chicago, jobs that involve helping other people rate highest in job satisfaction. And according to the Department of Labor, the average critical care nurse made around $66,000 in 2009.
#3.) Quality Assurance Managers for Software Companies. According to a 2010 poll, 45% of them have flexible work schedules. And after five years, the average salary is around $85,000.
#4.) Hospital Administrator. The Department of Labor predicts steady growth in the healthcare industry through at least 2018. And health care managers make $90,000 a year on average, with the top ten percent making more than $140,000.
#1.) Freelance Graphic Designer. It's creative, and you can work from home. And according to the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the average freelance graphic designer makes around $55,000 a year.
#2.) Critical Care Nurse. According to a survey done by the University of Chicago, jobs that involve helping other people rate highest in job satisfaction. And according to the Department of Labor, the average critical care nurse made around $66,000 in 2009.
#3.) Quality Assurance Managers for Software Companies. According to a 2010 poll, 45% of them have flexible work schedules. And after five years, the average salary is around $85,000.
#4.) Hospital Administrator. The Department of Labor predicts steady growth in the healthcare industry through at least 2018. And health care managers make $90,000 a year on average, with the top ten percent making more than $140,000.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Seven Craziest Diets In History:
If you think today's crash diets are crazy, check out this list of the weird diets from the past. Just to be clear, these are all diets you should NEVER try, because they don't work . . . and some of them can even KILL you.
#1.) The Vinegar Diet. It was popular in the 1800s, and basically consisted of drinking massive amounts of vinegar, which resulted in vomiting and diarrhea. --It was made popular by the poet Lord Byron, who suffered from severe anorexia and bulimia.
#2.) The Chewing Diet. In 1903, a San Francisco art dealer claimed that he dropped 40 pounds by over-chewing his food. And he said anyone could do it, just by chewing each bite at least 32 times. --After chewing, you were supposed to let the food "trickle" down your throat instead of swallowing . . . which sounds like a major choking hazard. --Then if any pieces of food were too big to "trickle", you had to spit them out in your napkin . . . which is just nasty.
#3.) The Tapeworm Diet. This one was popular in the early 1900s, and the crazy thing is, it works. If you ingest a tapeworm, it'll live in your stomach, feed off the food you eat, and make you lose up to one or two pounds a week. --On the downside, you've got a worm living in your stomach that could eventually KILL you. And it's so dangerous, the importing and selling of tapeworms is illegal in the United States.
#4.) The Cigarette Diet. In the 1920s, cigarettes were also marketed as appetite suppressants, and Lucky Strike ads included the line, "Pass me a Lucky . . . I pass up the sweets." The main side effect of the diet: cancer.
#5.) The Slimming Soap Diet. In the 1930s, special soaps were sold that could allegedly WASH your fat away. Long story short, they didn't work.
#6.) The Drinking Man's Diet. A book called "The Drinking Man's Diet" came out in 1964, and it was a hit with chubby alcoholics everywhere. In two years, 2.4 million copies were sold, in 13 languages. --It's basically all about avoiding carbs. So it's like the South Beach diet, but you also have to drink hard liquor with every meal. --Some people still swear by it, but that much drinking can obviously lead to OTHER problems in your life.
#7.) The Cotton Ball Diet. Rumor has it, models still use this one to stay skinny. It involves soaking cotton balls or tissues in water, then eating them before meals so you feel full on less food. But it can seriously damage your digestive tract. --Plus, you can accomplish the same thing by drinking a big glass of water before dinner, or eating sugar-free Jell-O . . . which tastes a lot better than cotton.
#1.) The Vinegar Diet. It was popular in the 1800s, and basically consisted of drinking massive amounts of vinegar, which resulted in vomiting and diarrhea. --It was made popular by the poet Lord Byron, who suffered from severe anorexia and bulimia.
#2.) The Chewing Diet. In 1903, a San Francisco art dealer claimed that he dropped 40 pounds by over-chewing his food. And he said anyone could do it, just by chewing each bite at least 32 times. --After chewing, you were supposed to let the food "trickle" down your throat instead of swallowing . . . which sounds like a major choking hazard. --Then if any pieces of food were too big to "trickle", you had to spit them out in your napkin . . . which is just nasty.
#3.) The Tapeworm Diet. This one was popular in the early 1900s, and the crazy thing is, it works. If you ingest a tapeworm, it'll live in your stomach, feed off the food you eat, and make you lose up to one or two pounds a week. --On the downside, you've got a worm living in your stomach that could eventually KILL you. And it's so dangerous, the importing and selling of tapeworms is illegal in the United States.
#4.) The Cigarette Diet. In the 1920s, cigarettes were also marketed as appetite suppressants, and Lucky Strike ads included the line, "Pass me a Lucky . . . I pass up the sweets." The main side effect of the diet: cancer.
#5.) The Slimming Soap Diet. In the 1930s, special soaps were sold that could allegedly WASH your fat away. Long story short, they didn't work.
#6.) The Drinking Man's Diet. A book called "The Drinking Man's Diet" came out in 1964, and it was a hit with chubby alcoholics everywhere. In two years, 2.4 million copies were sold, in 13 languages. --It's basically all about avoiding carbs. So it's like the South Beach diet, but you also have to drink hard liquor with every meal. --Some people still swear by it, but that much drinking can obviously lead to OTHER problems in your life.
#7.) The Cotton Ball Diet. Rumor has it, models still use this one to stay skinny. It involves soaking cotton balls or tissues in water, then eating them before meals so you feel full on less food. But it can seriously damage your digestive tract. --Plus, you can accomplish the same thing by drinking a big glass of water before dinner, or eating sugar-free Jell-O . . . which tastes a lot better than cotton.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sweet Birthday Memories
My birthday is coming up and I always get a little nostalgic this time of year. My mom made birthdays big. When I say big, I mean BIG! Of the 7 of us kids, 3 were born on holidays. I was first on Valentine's Day, Jeff was next on Easter and Brian rounded out the three holiday babies by being born on Christmas day. Mom didn't want our birthdays to get lost in the excitement of the other holidays, so she did things on a much grander scale than most moms.
My birthday week celebration started in the kitchen with me and my
mom making huge heart shaped sugar cookies that were decorated in white icing and then very carefully, we’d write out the names of each of my classmates in pink icing. They were taken to school and passed around- a tradition carried on long after the days of elementary school snack sharing. Then the decorations would go up. I never saw mom decorate. I’d wake up and there would be red hearts strung all over the downstairs.
The day of my birthday, I’d wake to the smell of pancakes, but not any old pancakes- pink heart shaped ones. I’d walk out the door to go to school and be greeted by my birthday sign. Mom found a huge roll of butcher paper at a garage sale and used it to make handmade signs that she’s hang from the front porch so anyone going by our house would know it was someone’s birthday. I can’t even imagine how she found the time to draw and color everything by hand big enough that it could be seen by the whole neighborhood, but she did. I wish I could remember all of the messages she wrote on that butcher paper over the years, but I can’t. However I do remember one year the sign said something like “Happy birthday to my Valentine baby, love Mom.” I always looked forward to walking out the front door to see what message was posted on my birthday sign. And my friends and the people in our neighborhood got a kick out of it too.
I can’t remember one year when it didn’t snow on my birthday, but I can remember as a special birthday treat, a few times mom drove me to school instead of me walking. We always had a
family birthday party that included lots of games and singing and dancing and giggling. Somewhere along the line my mom got the idea to start the birthday whipped cream tradition. Anyone who was over at my house had to stand in a line with our heads tilted back and mouths open. Mom would walk down the line and fill out mouths with canned whipped cream. She never got mad if it spilled out onto our clothes or the carpet. She just laughed as she wiped it up. I remember my 16th birthday after doing the whipped cream thing; all my friends went outside and had a snowball fight. Whipped cream and snow don’t smell so great, but it was fun!
Mom had a challenge when it came to my birthday cake. I don’t like cake. And I don’t care for chocolate. And I’m not a big fan of icing. So she had to get creative. I LOVE cookies and cream ice cream and mom found the perfect cake for me. It’s the one thing as an adult that I’ve missed the very most about my birthday- the special cake mom made me every year from as far back as I can remember to the day I moved away from home. And so, I now share with you the recipe for the cake that holds so many special memories for me:
Icebox Cake
2-3 packages of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers
3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 tablespoons of powdered sugar
Beat the cream with the sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
On a serving plate, arrange seven cookies in a circle, with one in the center. Spread the cookies with half a cup of the whipped cream. It should be at least a quarter inch thick between the layers. Repeat until you get to about four or five inches high, finishing with a layer of cream. Do a little decorative stack on the top if you like.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least four to six hours. Dust with cocoa powder or crumble leftover wafers and top cake with them before serving.
My birthday week celebration started in the kitchen with me and my
mom making huge heart shaped sugar cookies that were decorated in white icing and then very carefully, we’d write out the names of each of my classmates in pink icing. They were taken to school and passed around- a tradition carried on long after the days of elementary school snack sharing. Then the decorations would go up. I never saw mom decorate. I’d wake up and there would be red hearts strung all over the downstairs.The day of my birthday, I’d wake to the smell of pancakes, but not any old pancakes- pink heart shaped ones. I’d walk out the door to go to school and be greeted by my birthday sign. Mom found a huge roll of butcher paper at a garage sale and used it to make handmade signs that she’s hang from the front porch so anyone going by our house would know it was someone’s birthday. I can’t even imagine how she found the time to draw and color everything by hand big enough that it could be seen by the whole neighborhood, but she did. I wish I could remember all of the messages she wrote on that butcher paper over the years, but I can’t. However I do remember one year the sign said something like “Happy birthday to my Valentine baby, love Mom.” I always looked forward to walking out the front door to see what message was posted on my birthday sign. And my friends and the people in our neighborhood got a kick out of it too.
I can’t remember one year when it didn’t snow on my birthday, but I can remember as a special birthday treat, a few times mom drove me to school instead of me walking. We always had a
family birthday party that included lots of games and singing and dancing and giggling. Somewhere along the line my mom got the idea to start the birthday whipped cream tradition. Anyone who was over at my house had to stand in a line with our heads tilted back and mouths open. Mom would walk down the line and fill out mouths with canned whipped cream. She never got mad if it spilled out onto our clothes or the carpet. She just laughed as she wiped it up. I remember my 16th birthday after doing the whipped cream thing; all my friends went outside and had a snowball fight. Whipped cream and snow don’t smell so great, but it was fun!Mom had a challenge when it came to my birthday cake. I don’t like cake. And I don’t care for chocolate. And I’m not a big fan of icing. So she had to get creative. I LOVE cookies and cream ice cream and mom found the perfect cake for me. It’s the one thing as an adult that I’ve missed the very most about my birthday- the special cake mom made me every year from as far back as I can remember to the day I moved away from home. And so, I now share with you the recipe for the cake that holds so many special memories for me:
Icebox Cake
2-3 packages of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers
3 cups heavy whipping cream
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 tablespoons of powdered sugar
Beat the cream with the sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
On a serving plate, arrange seven cookies in a circle, with one in the center. Spread the cookies with half a cup of the whipped cream. It should be at least a quarter inch thick between the layers. Repeat until you get to about four or five inches high, finishing with a layer of cream. Do a little decorative stack on the top if you like.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least four to six hours. Dust with cocoa powder or crumble leftover wafers and top cake with them before serving.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Best Months to Buy Things in 2011
You can save a lot of money if you buy things when they're off-season. So if you're planning a big purchase, you might want to hold off for a few months. Here are the best things to buy throughout the year . . .
This month Is a Good Time to Buy . . . Bikes and sporting goods because retailers have to bring in new inventory and slash prices on old stuff. --And it's also a good month to buy an air conditioner, because NO ONE is buying an air conditioner this month.
February Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Digital cameras, because most of the big electronics trade shows will be over by then. That means all the new models will be available in stores, and the old models will cost less. --Chocolate is also cheaper after February 14th . . . for obvious reasons.
March Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Winter clothing, because winter is almost over. And luggage, because it's not a popular time of year for traveling. --Boat show season also ends in March, so if you're in the market for a YACHT, wait a few months.
April is a Good Month to Buy . . . Car parts and sneakers. And vacuum cleaners go on sale because the new models arrive in June.
May is a Good Month to Buy . . . Patio furniture and party supplies. And cookware goes on sale because of all the upcoming graduations and weddings.
June is a Good Month to Buy . . . Gym memberships, because the weather is nice. It's also a good month to buy tools and men's suits, which both go on sale for Father's Day. --April, May, and June are also good months to find sale prices on TVs that are manufactured in Japan, because the fiscal year for most Japanese companies ends in March.
July Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Furniture, because stores start trying to push their old inventory.
August Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Camping equipment, because it takes up a lot of space, and stores won't have room for it during the holidays. --And laptops, which go on sale in August because that's when recent high school graduates are about to leave for college.
September Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Cars, because you can still find last year's model on the lot, but it'll be a lot cheaper than earlier in the year.
October Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Jeans, because there's always a lot of leftover inventory from the back-to-school sales.
November Is a Good Month to Buy . . . A new TV, because there are good sales leading up to Christmas, and the technology isn't outdated yet.
And December Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Anything wedding-related, which is convenient if you're going home for the holidays and want to do some wedding planning with your mom.
This month Is a Good Time to Buy . . . Bikes and sporting goods because retailers have to bring in new inventory and slash prices on old stuff. --And it's also a good month to buy an air conditioner, because NO ONE is buying an air conditioner this month.
February Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Digital cameras, because most of the big electronics trade shows will be over by then. That means all the new models will be available in stores, and the old models will cost less. --Chocolate is also cheaper after February 14th . . . for obvious reasons.
March Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Winter clothing, because winter is almost over. And luggage, because it's not a popular time of year for traveling. --Boat show season also ends in March, so if you're in the market for a YACHT, wait a few months.
April is a Good Month to Buy . . . Car parts and sneakers. And vacuum cleaners go on sale because the new models arrive in June.
May is a Good Month to Buy . . . Patio furniture and party supplies. And cookware goes on sale because of all the upcoming graduations and weddings.
June is a Good Month to Buy . . . Gym memberships, because the weather is nice. It's also a good month to buy tools and men's suits, which both go on sale for Father's Day. --April, May, and June are also good months to find sale prices on TVs that are manufactured in Japan, because the fiscal year for most Japanese companies ends in March.
July Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Furniture, because stores start trying to push their old inventory.
August Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Camping equipment, because it takes up a lot of space, and stores won't have room for it during the holidays. --And laptops, which go on sale in August because that's when recent high school graduates are about to leave for college.
September Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Cars, because you can still find last year's model on the lot, but it'll be a lot cheaper than earlier in the year.
October Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Jeans, because there's always a lot of leftover inventory from the back-to-school sales.
November Is a Good Month to Buy . . . A new TV, because there are good sales leading up to Christmas, and the technology isn't outdated yet.
And December Is a Good Month to Buy . . . Anything wedding-related, which is convenient if you're going home for the holidays and want to do some wedding planning with your mom.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Six "Healthy" Foods That Might Be Ruining Your Diet:
If you've been trying to lose Holiday weight but can't, here's a list that might help. These are six foods that are usually considered healthy . . . but can actually make you gain weight . . .
#1.) Sushi. Obviously, a Philadelphia roll with cream cheese isn't the healthiest choice. But even a standard California roll can easily be five or six hundred calories. --And soy sauce is loaded with sodium, which doesn't actually make you gain weight. But it makes you retain water so you LOOK like you gained weight.
#2.) Dried Fruit. Since it's dehydrated, one cup has five to eight times more calories than fresh fruit. For example, a cup of fresh grapes has about 60 calories in it, but a cup of raisins has 460.
#3.) Bran Muffins. They have a lot of fiber, which is good. But other than that, it's basically cake. A decent-sized bran muffin can have about 20 grams of fat, 400 calories, and 30 grams of sugar. --In comparison, a Hostess Cup Cake has 7 grams of fat, 180 calories, and 20 grams of sugar.
#4.) Bottled Iced Tea. If it has sugar or honey in it, one bottle can have 150 to 200 calories, which is basically like a bottle of soda. --And too much juice can ruin a diet too. A 16-ounce glass of orange juice or apple juice has about 55 grams of carbohydrates . . . which is the same as five pieces of bread.
#5.) Rice Cakes. They're fat-free and low in calories, but they have no fiber or protein. That's why you can eat three of them and still feel hungry. And the flavored ones are almost as bad as potato chips.
#6.) Tofu. The problem is it's too bland on its own. So if you order it at a restaurant, they'll add salt, butter, or sugar to make it taste better . . .which also makes it a lot less helpful if you're trying to lose weight.
#1.) Sushi. Obviously, a Philadelphia roll with cream cheese isn't the healthiest choice. But even a standard California roll can easily be five or six hundred calories. --And soy sauce is loaded with sodium, which doesn't actually make you gain weight. But it makes you retain water so you LOOK like you gained weight.
#2.) Dried Fruit. Since it's dehydrated, one cup has five to eight times more calories than fresh fruit. For example, a cup of fresh grapes has about 60 calories in it, but a cup of raisins has 460.
#3.) Bran Muffins. They have a lot of fiber, which is good. But other than that, it's basically cake. A decent-sized bran muffin can have about 20 grams of fat, 400 calories, and 30 grams of sugar. --In comparison, a Hostess Cup Cake has 7 grams of fat, 180 calories, and 20 grams of sugar.
#4.) Bottled Iced Tea. If it has sugar or honey in it, one bottle can have 150 to 200 calories, which is basically like a bottle of soda. --And too much juice can ruin a diet too. A 16-ounce glass of orange juice or apple juice has about 55 grams of carbohydrates . . . which is the same as five pieces of bread.
#5.) Rice Cakes. They're fat-free and low in calories, but they have no fiber or protein. That's why you can eat three of them and still feel hungry. And the flavored ones are almost as bad as potato chips.
#6.) Tofu. The problem is it's too bland on its own. So if you order it at a restaurant, they'll add salt, butter, or sugar to make it taste better . . .which also makes it a lot less helpful if you're trying to lose weight.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Least Expensive and Most Expensive Cars to Insure in 2011:
A lot of things determine how much your car insurance costs, including your age, your driving record, where you live, and your credit report. But the one way you can control your rate is to make sure you're driving a car you can afford to insure.
The website Insure just released its annual list of the cheapest and most expensive cars to insure. Here's what it said.
#1.) Minivans Are the Cheapest to Insure. The four cheapest cars on the list are all minivans, including the Chrysler Town and Country, the Toyota Sienna, the Sienna LE, and the Honda Odyssey LX.
--On average, insuring each of them costs right around $1,100 a year for someone with a good driving record.
#2.) SUVs Are the Second-Cheapest. In fact, all of the top ten cheapest cars to insure are either minivans or SUVs. And all of the SUVs cost between $1,100 and $1,200 a year, on average.
#3.) Most of the Best-Selling Cars Are Also Cheap to Insure. The number one best-selling car in 2010 was the Ford F-150 pickup truck, which carries a $1,500 annual premium. But that's higher than its competition:
--The Toyota Camry . . . which was the third most-popular car in 2010 . . . costs $1,275 a year to insure, the average driver of a new Nissan Altima pays $1,370, and the Honda CR-V costs $1,155.
#4.) The Most Expensive Cars to Insure Are Probably Out of Your Price Range Anyway. All of the cars in the top 20 are made by Mercedes, BMW, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Jaguar.
--But the Mercedes SL65 AMG took the top spot. It goes from zero to sixty in 4.2 seconds . . . and the insurance costs $3,600 a year. That's if you're a GOOD driver, with no tickets or accidents on your record.
--But of course, if you can afford to buy a Mercedes SL65, you're probably not that worried about your insurance rate. The recommended retail price is just a shade under $200,000.
The website Insure just released its annual list of the cheapest and most expensive cars to insure. Here's what it said.
#1.) Minivans Are the Cheapest to Insure. The four cheapest cars on the list are all minivans, including the Chrysler Town and Country, the Toyota Sienna, the Sienna LE, and the Honda Odyssey LX.
--On average, insuring each of them costs right around $1,100 a year for someone with a good driving record.
#2.) SUVs Are the Second-Cheapest. In fact, all of the top ten cheapest cars to insure are either minivans or SUVs. And all of the SUVs cost between $1,100 and $1,200 a year, on average.
#3.) Most of the Best-Selling Cars Are Also Cheap to Insure. The number one best-selling car in 2010 was the Ford F-150 pickup truck, which carries a $1,500 annual premium. But that's higher than its competition:
--The Toyota Camry . . . which was the third most-popular car in 2010 . . . costs $1,275 a year to insure, the average driver of a new Nissan Altima pays $1,370, and the Honda CR-V costs $1,155.
#4.) The Most Expensive Cars to Insure Are Probably Out of Your Price Range Anyway. All of the cars in the top 20 are made by Mercedes, BMW, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Jaguar.
--But the Mercedes SL65 AMG took the top spot. It goes from zero to sixty in 4.2 seconds . . . and the insurance costs $3,600 a year. That's if you're a GOOD driver, with no tickets or accidents on your record.
--But of course, if you can afford to buy a Mercedes SL65, you're probably not that worried about your insurance rate. The recommended retail price is just a shade under $200,000.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Do the Colors You Wear to Work Affect Your Career?
As if you didn't have enough to worry about in this lousy economy, some experts say the colors you wear to work can affect how you're perceived. As in, wearing a black suit every day might make you seem unimaginative, depressed, or lazy. So here are ten colors and how they affect the people you work with . . .
#1.) Blue. Studies have shown that wearing a navy blue suit to an interview gives you the best chance of landing the job. -But even if you don't have to wear a suit to work, you should STILL wear blue around the office, because people associate it with loyalty. That's why so many companies . . . like Facebook and IBM . . . use the color blue in their logos.
#2.) Yellow. Just seeing the color yellow can cheer people up. So when you wear it, you're perceived as having a sunny personality . . . even if you don't. -Just stay away from dark yellows because they make most people's skin look weird and unhealthy.
#3.) Red. Wearing red shows that you're not afraid to stand out, which is also why you have to wear it in low doses. -If you wear red all the time, you'll stand out TOO much, and people might start to feel like you're not a team player. And anything that's red AND tight is probably too sexy for the office.
#4.) Beige. It's like the opposite of red because it makes you blend in and go unnoticed. So if you're trying to fly under the radar at work, beige is a good choice. -The only time it DOESN'T blend in is when guys wear beige SUITS . . . because NO ONE wears beige suits. So wearing one makes you stand out just as much as if you wore an all JEAN suit.
#5.) White. It's okay as long as you don't wear ALL white. An all-white outfit makes you look like you're in a uniform. So unless you're a painter, a nurse, or a chef, don't wear all white to work.
#6.) Pink. If you're a woman, wearing a pink shirt under a dark suit makes you seem more approachable. If you're a man, wearing a pale pink or salmon-colored shirt makes you look confident . . . because you're secure enough to pull it off.
#7.) Green. Dark greens are associated with power, class, and strength. And bright greens make you look sporty, casual, and cheerful.
#8.) Purple. People associate it with royalty. So wearing dark purple makes you seem more powerful.
#9.) Orange. Light orange is okay, and it blends well with other colors. But too much BRIGHT orange makes you look tacky.
#10.) Brown. It's a good substitute for black, but only if you accent it with another color. And brown clothes that are too baggy can make you look frumpy.
#1.) Blue. Studies have shown that wearing a navy blue suit to an interview gives you the best chance of landing the job. -But even if you don't have to wear a suit to work, you should STILL wear blue around the office, because people associate it with loyalty. That's why so many companies . . . like Facebook and IBM . . . use the color blue in their logos.
#2.) Yellow. Just seeing the color yellow can cheer people up. So when you wear it, you're perceived as having a sunny personality . . . even if you don't. -Just stay away from dark yellows because they make most people's skin look weird and unhealthy.
#3.) Red. Wearing red shows that you're not afraid to stand out, which is also why you have to wear it in low doses. -If you wear red all the time, you'll stand out TOO much, and people might start to feel like you're not a team player. And anything that's red AND tight is probably too sexy for the office.
#4.) Beige. It's like the opposite of red because it makes you blend in and go unnoticed. So if you're trying to fly under the radar at work, beige is a good choice. -The only time it DOESN'T blend in is when guys wear beige SUITS . . . because NO ONE wears beige suits. So wearing one makes you stand out just as much as if you wore an all JEAN suit.
#5.) White. It's okay as long as you don't wear ALL white. An all-white outfit makes you look like you're in a uniform. So unless you're a painter, a nurse, or a chef, don't wear all white to work.
#6.) Pink. If you're a woman, wearing a pink shirt under a dark suit makes you seem more approachable. If you're a man, wearing a pale pink or salmon-colored shirt makes you look confident . . . because you're secure enough to pull it off.
#7.) Green. Dark greens are associated with power, class, and strength. And bright greens make you look sporty, casual, and cheerful.
#8.) Purple. People associate it with royalty. So wearing dark purple makes you seem more powerful.
#9.) Orange. Light orange is okay, and it blends well with other colors. But too much BRIGHT orange makes you look tacky.
#10.) Brown. It's a good substitute for black, but only if you accent it with another color. And brown clothes that are too baggy can make you look frumpy.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Want To Get Yourself a Job? Nerd Yourself Up For the Interview
Here's a theory on why you can't seem to get yourself a job: Maybe you look too COOL.
According to a new study, you're more likely to get hired if you wear GLASSES to your interview. One out of three people say that glasses make you look more professional, and 43% say glasses make you look more intelligent. When people with 20-20 vision were told about those results, 40% said they'd consider wearing glasses with fake lenses to a job interview. BUT . . . while glasses make you more hirable, the survey basically reiterated the old stereotype that they don't make you GOOD LOOKING. Only 6% of people say glasses are fashionable and only 9% think glasses make a person more attractive.
Four Healthy Ways to Detox After the Holidays
If you're a little heavier than you were before the holidays, don't panic. You don't have to starve yourself or go on an extreme cleanse to get back to normal. Here are four HEALTHY ways to detox after the holidays . . .
#1.) Avoid Sugar and Salt. If you're still feeling bloated, go easy on sugar and salt for at least three days, and avoid refined carbs like pasta, white rice, and white bread.
#2.) Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Than Normal. Doctors typically suggest eating at least five servings of each every single day. And if you've been eating junk for the last month, you need to step it up. --Increase your intake of the healthy stuff to between seven and 12 servings. It'll help you get all the vitamins and minerals that aren't in chocolate, eggnog, and mashed potatoes.
#3.) Start Off Slowly at the Gym. Take it easy for the first week. If you're gung-ho on day one, you'll overdo it and end up being too sore to go back the next day. A lot of people make this mistake and then NEVER go back.
#4.) Drink Plenty of Water. It's the fastest way to start feeling healthier because water flushes out the toxins in your body. --So here's the easy way to make sure you drink enough: Divide your body weight by two, then drink that many ounces of water a day. So if you're 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water a day, which is just over half a gallon.
#1.) Avoid Sugar and Salt. If you're still feeling bloated, go easy on sugar and salt for at least three days, and avoid refined carbs like pasta, white rice, and white bread.
#2.) Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Than Normal. Doctors typically suggest eating at least five servings of each every single day. And if you've been eating junk for the last month, you need to step it up. --Increase your intake of the healthy stuff to between seven and 12 servings. It'll help you get all the vitamins and minerals that aren't in chocolate, eggnog, and mashed potatoes.
#3.) Start Off Slowly at the Gym. Take it easy for the first week. If you're gung-ho on day one, you'll overdo it and end up being too sore to go back the next day. A lot of people make this mistake and then NEVER go back.
#4.) Drink Plenty of Water. It's the fastest way to start feeling healthier because water flushes out the toxins in your body. --So here's the easy way to make sure you drink enough: Divide your body weight by two, then drink that many ounces of water a day. So if you're 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water a day, which is just over half a gallon.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Six Things That Cost Way More Than They're Worth
If your New Year's resolution is to start saving money, here's a list that might help. It's six things that cost WAY more than they should . . .
#1.) Coffee at a Coffee Shop. A $3 Venti at Starbucks costs about 25 cents to make at home.
#2.) Wine at a Restaurant. On average, they charge three times what it costs at the store. And it's basically the same with beer and liquor.
#3.) Hotel Minibars. The food and drinks cost four times what you'd pay in a store.
--And ordering a movie at a hotel costs twice as much as renting one at a video store. (--Or more, depending on how much SKIN you're trying to see.)
#4.) Movie Theater Popcorn. An average bag costs 12 times more than it costs to make.
#5.) Bottled Water. It's marked up by about 4,000 percent. That's why you should spend ten to twenty dollars and buy a reusable bottle with a built-in filter. The new ones filter regular tap water WHILE you drink it.
#6.) Text Messages. Sending a single text only costs your phone company about ONE-THIRD of a cent. But some providers charge up to 20 cents per text if you go over your limit. That's a 6,000 percent mark-up.
--So if you ALWAYS go over your limit, you should think about paying a little more per month and getting an unlimited plan.
#1.) Coffee at a Coffee Shop. A $3 Venti at Starbucks costs about 25 cents to make at home.
#2.) Wine at a Restaurant. On average, they charge three times what it costs at the store. And it's basically the same with beer and liquor.
#3.) Hotel Minibars. The food and drinks cost four times what you'd pay in a store.
--And ordering a movie at a hotel costs twice as much as renting one at a video store. (--Or more, depending on how much SKIN you're trying to see.)
#4.) Movie Theater Popcorn. An average bag costs 12 times more than it costs to make.
#5.) Bottled Water. It's marked up by about 4,000 percent. That's why you should spend ten to twenty dollars and buy a reusable bottle with a built-in filter. The new ones filter regular tap water WHILE you drink it.
#6.) Text Messages. Sending a single text only costs your phone company about ONE-THIRD of a cent. But some providers charge up to 20 cents per text if you go over your limit. That's a 6,000 percent mark-up.
--So if you ALWAYS go over your limit, you should think about paying a little more per month and getting an unlimited plan.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
What's More Dangerous, Your Spouse or a Serial Killer? Showers or Baths? Dogs or Snakes? Take This Quiz and Find Out
Human beings are great at exaggerating some risks and completely ignoring others. One example: More people are afraid of flying than driving, but it would take a WEEKLY plane crash to equal the amount of deaths from car accidents every year.
--The website Insure.com put together this quiz, based on insurance data, where you try to guess which of two things is more dangerous . . . and it's almost never the one that we're more afraid of. Check it out . . .
#1.) Your spouse or a serial killer? The answer is spouses, by a TON. About 2,700 people a year are killed by their spouses, versus fewer than 1,000 killed by serial killers.
#2.) Your parent or your young child? It's EASILY your parent. There's about a one in one million chance your child will kill you. But when a young child is killed, there's more than a 50-50 chance he was killed by his parent.
#3.) A dog bite or a snake bite? More people die in the U.S. every year from dog bites than snake bites . . . about 20 die from dog bites, 10 from snake bites.
--But there are a LOT more TOTAL dog bites than snake bites . . . about four million versus 45,000. Which means that even though more people die from dog bites, a snake bite is 50 times more likely to be fatal.
#4.) Being a man or being a woman? At every age, in every country, it's more dangerous to be a male. It wasn't that way 100 years ago because of childbirth deaths . . . but now that medical science is so much better, that's not a huge factor.
#5.) Showers or baths? It's baths, by a lot. Even though people slip in the shower, between drowning and electrocution, far more people die and get injured in bathtubs.
--The website Insure.com put together this quiz, based on insurance data, where you try to guess which of two things is more dangerous . . . and it's almost never the one that we're more afraid of. Check it out . . .
#1.) Your spouse or a serial killer? The answer is spouses, by a TON. About 2,700 people a year are killed by their spouses, versus fewer than 1,000 killed by serial killers.
#2.) Your parent or your young child? It's EASILY your parent. There's about a one in one million chance your child will kill you. But when a young child is killed, there's more than a 50-50 chance he was killed by his parent.
#3.) A dog bite or a snake bite? More people die in the U.S. every year from dog bites than snake bites . . . about 20 die from dog bites, 10 from snake bites.
--But there are a LOT more TOTAL dog bites than snake bites . . . about four million versus 45,000. Which means that even though more people die from dog bites, a snake bite is 50 times more likely to be fatal.
#4.) Being a man or being a woman? At every age, in every country, it's more dangerous to be a male. It wasn't that way 100 years ago because of childbirth deaths . . . but now that medical science is so much better, that's not a huge factor.
#5.) Showers or baths? It's baths, by a lot. Even though people slip in the shower, between drowning and electrocution, far more people die and get injured in bathtubs.
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