Want to save money? Try giving up some “nessessities”.
Jul 8, 2008 Found Online
Here are a few of the 12 things that many of us consider an integral part of life, and that also tend to lighten the ol’ wallet. With many of these, simplifying, or even giving it up all together, will save you quite a bit of moo-lah. So, if you are trying to cut costs, here are some good ideas to try.
Daily Latte
Switch to CRUNK!!! and you will save a few bucks a week!
Cable TV
There was a time where I canceled my cable to save some money, and instead just bought the shows I wanted to watch on iTunes. Doing so, I saved around $400 in a year’s time.
Second Car
I know quite a few people who have consolidated down to one car. It’s obvious all you would save in gas money, but also in insurance and maintenance. And who knows, you might meet your next best friend while waiting on the bus.
See the rest of ‘em (The Consumerist)
Tags: consumerist, gas, money, savings
How much does it cost you to drive one mile?
Jul 2, 2008 Current Events, Grab Bag
If you know just how much it costs to drive around town, it might keep you from making unnecessary trips, thus, saving you money. So, how much does it cost for you to drive a mile? Don’t know? That’s ok, here’s how you find out:
- Next time you fill up your gas tank, reset your odometer.
- Then, when you have to fill up again, take note of how much it costs to fill up
- Divide the fill-up cost by the number of miles you were able to drive on that last tank.
- Bada bing, bada boom, there is your average cost-per-mile (at least for that tank)
For me, it’s right at $.25/mile. It really puts things into perspective when I realize that to drive across town, it will cost me 10 bucks or so EACH WAY. Maybe I should just stay home!
Anyways, do this and report back. OR, if you already have, what’s the damage?
Trick Yourself into Saving Money
Jun 30, 2008 Found Online
With the new iPhone coming out in less than a month, I have been looking for ways to save money other than the whole “put money into savings” thing. Lifehacker has come up with 10 non-traditional ways to save money, even if it means sort of “tricking” yourself. From the article:
Always bank your savings and discounts
It feels like free money when you hit an unexpected sale, discover a little-known rebate, or simply use a valuable coupon. Why not turn that free money into even more free money? As the Digerati Life blog points out, it’s money that’s easy to set aside, since you didn’t expect to have it, and it doesn’t require any budget reviews. It also protects that little boost from disappearing into another full-price purchase while you’re out shopping.
Sleeve your credit card with what you really want
Personal finance blogger and crusader against needless debt Trent taped pictures of his son around his primary credit card to make him think before making a purchase, and it worked. Create your own sleeve out of two card-sized pictures, and modify the motivation—whether it’s a positive (something you’re saving for) or negative (reminder of the debt you’re paying off)—and you’ll likely curb some auto-pilot spending.
I really like that second one. I have done something like that before, not related to money, but it really worked. When you are confronted with something important to you, it can be a reminder to maybe curb that spending. Anyways, the other 8 are equally as good as these, so check ‘em out.
Atlanta: The city too busy for math
Apr 7, 2008 Found Online
Our leaders are not good at managing money. Check this out:
- Current projected revenue shortfall in Atlanta: $65 million
- Amount by which Atlanta exceeded its budget during fiscal year that ended June 2007: $90 million
- Amount city overestimated its year-to-year budget surplus since 2003: $241 million
- Estimated revenue shortfall city predicts it will face next year: $120 million
- Amount of city’s budget shortfall when Mayor Franklin took office in 2002: $82 million
- Percent property tax hike imposed in 2002 to cover city’s budget shortfall: 51
- Percent by which the city has rolled back property taxes since then: 22
- Percent by which all 15 city departments were recently asked to cut their budgets: 25
A Couple of Questions
Feb 6, 2008 Questions
I came across some random, thought provoking questions online this morning and I thought I would answer them. There were a lot more, so be looking for more of these in the future. But for now, feel free to comment, and to answer them yourself in the comments. Here we go:
1. If you could sport any accent, what accent would you speak with for the rest of the day?
I would have to say an Australian accent. That is HANDS DOWN my favorite accent of all time. If a female is speaking with one, I get the urge to propose. And how manly is the phrase “That’s not a knife, this is a knife!” from Crocodile Dundee. And come to think of it, the 2nd season of Survivor was my favorite. You know, the one in the Australian Outback? So, I would want an Australian accent. And I would use the Dundee line as often as I could.
2. If you won a million dollars and had to spend ALL of it — every last penny, what would you spend it on?
I would do the following:
- Pay off any and all debts
- Build a Mac Pro configuration that can only be referred to as “bitchin’”
- In addition to the Mac Pro, do a “technology upgrade” of my entire house
- A new car. Or maybe just fix mine
- Buy my mom a new house
- Probably spend the rest on Wal Mart gift certificates. You can get almost everything there!
What about you? What accent would you speak for a day, and what would you do with the money?
Tags: britney spears, language, money, Questions, Thoughts
Turn Down the Music and Get Better Gas Mileage
Dec 6, 2006 Uncategorized
No, the radio is not gas powered, but it can affect how fast you drive. From the article:
“More than likely, the loudness of your radio does have a direct effect on how fast you drive. I’ll be the first to admit, when I’m driving, especially on the highway, and I’m listening to a song with a good beat, it’s not unusual for me to look down at the speedometer and see that I’m going 10 or more miles per hour over the speed limit! I’m sure many of you are the same way. Going back to the very first tip posted on this site, driving even 5 mph over the speed limit, especially at higher speeds, can reduce your car’s gas mileage by close to 7%, if not more.”
Highest-Paying Jobs in the US
Nov 25, 2006 Uncategorized
For anyone out there looking for a new job, here is some info you might want to see.
Top Paying Jobs Overall
- Physicians and surgeons — $147,000
- Aircraft pilots — $133,500
- Chief executives — $116,000Electrical and electronic engineers — $112,000
- Lawyers and judges — $99,800
- Dentists — $90,000
- Pharmacists — $85,500
- Management analysts — $84,700
- Computer and information system managers — $83,000
- Financial analysts, managers and advisors — $84,000
- Marketing and sales managers — $80,000
- Education administrators — $80,000
Top Paying Jobs That Do Not Require a High School Degree
These jobs tend to require substantial on-the-job training and work experience rather than formal education and schooling:
- Industrial production managers — $36,000
- Bailiffs, correctional officers and jailers — $36,400
- Drafters — $36,000
- Construction manager — $33,600
- Electricians — $31,900
Top Paying Jobs for High School Graduates
These occupations emphasize work experience and on-the-job training rather than formal education:
- Computer software engineers — $58,900
- Computer/information systems managers — $56,400
- Computer programmers — $55,000
- Network systems and data communications analysts — $49,000
- General and operations managers — $48,000
- Database, network and computer systems administrators — $48,000
Top Paying Jobs for a Two-Year College Degree
The following jobs tend to be technical in nature, emphasizing skills developed on the job as well as job-specific training and certifications:
- Healthcare practitioners — $66,000
- Business analysts — $58,000
- Electrical and electronic engineers — $57,000
- Mechanical engineers — $56,800
- General and operations managers — $54,000
- Computer and information systems managers — $50,400
Source: Career Builder
